US 12,405,643 B2
Integrated locking mechanism for drive blanks
John R. Grady, Cypress, TX (US); Yinggang Du, Houston, TX (US); and Kevin Labbe, Tomball, TX (US)
Assigned to Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/163,360.
Prior Publication US 2024/0264645 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 1/18 (2006.01); G11B 33/12 (2006.01); H05K 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/187 (2013.01) [G11B 33/123 (2013.01); H05K 7/1409 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive blank, comprising:
a front member having a first end, a second end, a back face, and an aperture formed between the first end and the second end;
a first side member extending perpendicularly from the first end of the front member;
a second side member extending perpendicularly from the second end of the front member;
a rear member extending parallel to the front member and between the first side member and the second side member;
a handle pivotably coupled to the front member or first side member and comprising a latch element; and
a locking element integral to the front member, wherein the locking element comprises:
a looping portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the looping portion integrally connected to the back face of the front member; and
a push button formed at the second end of the looping portion and disposed in the aperture, the push button having a locking catch, releasably coupled to the latch element of the handle, to lock the handle in a closed position, wherein the push button is movable towards the rear member to elastically bend the looping portion to release the latch element from the locking catch, such that the handle is allowed to move from the closed position to an open position.