Positive pressure-applying latch mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9943004-B2
Application number	US-201715409884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Feb 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A latch mechanism is provided for latching a field-replaceable unit within an enclosure. The latch mechanism includes a pivotable latch coupled to the field-replaceable unit via a pivot, at a first side of the unit, and a spring member associated with the enclosure. The spring member is engaged by the latch and deflects with rotating of the latch from an open position to a latched position. The pivotable latch includes the first end and a second end, with the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second. The deflecting spring member facilitates provision of positive pressure on the unit directed towards a second side of the unit opposite to the first side to facilitate, for example, fixedly coupling a first connector at the second side to a second connector associated with the enclosure when the unit is latched within the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a pivotable latch coupled to a unit via a pivot, the pivot being disposed at a first side of the unit, and the unit to be latched within an enclosure; and
providing a spring member associated with the enclosure and separate from the pivotable latch, the spring member being contacted by and having a tension force applied thereto by, a first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the pivotable latch from an open position to a latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure, the pivotable latch comprising the first end and a second end, the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second end thereof, and the rotating of the pivotable latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure resulting in the pivotable latch contacting the spring member and deflecting a first end and a second end of the spring member further apart, in opposite directions relative to respective contact surfaces of the enclosure contacted by the first end and the second end of the spring member, thereby facilitating provision of a positive pressure on the unit by the pivotable latch directed towards a second side of the unit opposite to the first side thereof with latching of the unit within the enclosure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spring member comprises a deflectable spring member with a portion thereof physically contacted by the first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the pivotable latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure, the first end of the pivotable latch pulling on the spring member in a direction opposite to a direction of the positive pressure on the unit directed towards the second side of the unit with latching of the unit within the enclosure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first end and the second end of the spring member physically engage the respective contact surfaces associated with the enclosure and slide relative to the respective contact surfaces with pulling of the spring member by the pivotable latch during latching of the unit within the enclosure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first end and the second end of the spring member comprise a first curved spring end and a second curved spring end, respectively, and wherein the first and second ends slidably deflect in opposite directions on the first and second contact surfaces with pulling of the spring member by the pivotable latch during latching of the unit within the enclosure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the spring member engaged by the pivotable latch is a base of the spring member, and the spring member extends from the base past a first contact surface of the respective contact surfaces, and curves back towards the first contact surface with the first curved spring end slidably contacting the first contact surface, and the spring member extends from the base past a second contact surface of the respective contact surfaces, and curves back towards the second contact surface with the second curved spring end slidably contacting the second contact surface.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the spring member is a substantially G-shaped, curved spring member, with the portion of the spring member engaged by the pivotable latch being a flat base portion of the substantially G-shaped, curved spring member.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the spring member is disposed within a recess within the enclosure below a unit-receiving slot of the enclosure into which the unit is inserted and latched.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the pivotable latch further comprises providing a catch at the second end thereof, the catch engaging a surface of the enclosure with latching of the unit within the enclosure to facilitate the latching of the unit within the enclosure, with the positive pressure being maintained on the unit by the pivotable latch.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one first connector is disposed at the second side of the unit, and the positive pressure applied across the unit with latching of the unit within the enclosure facilitates secure coupling of the at least one first connector to at least one second connector associated with the enclosure.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unit is a field-replaceable unit, the enclosure is an electronics enclosure, and the spring member comprises a tension spring disposed within a recess within the enclosure below a unit-receiving slot of the enclosure into which the unit is inserted and latched.

11. A method of facilitating secure latching of a field-replaceable unit (FRU) within an enclosure, the method comprising:
providing a latch mechanism to facilitate secure latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure, the latch mechanism comprising:
a pivotable latch coupled to the field-replaceable unit via a pivot, the pivot being disposed at a first side of the field-replaceable unit; and
a spring member associated with the enclosure and separate from the pivotable latch, the spring member being contacted by, and having a tension force applied thereto by, a first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the pivotable latch from an open position to a latched position during latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure, the pivotable latch comprising the first end and a second end, the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second end thereof, and the rotating of the pivotable latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure resulting in the pivotable latch contacting the spring member and deflecting a first end and a second end of the spring member farther apart, in opposite directions relative to respective contact surfaces of the enclosure contacted by the first end and the second end of the spring member, thereby facilitating provision of a positive pressure on the field-replaceable unit by the pivotable latch directed towards a second side of the field-replaceable unit opposite to the first side thereof with latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the spring member comprises a deflectable spring member with a portion thereof physically contacted by the first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the pivotable latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure, the first end of the pivotable latch pulling on the spring member in a direction opposite to a direction of the positive pressure on the unit directed towards the second side of the unit with latching of the unit within the enclosure.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first end and the second end of the spring member physically engage the respective contact surfaces associated with the enclosure and slide relative to the respective contact surfaces with pulling of the spring member by the pivotable latch during latching of the unit within the enclosure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the portion of the spring member engaged by the pivotable latch is a base of the spring member, the first end and the second end of the spring member comprise a first curved spring end and a second curved spring end, respectively, and the spring member extends from the base past a first contact surface of the respective contact surfaces, and curves back towards the first contact surface with the first curved spring end slidably contacting the first contact surface, and the spring membe

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Canfield Shawn
• Genest Robert R
• Mullady Robert K
• Peets Michael T

Classifications

• Y10T403/595

  Lever · CPC title

• H05K7/1489 Primary

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1409

  by lever-type mechanisms · CPC title

• H05K7/1417

  having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence) · CPC title