APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOLDING A COVER IN A CLOSED ORIENTATION

• US 20080129055A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acleap Power Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kim, Min C., Nguyen, Khanh, Haisler, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/80
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0037 Spring-operated
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/006 for covers or panels for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/10 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/11 Cover fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0926 Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0969 Spring projected

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit; the unit containing equipment in an equipment volume; the equipment volume being partially bounded by the chassis face; includes: a positioning structure coupling the cover with the unit for selectively situating the cover in the closed orientation or in an other orientation; and a latching structure configured for latchingly engaging the chassis face and the cover for holding the cover in the closed orientation when the latching structure is in a first orientation. The latching structure does not engage the chassis face and the cover when the latching structure is in a second orientation. The latching structure is situated substantially entirely outside the equipment volume.

Claims

1. An apparatus for latching a cover into a closed orientation with respect to a unit;

said unit containing equipment within a volume and presenting a chassis face toward said cover with said cover generally in register with said chassis face in said closed orientation;

said cover being rotatably affixed with said unit at a first end for swinging movement between an open orientation and said closed orientation;

the apparatus comprising;

an operating mechanism and an engaging structure;

said operating mechanism and said engaging structure being substantially entirely situated between said chassis face and said cover in said closed orientation; and

said operating mechanism and said engaging structure cooperating to orient said engaging structure for holding said cover in said closed orientation when said operating mechanism and said engaging structure are in a first orientation;

said operating mechanism and said engaging structure cooperating to release said holding of said cover when said operating mechanism and said engaging structure are in a second orientation.

2. An apparatus for latching a cover into a closed orientation with respect to a unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a latching bias member coupled with at least one of said operating mechanism and said engaging member;

said latching bias member urging said operating mechanism and said engaging member toward said first orientation.

3. An apparatus for latching a cover into a closed orientation with respect to a unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face, said operating mechanism and said engaging member;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

4. An apparatus for latching a cover into a closed orientation with respect to a unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face, said operating mechanism and said engaging member;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

5. An apparatus for latching a cover into a closed orientation with respect to a unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said latching bias member and said positioning bias member are configured in a unitary bias member coupled with at least one of said operating mechanism, said engaging member, said chassis face and said cover.

6. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit;

said unit containing equipment in an equipment volume;

said equipment volume being partially bounded by said chassis face;

the apparatus comprising;

a positioning structure coupling said cover with said unit for selectively situating said cover in said closed orientation or in an other orientation; and

a latching structure configured for latchingly engaging said chassis face and said cover for holding said cover in said closed orientation when said latching structure is in a first orientation;

said latching structure not engaging said chassis face and said cover when said latching structure is in a second orientation;

said latching structure being situated substantially entirely outside said equipment volume.

7. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said positioning structure is configured for effecting swinging movement of said cover with respect to said chassis face between said closed orientation and said other orientation.

8. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 6 wherein the apparatus further comprises a latching bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said cover and said chassis face;

said latching bias member urging said latching structure toward said first orientation.

9. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 6 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

10. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 8 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

11. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 10 wherein said latching bias member and said positioning bias member are configured in a unitary bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said chassis face and said cover.

12. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 7 wherein the apparatus further comprises a latching bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said cover and said chassis face;

said latching bias member urging said latching structure toward said first orientation.

13. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 7 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

14. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 12 wherein the apparatus further comprises a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

15. An apparatus for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 14 wherein said latching bias member and said positioning bias member are configured in a unitary bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said chassis face and said cover.

16. A method for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit;

said unit containing equipment in an equipment volume;

said equipment volume being partially bounded by said chassis face;

the method comprising;

(a) in no particular order;

(1) providing a positioning structure coupling said cover with said unit for selectively situating said cover in said closed orientation or in an other orientation; and

(2) providing a latching structure configured for latchingly engaging said chassis face and said cover for holding said cover in said closed orientation when said latching structure is in a first orientation;

said latching structure not engaging said chassis face and said cover when said latching structure is in a second orientation;

said latching structure being situated substantially entirely outside said equipment volume;

(b) situating said cover in said closed orientation; and

(c) orienting said latching structure in said first orientation.

17. A method for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises providing a latching bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said cover and said chassis face;

said latching bias member being oriented for urging said latching structure toward said first orientation.

18. A method for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises providing a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member oriented for urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

19. A method for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 17 wherein the method further comprises providing a positioning bias member coupled with at least one of said cover, said chassis face and said latching structure;

said positioning bias member oriented for urging said cover away from said closed orientation.

20. A method for holding a cover in a closed orientation substantially covering a chassis face of a unit as recited in claim 19 wherein said latching bias member and said positioning bias member are configured in a unitary bias member coupled with at least one of said latching structure, said chassis face and said cover.