Latch mechanism for securing an electronic module

• US 9,063,705 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Howell, Steven E., McKenzie, Joseph H., Sassano, Camillo, Schott, Jared E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US14/076,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20150131227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 248/566, 248/220.21, 248/682, 248/632, 248/225.21, 248/440.1, 248/300, 248/309.1, 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 248/583, 29/332, 29/33.A, 294/10, 312/217, 312/221, 312/223.2, 312/319.1, 312/326, 312/205, 312/223.1, 312/334.3, 312/223.5, 312/223.6, 312/333, 292/175, 292/215, 369/30.55, 369/30.54, 361/679.38, 361/679.37, 361/679.39, 361/679.33, 361/679.36, 361/679.48, 361/679.46, 361/679.31, 361/679.02, 361/679.34, 361/679.57, 361/679.47, 361/679.32, 361/679.5, 361/679.41, 361/679.35, 361/679.08, 361/679.49, 439/155, 439/159, 439/342, 439/160, 439/607.25, 439/357, 439/326, 439/135, 439/417, 439/553, 439/607.33, 439/620.12, 439/157, 439/259, 439/264, 360/99.06, 360/251.4, 360/99.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1405 by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1409 by lever-type mechanisms

Abstract

An apparatus includes a frame forming a bay for receiving an electronic module having a blind mate connector for coupling with a chassis connector. An actuator is slidably secured to the frame and forms a push button, an intermediate actuation member, and a distal actuation member. A spring latch is biased to latch the module in place. An ejection lever is pivotally secured to one side of the bay, and has a first end aligned with the distal actuation member and a second end disposed to engage the module. Pushing the push button causes the intermediate actuation member to withdraw the spring latch from the bay and then causes the distal actuation member to pivot the ejection lever to unseat and eject the module.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a frame forming a bay and having a proximal end having an opening for receiving an electronic module into the bay, and a distal end having an opening for coupling a first connector at a distal end of the frame to a second connector on the electronic module;

an actuator slidably secured to the frame outside of the bay and extending from a proximal end of the frame toward a distal end the frame, wherein the actuator forms a push button at the proximal end, an intermediate actuation member, and a distal actuation member;

a spring latch secured to the frame and biased to extend a latch key into the bay to engage and latch the electronic module in an operable position within the bay, wherein the spring latch is aligned with the intermediate actuation member; and

an ejection lever including a first end outside of the bay, a second end inside the bay, and a middle portion between the first and second ends that is pivotally secured to one side of the bay, wherein the first end of the ejection lever is aligned with the distal actuation member, and wherein the second end of the ejection lever is disposed to engage a distal end of the electronic module;

wherein pushing the push button in the distal direction causes the intermediate actuation member to withdraw the spring latch from the bay and then causes the distal actuation member to pivot the ejection lever so that the second end of the ejection lever moves toward the proximal end of the frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring disposed between the frame and the actuator to bias the actuator toward the proximal end of the frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring disposed between the frame and the ejection lever to forward bias the first end of the ejection lever.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latch key has a proximal edge that is slanted relative to the frame to allow the electronic module to open the spring latch and become latched within the bay without actuating the actuator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a boss formed on one side of the bay to prevent the electronic module from hitting the ejection lever.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the boss aligns the electronic module within the bay so the second connector on the electronic module is aligned with the first connector at the distal end of the frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second end of the ejection lever includes a pin that extends laterally beyond the boss to engage a distal end of the electronic module.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

an electromagnetic compatibility gasket secured on at least one side of the frame in front of the boss.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic module has no moving parts involved in installing, latching or ejecting the electronic module.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a detent between the frame and the actuator.

11. A system, comprising:

a chassis securing a computer system including a first connector for coupling with a second connector on an electronic module;

a frame secured to the chassis and forming a bay with a proximal end having an opening for receiving the electronic module into the bay, and a distal end having an opening for blind coupling of the second connector on the electronic module to the first connector;

an actuator slidably secured to the frame outside of the bay and extending from a proximal end of the frame toward a distal end the frame , wherein the actuator forms a push button at the proximal end, an intermediate actuation member, and a distal actuation member;

a spring latch secured to the frame and biased to extend a latch key into the bay to engage and latch the electronic module in an operable position within the bay, wherein the spring latch is aligned with the intermediate actuation member; and

an ejection lever including a first end outside of the bay, a second end inside the bay, and a middle portion between the first and second ends that is pivotally secured to one side of the bay, wherein the first end of the ejection lever is aligned with the distal actuation member, and wherein the second end of the ejection lever is disposed to engage a distal end of the electronic module; and

an electronic module receivable within the bay, wherein the electronic module has a housing with a latch surface for receiving the latch key when the second connector on the electronic module has been coupled to the first connector in the chassis;

wherein pushing the push button in the distal direction causes the intermediate actuation member to withdraw the latch key from the bay and then causes the distal actuation member to pivot the ejection lever so that the second end of the ejection lever pushes the electronic module toward the proximal end of the frame until the first connector is disconnected from the second connector.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a spring disposed between the frame and the actuator to bias the actuator toward the proximal end of the frame.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a spring disposed between the frame and the ejection lever to forward bias the first end of the ejection lever.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the latch key has a proximal edge that is slanted relative to the frame to allow the electronic module to open the spring latch and become latched within the bay without actuating the actuator.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a boss formed on one side of the bay to prevent the electronic module from hitting the ejection lever.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the boss aligns the electronic module within the bay so that connectors on the electronic module are aligned with connectors in the chassis.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an electromagnetic compatibility gasket secured on one side of the frame in front of the boss.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the second end of the ejection lever includes a pin that extends laterally beyond the boss to engage a distal end of the electronic module.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the distal end of the electronic module includes a recess for engaging the pin of the ejection lever.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic module has no moving parts involved in installing, latching or ejecting the electronic module.