Guide rail for electronic module supports

Claim 2

A guide rail for electronic module supports for latchable attachment to at least one transverse support member of a rack, comprising: a guide rail body possessing a substantially U-shaped cross-section and having opposite end regions; a first latching element provided at one end region of said substantially U-shaped guide rail body; a second latching element provided at the other end region of said substantially U-shaped guide rail body; each of said first and second latching elements being provided with a respective pair of resiliently formed latching heads which can engage with spaced-apart apertures separated by cross-pieces; a respective separating element disposed between each said latching head of said pair of latching heads of each of the two latching elements; each said separating element having a substantially U-configuration opening away from said guide rail body; said substantially U-configuration including two spaced legs extending substantially parallel to said resiliently formed latching heads; and each said separating element being structurally proportioned to be selectively inserted into the apertures or on to the cross-pieces arranged between the apertures.

Claim 3

The guide rail as defined in claim 1, further including: at least one transverse support member provided with a metal strip structured to provide said spaced-apart apertures which are separated by said cross-pieces; and each respective separating element of said substantially U-configuration having a substantially U-shaped profile cross-section which is open towards said metal strip disposed in the transverse support member.

Claim 4

The guide rail as defined in claim 2, wherein: the spaced leg of each said substantially U-configuration separating element comprise two spaced-apart resilient prongs which are separated from one another by a pocket.

Claim 5

The guide rail as defined in claim 3, wherein: said pocket has an internal distance; said pocket having at least two internal faces confronting one another; said internal distance substantially corresponding to the spacing between said at least two internal faces; each of the cross-pieces has a width; each of said separating elements has an outer width; each of said separating elements having at least two outer faces; said outer width substantially corresponding to the distance between said at least two outer faces; each of the apertures has a width; said internal distance of each pocket as measured between said at least two internal faces thereof and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip is at least as great as the width of the cross-pieces; and said outer width of the separating elements as measured over said at least two outer faces thereof and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip is at most as great as the width of the apertures.

Claim 6

The guide rail as defined in claim 1, wherein: each pair of latching heads of said first and second latching elements has a pair of depending arms defining therebetween an inner distance; each said pair of depending arms comprising a first depending arm and a second depending arm; said first depending arm having a first inner face; said second depending arm having a second inner face confronting said first inner face; said inner distance defined by said pair of depending arms substantially corresponding to the spacing between said first inner face and said second inner face; said inner distance between said depending arms of each of said latching elements and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip is at least as great as an outer distance of the two spaced-apart cross-pieces separated by an aperture and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip; said two spaced-apart cross-pieces comprising a first cross-piece and a second cross-piece; said first cross-piece having at least one outer face remote from said second cross-piece; said second cross-piece having at least one outer face remote from said first cross-piece; and said outer distance of said two spaced-apart cross-pieces substantially corresponding to the spacing between said at least one outer face of said first cross-piece and said at least one outer face of said second cross-piece.

Claim 7

The guide rail as defined in claim 5, wherein: an inner distance of two spaced-apart apertures separated by a cross-piece and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip is at least as great as an outer distance between the depending arms of the two latching elements and in a direction extending substantially parallel to said metal strip; said two spaced-apart apertures separated by a cross-piece comprising a first aperture and a second aperture; said first aperture having at least one inner face remote from said separating cross-piece and said second aperture; said second aperture having at least one inner face remote from said separating cross-piece and said first aperture; said inner distance of said two spaced-apart apertures substantially corresponding to the spacing between said at least one inner face of said first aperture and said at least one inner face of said second aperture; said first depending arm having at least one outer face remote from said second depending arm; said second depending arm having at least one outer face remote from said first depending arm; said outer distance between said depending arms substantially corresponding to the spacing between said at least one outer face of said first depending arm and said at least one outer face of said second depending arm.

Claim 8

The guide rail as defined in claim 1, wherein: said guide rail body has a rear end; a securing element having a plug provided at said rear end of the guide rail body.

Claim 9

The guide rail as defined in claim 7, wherein: said first and second latching elements and their separating elements respectively define a first front latching element with a first front separating element and a second rear latching element with a second rear separating element; the first front latching element with the first front separating element is formed at substantially a right angle downwardly on the guide rail body; the second rear latching element with the second rear separating element being formed substantially longitudinally on the guide rail body; and the securing element is formed at substantially a right angle upwardly on the guide rail body.

Claim 10

The guide rail as defined in claim 1, wherein: said pair of resiliently formed latching heads define snap-in connector tabs.

Claim 11

An electronic module support system, comprising: at least one transverse support member of a rack; said at least one transverse support member including at least one row of apertures separated by cross-pieces; said apertures having substantially equal widths and said cross-pieces having substantially equal thicknesses; at least one essentially channel-shaped guide rail for electronic modules for latchably engaging said at least one transverse support member; at least one latching element provided on said at least one guide rail; said at least one latching element including a pair of resilient latching heads and a separating element arranged therebetween; said separating element being provided with two spaced-apart resilient prongs separated from one another by a pocket; said resilient prongs of said separating element being separated from one another by an amount permitting said pocket to engage over one of said cross-pieces; said separating element having a width permitting it to enter one of said apertures; said resilient latching heads being separated from one another by an amount permitting them to engage outside of two sequential cross-pieces; said resilient latching heads having a joint outer dimension permitting them to engage within two outer cross-pieces of three sequential cross-pieces; and said resilient latching heads of said at least one latching element and said resilient prongs of said separating element being dimensionally interrelated such that said pocket engages over said one of said cross-pieces when said resilient latching heads engage within said two outer cross-pieces of three sequential cross-pieces and said separating element enters into said one of said apertures when said resilient latching heads engage outside of said two sequential cross-pieces.

Claim 12

An electronic module support system, comprising: at least one transverse support member of a rack; said at least one transverse support member including at least one row of apertures separated by cross-pieces; said apertures having substantially equal widths and said cross-pieces having substantially equal thicknesses; at least one essentially channel-shaped guide rail for electronic modules for latchably engaging said at least one transverse support member; at least one latching element provided on said at least one guide rail; said at least one latching element including a pair of resilient latching heads and a separating element arranged therebetween; said separating element being provided with two spaced-apart resilient prongs separated from one another by a pocket; said resilient prongs of said separating element being separated from one another by an amount permitting said pocket to engage over one of said cross-pieces; said separating element having a width permitting it to enter one of said apertures; said resilient latching heads being separated from one another by an amount permitting them to engage outside of two sequential cross-pieces; said resilient latching heads having a joint outer dimension permitting them to engage within two outer cross-pieces of three sequential cross-pieces; and said resilient latching heads of said at least one latching element and said resilient prongs of said separating element being dimensionally interrelated such that said pocket engages over said one of said cross-pieces when said resilient latching heads engage within said two outer cross-pieces of three sequential cross-pieces and said separating element enters into said one of said apertures when said resilient latching heads engage outside of said two sequential cross-pieces.

Claim 13

The electronic module support system as defined in claim 10, further including: at least one substantially vertical electrical connector element having a ledge-like projection for bearing against said at least one transverse support member; a positioning recess provided in said ledge-like projection; said at least one guide rail having front and rear end regions; said at least one latching element comprising a first latching element provided at said front end region of said guide rail and a second latching element provided at said rear end region of said guide rail; said first latching element being formed to extend in a first direction essentially at a right angle to said guide rail; said second latching element being formed to extend in a second direction essentially parallel to said guide rail; a securing element having a plug for engaging said positioning recess of said ledge-like projection of said electrical connector element and provided at said rear end region of said guide rail; and said securing element being formed to extend in a third direction essentially at a right angle to said guide rail.

Claim 14

The electronic module support system as defined in claim 11, wherein: said third direction of extent of said securing element extends substantially opposite to said first direction of extent of said first latching element.