IP Library Granted Patent US 12,464,664
Granted Patent B2
US 12,464,664 · App. 18/576,710 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Electric apparatus and electric device

Inventor: Koki Nakamura (Chuo-ku, JP)
Assignee: TMEIC Corporation
H05K5/0221H05K7/183H05K7/1425
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,464,664
App. No.
18/576,710
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rack includes first to fourth column members and first and second guide members. A case of an electric device has first and second side surfaces in a width direction that are supported by the first and second guide members, respectively. First and second restriction members are attached to inner surfaces of the first and second side surfaces of the case, respectively, for restricting the case from moving in a front direction of the rack. Second restriction member is attached to face the first restriction member in the width direction. In a state where the electric device is housed within the rack, the first restriction member is located between the first and third column members in a front-back direction. The second restriction member is located between the second and fourth column members in the front-back direction.

Claims (56)

1 . An electric apparatus comprising:

a rack having a rectangular parallelepiped shape; and

an electric device housed within the rack to be able to be pulled out and inserted from a front of the rack, wherein

the rack includes

first and second column members arranged to be spaced from each other in a width direction of the rack, and each extending in a vertical direction,

third and fourth column members arranged to be spaced from the first and second column members, respectively, in a back direction of the rack, and each extending in the vertical direction,

a first guide member arranged between the first and third column members, and extending in a front-back direction of the rack, and

a second guide member arranged between the second and fourth column members to face the first guide member in the width direction, and extending in the front-back direction,

the electric device includes

a case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and having first and second side surfaces in the width direction that are supported by the first and second guide members, respectively,

a first restriction member attached to an inner surface of the first side surface, for restricting the case from moving in a front direction of the rack, and

a second restriction member attached to an inner surface of the second side surface to face the first restriction member in the width direction, for restricting the case from moving in the front direction of the rack, and

in a state where the electric device is housed within the rack,

the first restriction member is located between the first and third column members in the front-back direction, and

the second restriction member is located between the second and fourth column members in the front-back direction.

2 . The electric apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first restriction member includes

a first latch member configured to abut on the first column member in a state protruding from the case in the width direction through a first opening formed in the first side surface,

a first elastic member that biases the first latch member toward a protruding state, and

a first releasing member for moving the first latch member in the width direction to cause the first latch member to completely enter an inside of the case, and

the second restriction member includes

a second latch member configured to abut on the second column member in a state protruding from the case in the width direction through a second opening formed in the second side surface,

a second elastic member that biases the second latch member toward a protruding state, and

a second releasing member for moving the second latch member in the width direction to cause the second latch member to completely enter the inside of the case.

3 . The electric apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the first releasing member includes a first base portion coupled to the first latch member, and a first bent portion joined to the first base portion and exposed from the first opening, and moves the first latch member in the width direction in response to a pressing force provided from an outside of the case to the first bent portion through the first opening, and

the second releasing member includes a second base portion coupled to the second latch member, and a second bent portion joined to the second base portion and exposed from the second opening, and moves the second latch member in the width direction in response to a pressing force provided from the outside of the case to the second bent portion through the second opening.

4 . The electric apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the first releasing member is arranged in front of the first latch member in the inside of the case, and

the second releasing member is arranged in front of the second latch member in the inside of the case.

5 . The electric apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when the electric device is inserted into the rack from the front of the rack,

the first elastic member receives an abutting force provided from the first column member to the first latch member to cause the first latch member to completely enter the inside of the case, and provides the first latch member with a biasing force that returns the first latch member to the protruding state, and

the second elastic member receives an abutting force provided from the second column member to the second latch member to cause the second latch member to completely enter the inside of the case, and provides the second latch member with a biasing force that returns the second latch member to the protruding state.

6 . The electric apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

a surface of a portion of the first latch member protruding from the first side surface has a curved surface shape that is convex toward the back direction of the rack, and

a surface of a portion of the second latch member protruding from the second side surface has a curved surface shape that is convex toward the back direction of the rack.

7 . The electric apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

8 . An electric device housed within a rack having a rectangular parallelepiped shape to be able to be pulled out and inserted from a front of the rack, wherein

the rack includes

first and second column members arranged to be spaced from each other in a width direction of the rack, and each extending in a vertical direction,

third and fourth column members arranged to be spaced from the first and second column members, respectively, in a back direction of the rack, and each extending in the vertical direction,

a first guide member arranged between the first and third column members, and extending in a front-back direction of the rack, and

a second guide member arranged between the second and fourth column members to face the first guide member in the width direction, and extending in the front-back direction,

the electric device comprises

a case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and having first and second side surfaces in the width direction that are supported by the first and second guide members, respectively,

a first restriction member attached to an inner surface of the first side surface, for restricting the case from moving in a front direction of the rack, and

a second restriction member attached to an inner surface of the second side surface to face the first restriction member in the width direction, for restricting the case from moving in the front direction of the rack, and

in a state where the electric device is housed within the rack,

the first restriction member is located between the first and third column members in the front-back direction, and

the second restriction member is located between the second and fourth column members in the front-back direction.

9 . The electric apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

10 . The electric apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

11 . The electric apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

12 . The electric apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

13 . The electric apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of the first guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and a plurality of the second guide members arranged to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, and houses a plurality of the electric devices to be stacked in the vertical direction.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 21, 2024
From: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: TMEIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067476/0956 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2024
From: NAKAMURA, KOKI
To: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066025/0380 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240251514A1 · Jul 25, 2024
References Cited (13)
US 10563429B1 · Bailey · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20060290245A1 · Hidaka · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20140177164A1 · Stewart · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150181753A1 · Murakami · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 6058041U · 1985 [cited by applicant]
JP 200194279A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009218326A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014216350A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020060135466A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority issued Aug. 23, 2022 in PCT/JP2022/021258, (with English translation), 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued Dec. 9, 2024, in corresponding Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-7043393 (with English Translation), 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report Issued Aug. 23, 2022, in PCT/JP2022/021258, filed on May 24, 2022, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action issued Jun. 6, 2023, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-566173, 8 pages (with English Translation). [cited by applicant]