Secure latching system

• US 6,848,662 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Zevin, Thomas Michael, Rodriguez, Joe Dufrain, Paramonoff, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US10/056,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 248/309.1, 248/314, 248/689, 248/671, 248/316.1, 248/316.5, 248/222.11, 248/221.11, 361/686, 361/683, 361/726, 361/725, 361/724
• US Class Current: 248/309.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/14 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch E05C3/122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/125 radially resilient or with a snap-action member, e.g. elastic tooth, pawl with spring, resilient coil or wire
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

The disclosed system for securely latching a device in a support frame employs a pair of latching members each adapted to pivot about a latch pivot axis defined on an exterior side of the support frame and are adapted to engage a corresponding latch recess on the device downstream from the first latch pivot axis. The first and second latching members pivot toward the interior of the support frame to securely engage the respective first and second latch recesses and automatically pivot further toward the interior of the support frame within the engaged first and second latch recesses in case of an unplanned attempt to release the device from the support frame.

Claims

1. A system for securely latching a device in a support frame, the device being removable from the frame in an upstream direction and insertable into the frame in a downstream direction, said system comprising:

at least one latching member having a release button projecting outwardly from a sidewall of the support frame, said sidewall being generally oriented parallel to said upstream and downstream directions;

said at least one latching member being adapted to pivot about a corresponding latch pivot axis defined on an exterior portion of said support frame parallel to said sidewall, said latching member having a latch pin downstream from said latch pivot axis for latching said device in said support frame, said latch pin extending upwardly and inwardly into an interior of said support frame for removably engaging a corresponding latch recess on said device downstream from said latch pivot axis; and

at least one spring operatively coupled between said support frame and the release button of said latching member, upstream from said latch pivot axis and having a spring restoring force causing the latch pin to rotate upwardly and inwardly toward the interior of said support frame to securely engage said corresponding latch recess,

wherein said latch pin of the latching member is arranged to automatically rotate further upwardly and inwardly into the interior of said latch recess in response to a removal force being applied to the device generally in said upstream direction while the latch pin is still engaged within the latch recess, and to thereby enhance said spring restoring force to provide a clamping force sufficient to overcome said removal force, such that the device may not be removed from the frame without damage to the latching member, the frame, or the device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one latching member comprises a base pivotally coupled to said support frame for rotation about said latch pivot axis, said base being integrally formed with said latch pin.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said release button is integrally formed with said base.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said support frame includes at least one aperture disposed downstream from said latch pivot axis and adapted to allow said latch pin to engage said latch recess on said device through said support frame.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one edge of said at least one aperture serves as a corner stop for said pivotally coupled base.

6. A system for securely latching a device in a support frame the device being removable from the frame in an upstream direction and insertable into the frame in a downstream direction, said system comprising:

(a) a first latching member adapted to pivot about a first latch pivot axis defined on an exterior side portion of said support frame and having a first latch pin adapted to engage a corresponding first latch recess on said device downstream from said first latch pivot axis for latching a first side of said device in said support frame;

(b) a second latching member adapted to pivot about a second latch pivot axis defined on an opposite exterior side portion of said support frame and having a second latch pin adapted to engage a corresponding second latch recess on said device downstream from said second latch pivot axis for latching a second side of said device in said support frame;

(c) a first spring operatively coupled between said support frame and said first latching member upstream from said first latch pivot axis and having a first spring restoring force causing said first latch pin to pivot upwardly and inwardly into the interior of said support frame to securely engage said first latch recess; and

(d) a second spring operatively coupled between said support frame and said second latching member upstream from said second latch pivot axis and having a second spring restoring force causing said second latch pin to pivot upwardly and inwardly into the interior of said support frame to securely engage said second latch recess, wherein said respective first and second latch pins are arranged to automatically rotate further into the respective interiors of said first and second latch recesses in case of an unplanned attempt to release said device from said support frame and thereby more securely engage the device in response to a removal force being applied to the device generally in said upstream direction while the first and second latch pins are still engaged within the latch recesses, and to thereby enhance said spring restoring forces to provide clamping forces sufficient to overcome said removal force, such that the device may not be removed from the frame without damage to the latching members, the frame, or the device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first latching member comprises a first base pivotally coupled to said support frame for rotation about said first latch pivot axis, said first latch pin being disposed on a downstream portion of said first base.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said second latching member comprises a second base pivotally coupled to said support frame substantially opposite said first base for rotation about said second latch pivot axis, said second latch pin being disposed on a downstream portion of said second base.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of said first and second latching members further comprises a respective button portion disposed over said respective first and second bases for pushing against said respective first and second spring restoring forces to unlatch said device from said support frame.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said support frame includes a first aperture disposed downstream from said first latch pivot axis and adapted to allow said first latch pin to engage said first latch recess on said device through said support frame.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said support frame further includes a second aperture disposed downstream from said second latch pivot axis and adapted to allow said second latch pin to engage said second latch recess on said device through said support frame.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one edge of said first aperture serves as a corner stop for said first pivotally coupled base.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one edge of said second aperture serves as a corner stop for said second pivotally coupled base.