AUDIO COMPONENT RACK SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MOUNTING COMPONENTS IN A RACK

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to racked audio equipment, and, more particularly, relates to providing a barrier between racked audio components to prevent damage to one audio component installed in the rack when installing or removing another audio component in the bay directly above the installed audio component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Audio components such as amplifies, microphone and instrument interfaces are used in live performances to ensure that the audience can hear the performers. These components are commonly mounted in mobile racks so that the audio equipment can be moved from venue to venue. Sometimes the components travel with an artist, and sometimes the equipment is rented for performances. Typically, these audio components are provided with a face plate that includes openings near the left and right ends of the face plate so that fasteners (e.g. bolts) can attach the faceplate to vertical supports in a rack. The distance between the vertical supports of the rack, the spacing between fastener openings, and faceplate width are standardized. This allows manufacturers to build and package audio components to fit into standardized racks, and technicians and other personnel can arrange components in a rack for ease of transport and use, and include whichever components are necessary in the rack together. The racks are typically open in the back, and various connectors can be provided at the back or rear face, as well as at the front face, in the face plate.

When an audio component is installed in a rack, it is only supported by the fasteners through the face plate attaching the component to the vertical supports of the rack. During installation, however, the rear of the audio component is not supported. As a result, when inserting a component into a rack over another audio component, or when removing one audio component that is directly above another component, it is common for the case of the component being installed/removed to scrape across the top surface of the component in the next lower bay. This can damage the audio component below the one being installed/removed, aesthetically as well as functionally in some cases. Of course it is desirable to avoid functionally damaging equipment, but it is also important to preserver the aesthetic appearance of the equipment since it is common to sell or re-sell equipment. Accordingly, keeping the appearance of the equipment is good condition is also important. Unfortunately, when technicians install or remove equipment, it is nearly impossible to avoid scrapes and scratches to adjacent components.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with some embodiments of the inventive disclosure, there is provided an audio component rack system that includes a rack. The rack has a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a top and a bottom, a front and a rear. There is a first vertical support at the front that is adjacent the first side wall, and a second vertical support at the front that is adjacent the second side wall. The first vertical support and the second vertical support each includes a plurality of fastener locations disposed along their lengths that are horizontally aligned between the first vertical support and the second vertical support. Each fastener location corresponds to a respective bay location of a plurality of bay locations that are vertically ordered in the rack. There are also a plurality of components. Each component is mounted in a respective bay location, and has a case and a face plate. The face plate has lateral extensions on each side of the case that include a fastener location that aligns with one of the fastener locations in the first and second vertical supports. Each component is supported in the rack solely by fasteners that couple the face plate at the lateral extensions to the first and second vertical supports at the fastener locations. There are also a plurality of sheet members. Each sheet member being disposed on a top of the case of a respective component of the plurality of components.

In accordance with a further feature, each sheet member covers an entirety of the top of the case on which it is disposed.

In accordance with a further feature, each sheet member is adhered to the top of the case on which it is disposed.

In accordance with a further feature, each sheet member includes a front region of adhesive and a rear region of adhesive.

In accordance with a further feature, each sheet member is comprised of polyimide.

In accordance with a further feature, each sheet member has a thickness of less than one millimeter.

In accordance with a further feature, a vertical spacing between each component and a vertically adjacent one of the plurality of components is less than one centimeter.

In accordance with a further feature, for each bay location, there are two fastener locations in the first vertical support and two fastener locations in the second vertical support.

In accordance with some embodiments of the inventive disclosure, there is provided a method of mounting components in an audio component rack system. The method includes providing a rack having a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a top and a bottom, a front and a rear. The rack is also provided with a first vertical support at the front that is adjacent the first side wall, and a second vertical support at the front that is adjacent the second side wall. The first vertical support and the second vertical support include a plurality of fastener locations disposed along the lengths of the first vertical support and the second vertical support, and which are horizontally aligned between the first vertical support and the second vertical support, corresponding to respective bay locations of a plurality of bay locations that are vertically ordered or defined in the rack's interior volume. The method further includes placing, on a top of a case of a first component, a first sheet member, and positioning the first component, including the first sheet member, in a first bay location of the plurality of bay locations in the rack. The method also includes fastening the first component to the first vertical support and the second vertical support such that the first component is supported in the rack solely by fasteners coupling the first component to the first and second vertical supports. The method further includes positioning a second component in a second bay location that is vertically adjacent and above the first bay location and mounting the second component in the second bay location, wherein the second component is supported in the rack solely by fasteners coupling the second component to the first and second vertical supports.

In accordance with a further feature, the first sheet member covers an entirety of the top of the case of the first component.

In accordance with a further feature, placing the first sheet member comprises adhering the first sheet member to the top of the case of the first component.

In accordance with a further feature, the first sheet member includes a front region of adhesive and a rear region of adhesive.

In accordance with a further feature, the first sheet member is comprised of polyimide.

In accordance with a further feature, the first sheet member has a thickness of less than one millimeter.

In accordance with a further feature, a vertical spacing between the first component the second component is less than one centimeter.

In accordance with some embodiments of the inventive disclosure, there is provided a method for protecting audio components in a rack mount system. The method includes providing a rack having a plurality of vertically arranged bay locations. The method also includes providing a first audio component and a second audio component. Each of the first and second audio components have their own case that is sized to fit into one of the plurality of vertically arranged bay locations. The method further includes placing a first protective sheet member on a top of the case of the first audio component and placing a second protective sheet member on a top of the case of the second audio component. The method also includes mounting the first audio component with the first protective sheet member in a first bay location of the plurality of vertically arranged bay locations, and mounting the second audio component with the second protective sheet member in a second bay location of the plurality of vertically arranged bay locations.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a means for protecting components in a rack mount system, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.

“In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. The terms “vertical” and “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof, are in reference to the article being referenced in its usual position for use. Thus, for example, a “vertical member” means a member having a generally vertical orientation, being elongated in vertical direction, when the article is being used normally, as intended. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as “installed”, “coupled”, “connected” should be broadly interpreted, for example, it may be fixedly connected, or may be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it may be mechanically connected, or may be electrically connected; it may be directly connected, or may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the article being referenced. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the embodiments of the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1A is front elevational view of a rack for holding audio components in an audio rack system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a rack for holding audio components in an audio rack system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an audio component having a protective sheet member disposed thereon being mounted into a rack in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an audio component having a protective sheet member disposed thereon, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4A is a front view of an audio component for use in an audio component rack mount system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4B is a rear view of an audio component for use in an audio component rack mount system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a side exploded view of an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows a side exploded view of a plurality of audio components and protective sheet members, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of an audio component having a protective sheet member being placed thereon, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a plurality of audio components in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9E show a method of mounting audio components in a rack in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 show a plan view of an alternate protective sheet member, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

FIG. 1A is front elevational view of a rack 100 for holding audio components in an audio rack system, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same rack 100. The rack 100 is a generally box-like unit, having a rectanguloid shape, with a first side wall 102 and a second side wall 104 that is opposite the first side wall 102. The side walls 102, 104 are generally planar and in a vertical orientation. The rack 100 also has a top 106 and a bottom 108. When the rack 100 is empty, there is an empty volume 126 between the first and second sides 102, 104, between the top 106 and bottom 108, and between the front 128 and rear 130.

At the front 128, adjacent each of the first and second side walls 102, 104, there are vertical support member 110, 112, respectively. The support members 110, 112 are rigid, flat, having a thickness from front to back of at least one eight of an inch in some embodiments. The vertical support members 110, 112 have a plurality of fastener locations 114, 116 in a vertical series. The fastener location 114, 116 can simply be holes through the vertical support members 110, 112, or they can be threaded protrusions that extend from the face of each of the vertical support members 110, 112. The fastener locations 114, 116 correspond to bay locations, such as bay locations 118, 120, 122, and can be horizontally aligned, meaning at the same height on each side of each bay location. Each bay location is a space where an audio component is mounted in the volume 126 of the rack 100. The rack 100 can have wheels or casters 124 to allow personnel to move the rack 100 around easily.

The audio components will be exclusively supported in their respective bay by fasteners that fasten the audio component to the vertical support members 110, 112 at the fastener locations 114, 116. That is, there are no rails in the bays on which the audio components can rest, and they are also not supported at the rear of the rack 100. As a result, whenever an audio component that is immediately above another audio component is inserted into the rack, or removed from the rack, it will likely make contact with the lower adjacent audio component, potentially damaging the lower adjacent audio component. Because the audio components in the rack may be reconfigured for different events/performances, over time the cases of the audio components can become quite scratched and damaged, which can affect their resale value, despite the fact that the damage is only cosmetic in most instances.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an audio component 200 having a protective sheet member 300 disposed thereon, and the audio component 200 being mounted into a rack 100 in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments. The audio component 200 can be, for example, an amplifier, a mixer, a pre-amplifier, a public address interface, or another other audio component useful for audio service. In general, personnel can select which components are needed for a given event and install or mount the necessary components into the rack 100, and then move the rack system to the venue, connect audio gear to various components, and connect to a public address or other speaker system.

Each audio component 200 is configured to fit into the rack 100, and as such includes a case 202 in which audio processing circuity is housed, and which provides the structure for holding connectors, adjustment devices (knobs, switches) and gauges. The case 202 is generally rectanguloid, having a rectangular top and bottom, as well as rectangular sides that are at right angles to the top and bottom. The case 202 is sized to fit within the space of a bay in the rack 100 so that other components can be mounted in the bay above and/or below. There is a face plate 204 at the front of the case 202 that can include handles 206 for use in installing and removing the component 200 into or from a rack. The face plate 204 also has lateral extensions 208 that extend to the side of the case 202, and have features for engaging the fastener locations 114, 116 of the vertical support members 110, 112 of the rack 100. The features can be openings or holes through which a fastener passes to fasten the face plate 204, and thereby the component 200, to the rack 100.

To protect the top of the case 202 from being damaged by adjacently mounted components, when components are installed in a bay above the component 200, or removed from a bay above the component 200, a protective sheet member 300 is placed over the top of the case 202. The sheet member is made of a material that is softer than the material of the case 202, and any finish (e.g. paint) on the case 202 to prevent it from marring or scratching the case 202. Suitable materials can include polymeric materials, paper, wood, and card stock. Among polymeric materials, polyimide is a commonly used material sold under the trade name KAPTON that is provided in sheets that can be cut to size, and is very durable and useful as a protective sheet member material. The sheet member 300 can be sized to substantially cover the entirety of the top of the case 200, or it can have perforations or other patterns of openings to reduce the amount of material needed without reducing the protective effect of the sheet member. FIG. 10 shows a sheet member 1000 that includes a pattern of openings 1002 where the openings 1002 are surrounded by links 1004 or portions of the material of the sheet 1000. The openings are small enough, and the links wide enough to provide the desired protective effect in most cases. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the audio component 200 having the protective sheet member 300 disposed on the top of the case 202. The faceplate 200 includes lateral extensions 208 that extend outward relative to the sides of the case 202 and include fastener features such as openings 210 to allow the component 200 to be fastened and mounted into the rack 100. The right handle is removed here to show the openings 210 on the right lateral extension.

FIG. 4A is a front view of an audio component 200 for use in an audio component rack mount system, in accordance with some embodiments. The face plate 204 includes the lateral extensions 208 that allow mounting of the component 200 in the rack 100. At the face plate 204 there are also features such as gauges 214, adjustment knobs 216 for adjusting operating parameters (e.g. gain, volume, tone equalization, etc.), and switches 218, as examples of features that can be provided. FIG. 4B is a rear view of the audio component 200 for use in an audio component rack mount system, in accordance with some embodiments. At the rear of the component that can be features such as, for example, a power plug 220, a fan inlet 222, a fan exhaust 224, audio inputs such as XLR connectors 226, instrument jacks 228, and audio output jacks 230.

FIG. 5 shows a side exploded view of an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments. A plurality of components 200A, 200B to 200n are to be installed into the rack 100. To protect the cases from damage, FIG. 6 shows a side exploded view of a plurality of audio components 200B, 200C and protective sheet members 300B, 300C, in accordance with some embodiments. The sheet members 300B, 300C are placed onto the top of the cases 202B, 202C of the components 200B, 200C. This can be done before mounting the components into the rack 100. In fact, the protective sheet members 300 can be placed onto components well ahead of the components being mounted in a rack, and the sheet members can simply be left there indefinitely as the components are moved, mounted into a rack, removed from a rack, placed into storage, and so on. The vertical spacing between components can be on the order of one centimeter or less. The sheet members can have a thickness on the order of one millimeter or less. In some embodiments the vertical spacing between the top of one component and the bottom of the next higher component can be on the order of five millimeters or less. FIG. 7 shows a top view of an audio component 200 having a protective sheet member 300 being placed thereon, in accordance with some embodiments. The sheet member 300 can include one or more regions of adhesive 302 to adhere the sheet member to the top 240 of the case 202 of the component 200. As shown here, there is a front region of adhesive and a rear region of adhesive disposed on one side of the sheet member 300. The adhesive can be a pressure sensitive adhesive that allows the sheet member 300 to be removed easily from the component 200 is desired. In the specific embodiment shown there is a region of adhesive adjacent a back edge of the sheet member 300, and another region of adhesive adjacent the front edge of the sheet member. Having adhesive at opposite ends of the body of the sheet member 300 can help resist movement of the sheet member 300 relative to the component 200 when the sheet member is contacted by another component what that other component is being mounted in the rack, or removed from the rack.

FIG. 8 shows a plurality of audio components in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, component 200B has sheet member 300B attached to the top of the case of the component 200B. The sheet member 300B protects the case of component 200B when component 200A is mounted into the rack 100, or removed from the rack 100 while component 200B is mounted in the rack 100. All of the other components in the rack below component 200B likewise each have a corresponding sheet member to protect them from damage when components in higher bays are mounted into the rack 100 or removed from the rack 100. Each of the components are fastened to the rack using fasteners 800, which can be bolts that thread into the openings (fastener locations 114, 116) in the vertical support members 110, 112 of the rack 100.

To demonstrate the problem, and how the sheet member 300 protects its corresponding component, FIGS. 9A-9E show a method of mounting audio components in a rack in an audio component rack system, in accordance with some embodiments. Removing a component would simply be the reverse order of these illustrations. In the following illustrations, only the vertical support member 110 is shown for clarity. It can be assumed that the remainder of the frame of the rack is present, including the sidewalls, top, and bottom, and reference should be made to the previously described drawings as well.

In FIG. 9A, there is shown a first audio component 200Z to be mounted to the vertical support members (e.g. 110, 112) of the rack 100. A protective sheet member 300Z is placed onto the top of the case of the component 200Z. The sheet member 300Z can be placed onto the component 200Z either before or after the component is mounted on the vertical support members 110, 112 using, for example, fasteners 800. In FIG. 9B the component 200Z with the protective sheet member 300Z in place on the top of the case of the component 200Z is mounted in the rack, and fastened to the vertical support members including vertical support member 110. At this point the major portion of the component 200Z will be positioned in a bay location inside the interior volume 126 of the rack 100. In FIG. 9C, a second component 200Y is readied for mounting in the rack 100, including having a sheet member 300Y placed on the top of the component 200Y. In FIG. 9D, the second component 200Y is inserted into the rack 100. Since the rack lacks any rails or other supports beside the vertical support members 110, 112, and because of the close proximity of the bay locations, there can be inadvertent contact between the component 200Y being positioned in the rack 100 and the component 200Z already mounted in the rack 100. Protective sheet member 300Z receives the contact from the case of the second component 200Y, and prevents damage to both components 200Y and 200Z. Finally, in FIG. 9E, the second component 200Y is mounted in the rack 100 in the bay location immediately above the first component 200Z. This process can be repeated until all of the desired audio components are mounted in the rack 100.

In a rack mount system where components are mounted in the rack, the components are protected from damage by inadvertent contact between components when components are being inserted into the rack or removed from the rack adjacent other components mounted in the rack. A protective sheet member is placed on the top of the components which is made of a material that is softer than the case material of the components, or the finish on the case of the components. This preserves the appearance of the components, and thereby their resale value.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.