Latching a removable element with tolerance-stack compliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460662-B2
Application number	US-202318492039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2023
Priority date	Oct 23, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for a latch assembly apparatus. The latch assembly apparatus includes an effort arm, latch housing, a fulcrum, and a torsion spring. The latch housing includes a resistance arm having a claw portion, and an ejection arm. The torsion spring is configured to provide a rotational force around the fulcrum, and on the resistance arm, resulting from a tensioning of the torsion spring between a first end of the torsion spring fixed to the effort arm, and a second end of the torsion spring fixed to a predetermined preload hole disposed on the latch housing. Further, when the latch assembly apparatus is mounted to a removable element, and the removable element is placed in a connection with a drawer element by the latch assembly apparatus, the resistance arm applies a preload to the connection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A latch assembly apparatus, comprising:
an effort arm; a latch housing, comprising: a resistance arm comprising a claw portion; and an ejection arm; a fulcrum; and a torsion spring configured to provide a rotational force around the fulcrum, and on the resistance arm, resulting from a tensioning of the torsion spring between a first end of the torsion spring fixed to the effort arm, and a second end of the torsion spring fixed to a predetermined preload gradient hole disposed on the latch housing, wherein when the latch assembly apparatus is mounted to a removable element, and the removable element is placed in a connection with a drawer element by the latch assembly apparatus, the resistance arm applies a preload to the connection via the torsion spring.

2 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the removable element meets tolerance-stack compliance of a stack comprising the removable element and the drawer element.

3 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a mounting bracket configured to mount the latch assembly apparatus to the removable element.

4 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a stop configured to cause the ejection arm to make contact with a chassis of the drawer element and position the resistance arm outside of a chassis opening, when the effort arm is moved towards an open position.

5 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the latch housing is configured to rotate in a first direction when the effort arm is moved towards a closed position, and during over docking, to rotate in a second direction when rotating in the first direction causes the resistance arm to make contact with the stop, wherein the second direction is opposite from the first direction.

6 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly apparatus is configured to apply a force greater than a peak force of the connection when the effort arm is moved towards a closed position.

7 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latch housing comprises a plurality of rotation limiting features of the latch housing and the effort arm.

8 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the latch housing comprises a plurality of gaps between the plurality of rotation limiting features.

9 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
effort arm dog teeth; and resistance arm dog teeth, wherein moving the effort arm brings the effort arm dog teeth into contact with the resistance arm dog teeth.

10 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a shim ring having shim teeth, wherein the shim teeth are disposed between the effort arm dog teeth and the resistance arm dog teeth, and wherein the shim teeth reduce a range of motion of the effort arm dog teeth by occupying a gap disposed between the effort arm dog teeth and the resistance arm dog teeth.

11 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising two shim screws that are screwed into the latch housing, wherein the two shim screws are adjustable to change a range of motion, and an angular travel, of the effort arm dog teeth.

12 . A latch assembly apparatus, comprising:
an effort arm; a latch housing, comprising: a resistance arm comprising a claw portion; and an ejection arm; a fulcrum; a torsion spring configured to provide a rotational force around the fulcrum, and on the resistance arm, resulting from a tensioning of the torsion spring between a first end of the torsion spring fixed to the effort arm, and a second end of the torsion spring fixed to a predetermined preload gradient hole disposed on the latch housing, wherein when the latch assembly apparatus is mounted to a removable element, and the removable element is placed in a connection with a drawer element by the latch assembly apparatus, the resistance arm applies a preload to the connection, wherein the removable element meets tolerance-stack compliance of a stack comprising the removable element and the drawer element; effort arm dog teeth; resistance arm dog teeth, wherein moving the effort arm brings the effort arm dog teeth into contact with the resistance arm dog teeth; and a shim ring having shim teeth, wherein the shim teeth are disposed between the effort arm dog teeth and the resistance arm dog teeth, and wherein the shim teeth reduce a range of motion of the effort arm dog teeth by occupying a gap disposed between the effort arm dog teeth and the resistance arm dog teeth.

13 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a mounting bracket configured to mount the latch assembly apparatus to the removable element.

14 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a stop configured to cause the ejection arm to make contact with a chassis of the drawer element and position the resistance arm outside of a chassis opening, when the effort is moved towards an open position.

15 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the latch housing is configured to rotate in a first direction when the effort arm is moved towards a closed position, and during over docking, to rotate in a second direction when rotating in the first direction causes the resistance arm to make contact with the stop, wherein the second direction is opposite from the first direction.

16 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the latch assembly apparatus is configured to apply a force greater than a peak force of the connection when the effort arm is moved towards a closed position.

17 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the latch housing comprises a plurality of rotation limiting features of the latch housing and the effort arm, wherein when the removable element is over-docked.

18 . A latch assembly apparatus, comprising:
an effort arm; a latch housing, comprising: a resistance arm comprising a claw portion; and an ejection arm; a fulcrum; a mounting bracket configured to mount the latch assembly apparatus to a removable element; a torsion spring configured to provide a rotational force around the fulcrum, and on the resistance arm, resulting from a tensioning of the torsion spring between a first end of the torsion spring fixed to the effort arm, and a second end of the torsion spring fixed to a predetermined preload gradient hole disposed on the latch housing, wherein when the latch assembly apparatus is mounted to the removable element, and the removable element is placed in a connection with a drawer element by the latch assembly apparatus, the resistance arm applies a preload to the connection, wherein the removable element meets tolerance-stack compliance of a stack comprising the removable element and the drawer element; effort arm dog teeth; resistance arm dog teeth, wherein moving the effort arm brings the effort arm dog teeth into contact with the resistance arm dog teeth; and two shim screws that are screwed into the latch housing, wherein the two shim screws are adjustable to change a range of motion, and an angular travel, of the effort arm dog teeth.

19 . The latch assembly apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the latch housing is configured to rotate in a first direction when the effort arm is moved towards a closed position, and during over docking, to rotate in a second direction when rotating in the first direction causes the resistance arm to make contact with a stop, wherein the second direction is opposite from the first direction.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Sassano Camillo
• Higby Arthur J
• Torok John
• Mcmillan Khaalid Persaud Juggan
• Gurney Franklin
• Schanze Sterett Baxter

Classifications

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1409

  by lever-type mechanisms · CPC title

• H05K7/1411

  for securing or extracting box-type drawers · CPC title

• F16B2/18 Primary

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title