Method and apparatus for releasably securing a computer system component within a housing

A computer system, comprising:

• a component chassis with a face plate;
• a housing with a component chassis mounting device coupled thereto;
• and
• a releasable latching apparatus operable to releasably secure the component chassis to the component chassis mounting device, the releasable latching apparatus comprising:
• a casing;
• a shaft integrated with the casing, the shaft moveable relative to the casing;
• an actuator coupled to the shaft;
• and
• a collet extending along the shaft, the collet operable to releasably secure the component to the computer housing by extending radially outward and capturing a portion of the component chassis mounting device, and the collet having a ribbon-shaped spring finger.

A method for securing a component chassis to a computer housing, comprising the steps of:

• coupling a releasable latching apparatus to a mounting plate associated with the component chassis, the latching apparatus comprising:
• a casing;
• a shaft integrated with the casing, the shaft moveable relative to the casing;
• an actuator coupled to the shaft;
• a collet extending along the shaft, the collet operable to releasably secure the component chassis to the computer housing by extending away from the shaft and capturing a receptacle affixed to the computer housing, the extending initiated from a medial portion of the collet;
• a deflection device operable to extend the locking portion of the collet;
• and
• actuating the releasable latching apparatus to secure the component chassis to the computer housing.

A method for releasably securing a component of a computer system within an opening in a housing, comprising:

• attaching a releasable latching apparatus to a panel which forms a part of the component of the computer system;
• placing the component of the computer system at a selected location within the opening of the housing such that a portion of the panel lies adjacent to a respective rail attached to the housing proximate the opening;
• engaging a respective hole formed in the rail with a portion of the releasable latching apparatus;
• and
• actuating the releasable latching apparatus to expand a collet carried thereon such that the expanded collet captures the respective hole to releasably secure the component of the computer system at the selected location within the opening of the housing, and the collet having a ribbon-shaped spring finger with a locking notch.

A releasable latching apparatus for securing a component of a computer system to a computer housing, comprising:

• a casing;
• a shaft integrated with the casing, the shaft operable to move relative to the casing;
• an actuator coupled to the shaft;
• a collet extending along the shaft, the collet comprising a locking portion operable to releasably secure the component to the computer housing by extending away from the shaft and capturing an element of the computer housing;
• and
• wherein the collet comprises a spring finger, further wherein the locking portion is operable to extend away from the shaft through flexing of the spring finger.

A releasable latching apparatus for securing a component of a computer system to a computer housing, comprising:

• a casing;
• a shaft integrated with the casing, the shaft operable to move relative to the casing;
• an actuator coupled to the shaft;
• a collet extending along the shaft, the collet comprising a locking portion operable to releasably secure the component to the computer housing by extending away from the shaft and capturing an element of the computer housing;
• and
• wherein the collet comprises a projecting finger with a shaft side surface, further wherein the shaft comprises a cam with a lobe, the lobe operable to contact the shaft side surface of the projecting finger and to extend the locking portion of the collet away from the shaft.