US20140263129A1

US20140263129A1 - Rack assembly

Info

Publication number: US20140263129A1
Application number: US13/795,529
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chao Tseng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-12
Filing date: 2013-03-12
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

A rack assembly includes at least four columns, a top frame module and a bottom frame module. The at least four columns are connected between the top and bottom frame modules. The rack assembly can be easily disassembled for reducing the room required in transportation, and the rack assembly can be easily assembled in offices.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rack assembly, and more particularly, to a rack assembly that is composed of various parts and has strength for heavy load.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The conventional racks are used for managing servos and computers so as to store the data and be connected with computers and electronic equipments of different departments needs.
The conventional racks are manufactured by the manufacturing factories and each rack is manufactured by assembling and welding processes. The finished racks are then sent to the users' offices. However, significant space is required when transporting the racks to the users' offices. When the doors of the offices are small, the racks are difficult to be easily installed in the offices.
The conventional assembled racks use adapting connectors at the corners of the racks, however, stress are concentrated at these adapting connectors at the corners so that the connection can be easily damaged and cannot used for heavy load.
The present invention intends to provide a rack assembly which can be assembled in the offices and the strength is improved to bear heavy load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rack assembly and comprises at least four columns, a top frame module and a bottom frame module. The top frame module comprises a top frame, a top connection unit connected to the top frame, and at least four top fixing slots. The top connection unit comprises multiple top connection parts. The at least four top fixing slots are formed by connections of the top frame and the top connection parts. The bottom frame module comprises a bottom frame, a bottom connection unit connected to the bottom frame, and at least four bottom fixing slots. The bottom connection unit has multiple bottom connection parts. The at least four bottom fixing slots are formed by connections of the bottom frame and the bottom connection parts. The at least four columns are connected between the top and bottom frame modules by locking units. The rack assembly can be easily disassembled for reducing the room required in transportation, and the rack assembly can be easily assembled in offices.
Preferably, each of the top connection parts has at least one top notch and the top frame has at least four top corners which are located corresponding to the at least four notches so as to form the at least four top fixing slots.
Preferably, each of the bottom connection parts has at least one bottom notch and the bottom frame has at least four bottom corners which are located corresponding to the at least four bottom notches so as to form the at least four bottom fixing slots.
Preferably, each of the top connection parts has a top locking plate and each of the bottom connection parts has a bottom locking plate which is located corresponding to the top locking plate so as to be connected links.
Preferably, each of the top locking plate and the bottom locking plate has an elongate hole for convenience of adjustment.
Preferably, the top frame has a top bent wall extending downward from the inside thereof and the bottom frame has a bottom bent wall extending upward from the inside thereof to reinforce the strength.
Preferably, the top frame and the top connection part are in contact with each other in face-face manner and the bottom frame and the bottom connection part are in contact with each other in face-face manner.
Preferably, the top locking unit comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the top frame, the top connection part and the column. The bottom locking unit comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the bottom frame, the bottom connection part and the column.
Preferably, the bottom frame is connected with a roller unit.
Preferably, the top frame has a first top U-frame, a second top U-frame, a first top connection plate and a second top connection plate. The first top connection plate connects the first top U-frame to one end of the second top U-frame. The second top connection plate connects the first top U-frame to the other end of the second top U-frame. The bottom frame has a first bottom U-frame, a second bottom U-frame, a first bottom connection plate and a second bottom connection plate. The first bottom connection plate connects the bottom top U-frame to one end of the second bottom U-frame. The second bottom connection plate connects the bottom top U-frame to the other end of the second bottom U-frame.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rack assembly without using adapting connectors, and while has strength.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the rack assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the rack assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the upper and bottom portions of the rack assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the parts of the rack assembly of the present invention when in assembling;

FIG. 5 shows the parts of the top frame module of the rack assembly of the present invention when in assembling;

FIG. 6 shows the parts of the bottom frame module and the rest parts of the rack assembly of the present invention when in assembling;

FIG. 7 shows the parts of the bottom frame module of the rack assembly of the present invention when in assembling;

FIG. 8 shows the locking units and the bottom frame module of the rack assembly of the present invention when in assembling;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view to show the locking units of the present invention, and

FIG. 10 is another cross sectional view to show the locking units of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rack assembly of the present invention comprises four columns 10, a top frame module 20 and a bottom frame module 30, so as to reduce the room required when in transportation and the ability for management of load is also increased.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the top frame module 20 comprises a top frame 21, a top connection unit 22 and at least four top fixing slots 23. The top connection unit 22 has multiple top connection parts 221 which are connected to the inside of the top frame 21. The at least four top fixing slots 23 each are formed by connections of the top frame 21 and the top connection parts 221, and the four columns 10 have their respective four first ends inserted into the at least four top fixing slots 23. Each of the four columns 10 and each of the at least four top fixing slots 23 are secured by at least one top locking unit T1 so as to secure the relative position between the column 10 and the top fixing slot 23. The top frame 21 has a first top U-frame 213, a second top U-frame 214, a first top connection plate 215 and a second top connection plate 216. The first top connection plate 215 connects the first top U-frame 213 to one end of the second top U-frame 214. The second top connection plate 216 connects the first top U-frame 213 to the other end of the second top U-frame 214. By using the top connection parts 221, the first top connection plate 215 and the second top connection plate 216, the top frame module 20 can support more load than the conventional rack assemblies.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the bottom frame module 30 comprises a bottom frame 31, a bottom connection unit 32 and at least four bottom fixing slots 33. The bottom connection unit 32 is connected to the bottom frame 31 and comprises multiple bottom connection parts 321. The at least four bottom fixing slots 33 are formed by connections of the bottom frame 31 and the bottom connection parts 321. The four columns 10 have their respective four second ends inserted into the at least four bottom fixing slots 33. Each of the four columns 10 and each of the at least four bottom fixing slots 33 are secured by at least one bottom locking unit T2. The bottom frame 31 has a first bottom U-frame 313, a second bottom U-frame 314, a first bottom connection plate 315 and a second bottom connection plate 316. The first bottom connection plate 315 connects the bottom top U-frame 313 to one end of the second bottom U-frame 314. The second bottom connection plate 316 connects the bottom top U-frame 313 to the other end of the second bottom U-frame 314. By using the bottom connection parts 321, the first bottom connection plate 315 and the second bottom connection plate 316, the bottom frame module 30 can support more load than the conventional rack assemblies.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the top connection parts 221 has at least one top notch 2211 and the top frame 21 has at least four top corners 211 which are located corresponding to the at least four notches 2211 so as to form the at least four top fixing slots 23. The top frame 21 and the top connection part 221 are in contact with each other in face-face manner so that the load is supported by the top locking units T1, the top frame 21 and the top connection part 221.
As shown in FIG. 7, each of the bottom connection parts 321 has at least one bottom notch 3211 and the bottom frame 31 has at least four bottom corners 311 which are located corresponding to the at least four bottom notches 3211 so as to form the at least four bottom fixing slots 33. The bottom frame 31 and the bottom connection part 321 are in contact with each other in face-face manner so that the load is supported by the bottom locking units T2, the bottom frame 31 and the bottom connection part 321.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the top frame 21 has a top bent wall 212 extending downward from the inside thereof and the bottom frame 31 has a bottom bent wall 312 extending upward from an inside thereof. The top and bottom bent walls 212, 312 reinforce the connection between the top connection parts 221 and the top frame 21, and between the bottom connection parts 321 and the bottom frame 31.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, each of the top connection parts 221 has a top locking plate 2212 and each of the bottom connection parts 321 has a bottom locking plate 3212 which is located corresponding to the top locking plate 2212 so as to be connected to four links 40. The links 40 are used to position the electric devices in the rack assembly. Each of the top locking plate 2212 and the bottom locking plate 3212 has an elongate hole so that the links 40 can be fixed at different positions along the elongate holes to adapt the sizes of the electric devices.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the top locking unit T1 comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the top frame 21, the top connection part 221 and the column 10 to connect the top frame 21, the top connection part 221 and the column 10. Similarly, the bottom locking unit T2 comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the bottom frame 31, the bottom connection part 321 and the column 10 to position the bottom frame 31, the bottom connection part 321 and the column 10.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bottom frame 31 is connected with a roller unit 50 by which the rack assembly is moved easily.
The rack assembly is easily assembled and disassembled, and the room required for transportation and storage is reduced. The strength of the rack assembly is reinforced to accept more electric devices.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rack assembly comprising:

at least four columns;

a top frame module having a top frame, a top connection unit and at least four top fixing slots;

the top connection unit connected to the top frame, the top connection unit having multiple top connection parts, the at least four top fixing slots formed by connections of the top frame and the top connection parts, the at least four columns having at least four first ends thereof inserted into the at least four top fixing slots, each of the at least four columns and each of the at least four top fixing slots being secured by at least one top locking unit;

a bottom frame module having a bottom frame, a bottom connection unit and at least four bottom fixing slots;

the bottom connection unit connected to the bottom frame, the bottom connection unit having multiple bottom connection parts, the at least four bottom fixing slots formed by connections of the bottom frame and the bottom connection parts, the at least four columns having at least four second ends thereof inserted into the at least four bottom fixing slots, each of the at least four columns and each of the at least four bottom fixing slots being secured by at least one bottom locking unit.

2. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the top connection parts has at least one top notch and the top frame has at least four top corners which are located corresponding to the at least four notches so as to form the at least four top fixing slots.

3. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the bottom connection parts has at least one bottom notch and the bottom frame has at least four bottom corners which are located corresponding to the at least four bottom notches so as to form the at least four bottom fixing slots.

4. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the top connection parts has a top locking plate and each of the bottom connection parts has a bottom locking plate which is located corresponding to the top locking plate so as to be connected to four links.

5. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the top locking plate and the bottom locking plate has an elongate hole.

6. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top frame has a top bent wall extending downward from an inside thereof and the bottom frame has a bottom bent wall extending upward from an inside thereof.

7. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top frame and the top connection part are in contact with each other in face-face manner and the bottom frame and the bottom connection part are in contact with each other in face-face manner.

8. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top locking unit comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the top frame, the top connection part and the column, the bottom locking unit comprises a male bolt and a female bolt, the male bolt and the female bolt respectively extend through the bottom frame, the bottom connection part and the column.

9. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom frame is connected with a roller unit.

10. The rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top frame has a first top U-frame, a second top U-frame, a first top connection plate and a second top connection plate, the first top connection plate connects the first top U-frame to one end of the second top U-frame, the second top connection plate connects the first top U-frame to the other end of the second top U-frame, the bottom frame has a first bottom U-frame, a second bottom U-frame, a first bottom connection plate and a second bottom connection plate, the first bottom connection plate connects the bottom top U-frame to one end of the second bottom U-frame, the second bottom connection plate connects the bottom top U-frame to the other end of the second bottom U-frame.