Decoupled Latch

• US 20200131817A1
• Filed: 10/28/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arista Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arista Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Duong
• Granted Patent: US 11,619,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/06 in which the securing part if formed or carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0895 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/09 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0902 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/438 Spring-arm catch

Abstract

A latch includes a retention portion. The retention portion is configured to prevent a first device, coupled to the latch, from being removed while the retention portion is in a first configuration. The retention portion is configured to allow the first device to be removed while the retention portion is in a second configuration. The latch also includes a spring portion configured to allow the retention portion to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Claims

1. A latch, comprising:

a retention portion, wherein;

the retention portion is configured to prevent a first device, coupled to the latch, from being removed while the retention portion is in a first configuration; and

the retention portion is configured to allow the first device to be removed while the retention portion is in a second configuration; and

a spring portion coupled to the retention portion, the spring portion configured to allow the retention portion to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

2. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion and the spring portion form a continuous piece of the latch.

3. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is detachable from the spring portion.

4. The latch of claim 1, wherein the spring portion comprises one or more of:

a flat spring;

a compression spring;

a tension spring;

a torsion spring;

a flat spring; and

a cantilever spring.

5. The latch claim 1, wherein the retention portion and the spring portion comprise a same material.

6. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion comprises a first material and the spring portion comprises a second material.

7. The latch of claim 1, wherein:

the retention portion comprises a tab; and

the tab is configured to protrude through a first opening in a first housing of the first device.

8. The latch of claim 7, wherein the tab is configured to interface with a surface of a second housing of a second device to prevent the first device from being removed from the second housing while the retention portion is in the first configuration.

9. The latch of claim 8, wherein the tab does not interface with the surface of the second housing of the second device to allow the first device to be removed from the second housing while the retention portion is in the second configuration.

10. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion comprises a handle configured to allow a user to transition the retention portion between the first configuration and the second configuration.

11. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is stiffer, more rigid, or stronger than the spring portion.

12. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is resistant to buckling than the spring portion.

13. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion has more compressive strength than the spring portion.

14. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion has an L-shape cross section.

15. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion has a non-flat cross section.

16. The latch of claim 1, wherein the spring portion has a flat cross section.

17. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion has a different cross section than the spring portion.

18. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion further comprises a securement mechanism configured to secure the latch to the first device.

19. The latch of claim 18, wherein the securement mechanism comprises an opening configured to receive a screw.

20. The latch of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is separate from the spring portion.

21. A latch, comprising:

a retention portion and a spring portion, wherein;

the retention portion is configured to prevent a first device, coupled to the latch, from being removed while the retention portion is in a first configuration; and

the retention portion is configured to allow the first device to be removed while the retention portion is in a second configuration; and

the spring portion configured to allow the retention portion to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.