Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-07-24
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C361S725000, C312S223100, C312S223600, C248S560000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266237
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to an apparatus for releasably securing an access panel of a computer system in a closed position.
Computer systems such as servers include a chassis in which various system components are mounted. The chassis is typically a metal structure constructed to meet various functional requirements such as mounting of components, permitting air flow to the components, providing security of the components and the like. An access panel is often pivotally mounted on the chassis for providing access to the interior contents through an opening covered by the access panel. The access panel is secured in a closed position by a mechanism such as a sliding latch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,671 discloses a sliding latch with a single integrally formed spring member. The spring is disclosed to have a cantilevered construction. The latch includes a catch having a beveled edge that engages the chassis to secure a hinged door in a closed position. The spring member is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latch. The cantilevered design of the spring results in a non-uniform force distribution and a limited degree of travel.
A commercially available sliding latch, such as part no. A3-99-122-12, sold by Southco, Inc. may be used for securing an access panel of a computer system in a closed position. The latch includes a discrete torsion spring for biasing the latch to a static position. The latch requires that the access panel be embossed to form a receptacle for receiving the latch. The embossing process is known to cause warping of the access panel, resulting in unacceptable electromagnetic interference containment within the chassis. Furthermore, the travel distance permitted by the torsion spring is limited. In computer systems such as servers, one or more chassis are mounted in a rack. To reduce the overall size of the chassis, the height of the chassis is often only slightly greater than the height of the system components mounted within the chassis. Furthermore, the clearance between the rack and the chassis is minimized such that the overall size of the computer system is reduced.
The limited space associated with a low profile type chassis precludes the use of conventional surface mount-type latches such as the latch discussed above. In some instances, protrusions that extend above an exterior surface of the chassis by more than approximately 0.080 inches are unacceptable. Protrusions that exceed this dimension often result in interference between the chassis and the rack, preventing the chassis from being inserted into the rack.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, cost-effective apparatus for securing a movable panel of a low profile chassis in the closed position that overcomes the shortcomings of previous apparatus for securing movable panels of a chassis in the closed position.
SUMMARY
One embodiment, accordingly, provides an apparatus including a latch mounted adjacent to an interior surface of an access panel and a plurality of axially compressible resilient members that provide an approximately balanced force with respect to a longitudinal axis of the latch. To this end, an apparatus for releasably securing an access panel of a computer in a closed position includes an access panel mounted on a chassis for being moved between an open position and a closed position. A plurality of mounting flanges extend from an interior surface of the access panel. An elongated latch has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the latch are slidably mounted between the interior surface of the access panel and a corresponding one of the mounting flanges. The latch is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position with respect to a flange portion of the chassis. A plurality of contoured resilient members are mounted between the latch and the access panel for biasing the latch to the latched position. A contoured portion of one of the resilient members is inverted from a contoured portion of an adjacent one of the resilient members.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the apparatus has a low profile with respect to system components mounted in the chassis and with respect to a rack for mounting the chassis.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3841674 (1974-10-01), Bisbing et al.
patent: 3850464 (1974-11-01), Bisbing et al.
patent: 4790579 (1988-12-01), Maxwell et al.
patent: 5062671 (1991-11-01), Goetz et al.
patent: 5150933 (1992-09-01), Myslicki et al.
patent: 5158329 (1992-10-01), Schlack
patent: 5482333 (1996-01-01), Gehrs et al.
patent: 5745342 (1998-04-01), Jefferies et al.
patent: 5784251 (1998-07-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5878608 (1999-03-01), Alyanakian
patent: 5995364 (1999-11-01), McAnally et al.
patent: 6053586 (2000-04-01), Cook et al.
www.southco.com—Slam Latch Part No. A3-99-122-12, pp. G8 and G9.
Jensen Ralph W.
Kannmacher Tracey
Mills Richard S.
Dell USA L.P.
Duong Hung Van
Haynes and Boone LLP
Picard Leo P.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for releasably securing an access panel of a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for releasably securing an access panel of a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for releasably securing an access panel of a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2533215