U.S. patent application number 10/210001 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-05 for latch assembly.
Invention is credited to Arbogast, Porter Rodgers, Roesner, Arlen L..
Application Number | 20040021328 10/210001 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30115230 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040021328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arbogast, Porter Rodgers ;
et al. |
February 5, 2004 |
LATCH ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A latch assembly is operable to catch automatically and is
releasable by hand. A component frame defines a clearance hole and
a stop. A latch, also with a clearance hole, is mounted to the
frame so that the clearance holes overlap. The latch is biased
against the stop but is capable of pivoting away from the stop
responsive to hand-applied pressure. A peg having a groove
underneath a sloping top is mounted to a chassis or other surface
against which the component frame is to be retained. As the
component frame is lowered over the peg, an edge of the latch
contacts the top of the peg, causing the latch to pivot so that the
frame may be lowered into place. When the frame is in place, the
latch pivots back and snaps into the groove.
Inventors: |
Arbogast, Porter Rodgers;
(Fort Collins, CO) ; Roesner, Arlen L.; (Fort
Collins, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Intellectual Property Administration
P.O. Box 272400
Fort Collins
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
30115230 |
Appl. No.: |
10/210001 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/341.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 292/1049 20150401;
E05C 3/40 20130101; G06F 1/18 20130101; E05C 3/145 20130101; Y10T
292/696 20150401; E05B 65/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
292/341.15 |
International
Class: |
E05B 015/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A latch assembly, comprising: a component frame defining a first
clearance hole and a first stop; a latch defining a second
clearance hole; and a peg for attaching to a surface against which
the component frame is to be retained, the peg having a groove
underneath a sloping top; wherein: the latch is pivotingly attached
to the component frame such that the first and second clearance
holes overlap; the latch is biased against the first stop; and the
bias is sufficiently elastic to allow the latch to pivot away from
the first stop responsive to contact between an edge of the second
clearance hole and the sloping top of the peg as the component
frame is lowered orthogonally over the peg, but sufficiently strong
to retain the edge of the second clearance hole inside the groove
of the peg when the component frame is in a retained position.
2. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein: the bias is also
sufficiently elastic to allow the edge of the second clearance hole
to be moved out of the groove of the peg responsive to pressure
applied by hand to the latch.
3. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein: the component frame
defines a second stop; and the latch comprises a resilient elongate
member in contact with the second stop and operable to create the
bias by urging the latch away from the second stop toward the first
stop.
4. The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein: the resilient elongate
member comprises first and second ends and two approximately
90-degree bends between the first and second ends such that the
resilient elongate member forms three sides of a substantially
rectangular or square shape, the first end secured to the latch and
the second end in contact with the second stop.
5. The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein: the latch comprises a
finger tab extending orthogonally upward from the latch, and the
first end of the resilient elongate member terminates at the finger
tab.
6. The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein: the latch and the
resilient elongate member comprise a unitary piece of bent
half-hard steel.
7. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein: the sloping top of the
peg comprises a conical shape.
8. The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein: the first and second
stops are disposed on opposite sides of the first clearance
hole.
9. The latch assembly of claim 8, wherein: the component frame
defines a pivot pin hole adjacent to the first clearance hole for
receiving a pivot pin that secures the latch against the component
frame.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to latches or clasps, and
more particularly to a hand-releasable latch assembly for retaining
the frame of a component against a surface such as a computer
chassis.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Computer and other electronic chassis are becoming smaller,
and their contents are becoming commensurately more dense.
Fasteners for removably retaining components within such enclosures
must therefore fit within small spaces and should preferably
present a low profile. Ideally, such fasteners should be easy to
apply and operate both in manufacturing and in maintenance
environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A latch assembly according to the invention is operable to
catch automatically, is releasable by hand, and may be beneficially
employed (for example) to releasably retain computer components
inside a computer chassis.
[0004] In one embodiment, a component frame defines a clearance
hole and a stop. A latch also defines a clearance hole, and is
mounted to the component frame so that the two clearance holes
overlap. The latch is biased toward the stop but is capable of
pivoting away from the stop responsive to hand-applied pressure. A
peg is mounted to a chassis or other surface against which the
component frame is to be retained. The peg includes a groove
underneath a sloping top. As the clearance hole of the component
frame is lowered orthogonally over the peg, an edge of the latch
clearance hole comes into contact with the sloping top of the peg.
The sloping top of the peg causes the latch to pivot a sufficient
distance to allow the component frame to be lowered into place.
When the component frame reaches its retained position, the latch
pivots back again and snaps into the groove of the peg, thus
retaining the component frame against the chassis. For removal,
hand-applied pressure against the latch is sufficient to cause the
latch to pivot back out of the groove of the peg. The component
frame may then be lifted off of the peg and away from its retained
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a latch assembly retaining a
component frame against a chassis according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of a pivoting latch of the latch
assembly of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a top view of the pivoting latch of FIG. 2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a first side view of the pivoting latch of FIG.
2.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the pivoting latch of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a second side view of the pivoting latch of FIG.
2.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a top view of a component frame adapted to receive
the pivoting latch of FIG. 2 according to a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a top view of the latch of FIG. 2 having been
assembled to the component frame of FIG. 7 according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 9 is the sectional view A-A indicated in FIG. 8.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a side view of a grooved peg of the latch
assembly of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 11 is an oblique view of the grooved peg of FIG.
10.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the grooved peg of FIG. 10
having been assembled to the chassis of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 13 is a top view of the component frame of FIG. 1
suspended over the chassis of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 14 is the sectional view B-B indicated in FIG. 13.
[0019] FIG. 15 is a top view of the component frame of FIG. 1
having been secured to the chassis of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 16 is the sectional view C-C indicated in FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a latch assembly 100 according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention. Latch assembly 100 includes
a latch 102 secured to a component frame 104. In the embodiment
shown, latch 102 is secured to frame 104 by a pivot pin 106. In
other embodiments, other techniques may be used to pivotingly
secure latch 102 to component frame 104. Component frame 104 is
shown in a retained position against a surface 108 such as a
chassis. Latch assembly 100 also includes a peg 110 having a
sloping top 114 and a groove 112. Peg 110 is secured to surface
108. Latch 102 includes a resilient elongate member 118 that serves
to urge latch 102 away from stop 122 formed in component frame 104
and toward stop 120, also formed in component frame 104. Component
frame 104 is retained against surface 108 by virtue of the fact
that an edge 116 of a clearance hole formed in latch 102 is held
inside groove 112 of peg 110.
[0022] FIGS. 2-6 illustrate latch 102 in more detail. In one
embodiment, latch 102 may be formed as shown using one integral
piece of half-hard steel. In other embodiments latch 102 could be
formed from alternative materials such as, for example,
quarter-hard steel or plastic. A hole 130 may be provided in latch
102 to accommodate pivot pin 106. A finger tab 124 may be provided
to facilitate the release of latch 102 with the application of
pressure by hand (to be discussed in more detail below in relation
to FIGS. 13-16). Resilient elongate member 118 may include two
bends 126, 128, each of the bends approximately 90 degrees, so that
elongate member 118 forms three sides of a substantially
rectangular or square shape. Although in other embodiments various
other means such as springs may be used to bias latch 102 toward
stop 120, the inventors have determined that the use of a
rectangle-shaped elongate member such as that shown in the drawing
contributes to compactness, yields an appropriate strength of bias
(to be discussed in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 13-16),
and does so in a cost-effective manner. Cut-out area 132 may be
provided so that latch 102 clears stop 122 when pivoting away from
stop 120.
[0023] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate component frame 104 in more detail, as
well as a method for attaching latch 102 thereto. In the embodiment
shown, a clearance hole 136 is provided in component frame 104 for
clearing peg 110 when frame 104 is lowered over peg 110 and lifted
off of peg 110. Stops 120 and 122 may be formed on opposite sides
of hole 136 by any suitable means, such as by bending a portion of
the sheet metal from which component frame 104 is formed. Latch 102
is positioned over component frame 104 between stops 120, 122 so
that clearance holes 117 and 136 overlap. One end of elongate
member 118 contacts stop 122, and the other end of elongate member
118 may terminate, for example, at finger tab 124. Hole 138 is
provided adjacent to hole 136 and accommodates pivot pin 106. Hole
138 may be raised slightly (as shown) so that swage 140 does not
extend below the plane of frame 104.
[0024] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate peg 110 in more detail. In the
embodiment shown, sloping top 114 of peg 110 has a conical shape.
In other embodiments, the slope may be provided by an alternative
sloping or slanted profile and need not be symmetrical. Groove 112
is provided underneath sloping top 114, and should be sized large
enough to receive edge 116 of hole 117 without binding. The
illustrated peg is attached to surface 108 by a snap fit between
grooved rim 142 and a corresponding hole formed in surface 108.
Other suitable means maybe employed for attaching peg 110 to
surface 108.
[0025] FIGS. 13-16 illustrate a preferred method for using latch
assembly 100 to secure component frame 104 against surface 108.
Namely, component frame 104 is lowered orthogonally down over peg
110 as shown in FIGS. 13-14. As frame 104 is lowered, edge 116 of
hole 117 comes into contact with sloping top 114 of peg 110. The
bias provided by elongate member 118 is sufficiently elastic to
allow latch 102 to pivot away from stop 120 in direction 142
responsive to the contact between edge 116 and the sloping top 114
of peg 110. This movement allows frame 104 to be lowered into the
retained position shown in FIGS. 15-16. In the retained position,
edge 116 of hole 117 snaps into groove 112 of peg 110, thus
retaining frame 104 against surface 108. The bias provided by
elongate member 118 is sufficiently strong to retain edge 116 of
clearance hole 117 inside groove 112 of peg 110 when component
frame 104 is in the retained position, but is sufficiently elastic
to allow edge 116 to be moved out of groove 112 responsive to
pressure applied by hand to the latch (for example, by pushing
against finger tab 124). Thus, to remove frame 104 from surface
108, pressure may be applied to latch 102 in direction 142, and
frame 104 may be lifted orthogonally away from surface 108 off of
peg 110.
[0026] While the invention has been described in detail with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, the described
embodiments have been presented by way of example and not by way of
limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes may be made in the form and details of the
described embodiments without deviating from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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