The present invention relates generally to bezels for electronics enclosures. More particularly, the present invention relates to locking mechanisms for securing bezels to mounting structures.
Electronics equipment is often mounted in racks or other such structures. Bezels attached to the mounting structures aesthetically protect the front-facing portion of the equipment and allow technical personnel access to the equipment for maintenance and repair. The mounting structure can include vertical rails with catches to which the bezel is mounted. Bezels typically have two latch mechanisms, on opposite ends of the bezel, that attach to the catches on the vertical rails. A lock is often used to prevent unauthorized removal of the bezel from the rails. The lock prevents personnel from removing the bezel from the mounting structure.
For aesthetic or functional reasons, some locks are located midway along the length of the bezel. Other locks have been displaced to one side of the bezel. In general, the particular location of the lock requires a particular mechanical solution for locking the bezel latches. A solution specific to a centrally located lock is typically inapplicable to bezels with a lock displaced to one side. Moreover, many solutions require numerous pieces of separate mechanical fasteners, such as screws, which can complicate assembly of the bezel.
In one aspect, the invention features a bezel comprising a bezel frame and a first plunger mechanism and a second plunger mechanism moveably coupled to the bezel frame at opposite ends of the bezel frame. Each plunger mechanism is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A first rod is coupled to the first plunger mechanism and a second rod is coupled to the second plunger mechanism. A cam lock, positioned between the first rod and the second rod, is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam lock restricts movement of both rods sufficiently to stop the plunger mechanisms from moving to the unlatched position when the cam lock is in the locked position.
In another aspect, the invention features a bezel comprising a bezel frame and first and second means, disposed at opposite ends of the bezel frame, for latching the bezel frame to a mounting structure. Each latching means is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A lock means is coupled to the bezel frame at a location between the first and second latching means. The lock means is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The bezel also includes first means for coupling the first latching means to the lock means, and a second means for coupling the second latching means to the lock means, wherein the lock means simultaneously restricts movement of the first and second coupling means sufficiently to stop each latching means from moving from the latched position to the unlatched position when the lock means is in the locked position.
In still another aspect, the invention features an electronics equipment enclosure comprising a housing with a mounting structure and a bezel. The bezel includes a bezel frame and a first plunger mechanism and a second plunger mechanism moveably coupled to the bezel frame and to the mounting structure at opposite ends of the bezel frame. Each plunger mechanism is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A first rod is coupled to the first plunger mechanism and a second rod is coupled to the second plunger mechanism. A cam lock, positioned between the first rod and the second rod, is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam lock restricts movement of both rods sufficiently to stop the plunger mechanisms from moving from the latched position to the unlatched position when the cam lock is in the locked position.
The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in the various figures. The drawings are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. For clarity, not every element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Bezels embodying the present invention have a locking mechanism that provides bezel designers with flexibility with respect to where along the length of the bezel to locate the bezel lock (e.g., in the center or displaced to one side). Moreover, such bezels have plunger mechanisms—for latching to a mounting structure, e.g., of an electronics enclosure, such as a data storage enclosure, or of a rack—that require no separate mechanical screws, bolts, washers, or nuts, thus simplifying the assembly of the bezel. In brief overview, the plunger mechanisms are at opposite ends of the bezel. A single locking mechanism prevents personnel from operating the plunger mechanisms to remove the bezel from the mounting structure. When locked, however, the locking mechanism does not prevent the bezel from being attached to the mounting structure. It is a feature of the present invention that the locking mechanism may be located centrally on the bezel or may be located near a side of the bezel.
The outer surface 104 includes a badge 106 that can include any variety of information including, for example, the manufacturer's name, the product name or a logo. Airflow openings in the outer surface 104 provide a means to draw a cooling airflow through the bezel frame 102 and into the electronics enclosure. The airflow openings (generally, 108) include a horizontal opening 108A, distinctive sloped openings 108B, and numerous smaller circular openings 108C. Additional openings 110 accept light pipes that conduct light from status lights, such as emitting diodes (LEDs), mounted inside the electronics enclosure. Other embodiments have fewer or more airflow openings 108 and light pipe openings 110 than those shown. In other embodiments, the size, position and orientation of the openings 108, 110 in the bezel frame 102 are different.
A key port 112 of a locking mechanism is provided along the outer surface 104 to accept a key for locking or unlocking the bezel 100 from the mounting structure, as described herein. A pair of buttons 114A, 114B protrudes horizontally through openings in the outer surface 104 of the bezel frame 102. Personnel depress both buttons 114A, 114B to remove the bezel 100 from the equipment mounting structure when the bezel 100 is unlocked. When the bezel is locked, the buttons 114A, 114B will not depress sufficiently to allow removal of the bezel 100 from the equipment mounting structure. In preferred embodiments, the buttons 114A, 114B do not need to be depressed to mount the bezel 100.
Referring together to
Each plunger mechanism 202A, 202B includes, respectively, a button portion 310A, 310B and a latch portion 312A, 312B. Each button portion 310A, 310B includes, respectively, a button 114A, 114B that protrudes through openings 540 (see
Adjacent the opening 540A is a curved button channel 534A, sized to receive the button 114A when pressed inwardly to unlatch the first plunger mechanism 202A. Opposite the opening 540A is the rib 330A. The rib 330A has an opening 544A therein for receiving the post 316A of the first plunger mechanism 312A. The diameter of the opening 544A is smaller than the diameter of the spring coil 318A so that the spring coil 318A pushes against the rib 330A when the post 316A enters the opening 544A. Adjacent the opening 544A is a notch 550A.
The button portion 310A is disposed in an operative position at the opening 540A, with the button 114A facing outwards through the opening 540A and the open ends of the rod receptacles 410A, 410B facing inwards toward the center of the bezel. The latch portion 312A sits atop the button portion 310A, with the lip portion 320 abutting the edges of the crossbeam 404 and rod receptacles 410A, 410B and with the button seat 420A abutting the button 114A in the button channel 534A.
The first rod 204A is inserted into the rod receptacle 410B of the button portion 310A so that the first rod 204A moves with the button portion 310A. In alternate embodiments, the first rod 204A could be attached to the button portion 310A by being manufactured as one contiguous piece with the button portion 310A. The first rod 204A is disposed in one or more U-shaped notches 550A in the bezel frame 102. The U-shaped notch 550A guides the first rod 204A as it moves back and forth as explained below.
To secure the latch portion 312A to the bezel frame 102, the post 316A enters the opening 544A and the spring coil 318A compresses until the rectangular-shaped top 528A of the pedestal 324A can enter the slot of the keyhole-shaped opening 322A of the latch portion 312A. After the rectangular-shaped top 528A enters the slot, the force of the spring coil 318A is released, causing the rectangular-shaped top portion 528A slides to the narrow end of the keyhole-opening 322A. In this manner, the latch portion 312A is slidably attached to the bezel frame 102. When the latch portion 312A is slidably attached, the button portion 310A is disposed between the latch portion 312A and the bezel frame 102. The coupling of the plunger mechanism 202A to the bezel frame 102 thus can be accomplished without the use of mechanical hardware fasteners, such as screws, bolts, nuts, and washers.
The latch portion 312A can be removed from the bezel frame 102 by pushing the latch portion 312A toward the rib 330A until the rectangular-shaped top portion 528A is disposed in the broad end of the keyhole-opening 322A, pulling the latch portion 312A away from the bezel frame 102, and then sliding the post 316A out of the opening in the rib 330A.
The bezel 100 can be unlatched from an enclosure to which it is latched by simultaneously depressing both buttons 114A, 114B while the bezel 100 is unlocked. As described herein, the buttons 114 cannot be depressed a sufficient distance to unlatch the bezel 100 when the bezel 100 is locked. When the cam lock 206 is in an unlocked position and the button 114A is pressed (i.e., pushed toward the cam lock 206), the button portion 310A and the first rod 204A are thrust toward the cam lock 206. The button portion 310A is in contact with the latch portion 312A and thrusts the latch portion 312A toward the cam lock 206, compressing the spring coil 318A. When the button portion 310A is fully depressed, the first rod 204 is placed in contact with the cam portion 620 (see
When the latch portion 312A has been thrust toward the cam lock 206, the broad end of the lip 320A disengages from the mounting structure of an enclosure (not shown), allowing the bezel 100 to be removed (i.e., unlatched) from the mounting structure. However, the contact of the first rod 204A with the cam portion 620 prevents the latch portion 312A from being thrust, by the button portion 310A, a sufficient distance to position the broad end of the keyhole opening 322A over the pedestal 324A on the bezel frame 102. Thus, the contact of the first rod 204A prevents the button portion 310A from being pushed so far that the latch portion 312A detaches from the bezel frame 102. In other words, fully depressing the button 114A moves the latch portion 312A in position to allow the bezel 100 to be unlatched from an enclosure, but does not move the latch portion 312A so far as to allow it to be removed from the bezel frame 102.
To remove the latch portion 312A from the bezel 100, the bezel 100 is first unlatched from an enclosure and then pressure is applied directly on the latch portion 312A to move it further so that the broad end of the keyhole opening 322A is over the pedestal 324A on the bezel frame 102, allowing the latch portion 312A to be removed. If the button 114A is released, the spring coil 318A decompresses, pushing the latch portion 312A and button portion 310A back to their resting positions. When the cam lock 206 is in a locked position, the cam lock 206 prevents the first rod 204A from advancing, which in turn prevents both the button portion 310A and latch portion 312A from advancing.
If the cam portion 620, as viewed in
It is a feature of the present invention that the cam lock 206 can be placed almost anywhere between the plunger mechanisms 202 by providing rods 204 of different lengths and making minor changes to the design of the bezel frame 102. For example,
While the present invention has been shown and described herein with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that variations, alterations, changes in form and detail, and equivalents may be made or conceived of without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and by equivalents thereto.
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