Abstract: A compression latch for a door includes a driver that is rotatable with respect to the door between an unlocked position and a locked position. The driver is configured to be mounted to one side of the door. A driver shaft is non-rotatably connected to the driver such that the driver shaft rotates along with the driver. In an unlocked position of the driver, the pawl is positioned to permit opening of the door, and, in a locked position of the driver, the pawl is positioned to prevent opening of the door. The compression latch is configured to translate the pawl closer toward the door upon rotating the driver from the unlocked position to the locked position.

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: An electronic device may comprise a chassis and an ejection mechanism coupled to the chassis. The chassis can house an electronic component and can be removably received within a system chassis of an electronic system. The ejection mechanism may be reversibly configurable between a first state and a second state. When the chassis is in an installed position in the system chassis and in the first state, actuation of an actuatable portion of the ejection mechanism from a first position to a second position moves the chassis from the installed position into an ejected position relative to the system chassis. But when the chassis is in the installed position in the system chassis and in the second state, actuation of the actuatable portion of the ejection mechanism from the first position to the second position does not move the device into the ejected position relative to the system chassis.

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 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 compression latch for a door includes a driver that is rotatable with respect to the door between an unlocked position and a locked position. The driver is configured to be mounted to one side of the door. A driver shaft is non-rotatably connected to the driver such that the driver shaft rotates along with the driver. In an unlocked position of the driver, the pawl is positioned to permit opening of the door, and, in a locked position of the driver, the pawl is positioned to prevent opening of the door. The compression latch is configured to translate the pawl closer toward the door upon rotating the driver from the unlocked position to the locked position.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to adjustable tilt mechanisms (30), e.g., adjustable tilt mechanisms configured for enabling objects to tilt around a tilting axis (101). According to one aspect of the invention, an adjustable tilt mechanism includes a housing (100) that defines a tilt axis and an adjustment axis (103) oriented perpendicular and non-intersecting relative to the tilt axis and a torque adjustment assembly that is at least partially disposed within the housing. The torque adjustment assembly (118) includes an adjuster (130) positioned for rotation about the adjustment axis defined by the housing, a gear (120) positioned for rotation about the tilt axis defined by the housing, and a biasing spring (140) coupled to the gear. The gear being operatively coupled to the adjuster. The housing configured for coupling to an object.

Abstract: A latch includes a ferrule defining a hollow interior region and a ferrule opening that opens into the hollow interior region. A washer is positioned adjacent an end of the ferrule. The washer defines a washer opening. A stud has an elongated body extending along a stud axis, and the stud is positioned to extend through the ferrule opening and keyed to the washer opening such that the stud rotates about the stud axis along with the washer. A lever is pivotably connected to the stud. Rotation of the lever about the pivot axis causes translation of the stud along the stud axis with respect to the ferrule between a latched position, in which an end of the stud protrudes beyond a connection end of the ferrule, and an unlatched position, in which the end of the stud is contained within the interior region defined by the ferrule.

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 latch assembly for latching a heat sink onto a printed circuit board (PCB). The latch assembly includes a clamp having a connector for connecting the latch assembly to the heat sink. A spring is mounted to the clamp for biasing the clamp away from the heat sink. A handle is rotatably connected to the clamp, and a cam extends from the handle. A hook is moveably mounted to the clamp and has a cam surface engaged with the cam. The hook has an engagement portion for engaging the PCB. Rotation of the handle causes (i) rotation of the hook, which causes the engagement portion to engage the PCB, followed by (ii) movement of the cam along the cam surface, which causes translation of the clamp toward the PCB against the bias of the spring, which causes the heat sink to contact an IC for dissipating heat from the IC.

Abstract: A latch assembly for latching a heat sink onto a printed circuit board (PCB). The latch assembly includes a clamp having a connector for connecting the latch assembly to the heat sink. A spring is mounted to the clamp for biasing the clamp away from the heat sink. A handle is rotatably connected to the clamp, and a cam extends from the handle. A hook is moveably mounted to the clamp and has a cam surface engaged with the cam. The hook has an engagement portion for engaging the PCB. Rotation of the handle causes (i) rotation of the hook, which causes the engagement portion to engage the PCB, followed by (ii) movement of the cam along the cam surface, which causes translation of the clamp toward the PCB against the bias of the spring, which causes the heat sink to contact an IC for dissipating heat from the IC.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to adjustable tilt mechanisms (30), e.g., adjustable tilt mechanisms configured for enabling objects to tilt around a tilting axis (101). According to one aspect of the invention, an adjustable tilt mechanism includes a housing (100) that defines a tilt axis and an adjustment axis (103) oriented perpendicular and non-intersecting relative to the tilt axis and a torque adjustment assembly that is at least partially disposed within the housing. The torque adjustment assembly (118) includes an adjuster (130) positioned for rotation about the adjustment axis defined by the housing, a gear (120) positioned for rotation about the tilt axis defined by the housing, and a biasing spring (140) coupled to the gear. The gear being operatively coupled to the adjuster. The housing configured for coupling to an object.

Abstract: A latch includes a ferrule defining a hollow interior region and a ferrule opening that opens into the hollow interior region. A washer is positioned adjacent an end of the ferrule. The washer defines a washer opening. A stud has an elongated body extending along a stud axis, and the stud is positioned to extend through the ferrule opening and keyed to the washer opening such that the stud rotates about the stud axis along with the washer. A lever is pivotably connected to the stud. Rotation of the lever about the pivot axis causes translation of the stud along the stud axis with respect to the ferrule between a latched position, in which an end of the stud protrudes beyond a connection end of the ferrule, and an unlatched position, in which the end of the stud is contained within the interior region defined by the ferrule.

Abstract: A rack attachment device configured for attaching an electronic device to a rack. The rack attachment device includes a housing for coupling to the electronic device, a pawl mounted for movement relative to the housing, a slide mounted for movement relative to the housing, where the slide is positionable to contact the pawl, and a handle extending from the housing and coupled to the slide. In an unlocked position, the handle is in a first handle position and the slide is in a first slide position, such that the slide prevents the pawl from moving toward a rack aperture defined in the rack. In a locked position, the handle is in a second handle position and the slide is in a second slide position, such that the slide permits the pawl to enter the rack aperture when the slide is in the second slide position.

Abstract: A rack attachment device configured for attaching an electronic device to a rack. The rack attachment device includes a housing for coupling to the electronic device, a pawl mounted for movement relative to the housing, a slide mounted for movement relative to the housing, where the slide is positionable to contact the pawl, and a handle extending from the housing and coupled to the slide. In an unlocked position, the handle is in a first handle position and the slide is in a first slide position, such that the slide prevents the pawl from moving toward a rack aperture defined in the rack. In a locked position, the handle is in a second handle position and the slide is in a second slide position, such that the slide permits the pawl to enter the rack aperture when the slide is in the second slide position.

Abstract: A device is provided for positioning an object with respect to another object. The device includes a linkage having an extended condition and a collapsed condition, the linkage including at least one pair of links coupled to one another about a pivot rotation axis. The device also includes a friction element positioned at the pivot rotation axis of the at least one pair of links of the linkage. A spring of the device is positioned to apply bias to the links of the at least one pair of links of the linkage. The device is configured to resist unintended movement of the object from the user-adjusted position along the path and to facilitate intended movement of the object proximally toward or distally away from the other object.

Abstract: A device is provided for positioning an object with respect to another object. The device includes a linkage having an extended condition and a collapsed condition, the linkage including at least one pair of links coupled to one another about a pivot rotation axis. The device also includes a friction element positioned at the pivot rotation axis of the at least one pair of links of the linkage, A spring of the device is positioned to apply bias to the links of the at least one pair of links of the linkage. The device is configured to resist unintended movement of the object from the user-adjusted position along the path and to facilitate intended movement of the object proximally toward or distally away from the other object.

Abstract: A pawl assembly that can be installed to the output shaft of a latch mechanism more easily, and in some embodiments without the use of tools, as compared to prior art pawls.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pawl assembly that can be installed to the output shaft of a latch mechanism more easily, and in some embodiments without the use of tools, as compared to prior art pawls.