Latching mechanism and method of latching thereby

• US 5,766,794 A
• Filed: 02/06/1997
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Domoleczny, James Dennis, Gaynes, Stephen John, Nagele, Albert Leo, Brunette, James Robert, Beutler, Scott David
• Primary Examiner(s): NUZZOLILLO, MARIA
• Application Number:
  US08/795,884
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 429/97, 429/96, 429/98, 429/100, 429/163, 292/320, 379/64
• US Class Current: 429/97
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/498 Rigid engaging means

Abstract

A latching mechanism (160) disposed on an accessory (102) for attaching the accessory (102) to a portable device (100) includes a support (164) and a latch (162) disposed about opposite ends (150, 152) that mate with first and second portions (206 and 300, 302) of a retaining device (123) disposed about opposite ends (112, 122) of the portable device (100). The support (164) includes feet (412, 414) having prongs (420) that face a hooked end (404) of the latch (162). The latch (162) includes a spring (502, 510) coupled to the hooked end (404) such that when the latch (162) is extended, the hooked end (404) exerts a force (700) on the first portion (206) of the retaining device (123) drawing the support (164) into abutment with the second portion (300, 302) of the retaining device (123). The exerted force (700), which is in a plane parallel to a front surface (146) of the accessory (102) extending between the ends (150, 152) thereof, maintains the accessory (102) in attachment with the portable device (100).

Claims

1. A battery pack for providing power to a portable electronic device when attached thereto, the battery pack comprising:

a housing molded for attachment to the portable electronic device;

at least one contact carried on the housing;

at least one electrochemical cell disposed within the housing; and

a switch operatively coupled between the at least one contact and the at least one electrochemical cell, the switch disconnecting the at least one electrochemical cell from the at least one contact when the battery pack is not attached to the portable electronic device and the switch connecting the at least one electrochemical cell to the at least one contact when the battery pack is attached to the portable electronic device.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1

wherein the housing includes a latch, the latch being moveable from a rest position to engage a portion of the portable electronic device, and

wherein the switch disconnects the at least one electrochemical cell from the at least one contact when the latch is in the rest position and connects the at least one electrochemical cell to the at least one contact when the latch is not in the rest position.

3. An accessory retaining device formed integrally with a housing of a portable electronic device and accepting an optional accessory, the housing having a rear surface extending between a substantially orthogonal first end and a substantially orthogonal second end, the accessory retaining device comprising:

a notch disposed in the housing at or near the substantially orthogonal first end and extending toward the substantially orthogonal second end for engaging a first portion of the accessory; and

at least one receptacle formed in the substantially orthogonal second end and extending toward the substantially orthogonal first end for accepting a second portion of the accessory.

4. The optional accessory retaining device according to claim 3 wherein the notch is disposed in a raised area extending from the rear surface adjacent to the substantially orthogonal first end, the notch facing a first direction, and wherein the at least one receptacle faces a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

5. The optional accessory retaining device according to claim 3 wherein the at least one receptacle includes two receptacles, each of the two receptacles accepting a corresponding second portion of the optional accessory, and wherein the notch is positioned between the two receptacles.

6. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a housing having a rear surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof;

a transceiver circuit disposed within the housing;

a first battery pack attached to the housing for powering the transceiver circuit;

a first set of electrical contacts partially disposed on the housing, the first set of electrical contacts having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first set of electrical contacts connected to the transceiver circuit and the second end of the first set of electrical contacts being accessible via the rear surface;

an optional battery pack retaining device formed integrally with the housing for attaching an optional battery pack for alternatively powering the transceiver circuit, the optional battery pack having a second set of electrical contacts, the optional battery pack retaining device comprising;

a raised area extending from the rear surface of the housing adjacent to the first end and having a notch facing in a first direction formed therein; and

at least a first and a second receptacle formed in the second end of the housing opposite the notch and facing in a second direction, the at least a first and a second receptacle accepting corresponding fixed members of the optional battery pack to effectuate attachment when a moveable member of the optional battery pack engaging the notch is extended to a first position and wherein upon attachment the moveable member extends to a second position to exert a predetermined force on the raised area in a direction that is parallel to the rear surface of the housing so as to abut the second end of the housing and the corresponding fixed members and electrically couple the first and second sets of electrical contacts.