LATCH SYSTEM FOR AN INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 20090045636A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Marroquin, Marco A., Revell, John D.
• Application Number:
  US12/258,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/341.140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/694 Covers

Abstract

A latch system and method according to which a latch is connected to a component such as a chassis. A component is adapted for movement relative to the chassis at an angle of from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees. The component is operably engaged in response to the relative movement.

Claims

1. A system for latching first and second components, the system comprising:

a striker connected to the first component and adapted for movement relative to the second component at an angle ranging from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees; and

means connected to the second component for operably engaging the striker in response to the relative movement to latch the first component to the second component.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first component is a door panel and wherein the second component is a chassis of an information handling system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means comprises:

a base connected to the chassis; and

a pair of spaced arms extending from the base;

wherein the means further has;

a first configuration in which a first spacing between corresponding portions of the arms is defined; and

a second configuration in which a second spacing between the at least corresponding portions of the arms is defined that is greater than the first spacing.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a protrusion adapted to be received between the arms so that the protrusion forces the arms apart to place the means in the second configuration; and

wherein the protrusion is adapted to be removed from between the arms to place the means in the first configuration.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the striker is adapted to be received between the arms so that, when the means is in the first configuration, at least a portion of the striker is engaged with at least one pair of surfaces of the respective arms to maintain the latching of the first component to the second component.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein an undercut is formed in the arms, the undercut defining:

a pair of horizontally-extending surfaces of the respective arms;

a pair of 45-degree-extending surfaces of the respective arms; and

a pair of vertically-extending surfaces of the respective arms; and

wherein the at least one pair of surfaces is selected from the group consisting of the pair of horizontally-extending surfaces, the pair of 45-degree-extending surfaces, and the pair of vertically-extending surfaces.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein a pair of latch faces are defined by the arms, respectively, and extend at about a 45-degree angle, and wherein symmetric tapered cavities are formed in the latch faces, respectively, to facilitate the reception of the striker between the arms, each of the cavities extending at about a 45-degree angle.

8. A striker comprising:

first and second pairs of tapered surfaces to facilitate the reception of the striker between a pair of arms of a latch to operably engage the latch;

wherein the first pair of tapered surfaces extends at about a 45-degree angle; and

wherein the striker is adapted to approach the latch at an approach angle ranging from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees.

9. The striker of claim 8 wherein the latch is connected to a chassis of an information handling system.