Lockable latch and switch actuator assembly for a circuit card

Details Lockable latch and switch actuator assembly for a circuit card Lockable latch and switch actuator assembly for a circuit card

1999-11-09

2001-07-24

Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C439S116000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06266248

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a circuit card insertable into a card cage of an electronic system and, more particularly, to a lockable latch and switch actuator assembly for such a circuit card.
Modern electronic systems equipment, such as for telecommunications purposes, is often constructed as modular circuit cards inserted into guide slots of mechanical card cages, or shelf units, for engagement with a backplane mounted to the shelf unit at the inward ends of the guide slots. The outward edge of each circuit card is fastened to a faceplate assembly which holds a latch engagable with cooperating structure of the shelf unit to releasably retain the circuit card in the shelf unit. The locking mechanism for the latch typically includes a locking clip or button that protrudes out of the face of the latch. This can be unsightly and also decreases the space available for labeling of the circuit card. It would therefore be desirable to provide such a latch wherein the locking mechanism is less obtrusive.
A circuit card of the type described typically has mounted thereon a proximity switch which is actuated when the latch is in the position where it engages the cooperating structure of the shelf unit. Such a switch is typically activated through a direct force applied by the latch during the insertion operation of the circuit card into the card cage and is susceptible to being damaged by this direct force. It would therefore be desirable to provide a switch actuation mechanism which is not damaging to such a proximity switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a faceplate assembly for a printed circuit card insertable into a shelf unit. The circuit card includes a switch having an actuator movable to a predetermined position when the circuit card is fully inserted in the shelf unit. The inventive assembly comprises a bracket member secured to an edge of the circuit card, a latch member pivotably mounted relative to the circuit card and a resilient clip secured to the bracket member. The latch member has a latch hook portion adjacent the circuit card and engagable with cooperating structure of the shelf unit to releasably retain the circuit card within the shelf unit. The latch member further has a handle portion extending through a first opening of the bracket member. The handle portion is terminated by a user engagable portion to allow a user to pivot the latch member. The clip has a first portion engagable with the latch member handle portion to yieldably bias the latch member toward a position where the latch hook portion is disengaged from the shelf unit cooperating structure. The clip also has a second portion extending through a second opening of the bracket member to engage the switch actuator and move the switch actuator to the predetermined position when the latch member is pivoted to a position where the latch hook portion engages the shelf unit cooperating structure.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the user engagable portion of the latch member further includes a tab having a distal end extending away from the pivotable mounting of the latch member. The clip further includes a retainer portion having an abutment for holding the latch member tab when the latch member is pivoted to the position where the latch hook portion engages the shelf unit cooperating structure.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5434752 (1995-07-01), Huth et al.
patent: 5848906 (1998-12-01), Glusker et al.
patent: B1 6172880 (2001-01-01), Petitpierre et al.

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