PORTABLE DATA TERMINAL AND BATTERY THEREFORE

• US 20080123262A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gannon, Colleen P., Coleman, Eric C., Grunow, Jonathan T., Garmon, Vincent Scott, Hooks, Larry Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/680
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A portable data terminal including an elongated housing and a vertical grip. The housing has a battery well that extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing. A battery pack has a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the battery pack having an integrated latch that engages a recess in the battery well.

Claims

1. A portable data terminal comprising:

an elongated housing;

a data collection device supported by the housing;

a grip extending from the elongated housing the grip having a trigger to activate the data collection device;

a battery well formed in the elongated housing to the rear of an intersection between the grip and the elongated housing, the battery well extending traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a battery pack having a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

2. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a battery access panel that covers the battery well.

3. A portable data terminal as set forth in claim 2, wherein the battery pack further comprises a latch to secure the battery pack into the well.

4. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the battery access panel further comprises a latch to secure the battery access panel to the elongated housing such that to remove the battery, a user must first unlatch the battery access panel and subsequently unlatch the battery pack.

5. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a detector to indicate opening of the battery access panel.

6. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the latch of the battery access panel comprises a integrally molded latch that includes a protrusion on a support member thereof detectable by the detector.

7. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a keypad having a plurality of keys and wherein the detector comprises a first key structurally similar to an underlying structure of keys on the keypad and wherein the protrusion on the support member of the battery access panel engages the first key when the battery access panel is secured by the elongated housing.

8. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the battery access panel further comprises at least one protrusion that engages at least one recess in the battery well to secure the battery pack in the well;

and

wherein the battery pack further comprises at least one recess that facilitates insertion of the at least one protrusion into the at least one recesses in the battery well when the battery pack is secured in the battery well.

9. A portable data terminal as set forth in claim 2 wherein the battery well is water resistant while the interface between the battery access panel and the elongated housing is not water resistant.

10. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the battery pack is water resistant.

11. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the battery access panel further includes a feature that blends with the interface between the elongated housing and the handle.

12. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the battery pack has a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the battery pack having a plurality of cells stacked in a generally vertical direction with respect to the overall orientation of the portable data terminal in use.

13. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the battery pack has an asymmetrical shape and the battery well has a complimentary shape so as to permit the insertion of the battery in a correct orientation.

14. A portable data terminal, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a strap connected between the handle and the battery access panel.

15. A portable data terminal comprising:

an elongated housing, the housing having a battery well that extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing;

a battery access panel having at least one protrusion that engage at least one relief in the battery well and a latch opposite the at least one protrusion, the latch engaging a recess in the battery well to secure the battery into the well;

a battery pack having a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the battery pack having at least one relief that, when seated in the battery well, aligns with the at least one relief in the well so as to facilitate insertion of the at least one protrusion into the at least one relief when the battery pack is inserted into the battery well; and

a grip integrated with and extending from the elongated housing.

16. A portable data terminal comprising:

an elongated housing, the housing having a battery well that extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing;

a grip integrated with and extending from the elongated housing;

a battery access panel having a shape that blends with the housing including a hump that blends with the grip; and

a battery pack having a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing.