Pre-loading latch
View Patent ↗A latch is designed to attain and keep full engagement of a sub-assembly in a chassis and to increase the reliability and longevity of connectors by increasing the chances that they remain fully engaged even in the presence of shock and vibration.
1. A latch, comprising:
a first member operable to be attached to a chassis and defining a slot, the chassis having a first connector; and
a second member operable to be attached to a subassembly that is installable in the chassis and includes a second connector, the second member having a lip and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein the slot is located a distance away from the axis and has a length less than the circumference of a circle centered on the axis and having a radius equal to the distance, and wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction.
2. The latch of claim 1 wherein the second member defines a hole that is operable to receive a fastener that attaches the second member to the sub assembly.
3. The latch of claim 1 wherein the second member defines a hole that is operable to receive a screw that attaches the second member to the sub assembly.
4. The latch of claim 1 wherein:
the second member defines a hole that is operable to receive a fastener that attaches the second member to the subassembly; and
the second member is operable to rotate about the fastener.
5. The latch of claim 1 wherein the second member includes a latch guide that is operable to prevent the second member from rotating beyond a predetermined position by engaging the first member.
6. The latch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide member operable to be attached to the subassembly; and
wherein the second member includes a latch guide that is operable to prevent the second member from rotating beyond a predetermined position by engaging the guide member.
7. The latch of claim 1 wherein:
the slot has an edge; and
the lip has a notch operable to engage the edge when the lip engages the slot.
8. A sub-assembly installable in a chassis having a first connector and a first latch member that defines a slot, the sub-assembly comprising:
a side;
a second connector; and
a second latch member attached to the side, having a lip, and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein the slot is located a distance away from the axis and has a length less than the circumference of a circle centered on the axis and having a radius equal to the distance, and wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction.
9. The subassembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
wherein the side defines a first hole;
wherein the second member defines a second hole; and
a screw that extends through the second hole and into the first hole to rotatably attach the second member to the side.
10. The sub-assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a guide member attached to a side; and
wherein the second member includes a latch guide that is operable to prevent the second member from rotating beyond a predetermined position by engaging the guide member.
11. A system, comprising:
a chassis having a receptacle and a first connector;
a first latch member attached to the chassis adjacent to the receptacle and defining a slot;
a subassembly having a second connector and disposed in the receptacle; and
a second latch member attached to the subassembly, having a lip, and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein the slot is located a distance away from the axis and has a length less than the circumference of a circle centered on the axis and having a radius equal to the distance, and wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the second connector is operable to mate with the first connector when the lip engages the slot.
13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the subassembly defines a first hole:
wherein the second latch member defines a second hole; and
a screw that extends through the second hole and into the first hole and that forces the first connector to mate with the second connector when the screw is tightened and the lip engages the slot.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the receptacle has a rear; and
a stop disposed in the receptacle and operable to maintain a minimum predetermined distance between the subassembly and the rear of the receptacle.
15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the receptacle has a rear; and
a stop attached to the subassembly and operable to maintain a minimum predetermined distance between the subassembly and the rear of the receptacle.
16. A method, comprising:
inserting a subassembly having a first connector into a chassis having a second connector;
rotating a first latch member disposed on the subassembly about an axis; and
engaging a lip of the first latch member with a slot of a second latch member disposed on the chassis, wherein the slot is located a distance away from the axis and has a length less than the circumference of a circle centered on the axis and having a radius equal to the distance, and wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first connector mates with the second connector.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising tightening a screw that attaches the first latch member to the subassembly after engaging the lip with the slot.
19. A latch comprising:
a first member operable to be attached to a chassis and defining a slot, the chassis having a first connector; and
a second member operable to be attached to a subassembly that is installable in the chassis and includes a second connector, the second member having a lip and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction; and
wherein the second member includes a latch guide that is operable to prevent the second member from rotating beyond a predetermined position by engaging the first member.
20. A latch comprising:
a first member operable to be attached to a chassis and defining a slot, the chassis having a first connector;
a second member operable to be attached to a subassembly that is installable in the chassis and includes a second connector, the second member having a lip and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction; and
wherein the slot has an edge and the lip has a notch operable to engage the edge when the lip engages the slot.
21. A subassembly installable in a chassis having a first connector and a first latch member that defines a slot, the subassembly comprising:
a side;
a second connector;
a second latch member attached to the side, having a lip, and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction;
a guide member attached to the side; and
wherein the second member includes a latch guide that is operable to prevent the second member from rotating beyond a predetermined position by engaging the guide member.
22. A system, comprising:
a chassis having a receptacle and a first connector;
a first latch member attached to the chassis adjacent to the receptacle and defining a slot;
a subassembly having a second connector and disposed in the receptacle;
a second latch member attached to the subassembly, having a lip, and operable to rotate about an axis to engage the slot with the lip, wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the axis being substantially oriented along the direction; and
wherein the receptacle has a rear; and a stop disposed in the receptacle and operable to maintain a minimum predetermined distance between the subassembly and the rear of the receptacle.
23. A latch comprising:
a first member operable to be attached to a chassis and defining a linear slot, the chassis having a first connector; and
a second member operable to be attached to a subassembly that is installable in the chassis and includes a second connector, the second member having a lip and operable to rotate about a shaft to engage the slot with the lip, wherein engagement of the slot with the lip causes the second connector to move in a direction toward the first connector, the shaft being substantially oriented along the direction.