Positive pressure-applying latch mechanism

A latch mechanism for latching a unit within an enclosure, the latch mechanism comprising:

• a pivotable latch coupled to the unit via a pivot, the pivot being disposed at a first side of the unit;
• a spring member associated with the enclosure, the spring member being contacted by, and having a tension force applied thereto by, a first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the latch from an open position to a latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure, the pivotable latch comprising the first end and a second end, the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second end thereof, and the rotating of the latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure resulting in the latch contacting the spring member and deflecting a first end and a second end of the spring member in opposite directions, thereby facilitating provision of a positive pressure on the unit by the pivotable latch directed towards a second side of the unit opposite to the first side thereof with latching of the unit within the enclosure;
• wherein the spring member comprises a deflectable spring member with a portion thereof physically contacted by the first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the unit within the enclosure, the first end of the pivotable latch pulling on the spring member in a direction opposite to a direction of the positive pressure on the unit directed towards the second side of the unit with latching of the unit within the enclosure;
• wherein the spring member comprises a first spring end and a second spring end, the first spring end and the second spring end engaging respective contact surfaces associated with the enclosure and sliding relative to the respective contact surfaces with pulling of the spring member by the latch during latching of the unit within the enclosure;
• and
• wherein the spring member is a substantially G-shaped, curved spring member, with the portion of the spring member engaged by the latch being a flat base portion of the substantially G-shaped, curved spring member.

An electronic system comprising:

• at least one field-replaceable unit (FRU);
• an enclosure comprising at least one FRU-receiving slot, the at least one field-replaceable unit operationally docking within the at least one FRU-receiving slot of the enclosure;
• and
• at least one latching mechanism, one latching mechanism of the at least one latching mechanism comprising:
• a pivotable latch coupled to one field-replaceable unit of the at least one field-replaceable unit via a pivot, the pivot being disposed at a first side of the one field-replaceable unit;
• a spring member associated with the enclosure, the spring member being contacted by, and having a tension force applied thereto by a first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the latch from an open position to a latched position during latching of the one field-replaceable unit within one FRU-receiving slot of the at least one FRU-receiving slot in the enclosure, the pivotable latch comprising the first end and a second end, the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second end thereof, and the rotating of the latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the one field-replaceable unit within the enclosure resulting in the latch contacting the spring member and deflecting a first end and a second end of the spring member in opposite directions, thereby facilitating provision of a positive pressure on the one field-replaceable unit by the pivotable latch directed towards a second side of the one field-replaceable unit opposite to the first side thereof with latching of the one field-replaceable unit within the one FRU-receiving slot in the enclosure;
• wherein the spring member comprises a deflectable spring member with a portion thereof physically contacted by the first end of the pivotable latch with rotating of the latch from the open position to the latched position during latching of the one field-replaceable unit within the one FRU-receiving slot, the first end of the pivotable latch pulling on the spring member in a direction opposite to a direction of the positive pressure on the field-replaceable unit directed towards the second side of the one field-replaceable unit with latching of the one field-replaceable unit within the one FRU-receiving slot in the enclosure;
• wherein the spring member comprises a first spring end and a second spring end, the first spring end and the second spring end engaging respective contact surfaces associated with the enclosure and sliding relative to the respective contact surfaces with pulling of the spring member by the latch during latching of the unit within the enclosure;
• and
• wherein the portion of the spring member engaged by the latch is a base of the spring member, the first spring end and the second spring end of the spring member comprise a first curved spring end and a second curved spring end, respectively, and the spring member extends from the base past a first contact surface of the respective contact surfaces, and curves back towards the first contact surface with the first curved spring end slidably contacting the first contact surface, and the tension spring member extends from the base past a second contact surface of the respective contact surfaces, and curves back towards the second contact surface with the second curved spring end slidably contacting the second contact surface.