U.S. patent application number 16/441462 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-17 for information handling system housing split anchor automatic state-holding latch.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dell Products L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dell Products L.P.. Invention is credited to Christopher T. Barnard, Mark A. Smith.
Application Number | 20200393874 16/441462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005248647 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-17 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200393874 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barnard; Christopher T. ; et
al. |
December 17, 2020 |
INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM HOUSING SPLIT ANCHOR AUTOMATIC
STATE-HOLDING LATCH
Abstract
A display stand cavity accepts an information handling system
secured with a cover over the cavity held in place by a latch. The
latch interacts with a locking element of the display stand to
maintain the cover in position and slides to an unlocked position
to release the cover for removal. An anchor engages with the latch
to hold the latch in the unlocked position while the cover remains
in place. The anchor releases the latch when the cover is removed
from the display stand. If the cover remains in place, application
of greater than a predetermined force on the latch towards the
closed position overcomes the anchor to re-engage the latch to
couple the cover to the display stand.
Inventors: |
Barnard; Christopher T.;
(Austin, TX) ; Smith; Mark A.; (Pflugerville,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dell Products L.P. |
Round Rock |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dell Products L.P.
Round Rock
TX
|
Family ID: |
1000005248647 |
Appl. No.: |
16/441462 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/0221 20130101;
H05K 5/0247 20130101; G06F 1/1656 20130101; G06F 1/1679 20130101;
F16M 11/22 20130101; H05K 5/03 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16; H05K 5/02 20060101 H05K005/02; H05K 5/03 20060101
H05K005/03; F16M 11/22 20060101 F16M011/22 |
Claims
1. An information handling system comprising: a display disposed on
a display stand, the display operable to present information as
visual images, the display stand forming a cavity and having a
removeable cover that fits over the cavity; a housing sized to fit
into the cavity, the housing integrating a processor and memory
that cooperate to process information; a latch coupled to the cover
and aligned to extend into the cavity when the cover fits over the
cavity, the latch sliding between a locked and an unlocked
position; a latch anchor coupled to the display stand and disposed
in the cavity aligned to engage the latch when moved to the
unlocked position to retain the latch in the unlocked position, the
latch anchor released from the latch when the cover removes from
the display stand; and a locking element coupled to the housing in
the cavity and aligned to engage the latch when in the locked
position to hold the cover in place.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a
first spring engaged with the latch to bias the latch to the locked
position; and a second spring engaged with the latch anchor to bias
the latch anchor to engage with the latch.
3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the latch
anchor and latch engage at an inclined surface so that a
predetermined force applied at the latch towards the unlocked
position releases the latch anchor from the latch.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the locking
element comprises a lip extending from the display stand into the
cavity and aligned to extend over the latch in the locked
position.
5. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the locking
element and latch have parallel inclined surfaces that cooperate to
slide the latch towards the unlocked position and under the locking
element as the cover fits over the cavity.
6. The information handling system of claim 5 wherein the latch
anchor engages the latch at an unlocked position of greater than a
distance that the locking element and latch parallel inclined
surfaces slide.
7. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the latch
anchor extends into the latch along an axis perpendicular to an
axis of the latch motion between locked and unlocked positions.
8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the display
stand forms an opening through the cavity to pass cables through
and the latch is disposed within the opening.
9. The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising a
cable guide coupled to the cover in the opening and having the
latch integrated at a bottom surface.
10. A method for coupling first and second housing portions, the
method comprising: coupling a latch of the first housing portion to
a locking element of the second housing portion; sliding the latch
from a locked position to an unlocked position that releases the
latch from the locking element; engaging a latch anchor from the
second housing portion into the latch to retain the latch in the
unlocked position; and automatically releasing the anchor at
separation of the first housing portion from the second housing
portion to return the latch to the unlocked position.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: biasing the latch
towards the locked position with a first spring integrated with the
latch in the first housing portion; and biasing the anchor towards
engagement with the latch with a second spring integrated in the
second housing portion.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: engaging the anchor
and latch at an inclined surface; and overriding the anchor when a
predetermined force is applied to move the latch from the unlocked
position to the locked position.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising: replacing the first
housing portion at the second housing portion; engaging an inclined
surface of the latch with an inclined surface of the locking
element to move the latch from the locked position towards the
unlocked position; and releasing the inclined surface of the latch
and the inclined surface of the locking element to engage the latch
and locking element before the anchor engages the latch.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein: the second housing portion
comprises a display having a display stand, the display stand
having a cavity; and the first housing portion comprises a cover
that fits over the cavity.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: removing the cover
to expose the cavity; inserting an information handling system in
the cavity; and coupling the cover over the information handling
system with the latch.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: disposing the latch
in an opening formed in the cover and display stand; and routing a
power cable through the opening to couple with the display.
17. A state holding coupling device comprising: a latch coupled to
a first housing portion, the latch moving along a first axis
between a locked position and an unlocked position; a locking
element coupled to a second housing portion and aligned to engage
the latch in the locked position to couple the first and second
housing portions to each other in a coupled position; and an anchor
coupled to the second housing portion and moving along a second
axis, the anchor engaging the latch in the unlocked position to
hold the latch in the unlocked position when the first and second
housing portions remain in the coupled position.
18. The state holding coupling device of claim 17 wherein the
anchor releases from the latch at removal of the first and second
housing portions from the coupled position.
19. The state holding coupling device of claim 18 wherein the first
and second axes are substantially perpendicular.
20. The state holding couple device of claim 19 wherein the anchor
and latch engage along an inclined surface that releases the anchor
in response to at least a predetermined force applied to the latch
towards the unlocked position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates in general to the field of
information handling system housings, and more particularly to an
information handling system housing split anchor automatic state
holding latch.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase,
individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and
store information. One option available to users is information
handling systems. An information handling system generally
processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or
data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing
users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because
technology and information handling needs and requirements vary
between different users or applications, information handling
systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how
the information is handled, how much information is processed,
stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the
information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The
variations in information handling systems allow for information
handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or
specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline
reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In
addition, information handling systems may include a variety of
hardware and software components that may be configured to process,
store, and communicate information and may include one or more
computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
[0003] Information handling systems integrate processing
components, that cooperate to process information for output to an
end user. A typical information handling system includes a central
processor unit (CPU) that executes instructions to process
information and a random access memory (RAM) that stores the
instructions and information. The CPU and RAM are supported with a
variety of other processing components that support their
operation, such as a chipset that manages operation of the CPU, a
graphics processor unit (GPU) that further processes information
for output as visual images, an embedded controller that manages
input devices, power controller that supplies power to the
processing components and other types of processing components to
support communication between the processing components and with
external networks and peripherals. Generally, the processing
components interface with each other through a motherboard that
integrates wirelines and that includes sockets, ports and/or cables
to support interactions with external devices and an external power
source.
[0004] Typically, information handling systems are built into a
housing that protects the motherboard and processing components and
that includes ports and/or cables to interact with external devices
and power. Generally, end users prefer a housing of smaller size so
that the information handling system footprint has a minimal impact
on a desktop area. In addition, end users generally prefer to have
cables that couple to an information handling system organized in a
manageable way that allows interaction with coupled peripherals
without consuming excessive desktop space. Often desktop
information handling systems are installed in a desktop environment
and left in place until failure.
[0005] One recent innovation for installation of a desktop
information handling system is to integrate the information
handling system housing into a display stand. For example, the
motherboard and processing components are built into a housing that
fits within an opening formed in a display stand. When the
information handling system is inserted in the display stand
opening, a display stand cover placed over the information handling
system housing secures it within the display stand and out of sight
of the end user. An opening formed in the display stand housing
provides a path to the information handling system for cable
management while a graphics cable interface may be completely
hidden from sight with cable routing through an internal pathway.
Integrating an information handling system housing within a display
stand that has a removeable cover allows replacement of the
information handling system should a failure occur while keeping
the display for continued use.
[0006] One difficulty with stowing an information handling system
within a display stand is that end users may have some difficulty
accessing the information handling system. The display stand should
secure the information handling system in a robust manner yet have
some readily understood access structure. Since a display stand is
typically at a rear of a desktop and often against a wall, end
users who attempt to open the display stand to access the
information handling system will tend to have an awkward position.
Excessive difficulty in finding and activating the latch can result
in the display and/or information handling system falling or
otherwise getting damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which
provides an information handling system housing split anchor
automatic state holding latch.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a system and
method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages
and problems associated with previous methods and systems of
enclosing an information handling system in a housing. A latch
coupled to a first housing portion couples to a locking element of
a second housing portion and moves from a locked position to an
unlocked position to release from the locking element. An anchor
coupled to a second housing portion engages the latch in the open
position to maintain the open state until separation of the first
housing portion from the second housing portion releases the latch
from the anchor to return to a locked position.
[0009] More specifically, a display supported by a display stand
presents visual images generated by a processor and memory that
cooperate to process information. The display stand includes a
cavity sized to accept the information handling system and a cover
that couples over the cavity and held in place by a split anchor
automatic state holding latch. The latch couples to the cover to
slide between locked and unlocked positions to secure and release
the cover from over the cavity. When the latch moves to the
unlocked position, an anchor extends from within the cavity to
engage the latch and maintain the latch in the unlocked position.
Upon removal of the cover from over the cavity, the anchor
separates from the latch to return the latch to the locked
position. Replacing the cover over the cavity presses the latch at
an inclined surface against the locking element at a parallel
inclined surface to press the latch partially towards the open
position at which the latch engages with the locking element.
During insertion of the latch at the locking element, the latch
moves less than the amount at which the anchor engages so that,
upon insertion, the cover locks into place with the latch without
the anchor holding the latch in the open position.
[0010] The present invention provides a number of important
technical advantages. One example of an important technical
advantage is that an information handling system is enclosed in a
housing with a latch that provides automated locking, one-handed
operation and a responsive feel. At release of the latch, the latch
remains in the released state until removed from its opposing
structure; however, as soon as the latch is removed from the
opposing structure, it resets to secure into the opposing structure
when placed back into position. Automated securing upon reinsertion
into the opposing structure reduces the risk of damage that can
occur if a latch is not closed properly. A smooth and constant
force latch operation with low actuation force and high retention
force is provided by separate retention and anchor spring actions.
An anchor that engages the latch when initially released ensures
that the latch remains released for one-handed housing
separation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention may be better understood, and its
numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those
skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The
use of the same reference number throughout the several figures
designates a like or similar element.
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an information handling
system configured to fit in a display stand cavity with a cover
held in place by a split anchor automatic state holding latch;
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts opposing sides of the split anchor automatic
state holding latch integrated in a display stand cover and
cavity;
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts an isometric view of an example embodiment of
a split anchor automatic state holding latch;
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the example embodiment of
the split anchor automatic state holding latch; and
[0016] FIGS. 5A-5I depict a side cutaway view of an example split
anchor automatic state holding latch activated from a secured
position through a released position and back to the secured
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An information handling system couples into a display stand
cavity with a cover held in place by a split anchor automatic state
holding latch. For purposes of this disclosure, an information
handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of
instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,
receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest,
detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of
information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,
control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling
system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any
other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance,
functionality, and price. The information handling system may
include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing
resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or
software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile
memory. Additional components of the information handling system
may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for
communicating with external devices as well as various input and
output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video
display. The information handling system may also include one or
more buses operable to transmit communications between the various
hardware components.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded view depicts an
information handling system 10 configured to fit in a display stand
28 cavity 36 with a cover 38 held in place by a split latch anchor
42 automatic state holding latch 40. In the example embodiment,
information handling system 10 processes information with
processing components that communicate through a motherboard 12.
For example, a central processing unit (CPU) 14 executes
instructions stored in random access memory (RAM) 16 and retrieved
from persistent memory of a solid state drive (SSD) 20 to generate
visual information that a graphics processor unit (GPU) 18 applies
to define visual images for presentation at a display 26. In the
example embodiment, an information handling system housing 22 has
separate housing portions 24 that couple to enclose motherboard 12.
Once assembled into housing 22, information handling system 10 fits
into a cavity 36 formed within display stand 28. Display stand 28
has a bracket 30 that couples to the back of display 26 to hold
display 26 in a viewing position. A display stand cover 38 fits
over cavity 36 to protect and hide information handling system 10
within display stand 28. A display cable 34 and power cable 32
route through an opening defined in display stand 28 to provide
power and visual information to display 26.
[0019] Once assembled, display stand 28 provides a convenient
all-in-one information handling system assembly that contains
information handling system 10 in a convenient manner. However, an
end user may have some difficulty accessing information handling
system 10 due to the small hidden disclosure and an infrequency of
need. To provide an intuitive access a split latch anchor 42
automatic state holding latch 40 is integrated in cover 38 and
cavity 36 within the opening through which cables 32 and 34 pass.
When latch 40 is pressed into an unlocked position, anchor 42 holds
latch 40 in the unlocked position until cover 38 is removed from
cavity 36. Once cover 38 is removed, anchor 42 releases latch 40 to
automatically return to a locked position. When cover 38 is
replaced over cavity 36, latch 40 couples to a locking element
within cavity 36 without engaging anchor 42. The split anchor and
latch arrangement provides one handed release and reattachment of
cover 38 that is intuitive and simple to use. Since latch 40
automatically resets at removal of cover 38, it will not reattach
in an unlocked position or otherwise need an end user
reconfiguration to a locked position to replace cover 38 over
cavity 36. If an end user moves latch 40 to an unlocked position
that engages anchor 42, then a slightly greater force applied to
move latch 40 to the locked position overcomes anchor 42 without
removing cover 38. Locking and unlocking latch 40 is performed with
a one-handed operation.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, opposing sides are depicted of the
spit anchor 42 automatic state holding latch 40 integrated in a
display stand 28 cover 38 and cavity 36. A cover cable guide 44
couples in the cable opening of display stand 28 to expose latch 40
activation button 46. When an end user places a finger into cable
guide 44 and slides latch actuation button 46 towards anchor 42,
once latch 40 reaches an unlocked position anchor 42 holds latch 40
in the unlocked position. With latch 40 unlocked, cover 38 may be
removed from display stand 28 at the end user's convenience. Once
cover 38 is removed, anchor 42 releases latch 40 so that latch
activation button 46 biases back to the locked position. If an end
user desires to re-assert latch 40 while anchor 42 holds the
unlocked position, a slightly increased force applied in the locked
position direction will overcome anchor 42 to lock latch 40.
Separate attachment points for latch 40 and anchor 42 at opposing
housing portions supports automated state holding and release for
one-handed operation.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3, an isometric view depicts an
example embodiment of a split latch anchor 42 automatic state
holding latch 40. FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the example
embodiment of the split latch anchor 42 automatic state holding
latch 40. In the example embodiment, actuation button 46 extends
upwards from within the cable cover guide, which engages in a
sliding relationship to move between locked and unlocked positions.
An actuation button spring 48 biases actuation button 46 to the
locked position. Anchor 42 couples to the display stand within the
cavity to extend upwards biased against a latch engagement surface
52 by an anchor spring 50. Latch engagement surface 52 has an
inclined vertical surface that engages against a locking element at
an upper surface and against anchor 42 at its lower surface. When
latch actuation button 46 is pressed against latch actuation button
spring 48, latch engagement surface 52 releases from the locking
element within display stand 28 cavity 36 to release latch 40. Once
latch actuation button is more fully pressed towards the unlocked
position, the bottom surface of latch engagement surface 52 engages
against anchor 42 by anchor spring 50 biasing anchor 42 upwards to
hold latch actuation button 46 in the unlocked position against
anchor engagement surface 54. If an end user pulls actuation button
46 away from actuation button spring 48, the inclined surface
engagement of latch engagement surface 52 with anchor 42 engagement
surface 54 allows release of actuation button 46 to the locked
position. The amount of force to overcome anchor spring 50 is
generally set larger than actuation button spring 48 since the
normal manner of release of anchor 42 is to remove latch 40 from
the cavity at which anchor 42 is coupled.
[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5I, a side cutaway view depicts an
example split latch anchor 42 automatic state holding latch 40
activated from a secured position through a released position and
back to the secured position. FIG. 5A depicts latch 40 coupled to
cover 38 to slide perpendicular to cover 38 with latch actuation
button spring 48 biasing latch 40 towards cover 38 in the locked
position. Latch engagement surface 52 is pressed under a locking
element 56 formed in display stand 28, such as a lip that extends
into cavity 36. Anchor 42 is pressed downward in a direction of
travel that is perpendicular to latch 40 travel and compressed
against anchor spring 50. A latch anchor locking element 62 formed
in the bottom of latch 40 aligns with anchor 42 when latch 40
slides inward to the unlocked position. A latch sloped surface 60
and locking element sloped surface 58 work against each other
during coupling of cover 38 to display stand 28, as indicated by
arrow 66, so that latch 40 slides inwards until it fits under
locking element 56. The amount of movement induced by engagement of
latch sloped surface 60 and locking element sloped surface 58 is
less than the distance needed to align anchor 42 with latch anchor
locking element 62 so that anchor 42 will not engage latch 40
during attachment of cover 38 to display stand 28, as indicated by
anchor movement arrow 64.
[0023] FIG. 5B depicts an end user activation of latch 40 with
finger 68 sliding latch 40 to the unlocked position as indicated by
arrow 70, which releasees latch engagement surface 52 from locking
element 56. Continuing to FIG. 5C, in the unlocked position latch
anchor locking element 62 aligns with anchor 42, which extends
upwards to engage latch 40 and hold latch 40 in the unlocked state.
FIG. 5D illustrates that an end user may lift cover 38 from display
stand 28 with a motion of arrow 72 with one hand so that anchor 42
releases from latch 40. As shown by FIG. 5E, once anchor 42
releases from latch 40, latch 40 returns to the locked position as
indicated by arrow 74 so that it is prepared to couple again to
display stand 28.
[0024] At FIG. 5F, cover 38 has completely separated from display
stand 28 to allow end user access to cavity 36. To reattach cover
38, as illustrated by FIG. 5G, the end user aligns cover 38 with
cavity 36 as indicated by arrow 76 so that latch sloped surface 60
and locking element sloped surface 58 press against each other. At
FIG. 5H, the end user pushes cover 38 downward as indicated by
arrow 78 to have latch 40 and locking element 56 parallel inclined
surfaces work against each other until latch 40 fits under locking
element 56 as indicated by arrow 80. Latch 40 and locking element
56 inclined surfaces move latch 40 towards the unlocked position
but not a far enough distance to engage anchor 42. Anchor 42, if
engaged, has rounded or inclined surfaces so that a sufficient
force applied to latch 40 will press latch 40 to the locked
position. At FIG. 51, cover 38 is held in place by engagement of
latch 40 with locking element 56 as latch 40 returns to the locked
position as indicated by arrow 82.
[0025] Although the present invention has been described in detail,
it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and
alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *