Font cartridge extender with spring hook latch
First Claim
1. A latching mechanism for securing a font cartridge extender to a printer font cartridge, comprising:
- (a) a font cartridge extender adapted for coupling to a printer font cartridge, the extender comprising a circuit board enclosed in a protective case for connecting a data bus between a printer, the font cartridge extender, and the font cartridge;
(b) a chute in the case;
(c) a spring hook residing in the chute for engaging a lip on the font cartridge; and
(d) braces for guiding the spring hook within the chute.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A font cartridge extrender into which a commerically available font cartridge can be plugged and which plugs into the font cartridge receptacle of a computer printer. The extender includes a novel latching mechnism which attaches the font cartridge to the extender so that the assembly can be conveniently plugged into, and unplugged from, the printer as a unit. The font cartridge is secured to the extender by a spring hook mechanism, which resides in a chute molded into the inside of the top portion of the casing of the extender. The spring hook mechanism is supported in the chute by braces and a pin molded inside the case which is inserted through an aperture in the spring hook mechanism. The spring hook mechanism is actuated by finger pressure on a contact surface.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A latching mechanism for securing a font cartridge extender to a printer font cartridge, comprising:
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(a) a font cartridge extender adapted for coupling to a printer font cartridge, the extender comprising a circuit board enclosed in a protective case for connecting a data bus between a printer, the font cartridge extender, and the font cartridge; (b) a chute in the case; (c) a spring hook residing in the chute for engaging a lip on the font cartridge; and (d) braces for guiding the spring hook within the chute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A font cartridge extender for a computer printer, comprising:
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(a) a case; (b) a circuit board within the case, the circuit board having memory for storing character font sets, logic for controlling access to the memory, an edge connector on one end for plugging into a data bus receptacle on a printer, and a receptacle on the other end for receiving the edge connector of a font cartridge, wherein the printer can access character font sets stored on either the circuit board or the font cartridge; and (c) latching means for securing a font cartridge to the case, the latching means comprising hook means, attached to the extender, for engaging a lip on the interior of a font cartridge case, the hook means comprising a chute in the case, a spring hook residing in the chute for engaging a lip on the font cartridge, and braces for guiding the spring hook within the chute. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A latching mechanism for securing a font cartridge extender to a printer font cartridge, comprising:
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(a) a font cartridge extender adapted for coupling to a printer font cartridge, the extender comprising a circuit board enclosed in a protective case for connecting a data bus between a printer, the font cartridge extender, and the font cartridge; (b) a spring clip for attaching to the font cartridge and creating a lip thereon; (c) a chute in the case; and (d) a spring hook residing in the chute for engaging the lip of the spring clip on the font cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification