Cradle device of portable terminal

• US 20030040216A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Youn, Jae-sam
• Granted Patent: US 6,716,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/534
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

A cradle device of a portable terminal such as a PDA (personal digital assistance). The cradle device of the portable terminal has a cradle body on which the portable terminal is placed; and a holder to embrace the portable terminal settled on the cradle body. The holder is rotatable with respect to the cradle body within a predetermined angular range. A bracket hinge is settled at the cradle body, and a bracket shaft is settled at the holder. A friction member is disposed between the bracket hinge and the bracket shaft with a predetermined friction force. Accordingly, an angle of the holder can be freely adjusted when the portable terminal is embraced by the holder.

Claims

1. A cradle device of a portable terminal, comprising:

a cradle body on which the portable terminal is settled; and

a holder to embrace the portable terminal settled on the cradle body, the holder being rotatable with respect to the cradle body within a predetermined angular range.

2. The cradle device according to claim 1, further comprising a

settling unit to settle the holder to the cradle body so that a rotation of the holder with respect to the cradle body is prevented if no external force is applied to the holder.

3. The cradle device according to claim 2, wherein the settling unit comprises:

a first settling member settled at the cradle body;

a second settling member settled at the holder and connected with a bracket hinge to provide a relative rotation thereto; and

a friction member disposed between the first settling member and the second settling member, the friction member being in contact with the first settling member and the second settling member to provide a friction force so as to maintain a position of the holder after rotation by a user.

4. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a power supply terminal to supply an external electrical power to the portable terminal embraced by the holder.

5. A cradle device to support a portable terminal, comprising:

a cradle body having a movable holder to support the portable terminal; and

a settling unit to hold and enable frictional rotation of said movable holder with respect to said cradle body to rotate the portable terminal within a predetermined angular range.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said settling unit comprises:

a pair of bracket hinges, each bracket hinge connected to opposite sides of said cradle body and having a respective bracket shaft threaded therein at one end and connected with said movable holder at another end to frictionally rotate said movable holder with respect to said respective bracket hinge to maintain a position of the movable holder after rotation thereof by a user.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said bracket shafts are secured to the respective sides of said movable holder by fitting therein without any additional connection elements.

8. A cradle device to support a portable terminal, comprising:

a cradle body having a movable holder to support the portable terminal; and

a settling unit to hold said movable holder with respect to said cradle body to rotate the portable terminal within a predetermined angular range, said settling unit having a frictional force of a predetermined degree with respect to said movable holder to maintain said movable holder in position after rotation by a user.