Vehicle dock for portable data collection terminal

• US 6,042,414 A
• Filed: 11/14/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kunert, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/970,678
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 248/680, 248/310, 248/681, 248/316, 248/316.2, 248/316.5, 248/316.1, 248/503, 248/500, 248/904, 248/906, 361/686, 361/380, 439/374, 439/357, 364/703, 224/929, 224/570, 245/346.03
• US Class Current: 439/374
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever

Abstract

A docking apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle comprises a housing which may be fixed to a surface in the interior of the vehicle, terminal cup mounted in the housing, and a pivoting front panel and a lever arm assembly. The lever, urged by a cam, causes the front panel to pivot and secures the data terminal in the docking apparatus for battery charging or data communication.

Claims

1. A vehicle docking apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle, said vehicle docking apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector for coupling a data collection terminal and an electrical power source;

a terminal cup mounted in said housing into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted;

a handle assembly comprising a handle rotatably attached to a cam, said cam rotatably mounted in said housing; and

a retaining member for securing a data terminal, said retaining member comprising a lever attached to a front panel, said lever pivotally mounted within said housing and said lever engaging said cam, said front panel pivotally moveable between a closed position securing said data terminal and an open position releasing said data terminal, wherein movement of said front panel is communicated by movement of said cam against said lever.

2. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said front panel includes an opening.

3. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said opening allows access to a data terminal display screen and keypad while the data terminal is docked.

4. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an electrical connector for electrically coupling a data collection terminal to an electrical system of a vehicle.

5. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more springs mounted within said housing engaging said lever and urging said front panel to said open position.

6. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cam comprises a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section, said cam rotatably mounted within said housing, said cam rotatable between a first and second position, wherein a first side of said cam faces said lever when the retaining member is in said open position, and wherein a second side of said cam faces said lever when the retaining member is in said closed position.

7. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said axis of rotation of the cam is offset from center.

8. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first side of said cam and said second side of said cam are adjacent sides, whereby an edge is formed therebetween.

9. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said edge is rounded.

10. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock for locking a data terminal vehicle in the docking apparatus.

11. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lock is located within the handle assembly.

12. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lock is located within the housing.

13. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lever further comprises an adjustment screw for adjusting the position of the lever with respect to the cam.

14. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cam comprises a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section, said cam rotatably mounted within said housing, said cam rotatable between a first and second position, wherein a first side of said cam faces said lever when the retaining member is in said open position, and wherein a second side of said cam faces said lever when the retaining member is in said closed position.

15. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said axis of rotation of the cam is offset from center.

16. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first side of said cam and said second side of said cam are adjacent sides, whereby an edge is formed therebetween.

17. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said edge is rounded.

18. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for aligning a data terminal within the docking apparatus.

19. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an alignment member for aligning a data terminal within said docking apparatus, said alignment member shaped to engage feature on the surface of the data terminal.

20. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said alignment member comprises a snap latch.

21. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said snap latch attaches to said terminal cup via a clip.

22. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said snap latch attaches to said terminal cup via one or more screws.

23. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said snap latch is integrally molded to said housing or to said terminal cup.

24. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said snap latch is co-molded to said housing or to said terminal cup.

25. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator light for providing a visual indication of a data transfer operation.

26. The vehicle docking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator light for providing a visual indication of a battery recharge operation.

27. A vehicle docking apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle, said vehicle docking apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector for coupling a data collection terminal and an electrical power source;

a terminal cup mounted in said housing into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted;

an initial alignment and retaining member for providing alignment of said data terminal within said docking apparatus and for removably retaining a data collection terminal within the docking apparatus, said alignment and retaining member engaging an external feature of said data terminal;

a handle assembly comprising a handle rotatably attached to a cam, said cam rotatably mounted in said housing; and

a retaining member for securing a data terminal, said retaining member comprising a lever attached to a front panel, said lever pivotally mounted within said housing and said lever engaging said cam, said front panel pivotally moveable between a closed position securing said data terminal and an open position releasing said data terminal, wherein movement of said front panel is communicated by movement of said cam against said lever.

28. A vehicle docking apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle, said vehicle docking apparatus comprising:

a housing;

means for electrically coupling a data collection terminal to an electrical power source;

a terminal cup mounted in said housing into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted

a first retention means for at least partly securing a data terminal within the docking apparatus;

a handle assembly comprising a handle rotatably attached to a cam, said cam rotatably mounted in said housing; and

a second retention means for securing a data terminal, said second retention means comprising a lever attached to a front panel, said lever pivotally mounted within said housing and said lever engaging said cam, said front panel pivotally moveable between a closed position securing said data terminal and an open position releasing said data terminal, wherein movement of said front panel is communicated by movement of said cam against said lever.