Data collection device enclosure

• US 20080295932A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Havens, William H., Hennick, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 150/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

An enclosure for housing a portable data transfer device, such as a bar code scanner, data collection device, or other equipment, for use in environments requiring a certain level of cleanliness, for protection against transmission of infection or merely dust or dirt, while allowing a full range of functional capability of such devices and equipment.

Claims

1. A protective disposable enclosure for a data collection device that includes at least a hand-held portion and a data transferal portion, said enclosure having an open configuration and a closed configuration, said enclosure comprising:

(a) a first portion, adapted to enclose the hand-held portion of the device, said first portion of the enclosure adapted to be held by a user during use of the device;

(b) a second portion, adapted to enclose the data transferal portion of the device, and being constructed and arranged to permit performance of at least a majority of the data transferal functions that the device is adapted to provide.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said second portion is constructed and arranged to permit performance of substantially all of the data transferal functions that the device is adapted to provide.

3. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion and said second portion of the enclosure are a one-piece construction.

4. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion and said second portion of the enclosure comprise at least a two-piece construction.

5. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a shapeless cover to enclose at least a part of said first portion of the enclosure.

6. An enclosure according to claim 5, wherein:

said second portion of the enclosure comprises a rigid end cap.

7. An enclosure according to claim 6, wherein:

said rigid end cap is glued to said shapeless cover.

8. An enclosure according to claim 6, wherein:

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said rigid end cap is secured to said shapeless cover with an O-ring.

9. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a plurality of parts; and

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said plurality of parts are adhesively sealed.

10. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a plurality of parts; and

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said plurality of parts are non-adhesively mechanically sealed.

11. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

said data collection device comprises a data imaging device;

said data transferal portion of the device comprises an imaging portion; and

said second portion is constructed and arranged for transmission of light to said imaging portion, said second portion comprising a region having an optical quality enabling said imaging device to capture and manipulate images from light transmitted through said second portion of the enclosure.

12. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion and said second portion of the enclosure are a one-piece construction.

13. An enclosure according to claim 12, wherein:

said one-piece construction comprises a single thermoformed part.

14. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion and said second portion of the enclosure comprise at least a two-piece construction.

15. An enclosure according to claim 14, wherein:

said second portion comprises an optical quality component over-molded to a remainder of the enclosure.

16. An enclosure according to claim 14, wherein:

said second portion of the enclosure comprises an end cap having an optical quality window; and

said optical quality window, in said closed configuration of the enclosure, is positioned for alignment with the imaging portion of the imaging device for transmission of imaging light through said window to the imaging portion of the imaging device.

17. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a shapeless cover to enclose at least a part of said first portion of the enclosure.

18. An enclosure according to claim 17, wherein:

said second portion of the enclosure comprises a rigid end cap.

19. An enclosure according to claim 18, wherein:

said rigid end cap of the second portion of the enclosure includes an optical quality window glued or over-molded to a remainder of the end cap.

20. An enclosure according to claim 18, wherein:

said rigid end cap is glued to said shapeless cover.

21. An enclosure according to claim 18, wherein:

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said rigid end cap is secured to said shapeless cover with an O-ring.

22. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a rigid cover to enclose at least a part of said first portion of the enclosure.

23. An enclosure according to claim 22, wherein:

said second portion of the enclosure comprises a rigid end cap.

24. An enclosure according to claim 23, wherein:

said rigid end cap is secured to said rigid cover with an O-ring.

25. An enclosure according to claim 23, wherein:

said rigid end cap of the second portion of the enclosure includes an optical quality window glued or over-molded to a remainder of the end cap.

26. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a plurality of parts; and

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said plurality of parts are adhesively sealed.

27. An enclosure according to claim 11, wherein:

said first portion of the enclosure comprises a plurality of parts; and

in said closed configuration of the enclosure, said plurality of parts are non-adhesively mechanically sealed.