Abstract:
A mechanical assist apparatus is provided for biasing an access cover relative to a housing. The mechanical assist apparatus comprises a user-engageable lever, an arm rotatably coupled to the user-engageable lever at a first joint, and a sled rotatably coupled to the arm at a second joint offset from the first joint, wherein the sled comprises a biasing member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Electronic devices, such as computer systems, often have a removable panel or cover to provide access to components and circuitry disposed within a housing. These removable covers are generally coupled to the housing by a threaded fastener, such as a screw, or other tool-based fasteners. Unfortunately, tool-based fasteners involve a considerable amount of time and effort to remove or attach. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    Embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:  
         [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device having a latch assist mechanism in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the latch assist mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the latch assist mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the device illustrating an access hood or cover tool-lessly coupled to a housing;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 4 illustrating the access hood or cover disengaged from the housing via the latch assist mechanism;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the access hood or cover illustrating latch slots in the cover and a longitudinal slot and biasing receptacle in the latch assist mechanism; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the housing illustrating hood latches and a static pin or fixed biasing member.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device  10  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The device  10  may comprise a variety of electronics and components, such as a desktop computer system, a rack mount computer system, a portable computer system, a peripheral device, a network device, a server, and so forth. As illustrated, the device  10  comprises an access hood or cover  12  removably coupled to a housing  14 . If internal access is desired, then a latch assist mechanism  16  may be engaged to facilitate removal of the access or cover  12 . The illustrated latch assist mechanism  16  is disposed within a receptacle  18  in the access or cover  12 . For example, the latch assist mechanism  16  may be snap-fitted or otherwise removably disposed within the receptacle  18 , such that it may be replaced or serviced. As discussed in further detail below, the latch assist mechanism  16  provides leverage to facilitate engagement and disengagement of a slidable interlock between the access hood or cover  12  and a housing  14 . Accordingly, the access or cover  12  may be attached or removed without tools and with relatively less physical force or exertion by the user. It should be noted that the latch assist mechanism  16  may be configured for user-engagement or for automated engagement, such as by a motorized leverage mechanism and a control system.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views further illustrating the latch assist mechanism  16  of FIG. 1. As illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the latch assist mechanism  16  comprises an open ended housing or cup  20 , a slidable member or sled  22 , an intermediate arm  24 , and a leverage member or arm  26 . The illustrated cup  20  comprises a recessed portion  28 , an upper lip or perimeter rim  30 , a forward tab or catch member  32 , a pair of longitudinal slots  34  and  36 , a pair of retainer receptacles  38  and  40 , and a pair of rotational pin receptacles  42  and  44 . The cup  20  also comprises a longitudinal slot  46  extending along a base  48  of the recessed portion  28 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6.  
         [0012]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the slidable member or sled  22  comprises a base  50  having a biasing receptacle or hole  52 , opposite sides  54  and  56  extending up from the base  50 , and an end wall or tab  58  extending upwardly from the base  50 . Adjacent the end wall  58 , the slidable member or sled  22  also comprises a pair of notches  60  and  62  disposed in the opposite sides  54  and  56 , respectively. In addition, the opposite sides  54  and  56  of the slidable member or sled  22  comprise a pair of latch receptacles  64  and  66  and a pair of latch tabs  68  and  70 , respectively.  
         [0013]    The intermediate arm  24  comprises a pair of rotational members or pivot pins  72  and  74  disposed at one end  76  of the panel  78 . At an opposite end  80  of the panel  78 , the intermediate arm  24  comprises a pair of rotational members or pivot tabs  82  and  84 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate arm  24  is collapsible between the slidable member or sled  22  and the leverage member or arm  26 , such that the latch assist mechanism  16  is collapsible into a relatively low-profile form.  
         [0014]    As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the leverage member or arm  26  comprises a top panel  86  and opposite sides  88  and  90 . At the opposite sides  88  and  90 , the leverage member or arm  26  comprises a pair of snap fit members or tabs  92  and  94  and a pair of snap fit members or tabs  96  and  98 . Extending through the opposite sides  88  and  90 , the leverage member or arm  26  comprises a pair of intermediate receptacles or arm joints  100  and  102  and a pair of end receptacles or cup joints  104  and  106  disposed at an end  108 . The latch assist mechanism  16  also comprises a retainer  110  and rotational member or pin  112  to facilitate a self-contained assembly of the cup  20 , the sled  22 , the intermediate arm  24 , and the arm  26 .  
         [0015]    In assembly, the recessed portion  28  of the cup  20  movably supports the sled  22  along a longitudinal path. The sled  22  rotatably supports the pivot tabs  82  and  84  of the intermediate arm  24  between the notches  60  and  62  and the end wall  58 . The leverage member or arm  26  rotatably supports the pivot pins  72  and  74  of the intermediate arm  24  in the arm joints  100  and  102 . The pin  112  rotatably couples the arm  26  with the cup  20  by extension through the receptacles  42  and  44  and the cup joints  104  and  106 . The retainer  110  vertically retains the sled  22  within the recessed portion  28  of the cup  20  by insertion of inwardly extending portions  114  and  116  into the retainer receptacles  38  and  40  over upper edges  118  and  120  of the opposite sides  54  and  56 . The retainer  110  also retains the pin  112  within the receptacles  42  and  44  and the cup joints  104  and  106  by insertion of end pins  122  and  124  into the end receptacles  126  and  128  of the pin  112 .  
         [0016]    The retainer  110  also comprises upwardly extending portions  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and  136 , which create a biasing forced upwardly against the rim  30 . For example, the retainer  110  may be relatively springy, such that the upwardly extending portions  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and  136  create a spring-force against the rim  30 . Accordingly, if the cup  20  is lowered into the receptacle  18  at a topside of the access hood or cover  12 , then the retainer  110  may be engaged with the cup  20  at an underside of the cover  12  such that the upwardly extending portions  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and  136  springably bias and retain the cup  20  within the receptacle  18 . It also should be noted that the tab or catch member  32  of the cup  20  may be extended under a portion of the access hood or cover  12  within the receptacle  18 , such that the catch member  32  vertically retains one end of the latch assist mechanism  16  within the cover  12 .  
         [0017]    As illustrated in the assembled view of FIG. 3, the sled  22 , the intermediate arm  24 , and the leverage member or arm  26  are all self-contained within the open ended housing or cup  20 . It also should be noted that the latch assist mechanism  16  has a relatively low-profile attributed to the low-profile geometry of each respective component, i.e., the cup  20 , the sled  22 , the intermediate arm  24 , and the leverage member or arm  26 . The low-profile of the latch assist mechanism  16  also may be attributed to the collapsible configuration of the sled  22 , the intermediate arm  24 , and the leverage member or arm  26 . This self-contained and low-profile assembly of the latch assist mechanism  16  may be achieved without any tools or tool-based fasteners. Instead, the components of the latch assist mechanism  16  are all intercoupled via tool-free mechanisms, such as latches, pins, retainers, snap-fit mechanisms, and so forth. In alternative embodiments, other tool-based and tool-free couplings and joints may be employed in the latch assist mechanism  16 . In addition, although illustrated in an open position, a closed position of the leverage member or arm  26  engages the snap fit members or tabs  92 - 94  and  96 - 98  with latch receptacles  64 - 66  and latch tabs  68 - 70 , respectively, thereby releasably retaining the arm  26  within the cup  20 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional side views of the device  10  illustrating tool-less engagement and disengagement of the access hood or cover  12  with the housing  14 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the access hood or cover  12  is removably coupled to the housing  14  via a plurality of hooks or latches  138  interlocked with mating receptacles or slots  140 . The illustrated latches  138  are interlocked with the slots  140  by sliding engagement of the access hood or cover  12  along the top length of the housing  14 , i.e., in a leftward direction. A reverse motion, i.e., a rightward movement of the access hood or cover  12 , unlocks the latches  138  from the slots  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, the latch assist mechanism  16  provides leverage to facilitate the foregoing motions during engagement and disengagement of the access hood or cover  12  with the housing  14 . Accordingly, the device  10  comprises a static pin or fixed leverage member  142  within the housing  14  in a position beneath the latch assist mechanism  16 . This static pin  142  extends upwardly through the longitudinal slot  46  in the cup  20  and into the biasing receptacle  52  in the sled  22 , such that movement of the sled  22  within the cup  20  biases or forces the latch assist mechanism  16  and the cover  12  away from the static pin  142 . Again, the linear or sliding movement of the sled  22  is leveraged by the arms  24  and  26 .  
         [0019]    Turning to FIG. 5, the latch assist mechanism  16  facilitates the disengagement of the latches  138  from the slots  140  by rotation of the leverage member or arm  26  outwardly from the cup  20 , as indicated by arrow  144 . With this rotation  144 , the leverage member or arm  26  pulls the intermediate arm  24  inwardly, i.e., to the left, against the static pin  142 , thereby creating an equal disengaging movement of the access hood or cover  12  as indicated by arrow  146 , i.e., to the right. After sufficient movement of the access or cover  12 , the latches  138  disengage from the slots  140 , such that the access hood or cover  12  can be removed from the housing  14 . In a reverse motion, the access hood or cover  12  can be engaged and interlocked with the housing  14 . Accordingly, the latch assist mechanism  16 , the static pin  142 , and the latches  138 , and the slots  140  facilitate tool-free and leveraged attachment and detachment of the access hood or cover  12  with the housing  14 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the access hood or cover  12  and the housing  14  disassembled from one another. As illustrated, the latch slots  140  are disposed along opposite sides  148  and  150  of the access hood or cover  12 , while the hooks or latches  138  are disposed along opposite sides  152  and  154  of the housing  14 . FIG. 7 also illustrates the static pin  142  extending outwardly from a structural portion  156  of the housing  14 . Although illustrated with latches  138 , slots  140 , pin  142 , and latch assist mechanism  16 , other embodiments may employ alternative tool-free interlock mechanisms and leveraging mechanisms to facilitate the foregoing tool-free and leveraged attachment and detachment process. It also should be noted that the illustrated embodiment of the latch assist mechanism  16  as a relatively low profile, thereby facilitating its use in space limited applications.