Rack for supporting electronic devices
View Patent ↗A support rack for supporting electronic devices, comprising a base, two legs, and at least one compliant assembly with elastically biased fins that support the electronic device(s). The rack accommodates electronic devices of different sizes while preventing unwanted movement.
1. A support rack configured to support a first electronic device, the support rack comprising:
a base comprising:
a base bottom surface; and
a base top surface oppositely disposed from the base bottom surface;
a first leg comprising:
a first bottom surface that is coplanar to the base bottom surface of the base;
a first inside surface; and
a first outside surface, oppositely disposed to the first inside surface,
wherein the first leg protrudes from the first bottom surface above the base top surface of the base;
a second leg comprising:
a second bottom surface that is coplanar to the base bottom surface of the base and the first bottom surface of the first leg;
a second inside surface; and
a second outside surface, oppositely disposed to the second inside surface;
a gap defined by space between the first inside surface of the first leg offset from the second inside surface of the second leg;
a first compliant assembly comprising:
a first compliant plate comprising:
a first plate bottom surface that is coplanar to the first bottom surface of the first leg, the second bottom surface of the second leg, and the base bottom surface of the base;
a first plate surface adjoining the first inside surface of the first leg; and
a second plate surface oppositely disposed from the first plate surface; and
a first plurality of fins, each of the first plurality of fins protruding from the second plate surface of the first compliant plate towards the gap,
wherein the first plurality of fins are integrally formed on the first compliant plate;
a supporting condition wherein:
the first plurality of fins are elastically biased towards the first leg via the first electronic device at a first distance from the first leg; and
an unsupported condition wherein:
the first plurality of fins are unbiased and at a second distance greater than the first distance from the first leg.
2. The support rack of claim 1 and further comprising:
a second compliant assembly oppositely disposed to the first compliant assembly, the second compliant assembly comprising:
a second compliant plate comprising:
a second plate bottom surface that is coplanar to the first bottom surface of the first leg, the second bottom surface of the second leg, the base bottom surface of the base, and the first plate bottom surface of the first compliant plate;
a third plate surface adjoining the second inside surface of the second leg; and
a fourth plate surface oppositely disposed from the third plate surface; and
a second plurality of fins, each of the second plurality of fins protruding from the fourth plate surface of the second compliant plate towards the gap,
wherein the second plurality of fins are integrally formed on the second compliant plate; and
wherein the supporting condition:
the second plurality of fins are elastically biased towards the second leg via the first electronic device at a third distance from the second leg;
wherein the unsupported condition:
the second plurality of fins are unbiased and at a fourth distance greater than the third distance from the second leg.
3. The support rack of claim 1 wherein the first compliant plate is interlockingly formed with the first leg with at least one of:
a dove-tail joint,
a transition seam, and
extrusion layering.
4. The support rack of claim 2 , wherein the second compliant plate is interlockingly formed with the second leg with at least one of:
a dove-tail joint,
a transition seam, and
extrusion layering.
5. The support rack of claim 1 and further comprising:
a first inclined bottom formed on each of the first plurality of fins; and
a first inclined bottom angle defined between the first inclined bottom and the base top surface of the base,
wherein the first inclined bottom angle is greater than 20 degrees.
6. The support rack of claim 2 and further comprising:
a second inclined bottom formed on each of the second plurality of fins; and
a second inclined bottom angle defined between the second inclined bottom and the base top surface of the base,
wherein the second inclined bottom angle is greater than 20 degrees.
7. The support rack of claim 1 and further comprising:
a plurality of openings formed in the base,
wherein each of the plurality of openings extends between the base bottom surface and the base top surface;
a plurality of spacers,
wherein each of the plurality of spacers is located in each of the plurality of openings; and
a plurality of standoffs, each of the plurality of standoffs formed on each of the plurality of spacers,
wherein the plurality of standoffs is configured to support the first electronic device away from the base.
8. A supporting method for supporting a first electronic device with a support rack, the supporting method comprising:
providing a base, comprising:
a base bottom surface; and
a base top surface oppositely disposed from the base bottom surface;
providing a first leg, comprising:
a first bottom surface that is coplanar to the base bottom surface of the base;
a first inside surface; and
a first outside surface oppositely disposed to the first inside surface,
wherein the first leg protrudes from the first bottom surface above the base top surface of the base;
providing a second leg, comprising:
a second bottom surface that is coplanar to the base bottom surface of the base and the first bottom surface of the first leg;
a second inside surface; and
a second outside surface oppositely disposed to the second inside surface;
providing a gap defined by space between the first inside surface of the first leg offset from the second inside surface of the second leg;
providing a first compliant assembly comprising:
a first compliant plate comprising:
a first plate bottom surface that is coplanar to the first bottom surface of the first leg, the second bottom surface of the second leg, and the base bottom surface of the base;
a first plate surface adjoining the first inside surface of the first leg;
a second plate surface oppositely disposed from the first plate surface; and
a first plurality of fins, each of the first plurality of fins protruding from the second plate surface of the first compliant plate towards the gap,
wherein the first plurality of fins are integrally formed on the first compliant plate; and
transitioning the first plurality of fins between:
a supporting condition comprising:
biasing elastically, the first plurality of fins towards the first leg via the first electronic device at a first distance from the first leg; and
an unsupported condition comprising:
unbiasing the first plurality of fins at a second distance greater than the first distance from the first leg.
9. The supporting method of claim 8 and further comprising:
providing second compliant assembly oppositely disposed to the first compliant assembly, the second compliant assembly comprising:
a second compliant plate comprising:
a second plate bottom surface that is coplanar to the first bottom surface of the first leg, the second bottom surface of the second leg, the base bottom surface of the base, and the first plate bottom surface of the first compliant plate;
a third plate surface adjoining the second inside surface of the second leg; and
a fourth plate surface oppositely disposed from the third plate surface; and
a second plurality of fins, each of the second plurality of fins protruding from the fourth plate surface of the second compliant plate towards the gap,
wherein the second plurality of fins are integrally formed on the second compliant plate and opposite to the first plurality of fins; and
wherein the supporting condition:
the second plurality of fins are elastically biased towards the second leg via the first electronic device at a third distance from the second leg;
wherein the unsupported condition:
the second plurality of fins are unbiased and at a fourth distance that is greater than the third distance from the second leg.
10. The supporting method of claim 8 and further comprising:
forming interlockingly, a first compliant plate with the first leg with at least one of:
a dove-tail joint,
a transition seam, and
extrusion layering.
11. The supporting method of claim 9 and further comprising:
forming interlockingly, the second compliant plate with the second leg with at least one of:
a dove-tail joint,
a transition seam, and
extrusion layering.
12. The supporting method of claim 9 and further comprising:
providing a first inclined bottom formed on each of the first plurality of fins; and
providing a first inclined bottom angle defined between the first inclined bottom and the base top surface of the base,
wherein the first inclined bottom angle is greater than 20 degrees.
13. The supporting method of claim 9 and further comprising:
providing a second inclined bottom formed on each of the second plurality of fins; and
providing a second inclined bottom angle defined between the second inclined bottom and the base top surface of the base,
wherein the second inclined bottom angle is greater than 20 degrees.
14. The supporting method of claim 8 and further comprising:
providing a plurality of openings formed in the base,
wherein each of the plurality of openings extends between the base bottom surface and the base top surface;
providing a plurality of spacers,
wherein each of the plurality of spacers is located in each of the plurality of openings; and
providing a plurality of standoffs, each of the plurality of standoffs formed on each of the plurality of spacers,
wherein the plurality of standoffs is configured to support the first electronic device away from the base.