Patent ID: 6390320
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: H02G,H05K

Abstract:
A removable faceplate for covering an opening in a computer equipment bay, the faceplate comprising:a removable metallic planar body having first and second edges, the first and second edges opposing one another; a first flange extending from the first edge of the planar body along a plane of the planar body and formed from a same piece of metal forming the planar body; a bracing tongue formed on the first flange and capable of engaging a first edge of the opening; a second flange extending from the second edge of the planar body along the plane of the planar body and formed from the same piece of metal forming the planar body; a cantilever beam bent from a portion cut in the second flange having distal and proximal portions, a first end of the proximal portion being bent outward from a portion of the second flange starting from a location offset back from a lateral side of the second flange, the entire proximal portion extending outward from the plane of the planar body capable of inserting completely into the opening, the entire distal portion extending back toward the plane of the planar body but not extending back past the plane of the planar body so that the entire cantilever beam is capable of residing inside the computer equipment bay when the faceplate is fully inserted into the opening, the distal and proximal portions deflectable and then flexible back into a bias position; and a latching mechanism formed on an end of the distal portion of the cantilever beam which is distal to the planar body, wherein said latching mechanism includes a ridge disposed in the distal portion of said cantilever beam and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the plane of the planar body, said cantilever beam capable of wedging against a second edge of the opening and the ridge and said second flange extending along opposite sides of that second edge, the faceplate capable of being engaged to the first and second edges of the opening by inserting the faceplate into the opening causing the distal portion of the cantilever beam to contact the second edge of the opening deflecting the cantilever beam until the second edge of the opening clears the latching mechanism allowing the cantilever beam to flex back towards the bias position and the entire cantilever beam to reside inside the equipment bay.