Component and low profile flexible latch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9896867-B2
Application number	US-201314025960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

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 latch assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket connected to a second face of a component, the component having a first face, the second face, and a third face;
a handle pawl pin connected to the mounting bracket;
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 including a latch pawl, a pivot connector, and a stabilizing member, and being positioned in a plane;
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 pivot connector being formed within an area of the latch arm;
the stabilizing member being formed within the area of the latch arm and extending distally relative to the second width edge to connect to the pivot connector, the stabilizing member providing spring force resisting deflection parallel to the plane; and
an embossment positioned on the second face of component 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, the component docking one or more electrical signal connectors to a component bay at the second face, the latch pawl pin being configured to extend towards the component from the component bay thereby decreasing the distance between the one or more connectors and a location of force by the latch pawl and the latch pawl pin, the reducing of the distance reducing a likelihood of undocking of the component from the component bay.

2. The latch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the latch arm, stabilizing member, pivot connector, and latch pawl are constructed from a single piece of material.

3. The latch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the latch arm, stabilizing member, pivot connector, and latch pawl are constructed from spring steel.

4. The latch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing member and the pivot connector define an opening which traces the stabilizing member and the pivot connector, and is located within the area of the latch arm.

5. The latch assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising damping material, at least partially filling the opening.

6. The latch assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the damping material has a durometer generally in the range of 15 to 70.

7. The latch assembly according to claim 5 , 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.

8. The latch assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected to the latch arm and positioned on the second width edge.

9. The latch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector is a toothed pivot connector, having an inner and outer circumference, and having one or more teeth which form 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.

10. The latch assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the stabilizing member is a toothed stabilizing member having one or more teeth which form one or more pockets within the area of the latch arm.

11. A component and latch assembly comprising:
the component, having a first face and a second face, the first face and second face being adjacent, perpendicular, and having a shared edge, the component being included within a computer chassis, the component being latched to a component bay at the second face, the component docking one or more electrical signal connectors to the component bay;
the latch assembly positioned on the second face, the latch assembly including the following features:
a latch arm having a first length edge, a second length edge, a first width edge, and a second width edge, mounted on the second face;
the latch arm, rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the first length edge and second length edge 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 pivot connector, and a stabilizing member, and being positioned in a plane, wherein the stabilizing member is a separate piece that is fastened to the latch arm;
the latch pawl being connected to the first width edge of the latch arm and providing spring force by resisting deflection non-parallel to the plane;
the pivot connector being formed within an area of the latch arm;
the stabilizing member being formed within the area of the latch arm, the stabilizing member extending distally from the second width edge of the latch arm to connect to the pivot connector, the stabilizing member further defining an opening which traces the stabilizing member and is located within the latch arm, the stabilizing member providing spring force by resisting deflection parallel to a plane when the stabilizing member is deflected non-parallel to the plane of the latch arm, wherein the spring force of the stabilizing member causes the component to have flexibility against one or more forces when latched to the component bay, and wherein the flexibility causes a reduction of stress to the one or more electric signal connectors while latched to the component bay;
a handle being connected to the latch arm and positioned on the second width edge; and
an embossment positioned on the component to deflect the latch pawl during latching of the latch arm such that the latch arm sits raised upon the embossment in the latched position.

12. The component and latch assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the pivot connector is a toothed pivot connector, having an inner and outer circumference, and having one or more teeth which form 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.

13. The component and latch assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing member is a toothed stabilizing member having one or more teeth which form one or more pockets within the area of the latch arm.

14. The component and latch assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the toothed stabilizing member and toothed pivot connector define an opening which traces the toothed stabilizing member and toothed pivot connector and is located within the area of the latch arm.

15. The component and latch assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising damping material, at least partially filling the opening.

16. The component and latch assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the damping material has a durometer in the range of 15 to 70.

17. The component and latch assembly according to claim 15 , 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.

18. The component and latch assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising a mounting bracket, connected to the second face, and positioned so that the latch arm is sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the second face.

19. The component and latch assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising a handle pawl pin connected to the mounting bracket; and
a handle pawl, connected to the handle;
wherein the handle

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

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

Classifications

• Y10T292/1051

  Spring projected · CPC title

• H05K5/0221 Primary

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• E05C3/14 Primary

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