Component and low profile flexible latch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617766-B2
Application number	US-201514983687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Latch assembly including a latch arm, having first and second length edges and first and second width edges. The latch arm includes a latch pawl, a pivot connector, and a stabilizing member, positioned in a plane. The latch pawl connected to the first width edge and providing spring force resisting deflection non-parallel to the plane. The pivot connector and stabilizing member formed within an area of the latch arm. The stabilizing member extending distally relative to the second width edge to the pivot connector, and providing spring force resisting deflection parallel to the plane. The component and latch assembly including a component having first and second faces being adjacent and perpendicular. The latch arm rotatably mounted on the second face between latched and unlatched positions. Assembly including an embossment positioned to deflect the latch pawl during latching so the latch arm sits raised upon the embossment in the latched position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A component and latch assembly comprising:
a component, latched to a component bay having a latch pawl pin;
the component having a first face and a second face, the first face and the second face being adjacent, perpendicular, and having a shared edge;
one or more connectors, positioned on the first face;
the latch assembly positioned on the second face, the latch assembly including the following features:
a mounting bracket, connected to the second face;
a handle pawl pin connected to the mounting bracket; and
a latch arm, having a first length edge, a second length edge, a first width edge, and a second width edge, connected to the mounting bracket and positioned so that the latch arm is sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the second face;
the latch arm being rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the length edges parallel to the shared edge in the latched position and non-parallel to the shared edge in the unlatched position;
the latch arm including a latch pawl, a toothed pivot connector, and a toothed stabilizing member, and being positioned in a plane;
the latch arm, stabilizing member, pivot connector, and latch pawl being constructed from a single piece of spring steel;
the latch pawl being connected to the first width edge of the latch arm and providing spring force resisting deflection non-parallel to the plane;
the toothed pivot connector being formed within an area of the latch arm, having an inner and outer circumference and having one or more teeth forming one or more pockets within the area of the latch arm, the one or more teeth positioned on the outer circumference of the toothed pivot connector;
the toothed stabilizing member being formed within the area of the latch arm and extending distally relative to the second width edge to connect to the toothed pivot connector;
the toothed stabilizing member having one or more teeth forming one or more pockets within the area of the latch arm and providing spring force resisting deflection parallel to the plane;
a handle, connected to the latch arm, and connected to the second width edge;
a handle pawl, connected to the handle;
the handle being rotatable between a secured position and an unsecured position, the handle pawl and the handle pawl pin securing the latch arm from rotation in the secured position;
the toothed stabilizing member and toothed pivot connector defining an opening which traces the stabilizing member and pivot connector, and is located within the area of the latch arm; damping material, at least partially filling the opening, and having a durometer generally in the range of 15 to 70, wherein the damping material is one or more selected from the group consisting of room temperature vulcanizing epoxy, room temperature vulcanizing silicone, room temperature vulcanizing rubber, and grease; and
an embossment positioned on the second face to deflect the latch pawl during latching of the latch arm such that the latch arm sits raised upon the embossment and engages the latch pawl pin in the latched position.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Eckberg Eric A
• Eidem Jessica R
• Gerken James D
• Vossberg Rebeccah J
• Wright Daniel A

Classifications

• E05C3/14 Primary

  with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch {(E05C3/122 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H05K5/0221 Primary

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• Y10T292/1051

  Spring projected · CPC title