# US 2021/0344181 A1 · Fliptop integrated latch

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- Number: US 2021/0344181 A1
- Document ID: US20210344181A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/864,923
- Filed: 2020-05-01
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-01
- Assignees: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
- Applicants: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
- Inventors: Albert Pedoeem; Gregory Sorrentino; David Paolazzi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344181A1

## CPC

- H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box
- A47B 21/06: characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
- B65H 75/34: specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables (retractors for storing flexible hoses as accessories of dental work stands A61G15/18; vehicle safety belt retractors B60R22/34; hose-storing devices in apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or portable containers B67D7/40; clothes-line supports D06F53/00; spring drums for liftable blinds with horizontal lamellae E06B9/322; spring drums or tape drums for roll-type closures or roller blinds E06B9/56; hauling- or hoisting-chains with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses or the like F16G13/16; devices for guiding pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points, e.g. movable channels, F16L3/01; flexible rulers or tapes with scales G01B3/10; electrical features of stored material, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. H02G)
- B65H 75/446: {for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like}
- H02G 3/081: {Bases, casings or covers}
- H02G 3/185: {Floor outlets and access cups}
- B65H 2701/34: electric cords or electric power cables
- H02G 3/123: {in thin walls}
- H02G 11/003: {using gravity-loaded or spring-loaded loop}
- H02G 11/006: {using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring (extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06)}
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

An integrated latching mechanism includes a slider button extending along a first direction, curved elastic arms that extend from the slider button in a second direction and then curve back in an direction opposite thereto, a locking part contiguous with the slider button and extending away from the slider button and the elastic arms in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction. In response to ends of the elastic arms being held at fixed positions and an external force urging the slider button in a direction opposite to the third direction, the locking part moves in the same direction, and the urging of the slider button distorts the elastic arms such that upon removal of the external force, the elastic arms move the slider button and the locking part in the third direction. The elastic arms, slider button, and locking part form a single piece of elastic material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An integrated latching mechanism, comprising:
a slider button extending along a first direction;
first and second curved elastic arms that extend from the slider button in a second direction and then curve back in a direction opposite to the second direction;
a locking part contiguous with the slider button and extending away from the slider button and the first and second curved elastic arms in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein in response to an end of each of the first and second curved elastic arms being held at fixed positions and an external force urging the slider button in a direction opposite to the third direction, the locking part moves in the direction opposite to the third direction, and the urging of the slider button distorts the first and second curved elastic arms such that upon removal of the external force, the first and second curved elastic arms move the slider button and the locking part in the third direction, and
the first and second curved elastic arms, the slider button, and the locking part form a single piece of elastic material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The integrated latching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second curved elastic arms are each substantially U-shaped.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The integrated latching mechanism of claim 2, wherein at a base of the U-shape, each of the first and second curved elastic arms includes a portion configured to press against wall portions of a unit in which the integrated latching mechanism is held.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The integrated latching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the ends of the first and second curved elastic arms each include a pad having a post that extends away from the pad.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The integrated latching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the locking part includes a flat surface that is parallel to the third direction, and an opposing surface that slants toward and intersects with the flat surface at one end.

### Claim 6

A fliptop unit, comprising:
a movable lid;
a bezel configured to surround the movable lid;
an insert configured to be coupled with the bezel; and
an integrated latching mechanism that is disposed between the bezel and the insert and having a slider button that extends through an aperture formed in the bezel, and a locking part formed adjacent to the slider button and extending away from the slider button,
wherein the integrated latching mechanism is configured such that an external force urging the slider button to move within the aperture moves the locking part in a same direction and releases the movable lid, and
the urging of the slider button distorts the integrated latching mechanism such that upon removal of the external force, the integrated latching mechanism urges the slider button and the locking part in an opposite direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fliptop unit of claim 6, wherein the locking part includes a flat surface that is configured to abut against an edge of the movable lid to secure the movable lid to the bezel, and the urging of the slider button moves the flat surface away from contact with the edge of the lid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The fliptop unit of claim 7, wherein the locking part includes an opposing slanted surface that intersects the flat surface at one end, such that when the edge of the lid is in an unsecured position and moved toward the bezel, the edge of the lid pushes against the slanted surface to distort the integrated latching mechanism, and upon the edge of the movable lid moving past the slanted surface, the elastic force generated by the distortion of the integrated latching mechanism causes the flat surface to abut against the edge of the movable lid and secure the movable lid to the bezel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The fliptop unit of claim 6, wherein the integrated latching mechanism includes:
the slider button which extends along a first direction,
first and second curved elastic arms that extend from the slider button in a second direction and then curve back in a direction opposite to the second direction,
the locking part which is contiguous with the slider button and extends away from the slider button and the first and second curved elastic arms in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction,
an end of each of the first and second curved elastic arms are held at fixed positions with respect to the bezel and insert,
in response to an external force urging the slider button in a direction opposite to the third direction, the locking part moves in the direction opposite to the third direction, and the urging of the slider button distorts the first and second curved elastic arms such that upon removal of the external force, the first and second curved elastic arms move the slider button and the locking part in the third direction, and
the first and second curved elastic arms, the slider button, and the locking part form a single piece of elastic material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The fliptop unit of claim 9, wherein the first and second curved elastic arms are each substantially U-shaped.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fliptop unit of claim 10, wherein at a base of the U-shape, each of the first and second curved elastic arms includes a portion configured to press against wall portions formed in a region of the bezel and hold the integrated latching mechanism in place.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The fliptop unit of claim 9, wherein the ends of the first and second curved elastic arms each include a pad having a post that extends away from the pad and to couple with corresponding openings formed in the insert.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The fliptop unit of claim 9, wherein the locking part includes a flat surface that is parallel to the third direction, and an opposing surface that slants toward and intersects with the flat surface at one end.

### Claim 14

A fliptop unit, comprising:
a movable lid;
a bezel configured to surround the movable lid;
an insert configured to be coupled with the bezel; and
an integrated latching mechanism that is disposed between the bezel and the insert, and comprising:
a slider button extending along a first direction through an aperture formed in the bezel,
first and second curved elastic arms that are each substantially U-shaped and which extend from the slider button in a second direction and then curve back in a direction opposite to the second direction, and at a base of the U-shape, each of the first and second curved elastic arms includes a portion configured to press against wall portions formed in a region of the bezel and hold the integrated latching mechanism in place, the ends of the first and second curved elastic arms each including a pad having a post that extends away from the pad and to couple with corresponding openings formed in the insert,
a locking part contiguous with the slider button and extending away from the slider button and the first and second curved elastic arms in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, the locking part including a flat surface that is parallel to the third direction, and an opposing surface that slants toward and intersects with the flat surface at one end,
wherein in response to an external force urging the slider button in a direction opposite to the third direction, the locking part moves in the direction opposite to the third direction and releases the movable lid, and the urging of the slider button distorts the first and second curved elastic arms such that upon removal of the external force, the first and second curved elastic arms move the slider button and the locking part in the third direction, and
the first and second curved elastic arms, the slider button, and the locking part form a single piece of elastic material.