Latch mechanism for mobile systems and related methods

1. A system comprising:

a housing; and

a latch mechanism comprising:

first and second opposing latch members that define a cavity configured to receive a cable connector, wherein each latch member comprises first and second ends joined by an elongate link, and the cavity is defined by the elongate links and the second ends of the latch members,

first and second bias members configured to maintain the latch members in tension with each other, and

wherein the latch members are configured to slide relative to each other in response to the bias members to secure the connector relative to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch members are configured to slide apart in response to pressure applied by the connector against upper engagement surfaces of the latch members while the connector is inserted into the cavity.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the latch members are configured to slide toward each other in response to the bias members to secure lower engagement surfaces of the latch members with the connector to impede withdrawal of the connector from the cavity.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a first port comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts configured to receive a second port of the connector comprising a second set of electrical contacts; and

a seal configured to engage with the connector to maintain watertight electrical connections between the first and second electrical contacts while the connector is secured by the lower engagement surfaces.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the upper engagement surfaces comprise inclined ramps and the lower engagement surfaces comprise substantially planar surfaces.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch members are configured to slide apart in response to pressure applied by a user against actuation surfaces of the latch members to permit the connector to be withdrawn from the cavity.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each bias member comprises a spring engaged with the first and second latch members.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a module, wherein:

the module comprises the housing, the latch mechanism, and a memory; and

the module is configured to receive data from a sensor unit over a wired connection comprising the cable connector and store the data in the memory.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising the sensor unit.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector is a USB-C cable connector.

11. A method of operating the system of claim 1 , the method comprising:

operating the latch mechanism to secure the connector relative to the housing.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each bias member is disposed between the first end of a respective one of the latch members and the second end the other latch member, to push the first end of the respective latch member and the second end of the other latch member away from each other while the connector is inserted into the cavity.

13. A method comprising:

inserting a cable connector into a cavity defined by first and second latch members of a latch mechanism, wherein each latch member comprises first and second ends joined by an elongate link, and the cavity is defined by the elongate links and the second ends of the latch members;

sliding the latch members apart in response to pressure applied by the connector against upper engagement surfaces of the first and second latch members while the connector is inserted into the cavity; and

sliding the latch members toward each other in response to bias members to secure lower engagement surfaces of first and second latch members against the connector to impede withdrawal of the connector from the cavity.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, at a first port comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts, a second port comprising a second set of electrical contacts during the inserting; and

contacting the connector against a seal to maintain watertight electrical connections between the first and second electrical contacts while the connector is secured by the lower engagement surfaces.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the upper engagement surfaces comprise inclined ramps and the lower engagement surfaces comprise substantially planar surfaces.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving pressure applied by a user against actuation surfaces of the latch members to slide the latch members apart; and

withdrawing the connector from the cavity during the receiving.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein each bias member comprises a spring engaged with the first and second latch members.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving data from a sensor unit over a wired connection comprising the connector while the connector is secured by the latch mechanism; and

storing the data in a memory of a module comprising the latch mechanism.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cable connector is a USB-C cable connector.

20. A system comprising:

a housing; and

a latch mechanism comprising:

first and second opposing latch members that define a cavity configured to receive a cable connector, wherein each latch member comprises first and second ends joined by an elongate link, the second end of each latch member is disposed between the first and second ends of the other latch member, and the cavity is disposed between the second ends of the latch members,

first and second bias members, wherein each bias member is disposed between the first end of a respective one of the latch members and the second end of the other latch member, to push the first end of the respective latch member and the second end of the other latch member away from each other when the connector is inserted into the cavity,

wherein the second end of each latch member is configured to slide towards the first end of the other latch member in opposition to the bias members in response to pressure applied by the connector against upper engagement surfaces of the latch members while the connector is inserted into the cavity.