Abstract: A hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

Abstract: A hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

Abstract: A heat sink fastener assembly for fastening a heat sink onto a heat generating computer component. The fastener assembly includes a stud comprising at least one cam follower, and a rotatable nut defining a cam surface. A spring may be mounted to the heat generating computer component, and the spring is biased away from the heat sink. The stud is mounted to the spring and the nut is mounted to the heat sink. A clip mounted to the heat sink provides a secondary catch or attachment of the heat sink to the component.

Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a universal latch and sensor system is provided for use with an enclosure having a panel and a frame and for latching the panel relative to the frame. The system includes a latch having a body configured to be mounted to the panel or to the frame of the enclosure. The latch also has a pawl movable relative to the body throughout a range of motion including an engaging position and a disengaging position. The system also includes a sensor having a body configured to be mounted to the other of the panel or the frame of the enclosure, the sensor also having a sensing range throughout which it is capable of sensing the pawl of the latch. The sensor and the latch are configured to be mounted in any of a plurality of orientations in which the range of motion of the pawl of the latch at least partially overlaps with the sensing range of the sensor while maintaining a gap between the body of the sensor and the pawl of the latch when the pawl is in the engaging position.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing configured for engagement to the panel. The housing defines an aperture extending along a longitudinal axis, and further defines a cam surface facing in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A shaft extends within the aperture of the housing and along the longitudinal axis. The shaft is mounted for at least one of rotational movement relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis and axial movement relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis. A barrier wall is mounted for axial movement relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis. The barrier wall at least partially overlaps with the housing along the longitudinal axis. A shaft surface extends radially outwardly from the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis. The shaft surface contacts the cam surface defined by the housing. The shaft is configured to be coupled to a pawl for engagement of the frame.

Abstract: A vehicle glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle pivotably connected to the housing, a rotor pivotably connected to the housing, a pawl coupled to the rotor and having an end that is engaged with an opening in the vehicle, and a lock barrel mounted to the housing for locking and unlocking the vehicle glove box latch. In a locked state of the lock barrel, the pawl cannot be disengaged from the opening in the vehicle. In an unlocked state of the lock barrel, the pawl can be disengaged from the opening for opening the vehicle glove box. The lock barrel, the rotor and the rotor mounting portion are concentrically aligned along an axis, which reduces the depth of the latch, which reduces the space in the glove box necessary for accommodating the latch, thereby resulting in an increase in the available storage space in the glove box.

Abstract: A compression latch assembly (CLA) includes a latch subassembly that is movably mounted to a housing and includes a frame, a pawl pivotably connected to the frame and biased to move from a closed position to an open position, a trigger pivotably connected to the frame and movable between a home position and a release position, and a release arm pivotably connected to the frame. The release arm has a cam follower that is positioned to engage a cam on the housing. A motor unit is configured for moving the latch subassembly between extended and retracted positions. In the course of moving from the retracted position to the extended position, the cam is configured to urge the cam follower to rotate the trigger from the home position to the release position, which causes the trigger to release the pawl, which causes the pawl to move to the open position.

Abstract: A controlled motion hinge assembly having a base with a first actuator mount, a pivot arm with a second actuator mount, a hinge pivotally connecting the base to the pivot arm to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and an actuator shaft. The shaft has a first end, a second end, and a threaded body extending between the first and second ends. The first end is configured to receive a drive torque about the actuator shaft axis. The second end is rotatably connected to the second actuator mount, but fixed thereto along the actuator shaft axis. The threaded body engages a threaded bore of the first actuator mount such that rotation of the body causes the first actuator mount to move along the actuator shaft axis. Also provided is a pole assembly, and a method for retrofitting a pole, with a controlled motion hinge.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a frame and a pawl including a surface for receiving a striker and being movably coupled to the frame between an open and a closed position. In the closed position, the pawl is positioned to retain the striker to the latch assembly, and, in the open position, the pawl is not positioned to retain the striker to the latch assembly. A spring guide is connected to the pawl and the frame, wherein, in the closed position of the pawl, the spring guide is configured to bias the pawl such that the pawl remains in the closed position, and in the open position of the pawl, the spring guide is configured to bias the pawl such that the pawl remains in the open position. One end of the spring guide is connected to the pawl, and the opposite end of the spring guide is unconstrained.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a frame and a pawl including a surface for receiving a striker and being movably coupled to the frame between an open and a closed position. A trigger is mounted to the frame and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position of the trigger, the trigger is positioned to retain the pawl in the closed position. A striker bar is movably coupled to the trigger and is positioned to be contacted by the striker, wherein the striker bar is configured to move in the course of moving the striker into the pawl. A device for sensing a position of the striker bar, wherein the position of the striker bar is indicative of the position of the striker and the position of the trigger.

Abstract: A captive fastener attachable to a panel along a fastener axis is provided. The captive fastener includes a fastener having a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion and along the fastener axis. The captive fastener also includes a knob having a proximal end portion engaged to the head portion of the fastener and an annular portion extending radially around the fastener axis and the shaft of the fastener. A ferrule is associated with the knob, the ferrule defining an opening extending along the fastener axis and receiving the shaft of the fastener. The ferrule has a proximal end portion configured to prevent separation of the knob from the ferrule along the fastener axis and a distal end portion configured for engagement to the panel. A spring is positioned to bias the knob or the fastener proximally relative to the ferrule and to inhibit tilting of the knob or the fastener relative to the fastener axis.

Abstract: A latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis; a cap mounted within the aperture of the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the cap comprising a drive surface; and a cover coupled to the housing to pivot about a lateral axis, the cover pivotable to be in a closed position in which the cover covers the cap; wherein when the cap is in an unlatched position, the drive surface of the cap is aligned with an engagement surface of the cover and positioned to block the cover from pivoting to the closed position; and wherein when the cap is in a latched position, the drive surface is unaligned with the engagement surface and positioned to permit the cover to pivot to the closed position.

Abstract: A latching system for securing a door to a panel includes a pawl having a first end that is configured to releasably engage a striker on the panel, and a second end opposite the first end having a connector. A pawl connector is connected to the connector on the second end of the pawl. The pawl connector includes a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a revolved outer side wall extending about the longitudinal axis, an open end through which the connector of the pawl is positioned, an opening defined on the revolved side wall of the cylindrical body, and a deformable portion formed on the revolved outer side wall. The deformable portion extends between the open end and the opening. The deformable portion is configured to elastically deform upon inserting the connector through the open end until the connector is non-removably seated within the opening.