Mechanical latch mechanism for combination portable transceiver and charging unit
First Claim
1. A latch mechanism for a combination portable transceiver and charging unit, comprising:
- a housing mounted inside the charging unit, said housing defining a receptacle arranged for receiving the portable transceiver;
a first mating connector adapted to interconnect in a mating fashion with a second mating connector on said portable transceiver; and
a latch means mounted to said housing and operably connected to said first mating connector, said latch means for effecting an electrical connection between the portable transceiver and charging unit by mating of said first and second mating connectors upon insertion of the portable transceiver into said receiving receptable in the charging unit, said mating being accomplished perpendicularly to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver into the charging unit, said latch means including a release lever pivotally and slidably connected to said housing, said release lever including a handle portion and an arm extending on opposite sides of the lever pivot point, said arm having a contact surface for contacting said housing after an initial pivotal movement of said handle portion of said release lever, said contact surface positioned relative to the pivot point of said release lever so as to provide a greater mechanical advantage during initial movement of said lever than at subsequent times, said latch means further having a stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of said release lever to a predetermined amount, said release lever thereby allowing the electrical separation of said first and second mating connectors to be accomplished by successive pivotal and lateral movement of said release lever.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination charging unit and portable, hand-held transceiver which includes a latch mechanism operable to effect an electrical connection between the charging circuit in the charging unit and the rechargeable power supply in the transceiver automatically upon insertion of the transceiver into the charging unit. The latch mechanism causes insertion of plug connectors on the charging unit into mating connectors in the transceiver in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the transceiver into the charging unit. The latch mechanism prevents damage to the plug connectors by exerting a predetermined constant insertion force, independent of the force employed to seat the transceiver into the charging unit, in mating the plug connectors. The latch mechanism includes a release lever which provides a mechanical advantage to the operator during the initial portion of its release movement thus compensating for the gripping effect of the plugs with their mating connectors.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A latch mechanism for a combination portable transceiver and charging unit, comprising:
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a housing mounted inside the charging unit, said housing defining a receptacle arranged for receiving the portable transceiver; a first mating connector adapted to interconnect in a mating fashion with a second mating connector on said portable transceiver; and a latch means mounted to said housing and operably connected to said first mating connector, said latch means for effecting an electrical connection between the portable transceiver and charging unit by mating of said first and second mating connectors upon insertion of the portable transceiver into said receiving receptable in the charging unit, said mating being accomplished perpendicularly to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver into the charging unit, said latch means including a release lever pivotally and slidably connected to said housing, said release lever including a handle portion and an arm extending on opposite sides of the lever pivot point, said arm having a contact surface for contacting said housing after an initial pivotal movement of said handle portion of said release lever, said contact surface positioned relative to the pivot point of said release lever so as to provide a greater mechanical advantage during initial movement of said lever than at subsequent times, said latch means further having a stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of said release lever to a predetermined amount, said release lever thereby allowing the electrical separation of said first and second mating connectors to be accomplished by successive pivotal and lateral movement of said release lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A latch mechanism for the charging unit of a combination portable transceiver and charging unit, comprising:
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a housing mounted inside the charging unit, said housing defining a receptacle arranged for receiving the portable transceiver along an axis of insertion; a first mating connector adapted to interconnect in a mating fashion with a second mating connector on said portable transceiver, said first mating connector lying longitudinally perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver; and a latch means operably connected to said first mating connector for effecting an electrical connection between the portable transceiver and the charging unit by mating of the first connector with said second connector perpendicularly to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver upon proper seating of the portable transceiver into said receptacle, said latch means further for effecting electrical disconnection between the portable transceiver and the charging unit by decoupling of said first and second mating connectors, said latch means including a mechanical advantage means for providing a greater mechanical advantage during a predetermined amount of the initial movement of said first and second mating connectors during disconnection thereof as compared to subsequent movement. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A latch mechanism for the charging unit of a combination portable transceiver and charging unit having an axis of insertion, comprising:
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a housing; a first mating connector adapted to interconnect in a mating fashion with a second mating connector on said, portable transceiver said first mating connector lying longitudinally perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver; and a latch means operably connected to said first mating connector for effecting an electrical connection between the portable transceiver and the charging unit by mating of the second mating connector with said first mating connector perpendicularly to the axis of insertion of the portable transceiver into the charging unit upon seating of the portable transceiver into a receiving receptacle in the charging unit, said latch means accomplishing mating by application of a predetermined fixed coupling force to said first and second mating connectors, said predetermined fixed coupling force being independent of the insertion force used to seat the portable transceiver into the charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification