Method for Unlatching an Electronic Module
AssigneePhoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsMichael Anthony Correll, Terry Lee Barber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for removing an electronic module from a base where the module includes a latch extractor assembly and a stiff shift member with latch arms outside the module body and follower arms inside the module body. An extractor engages the follower arms to move the shift member laterally and move the latch arms out of engagement with the base to free the module for removal from the base.
Claims12
A method of unlatching an electronic module from a supporting module base comprising the steps of:
- A. providing an electronic module having a module body, a shift member having a rigid base, a first undercut latch arm on the rigid base outside of the module body, a first follower arm on the rigid base inside the module body, and a flexible spring arm mounting the shift member on the module body, wherein an extractor on the module body has a first cam surface engaging the follower arm;
- B. providing a module base having an undercut latching surface, the electronic module mounted on the base and the undercut latch arm engaging the undercut latching surface on the module base to secure the module on the base;
- C. moving the extractor first cam surface along the follower arm to flex the spring arm and cam the follower arm laterally;
- and
- D. transmitting lateral movement of the follower arm along the shift member and to the latch arm without bending the shift member to move the latch arm laterally and out of undercut engagement with the latching surface on the base.
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9-13. (canceled)
A method of unlatching an electronic module from a base supporting a module comprising the steps of:
- A. providing a base having a first undercut latch surface;
- B. providing a module having a body;
- a latch member with a mounting end secured to the body, a rigid shift member with a first follower inside the body, and a first undercut latch arm outside the body, and a flexible spring arm between the mounting member and the rigid shift member;
- and an extractor having a grip element outside the body and a cam end inside the module body with a first cam surface on the cam end engageable with the shift member first follower and the first undercut latch arm engaging the first undercut latch surface to form an undercut latch connection mounting the module on the base;
- C. moving the grip element to shift the first cam surface along the first follower and cam the follower laterally away from the cam end without twisting while supporting the cam end against lateral movement in an opposite direction;
- and
- D. transmitting lateral movement of the first follower along the rigid shift member to the latch arm without deforming the shift member so that the first undercut latch arm is moved laterally substantially the same distance that the follower is moved laterally by the first cam surface and is out of engagement with the first undercut latch surface, and the undercut latch connection is disengaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.