Latch assembly for a modular device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021282282-A1
Application number	US-202016807807-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2020
Priority date	Mar 3, 2020
Publication date	Sep 9, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A latch assembly includes a latch body, a fastener longitudinally inserted through the latch body, a traveling body, a latch pawl, and a spring device. The fastener includes a head and a shank. The shank includes a thread portion and a second portion, with the second portion disposed between the thread portion and the head. The traveling body is threaded onto the thread portion of the shank such that the traveling body longitudinally traverses the thread portion as the fastener is rotated. The latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the traveling body and pivots while engaging and disengaging the latch body. The spring device is disposed on the shank between the head and the latch body. The spring device surrounds the second portion of the shank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A latch assembly, comprising:
a latch body; a fastener longitudinally inserted through the latch body, the fastener comprising:
a head;
a shank including a thread portion and a second portion, with the second portion disposed between the thread portion and the head;
a traveling body threaded onto the thread portion of the shank such that the traveling body longitudinally traverses the thread portion as the fastener is rotated; a latch pawl pivotally coupled to the traveling body and pivoting while engaging and disengaging the latch body; and a spring device disposed on the shank between the head and the latch body, the spring device surrounding the second portion of the shank.

2 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring device comprises a plurality of disc springs.

3 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring device has a spring force designed to at least partially control an amount of force applied to one or more connectors of a modular device when inserting the modular device into a computing system.

4 . The latch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spring device has a maximum spring force that is less than a maximum allowable insertion force when inserting the modular device into the computing system.

5 . The latch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spring device has a minimum spring force that is greater than or equal to a minimum insertion force to mate the modular device with the computing system.

6 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly allows movement of the spring device when the traveling body is located at an end of the thread portion and the latch pawl is disengaged from the latch body.

7 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is one of:
a partially threaded screw; or a shoulder screw.

8 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pawl spring coupled between the latch pawl and the traveling body, and wherein the latch pawl comprises a cam formed on one end of the latch pawl.

9 . The latch assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the latch pawl compresses the pawl spring to retract the latch pawl into the latch body when the cam engages the latch body; and a spring force of the pawl spring extends the latch pawl from within the latch body when the cam disengages the latch body.

10 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein a working distance range of the latch assembly is greater than or equal to a positional tolerance to mate the modular device with a computing system.

11 . An electronic device, comprising:
a modular device, comprising:
a housing;
electronics within the housing; and
a set of connectors coupled to the housing and that terminate the electronics within the housing; and
a latch device, comprising:
a latch body;
a fastener longitudinally inserted through the latch body, the fastener comprising:
a head;
a shank including a thread portion and a second portion, with the second portion disposed between the thread portion and the head;

a traveling body threaded onto the thread portion of the shank such that the traveling body longitudinally traverses the thread portion as the fastener is rotated;
a latch pawl comprising:
a cam formed on one end of the latch pawl; and
an extension member formed on an opposite end of the latch pawl;

a pawl spring coupled between the latch pawl and the traveling body, wherein the pawl spring allows the latch pawl to pivot as the cam engages and disengages the latch body; and
a spring device disposed on the shank between the head and the latch body, the spring device surrounding the second portion of the shank.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the spring device comprises a plurality of disc springs.

13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the spring device has a maximum spring force that is less than a maximum allowable insertion force when inserting the modular device into a chassis.

14 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the spring device has a minimum spring force that is greater than or equal to a minimum insertion force to mate the set of connectors of the modular device with a corresponding set of connectors of a chassis.

15 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the latch assembly allows movement of the spring device when the traveling body is located at an end of the thread portion and the latch pawl is disengaged from the latch body.

16 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the latch pawl compresses the pawl spring to pivot the latch pawl into the latch body when the cam engages the latch body; and a spring force of the pawl spring pivots the latch pawl from within the latch body when the cam disengages the latch body.

17 . A method for operating a latch assembly, the method comprising:
linearly translating a traveling body in response to rotation of a fastener that is threaded through the traveling body; extending a latch pawl, coupled to the traveling body, from within a latch body in response to a cam of the latch pawl disengaging from the latch body and in response to a spring force of a pawl spring; and discontinuing the linear translation of the traveling body in response the traveling body reaching a thread run-out of the fastener.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising engaging an extension member of the latch pawl to a protrusion of a chassis in response to the linear translation.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
linearly translating the traveling body in an opposite direction in response to rotation of the fastener in an opposite rotational direction; disengaging the extension member of the latch pawl from the protrusion of the chassis in response to the linear translation in the opposite direction; and retracting the latch pawl into the latch body in response to the cam of the latch pawl engaging the latch body.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising compressing a spring device surrounding a portion of the fastener to allow movement of an electronic device with a chassis.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Scott Michael D
• Doerr Alan
• Lunsman Harvey J

Classifications

• E05B41/00

  Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} · CPC title

• E05B17/00

  Accessories in connection with locks (buffers E05F5/00; means for preventing rattling of wings E05F7/04; means for taking the weight of the wing E05F7/06) · CPC title

• E05B15/00 Primary

  Other details of locks; Parts for engagement by bolts of fastening devices · CPC title

• E05B47/0001

  with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04) · CPC title

• H05K7/1407

  by turn-bolt or screw member · CPC title