Rack latch assembly

• US 20030160010A1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Robertson, Kenneth G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/127 Mounting arrangements of constructional parts onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1411 for securing or extracting box-type drawers

Abstract

A rack latch assembly for securing a product and bezel to a rack, including a latch bracket for securing to the product; a latch, extending from the latch bracket, for latching to the rack; and a lever, rotatably secured in the bezel, for releasing the latch from the rack during rotation.

Claims

1. A rack latch assembly for slideably securing a product and bezel to a rack, comprising:

a latch bracket for securing to the product;

a latch, extending from the latch bracket, for latching to the rack; and

a lever, rotatably secured in the bezel, for releasing the latch from the rack during rotation.

2. The assembly recited in claim 1, wherein:

said latch bracket further comprises a hook at one end thereof; and

said lever further comprises;

a face for engaging and releasing the latch from the rack; and

a recess for engaging the hook upon full rotation of the lever.

3. The assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a fastener for fixing the latch bracket to the rack.

4. The assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring mounted on the lever for biasing the rotation of the lever.

5. The assembly recited in claim 2, further comprising a fastener for fixing the latch bracket to the rack.

6. The assembly recited in claim 2, further comprising a spring mounted on the lever for biasing the rotation of the lever.

7. The assembly recited in claim 3, further comprising a spring mounted on the lever for biasing the rotation of the lever.

8. The assembly recited in claim 5, further comprising a spring mounted on the lever for biasing the rotation of the lever.

9. A rack latch assembly for releaseably securing a product and bezel to a rack, comprising:

first means for securing to a column of the rack;

second means for securing to a chassis of the product;

third means, extending from the securing means, for latching to the second means; and

fourth means, rotatably secured in the bezel, for releasing the third means from the first means during rotation.

10. The assembly recited in claim 9, wherein:

said second means comprises a hook at one end thereof; and

said fourth means further comprises;

means for engaging and releasing the third means from the slide; and

means for engaging the hook upon full rotation of the lever.

11. The assembly recited in claim 9, further comprising means for fixing the first means to the second means.

12. The assembly recited in claim 9, further comprising means, mounted on the lever, for biasing the rotation of the lever.

13. The assembly recited in claim 10, further comprising means for fixing the first means to the second means.

14. The assembly recited in claim 10, further comprising means, mounted on the lever, for biasing the rotation of the lever.

15. The assembly recited in claim 10, further comprising means, mounted on the lever, for biasing the rotation of the lever.

16. The assembly recited in claim 12, further comprising means for fixing the first means to the second means.

17. A lever assembly for a rack-mounted bezel, comprising:

a body having a top hinge post and a bottom hinge post extending therefrom;

a wire spring having torsion loops at each end for wrapping around the top and bottom hinge posts, respectfully; and

a channel, formed in the body, for receiving the wire spring.

18. The lever assembly recited in claim 17, wherein the channel comprises a section for receiving a serpentine portion of the wire spring.

19. The lever assembly recited in claim 17, wherein the body further comprises a bracket-engaging recess.

20. The lever assembly recited in claim 17, wherein the body further comprises a latch-engaging face.

21. The lever assembly recited in claim 18, wherein the body further comprises a bracket-engaging recess.

22. The lever assembly recited in claim 18, wherein the body further comprises a latch-engaging recess.

23. The lever assembly recited in claim 21, wherein the body further comprises a latch-engaging face.

24. A method for removing a component and bezel from a rack, comprising the steps of:

rotating a lever on the bezel whereby the lever displaces a catch and engages a hook on a latch assembly that is secured to the component; and

pulling on the engaged lever away from the rack.