Abstract:
A protective assembly for housing and accessing components is featured. The protective assembly has a chassis, a cover, and a flexible latch for securing the cover to the chassis. The flexible latch has a latch and the base has a catch. The base includes a fulcrum. The fulcrum is used during removal of the cover to pivot the latch so that the latch is brought free of the catch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a protective enclosure, and particularly to a system for accessing components housed within a protective enclosure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many electrical devices are composed of electronic components housed within a protective enclosure. For example, the central unit of a desktop computer system typically consists of a microprocessor, hard drive, RAM, and power supply housed within a protective enclosure. The central unit is typically coupled to a monitor, keyboard, printer, and mouse. 
     Protective enclosures for housing electronic components come in a variety of shapes and sizes; however, they typically consist of a chassis with a removable cover. A chassis is typically composed of sheet metal. Covers may be formed of sheet metal and/or plastic. A cover is typically secured to a chassis by screws. Occasionally, the components within the protective enclosure need to be accessed, either for repair or upgrade. To remove the cover and access the components, any screws used to secure the cover to the chassis must be removed. A tool, such as a screwdriver or drill, is needed to remove the screws from the enclosure. Installing and removing screws, however, is a time consuming task. Additionally, screws are an additional component that must be accounted for and which can be easily lost. 
     Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a system that could allow access to the interior of a protective enclosure quickly, without the use of tools and producing no loose parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A protective assembly for housing an electronic component is featured. The protective assembly includes a chassis and a cover. The chassis has a catch and a fulcrum. A securing latch is secured to the cover. The securing latch includes a central body having a latch configured for engagement by the catch. The central body is disengaged from the catch by using the fulcrum to pivot the central body. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a latch system is featured. The latch system includes a pivotable latch, a catch, and a fulcrum. The catch is disposed to engage the pivotable latch. The pivotable latch may be pivoted about the fulcrum to disengage the catch. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for securing a cover to a chassis is featured. The method includes attaching a pivotable latch to the cover. The method also includes positioning a catch chassis such that the movement of the pivotable latch is restricted when the cover is in a over securing position. The method includes configuring the base with a fulcrum disposed in relation to the rigid body so that a force applied transversely to the rigid portion will cause the rigid portion of the pivotable latch to pivot from the cover securing position. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a latch to secure a cover to a chassis is featured. The latch has a mounting portion, a central body, and a flexible arm. The mounting portion secures the latch to a cover. The central body has a first member configured for capture by the catch. The flexible arm couples the central body to the mounting portion and biases the central body to a first position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective enclosure having a removable cover and a chassis, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1 with elements of the chassis shown in dashed lines; 
     FIG. 3 side view of a flexible latch mounted to a cover, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 2 with portions of a flexible latch shown in dashed lines; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a protective enclosure with a removable cover secured to a chassis, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 5 with the removable cover displaced from its normal position on the chassis, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2 illustrating the application of a pivoting force to the central body of the latch; and 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of a protective enclosure with the removable cover removed from the chassis, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring generally to FIG. 1, an electronic system  10 , e.g. a personal computer, having a protective enclosure  12  is illustrated. Protective enclosure  12  includes a removable cover  14 , having a top portion  15 , and a chassis  16 . Cover  14  also includes a side portion  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, an end piece  18  is secured to cover  14 . End piece  18  can be a front bezel or back plate depending upon whether cover  14  is to be removed from the front or back of enclosure  12 . 
     Cover  14  is secured to chassis  16  by two flexible latches  22  located on opposite sides of chassis  16 . The flexible latches  22  allow cover  14  to be removed by hand from chassis  16  without the use of any tools and without producing any loose parts. Additionally, each latch  22  is formed with an indentation  24  that is configured to receive the tip of an operator&#39;s finger. Indentation  24  assists an operator apply the force needed to release latch  22  and remove cover  14  from chassis  16 . 
     Referring generally to FIG. 2, an interior view of protective enclosure  12  is illustrated. Latch  22  is secured to side portion  17  of cover  14 . As best illustrated in FIG. 3, flexible latch  22  utilizes three ribs  26  disposed on a central body  28 . However, more or less than three ribs can be used. Each flexible latch  22  has a mounting portion  30  for securing latch  22  to cover  14 . Each latch  22  also includes two flexible arms  32  that secure central body  28  to mounting portion  30 . Flexible arms  32  allow central body  28  to be flexibly secured to mounting portion  30 . Flexible arms  32  also bias central body  28  to a normal position. Flexible arms  32  extend alongside control body  28  and connect to central body  28  at the end of latch  22  opposite mounting portion  30 . A small gap  33  separates the central body  28  from mounting portion  30  and flexible arms  32 . 
     In illustrated embodiment, each latch  22  is made of a single piece of molded plastic. However, latch  22  may also be formed of metal, or some other suitable material. Additionally, central body  28  is made more rigid than the two flexible arms  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the central body is made more rigid by molding central body  28  to have a greater thickness than arms  32 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, the three ribs  26  of each latch  22  are inserted into three corresponding holes  34  in chassis  16  to secure cover  14  onto chassis  16 . As best illustrated in FIG. 4 the holes  34  serve as a catch to restrict movement of the ribs  26 , and thus cover  14 . Alternatively, the ribs could be disposed on chassis  16  and and the holes disposed in latch  22 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each side  17  of cover  14  includes several tabs  36  having notched portions  38 . As best illustrated in FIG. 5, for each tab  36  there is a corresponding slot  40  in chassis  16 . Each slot  40  has an edge  42 . The notched portion  38  of each tab  36  is abutted against edge  42  in each slot  40  when cover  14  is installed on chassis  16 . The two latches  22  provide lateral guidance to cover  14  to maintain the tabs  36  abutted against chassis  16 . The tabs  36  and latches  22  thus cooperate to prevent movement of cover  14  once the cover is placed on the chassis  16 . 
     Referring generally to FIG. 5, chassis  16  has two side wall portions  43 . Each side  43  includes a fulcrum  44 , an opening  46 , and an angled strip  48 . Protective enclosure  12  is configured so that central body  28  of latch  22  is disposed over fulcrum  44  when cover  14  is installed on chassis  16 . 
     Chassis  16  also includes a support ledge  50  extending along the length of chassis  16 . Ledge  50  supports cover  14  and provides guidance during lateral movement of cover  14 . Additionally, ledge  50  is configured so that chassis  16  and cover  14  produce a coplanar surface when cover  14  is installed on chassis  16 . 
     Referring generally to FIGS. 6 through 9, the process by which cover  14  is removed from chassis  16  is illustrated. Prior to removal of cover  14 , latch  22  maintains cover  14  oriented on chassis  16  so that the notches  38  of tabs  36  are abutted against the edges  42  of the slots  40 . The tabs  36  and slots  40  prevent vertical movement of cover  14 . The tabs  36  and slots  40  limit the lateral movement of cover  14  to the right, while the ribs  26  and holes  34  prevent lateral movement of cover  14  to the left. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the first step in removing cover  14  from chassis  16  is to apply a generally perpendicular force to indentation  24  of latch  22 , as referenced by arrow  52 . The application of force  52  to central body  28  causes central body  28  to pivot over fulcrum  44  withdrawing ribs  26  from holes  34 . A portion of central body  28  is displaced through opening  46  in chassis  16 . Angled strip  48  limits the insertion of central body  28  through opening  46 . The pivoting of central body  28  from its normal position causes the flexible arms  32  to be bent. When force  52  is removed, flexible arms  32  return latch  22  to its normal position. 
     Referring generally to FIG. 7, once ribs  26  are free of holes  34 , a lateral pulling force, as referenced by arrow  54 , is applied at indentation  24  to free tabs  36  from slots  40 . The lateral movement of cover  14  to the left frees the tabs  36  from the edges  42  of each slot  40 . Once tabs  36  are free of edge  40 , cover  14  can be removed from chassis  16  by applying a vertical force to cover  14 , as referenced by arrow  58  in FIG.  9 . 
     To install cover  14  to chassis  16 , cover  14  is placed over chassis  16  so that tabs  36  are inserted through holes  40  in chassis  16 . A lateral force, opposite in direction to force  54  is then applied to cover  14  to move cover  14  so that the notches  38  are directed against the edges  42  of each slot  40 . The lateral movement also directs the ribs  26  into position for insertion into the holes  34 . Each rib  26  has an angled leading edge  56  that makes it easier for latch  22  to be pushed over the surface of chassis  16  during installation. 
     It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred exemplary embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, tabs  36  are used in cooperation with flexible latch  22  to secure cover  14  to chassis  16 . However, some other arrangement can be used to assist flexible latch  22  in securing cover  14  to chassis  16 , such a pin-and-socket arrangement. Additionally, the number of ribs  16  and holes  34  is arbitrary, more or less may be used. These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.