Latch for a computing system

Example implementations relate to a latch and a computing system including such latch. The latch may include a latch enclosure and a latch assembly housed at least partially within the latch enclosure. The latch assembly may include a lever mounted to the latch enclosure via a first pivot pin and having a handle section disposed outside the latch enclosure and a force transfer section integrated with the handle section and disposed inside the latch enclosure. Further, the latch may include a hook engaged with the lever and mounted at least partially within the latch enclosure via a second pivot pin, wherein a movement of the lever about the first pivot pin causes a movement of the hook about the second pivot pin via the force transfer section.

BACKGROUND

Typically, in a computing environment, for example, a datacenter, various computing systems may be disposed. In the computing environment; the computing systems may be mounted on one or more racks. To facilitate a secure mounting of the computing systems, the computing systems may include one or more latches. The latches may mechanically couple the computing systems with rails mounted on the rack, for example.

It is emphasized that, in the drawings, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, in the drawings, the dimensions of the various features have been arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Computing systems may be mounted on one or more racks. To facilitate a secure mounting of the computing systems, the computing systems may typically include one or more latches. By way of example, to facilitate mounting of a computing system on a rack, the computing system may include a pair of latches disposed on side walls. The latches may mechanically couple the computing system on the rack, for example. For added support, the rack may include sliding rails to stabilize the computing system during insertion and removal.

A latch may typically include various components such as a lever and a hook. Traditionally, the components such as the lever and the hook are made of metals. Use of the metal components generally increases overall weight of the latch and the computing system. Also, the lever used in traditional latches includes several discrete metal parts assembled together. For example, a traditional lever used in a latch, may include a metal pin (e.g., spring pin) to aid in pivot mounting of the lever as well as effecting the movement of the hook. Consequently, to allow use of such pins, the lever may have corresponding mounting provisions (e.g., openings) to receive such pins. Overall, use of the metal and increased number or discrete metal parts may lead to complexity of design of the latch and may increase overall cost of the computing system having such latches.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, an example latch and a computing system including such latch are presented. The latch may include a latch enclosure and a latch assembly housed at least partially within the latch enclosure. The latch assembly may include a lever mounted to the latch enclosure via a first pivot pin and having a handle section disposed outside the latch enclosure and a force transfer section integrated with the handle section and disposed inside the latch enclosure. Further, the latch may include a hook engaged with the lever and mounted at least partially within the latch enclosure via a second pivot pin, wherein a movement of the lever about the first pivot pin causes a movement of the hook about the second pivot pin via the force transfer section.

Referring now to drawings,FIG.1depicts a perspective view100of a computing system101having at least one latch, in accordance with one example. By way of example, the computing system101may represent a computing device such as, but not limited to, a computer, a server, a storage device, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) compute device, a network switch, a wireless communication device/an access point, a wireless range extender, a repeater, a protocol converter, a firewall device, a network gateway, a network address translator, a multiplexer, a network interface controller, a wireless network interface controller, an ISDN terminal adapter, etc. It may be noted that aspects of the present disclosure are not limited with respect to a types or the various examples of the computing system101listed hereinabove. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the computing system101may include a system enclosure102and at least one latch, such as, latches104and106.

The system enclosure102may house one or more electronic components (not shown) to facilitate functionalities intended to be performed by the computing system101. Examples of the electronic components may include, but are not limited to, one or more of processing resources, electronic storage devices, power supply and power management modules, remote management modules, communication modules (wired and/or wireless), input-output units (e.g., communication ports), display, heatsink, etc. In some examples, the system enclosure102may include one or more openings, windows, and/or slots to facilitate installation and/or removal of the electronic components. Further, in the example ofFIG.1, although the system enclosure102is shown to have a rectangular box shape, the present disclosure is not limited with respect to a shape of the system enclosure102. The system enclosure102may have a plurality side walls, such as, side walls108,110. In the example ofFIG.1, where the system enclosure102is shown to have a rectangular box shape, the system enclosure102has six side walls, of which the three side walls have been labeled as108,110, and112, for illustration purposes.

In some examples, the computing system101may be disposed on a receiving structure (seeFIG.3). The receiving structure may be a rack or a rail, for example. By way of example, the rack may be any structure which can hold various hardware modules such as the computing system101thereon. The rail may be a guiding structure that can hold various hardware modules such as the computing system101thereon. The rail may allow the hardware modules to slide thereon and for a secure placement. In one implementation, the computing system101may be disposed directly on the rack. One or more than one computing systems may be mounted on the rack. In certain other example implementations, the computing system101may be mounted on one or more rails (seeFIGS.3,6,7). The rails may be mounted on the rack. In some examples, the latches104,106may facilitate secure mounting of the computing system101on the rack or the rails mounted on the rail.

In some examples, the latches104,106may be disposed on the system enclosure102, more particularly, on at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls. For example, as shown inFIG.1, the latches104and106are disposed on the side walls108and110, respectively. The latches104and106are respectively mounted/attached to the side walls108and110via one or more of adhesives, clamps, fasteners (e.g., screws), and the like, without limiting the scope of the present application. Further, the latches104and106may be mounted on the system enclosure102such that front faces114,116of the latches104and106, respectively, are aligned with the side wall112. In accordance with the aspects of the present disclosure, the latches104and106may be disposed at any location on the side walls108and110, respectively, for example. Moreover, although, two latches104,106are shown inFIG.1, the computing system101ofFIG.1is also envisioned to include a single latch or more than two latches similar to any of the latches104and106.

In the description hereinafter, various features of the latch104will be described in detail. Any other latch (e.g., the latch106) mounted on the system enclosure102may also include features similar to those of the latch104. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure,FIG.2represents a perspective view200of the example latch104. In the perspective view200ofFIG.2, various components, such as, a latch enclosure202and a lever204can be seen. Although not shown inFIG.2, the latch104may include a bracket (seeFIG.5) which may aid in coupling the latch104with the system enclosure102, for example, at the side wall108. The bracket may be coupled to the system enclosure102(seeFIG.1) of the computing system101via one or more of adhesives, fasteners (e.g., screws), and the like, without limiting the scope of the present application.

The latch enclosure202may serve as a housing for a latch assembly (described later) including the lever204. In some examples, the latch enclosure202may be monolithic structure. In some other examples, the latch enclosure202may be formed by assembling a plurality of pieces. Further, the latch enclosure202and the lever204may be formed using a material, for example, plastic. Use of the plastic based latch enclosure202and the lever204may greatly reduce the overall weight and cost of the latch104and the computing system101using the latch104. In some other examples, other light-weight materials including, but not limited to, Polycarbonate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC ABS), may also be used to form the latch enclosure202and the lever204. Additional details of the latch104will be described in conjunction withFIGS.3-7.

For ease of illustration,FIGS.3-6will be described concurrently. In particular,FIG.3depicts a cross-sectional view300of a portion3(seeFIG.2) of the latch104, in accordance with one example. Further,FIG.4shows a perspective view400of a lever, such as, the lever204, in accordance with one example. Furthermore,FIG.5depicts a perspective view500of a bracket, in accordance with one example. Further,FIG.6depicts a perspective view600of the latch104showing mounting of the lever204, in accordance with one example. Also, to aid in clarity, inFIGS.3-6, like components have been labeled with same reference numerals.

In the cross-sectional view300ofFIG.3, the latch104can be seen in engagement with a receiving structure303. The receiving structure303may be any of a rail or a rack. In the example ofFIG.3, the latch104is shown coupled to the receiving structure303, such as, a rail. The receiving structure303(e.g., the rail) may be mounted on a rack, in some examples. The latch104may include a latch assembly302. In some examples, the latch assembly302may include the lever204, a hook304, a first pivot pin306, and a second pivot pin308. In some examples, the latch assembly302may be housed at least partially within (described later) the latch enclosure202, as depicted inFIGS.3and6.

As previously noted, the lever204may be formed using plastic. Use of the plastic based lever204may greatly reduce the overall weight and cost of the latch104. Further, as depicted inFIGS.3and4, the lever204may include a handle section310, a force transfer section312, and one or more side wall sections314,316. The side wall sections314,316may be disposed between the handle section310and the force transfer section312(seeFIG.4). For ease of illustration, the handle section310and the force transfer section312are marked with different patterns. For example, the handle section310is marked with angles lines while the force transfer section312is marked with a dotted pattern. Accordingly, in some examples, the handle section310may have an L-shaped design. Also, in some examples, the force transfer section312may be a rectangular piece of material (with or without curved edges).

The force transfer section312may be integrated with the handle section310leading to a single piece L-shaped structure of the lever having a protrusion caused by the force transfer section312, as depicted inFIG.3. In some examples, the handle section310and the force transfer section312may form a monolithic structure resulting in the single piece L-shaped structure of the lever. In some examples, the force transfer section312may be integrated with the handle section310by way of attachment to the handle section310. The force transfer section312may be attached to the handle section310via an adhesive, for example. Further, the side wall sections314,316may be disposed at each side of the force transfer section312, as depicted inFIG.4. In some examples, the handle section310, the force transfer section312, and the side wall sections314,316may form a monolithic structure. In some other examples, each of the handle section310, the force transfer section312, and the side wall sections314,316may be a single piece unit and attached to each other to form the lever204. In certain other examples, the side wall sections314,316may be attached to the single piece L-shaped structure having the handle section310and the force transfer section312.

The handle section310, the force transfer section312, and the side wall sections314,316may be made of plastic or any other light-weight material. For example, having a plastic based force transfer section312in the lever204in comparison to a metal pin (e.g., spring pin) used in the levers of traditional latches may reduce both cost and weight of the latch104. Further, since the side wall sections314,316may also be made of plastic, in some examples, use of the plastic based force transfer section312may impart reduced load on the side wall sections314,316in comparison to the spring pin. Furthermore, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the side wall sections314,316may be dimensioned to have thickness which can withstand a force exerted on the force transfer section312, thereby enhancing a reliable operation of the lever204and the latch104.

Additionally, in some examples, the handle section310may include a force application section320protruding away from the latch enclosure202. The force application section320may aid in operating the lever204by applying a downward force on the force application section320, The downward force on the force application section320may cause the lever204to pivot around the first pivot pin306.

The lever204may be mounted to the latch enclosure202via the first pivot pin306such that the handle section310is disposed at least partially outside the latch enclosure202and the force transfer section312is disposed inside the latch enclosure202. In particular, the force application section320and a face322of the handle section310may remain outside of the latch enclosure202. In some examples, to allow the mounting of the lever204, the side wall sections314and316may include openings324and326, respectively, to receive the first pivot pin306. The openings324and326may be aligned with each other. Also, in some examples, the latch enclosure202may include one or more openings that are aligned with the openings324and326. Accordingly, the first pivot pin306may be passed though the openings324and326via an opening in the latch enclosure202to securely mount the lever204in the latch enclosure202, as shown inFIG.3(seeFIG.6). In some examples, the first pivot pin306may be a screw having threads. Accordingly, the first pivot pin306when inserted into the openings324and326, the threads on the first pivot pin306may be screwed into an opening formed on other end of the latch enclosure202.

In certain examples, the latch enclosure202may include an insert (not shown) disposed in the opening that may receive a threaded end of the first pivot pin306. The insert may be made of hard plastic or metal, such as brass, for example. The insert may have threads formed on an internal surface to engage with the threads on the first pivot pin306when the first pivot pin306is screwed into the insert. In certain other examples, the opening of the latch enclosure202that receives the threaded end of the first pivot pin306may have threads formed on an internal surface of the opening to engage with the threads on the first pivot pin306when the first pivot pin306is screwed into the opening.

Other latches use spring pins which can pass through holes formed in the lever and the housing of the latch to allow pivotal movement of the lever. As it is understood that the spring pins typically applies outward force about an opening receiving the spring pin for a secure fit. Use of the first pivot pin306having threads to engage with the latch enclosure202may greatly reduce force applied on the latch enclosure202thereby avoiding any damage to the plastic based latch enclosure202, for example. Accordingly, reliability of the latch104may be enhanced.

Further, as depicted inFIG.3, the hook304may have an S-shaped structure, for example. The hook304may include a first end328, a second end330opposite to the first end328, and an opening332at a location between the first end328and the second end330. Also, in some examples, the ends328and330may respectively have protrusions334and336oriented in opposite directions from each other. For example, while the protrusion334may be oriented downward the protrusion336may be directed upward, as shown inFIG.3.

The hook304may be disposed at least partially within the latch enclosure202. In particular, that the hook304may be mounted to the latch enclosure202via the second pivot pin308. Once mounted, the hook304may remain engaged with the lever204. The hook304may be arranged such that the opening332may receive the second pivot pin308. In some examples, the second pivot pin308may be secured with the latch enclosure202via one or more openings or grooves (not shown) formed in the latch enclosure202. Such openings or grooves formed in the latch enclosure202may be aligned with the opening332. By way of example, the second pivot pin308may be a spring pin (as depicted inFIGS.3and6), a rod, or a bar, that can pass through the opening332formed in the hook304. Such mounting of the hook304via the second pivot pin308may allow the hook304to pivot about the second pivot pin308. Further, the hook304may be mounted such that the second end330protrudes outside of the latch enclosure202and the first end328of the hook304may be engaged with the force transfer section312of the lever204. For example, the protrusion334(oriented downward) at the first end328engages with the force transfer section312as shown inFIG.3.

Furthermore, in some examples, the latch assembly302may include a first spring338. The first spring338may be disposed axially around the second pivot pin308such that the first spring338biases the hook304toward the lever204. In particular, the first spring338may apply force on the hook304such that first end328of the hook304applies pressure on the force transfer section312of the lever204. Such pressure applied to the force transfer section312retains the lever in a first position as shown inFIG.3until the force applied on the force application section320of the lever204which can overcome the pressure applied to the force transfer section312. In some examples, in such an arrangement of the lever204and the hook304, a movement of the lever204about the first pivot pin306may cause a movement of the hook304about the second pivot pin308via the force transfer section312.

In some examples, if a computing system, such as the computing system101ofFIG.1, having the latch104is to be mounted on the receiving structure303, the computing system may be guided into the receiving structure303(e.g., rail) in a direction305indicated by an arrow. Once guided in the direction305, the second end330of the hook may encounter a pin307disposed on the receiving structure303. When a force is applied on the computing system (or the latch104) in the direction305, the latch104may snap-fit onto the receiving structure303. In some examples, the protrusion336at the second end330of the hook may include an angular edge which may cause the second end330of the hook304to lower when the hook encounters the pin307. Moreover, due to the bias exerted by the first spring338, the second end330may be lifted-up in a position (as shown inFIG.3) causing the latch104to lock with the receiving structure303.

In certain instances, the computing system may utilize an additional secure coupling with the receiving structure303to avoid any damages or unnecessary lifting of the computing system. In order to aid in such additional secure coupling of the computing system, in some examples, the latch assembly302may further include a retaining fixture340. The retaining fixture340may enable additional coupling of the latch104with the receiving structure303. The retaining fixture340may include a latch retaining screw344, a bracket346(seeFIG.5, as well), and a second spring348, for example. The latch retaining screw344may include a head350and a tail352. In some examples, the head350may have a larger cross-sectional area than the tail352. The latch retaining screw344may be positioned in the latch104such that the head350of the latch retaining screw344is disposed inside the latch enclosure202and a tail of the latch retaining screw344may protrude outside of the latch enclosure202. Moreover, the latch retaining screw344may include one or more threads near the tail352to allow the latch retaining screw344to be screwed into a screw receiving post342of the receiving structure303.

Further, in some examples, the latch retaining screw344may include a first length portion354adjacent to the head350, and a second length portion356adjacent to the first length portion354. As depicted inFIG.3, the latch retaining screw344may be dimensioned such that a diameter of the first length portion354may be greater than the second length portion356. In the example ofFIG.3, the latch retaining screw344is shown to have a step change (e.g., sudden drop) in diameter from the first length portion354to the second length portion356. In certain examples, the diameter change (e.g., decrease) gradually from the first length portion354to the second length portion356.

Further, the bracket346may be formed from a sheet or a plate of material. The perspective view500of the bracket346may be observed by viewing the bracket346in a direction309indicated by an arrow. In some examples, the bracket346may include two side faces368and370at an angle from each other. In some examples, the angle between the side faces368and370may be 90 degrees. In some examples, the bracket346may be coupled to the latch enclosure202via the side face370. In the example ofFIG.5, the side face370may include one or more openings372to receive the screws (not shown) to enable coupling of the bracket346with the side wall108of the system enclosure102(seeFIG.1). In some other examples, the bracket346may be coupled to the system enclosure102, via use of adhesives, clamps, pins, or combinations thereof.

In some examples, the bracket346(seeFIGS.3and5) may be disposed on a side of the latch104that may face the receiving structure303. For example, the side of the latch104that may face the receiving structure303may be coupled to the side face368of the bracket346. Therefore, a portion of the bracket346that is visible in the cross-sectional view300ofFIG.3is a cross-section of the side face368. The bracket346may be coupled to the latch enclosure202, in some examples, via use of adhesives, one or more screws (e.g., screws364,366shown inFIG.6), clamps, pins, or combinations thereof. In the examples, the side face368of the bracket346may include openings374,376to receive the screws364and366, respectively.

Further, the bracket346may include one or more openings, such as, one or more of a first opening358, a second opening360, and a third opening362. In some examples, the first opening358, the second opening360, and the third opening362may be formed on the side face368of the bracket346. The bracket346may be aligned such that the first opening358may receive the tail352of the latch retaining screw344. Further, in some examples, the first opening358may be dimensioned such that a diameter of the first opening358is smaller than the diameter of the first length portion354of the latch retaining screw344. Consequently, in some examples, the bracket346may restrict forward movement of the latch retaining screw344thereby retaining the latch retaining screw344within the latch enclosure202.

Further, the second spring348may be disposed in contact with the bracket346and the latch retaining screw344to bias the head350of the latch retaining screw344away from the bracket346. In some examples, the second spring348may be retained in place via the second opening360. In particular, the second opening360may receive the second spring348such that one end of the second spring348remains in contact with the head350of the latch retaining screw344and another end of the second spring348may protrude outside of the bracket346. In one example, the second opening360may be a through hole. In some examples, as shown inFIG.5, the second opening360may be a spiral groove passing through a thickness of the bracket346surrounding the first opening358. The second opening360which may allow passage of the second spring348there-through.

Other latches use additional retaining housings about screws and springs to retain the screws and springs in place. In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the design of the bracket346with the first opening358and the latch retaining screw344, dimensioned as described hereinabove, obviates any additional retaining housings. Further, use of the second opening360formed in the bracket346retains the second spring348in place while biasing the head350of the latch retaining screw344. Any additional retaining housings may be avoided resulting on less-complex and affordable structure of the latch104.

Moreover, the third opening362in the bracket346may receive the second end330of the hook304. In particular, the third opening362may allow the second end330of the hook304to protrude outside of the latch enclosure202and facilitate engagement of the protrusion336with the receiving structure303. In some examples, the third opening362may be dimensioned such that movement of the second end330the hook304is enabled to couple and/or release the latch104from the receiving structure303.

In some examples, if a computing system, such as the computing system101ofFIG.1, having the latch104is to be removed from the receiving structure303and if the latch retaining screw344is engaged with the screw receiving post342, the latch retaining screw344may first disengage from the screw receiving post342, If the latch retaining screw344is not engaged with the screw receiving post342, the computing system may be removed from the receiving structure303by operating the latch104. In order to uncouple the latch104from the receiving structure303, the lever204of the latch104may be operated by applying a downward force on the force application section320of the lever204. By applying the downward force on the force application section320, the lever204may pivot about the first pivot pin306and the force transfer section312may be lifted-up causing the lever204to move from the first position shown inFIG.3to a second position depicted inFIG.7.

Referring now toFIG.7, a cross-sectional view700of the portion3of the latch104depicting the lever204operated in a position (e.g., the second position) to allow removal of a computing system (e.g., the computing system101) from the receiving structure303is depicted, in accordance with one example. As such,FIG.7represents components of the latch104and the receiving structure303which are already described inFIGS.3-6, however, with the lever204operated in a different operating position. The second position of the lever204, as depicted inFIG.7, may refer to a position of the lever204which is attained by applying the downward force on the force application section320, as depicted inFIG.7. When the lever204is moved to the second positon as depicted, the force transfer section312may apply an upward force on the first end328of the hook304. Such force exerted by the force transfer section312on the first end328may cause the hook304to pivot about the second pivot pin308resulting in a downward movement of the second end330of the hook304. The downward movement of the second end330of the hook304causes the latch104to disengage from the pin307of the receiving structure303. Such a position of the hook304may allow removal of the computing system from the receiving structure303.

The latches104,106, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, provides a reliable, cost-effective, and less-complex structures in comparison to other latches. For example, the handle section310, the force transfer section312, and the side wall sections314,316may be made of plastic or any other light-weight material. Use of the plastic based force transfer section312may impart reduced load on the side wall sections314,316in comparison to the spring pin used in levers of other latches. Furthermore, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the side wall sections314,316may be dimensioned to have thickness which can withstand a force exerted on the force transfer section312, thereby enhancing a reliable operation of the lever204and the latch104. Moreover, use of the first pivot pin306having a threaded end to engage with the latch enclosure202may greatly reduce force applied on the latch enclosure202thereby avoiding any damage to the plastic based latch enclosure202, for example. Additionally, the designs of the bracket346with the first opening358, the second opening360, and the latch retaining screw344obviates the use of any additional retaining housings resulting in a less-complex and affordable structure of the latch104.