DOCKING CRADLE

• US 20110279966A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sayavong, Rajmy
• Granted Patent: US 8,405,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking cradle is configured to seat a mobile computer. The docking cradle comprises a docking interface configured to electrically couple the docking cradle to the mobile computer and a latch for latching the mobile computer within the docking cradle. The latch comprises a pair of latching arms and a locking plate. Each latching arm comprises at least one tooth configured to engage a corresponding recess in the mobile computer, an arm pivot point on a lower portion of the latching arm, and an offset portion below the arm pivot point. Each latching arm is rotationally mounted to opposing sides of the docking cradle at the arm pivot point so as to rotate towards and away from each other. Each latching arm is shaped so that a distance between the offset portions is less than the distance between arm pivot points when the latching arms are upright. The locking plate is sized in accordance with the distance between the offset portions, the locking plate movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Claims

1. A docking cradle configured to seat a mobile computer, the docking cradle comprising a docking interface configured to electrically couple the docking cradle to the mobile computer;

and a latch for latching the mobile computer within the docking cradle, the latch comprising;

a pair of latching arms, each latching arm comprising;

at least one tooth configured to engage a corresponding recess in the mobile computer;

an arm pivot point on a lower portion of the latching arm;

an offset portion below the arm pivot point;

wherein each latching arm is rotationally mounted to opposing sides of the docking cradle at the arm pivot point so as to rotate towards and away from each other;

wherein each latching arm is shaped so that a distance between the offset portions is less than the distance between arm pivot points when the latching arms are upright; and

a locking plate sized in accordance with the distance between the offset portions, the locking plate movable between a locked position, in which the locking plate engages the offset portions of the latching arms, and an unlocked position.

2. The docking cradle of claim 1, further comprising a plunger coupled to the locking plate, the plunger configured to engage the mobile computer when it is seated in the docking cradle.

3. The docking cradle of claim 2, wherein the plunger is attached to the locking plate.

4. The docking cradle of claim 2 further comprising at least one spring configured to bias the latch in the unlocked position.

5. The docking cradle of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring is coupled to the plunger.

6. The docking cradle of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring is coupled to the locking plate.

7. The docking cradle of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring comprises two springs.

8. The docking cradle of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring is a coil spring.

9. The docking cradle of claim 1, wherein the locking plate comprises a main body and a nub at each end of the main body.

10. The docking cradle of claim 1 further comprising an ejection plate configure to actuate the locking plate from the locked position to the unlocked position.

11. The docking cradle of claim 10, wherein the ejection plate and the locking plate are coupled about a plate pivot point so that depressing the ejection plate results in the locking plate rising to the unlocked position.