Patent US3851941A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3851941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concealed enclosure latch
Assignee: Vrc California Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A concealed latch enclosure is disclosed having a frontally disposed panel concealing an elongated member. An L-shaped door below the panel covers a chamber having a circuit card slidably mounted therein. The door has a base pivotally attached at an edge of the enclosure and an upright portion extending from the base remote from the pivotal attachment. An element joined to the base includes a tongue extending in a lateral direction. The elongated member is pivotably mounted on a support member rigidly joined to the enclosure. The elongated member has a surface for receiving a manually exerted force on one side of the pivotal attachment and an indentation mating with the tongue on the opposite side of the pivotal attachment. To actuate the latch, the panel is lifted up and outward. A rotation of the elongated member disengages the tongue from the indentation allowing the door to rotate about its pivot axis, exposing the chamber and allowing circuit card removal.
Inventors
- 👤 R Stebe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:33
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0208; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
In an electronic equipment enclosure having at least one chamber in which circuit components reside, the combination therewith of: latch means disposed within the enclosure; panel means mounted on the enclosure; and door means mounted on the enclosure and movable between a first position which encloses the chamber and a second position which opens the chamber and permits removal of the circuit components therein; said latch means extending between a support member in the enclosure and the door means and being engageable with the door means to maintain the door means in the first position and disengageable from the door means when manually actuated to permit movement of the door means into the second position, the panel means at least partially removably concealing the latch means from view while providing access to the latch means for manual actuation thereof when the panel means is at least partially removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an electronic equipment enclosure having at least one chamber in which circuit components reside, the combination therewith of: latch means disposed within the enclosure; panel means mounted on the enclosure; and door means mounted on the enclosure and movable between a first position which encloses the chamber and a second position which opens the chamber and permits removal of the circuit components therein; said latch means extending between a support member in the enclosure and the door means and being engageable with the door means to maintain the door means in the first position and disengageable from the door means when manually actuated to permit movement of the door means into the second position, the panel means at least partially removably concealing the latch means from view while providing access to the latch means for manual actuation thereof when the panel means is at least partially removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel means is supported in a normal position and is temporarily movable out of the normal position to permit manual access to the latch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the door means comprises an elongated element having a base and an upright portion extending outwardly from the base along the length of the element to provide the element with a generally L-shaped cross section, the base being pivotally attached to the enclosure at an edge remote from the upright portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein the latch means includes an element coupled to the base of the door means and having a tongue extending therefrom and a latch arm coupled to the support member and having an indentation engageable with the tongue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electroniC equipment enclosure comprising: a lower chamber adapted to slidably receive at least one circuit card therein; a movable panel normally disposed generally at the front of the enclosure and concealing an elongated element when so disposed; a door having a generally L-shaped cross section for covering the lower chamber when in a first position and for exposing the lower chamber when outside the first position, the door comprising a base pivotally attached to the enclosure near a longitudinal edge of the base and a generally upright portion extending at an angle from the base remote from the pivotal attachment; latching means comprising an engaging element coupled to the door and an elongated member pivotally coupled with respect to a support member on the enclosure and biased so as to rotate toward and mate with the engaging element when the door is in the first position, the elongated element being manually rotatable away from the engaging element to permit movement of the door outside of the first position; and stop means limiting the rotation of the elongated element when not mating with the engaging element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electroniC equipment enclosure comprising: a lower chamber adapted to slidably receive at least one circuit card therein; a movable panel normally disposed generally at the front of the enclosure and concealing an elongated element when so disposed; a door having a generally L-shaped cross section for covering the lower chamber when in a first position and for exposing the lower chamber when outside the first position, the door comprising a base pivotally attached to the enclosure near a longitudinal edge of the base and a generally upright portion extending at an angle from the base remote from the pivotal attachment; latching means comprising an engaging element coupled to the door and an elongated member pivotally coupled with respect to a support member on the enclosure and biased so as to rotate toward and mate with the engaging element when the door is in the first position, the elongated element being manually rotatable away from the engaging element to permit movement of the door outside of the first position; and stop means limiting the rotation of the elongated element when not mating with the engaging element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: the engaging element comprises a generally laterally directed tongue coupled to the base of the door; and the elongated member has a sloping tongue-bearing surface engageable with the tongue to cause rotation of the member in response to movement of the tongue and an indentation located adjacent the tongue-bearing surface and having a supporting surface, the tongue being engaged by the indentation and held by the supporting surface when the door is in the first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A concealed arrangement for permitting controlled access to a printed circuit card compartment within a cabinet for electronic equipment comprising: door means coupled to the cabinet and movable between first and second positions to respectively close and open the compartment; locking means mounted within the cabinet for holding the door means in the first position, said locking means being manually actuable to release the door means from the first position and permit movement of the door means into the second position; and means concealing the locking means from view from outside the cabinet and including means providing access to the locking means for manual actuation thereof while the locking means is concealed from view.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A concealed arrangement for permitting controlled access to a printed circuit card compartment within a cabinet for electronic equipment comprising: door means coupled to the cabinet and movable between first and second positions to respectively close and open the compartment; locking means mounted within the cabinet for holding the door means in the first position, said locking means being manually actuable to release the door means from the first position and permit movement of the door means into the second position; and means concealing the locking means from view from outside the cabinet and including means providing access to the locking means for manual actuation thereof while the locking means is concealed from view.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |