TOP COVER STRUCTURE FOR SERVER PACKAGING

Abstract

An apparatus stages a bag on tall equipment while providing top cushioning for transport. A top cover structure sits on the equipment's upper surface and presents, on its bottom-facing side, multiple corner components and a central component. Each corner component includes a bag-retention feature that receives and holds a portion of the bag opening, and the central component includes a bag-retention feature (optionally leading to a staging cavity) that receives and holds a portion of the bag body. Retention mechanisms include, for example, flexible petal lids, keyed lined slots, clamps, or bristle arrays. Corner components may be adjustable to fit different footprints. Variants include a one-piece board carrying all components and a modular assembly of separate corner and central components. The staged bag is then drawn down over the equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for packaging equipment, comprising: a top cover structure comprising a bottom-facing surface configured to be disposed on an upper surface of the equipment, the bottom-facing surface comprising: a plurality of corner components configured to overlie respective corner regions of the upper surface of the equipment, and a central component configured to overlie a central region of the upper surface of the equipment, each of the plurality of corner components comprising a first bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of an opening of a bag, and the central component comprising a second bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of a body of the bag.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central component further defines a staging cavity communicating with the second bag-retention feature, the staging cavity being sized to receive at least a majority of the body of the bag.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a volume bounded by the staging cavity of the central component is at least two times greater than a volume bounded by any recess or aperture of the plurality of corner components.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: a through-aperture spanned by a flexible lid formed from a resilient sheet comprising intersecting slits that define a plurality of petals that elastically deflect to receive and retain a portion of the bag.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: a slot or aperture with a compliant liner that frictionally retains a portion of the bag.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: a clamp comprising a movable jaw biased toward a fixed anvil with compliant contact pads to retain a portion of the bag.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: an array of flexible fingers or bristles that deflect to admit and frictionally retain a portion of the bag.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of corner components and the central component are formed from compressible cushioning material selected from expanded polyethylene, expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, molded pulp, corrugated fiberboard laminates or multi-density composites.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the resilient sheet comprises: silicone rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomer, or a sheet comprising antistatic or electrostatic dissipative surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top cover structure is pre-assembled with at least one internal cushioning block to form a unit configured to be placed on the equipment in a single operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bag-retention feature is smaller in size than the second bag-retention feature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of corner components is releasably mounted to the bottom-facing surface at a plurality of mounting locations such that spacing between the plurality of corner components is adjustable to match dimensions of the upper surface of the equipment.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of corner components is engaged with a slide movable along at least one rail or slot on the bottom-facing surface and is lockable at multiple positions, such that spacing between the plurality of corner components is adjustable to match dimensions of the upper surface of the equipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of corner components is secured to the bottom-facing surface by a repositionable attachment selected from hook-and-loop fastener, magnetic coupling, and reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive to permit tool-free repositioning, such that spacing between the plurality of corner components is adjustable to match dimensions of the upper surface of the equipment.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the top cover structure is disposed on the upper surface of the equipment, and the bag is staged on the equipment prior to being drawn down over the equipment.

16. A board for staging a bag on equipment, the board comprising a substrate comprising a bottom-facing surface configured to be disposed on an upper surface of the equipment, the bottom-facing surface comprising: a plurality of corner components arranged to overlie respective corner regions of the upper surface, and a central component arranged to overlie a central region of the upper surface, each of the plurality of corner components comprising a first bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of an opening of the bag, and the central component comprising a second bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of a body of the bag.

17. The board of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: a through-aperture spanned by a flexible lid formed from a resilient sheet comprising intersecting slits that define a plurality of petals that elastically deflect to receive and retain a portion of the bag.

18. A modular top cover structure for packaging equipment, comprising: a plurality of corner components and a central component, each of the plurality of corner components being configured to be placed at a respective corner region of an upper surface of the equipment and comprising a first bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of an opening of a bag, and the central component being configured to be placed over a central region of the upper surface of the equipment and comprising a second bag-retention feature configured to receive and retain a portion of a body of the bag.

19. The modular top cover structure of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first bag-retention feature and the second bag-retention feature comprises: a through-aperture spanned by a flexible lid formed from a resilient sheet comprising intersecting slits that define a plurality of petals that elastically deflect to receive and retain a portion of the bag.

20. The modular top cover structure of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of corner components is secured to a bottom-facing surface of a cover by a repositionable attachment selected from hook-and-loop fastener, magnetic coupling, and reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive to permit tool-free repositioning, such that spacing between the plurality of corner components is adjustable to match dimensions of the upper surface of the equipment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a top-down bagging scenario for packaging a server rack.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates multiple views of a top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 4A illustrates more views of the top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom view of the top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of the top cover structure with a bag staged for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of the top cover structure with a bag staged for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a cover with cushioning material engaged with the top cover structure to form a top assembly for server packing, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates using the top assembly for server packing, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates flexible configuration of the top cover structure for server packing, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0019] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure may be practiced without these details. Moreover, while various embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed herein, many adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure in accordance with the common general knowledge of those skilled in this art. Such modifications include the substitution of known equivalents for any aspect of the disclosure in order to achieve the same result in substantially the same way.

[0020] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the present specification and claims, the word comprise and variations thereof, such as, comprises and comprising are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as including, but not limited to. Recitation of numeric ranges of values throughout the specification is intended to serve as a shorthand notation of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range inclusive of the values defining the range, and each separate value is incorporated in the specification as it were individually recited herein. Additionally, the singular forms a, an and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0021] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may be in some instances. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0022] The disclosed structure is suitable for high-throughput packaging of server enclosures and similar tall equipment. It supports standardized work at reduced cycle time and lower ergonomic and safety risk, while improving mechanical protection and reducing the likelihood of line delays caused by misplaced packaging bags. Here, the bag may include a low-density plastic bag, such as a dust or antistatic polyethylene bag, but not limited to any specific bag (collectively called protective bag or bag for simplicity).

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a top-down bagging scenario for packaging a server rack. As shown, a pliable protective bag is positioned above a palletized rack approximately 2.5 m tall and is intended to be drawn downward over the rack from the top. In conventional packaging lines, an operator needs to reach or climb to the rack top, manually spread the bag mouth (also called opening), align the bag's four corners with the rack edges, and hold the bag in place while the remainder of the bag is pulled down. When the rack's top surface is wide, a single worker often cannot span and control the full bag opening, so two or more workers are required to hold opposite corners simultaneously, which increases labor demand and coordination time and still leaves corners prone to slipping.

[0024] This sequence creates multiple technical issues. First, ergonomics and safety degrade at this height: workers typically use step stools or ladders, increasing fall risk and limiting two-handed control of the bag. Second, the bag mouth lacks a defined datum or capture point at the top surface, so alignment drifts as the bag is stretched, leading to skew, uneven overhang at the base, and repeated re-positioning that lengthens cycle time.

[0025] The bag itself presents handling problems. Without corner capture, local tension concentrates at sharp top edges, promoting tearing and pin-holing; and loose flaps can snag on protrusions or fasteners. Process stability also suffers: wind or airflow in the packing area readily dislodges a partially positioned bag; operators often need a second person to hold corners, further disrupting takt and staffing. Because the bag has no predefined staging location, bags are frequently misplaced or intermixed with other materials, causing search time, intermittent shortages, and line stoppages. Finally, the need to return to the top to install cushioning and close the carton forces a second high-reach operation, compounding ergonomic exposure and introducing variability in final top protection.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates multiple views of a top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments. The illustrated structure is implemented as a board whose bottom-facing surface (i.e., the surface facing an equipment, e.g., a server, a rack, or a device, that is to be packaged) is subdivided into five functional regions: four corner regions that act as corner components 222 configured to overlie respective corner areas of the underlying server rack's upper surface (i.e., the top surface when the equipment/server rack stands vertically for packaging), and a center region that acts as a central component 225 configured to overlie the rack's central area. Each corner component 222 incorporates a first bag-retention feature that receives and holds a portion of the bag opening (i.e., the bag mouth, so the portion of an opening refers to any local segment of that bag mouth edge for retention by the first bag-retention feature), while the central component 225 incorporates a second bag-retention feature that receives and holds a portion of the bag body to stage the bag for later draw-down. Here and in the subsequent description, the term overlie means positioned above and substantially aligned with the referenced region of the upper surface of the underlying equipment or device (e.g., corner areas or central area); the component (222 or 225) may be in direct contact with the underlying surface/areas or separated by a small clearance, and the overlap may be full or partial.

[0027] The side view 200 shows an optional cover 210 that engages the board to form a complete assembly. The cover 210 cooperates with the central component 225 to define an enclosed staging cavity above the rack top. In embodiments without the cover 210, the central component 225 itself provides cavity volume for staging. When the cover 210 is present, the central component 225 may be simplified to a thin through access or throat, with the cover volume completing the cavity; this reduces material usage in the central block while maintaining controlled guidance and retention of the staged bag.

[0028] The top view 220 shows that the central component 225 may expose a through access visible from above, for example an X-shaped or otherwise keyed opening that admits a gathered loop of the bag body. By contrast, in this embodiment, the corner components 222 in this embodiment open only downward toward the rack surface, so their capture apertures are not visible in the top view 220.

[0029] The bottom view 230 shows the downward-facing apertures of both the central component 225 and the corner components 222. In this orientation the bag-retention geometry at the corners is apparent. Each corner component presents a downward opening configured to receive and retain a respective portion of the bag mouth when pressed from above, while the central component 225 shows its through access that communicates with the staging volume formed by the combination of the central region and, where present, the cover 210.

[0030] In operation, the central component 225 is configured to retain a substantially larger portion of the bag than the corner components 222, e.g., a majority of the body of the protective bag. The corner components 222, by contrast, need only capture small local segments of the bag opening to establish initial alignment and prevent drift during upstream steps. During draw-down, tension applied to the bag causes the mouth/opening to slip free from the corner components 222 with controlled release, while the stored loop in the central component 225 feeds out progressively. This staged feed allows the bag to descend from a stable, centered datum, minimizing skew and reducing peak stress at top edges.

[0031] In some embodiments, the central component 225 itself defines a staging cavity (rather than engaging with the cover 210) that is in mechanical communication with its bag-retention feature (for example, a throat or through-access), the cavity being sized to receive at least a majority of the body of the protective bag so that the bag is stored inboard of the enclosure corners prior to draw-down.

[0032] In some implementations, a volume bounded by the staging cavity of the central component 225 is at least twice the volume bounded by any recess or aperture provided in a corner component 222, and in other cases three to ten times greater, so the central component 225 retains substantially more bag than any single corner.

[0033] In some embodiments, the bag-retention features of the corner components 222 (also referred to as the first bag-retention features) and the central component 225 (also referred to as the second bag-retention features) can be realized in various forms. The first and second bag-retention features may adopt the same or different forms.

[0034] In one form, a through-aperture is spanned by a flexible lid formed from a resilient sheet having intersecting slits that define self-closing petals; the petals elastically deflect to admit a portion of the bag and then resiliently grip the bag to retain it. The resilient sheet may be silicone rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or a sheet having an antistatic or electrostatic-dissipative surface finish. In other forms, the bag-retention features may be (i) a slot or aperture lined with a compliant insert that frictionally grips the bag when inserted from above; (ii) a clamp with a movable jaw biased toward a fixed anvil, optionally with compliant contact pads, to hold a portion of the bag; or (iii) an array of flexible fingers or bristles that deflect to admit and frictionally retain the bag. Any of these mechanisms may be used at the corners, at the center, or both.

[0035] In some embodiments, the central aperture of the central component 225 is larger than each corner aperture of the corner components 222, i.e., the second bag-retention feature is sized greater than the first bag-retention feature.

[0036] In this board embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the top cover structure is a single-piece substrate whose bottom-facing surface is divided into the five functional regions described above. The corner components 222 and the central component 225 are formed integrally with, or are affixed to, this substrate so that the substrate by itself constitutes a standalone board configured to be disposed on the equipment top; an optional cover may be added later.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments. In contrast with the board-based layout of FIG. 2, the embodiment of FIG. 3 is modular configuration and employs five separate components: four discrete corner components 1-4 and a separate central component 5. In some embodiments, each corner component 1-4 is configured to be placed at a respective corner region of the underlying server rack's upper surface and includes a first bag-retention feature (not visible in this perspective) that receives and retains a portion of the bag opening. The central component 5 is configured to be placed over a central region and includes a second bag-retention feature 7 that receives and retains a gathered portion of the bag body for staging.

[0038] In some embodiments, the central component 5 includes one or more base supports 6 that space a substrate of the central component 5 from an overlying cover (e.g., the cover 210 of FIG. 2) to create a staging space for the protective bag between the substrate and the cover. In this arrangement, the base supports 6 act as internal spacers/pillars defining the height and footprint of the staging cavity. The supports 6 may be compressible or semi-rigid and can be sized to set the cavity depth above the bag-retention feature 7 so that the staged bag feeds out smoothly during draw-down.

[0039] In some embodiments, the five separate components 1-5 are mounted to the underside of the cover 210 (i.e., the side facing the underlying equipment for packaging) to form a preassembled top unit. The corner components 1-4 and the central component 5 may be fixed to the cover by adhesive, snap features, heat stakes, or fasteners so their relative positions are maintained. The cover 210 cooperates with the base supports 6 of the central component 5 to enclose the staging space; the central component 5 may thus be implemented as a thin access or throat, with the cover 210 completing the cavity, reducing material use and simplifying manufacture.

[0040] In operation, the protective bag is pre-staged within this assembly before it arrives at the packing line. Small segments of the bag mouth are captured by the corner components 1-4 to establish alignment, and a majority of the bag body is gathered through the bag-retention feature 7 into the staging space defined between the substrate (with the central component 5) and the cover 210. On the packaging line, the pre-staged assembly is handled as a single kit placed on the server rack in one step. During draw-down, the mouth of the bag disengages from the corner components 1-4 in a controlled manner while the staged bag body feeds progressively from the central component 5, enabling a centered, low-stress deployment.

[0041] In some embodiments, the separate components (1-5) and base supports 6 may be formed from cushioning media such as expanded polyethylene or polypropylene foams, molded pulp, corrugated fiberboard laminates, or multi-density composites. Where a cover 210 is not employed, the central component 5 may integrate its own walls or pillars to self-define the staging cavity; where a cover 210 is used, repositionable attachments such as hook-and-loop pads, magnetic feet, or reusable pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used to couple the preassembled unit to the equipment for tool-free placement.

[0042] In this modular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each corner component 1-4 may be secured to the underside of the cover (e.g., 210) by a repositionable attachment, such as hook-and-loop fastener, magnetic coupling, or reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive, so the corner components 1-4 can be shifted without tools. This permits the spacing between the corner components 1-4 to be adjusted to match the dimensions of the equipment top before the bag is staged.

[0043] FIG. 4A illustrates more views of the top cover structure with bag staging for server packaging, in accordance with some embodiments. The figure depicts the modular embodiment introduced in FIG. 3. In this modular top cover structure, four separate corner components and a separate central component may be attached to a cover (not shown in FIG. 4A). FIG. 4A presents three orthogonal views to clarify geometry and function.

[0044] In the bottom view, the underside of the modular top cover structure (i.e., the side facing the underlying equipment for packaging) is shown with the four corner components 400A-400D located at respective corner regions and the central component 410 located in the middle. The central component 410 exposes a through access (shown as an X) that communicates with the staging space defined between the substrate of the central component 410 and the cover (e.g., cover 210 in FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 4A). By contrast, the corner components 400A-400D present downward-facing capture apertures only; their openings may be not visible from above but visible in this underside view because they admit and retain localized portions of the bag mouth when pressed from the bottom.

[0045] The left/right view illustrates relative section profiles across the assembly. The corner components 400A-400D appear as blocks near the ends while the central component 410 shows a recess 420 above the central region of the central component 410 and beneath the cover (e.g., cover 210 in FIG. 2), indicating the entrance into the staging space.

[0046] The front/rear view shows a simple height relationship. In some embodiments, the corner components 400A-400D are taller than the central component 410. When the assembly is placed on the rack, the taller corner components 400A-400D touch the rack top first and set the working height of the unit. The central component 410 is shorter (i.e., thinner), so it either just rests on the rack surface or remains with a small gap. This offset prevents the central component 410 from being pressed tight against the rack top, which could pinch the bag. As a result, the bag feeds out smoothly from the central component while the corners keep the assembly level and stable.

[0047] FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom view of the same assembly. Four corner components 400A-400D are located at the respective corners, each showing a downward-opening capture aperture (indicated by an X). At the center, component 410 presents a through access (also shown as an X) that communicates with the staging space above. This underside view simply makes the orientation of the openings visible and shows the relative spacing of the corner components to the central component.

[0048] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of the modular top cover structure with a protective bag staged, in accordance with some embodiments. Four corner components 1-4 are positioned at the corners and capture small local segments of the bag opening to hold alignment. The separate central component 5 receives and retains a larger portion of the bag body, which may be loosely collected or folded into the central region beneath the cover (e.g., 210 in FIG. 2 or 600 in FIG. 6). In this staged condition, most of the bag is kept inboard of the corners and away from sharp top edges. During use, the pre-staged assembly is placed on the rack top in one step. The operator then draws the bag downward: the mouth releases from the corner components first, and the retained body portion feeds out progressively from the central component, enabling a controlled, low-stress deployment without re-climbing or re-positioning.

[0049] FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of the same modular top cover structure with the protective bag staged. Four corner components 1-4 are located at the respective corners, each capturing a small local segment of the bag opening within its downward-facing retention feature. At the center, component 5 presents a through access that retains a larger portion of the bag body; in this view the bag is shown collected within the central region while spanning across the underside of the cover. From this underside orientation, the relationship is clear: the corners hold the mouth for alignment while the center holds the bulk of the bag for controlled feed-out during deployment.

[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates a cover 600 with cushioning material (such as foam or molded-pulp pads adhered to the underside of the cover or to the board) engaged with the modular top cover structure to form a preassembled top unit for server packing, in accordance with some embodiments. The four corner components 1-4 and the central component 5 hold the protective bag in the staged condition, and the cover 600 is lowered onto the structure (direction indicated by the arrow) to complete the assembly. The underside of the cover 600 cooperates with the central component 5 to bound the staging space for the bag body, so the central component 5 can be implemented as a thin throat while the cover provides the remaining cavity volume. In some embodiments, the cover 600 also supplies the primary top cushioning and load distribution during transport; suitable constructions include foam-laminated panels, molded pulp lids, corrugated fiberboard laminates, or multi-density composites. In some variants, the cover 600 includes alignment features, snaps, or adhesive areas that fix the five components in place and allow the entire unit to be handled as a single kit, dropped onto the rack in one step, and immediately ready for bag draw-down.

[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates use of the preassembled top cover assembly 700 for server packing, in accordance with some embodiments. The assembly includes the cover with cushioning and the five staging components beneath it, with the protective bag pre-staged: small segments of the bag mouth are retained at the four corner components 1-4 and a larger body portion is retained at the central component. The top cover assembly 700 is lowered onto the rack top in a single motion. Optional repositionable attachments (e.g., hook-and-loop or magnetic feet) can secure the top cover assembly 700 to the rack to prevent drift.

[0052] Once in place, the operator draws the bag downward. The mouth disengages from the corner components first, releasing cleanly at each corner, while the body portion feeds out progressively from the central component. Because the bag is centered and supported under the cover, it descends without snagging on top edges, reducing tearing and rework. After draw-down, the top cover assembly 700 continues to act as the top cushion for transport and carton closure proceeds using conventional inner packs and an outer carton.

[0053] FIG. 8 is an enlarged bottom view of an adjustable top cover structure, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the four corner components 222 are mounted on linear rails 800 so their positions can be changed to match different underlying server racks with different sizes. In particular, adjacent corner components 222 may ride on a shared rail (or an elongated channel slot functioning as a linear guide) that translates in the directions indicated by the dashed arrows. The central component 225 remains fixed to preserve the datum for the bag-staging throat while the four corners components 222 move outward or inward until they overlie the underlying rack's corner regions.

[0054] Variants of the adjustable guidance can employ alternate rail geometries. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, each corner component 222 rides on its own pair of orthogonal rails 810 formed at right angles so that the corner can translate independently in two perpendicular directions to match width and depth. In another embodiment, two diagonal cross rails span from top-left to bottom-right and from top-right to bottom-left; each corner component 222 mounts to a carriage on the nearest diagonal so moving the carriage along the rail changes both coordinates in a coupled but indexable manner. Other embodiment may include a continuous perimeter rail that encircles the underside so each corner slides along an L-shaped track segment, a sliding plate under each corner with intersecting X/Y slots and a captive fastener for quick two-axis adjustment, or a set of arcuate (curved) rails allowing fine radial positioning about a fixed central component 225 while maintaining a constant throat datum. These alternatives provide repeatable setting of corner spacing relative to a fixed central staging location, while accommodating different manufacturing and line-adjustment preferences.

[0055] In some embodiments, the rails 800 include positive locking at multiple indexed positions (such as spring detents engaging spaced recesses, cam levers that clamp against the rail, or quarter-turn fasteners that bear on a wear strip) so the corner components 222 stay locked during handling and transport. End stops at the rail 800 end prevent accidental removal. Low-friction liners or surface coatings may be used to keep adjustment smooth, and shallow registration marks or a printed scale adjacent each rail help operators dial common widths and depths without measuring the rack.

[0056] In some embodiments, the adjustable corner components 222 maintain their downward-facing bag-capture apertures while relocating, so the way an operator inserts local segments of the bag mouth does not change with footprint. Rail 800 travel ranges may be chosen to cover standard server rack sizes while keeping adequate corner overhang for edge protection.

[0057] Variants supported by this figure may replace the continuous rails with a grid of discrete mounting locations on the bottom-facing surface. Corner components 222 can be detached from one keyed receiver and reattached at another to set width and depth. Receivers may be snap-fit bosses, bayonet features, or threaded inserts with captive screws, allowing fast repositioning while providing positive retention during drop and vibration testing.

[0058] Another variant may use repositionable attachments to enable tool-free placement of the corner components 222 anywhere within a defined field. Examples include hook-and-loop pads bonded to both the corner components and the underside of the structure, magnetic couplings used with a thin ferromagnetic backer, and reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive pads that can be lifted and re-set multiple times. Anti-skid textures or shallow edge lips can be molded into the placement region to resist creep after the corners are pressed into position.

[0059] Across these embodiments, adjustment is performed before bag staging or with the bag lightly staged; after the corners are locked, the bag mouth is captured at the corners and the body is retained at the central component. Keeping the central component fixed while allowing the corners to move preserves a consistent, centered feed path as the bag is later drawn down, independent of the selected footprint.

[0060] The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described blocks or states may be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined in a single block or state. The example blocks or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The exemplary systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

[0061] Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

[0062] Although an overview of the subject matter has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term invention merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single disclosure or concept if more than one is, in fact, disclosed.

[0063] The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0064] Any process descriptions, elements, or blocks in the flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein in which elements or functions may be deleted, executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0065] As used herein, or is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, A, B, or C means A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, and is both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, A and B means A and B, jointly or severally, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, plural instances may be provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources, operations, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate resources in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as represented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

[0066] The term include or comprise is used to indicate the existence of the subsequently declared features, but it does not exclude the addition of other features. Conditional language, such as, among others, can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.