Locking mechanism for securing the bezel of an electronics enclosure to a rack structure
View Patent ↗Described is a bezel for an electronics enclosure. The bezel frame includes a frame, first and second plunger mechanisms, a shuttle, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a cam disposed in a path of lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism. The cam is located between that plunger mechanism and a tab of the shuttle. The orientation of the cam determines the extent of lateral movement of the plunger mechanisms. In one orientation, the cam restricts the lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism and urges the shuttle into a position that restricts the lateral movement of the second plunger mechanism. Consequently, neither plunger mechanism is able to move far enough laterally to disengage from a mounting structure.
1. A bezel for an electronics enclosure, the bezel comprising:
a bezel frame;
a first plunger mechanism and a second plunger mechanism moveably attached at opposite ends of the bezel frame for lateral movement between a latched position in which each plunger mechanism can engage a respective latch on an electronics enclosure and an unlatched position in which each plunger mechanism can be disengaged from the respective latch;
a shuttle having a first tab and a second tab connected at opposite ends of an elongated member, the shuttle being moveably attached to the bezel frame such that each tab is near a respective one of the first and second plunger mechanisms; and
a locking mechanism having a cam disposed in a path of the lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism between the first plunger mechanism and the first tab of the shuttle, the cam having a first orientation when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state and a second orientation when the locking mechanism is in a locked state, the first orientation allowing sufficient lateral movement of each plunger mechanism for each plunger mechanism to attain the unlatched position, the second orientation causing the cam to contact the first tab of the shuttle and urge the shuttle laterally towards the second plunger mechanism so that the second tab restricts the lateral movement of the second plunger mechanism to keep the second plunger mechanism in the latched position while the cam restricts the lateral movement of the first plunger mechanism to keep the first plunger mechanism in the latched position.
2. The bezel of claim 1 wherein the first plunger mechanism comprises a tab to contact the cam of the locking mechanism when the first plunger mechanism is activated and the locking mechanism is in a locked state.
3. The bezel of claim 1 wherein the second plunger mechanism comprises a tab to contact the second tab of the shuttle when the second plunger mechanism is activated and the locking mechanism is in a locked state.
4. The bezel of claim 1 wherein each plunger mechanism comprises a button portion and a latch portion.
5. The bezel of claim 1 wherein the bezel frame comprises a plurality of ribs and wherein each plunger mechanism comprises a lip to engage a mounting latch and a compressive element in contact with one of the ribs, the compressive element urging the lip to an engaged position.
6. The bezel of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock with a keyhole for receiving a key, the keyhole of the lock being accessible from a front side of the bezel frame through an opening in the bezel frame, a back end of the lock being coupled to the cam, the cam rotating between the first and second orientations when the key is turned in the lock.
7. The bezel of claim 6 , wherein the lock is disposed off-center in the bezel frame.
8. A bezel for an electronics enclosure, the bezel comprising:
a bezel frame;
a first plunger mechanism and a second plunger mechanism slidably attached to the bezel frame at opposite ends of the bezel frame for latching and unlatching the bezel to and from the electronics enclosure;
a shuttle having an elongated member extending along a length of the bezel frame; and
a locking mechanism having a cam disposed between the first plunger mechanism and a first part of the shuttle, the cam having a locked orientation in which one side of the cam is urged against the first plunger mechanism while an opposite side of the cam is urged against the first part of the shuttle,
wherein when the cam is in the locked orientation, the cam restricts sliding movement of the first plunger mechanism and urges a second part of the shuttle into a position against the second plunger mechanism that restricts the sliding movement of the second plunger mechanism.
9. The bezel of claim 8 wherein the first plunger mechanism comprises a tab to contact the cam of the locking mechanism when the cam is in the locked orientation.
10. The bezel of claim 8 wherein the second plunger mechanism comprises a tab to contact the second part of the shuttle when the cam is in the locked orientation.
11. The bezel of claim 8 wherein each plunger mechanism comprises a button portion and a latch portion.
12. The bezel of claim 8 wherein the bezel frame comprises a plurality of ribs and wherein each plunger mechanism comprises a lip to engage a mounting latch and a compressive element in contact with one of the ribs, the compressive element urging the lip to an engaged position.
13. The bezel of claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock with a keyhole for receiving a key, the keyhole of the lock being accessible from a front side of the bezel frame through an opening in the bezel frame, a back end of the lock being coupled to the cam, the cam rotating into the locked orientation in accordance with the key being turned in the lock.
14. The bezel of claim 13 , wherein the lock is disposed off-center in the bezel frame.
15. A bezel comprising:
a frame having a front panel with an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a first plunger mechanism and a second plunger mechanism slidably attached to the interior surface of the frame at opposite ends of the frame;
a shuttle slidably coupled to the frame, the shuttle having an elongated member extending along a length of the frame, the shuttle having a first tab at one end of the elongate member and a second tab at the opposite end of the elongate member and opposing the first tab; and
a locking mechanism having a rotatable cam disposed between the first plunger mechanism and the first tab of the shuttle in a path of sliding movement of the shuttle, the rotatable cam having a first orientation that leaves a gap between the cam and the first plunger mechanism and a second orientation that brings the cam into contact with the first plunger mechanism and with the first tab of the shuttle and urges the second tab of the shuttle against the second plunger mechanism, thereby restricting the sliding movement of the shuttle.
16. The bezel of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock with a keyhole for receiving a key, the keyhole of the lock being accessible from a front side of the frame through an opening in the front panel, a back end of the lock being coupled to the cam, the cam rotating between the first and second orientations when the key is turned in the lock.
17. The bezel of claim 16 , wherein the lock is disposed off-center in the front panel of the frame.
18. The bezel of claim 15 , wherein the interior surface of the frame has a plurality of snaps extending perpendicularly therefrom, each snap terminating at a hook, and further comprising an EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) shield having a plurality of openings, each opening receiving the hook of one of the snaps to secure the EMI shield to a back side of the frame.
19. The bezel of claim 15 , wherein each plunger mechanism has a button member that may be pushed to cause sliding movement of the plunger member, and wherein the front panel of the frame has an opening at each end of the frame, each opening receiving the button member of a different one of the plunger mechanisms to provide access to the button member.