Bar code symbol reader with locking cable connector assembly

• US 5,378,882 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Gong, Frank, Gofman, Yuri, Breytman, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPPERD, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US07/952,409
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 439/314, 439/320
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A hand held bar code reader or scanner includes a universal locking cable connector assembly attaching a signal cable to the handle of the scanner. Signals and/or power to and from the scanner are carried by the signal cable. The signal cable is removably connected to a connector recessed in the handle of the scanner. The signal cable includes (i) a connector member attached to a terminal end thereof and engagable with the connector of the scanner handle and (ii) a collar adjacent the connector. A plastic retaining member is positionable over the collar and includes an internal stepped bore forming a collar at one end of the retaining member for engaging the collar portion of the signal cable within the bore. A manually lockable bayonet or threaded portion of the retaining member is formed at an opposite end and cooperates with an internal surface of the scanner for securing the retaining member to the housing. With the retaining member secured to the handle of the scanner, the signal connector is electrically coupled with the connector of the scanner.

Claims

1. In a laser scanning system for reading indicia having portions of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including

a housing having an upper head portion and a handle portion having an electrical socket in a cavity in an end portion thereof;

light source means in the head for generating an incident laser beam;

optic means in the head for optically forming and directing the incident laser beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the optical path, thereby reflecting off the indicia reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels away from the indicia back toward the system;

scanning means in the head for scanning the indicia in a scan across the indicia, said returning portion of the reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan;

sensor means in the head for detecting the variable intensity of the returning portion of the reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity,

said scanning means being operative for scanning at least one of said incident laser beam and said field of view;

signal processing means for processing the analog electrical signal, and for supplying a processed signal indicative of the indicia to said electrical socket; and

an electrical cable removably connected to the electrical socket and operative for conducting said processed electrical signal to external equipment,

the improvement comprising;

a connector member attached to a terminal end of said electrical cable assembly, said connector member including a terminal electrical connector engagable with said electrical socket and a sleeve adjacent said terminal electrical connector, and

a retaining member positionable over said sleeve, said retaining member having an internal stepped bore forming a collar at an end of said retaining member for retaining said sleeve within said bore and a locking portion at an opposite end of said retaining member cooperating with an internal surface of said handle portion for securing said retaining member to said handle portion whereby said terminal electrical connector is maintained coupled with said electrical socket,

wherein said retaining member has (i) an external flange formed between said collar and said locking portion and (ii) a gasket mounted on said flange for seating said retaining member onto an outer surface of said handle portion surrounding said cylindrical cavity.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal surface of said handle portion has an internal screw thread and said locking portion comprises a complementary external screw thread cooperating with said internal screw thread for securing said retaining member to said handle portion.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 2 wherein said handle portion includes a cavity having an external aperture formed for receiving said locking portion of said retaining member, said socket mounted in an internal wall of said cavity opposite said aperture, side walls of said cavity including said internal screw thread.

4. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal surface of said handle portion comprises a bearing surface and said locking portion comprises a bayonet portion cooperating with said internal bearing surface for securing said retaining member to said handle portion.

5. The improvement as recited in claim 4 wherein said handle portion includes a cavity having an external aperture formed as a keyway for receiving said bayonet portion of said retaining member, said socket mounted in an internal wall of said cavity opposite said aperture, side walls of said cavity including said bearing surface.

6. The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein said retaining member includes a barrel portion having a plurality of radially extending tabs, each tab having a ramped bearing surface for engaging said internal bearing surface of said handle portion whereby rotation of said retaining member within said handle portion draws said retaining member into sealed engagement with said handle portion.

7. The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein said handle portion includes the cylindrical cavity in an end thereof for receiving said bayonet portion of said retaining member, side wall surfaces of said cavity having a stepped portion forming said bearing surface.

8. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said cavity is cylindrical.

9. The improvement as recited in claim 7, wherein said stepped portion comprises a groove.

10. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said retaining member includes opposing flat outer surface portions providing a gripping surface for transmitting a torque to said retaining member for rotating said retaining member within said handle portion into locking engagement therewith.

11. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said connector member includes a flexible cable strain relief portion surrounding a portion of said electrical cable assembly and extending out of said bore of said retaining member with said retaining member secured within said handle portion.

12. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical socket comprises a standard modular telephone jack.

13. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said gasket is injection molded directly onto said retaining member.

14. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said retaining member is an electrical insulator.

15. An electronic device for detecting a signal and supplying the detected signal to an external device, said electronic device comprising:

a housing having a connector for supplying a signal;

signal detector means for receiving a signal and supplying said received signal to said connector;

a signal cable removably connected to the connector and operative for supplying said received signal to the external device, said signal cable including (i) a connector member attached to a terminal end thereof and engagable with said connector of said housing and (ii) a collar portion adjacent said terminal connector; and

a retaining member positionable over said collar, said retaining member having (i) an internal stepped bore forming a collar at one end of said retaining member for engaging said collar portion of said signal cable within said bore and (ii) a manually lockable portion formed at an opposite end of said retaining member cooperating with an internal surface of said housing for securing said retaining member to said housing whereby said connector member is maintained coupled with said connector of said housing;

wherein said housing includes a cavity, and said retaining member includes (i) an external flange between said collar and said manually lockable portion and (ii) a gasket mounted on said flange for seating said retaining member onto an outer surface of said housing surrounding said cylindrical cavity.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein said retaining member includes means for manual rotation thereof whereby said retaining means engages said internal surface of said handle portion.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said internal surface of said housing has an internal screw thread and said manually lockable portion of said retaining member includes a barrel having a complementary external screw thread for engaging said internal screw thread of said housing whereby rotation of said retaining member within said housing draws said retaining member into engagement with said housing.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said manually lockable portion of said retaining member includes a barrel having a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs, each tab having a ramped bearing surface for engaging said internal surface of said housing whereby rotation of said retaining member within housing draws said retaining member into engagement with said housing.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein said housing includes a cylindrical cavity in an end surface thereof for receiving said barrel portion of said retaining member.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein said cavity is cylindrical.

21. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said retaining member includes opposing flat surface portions providing a gripping surface for transmitting a torque to said retaining member for rotating said retaining member within said housing into locking engagement therewith.

22. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said connector member includes a flexible cable strain relief portion surrounding a portion of said cable and extending out of said bore of said retaining member with said retaining member secured within said housing.

23. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said retaining member comprises a locking bayonet portion and said housing includes a cavity having an external aperture formed as a keyway for receiving said locking bayonet portion of said retaining member, said connector of said housing mounted in an internal end wall of said cavity opposite said aperture.

24. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said connector of said housing comprises a standard modular telephone jack.

25. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein said gasket is injection molded directly onto said flange member.

26. The electronic device is recited in claim 15, wherein said retaining member is electrically non-conductive.

27. A hand-held scanner for reading indicia having portions of different light reflectively, said scanner comprising:

a housing having a handle with a cylindrical cavity and a connector in the handle at an one end of said cylindrical cavity for carrying electrical signals;

said housing including a laser source, means for scanning light supplied by said laser source and a signal detector circuit for receiving reflected light, converting the reflected light to a corresponding data signal and supplying said data signal to said connector;

a signal cable removably connected to the connector and operative for supplying said data signal to an external device, one end of said signal cable including a complementary connector engagable with said housing connector; and

a retaining member positionable over said signal cable assembly with a tapered internal bore in a first portion thereof for retaining said cable assembly and a second portion insertable into said cylindrical cavity for manually locking said retaining member to said handle for maintaining said complementary connector coupled with said housing connector;

wherein said retaining member has an external flange between said tapered internal bore and said second portion and a gasket mounted on said flange for seating said retaining member onto an outer surface of said handle surrounding said cylindrical cavity.