The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 2021
Filed:
Jul. 18, 2019
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Camillo Sassano, Durham, NC (US);
William Risk, San Jose, CA (US);
Benjamin Gordon Shaw, San Francisco, CA (US);
Kevin L. Schultz, Raleigh, NC (US);
Michael Vincent DeBole, Poughkeepsie, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus includes a coupling rod having a longitudinal axis and disposed within one or more bearing elements that laterally constrain the coupling rod while enabling axial rotation, multiple latching barbs coupled to the coupling rod, rotational force elements that apply a rotational force to the latching barbs in a latching direction and resist rotation of the latching barbs in an unlatching direction. The apparatus may be deployed in a rack system having a rack drawer. The apparatus may also include barb engagement elements for engaging and latching the latching barbs when the rack drawer is moved from an open position to a closed position. Rotation of the coupling rod in the unlatching direction unlatches the latching barbs when the rack drawer is in the closed position and enables a user to open the rack drawer. A method that uses the apparatus is also disclosed herein.