Torsional multi-axis constraining latching system
View Patent ↗A housing for a portable hand held device such as a palmtop computer uses a torsional latching system. The housing is made of front and rear housing laminated housing members. The torsional latch arrangement works in conjunction with a plurality of latch fingers along the edge to attach the front housing laminate with the rear housing laminate. The torsional latch arrangement has a pair of L-shaped latch ribs that engage with a T-shaped latch member by torsion of the L-shaped latch ribs into engagement with pockets adjacent the T-shaped latch member prevent movement of the two housing laminates in relation to one another.
1. A method of coupling a first housing member to a second housing member, said method comprising:
aligning a first and a second flexing L-shaped latching ribs of said second housing member with a rigid T-shaped latching member of said first housing member; and
pressing said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs into engagement with said rigid T-shaped latching member along a first axis, wherein said engagement causes said first flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate counterclockwise along a second axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a first void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member, and wherein said engagement causes said second flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate clockwise along a third axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a second void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said engagement further causes a tapered surface of said first flexing L-shaped latching rib to slide against a first end of said rigid T-shaped latching member and to rotate counterclockwise until said first flexing L-shaped latching rib slips into said first void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said engagement further causes a tapered surface of said second flexing L-shaped latching rib to slide against a second end of said rigid T-shaped latching member and to rotate clockwise until said second flexing L-shaped latching rib slips into said second void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first housing member comprises a metal rear cover and a plastic substrate.
5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said rigid T-shaped latching member is molded as a part of said plastic substrate.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second housing member comprises a metal front cover and a plastic midframe.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs are molded as part of said plastic midframe.
8. A latching apparatus comprising:
a rigid T-shaped latching member; and
a first and a second flexing L-shaped latching ribs, wherein said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs are adapted for pressing into engagement with said rigid T-shaped latching member along a first axis, wherein said engagement causes said first flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate counterclockwise along a second axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a first void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member, and wherein said engagement causes said second flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate clockwise along a third axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a second void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member.
9. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said rigid T-shaped latching member comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end partially encloses said first void, and wherein said second end partially encloses said second void.
10. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising a first housing member.
11. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first housing member comprises a metal rear cover and a plastic substrate.
12. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said rigid T-shaped latching member is molded as a part of said plastic substrate.
13. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising a second housing member.
14. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said second housing member comprises a metal front cover and a plastic midframe.
15. The latching apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs are molded as part of said plastic midframe.
16. A housing comprising:
a first housing member comprising a rigid T-shaped latching member; and
a second housing member comprising a first and a second flexing L-shaped latching ribs, wherein said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs are adapted for pressing into engagement with said rigid T-shaped latching member along a first axis, wherein said engagement causes said first flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate counterclockwise along a second axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a first void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member, and wherein said engagement causes said second flexing L-shaped latching rib to flex and to rotate clockwise along a third axis which is parallel to said first axis in order to slide against said rigid T-shaped latching member and to slip into a second void adjacent said rigid T-shaped latching member.
17. The housing as recited in claim 16 wherein said first housing member further comprises a metal rear cover and a plastic substrate.
18. The housing as recited in claim 17 wherein said rigid T-shaped latching member is molded as a part of said plastic substrate.
19. The housing as recited in claim 16 wherein said second housing member further comprises a metal front cover and a plastic midframe.
20. The housing as recited in claim 19 wherein said first and said second flexing L-shaped latching ribs are molded as part of said plastic midframe.