Computer cabinet latching mechanism

• US 5,743,606 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Scholder, Erica
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/698,817
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 312/222, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/293.2, 312/290, 312/300, 312/111, 312/265.6, 361/683, 361/684, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 292/19, 292/80, 292/83, 292/81, 292/86, 220/323, 220/324, 220/780, 220/782, 220/786
• US Class Current: 312/223.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0901 Push or pull rod

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a computer cover to a computer chassis is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a computer cover and computer chassis include a latching mechanism with components attached to each. The cover includes a button and a stop located adjacent to the button. The chassis includes a leaf spring so that, when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the leaf spring engages with the stop, thereby securing the cover to the chassis. Likewise, whenever the button is being depressed, such as by a user, the button pushes the leaf spring away from the stop. As a result, the cover is no longer secured to the chassis and can be easily opened from the chassis.

Claims

1. A computer cabinet for storing components, the cabinet comprising:

a chassis including a side panel and a bottom panel;

a cover including a side panel and a top panel, wherein the cover can be selectively closed onto the chassis so that the cover side panel is located outside of and adjacent to the chassis side panel, or opened from the chassis so that the cover top panel is sufficiently removed from the chassis bottom panel;

a stop attached to the cover side panel, the stop including a lip portion;

a button pivotally connected to the cover side panel and located proximate to the lip portion, said button capable of being selectively depressed; and

a spring member attached to the chassis side panel and comprising an indention portion;

wherein when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the spring member is proximate to the button of the cover side panel and retains the lip portion of the stop within the indention portion of the spring member, thereby securing the cover to the chassis;

wherein depression of the button disengages the lip portion of the stop from the indention portion of the spring member, thereby allowing the cover to be opened from the chassis.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 further comprising:

a first hook attached to the cover side panel;

a second hook attached to the chassis side panel, wherein, when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the second hook engages with the first hook.

3. The cabinet of claim 1 further comprising:

a spring stay attached to the chassis side panel and proximate to the spring member for preventing the spring member from being compressed past a predefined degree of compression.

4. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the cover side panel has an opening located therein so that when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the button may be accessed through the opening.

5. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the spring member is formed out of the chassis side panel.

6. The cabinet of claim 1 further wherein the cover further comprises a front side panel and the cabinet further comprises:

a hinge attached to the cover front side panel and to the chassis bottom panel, so that the cover can rotate on the hinge in order to open and close the cover onto the chassis.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 wherein the hinge allows the cover to be separated from the chassis whenever the cover is opened from the chassis a predetermined distance.

8. A computer cabinet for storing components, the cabinet comprising:

a chassis including two side panels and a bottom panel;

a cover including two side panels, a front panel, and a top panel, wherein the cover can be selectively closed onto the chassis so that the first and second cover side panels are located outside of and adjacent to the first and second chassis side panels, or selectively opened from the chassis so that the cover top panel is sufficiently removed from the chassis bottom panel;

a first stop attached to the first cover side panel, the first stop including a first lip portion;

a first button pivotally connected to the first cover side panel and located proximate to the first lip portion, the first button capable of being selectively depressed;

a first spring member attached to the first chassis side panel and comprising a first indention portion located in a position wherein, when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the first indention portion is spaced but proximate to the first button and the first lip portion of the first cover side panel; and

a hinge attached to the front cover side panel and to the chassis bottom panel, so that the cover can rotate on the hinge in order to open and close the cover onto the chassis;

wherein, if the cover begins to open from the chassis and the first button is not depressed, the first indention portion of the first spring member engages with the first lip portion of the first stop, thereby preventing the cover from opening further from the chassis; and

wherein, if the cover begins to open from the chassis and the first button is depressed, the first indention portion of the first spring member does not engage with the first lip portion of the first stop, thereby allowing the cover to continue opening from the chassis.

9. The computer cabinet of claim 8 further comprising:

a second stop attached to the second cover side panel, the second stop including a second lip portion;

a second button pivotally connected to the second cover side panel and located proximate to the second lip portion, the second button capable of being selectively depressed;

a second spring member attached to the second chassis side panel and comprising a second indention portion located in a position wherein, when the cover is closed onto the chassis, the second indention portion is spaced but proximate to the second button and the second lip portion of the second cover side panel; and

a hinge attached to the front cover side panel and to the chassis bottom panel, so that the cover can rotate on the hinge in order to open and close the cover onto the chassis;

wherein, if the cover begins to open from the chassis and the second button is not depressed, the second indention portion of the second spring member engages with the second lip portion of the second stop, thereby preventing the cover from opening further from the chassis; and

wherein, if the cover begins to open from the chassis and the second button is depressed, the second indention portion of the second spring member does not engage with the second lip portion of the second stop, thereby allowing the cover to continue opening from the chassis.