Assemblies for releasably securing a cassette lid to a cassette base

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide locking mechanisms allowing the lid of a cassette assembly to be locked to a base of the cassette assembly. Some embodiments provide hinged locks or clips that flex or bend, allowing a lip on the lid to be secured under a protrusion on the base (or vice versa). In some embodiments, a secondary hinge allows the lid to be released. Some embodiments allow the lid to be secured through either of a pushing or twisting action, while others involve only pushing or only twisting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a cassette lid comprising an outer circumferential lip; and   a cassette base comprising a lock and release mechanism having a protrusion, wherein:
 the protrusion is sized and shaped to engage the outer circumferential lip of the cassette lid to lock the cassette lid to the cassette base, and 
 the lock and release mechanism comprises a hinge configured to deflect the protrusion in a radially outward direction when the lid is pushed laterally onto the cassette base. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lock and release mechanism comprises two hinge clips provided on opposite sides of the cassette base, each hinge clip comprising two retention tabs and two primary hinges, the protrusion being one of a pair of protrusions provided on each retention tab. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , each hinge clip further comprising a secondary hinge configured to displace the respective retention tabs of the hinge clip in a radially outward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lock and release mechanism comprises a flexure retaining clip in which the hinge is connected to the protrusion through a circumferentially-extending arm. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lock and release mechanism comprises at least three retention tabs, each retention tab supporting a respective protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each retention tab is capable of locking onto the outer circumferential lip of the cassette lid independently. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the cassette lid comprises a number of circumferential recesses corresponding to a number of the at least three retention tabs, the circumferential recesses configured to allow the respective protrusions of the retention tabs to pass through when the cassette lid is arranged on the cassette base. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circumferential lip of the cassette lid is sized and shaped relative to the protrusions of the retention tabs so that, when the cassette lid is rotated relative to the cassette base, a bottom surface of the protrusions passes over a top surface of the circumferential lip to secure the cassette lid to the cassette base. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lip comprises a rounded or angled outer face and a flat top face. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette base comprises a well between an outer circumferential wall of the cassette base and an upper base wall, and the well is sized and shaped to accommodate the outer circumferential lip of the cassette lid when the cassette lid is deployed on the cassette base. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an orienting feature configured to guide the cassette lid onto the cassette base during an installation operation. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the orienting feature is a wedge extending from the base assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the orienting feature is a wedge extending from the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is z-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette lid is secured to the cassette base through an interference fit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lock and release mechanism is configured to lock the cassette lid to the cassette base through each of a pushing operation where the lid is pushed laterally onto the cassette base or a twisting operation comprising a rotation of the cassette lid relative to the cassette base. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette base further comprises a secondary release hinge connected to a force application pad, and a force applied to the force application pad causes the secondary release hinge to flex and divert the protrusion in a radially outward direction to release the circumferential lip from the protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , the cassette base further comprising one or more spring flexures configured to encourage the cassette lid away from the cassette base upon release of the lock and release mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each spring flexure comprises an arm extending in a circumferential direction away from a connection point on the cassette base, the arm further extending away from the cassette base in an axial direction towards a deployment location of the cassette lid. 
     
     
         20 . The wherein each spring flexure of  claim 1 , wherein the lock and release mechanism is arranged and positioned on the cassette base so that the cassette lid is capable of being locked to the cassette base in a one-handed installation operation, and so that the cassette lid is capable of being released from the cassette base in a one-handed release operation.