Hand-held computerized data collection terminal with indented gripconforming configuration
First Claim
1. In a data collection system, a hand-held computerized data collection terminal comprising a terminal casing for housing operating circuitry and having first and second opposite ends along a longitudinal axis of the data collection terminal, and having a frontal side for data entry, said terminal casing itself having a bottom wall which is itself part of the terminal casing for housing the operating circuitry, said bottom wall itself having an exterior providing an underside of the terminal casing which is opposite said frontal side, said casing itself having side walls extending longitudinally of the data collection terminal between said frontal side and said bottom wall of said terminal casing, said bottom wall itself being indented at a portion of the terminal casing intermediate said first and second opposite ends to provide a grip-conforming configuration at the underside of the terminal casing, said bottom wall itself providing downwardly protruding shoulder portions having rounded edges with said indented intermediate bottom wall portion and at said first and second opposite ends of the data collection terminal adjacent the grip-conforming configuration which is to be gripped by one hand to tend to prevent slippage of the terminal casing in either longitudinal direction during gripping support thereof.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a exemplary computerized FM Data Transceiver terminal, an antenna may extend longitudinally from one end and a battery drawer at an opposite (lower) end may receive a detachable bar code scanner module or the like for mechanized data input. In such computer terminals which are hand-held for relatively long time periods, e.g., during inventory data collection, use of the terminal is particularly facilitated by indenting the underside of the terminal intermediate its ends to form a hand grip configuration and by providing a strap spanning the indentation such that the fingers of one hand can be inserted between the hand grip and strap in a quick smooth motion without requiring as a separate motion the lifting of the strap to accommodate the fingers. These features coact to provide for an outstandingly comfortable and secure gripping of the terminal during use. Preferably any finger receiving clearance gap between grip and strap, the width of the strap, and the indented and rounded grip configuration are such as to allow a substantial relaxation of the grip at desired intervals durikng a work period to minimize hand muscle fatigue.
54 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. In a data collection system, a hand-held computerized data collection terminal comprising a terminal casing for housing operating circuitry and having first and second opposite ends along a longitudinal axis of the data collection terminal, and having a frontal side for data entry, said terminal casing itself having a bottom wall which is itself part of the terminal casing for housing the operating circuitry, said bottom wall itself having an exterior providing an underside of the terminal casing which is opposite said frontal side, said casing itself having side walls extending longitudinally of the data collection terminal between said frontal side and said bottom wall of said terminal casing, said bottom wall itself being indented at a portion of the terminal casing intermediate said first and second opposite ends to provide a grip-conforming configuration at the underside of the terminal casing, said bottom wall itself providing downwardly protruding shoulder portions having rounded edges with said indented intermediate bottom wall portion and at said first and second opposite ends of the data collection terminal adjacent the grip-conforming configuration which is to be gripped by one hand to tend to prevent slippage of the terminal casing in either longitudinal direction during gripping support thereof.
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16. In a data collection system,
a hand-held data collection terminal having a first end, and having a second end longitudinally opposite said first end, said terminal having a first side with data display means for facilitating data collection operation, and having a second side opposite said first side, said second side having a substantial indentation integral therewith and intermediate the first and second ends for accommodating a hand of a user in supporting relation thereto such that the terminal is retained in the user'"'"'s hand in a secure and comfortable manner, resilient strap means extending generally longitudinally across said substantial indentation at said second side, said resilient strap means defining a finger receiving gap of substantial size over a substantial finger-receiving longitudinal extent of said indentation, said substantial indentation having an indentation bottom wall lying generally in an indentation bottom plane, and forming part of said second side of said terminal, said resilient strap means being comprised of a generally flat strap extending obliquely in comparison to said indentation bottom plane so as to define a finger receiving gap between the resilient strap means and the indentation bottom wall which finger receiving gap tapers somewhat from a first margin relatively close to said first end to a second margin relatively close to said second end so as to provide a generally uniform gripping pressure of the strap on respective manual fingers of varying thickness in the finger receiving gap.
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17. In a data collection system, a hand-held data collection terminal having a first end, and having a second end longitudinally opposite said first end,
said terminal having a first side with data display means for facilitating data collection operation, and having a second side with a substantial indentation integral therewith and intermediate the first and second ends for accommodating a hand of a user in supporting relation thereto such that the terminal is retained in the user'"'"'s hand in a secure and comfortable manner, resilient strap means extending generally longitudinally across said substantial indentation at said second side, said resilient strap means defining a finger receiving gap of substantial size and of at least about one-fourth inch over a substantial finger-receiving longitudinal extent of said indentation, said substantial indentation having an indentation bottom wall lying generally in an indentation bottom plane, and forming part of said second side, said resilient strap means being comprised of a generally flat strap extending obliquely in relation to said indentation bottom plane so as to define a finger receiving gap which tapers somewhat from a first margin relatively close to said first end to a second margin close to said second end so as to provide a generally uniform gripping pressure of the strap on respective manual fingers of varying thickness in the finger receiving gap.
Specification