Locking holster for UPC scanner

• US 20050269473A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armando D. Carnevali, Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Armando D. Carnevali, Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D., Carnevali, Armando D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/311.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner

Abstract

A holster for securing a portable handheld UPC bar code scanner, the holster being formed of a rigid elongated tubular receptacle having an insertion opening in one end that communicates with an elongated tubular cavity formed therein, the insertion opening being formed with a bar code scanner head support portion which is canted at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the receptacle cavity. A rigid lever rotatably mounted on the receptacle under the insertion opening partially occludes a portion of the receptacle cavity when biased relative to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A holster for securing a portable UPC bar code scanner, the holster comprising:

a rigid elongated tubular receptacle forming an elongated tubular cavity with an aperture formed in one wall adjacent to an opening into one end of the tubular cavity;

a rigid lever rotatably coupled to the receptacle wall and situated adjacent to the opening into the end of the tubular cavity, a portion of the lever being structured for partially occluding the cavity;

means for biasing the portion of the lever being structured for partially occluding the cavity.

2. The holster of claim 1, further comprising a fulcrum coupled between the receptacle wall and the lever for rotatably coupling the lever to the receptacle wall.

3. The holster of claim 2 wherein the fulcrum further comprises a pair of bosses outwardly projected from the receptacle wall, and a hinge pin coupled between the bosses and the lever.

4. The holster of claim 2 wherein the lever further comprises an operating arm and a control arm positioned on opposite sides of the fulcrum.

5. The holster of claim 1 wherein the biasing means further comprises a means for spring loading the lever relative to the receptacle

6. The holster of claim 1 wherein the elongated tubular cavity further comprises a substantially blind tubular cavity.

7. The holster of claim 1 wherein the opening into the end of the tubular cavity further comprises an outwardly flared lip structured to support a head portion of the bar code scanner.

8. The holster of claim 7 wherein a portion of the outwardly flared lip is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cavity.

9. A holster for securing a portable UPC bar code scanner, the holster comprising:

a rigid receptacle having an insertion opening in one end thereof and communicating with a tubular cavity formed therein;

a rigid lever rotatably mounted on one wall of the receptacle and including a rigid operating portion for partially occluding a portion of the cavity;

means for spring biasing the lever relative to the receptacle; and

wherein the tubular cavity is sized to accept a handle portion of a portable UPC bar code scanner therein in combination with the lever operating portion being canted at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the receptacle cavity when biased by the spring biasing means.

10. The holster of claim 9 wherein an end of the operating portion of the lever distal from the spring biasing means further comprises a resiliently compressible elastomeric material suitable for protecting the handle of the bar code scanner while providing a frictional surface suitable for resisting a tendency of the scanner handle to slide along an end surface of the operating arm.

11. The holster of claim 9 wherein the insertion opening further comprises a bar code scanner head support portion that is canted at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle cavity.

12. The holster of claim 9 wherein the lever further comprises a rigid control portion spaced on an opposite side of the spring biasing means from the rigid operating portion.

13. The holster of claim 9 wherein the tubular cavity is further sized to accept the handle portion of a portable UPC bar code scanner therein in combination with the lever operating portion being canted at an angle between 45 degrees and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle cavity when biased by the spring biasing means.

14. A holster for securing a portable UPC bar code scanner, the holster comprising:

a) an elongated receptacle that is structured for being permanently attached to an external structure, the receptacle comprising;

i) a cavity of generally rectangular interior cross-section sized to accept a handle portion of different handheld UPC bar code scanners through an insertion opening situated at one end of the receptacle,

ii) the insertion opening being rotated about a short axis of the rectangle at an angle to a long axis of the rectangular cavity and having an outwardly flared lip structured to support a head portion of the bar code scanner, and

iii) an aperture formed in one face of the receptacle containing the base of the angle formed between the insertion opening and the long axis of the rectangular cavity;

b) a locking mechanism structured on the face of the receptacle containing the aperture, the locking mechanism comprising a rigid lever structured to rotate about a pivot axis situated adjacent to the aperture and spaced away from the insertion opening by the base of the angle formed between the insertion opening and the long axis of the rectangular cavity, the lever having an operating arm formed on one side of the pivot axis and sized to pass through the aperture in the face of the receptacle, and a control arm on an opposite side of the pivot axis from the operating arm; and

c) means for biasing the lever to cause the operating arm to enter and at least partially occlude the interior of the receptacle.

15. The holster of claim 14 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a fulcrum containing the pivot axis.

16. The holster of claim 15 wherein the fulcrum further comprises one or more bosses formed on an external surface of the face of the receptacle containing the aperture, one or more hubs formed on the lever between the operating and control arms, and a hinge pin suspending the one or more hubs for rotation relative to the one or more bosses.

17. The holster of claim 14 wherein an end of the operating arm distal from the pivot axis comprises a protective tip.

18. The holster of claim 14 wherein the means for biasing the lever further comprises a spring operating between the lever and the receptacle.

19. The holster of claim 14 wherein the angle by which the insertion opening is rotated relative to the long axis of the rectangular cavity further comprises an angle of approximately 15 degrees.

20. The holster of claim 14 wherein the insertion opening further comprises a relief formed in the outwardly flared lip adjacent to the base of the angle formed between the insertion opening and the long axis of the rectangular cavity, the relief being structured to pass a trigger situated on a surface the bar code scanner handle.