Compact electronic communication device with self-mounting feature and method of removably coupling such a device to a surface

• US 20040077388A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc. (W/K Holding Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc. (W/K Holding Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Crum, Jesse D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly

Abstract

A method and mounting assembly for mounting an electronic communication device having electronic circuitry to a surface is described, wherein the mounting assembly is associated with a back face of the electronic communication device. In a first preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly is a magnetic material associated with the back face of the electronic communication device. The magnetic material is magnetically influenced such that a magnetic field produced by the magnetic material emanates away from the back face of the electronic communication device. In an alternative first preferred embodiment, a synthetic resin laminate shield is intermediately placed between the back surface of the electronic communication device and the magnetic material for further insulating protection from the magnetic field of the magnetic material. In a second preferred embodiment, the back surface of the electronic communication device is provided with a repositionable adhesive. A silicone release layer is positioned on the repositionable adhesive for removal by the user and mounting of the electronic communication device on the surface.

Claims

1. In combination:

an electronic communication device having electronic circuitry adapted for wireless transmission and/or reception of communication signals, said device further including a body having a front surface adapted for the input or output of information corresponding to said signals to be transmitted and/or received and a back surface; and

mounting material coupled to one of said front surface and said back surface in substantially laminate relationship thereto for providing removable non-mechanical mounting of said device in self-supporting relationship to a supporting surface.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic communication device is a disposable and portable device which includes a folded dielectric material.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dielectric material is between 2 mil and 10 mil in thickness.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting material is a magnetic material between 4 mil and 16 mil in thickness.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the magnetic material is magnetically influenced such that the magnetic density is about 14 poles per inch with a resulting magnetic field strength of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches from the magnetic material.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting material is an adhesive having a silicone release layer positioned thereon.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein the adhesive is a repositionable adhesive.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting material is coupled to the back side for mounting the device adjacent to a separate supporting surface.

9. A magnetic material coupled to an electronic communication device for self-mounting said electronic communication device, wherein the magnetic material is magnetically influenced such that the magnetic density is about 14 poles per inch with a resulting magnetic field strength of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches form the magnetic material.

10. The magnetic material as set forth in claim 9, wherein the magnetic material is between 4 mil and 16 mil in thickness.

11. The magnetic material as set forth in claim 9, wherein the magnetic material is coupled to a back face of the electronic communication device using adhesive.

12. The magnetic material as set forth in claim 9, wherein a magnetic field produced by the magnetic material emanates predominantly away from the back face of the electronic communication device.

13. In an electronic communication device adapted for wireless reception and/or transmission of signals, said device having a body with a front surface adapted for the input and/or output of information corresponding to said signals and a back surface, the improvement comprising a thin non-mechanical coupling material associated with the back face of the body which renders the device self-supporting when the device is attached to an upright surface.

14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the coupling material is a magnet assembly coupled to one of the front surface and the back surface for self-mounting said electronic communication device to a surface in self-supporting relationship, the magnet assembly comprising:

a shield associated with a back surface of the electronic communication device, wherein the shield is adapted to provide electromagnetic protection to electronic circuitry housed within the device from a magnetic field; and

a magnetic material coupled with the shield opposite the electronic circuitry, wherein the magnetic material is magnetically influenced so as to produce said magnetic field.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the electronic communication device is disposable and portable and wherein the body includes a folded dielectric material, and the dielectric material is between 2 mil and 10 mil in thickness.

16. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the electronic communication device is a radio frequency identification tag.

17. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the electronic communication device is a telecommunication device for receiving and transmitting signals.

18. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the shield is a synthetic resin laminate adhesively coupled to the device.

19. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the magnetic material is between 4 mil and 16 mil in thickness and relatively thinner than the thickness of the body of the device.

20. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the magnetic material is magnetically influenced such that the magnetic density is about 14 poles per inch with a resulting magnetic field strength of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches form the magnetic material.

21. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the coupling material includes:

an adhesive associated with one of the back surface and the front surface; and

a protective layer coupled with the adhesive and adapted to be removed for coupling the electronic communication device to the surface.

22. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is a repositionable adhesive.

23. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the protective layer is a web having a silicone release coating thereon.

24. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is associated with the back surface of the device whereby the front surface is oriented away from the surface supporting the device when the device is adhesively coupled thereto.

25. A method for removably mounting to a surface an electronic communication device having a body including a back surface and a front surface adapted for the input or output of information to or from the device and electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:

magnetically influencing a magnetic material to a magnetic field density of about 14 poles per inch resulting in a magnetic field strength of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches from the magnetic material; and

associating the magnetically influenced magnetic material with the back surface of the electronic communication device.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the body of the electronic communication device includes a folded dielectric material between about 2 mil and 10 mil in thickness.