US 7,114,984 B2 · Lever style de-latch mechanism for pluggable electronic module

Abstract

A lever-style de-latch mechanism for a pluggable electronic module, such as an SFP MSA fiber optic transceiver or other pluggable optoelectronic or electronic module. The mechanism is easily accessible to an operator and does not require any tools to operate. The mechanism uses rotational motion of a lever about a horizontal axis transverse to a horizontal direction of elongation of a module, or about a vertical axis (relative to a module extending in a horizontal plane), to cause translational motion of the de-latch actuator. Mechanisms including both T and bail latch style levers are provided. The lever may be adjacent to, or extend beyond, the front/face of the module's housing for tool-free accessibility and operation. The mechanism may allow the user to apply force to actuate the mechanism in a direction that does not oppose a withdrawal and/or module ejection force.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A de-latch mechanism for a pluggable module, the mechanism comprising:

a housing having an outer surface;
an actuator slidably mounted on said outer surface for translational movement in a linear direction along said outer surface, said actuator comprising a wedge having a surface inclined relative to said outer surface, said surface being inclined from a position adjacent said outer surface;
a lever mounted to the housing and pivotable about a pivot pin having an axis transverse to the linear direction;
and
a cam provided adjacent said pivot pin, said cam having a curved cam surface;
wherein pivoting of said lever about said pivot pin causes said cam surface to impinge upon said actuator to impart linear translation movement to said actuator's wedge relative to said outer surface of said housing.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/804,637Filed 19 Mar 2004 · continuation in part

Priority

4 Dec 2002

Published

US 2005/0003696 A16 Jan 2005

Granted

3 Oct 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01R 13/627
Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement: snap or like fastening
H01R 13/62933
Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical…:…
G02B 6/3897
Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs: connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards
G02B 6/4292
Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements: the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self…

Family

Application10/308,743Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Dec 2002

Application60/456,361Us provisional application · filed 22 Mar 2003

US 2005/0003696 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Jan 2005

US 6,805,573 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2004/0110406 A1Published application

US 7,114,984 B2This patent

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

Lever style de-latch mechanism for pluggable electronic module

Life of this patent

Lever style de-latch mechanism for pluggable electronic module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6