US 6,637,847 B2Granted

Bezel release latch

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsRichard Andrew Crisp, Scott Raymond LaPree, Bob Springer

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Abstract

A release latch includes a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism has a base, and an arm. The arm has one end attached to the base, and a free end. The latch mechanism further has a catch connected to the free end of the arm. The base is adapted to be attached to a first component, and the catch is adapted to releasably engage a second component to releasably hold the first component against the second component. The release latch further includes a release mechanism adapted to be attached to the first component, and being movable relative to the base. When the release mechanism is moved, the release mechanism engages the arm to move the arm, thereby causing the catch to disengage from the second component and allowing the first component to be moved away from the second component.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A release latch, comprising:

a latch mechanism, having:
a base adapted to be immovably fixed to a first component,
a resilient arm having one end fixed to said base, and a free end,
a catch connected to the free end of said arm and being adapted to releasably engage a second component so that the first component is releasably held against the second component, wherein as said catch is moved into contact with the second component, such contact causes said arm to flex to thereby move said catch to a position in which the catch can engage and hold the second component;
and
a plurality of guide arms, each being connected to said base, and including a first guide arm disposed on one side of said arm, and a second guide arm disposed on another side of said arm;
and
a release mechanism adapted to be attached to the first component, and being activatable to move relative to said base, wherein when said release mechanism is activated, said release mechanism is moved from a first position, to a second position in which said release mechanism engages said arm to flex said arm, thereby causing said catch to disengage from the second component and allowing the first component to be moved away from the second component, and when said release mechanism is not activated and after said catch has disengaged from the second component, a memory effect of said arm causes said arm to return to a non-flexed position, thereby pushing said release mechanism back to the first position, said release mechanism including a first wing guide and a second wing guide positionable under said first guide arm and said second guide arm, respectively, wherein when said release mechanism is moved relative to said base, said first and second wing guides and said first and second guide arms cooperatively prevent said release mechanism from twisting.

5 more elements

A release latch comprising:

a latch mechanism, having:
a base adapted to be immovably fixed to a first component,
a resilient arm having one end fixed to said base, and a free end, and
a catch connected to the free end of said arm and being adapted to releasably engage a second component so that the first component is releasably held against the second component, wherein as said catch is moved into contact with the second component, such contact causes said arm to flex to thereby move said catch to a position in which the catch can engage and hold the second component;
and
a release mechanism adapted to be attached to the first component, and being activatable to move relative to said base, wherein when said release mechanism is activated, said release mechanism is moved from a first position, to a second position in which said release mechanism engages said arm to flex said arm, thereby causing said catch to disengage from the second component and allowing the first component to be moved away from the second component, and when said release mechanism is not activated and after said catch has disengaged from the second component, a memory effect of said arm causes said arm to return to a non-flexed position, thereby pushing said release mechanism back to the first position, said release mechanism having a button, and wherein a rear edge of said button engages said arm to move said arm when said release mechanism is moved relative to said base, and wherein said release mechanism further includes two guide tabs disposed on the rear edge of said button, said guide tabs being separated from each other by a space, each said guide tab having a tapered edge that faces toward the space, wherein if said button is disposed off-center relative to said arm, when said release mechanism is moved relative to said base, said tapered edges will engage said arm to guide said button so that said arm is disposed in the space, thereby self-centering said button relative to said arm.

3 more elements

A release latch comprising:

a latch mechanism, having:
a base adapted to be immovably fixed to a first component,
a resilient arm having one end fixed to said base, and a free end, and
a catch connected to the free end of said arm and being adapted to releasably engage a second component so that the first component is releasably held against the second component, wherein as said catch is moved into contact with the second component, such contact causes said arm to flex to thereby move said catch to a position in which the catch can engage and hold the second component;
a release mechanism adapted to be attached to the first component, and being activatable to move relative to said base, wherein when said release mechanism is activated, said release mechanism is moved from a first position, to a second position in which said release mechanism engages said arm to flex said arm, thereby causing said catch to disengage from the second component and allowing the first component to be moved away from the second component, and when said release mechanism is not activated and after said catch has disengaged from the second component, a memory effect of said arm causes said arm to return to a non-flexed position, thereby pushing said release mechanism back to the first position;
and
further comprising a hold down and guide plate attachable to the first component to hold said release mechanism against the first component.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.