Compliant drawer latch assembly

• US 9,198,322 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Russell, Michael Joseph, Keffeler, David Michael, Heyd, Andrew Rudolph, Schroeder, Christopher Ellis
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doyle, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US14/100,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 312215-222, 31233444-33447, 312/333, 292/229, 361/679.35, 36167937-67938, 361/679.43, 361/679.58, 361726-727
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0018 Buffers, stop blocks or latches for single drawer slides
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0094 Drawer damping device with 2 relatively movable parts to convert kinetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/40 Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/473 Braking devices, e.g. linear or rotational dampers or friction brakes; Buffers; End stops
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1421 Drawers for printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1062 Spring retracted

Abstract

A compliant drawer latch is provided. The compliant drawer latch includes a first portion affixed to an inside surface of a chassis, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a latch strike plate, a latch spring cap plate, and a latch return spring arranged between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate. A drawer contacts the latch strike plate when the drawer is seated in the chassis. When the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate compresses the latch return spring up to a predetermined distance, and the compressed latch return spring applies force to the latch strike plate to return the latch strike plate to a latching position when the drawer rebounds from over-travel.

Claims

1. A compliant drawer latch, comprising:

a first portion fixable to an inside surface of a chassis; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion, comprising;

a latch strike plate;

a latch spring cap plate;

a latch return spring, arranged between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate; and

a first threaded fastener configured to retain the latch strike plate and latch return spring to the latch spring cap plate,

wherein a drawer is operable to contact the latch strike plate when the drawer is seated in the chassis, wherein when the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate compresses the latch return spring up to a predetermined distance, wherein the compressed latch return spring applies force to the latch strike plate to return the latch strike plate to a latching position when the drawer rebounds from over-travel, wherein the first portion is configured to remain coupled to the second portion regardless of position, presence, or absence of the drawer.

2. The compliant drawer latch of claim 1, wherein the latch strike plate comprises a threaded stud, wherein the threaded stud extends toward the latch spring cap plate and provides threading for the first threaded fastener to couple the latch spring cap plate, the latch return spring, and the latch strike plate.

3. The compliant drawer latch of claim 2, wherein the first threaded fastener is a thumbscrew, wherein the second portion is assembled without requiring tools.

4. The compliant drawer latch of claim 2, wherein the latch return spring is compressed when the second portion is coupled to the first portion, wherein the latch return spring is a coil spring and the first threaded fastener is oriented axially within the latch return spring.

5. The compliant drawer latch of claim 2, wherein a second threaded fastener is configured to positively seat the drawer in the chassis, wherein the second threaded fastener is configured to engage the threaded stud from an opposite end of the threaded stud as the first threaded fastener, wherein the second threaded fastener is configured to couple the drawer to the compliant drawer latch.

6. The compliant drawer latch of claim 1, wherein the latch spring cap plate further comprises a projection, wherein the first portion comprises a recess that captures the projection when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

7. The compliant drawer latch of claim 6, wherein the second portion is configured to be coupled to the first portion without requiring tools, wherein the second portion is configured to be uncoupled from the first portion without requiring tools.

8. The compliant drawer latch of claim 7, wherein after the second portion is coupled to the first portion, the second portion is configured to be uncoupled from the first portion by deflecting a top surface of the latch spring cap plate away from the latch strike plate and pulling the second portion upward from the first portion, wherein the latch return spring exerts force to maintain the projection of the latch spring cap plate in the recess of the first portion when the top surface of the latch spring cap plate is not deflected away from the latch strike plate.

9. The compliant drawer latch of claim 1, wherein the latch spring cap plate comprises side tabs extending toward the latch strike plate that provide a minimum separation between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate, wherein the minimum separation is configured to prevent over-compression of the latch return spring, wherein when the second portion is coupled to the first portion, the latch strike plate is configured to move axially relative to the latch spring cap plate when the drawer makes contact with the latch strike plate.

10. The compliant drawer latch of claim 1, wherein the latch strike plate comprises side tabs that are configured to limit sideways movement of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion, wherein the side tabs of the latch strike plate extend rearward past the latch spring cap plate.

11. The compliant drawer latch of claim 1, wherein the drawer is operable to move in a first direction when closing, wherein the latch return spring exerts force in a direction opposite to the first direction when the drawer over-travels in the first direction, wherein the latch return spring is configured to move the drawer to a latching position that is not over-traveled.

12. A shock absorbing chassis for a sliding drawer, comprising:

a chassis, wherein the drawer is operable to move relative to the chassis in a first direction when extending from the chassis, wherein the drawer is operable to move relative to the chassis in a second direction when retracting into the chassis, the chassis comprising;

a latch base bracket affixed to an inside surface of the chassis; and

a latch strike plate assembly comprising a latch return spring, coupled to the latch base bracket, wherein the latch strike plate assembly remains coupled to the latch base bracket regardless of position, presence, or absence of the drawer,

wherein the drawer is operable to contact the latch strike plate assembly when the drawer is seated in the chassis, wherein when the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate assembly compresses up to a predetermined distance, wherein the latch strike plate assembly is configured to be installed and is removed from the latch base bracket without requiring tools.

13. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 12, wherein the latch strike plate assembly further comprises:

a latch strike plate; and

a latch spring cap plate,

wherein a first end of the latch return spring bears against the latch strike plate and a second end opposite to the first end bears against the latch spring cap plate,

wherein the latch strike plate comprises a threaded stud, wherein the threaded stud extends in the second direction and provides threading for a first threaded fastener configured to couple the latch spring cap plate, the latch return spring, and the latch strike plate.

14. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 13, wherein the latch return spring is compressed when the first threaded fastener couples the latch strike plate assembly to the latch base bracket.

15. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 13, wherein a second threaded fastener is configured to positively seat the drawer in the chassis, wherein the second threaded fastener is configured to engage the threaded stud from an opposite end of the threaded stud as the first threaded fastener, wherein the second threaded fastener is configured to couple the drawer to the latch strike plate assembly in a latching position.

16. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 13, wherein the latch spring cap plate further comprises a projection extending in the second direction, wherein the latch base bracket comprises a cutout that is configured to capture the projection when the latch strike plate assembly is coupled to the latch base bracket.

17. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 16, wherein after the latch strike plate assembly is coupled to the latch base bracket, a top surface of the latch spring cap plate is configured to be deflected in the second direction in order to uncouple the latch strike plate assembly from the latch base bracket, wherein the latch return spring is configured to exert force to maintain the projection in the cutout when the top surface of the latch spring cap plate is not deflected in the second direction.

18. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 13, wherein the latch spring cap plate comprises side tabs extending in the first direction that provide a minimum separation between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate, wherein when the latch strike plate assembly is coupled to the latch base bracket, wherein the minimum separation is configured to prevent over-compression of the latch return spring, the latch strike plate is configured to move axially relative to the latch spring cap plate when the drawer makes contact with the latch strike plate.

19. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 18, wherein the side tabs of the latch spring cap plate contact the latch strike plate before the latch return spring is fully compressed.

20. The shock absorbing chassis for the sliding drawer of claim 13, wherein the latch strike plate comprises side tabs extending in the second direction that limit sideways movement of the latch spring cap plate when the latch strike plate is coupled to the latch spring cap plate, wherein the side tabs of the latch strike plate are configured to limit sideways movement of the latch strike plate assembly relative to the latch base bracket when the latch strike plate assembly is coupled to the latch base bracket.