Single action DIN rail latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9485879-B2
Application number	US-201514640537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

An electronics module includes a latch with a first latch portion and a second latch portion. The latch portions move between a latched position and an unlatched position. A spring is located between the first and second latch portions and biases the first and second latch portions in first and second directions. The first latch portion comprises an actuation portion located externally from the housing and that is adapted to be manually engaged and moved linearly in the second direction to move the first latch portion from its latched position toward its unlatched position. The second latch portion includes a resilient tail with a locator tab that seats in either a first receiving location or a second receiving location of the first latch portion and that is selectively deflectable to disengage the locator tab from the second receiving location so that the spring moves the latch to the latched configuration.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. An electronics module comprising:
a housing including a rear face comprising a recess adapted to receive an associated mounting rail, said recess comprising first and second opposite edges;
a latch assembly connected to said housing and adapted for selectively releasably securing said housing an associated mounting rail located in said recess, said latch assembly comprising:
a first latch portion movably connected to said housing and comprising a locking tab adapted to capture a first associated DIN rail flange in said recess;
a second latch portion movably connected to said housing adjacent said first latch portion and comprising a second locking tab adapted to capture a second associated DIN rail flange in said recess;
said first and second latch portions movable relative to each other to and between: (i) a latched configuration where said first and second latch portions are located in respective latched positions in which said first and second locking tabs project respectively beyond said first and second opposite edges of said recess and partially obstruct said recess; and (ii) an unlatched configuration where said first and second latch portions are located in respective unlatched positions in which said first and second locking tabs are spaced farther apart from each other as compared to the latched configuration;
first and second springs, wherein said first spring exerts a biasing force on said first latch portion that urges both said first and second latch portions in a first direction relative to said housing when said first and second latch portions are located in said unlatched configuration, and wherein said second spring exerts a biasing force that urges said first latch portion in said first direction and urges said second latch portion in a second direction that is opposite said first direction;
said first latch portion comprising an actuation portion located external to said housing and adapted to be manually engaged to move said first latch portion in said second direction from its latched position toward its unlatched position;
said second latch portion comprising a resilient tail portion that lies adjacent said first latch portion and a locator tab that engages a first receiving location of said first latch portion when said first and second latch portions are located in their respective latched positions, and that engages a second receiving location of said first latch portion when said first and second latch portions are located in their respective unlatched positions.

2. The electronics module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second spring is operatively engaged between said first and second latch portions.

3. The electronics module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said first latch portion is selectively manually movable in said second direction from its latched position toward its unlatched position such that said first latch portion slides relative to said second latch portion, said resilient tail is deflected in a deflection direction in response to contact between said locator tab and said first latch portion, and said locator tab moves from said first receiving location to said second receiving location when said locator tab moves into registration with said second receiving location;
engagement of said locator tab with said second receiving location couples said second latch portion to said first latch portion for movement in said first direction under force of said first spring such that said second latch portion moves with said first latch portion in said first direction to its unlatched position when said first spring moves said first latch portion in said first direction; and
engagement of said second latch portion with said housing limits movement of said first and second latch portions in said first direction when said locator tab is located in said second receiving location.

4. The electronics module as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said resilient tail is selectively manually deflectable to withdraw said locator tab from said second receiving location when said first and second latch portions are located in said latched configuration, wherein said second spring moves said first latch portion in said first direction to said latched position of said first latch portion when said locator tab is withdrawn from said second receiving location.

5. The electronics module as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first and second latch portions are movable relative to each other against said second biasing force of said second spring in said second and first directions toward their unlatched positions, respectively, to allow the associated mounting rail to move into said recess when said first and second latch portions are arranged in their latched configuration.

6. The electronics module as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said locator tab comprises a tapered outer surface oriented toward the actuation portion of the first latch portion and that extends away from said actuation portion as it extends away from said second latch portion, wherein said tapered outer surface contacts said first latch portion upon movement of said first latch portion relative to said second latch portion in said second direction such that said resilient tail portion is deflected in said deflection direction and said locator tab is at least partially withdrawn from said first receiving location.

7. An electronics module comprising:
a housing including a rear face comprising a recess, said recess comprising first and second opposite edges and an inner region;
a latch assembly connected to said housing and adapted for selectively releasably securing said housing an associated mounting rail located in said recess, said latch assembly comprising:
a first latch portion movably connected to said housing and comprising a locking tab adapted to capture a first flange of the associated mounting rail in said recess;
a second latch portion movably connected to said housing and slidably abutted with said first latch portion, said second latch portion comprising a second locking tab adapted to capture a second flange of the associated mounting rail in said recess;
said first and second latch portions movable relative to each other to and between: (i) a latched configuration of said latch assembly in which said first and second latch portions are located in respective latched positions and said first and second locking tabs are spaced apart from each other by a first distance Y 1 and project respectively beyond said first and second opposite edges of said recess and partially obstruct said recess; and (ii) an unlatched configuration of said latch assembly in which said first and second latch portions are located in respective unlatched positions and said first and second locking tabs are spaced apart from each other by a second distance Y 2 , wherein Y 2 >Y 1 ;
first and second springs, wherein said first spring is operatively located between said housing and said latch assembly and biases said first latch portion in a first direction when said latch assembly is arranged in said unlatched configuration, and wherein said second spring is operatively located between said first and second latch portions and biases said first latch portion in said first direction and biases said second latch portion in a second direction opposite the first direction;
said first latch portion comprising an actuation portion that projects externally from said housing and that is adapted to be manually engaged and moved linearly to move said first latch portion from its latched position toward its unlatched position;
said second latch portion comprising a resilient tail portion that lies adjacent said first latch portion and that comprises a locator tab that engages a first

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Molnar Nathan J
• Bhat Yogesh

Classifications

• H05K5/0221

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• H05K5/0026 Primary

  provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units · CPC title

• H02B1/0523

  locked into position by a sliding member · CPC title

• H05K7/1474 Primary

  Mounting of modules, e.g. on a base or rail or wall · CPC title

• H05K7/12 Primary

  Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure · CPC title