Modular elements employing latches secured by linkages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016198600-A1
Application number	US-201514602009-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 2, 2011
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Modular elements employing latches secured by linkages are disclosed. A modular element may include a chassis body in communication with a latch, control body, and control arm of the modular element. The modular element is removable from or secured to an enclosure using the latch. The latch may remain secured to the enclosure in a locked mode by being rotated to engage a control catch of a control arm of a linkage. By connecting the control arm to the control body with a rigid member connected to the control body with first and second rotary joints, the rigid member transforms a control body movement into a rotary motion of the control arm to disengage the control arm from the latch. In this manner, the modular element may be disengaged from the enclosure to facilitate upgrades or maintenance of electronic components supported by the chassis body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for securing a modular element in a locked mode within an enclosure and removing the modular element while in an unlocked mode from the enclosure, the method comprising:
disposing at least a portion of a chassis body of the modular element and electronic components supported by the chassis body within the enclosure, wherein the modular element includes a latch and a linkage, wherein the linkage includes a control body, a control arm, and a rigid member, wherein the control body is in linear slidable communication with the chassis body and disposed between a first position during the locked mode and a second position during the unlocked mode, the control arm is in pivotable communication with the chassis, and the rigid member is connected to the control arm with a first rotary joint and connected to the control arm with a second rotary joint; upon transitioning from the unlocked mode to the locked mode, pivoting the latch relative to the chassis body to engage the enclosure with the latch and to engage a detent of the latch with a control catch of a control arm, wherein the control arm is in pivotable communication with the chassis body; and upon transitioning from the locked mode to the unlocked mode, moving the control body in a linear sliding motion from the first position to the second position, and transforming, with the rigid member and the first and second rotary joints, the linear motion of the control body into a rotary motion of the control arm to disengage the control catch from the detent.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, with the control body, a disengaging motion from a user which moves the control body from the first position to the second position.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving, with the rotary motion of the control arm, a flexible protrusion away from a neutral position of the flexible protrusion upon movement of the control body from the first position to the second position, wherein the flexible protrusion extends from the control body.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the flexible protrusion is disposed between the control arm and the control body.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging the detent of the latch with the control catch of a control arm includes: receiving, with the latch from the user, an installation force to pivot the latch relative to the control arm and dispose a catch cam of the control arm adjacent to a detent of the latch.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the engaging the detent of the latch with the control catch of a control arm further includes: urging, with a flexible protrusion moving towards a neutral position of the flexible protrusion, the control catch into the detent, wherein the flexible protrusion extends from the control body.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the engaging the detent of the latch with the control catch of a control arm further includes: deforming the control arm at an angular joint of the control arm to facilitate disposing the control catch adjacent to the detent.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the urging the control catch into the detent includes: limiting, with a rotational stop of the control arm, the movement of the control catch in the unlocked mode wherein the rotational stop includes a gap of the control arm which fully closes to limit movement of the control catch.

9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the latch, the control body, the control arm, and the link member are disposed in a co-planar arrangement during the locked and unlocked modes

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Butterbaugh Matthew A
• Eckberg Eric A
• Sassano Camillo
• Schultz Kevin L
• Shurson Scott A

Classifications

• G06Q10/107 Primary

  Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] · CPC title

• H05K13/0486 Primary

  Replacement and removal of components · CPC title

• G06Q30/0201

  Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data · CPC title