Slam latch for rackmount rail

• US 7,318,532 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Silverman, Denise R., Aquino, Sarah, Lee, Daniel Z., Brigham, Arthur S., Jensen, Joel F., Mori, Robert F., Frank, Christopher H., Jones, William R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; James A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newton; Jared W.
• Application Number:
  US10/968,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 211/26.2, 211/4, 312/222, 312/333, 312/332.1, 312/223.1, 312/334.4, 312/334.44, 361/727, 403/321, 403/378, 403324-328, 403/379.5
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1405 by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/60 Biased catch or latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7088 Sliding pin

Abstract

A rackmount system for a component may include outer slide members that couple with inner slide members. The outer slide members may be coupled to a rack with slam latches. The slam latches may couple with rails of the rack when the slam latches are placed against the rails. The inner slide members may be coupled to a component. The inner slide members may include tabs that engage slots in a chassis of the component to couple the inner slide members to the component. An inner slide assembly may include an inner latch that couples with the outer slide member to inhibit movement of the inner slide member relative to the outer slide member. The rackmount system may include a locking mechanism that locks the component relative to the rack.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a component in a rack comprising:

a first slide member;

a slam latch coupled to the first slide member, the slam latch comprising;

a body;

a pin movably coupled to the body, wherein the pin is configured to engage a rail of the rack to couple the first slide member to the rail; and

a cocking element;

and

a second slide member configured to couple with the component, the second slide member configured to engage the first slide member when the second slide member is coupled to the component and the component is inserted into the rack;

wherein the cocking element is configured to hold the pin in a retracted position when the cocking element is in a first position to inhibit the pin from engaging the rail, and wherein the cocking element is configured to automatically release the pin into an aperture of the rail when the slam latch is placed proximate to the rail; and

wherein the cocking element comprises an armature pivotally coupled to the body of the slam latch, wherein a portion of the armature is configured to be deflected by the rail when the latch is placed on the rail, wherein the armature is configured to automatically release the pin into a hole in the rack rail when the armature is deflected by the rail by a predetermined amount.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises an aligning portion configured to couple with a portion of the rail, wherein the aligning portion comprises a channel in the body, wherein the channel is configured to orient the first slide member at a desired angle relative to the rail.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch further comprises a bracket, wherein the bracket is coupled to the first slide member, wherein the body is coupled to the bracket such that the body is movable in a lateral direction relative to the bracket.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shelf member coupled to the second slide member, wherein the shelf member is configured to guide the second slide member into alignment with the first slide member.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shelf member coupled to the second slide member, wherein the shelf member is configured to engage the first slide member to partially support the second slide member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second slide member comprises a tab, wherein the tab is configured to couple with a slot in a chassis of the component.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second slide member comprises an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to couple with a hanger on the component.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second slide member is coupled to a spring, wherein the spring is configured to couple with an opening of the chassis of the component, wherein the spring is configured to inhibit movement of the second slide member relative to the component when the spring is in the opening.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the second slide member relative to the first slide member.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locking member coupled to the second slide member, wherein the locking member is operable by a user to lock the second slide member relative to the first slide member.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locking member coupled to the second slide member, wherein the locking member is operable by a user to lock the first slide member relative to the rack rail.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the locking member comprises a lever, wherein the lever comprises a cam portion, wherein the cam portion is configured to force a pin against the rail when the lever is rotated.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locking member, wherein the locking member is configured to be coupled to one of the first slide member, the second slide member, or the rack rail before either of the first or second slide members are installed in the rack.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second latch coupled to the second slide member, wherein the second latch is configured to couple with the first slide member to inhibit movement of the second slide member relative to the second slide member.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a locking member coupled to the second latch, wherein the locking member is configured to lock the second slide member relative to the first slide member, wherein the locking member comprises a lever pivotally coupled to the second latch.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first slide member comprises a front end and a rear end, wherein the latch is coupled proximate the front end of the first slide member, wherein the system further comprises a rear latch coupled proximate the rear end of the first slide member.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first slide member is configured to couple to a left side of the rack, wherein the system further comprises a right slide member configured to couple to a right side of the rack.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the cocking element is configured to cock the pin from an extended position to a retracted position when the cocking element is deflected by the rail by a predetermined amount.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises an element configured to hold the pin in a retracted position, wherein the element is configured to release the pin into an aperture of the rail when the element is deflected laterally by a side panel of the rack rail by a predetermined amount.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is retractable into the body of the slam latch.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is cylindrical.