With Latch, Lock, Or Gravity Closer Patents (Class 312/333)
  • Patent number: 6499819
    Abstract: A slide assembly for a drawer to be received in a frame includes a channel formed to include a detent, a slide member having a tab, and a carriage disposed within the channel for longitudinal movement therein. The carriage includes a flexible finger and a stop configured to contact the detent to limit travel of the carriage relative to the channel. The slide member is configured to be longitudinally moveably received within the carriage and the flexible finger limits the outward travel of the slide member by contacting the tab when the slide member is received within the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Grace Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Hoeppner
  • Patent number: 6497464
    Abstract: A drawer slide assembly includes an adjustable detent mechanism to provide adjustable hold in force and inhibit inadvertent opening of the drawer. The drawer slide assembly comprises an outer, an intermediate and an inner slide member. Each of the members are slidably engaged with the adjacent slide member. An adjustable detent mechanism is mounted on the inner slide member adjacent the front end of the slide. The adjustable detent mechanism defines an envelope in which an adjustable arm is rotatably positioned to bear against the envelope at selected positions to adjust the shape of the envelope and thereby provide a variable detent or hold in force depending upon the position selected by the user. The force necessary to open the drawer is determined by the amount of detent or hold in force selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Accuride International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Cammack, Rahl F. Cabrales, Charles A. Milligan
  • Publication number: 20020175605
    Abstract: A track device comprises a first track and a second track slidably received in the first track. An engaging member is mounted to an end of the first rack and includes at least one positioning block. The second track further includes two hooks for engaging with two ends of a pressing member mounted to the second track. The pressing member includes a protruded portion that can be pressed. The pressing member further includes at least one notch defined by two parallel walls. When the second track is pulled outward along a longitudinal direction, the notch is engaged with the positioning block of the engaging member of the first track, thereby providing a better positioning effect. When the protruded portion of the pressing member is pressed, the notch is disengaged from the positioning block, thereby allowing disengagement or engagement of the second track from or into the first track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, I-Ming Tseng, Shu-Juan Lin, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6481809
    Abstract: A sliding module for computer components that is most often utilized for internet servers and the like. The module includes an outer housing that provides excellent R/F shielding for the components. A sliding mechanism is mounted on interior sides of the housing, so that the components can be completely enclosed. A sliding drawer is provided to mount the components. The component drawer includes a top panel that covers the open top front portion of the housing to complete the R/F shielding of the device. A rear side of the top panel includes a locking element that meshes with a locking element on a front side of the opening of the housing. The locking elements ensure that the top panel is in the proper position when the module is closed. The component mount also includes detachable securing mechanisms to lock the mount in place within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Acorn Product Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
  • Patent number: 6481811
    Abstract: A furniture clip includes a mounting member, two clip arms, and a securing member that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to that of the first clip arm and that is adapted to secure the clip to the fixed frame of a cabinet or set of drawers. The clip arms are each attached at one end to the mounting member and are designed to contact opposing surfaces of a movable member such as a door or drawer. The second clip arm will exert a force onto a movable member that is enough to secure the movable member against the first clip arm. The clip arms extend in a direction generally parallel to one another, thereby forming a gap between them. The gap has a portion that tapers from wide to narrow with increasing distance from the ends of the clip arms that are attached to the mounting member, and towards the free ends of the clip arms, the gap may also taper out again from narrow to wide to facilitate attachment and removal of the clip from a movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Tenn-Tex Platics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20020158556
    Abstract: A component chassis of a server is installed into a rack with a quick-disconnect slide rail. The inner rail member is secured to the component chassis by a quick-connect system having multiple headed protrusions received in corresponding keyhole slots in the rail web, and then slid along the slots until a spring latch snaps into place, without the use of tools. The component chassis, with its attached inner rail members, is then slid into place by inserting the inner rail members in mating outer rail members pre-installed on the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Alex S. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20020153815
    Abstract: A data cartridge exchange apparatus for use in a data storage system may comprise a drawer having a first data cartridge storage location and a second data cartridge storage location. The drawer is operatively associated with the data storage system so that the first data cartridge storage location may be moved between a first position and a second position and so that the second data cartridge storage location may be moved between a third position and a fourth position. The first data cartridge storage location is operatively associated with the second data cartridge storage location so that the first data cartridge storage location may be moved independently from the second data cartridge storage location and so that the first data cartridge storage location may be moved together with the second data cartridge storage location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Michael J. Chaloner, Paul C. Coffin, Richard Lynn Gardner
  • Patent number: 6467858
    Abstract: A spring-loaded disk drive retention tray comprises a first and a second plate moveably engaged to each other. The plates are kept in a closed position relative to each other via tension from a spring. A hard disk drive housing can be inserted into a first edge of the tray, and pressure to insert a second edge results in the opening of the first and second plate relative to each other such that the disk drive housing can be fully inserted into the retention tray. Once fully inserted, the two plates return to their closed position, and posts integral to the retention tray mechanically lock the hard disk drive housing to the retention tray via insertion of the posts into screw holes located on the hard disk drive housing. The disk drive assembly comprising the disk drive housing and the retention tray can then be inserted into receiving rails in a computer system chassis, and locked into place via mechanical abutments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao G. Le, Derek T. Nguyen, Lisa Luong
  • Patent number: 6464311
    Abstract: A slide comprises an outer member, an intermediate member, and an inner member. The intermediate member is held in place when slide is fully pulled out to a locked out position. A lock and release mechanism for the slide comprises a flexible strip having a proximal end attached to the intermediate member and a distal end slantingly extended. A fork at the end of flexible strip is lowered to be locked by a stop member on the outer member as the intermediate member is extended to the locked out position by the removing inner member. Hence, the intermediate member is held in the locked out position. The flexible strip has a trigger member capable of lifting together with the fork to disengage from the stop member as retracting the inner member, thereby unlocking the intermediate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Keng-Chin Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Publication number: 20020140331
    Abstract: A track device comprises a first track, a second track slidably received in the first track, and a third track slidably received in the second track. The first track includes a retaining block having an upper side and an underside side. Each of the upper side and the underside side of the retaining block has a first end having an inclined surface tapering toward a longitudinal axis of the retaining block. Each of the upper side and the underside side of the retaining block further has a second end with an engaging portion. The second track is slidably received in the first track and has a clamping member mounted thereto. The clamping member includes a main body with two opposite sides and two resilient legs each having an intermediate portion connected to an associated side of the main body. Each resilient leg further includes a first end extending beyond the main body and a second end extending beyond the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Geng-Jin Chen, I-Ming Tseng
  • Publication number: 20020140327
    Abstract: In a cabinet having a double locking mechanism, a cabinet has a case, an ejection portion installed to be capable of being ejected from the inside of the case and on which various devices can be mounted, and a door sealing the case, so that the door can be locked to the ejection portion and the door locked to the ejection portion is locked to the case. Thus, since the case can only be opened by an authorized person, the cabinet is safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: FL Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-gyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6457790
    Abstract: A release mechanism for telescoping slide assembly including an outer member and an inner member is provided. The mechanism comprises a flexible strip of substantially triangular transverse cross section mounted on the inner member, the flexible strip including two flexible arms each extended from either end of a bottom plate thereof, two opposite recesses, and two locking lugs on the sides of either recess; and an engagement section on outer end of intermediate member, the section including an aperture and a projection on the edge of aperture. In the use position, the locking lugs contact the inner wall of the intermediate member while sliding, and the recesses are clung to both sides of the projection when the inner member has reached a predetermined end of the use position, thus blocking movement of the inner member relative to the intermediate member. Moreover, either arm may be depressed to disengage recess from projection. Hence, inner member may be moved away from outer member or retract inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Keng-Chin Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6457789
    Abstract: A cassette intended for building up drawer cabinets, in which a drawer having a frontal piece is included, a lock is included in the drawer for locking of the same in the cassette. The lock includes a house located inside the frontal piece of the drawer and in connection with an opening therein, inside which house there is a spring-loaded plunger, which is movable vertically in relation to a hole in a bottom piece of the drawer, between a lower, locking position in which a free end of the plunger is behind and below an upper edge of a flange in a frontal frame of the cassette, and an upper, opening position in which the free end of the plunger is located above the flange and goes free therefrom. By the location thereof in the bottom part of the drawer, the lock guarantees that heavily loaded thereby deformed drawers do not risk to unintentionally be pulled out from the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: System Edstrom Biliredningar AB
    Inventor: Lars Hällsten
  • Patent number: 6456489
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device retention apparatus. A device retention apparatus includes a housing suitable for mounting an information handling system device and a retaining portion disposed on the housing, the retaining portion suitable for engaging an information handling system device when disposed in the housing. A selection mechanism suitable for securing the information handling system device to the housing is slideably connected to the housing so as to be capable of moving between a first position and a second position. Therefore, as the selection mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position, the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion thereby securing an information handling system device to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Davis, Vernon Erickson, Paul Amdahl, Daniel Castillo, David Williams, Paul Hooper
  • Patent number: 6450600
    Abstract: A retaining structure. The retaining structure includes a retaining member on a first track and a pressing block on a second track slidably received in the first track. The retaining member has two resilient legs and the pressing block has two protrusions. When the second track is mounted in the first track and pulled outward to a predetermined position, the legs of the retaining member press against inner sides of the protrusions of the pressing block to prevent inadvertent inward movement of the second track in the first track. When the second track in the predetermined position is pushed inwards by an appropriate force, the protrusions of the pressing block press to deform the legs of the retaining member to allow the protrusions of the pressing block to move across the retaining member, thus allowing inward movement of the second track in the first track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, I-Ming Tseng, Shu-Jiuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20020117948
    Abstract: Removable hardware for a slide assembly. In some embodiments the hardware is laterally biasable with respect to a web of a slide member. In some embodiments the hardware is placed between a bayonet extending from the web and the web, with a tab protruding from the web into a window of the latch, with the window being dimensioned so as to maintain the tab in the window as the latch arm is flexed. In further embodiments the latch arm includes tines which grip protrusions extending from the web of the slide member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Baoloc Le
  • Patent number: 6435636
    Abstract: A cushion and stop detent member for a drawer slide includes cushioning arms, a detent projection and a frictional ramp or surface all embodied in a single element positioned to engage telescopic slide members of a drawer slide construction in a manner which cushions the movement of the slide members to the closed position, reduces any rebound, and provides a detent closure retention of the slide in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: CompX International Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey MacMillan
  • Publication number: 20020101142
    Abstract: A drawer assembly with an interchangeable lock for mounting on a furniture piece. The drawer assembly comprises a storage area formed by exterior walls. In one embodiment, a front wall includes a cut-out section in which an adapter plate is removably mounted. A locking bar having first and second ends is selectively positioned adjacent to the adapter plate to mate with different locks. The first end includes a tongue that extends through the adapter plate to receive a hasp lock. The second end includes an angled edge for mating with an integrated lock mounted within the adapter plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Todd D. Krueger
  • Patent number: 6422567
    Abstract: A storage system for a motor vehicle having a floor includes a plurality of retainer brackets adapted to be secured to the floor, and a base having a body and a plurality of mounting brackets attached to the body. The body has first and second inclined tracks. The mounting brackets are engageable with the retainer brackets so as to secure the base to the floor. At least one of the mounting brackets is moveable with respect to the body so that the at least one mounting bracket may be engaged with a respective retainer bracket after the body is positioned with respect to the floor. Furthermore, the storage system includes a movable storage unit having a plurality of wheels that are engageable with the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Mastrangelo, Gregory J. Vishey, Daniel E. Hawkins, Wendy M. Beadle, John J. Blewett, Joseph M. Heilig
  • Publication number: 20020089272
    Abstract: A slide comprises an outer member, an intermediate member, and an inner member. The intermediate member is held in place when slide is fully pulled out to a locked out position. A lock and release mechanism for the slide comprises a flexible strip having a proximal end attached to the intermediate member and a distal end slantingly extended. A fork at the end of flexible strip is lowered to be locked by a stop member on the outer member as the intermediate member is extended to the locked out position by the removing inner member. Hence, the intermediate member is held in the locked out position. The flexible strip has a trigger member capable of lifting together with the fork to disengage from the stop member as retracting the inner member, thereby unlocking the intermediate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Keng-Chin Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6416145
    Abstract: A drawer slide member and drawer slide undermount bracket are provided. The drawer slide member has a vertical web having guide apertures with angled sides leading to a slot adapted to receive support tabs projecting from an undermount bracket. The undermount bracket, or shelf mount bracket, is longitudinally restricted from motion, and the support tabs thereby locked in the slots, by lock tabs located on a flexing finger within the undermount bracket which are positioned in a lock tab aperture in the web of the slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Accuride International, Inc.
    Inventor: Atma Kainth Singh
  • Publication number: 20020084735
    Abstract: A release mechanism for telescoping slide assembly including an outer member and an inner member is provided. The mechanism comprises a flexible strip of substantially triangular transverse cross section mounted on the inner member, the flexible strip including two flexible arms each extended from either end of a bottom plate thereof, two opposite recesses, and two locking lugs on the sides of either recess; and an engagement section on outer end of intermediate member, the section including an aperture and a projection on the edge of aperture. In the use position, the locking lugs contact the inner wall of the intermediate member while sliding, and the recesses are clung to both sides of the projection when the inner member has reached a predetermined end of the use position, thus blocking movement of the inner member relative to the intermediate member. Moreover, either arm may be depressed to disengage recess from projection. Hence, inner member may be moved away from outer member or retract inner member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Keng-Chin Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6412891
    Abstract: A release mechanism for telescoping slide including an outer member and an inner member is provided. The mechanism comprises an elongate connection member slidably mounted on the inner member. Operation performed on the access end of connection member at outer end of the slide may be transmitted to a pivot member near inner end of the slide. Thus pivot member may be selectively locked or unlocked for stopping or enabling the relative movement of the inner and the outer members. The push-pull style manipulation of the connection member is advantageous for having the open access end. Further, the structure is simplified for facilitating manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Keng-Chin Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6406109
    Abstract: A media magazine container utilizes a recirculating latch mechanism that makes minimal use of a solenoid and includes a safety door. The latch mechanism includes a contoured latch arm with a configured opening and a shoulder, a slider moving in a slider track and coupled to the latch arm, and a restoring device, such as a spring, for providing a counteractive force. The mechanism latches a magazine into the container by capturing magazine pins in the shoulder of the latch arm. The magazine can be easily unlatched by forcing the latch arm downward with an actuating device, causing the slider and configured opening to interact. As the magazine is extracted from the container, the slider and configured opening interact in such a manner that when the magazine is fully extracted the latch arm is back to the original position where it first received the magazine, and is ready to receive another. A safety door blocks passage to any objects entering the container other than a media magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Plasmon IDE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Arnal
  • Patent number: 6402275
    Abstract: A detachable drawer rail includes a track (10), a rail (20) slidably mounted on the track (10) and a resilient latch (30) secured on the rail (20). The resilient latch (40) is composed of two resilient ears (36) which make the rail (20) operated easily and also have excellent positioning efficiency. Additionally, the resilient latch (30) further has a nub (34) with an abutment face (341) and a groove (38) defined therein to mate with a recess (262) and a tongue (28) of the rail (20) respectively to make the resilient latch (30) firm and steady when used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Jun-Long Yang
  • Publication number: 20020067108
    Abstract: A rectangular drawer has an upstanding partition extending between the drawer side walls and dividing the drawer into front and rear compartments. A rectangular tray has a bottom wall and upstanding front, rear and opposed side walls, the tray side walls having lateral flanges at their upper edges, slidably supported on upper edges of the drawer side walls for movement of the tray between an open and closed positions, respectively uncovering and covering one of the compartments. A key-actuated lock mechanism locks the tray to the partition in the closed position. In one embodiment, the lock mechanism is mounted forwardly of the tray and has a movable latch member movable into engagement in a slot in the partition and, in another embodiment, the latch mechanism is on the partition and the latch member moves into engagement with one of two different slots in the bottom wall of the tray, arranged so that the tray can be reversibly mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Jimmy T. Doan, Vincenzo Ditta, Jason C. Chan, Robert Steven Burns, Russell W. Carruthers
  • Patent number: 6398327
    Abstract: A magazine insertion slot opening/closing device is able to automatically close a slide door after being opened. The front side of a magazine insertion slot formed in a decorative panel is covered by an outer door and an inner door. Both the doors are coupled to each other through first and second door plates, a gear damper and a rack plate. With this coupling structure, when one of the outer door and the inner door is moved, the other is also moved in the same direction in an interlocked manner. A locking link is urged by a lock spring in the locking direction to lock the doors in the open state through the first door plate. When closing the doors, the locking link is operated to release the doors from the locked state by rotating a cam gear with rotation of a motor or manually moving the outer door to some extent in the closing direction, whereby the doors are closed under a urging force of a door spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Momoze
  • Patent number: 6390574
    Abstract: A fully extendible drawer unit utilizes two pairs of, in each case, three rails which can be pushed into one another. On the carcass rail is positioned a differential roller, which allows the intermediate rail to be moved along when the drawer starts to be pulled out at a lower speed than the drawer and the drawer rail. A coupling lever ensures that the intermediate rail is still pushed along even when the drawer rail has already left the differential roller and that this happens synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Fraccaro
  • Patent number: 6390575
    Abstract: A track device comprises a first track and a second track. An engaging member is mounted to an end of the first rack and includes at least one leg and at least one operative wall. The first track further includes an upper longitudinal lip and a lower longitudinal lip. The second track is slidably received in the first track and guided between the upper longitudinal lip and the lower longitudinal lip. A pressing block and a resilient member are mounted to the second track. The pressing block includes a pressing leg and a shoulder. The pressing leg presses against an end of the resilient member. The end of the resilient member includes a tappet plate. Another end of the resilient member includes a pressing portion. The shoulder of the pressing block abuts against the leg of the first track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Geng-Jin Chen, I-Ming Tseng
  • Patent number: 6388875
    Abstract: A retaining device is mounted to a computer data storage device for supporting and retaining the data storage device in an enclosure comprised of opposite side walls. The retaining device includes an elongate body having a first face and an opposite face. Two sets of pins extend from the first face, each set including at least one pin interferentially engaging with a corresponding hole defined in the data storage device thereby attaching the retaining device thereto. The retaining device is slidably inserted into a channel defined in the corresponding side wall of the enclosure with the second face thereof confronting the side wall. A pair of spaced resilient limbs is formed on an end of the body. A leaf spring is arranged between the limbs for biasing projections formed on the limbs to engage with notches defined in the enclosure thereby securely retaining the data storage device in the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 6378966
    Abstract: A device for use with a computer drawer assembly, the computer drawer assembly including a safety latch. The device comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion coupled to the first planar portion wherein the second planar portion retracts the safety latch during the slidable operation of the computer system. The device eliminates the tedious process of having to manually retract the safety latch with a screwdriver-type tool when using the computer drawer assembly. This adds significant convenience when a system operator needs to slidably maneuver the computer drawer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Baker, Philip W. Sobey
  • Patent number: 6373707
    Abstract: A slide assembly has a first portion which is mounted to a chassis and a second portion which is mounted to vertical support members of a rack assembly for supporting the chassis. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide assembly includes a pair of slide members, each of which has a movable track member, a flange, a clamp, a latch, and a spring-loaded releasable lock actuator. The flange includes a bracket which is used to mount the slide member to the rack assembly without the use of tools or fasteners. The track member is coupled to the flange and slidably moves on the flange between an inner locked operational position and an outer extended position relative to the rack assembly. The clamp and latch are both spring-loaded to engage each other and to prevent movement of the chassis when pushed into the operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Michael Hutchins
  • Patent number: 6356441
    Abstract: The invention is directed to latching techniques that respond to ergonomically pleasing user movements, and that are well-suited for maintaining low manufacturing costs. One arrangement of the invention is directed to a disk drive assembly having a housing, a disk drive attached to the housing, and a lever that secures the housing to and releases the housing from a main assembly. The lever includes a frame pivotably that is coupled to the housing at a pivot point that defines a pivot axis. The lever further includes a latch that is coupled to the frame. The latch selectively engages with the housing and disengages from the housing. The latch includes an actuation portion that requires movement in a direction along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis to disengage the latch from the housing. Accordingly, if the pivot axis is horizontally-oriented, a user can move the actuation portion in a vertical direction, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Claprood
  • Patent number: 6340212
    Abstract: An apparatus has an arrangement for an input unit which provides control data for an electrical apparatus such as a printer or a copier and the arrangement allows the input unit to be shifted between an idle position within a cabinet of the apparatus to an operating position which extends outside of the cabinet to allow access. The arrangement is inclined so that the movement from the idle to the operating position is in a downwardly inclined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Max Beiss, Joseph Dietl
  • Patent number: 6340078
    Abstract: The invention concerns a braking device with closing servo control for movable cabinet/furniture parts, such as drawers, cabinet and furniture doors, etc. The device includes a casing located on either a fixed or movable cabinet/furniture component and this casing has a pull-in device located within it, which has a mechanical energy store, and a connected movable control element is also located within the casing, and a driving pin that is always located on the other cabinet/furniture components and works together with the control element. This pull-in device that works as a closing servo control after the braking process, is shown, in that, in the casing between the energy store and the control element, there is a connected braking element that is guided and movable. The braking device, thus, forms a unit with the pull-in device and is controlled likewise by the driving pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Adolf Scheible
  • Patent number: 6339532
    Abstract: A hard disk drive is damped in order to reduce tracking errors by isolating the drive from the enclosure it is mounted in using one or more pieces of adhesive viscoelastic material. The hard disk drive is mounted by means of a secondary mounting plate having ventilation holes. Vibrations introduced into the drive from the enclosure, as well as rotational vibrations introduced by the rotation of the drive itself, are substantially damped by the viscoelastic material. As a result, tracking errors are substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Steven G. Boulay, Stanley Walter Stefanick, Richard Ellis Mills
  • Patent number: 6335859
    Abstract: An optical disk drive assembly includes a hollow housing, an optical disk drive, and a control panel. The hollow housing has a bottom wall, and a front opening formed adjacent to a front end of the bottom wall. The optical disk drive is mounted inside the hollow housing. The optical disk drive is spaced apart from and is disposed above the bottom wall. The control panel is movably disposed between the optical disk drive and the bottom wall of the hollow housing. The control panel has a plurality of control keys connected electrically to the optical disk drive for manipulation of the optical disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kuei-Chu Chuang
  • Patent number: 6313984
    Abstract: A hard disk drive assembly is electrically connected to a printed circuit board assembly motherboard using a connector on the hard disk drive assembly connected with a mating connector mounted on the motherboard. The hard disk drive assembly is secured to standoffs that allow sufficient space between the hard disk drive assembly and the motherboard for an integrated circuit package to be positioned between the hard disk drive assembly and the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mobile Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Furay
  • Patent number: 6301099
    Abstract: A computer system is provided which includes features enhancing its serviceability. In a described embodiment, a computer has a chassis which includes option card module latching structures and a drive bay module pivot structure. The latching structures provide convenient access to a system board of the computer. The pivot structure provides convenient access to storage media devices in a drive bay module of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Francis A. Felcman, Jerome S. Conway, Hasan Giray Kaya
  • Patent number: 6296338
    Abstract: A telescopic rail includes a first section and at least a second section with intermediate bearings. The second section may be adjusted with respect to the first section in the longitudinal direction between a retracted and an extended position. On the first section, a blocking unit is provided for blocking the freedom of movement of the second section with respect to the first section at least in the extended position. The blocking unit includes a swivel body controllable by at least one operating part extending at least partially between the relevant sections. The swivel body is placed in a first position between the first and second sections and can be moved into a second blocking position by the operating part or parts. The swivel body may extend, by a blocking part thereof, at least partially through an opening into or behind an edge of the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas Regout B.V.
    Inventor: Andreas Petronella Maria Stijns
  • Patent number: 6292359
    Abstract: A mount for a computer component such as a disk drive includes horizontal platforms having upstanding studs and a strap. The strap is movable between an open position in which a drive may be removed from or installed into the mount and a closed position in which the upstanding studs are inserted into bores in the component and the strap keeps the component in place such that the studs remain in the bore and the drive is secure. Each end of the strap travels in a vertical channel formed along a corresponding vertical wall of the mount. Each end of the strap is provided with a detent and each vertical channel includes a detent receptacle sized to engage the detent. The detent receptacle corresponds to a closed position. A second detent receptacle may also be provided to hold the strap in an open position. The detent reliably secures the drive in the closed position while allowing the strap to be moved easily between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig L. Boe
  • Publication number: 20010017509
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cassette (1) intended for building up drawer cabinets, in which a drawer (2) having a frontal piece (18) is included, a lock (22) is included in the drawer for locking of the same in the cassette. According to the invention, the lock (22) includes a house (23) located inside the frontal piece (18) of the drawer and in connection with an opening (44) therein, inside which house there is a spring-loaded plunger (25), which is movable vertically in relation to a hole (45) in a bottom piece (19) of the drawer, viz. between a lower, locking position in which a free end of the plunger (25) is behind and below an upper edge of a flange (16) in a frontal frame of the cassette, and an upper, opening position in which the free end of the plunger is located above the flange (16) and goes free therefrom. By the location thereof in the bottom part of the drawer, the lock guarantees that heavily loaded thereby deformed drawers do not risk to unintentionally be pulled out from the cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: System Edstrom Bilinredningar AB
    Inventor: Lars Hallsten
  • Patent number: 6257683
    Abstract: A detachable rail for a drawer track which essentially comprises a track and a rail is disclosed. By means of the limit block fixedly attached to the track and the limit device fixedly attached to the rail, it is very easy to detach the rail from and attach the rail to the track of a drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Jun-Long Yang
  • Publication number: 20010006319
    Abstract: An integrated anti-rebound mechanism with stop feature for a rail assembly. Two stop/anti-rebound pieces are individually attached at the forward end of a first rail and a second rail of the rail assembly. The stop/anti-rebound pieces engage one another when the first and second rails are in a closed position to prevent the first and second rails from moving beyond a closed position from an extended position. The stop/anti-rebound pieces also cooperate to resist movement of the first and second rails from a closed position. A third rail may be included in the rail assembly including a stop mechanism and an anti-rebound mechanism. The stop and anti-rebound mechanisms cooperate with on of the stop/anti-rebound pieces of the other rail to prevent the third rail from moving beyond a closed position, and to resist movement of the third rail from a closed position in relation to the other rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Thomas Regout USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Dopp, Alan R. Wright
  • Patent number: 6250730
    Abstract: A safety device for a sliding assembly comprising a housing and one or more drawers mounted within the housing and slidable between open and closed positions. The safety device comprises a stopping member for fixing to a side wall of the housing adjacent a front edge thereof, and an obstructing member for fixing to a corresponding side of the drawer adjacent a front edge thereof. The stopping member is formed with a stopper wall, and the obstructing member is formed with a corresponding obstruction wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Shilav
    Inventors: Jonathan Roth, Isaac Oren
  • Publication number: 20010003407
    Abstract: The fully extendible drawer unit comprises two pairs of, in each case, three rails (1, 25, 45) which can be pushed into one another. On the carcass rail (1) is positioned a differential roller (9), which allows the intermediate rail (25) to be moved along, when the drawer starts to be pulled out, at a lower speed than the drawer and the drawer rail (45). A coupling lever (55) ensures that the intermediate rail (25) is still pulled along even when the drawer rail (45) has already left the differential roller (9) and that this happens synchronously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventor: Georg Fraccaro
  • Patent number: 6244678
    Abstract: An integrated anti-rebound mechanism with stop feature for a rail assembly. Two stop/anti-rebound pieces are individually attached at the forward end of a first rail and a second rail of the rail assembly. The stop/anti-rebound pieces engage one another when the first and second rails are in a closed position to prevent the first and second rails from moving beyond a closed position from an extended position. The stop/anti-rebound pieces also cooperate to resist movement of the first and second rails from a closed position. A third rail may be included in the rail assembly including a stop mechanism and an anti-rebound mechanism. The stop and anti-rebound mechanisms cooperate with on of the stop/anti-rebound pieces of the other rail to prevent the third rail from moving beyond a closed position, and to resist movement of the third rail from a closed position in relation to the other rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas Regout USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Dopp, Herman T. Smeets, Alan R. Wright
  • Patent number: 6238031
    Abstract: Sliding track assembly for drawers, including an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail, an outer stop section and an inner engaging section. The outer rail is disposed on a cabinet. The outer stop section is disposed at one end of the intermediate rail. The inner engaging section is disposed inside the inner rail. The inner rail is disposed on a drawer. The rails are slidably assembled with each other. By means of engaging the inner engaging section with the outer stop section or detaching the inner engaging section from the outer stop section, the drawer can be easily assembled with the cabinet or separated from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Kuo-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 6236563
    Abstract: A computer system including a chassis having a plurality of walls forming a cavity. The computer system further includes a peripheral device positioned in the cavity. A retention clip movable between an open position and a closed position is attached to one of the walls. The retention clip includes an arm portion and a retention flange. The retention clip retains the peripheral device in a supported position relative to the chassis when in the closed position so that a fastener member can be engaged with the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Eugene Buican, Roger A. Siedow, Timothy James McNulty
  • Patent number: 6224177
    Abstract: A sliding track assembly includes an outer rail fixedly mounted inside a desk, the outer rail having a locating flange extended from a rear extension bar thereof, an inner rail moved with a drawer in and out of the outer rail, and positioning mechanism installed in a rear side of the inner rail for stopping the inner rail from jumping forwards relative to the outer rail each time the inner rail is moved with the drawer into the inside of desk, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a hollow fixed block fixedly fastened to the inner rail, and a movable block pivoted to the fixed block and turned between a first position where the movable block is received inside the fixed block and stopped at a front side of the locating flange of the rear extension bar of the inner rail and the inner rail is received inside the outer rail, and a second position where the movable block is extended out of the fixed block for enabling the inner rail to be moved with the drawer out of the desk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Yin Da Slide Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Leo Chu