US 2016/0192520 A1Published application

Modular elements employing latches with flexure bearings

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsMatthew A. BUTTERBAUGH, Eric A. ECKBERG, Camillo SASSANO, Kevin L. SCHULTZ, Scott A. SHURSON

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Modular elements employing latches with flexure bearings are disclosed. A modular element may include a chassis body supporting electronic components. The body is in communication with a latch and a control member of the modular element. The modular element is removable from or secured to an enclosure using the latch. The latch may engage the enclosure and may remain engaged by being secured by interfacing with a catch of an arm of the control member. By connecting the arm to the control body with a flexure bearing, the flexure bearing may urge the catch into a detent of the latch to secure the latch and keep the modular element secured to the enclosure. The latch may be disengaged from the control member by removing the catch from the detent. In this manner, the modular element is efficiently secured and removed from the enclosure.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method for securing and removing a modular element within an enclosure, the method comprising:

disposing at least a portion of a chassis body of the modular element within the enclosure, the chassis body supporting electronic components, wherein the modular element includes at least one latch in pivoting communication with the chassis body and a control body of a control member in slidable communication with the chassis body;
securing the chassis body within the enclosure by moving the latch with respect to the chassis body to engage the at last one latch with the enclosure;
pivoting the at least one latch with respect to the chassis body by applying an installation force to the at least one latch to dispose a detent of the at least one latch adjacent to a control catch of a control arm of the control member;
and
securing the at least one latch with respect to the chassis body by urging the control catch into the detent with a living hinge of the control member, wherein the living hinge connects the control arm to the control body.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/587,115Filed 31 Dec 2014
Priority: 29 Dec 2014
Published: 30 Jun 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

H05K 7/1489
Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures: characterized by the mounting of blades…
H05K 5/0221
Mechanical details of casings: locks; Latches
H05K 7/1401
Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack: comprising clamping or extracting means
H05K 7/1409
For securing or extracting printed circuit boards: by lever-type mechanisms

Family

Application14/584,613Continuation · filed 29 Dec 2014
Application14/587,115Continuation
US 2016/0192529 A1Published application
US 9,686,883 B2Related patent
US 9,763,355 B2Related patent
US 2016/0192520 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.