Supporting and connecting structure for electric device
First Claim
1. A supporting and connecting structure for a portable electric device which has an electrical connector thereon, including in combination:
- a frame having means defining a passage, a housing movably mounted in said passage of said frame and having a cavity therein for receiving the electric device, said housing having a first released position wherein a part thereof is positioned within said passage and a second operated position wherein a greater part thereof is positioned within said passage, electrical connector means movably supported on said housing and having an actuating arm, said connector means being adapted to couple with the electrical connector of the device, and cam means on said frame positioned to be engaged by said actuating arm of said connector means, said cam means engaging said actuating arm of said connector means as said housing moves from said first position toward said second position to cause said connector means to move to a position to couple with the electrical connector of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A structure for supporting a portable electric device and for making electrical connections thereto for energizing the device and connecting the same to external apparatus. The structure shown is particularly adapted to support a portable radio for use in a vehicle, and for automatically connecting the radio to an electric current supply and/or an antenna, and/or to other external apparatus. The structure can also be used to lock the radio into the frame, protecting it against unauthorized removal. The supporting structure includes a housing for receiving the electric device, which is slidably mounted in a frame, with movement of the housing causing movement of connectors thereon into operative engagement with electrical connectors on the device. The frame may include a cam engaged by the actuator of a connector, to move the connector as the housing slides within the frame. The structure for supporting a portable radio may include first and second connectors moving in sequence as the housing with the radio therein slides within the frame, with the first connector making electrical connections to the radio and also accurately positioning the radio within the housing, and the second connector then moving to make connection with the radio.
57 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A supporting and connecting structure for a portable electric device which has an electrical connector thereon, including in combination:
- a frame having means defining a passage, a housing movably mounted in said passage of said frame and having a cavity therein for receiving the electric device, said housing having a first released position wherein a part thereof is positioned within said passage and a second operated position wherein a greater part thereof is positioned within said passage, electrical connector means movably supported on said housing and having an actuating arm, said connector means being adapted to couple with the electrical connector of the device, and cam means on said frame positioned to be engaged by said actuating arm of said connector means, said cam means engaging said actuating arm of said connector means as said housing moves from said first position toward said second position to cause said connector means to move to a position to couple with the electrical connector of the device.
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2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said housing is slidable in one direction in said passage of said frame means, and said connector means is slidably supported on said housing for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said housing.
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3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said connector means has a portion thereon which is adapted to engage a connector on the portable device.
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4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said portion extends into a recess in the side of the portable device for holding the same in said housing.
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5. The structure of claim 4 further including latch means on said frame for holding said housing in said second operated position.
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6. The structure of claim 5 further including lock means secured to said frame and coupled to said latch means for preventing release of said latch means to thereby prevent removal of the portable device from said housing.
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7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said housing includes support rod means extending substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said housing in said frame, and said connector means is mounted on said support rod means and said actuating Arm thereof engages said cam means to move said connector means along said support rod means.
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8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector means includes a plurality of portions which move in seqence to couple with the electrical connector of the apparatus.
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9. A supporting and connecting structure for a portable radio device which has a recess on one side thereof with electrical connectors therein, including in combination:
- a frame having means defining an elongated passage, a housing slidably mounted in said passage of said frame and having a cavity therein for receiving the electric device, said housing having a first released position wherein a part thereof is positioned within said passage and a second operated position wherein a greater part thereof is positioned within said passage, electrical connector means movably supported on said housing and having an actuating arm, said connector means having a projection adapted to enter the recess in the radio device, and contacts thereon adapted to engage the electrical connectors on the device, and cam means on said frame positioned to be engaged by said actuating arm of said connector means, said cam means engaging said actuating arm of said connector means as said housing slides from said first position toward said second position to cause said connector means to slide to a position wherein said projection thereon enters the recess in the device to position the device with respect to said housing, and to cause said contacts on said connector means to engage the electrical connectors on the device.
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10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said projection on said electrical connector means has tapered sides to facilitate entry thereof into the recess on the radio device, for accurately positioning the radio device with respect to said housing and holding the same against removal.
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11. The structure of claim 9 further including spring means connected to said frame and engaging said housing for moving the same to said first position, and a latch on said frame adapted to engage a portion of said housing to hold said housing in said second position.
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12. The structure of claim 11 further including a lock coupled to said latch for holding the same in engagement with said housing to thereby hold said projection of said connector means in the recess of the radio and prevent removal of the radio from said housing.
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13. The structure of claim 9 further including spring means coupled to said connector means for biasing the same to a position wherein said projection is removed from said cavity of said housing, with said cam means moving said connector means to a position such that said projection moves into said cavity in said housing.
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14. A supporting and connecting structure for electric apparatus which has first and second electrical connectors thereon, including in combination:
- a frame having means defining an elongated passage, a housing slidably mounted in said passage of said frame and having a cavity therein for receiving the electric apparatus, said housing having a first unoperated position wherein a part thereof is positioned within said passage and a second operated position wherein a greater part thereof is positioned within said passage, third and fourth electric connector means, each being slidably supported on said housing and having an actuating arm, said third connector means being adapted to couple with the first connector of the apparatus and said fourth connector means being adapted to couple with the second connector of the apparatus, and cam means on said frame having first and second portions positioned to be engaged by said actuating arms of said third and fourth connector means, respectively, said first portion of said cam means engaging said actuating arm of said third connector means as said housing slides from said first position toward said second position to an intermediate position to cause said third connnector means to slide to a posItion to couple with the first connector, and said second portion of said cam means engaging said actuating arm of said fourth connector means as said housing slides from said intermediate position further toward said second position to cause said fourth connector means to slide to a position to couple with said second connector.
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15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said third electrical connector means includes a portion slidable into engagement with the first electrical connector to accurately position the electric apparatus with respect to said housing, said portion including conductors for making electrical connections to the first electrical connector.
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16. The structure of claim 15 wherein said fourth electrical connector means includes a conducting pin adapted to be inserted into the second electrical connector, with the positioning of the electrical apparatus in said housing by said third electrical connector means aligning the same for insertion of said conducting pin into the second electrical connector.
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17. The structure of claim 16 wherein said housing includes a plurality of support means extending substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said housing in said frame, said third electrical connector means being mounted on at least one of said support means and said actuator thereof engaging said first cam portion to move said third connector means along said support means, said fourth electrical connector means being mounted on another one of said support means and said actuator thereof engaging said second cam portion to move said fourth connector means along said other support means.
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18. The structure of claim 17 further including spring means coupled to said third and fourth electrical connector means for holding said portion of said third electrical connector means and said conducting pin of said fourth electrical connector means clear of said cavity, with said cam means moving said third and fourth connector means so that said portion of said third connector means and said conducting pin of said fourth connector means extend into said cavity.
Specification