CRADLE APPARATUS AND PRINTING DEVICE INTERFACE

• US 20170182818A1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Lyman, Roy P., Gui, Wang Zhong, Beck, David F., Helberg, Anthony R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,252,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/04 Means for attaching machines to baseboards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/06 Special supports, platforms or trolleys for supporting machines on tables
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/00 Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/765 the terminal pins having a non-circular disposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/7664 having additional guiding, adapting, shielding, anti-vibration or mounting means

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are described herein. An example disclosed printing device includes a printer body; a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface defining a first recess and a second recess disposed proximate a first side of a battery compartment; and a bumper attachment extending from the printer body and disposed proximate a front side of the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle.

Claims

1. A printing device comprising:

a printer body;

a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface defining a first recess and a second recess disposed proximate a first side of a battery compartment; and

a bumper attachment extending from the printer body and disposed proximate a front side of the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are configured to receive first and second biased latches extending from the cradle, the first recess and the second recess comprising first and second recess walls.

3. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second biased latches are configured to snap into the first recess and the second recess, and wherein a bottom wall of the cradle engagement surface proximate the first recess and the second recess is captured into cavities defined by a lock surface of the first and second biased latches.

4. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second latches comprising a locking angle and a driving angle move to a locked position in response to the first and second recess walls interface with the locking angle and the driving angle.

5. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of capture cavities comprises at least two capture cavities defined by a left bumper cavity side, right bumper cavity side, top bumper cavity side, and bottom bumper cavity side.

6. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the bumper attachment defines two capture cavities structured to slidably receive first and second printer capture flanges.

7. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the bumper attachment defines two capture cavities positioned to slidably receive first and second printer capture flanges.

8. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the top bumper cavity side and the right bumper cavity side form a first angle.

9. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the right bumper cavity side and the bottom bumper cavity side form a second angle.

10. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the bottom bumper cavity side and the left bumper cavity side form a third angle.

11. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the left bumper cavity side and the top bumper cavity side form a fourth angle.

12. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the bumper attachment is configured to remain securely attached to the printing device in response to a depressed contact on a surface of a biased release member that extends from the cradle.

13. The printing device of claim 1, wherein portions of the cradle engagement surface disposed proximate the first recess and the second recess are configured to drive downwardly into a printer drive surface of the first and second biased latches.

14. A method of manufacturing a printing device to interface with a cradle, the method comprising:

providing a printer body and a cradle engagement surface defining a first recess and a second recess disposed proximate a first side of a battery compartment; and

extending a bumper attachment from the printer body and disposing the bumper attachment proximate a front side of the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first recess and the second recess are configured to receive first and second biased latches extending from the cradle, the first recess and the second recess comprising first and second recess walls.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second biased latches are configured to snap into the first recess and the second recess, and wherein a bottom wall of the cradle engagement surface proximate the first recess and the second recess is captured into cavities defined by a lock surface of the first and second biased latches.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second latches comprising a locking angle and a driving angle move to a locked position in response to the first and second recess walls interface with the locking angle and the driving angle.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of capture cavities comprises at least two capture cavities defined by a left bumper cavity side, right bumper cavity side, top bumper cavity side, and bottom bumper cavity side.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the bumper attachment defines two capture cavities structured to slidably receive first and second printer capture flanges.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the bumper attachment defines two capture cavities positioned to slidably receive first and second printer capture flanges.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the top bumper cavity side and the right bumper cavity side form a first angle.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the right bumper cavity side and the bottom bumper cavity side form a second angle.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the bottom bumper cavity side and the left bumper cavity side form a third angle.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the left bumper cavity side and the top bumper cavity side form a fourth angle.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the bumper attachment is configured to remain securely attached to the printing device in response to a depressed contact on a surface of a biased release member that extends from the cradle.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein portions of the cradle engagement surface disposed proximate the first recess and the second recess are configured to drive downwardly into a printer drive surface of the first and second biased latches.