Patent Publication Number: US-8995124-B2

Title: Cover latch of a blade server

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,164, filed on Sep. 28, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, apparatuses that include a cover latch of a blade server. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A blade sever cover may be attached to a blade server to protect the components of the blade server. A cover latch may be used to couple the blade server cover to the blade server. Conventional cover latches typically require the securing mechanism of the cover latch to move into the blade server thereby preventing the placement of blade server components in that area. Restricting component placement within the blade server limits the resources of the blade server. There is therefore an ongoing need for a new cover latch for a blade server. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cover latch is provided for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server when the cover latch is in a locked state. Embodiments include a locking surface at one end of the cover latch; a user interface at an end of the cover latch opposite from the end with the locking surface; wherein when the cover latch is in the locked state, the locking surface engages a locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover; wherein when the cover latch is in an unlocked state, the user interface is rotated into the blade server and the locking surface is rotated outward from the blade server, wherein when the locking surface is rotated outward from the blade server, the locking surface is disengaged from the locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover; and a rotational limiter hole in the cover latch that surrounds a peg of the blade server, wherein the rotation of the locking surface and the user interface is limited by the rotational limiter. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  sets forth a diagram of an apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  sets forth an exemplary embodiment of a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  sets forth an exemplary apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  sets forth an alternative view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3A  that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server according to embodiments of the present invention 
         FIG. 4  sets forth an exemplary apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     An exemplary apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server in accordance with the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  sets forth a diagram of an apparatus that includes a cover latch ( 170 ) for coupling a blade server cover ( 160 ) to a blade server ( 150 ) according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     The blade server ( 150 ) of  FIG. 1  is a stripped down computer server with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space. Typical blade servers have many components of a computer removed to save space, minimize power consumption, and other considerations, while still having all the functional components ( 180 ) to be considered a computer. The blade server ( 150 ) of  FIG. 1  may be stored in a bay of a blade chassis, which provides services, such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects and management to each blade server in a bay. A blade server chassis may be a 12.25-inch box that, from the front, contains as many as 14 slide-in blade servers. Blade servers use shared components in the blade server chassis, such as power supplies and remote management consoles, reducing the components necessary in each individual blade server. 
     The blade server cover ( 160 ) of  FIG. 1  may be coupled to the blade server ( 150 ) to protect the components ( 180 ) of the blade server ( 150 ). Rails ( 194 ) of the blade server cover ( 160 ) are coupled to the rails ( 192 ) of the blade server ( 150 ) by the cover latch ( 170 ). 
     The cover latch ( 170 ) of  FIG. 1  includes a locking surface ( 102 ) at one end of the cover latch ( 170 ). The locking surface ( 102 ) is shaped as a half cylindrical cone. However, the locking surface ( 102 ) according to the present invention may be any shape that enables the locking surface ( 102 ) to engage a corresponding locking surface enclosure ( 190 ) of the blade server cover ( 160 ). When the cover latch ( 170 ) is in a locked state, the locking surface ( 102 ) engages the locking surface enclosure ( 190 ) of the blade server cover ( 160 ). 
     The cover latch ( 170 ) of  FIG. 1  includes a user interface ( 104 ) at an end that is opposite to the end of the cover latch ( 170 ) that includes the locking surface ( 102 ). The user interface ( 104 ) of  FIG. 1  is shaped as a square surface, however, the user interface ( 104 ) according to the present invention may be any shape that enables a user to push the user interface ( 104 ). The user interface ( 104 ) of  FIG. 1  is coupled to the locking surface ( 102 ) such that rotating the user interface ( 104 ) into the blade server ( 150 ) causes the locking surface ( 102 ) to rotate outward from the blade server ( 150 ). To rotate the user interface ( 104 ) into the blade server, the user interface ( 104 ) is depressed by a user. When the locking surface ( 102 ) is rotated outward from the blade server ( 150 ), the locking surface ( 102 ) disengages from the locking surface enclosure ( 190 ) of the blade server cover ( 160 ), enabling the blade server cover ( 160 ) to be removed from the blade server ( 150 ). 
       FIG. 2  sets forth an exemplary embodiment of a cover latch ( 270 ) for coupling a blade server cover ( 160 ) to a blade server ( 150 ) according to embodiments of the present invention. The cover latch ( 270 ) includes the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 102 ) of the cover latch ( 170 ) of  FIG. 1 . The cover latch ( 270 ) of  FIG. 2  also includes a rotational limiter hole ( 210 ), a pivot hole ( 208 ), and a lever ( 206 ) that are not illustrated as components of the cover latch ( 170 ) of  FIG. 1 . The example cover latch ( 270 ) of  FIG. 2  is one piece. That is, the locking surface ( 102 ), the user interface ( 104 ), the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ), the pivot hole ( 208 ), and the lever ( 206 ) are integrated into a single piece of the cover latch ( 270 ). 
     The rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) of  FIG. 2  is shaped to surround a peg of the blade server ( 150 ). The shape of the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) limits the movement of the cover latch ( 170 ) relative to an attached blade server. The movement of the peg of the blade server within the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) corresponds to the limit of rotation of the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ). Thus, the interaction between the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) and the peg of the blade server controls the degree of rotation of the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ). The rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) limits the rotation of the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ) based on a size of area between the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) and a peg of a blade server. For example, one end of the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) controls how far the locking surface ( 102 ) rotates outward from the locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover relative to the peg and the other end of the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) limits how far the locking surface ( 102 ) rotates inward towards the locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover relative to the peg. The size of the rotational limiter hole ( 210 ) may be selected to enable the minimal amount of rotation of the locking surface ( 102 ) that is required to release the locking surface ( 102 ) from a locking surface enclosure of a blade server cover. By limiting the amount of rotation of the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ), the amount of intrusion into the blade server is reduced, enabling more room for components within the blade server. 
     The pivot hole ( 208 ) of  FIG. 2  attaches the cover latch ( 270 ) to a blade server. The pivot hole ( 208 ) is a hole for surrounding a peg of the blade server. In addition to coupling the cover latch ( 270 ) to a blade server, the pivot hole ( 208 ) acts as a pivot upon which the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ) rotate. 
     The lever ( 206 ) of the cover latch ( 270 ) may be spring biased away from a blade server to keep the cover latch ( 270 ) in the locked state. For example, absent a user pressing on the user interface ( 104 ), the lever ( 208 ) applies a force to the rail of the blade server that keeps the user interface ( 104 ) rotated outward away from the blade server and keeps the locking surface ( 102 ) rotated inward to engage the locking surface enclosure of a blade server cover. 
       FIG. 3A  sets forth an exemplary apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server ( 150 ) according to embodiments of the present invention. The cover latch of  FIG. 3A  is in a locked state. In the locked state, the locking surface ( 102 ) is rotated into the blade server ( 150 ) and the user interface ( 104 ) is rotated outwards from the blade server ( 150 ) such that the locking surface ( 102 ) is in a position to engage a locking surface enclosure of a blade server cover. For example, if a blade server cover is in position over the blade server ( 150 ) when the cover latch is in a locked state, a locking surface enclosure would enclose the locking surface ( 102 ), preventing the blade server cover from decoupling from the blade server ( 150 ). 
       FIG. 3B  sets forth an alternative view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3A  that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server ( 150 ) according to embodiments of the present invention. That is, the apparatus of  FIG. 3B  is similar to the apparatus of  FIG. 3A  in that it includes a cover latch in a locked state with the locking surface ( 102 ) and the user interface ( 104 ) integrated within the rail ( 192 ) of a blade server ( 150 ). The alternative view illustrated in  FIG. 3B  shows the area of the user interface ( 104 ) that a user depresses to unlock the cover latch. The user interface ( 104 ) of  FIG. 3B  may include a raised surface for the user to press. In the locked state, the user interface ( 104 ) and the locking surface ( 102 ) are substantially parallel with the rail ( 192 ) of the blade server ( 150 ). 
       FIG. 4  sets forth an exemplary apparatus that includes a cover latch for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server ( 150 ) according to embodiments of the present invention. The cover latch of  FIG. 4  is in an unlocked state. In the unlocked state, the locking surface ( 102 ) is rotated outwards away from the blade server ( 150 ) and the user interface ( 104 ) is rotated into the blade server ( 150 ) such that the locking surface ( 102 ) is not in a position to engage a locking surface enclosure of a blade server cover. For example, if a blade server cover is in position over the blade server ( 150 ) when the cover latch is in an unlocked state, the locking surface ( 102 ) would not be enclosed by a locking surface enclosure and thus the blade server cover would be free to decouple from the blade server ( 150 ). The cover latch may be transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state by a user pressing the user interface ( 104 ). The cover latch may be returned to the locked state by the user releasing pressure from the user interface ( 104 ). 
     It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.