Locking Cradle for a mobile device

• US 20080102675A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Thelemann, Carl, Michaeli, Ben
• Application Number:
  US11/554,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20080102675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/248
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A cradle and a cradle lock for a mobile device having a receiving portion to receive at least a portion of a body of the mobile device, the mobile device being inserted into the receiving portion in an insertion direction and a cradle electrical contact electrically coupling with a corresponding mobile device electrical contact, the cradle electrical contact being deformed by physical contact with the mobile device electrical contact, wherein the cradle electrical contact applies a force to the corresponding mobile device electrical contact in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Claims

1. A cradle for a mobile device, comprising:

a receiving portion to receive at least a portion of a body of the mobile device, the mobile device being inserted into the receiving poriton in an insertion direction; and

a cradle electrical contact electrically coupling with a corresponding mobile device electrical contact, the cradle electrical contact being deformed by physical contact with the mobile device electrical contact, wherein the cradle electrical contact appllies a force to the corresponding mobile device electrical contact in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

2. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the cradle electrical contact is a plurality of cradle electrical contacts coupling electrically coupling with a plurality of mobile device electrical contacts.

3. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion further comprised guides that guide the mobile device while being inserted.

4. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the guides further retain the mobile device within the cradle by preventing movement of the mobile device that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

5. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the cradle electrical contacts further comprises a top leg and a bottom leg, the top and bottom legs being substantially perpendicular.

6. The cradle accoding to claim 1, further comprising:

a slot receiving the cradle electrical contact when deformed.

7. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the cradle electrical contact is connected to one of a power source to charge a battery of the mobile device and a further computing devive to exchange data with the mobile device.

8. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the receiving poriton further comprised a ledge for resting the mobile device when inserted in the cradle.

9. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one spring member, wherein when the electrical contact deforms, the spring member exerts a further force against the cradle electrical contact such that the cradle electrical contact exerts the force on the mobile device electrical contact.

10. The cradle accoding to claim 1 wherein the cradle electrical contact includes a spring element, the spring element providing one of the force in the direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and a combined force in a plurality of directions.

11. A geometric lock for a cradle, comprising:

guides for receiving a mobile device into the cradle in an insertion direction; and

cradle electrical contacts for interfacing with corresponding mobile device electrical contacts, the cradle electrical contacts electrically coupling with the mobile device electrical contact by exerting a force substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

12. The geometric lock according to claim 11, wherein the cradle electrical contacts further comprise top and bottom legs, the top legs being disposed substantially perpendiculat to the bottom legs.

13. The geometric lock according to claim 11, further comprising:

a ledge for resting a bottom portion of the mobile device thereon.

14. The geometric lock according to claim 11, further comprising:

slots for receiving the cradle electrical contacts when the mobile device is inserted.

15. The geometric lock according to claim 11, wherein each of the cradle electrical contacts include a spring element to exert the force.

16. The geometric lock according to claim 11, further comprising:

spring members urging the cradle electrical contacts against the corresponding moble device electrical contacts.

17. The geometric lock according to claim 11, further comprising:

electrical connections operatively connecting the cradle electrical contacts to an external device.

18. The geometric lock according to claim 17, wherein the external device is one of a power supply for providing power to a battery of the mobile device and a computing device for receiving data for the mobile device.

19. A cradle for a mobile device, comprising:

a receiving means for at least a portion of a body of the mobile device, the mobile device being inserted into the receiving means in an insertion direction; and

contacting means for electrically contacting electrical contacts of the mobile device wherein the contacting means is deformed by physical contact with the electricl contacts of the mobile device, the contacting means applying a force to the electrical contacts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

20. The cradle of claim 19, wherein the contacting means provides a combined force in a plurality of directions.

21. The cradle of claim 19, further comprising:

a spring means opposing a deformation of the contacting means, thereby causing the contacting means to apply the force.