Abstract: A lever assembly used for ejecting a circuit board or other plug-in type component from a chassis or sub-rack is disclosed. The lever assembly includes a sliding catch supported by at least a portion of the lever for rectilinear motion in a direction along the portion of the lever. The sliding catch has a catch hook adapted to engage a portion of the circuit board or other plug-in type component to retain the lever assembly in a folded-down position.

Abstract: The present invention is a pawl latch which is adapted to be mounted to a first member, such as a closure panel of drawer face plate for releasably retaining the closure panel against an enclosure. Such drawer is suitable for implementing an electronic module which plugs into the backplane of the enclosure. The latch has spring-assisted engagement and disengagement of its pawl with the edge of an enclosure opening against which the pawl operates. This results in spring-assisted inject and eject functions for connecting and disconnecting any associate backplane connection. The latch is low profile with a narrow footprint and has an EMI and ESD event preventive coating on the surface of the housing and appropriate components thereof. A pull handle is substantially flush with the outside face of the latch housing and cooperates with a button spring activator member, when the handle is in the closed position.

Abstract: The latch assembly includes a housing, a crank member disposed within the housing for limited rotational movement therein, a pawl, a crank pin, and an attachment pin. The latch assembly may further comprise an actuating member or system, such as a rod. The pawl is selectively movable between latched and unlatched positions in response to rotational movement of the crank member. The crank member is in operable engagement with the actuating member or system, whereby upon rotation of the actuating member, the crank member or pawl is pivoted and slid between latched and unlatched positions.

Abstract: A lever-type latch assembly is mountable onto an outer edge rail of a PC board or module. The lever portion pivots on a base mounted to the edge rail. An ergonomically shaped catch slides within the lever and has a pair of tab bearing snap fingers that ride on shoulders on the inner sidewalls of the lever. A pawl extends outwardly from the pivoted end of the lever having a pair of feet straddling the base mount. Alternately, a bump can be included on the base to provide a detent function. The slide catch carries a pair of locking tabs. The base includes a pair of mating locking tabs. The catch is spring biased towards the base pivot position, thereby biasing the catch looking tabs into overlapping contact with the base locking tabs. The catch can have a flat outer face for a product label.

Abstract: A latch for a Compact PCI board, which incorporates inject and eject and engage and disengage functions, has a low profile shape, whereof a fold-down handle operates through a total arc of 90 degrees. Enhanced electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is provided, by more efficient EMC shielding and by reduced electromagnetic force (EMF) radiation pass-through. The latch, in its inject/eject operation, undergoes a two-phase motion, which utilizes a rotary motion to insert/extract the board from electrical connection, and utilizes a linear motion to engage/disengage the latch pawl from the chassis (keeper). A separate alignment pin block, normally carrying a lead guide pin and a seating guide pin, is independent of the structure for the base of the latch. This permits the alignment pin block to be mounted to the inside of the faceplate and the latch to be mounted to the outside of the faceplate.

Abstract: An inject-eject lever latch mountable to the outside edge of a PC board to rotate relative thereto for assistance with board insertion and board pull-out, and for engaging and disengaging with a chassis mounted keeper, includes a projecting pawl which engages different faces of a cavity-type keeper during phases of its operation. The lever has a spring-biased lockout which when engaged holds the lever in a locked-down position against the board with the pawl fully engaged with the keeper upward wall thereby fully locking the board into position on a chassis. A manually operated release disengages the lockout function and causes the lever to automatically rotate partially outwardly from the board, which action also causes the pawl to move toward the keeper bottom wall. In a first aspect of the invention, a catch which includes at least one projecting foot to act as the pawl is carried on the lever for transverse movement relative thereto.

Abstract: A latch for members that move at least in part slidably into a secured position is disclosed. The latch includes a cup adapted for mounting to a member such as a panel, door, cover, or circuit board, means for securing the cup to the member, a sliding member supported by the cup, a first linking member, and a second linking member. The sliding member is slidably movable relative to the cup. The first linking member is pivotally connected to the cup, and the second linking member is pivotally connected to the sliding member. The first and second linking members are pivotally connected to one another. The member to which the latch is mounted moves toward a secured position as the first and second linking members are moved to their respective closed positions while the sliding member is in engagement with a stationary keeper.

Abstract: A multipoint latch system for releasably securing a first panel member against an enclosure cabinet or frame, the latch system having a translatable rod member adapted to be carried on a door panel, a rod guide which is fixably mounted on the door panel, a panel block which is connected to the translatable rod member and a pawl member rotatably mounted to the panel block so that the arm translates with the rod member, there further being a camming mechanism which causes the pawl to move relative to the rod member as the pawl is translated with the rod. A keeper is provided for installation on a corresponding enclosure frame, and an actuator is provided to facilitate translation of the rod member to release the pawl from engagement with a keeper after.

Abstract: An actuator handle mechanism used in conjunction with a multi-point latching system is adapted to allow a panel or door, such as a panel or a door on a cabinet to be opened and closed. The handle mechanism comprises at a handle, at least two end caps, at least two links, and a crossbar. The mechanism allows a user to open the system by rotating a handle around a vertical axis, as opposed to the horizontal axis.

Abstract: The present invention is a pawl latch which is adapted to be mounted to a first member, such as a closure panel of drawer face plate for releasably retaining the closure panel against an enclosure. Such drawer is suitable for implementing an electronic module which plugs into the backplane of the enclosure. The latch has spring-assisted engagement and disengagement of its pawl with the edge of an enclosure opening against which the pawl operates. This results in spring-assisted inject and eject functions for connecting and disconnecting any associate backplane connection. The latch is low profile with a narrow footprint and has an EMI and ESD event preventive coating on the surface of the housing and appropriate components thereof. A pull handle is substantially flush with the outside face of the latch housing and cooperates with a button spring activator member, when the handle is in the closed position.

Abstract: The latch assembly includes a housing, a crank member disposed within the housing for limited rotational movement therein, a pawl, a crank pin, and an attachment pin. The latch assembly may further comprise an actuating member or system, such as a rod. The pawl is selectively movable between latched and unlatched positions in response to rotational movement of the crank member. The crank member is in operable engagement with the actuating member or system, whereby upon rotation of the actuating member, the crank member or pawl is pivoted and slid between latched and unlatched positions.

Abstract: An actuator handle mechanism used in conjunction with a multi-point latching system is adapted to allow a panel or door, such as a panel or a door on a cabinet to be opened and closed. The handle mechanism comprises at a handle, at least two end caps, at least two links, and a crossbar. The mechanism allows a user to open the system by rotating a handle around a vertical axis, as opposed to the horizontal axis.

Abstract: A multipoint latch system for releasably securing a first panel member against an enclosure cabinet or frame, the latch system having a translatable rod member adapted to be carried on a door panel, a rod guide which is fixably mounted on the door panel, a panel block which is connected to the translatable rod member and a pawl member rotatably mounted to the panel block so that the arm translates with the rod member, there further being a camming mechanism which causes the pawl to move relative to the rod member as the pawl is translated with the rod. A keeper is provided for installation on a corresponding enclosure frame, and an actuator is provided to facilitate translation of the rod member to release the pawl from engagement with a keeper after.

Abstract: An over-center toggle latch for securing two members together having a latch housing affixed to one of the members, a keeper affixed to the other of the members, a toggle pivotally mounted within the housing for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position, and a retainer disposed within the housing and in pivotal contact with each of the housing and the toggle for retaining the toggle in either of the first and second positions. The keeper pivots the toggle from the first position to the second position upon the closing of the latch and the keeper pivots the toggle from the second position to the first position upon the opening of the latch. A switch operable between a closed position and an open position wherein a circuit is closed only when the keeper means is in the second position and the circuit is open only when the keeper is in the first position, the switch being completely inoperable until the keeper is fully inserted in the housing whereby closing of the circuit is avoided.

Abstract: An actuator is used for operating a variety of latching mechanisms. In one embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a rotatable connecting member comprised of a single piece or of separate pieces attached together and the actuator includes a handle assembly operable through pivotal movements of a handle. In operation, the actuator is mountable in a panel or similar member so that the pivoting motion of the handle occurs along a longitudinal axis of the connecting member.

Abstract: A multi-point latching system is adapted for mounting on a panel and securing the panel to a frame. The system includes a central latch, remote latches and connecting rods. The central latch includes a housing and a handle assembly pivotably mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the panel for opening and closing the central latch. The handle assembly extends through the housing and includes a handle and a pivot arm. The pivot arm extends from the back of the housing. The central latch also includes an actuator pivotably mounted for rotation normal to the panel; and a link connecting the handle assembly to one of the connecting rods, which is also connected to the actuator, such that the actuator is rotated by rotating the handle assembly. The remote latches are engaged by rotation of the actuator plate through the connecting rods.