Apparatus, system, and method for securing computing components to printed circuit boards

1. A latch apparatus comprising:

an L-shaped latch coupled to a frame such that a proximal end of the L-shaped latch secures a computing component to a printed circuit board;

a pivot point coupled to a bend of the L-shaped latch to facilitate a rotation of the L-shaped latch around the pivot point within the frame; and

a spring coupled to the frame to exert a force on the rotation of the L-shaped latch toward a locked position by exerting a force against a protrusion of the L-shaped latch to maintain the locked position of the L-shaped latch.

2. The latch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame at least:

is coupled to the printed circuit board by an anchor; or

comprises a protruding part of the printed circuit board.

3. The latch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the L-shaped latch comprises a hook that surrounds a portion of the computing component to force the computing component toward the printed circuit board.

4. The latch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pivot point facilitates the rotation of the L-shaped latch such that:

a position of the pivot point prohibits an unintentional rotation of the L-shaped latch;

a downward force on the proximal end of the L-shaped latch exerts an upward rotation of a distal end of the L-shaped latch; and

a downward force on the distal end of the L-shaped latch exerts an upward rotation of the proximal end of the L-shaped latch.

5. The latch apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the downward force on the proximal end of the L-shaped latch rotates the distal end of the L-shaped latch to exert a force upward to lift the computing component away from the printed circuit board.

6. The latch apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a downward force applied to the computing component toward the distal end of the L-shaped latch locks the L-shaped latch.

7. The latch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring

is coupled to a pin inserted through the frame.

8. The latch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is extended from an outer surface of the L-shaped latch such that the protrusion slides past the spring as the L-shaped latch rotates around the pivot point.

9. A data-center rack comprising:

a rack dimensioned to hold computer hardware;

at least one chassis coupled to the rack that contains at least one printed circuit board;

at least one computing component coupled to the printed circuit board; and

at least one latch apparatus, comprising an L-shaped latch and a spring exerting a force against a protrusion of the L-shaped latch to maintain a locked position of the latch apparatus, coupled to the printed circuit board to secure the computing component to the printed circuit board.

10. The data-center rack of claim 9 , wherein the chassis is dimensioned to slide perpendicular to a face of the rack such that the chassis extends away from the rack to expose the printed circuit board.

11. The data-center rack of claim 9 , wherein the latch apparatus comprises:

a frame;

the L-shaped latch coupled to the frame;

a pivot point coupled to a bend of the L-shaped latch; and

the spring coupled to the frame.

12. The data-center rack of claim 11 , wherein a proximal end of the L-shaped latch surrounds a portion of the computing component to force the computing component toward the chassis.

13. The data-center rack of claim 12 , wherein the pivot point facilitates a rotation of the L-shaped latch such that:

a position of the pivot point prohibits an unintentional rotation of the L-shaped latch;

a downward force on the proximal end of the L-shaped latch rotates a distal end of the L-shaped latch to exert a force upward to lift the computing component away from the chassis; and

a downward force applied to the computing component toward the distal end of the L-shaped latch rotates the L-shaped latch toward the locked position.

14. The data-center rack of claim 11 , wherein the spring:

is coupled to a pin inserted through the frame; and

exerts a force against a protrusion of the L-shaped latch to prevent a rotation of the L-shaped latch.

15. The data-center rack of claim 14 , wherein the protrusion is extended from an outer surface of the L-shaped latch such that the protrusion slides past the spring as the L-shaped latch rotates around the pivot point.

16. A method comprising:

coupling an L-shaped latch to a frame such that a proximal end of the L-shaped latch secures a computing component to a printed circuit board;

coupling a pivot point to a bend of the L-shaped latch to facilitate a rotation of the L-shaped latch around the pivot point within the frame; and

coupling a spring to the frame to exert a force on the rotation of the L-shaped latch toward a locked position by dimensioning the spring to exert a force against a protrusion of the L-shaped latch to maintain the locked position of the L-shaped latch.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the L-shaped latch comprises a hook that surrounds a portion of the computing component to force the computing component toward the printed circuit board.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling the pivot point, to the bend of the L-shaped latch comprises facilitating the rotation of the L-shaped latch such that:

a position of the pivot point prohibits an unintentional rotation of the L-shaped latch;

a downward force on the proximal end of the L-shaped latch exerts an upward rotation of a distal end of the L-shaped latch; and

a downward force on the distal end of the L-shaped latch exerts an upward rotation of the proximal end of the L-shaped latch.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling the spring to the frame comprises coupling the spring to a pin inserted through the frame.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising extending the protrusion from an outer surface of the L-shaped latch such that the protrusion slides past the spring as the L-shaped latch rotates around the pivot point.