Charger/cradle combination device for portable terminal

• US 20050083012A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Bum-Soo, Lee, Jong-Seong
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

Disclosed is a charger/cradle combination device for a portable terminal. The charger/cradle combination device includes: a supporter; a sliding housing inclinedly engaged on the supporter; sliding means for rendering the inclined grade of the sliding housing to increase/decrease as the sliding housing is upwardly/downwardly moved on the supporter; a cradle housing mounted on the sliding housing in such a manner that the cradle housing is in confronting relation with the sliding housing, the sliding means rendering the inclined grade of the cradle housing to increase or decrease as the cradle housing upwardly or downwardly moves; and a holding device provided on the cradle housing for preventing a portable communication device cradled on the cradle housing from shaking.

Claims

1. A charger/cradle combination device for a portable terminal comprising:

a supporter;

a sliding housing engaged at an inclined angle on the supporter;

sliding means for increasing/decreasing the inclined angle of the sliding housing as the sliding housing is moved upwardly/downwardly on the supporter;

a cradle housing mounted on the sliding housing confronting relation with the sliding housing, the sliding means increasing/decreasing the inclined angle of the cradle housing as the cradle housing is moved upwardly/downwardly; and

a holding device provided on the cradle housing for stabilizing a portable communication device cradled on the cradle housing.

2. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one opening is formed between the cradle housing and the holding device.

3. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the openings comprise:

first and second openings symmetrically arranged to the left and right of the cradle housing, the first and second openings being surrounded by an inner wall of the holding device; and

a third opening formed at a top end of the cradle housing for accomodating a portable communication device, thereby allowing housings of the portable communication device cradled on the cradle housing to be opened and closed or rotated.

4. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding device is formed in a “

C”

shape to surround the cradle housing.

5. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a key array comprising an arrangement of a plurality keys.

6. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding means comprises:

a first curved sliding surface formed on the supporter;

a second curved sliding surface formed on an underside of the sliding housing in plane-contact sliding relation with the supporter; and

at least one sliding guide slit for defining a sliding direction between the supporter and the sliding housing.

7. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first sliding surface has a concave shape and the second sliding surface has a convex shape, the concave and convex shapes corresponding with each other.

8. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sliding guide slits comprise first and second sliding guide slits which extend parallel to one another, the first and second sliding guide slits each being linearly formed on the second sliding surface.

9. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle housing is rotatable about a hinge axis while maintaining the confronting relation with the sliding housing.

10. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hinge axis is provided on an underside of the cradle housing such that the hinge axis is oriented perpendicularly to the underside of the cradle housing and positioned at various distances from the supporter according to the sliding movement of the sliding housing.

11. A charger/cradle combination device for a portable terminal comprising:

a supporter;

a sliding housing engaged at an inclined angle on the supporter;

sliding means for increasing/decreasing the inclined angle of the sliding housing as the sliding housing is moved upwardly/downwardly on the supporter;

a cradle housing mounted in confronting relation with the sliding housing, and the inclined angle of the cradle housing increases/decreases as the cradle housing is moved upwardly or downwardly; and

a speaker assembly provided on the cradle housing for stabilizing a portable communication device cradled on the cradle housing to prevent the device from shifting or shaking.

12. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one opening is formed between the cradling housing and the speaker assembly.

13. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the openings comprise:

first and second openings symmetrically arranged to the left and right of the cradle housing, the first and second openings being surrounded by an inner wall of the speaker assembly; and

a third opening formed at the top end of the cradle housing for accommodating the opening and closing of a portable communication device.

14. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the speaker assembly is formed in a “

C”

shape to surround the cradle housing.

15. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the speaker assembly comprises at least one pair of speakers.

16. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the speaker assembly includes a plurality of speakers symmetrically arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the cradle housing.

17. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the speakers are thin-film type speakers.

18. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the speaker assembly includes a key array consisting of an arrangement of a plurality keys.

19. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sliding means comprises:

a first curved sliding surface formed on the supporter;

a second curved sliding surface formed on an underside of the sliding housing in plane-contact sliding relation with the supporter; and

at least one sliding guide slit for defining a sliding direction between the supporter and the sliding housing.

20. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first sliding surface has a concave shape and the second sliding surface has a convex shape, the concave and convex shapes corresponding with each other.

21. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the sliding guide slits comprise first and second sliding guide slits which extend parallel to one another, the first and second sliding guide slits each being linearly formed on the second sliding surface.

22. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cradle housing is rotatable about a hinge axis while maintaining the confronting relation with the sliding housing.

23. A charger/cradle combination device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the hinge axis is provided on an underside of the cradle housing such that the hinge axis is oriented perpendicularly to the underside of the cradle housing and positioned at various distances from the supporter according to the sliding movement of the sliding housing.