Charging cradle

• US 6,049,725 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shababy, Michael, Emmert, Steven Clark, Nagele, Albert Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/951,173
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 455/572, 455/573, 455/575, 455/90, 455/127, 455/347, 455/351, 379/454, 379/455, 330/2, D13/5, D14/253
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

A charging base (4500) having a rear wall portion including center rear wall portion (4523) provides an incline for a radiotelephone when a contoured edge (792) of the radiotelephone makes contact with recessed area (4205) and outer surface (790) makes contact with a center rear wall portion (4523). Because recessed area (4205) is generally inclined, and the radio telephone when positioned on the recessed area and center rear wall portion is generally inclined, the radio telephone slides towards the guide tabs of the charging base. Further, guide elements on the charging base are used to engage corresponding guide elements in the radiotelephone to ensure that the contacts on the radiotelephone are held against contacts on the charging base at all times.

Claims

1. A charging cradle for a portable electronic device, comprising:

inclined side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion;

an inclined recessed area between said inclined side walls;

at least one guide element extending from a first narrow portion to a first wide portion, received by a corresponding guide element on said portable electronic device extending from a second wide portion to a second narrow portion; and

a rear wall for retaining said portable electronic device in said recessed area.

2. The charging cradle of claim 1, the side walls further comprising a beveled edge, wherein the beveled edge guides the portable electronic device into the recessed area and the side walls align the portable electronic device within the recessed area.

3. The charging cradle of claim 1, wherein the guide element on the portable electronic device defines a slot, the slot extending inward from the second wide portion to the second narrow portion, wherein the first narrow portion advances from the second wide portion to the second narrow portion as the at least one guide element is received within the slot.

4. The charging cradle of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device moves along the inclined recessed area at a contact portion of a contoured edge of the portable electronic device, the contact portion being less than the width of the contoured edge.

5. The charging cradle of claim 1, the rear wall further comprising a center portion, wherein a contact portion of an outer surface of the portable electronic device is positioned along the center portion as the portable electronic devise is inserted in the recessed area.

6. A charging cradle for providing a charging current to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a first guide element, positioned on the charging cradle, outwardly extending from a first wide portion to a first narrow portion;

a second guide element, positioned on the portable electronic device, defining a slot inwardly extending from a second wide portion to a second narrow portion, the first narrow portion advancing from the second wide portion to the second narrow portion as the first guide element is received within the slot;

inclined side walls having a beveled edge;

an inclined recessed area between the inclined side walls urging the first guide element within the slot, the beveled edge guiding the portable electronic device into the inclined recessed area, and the inclined side walls aligning the portable electronic device within the inclined recessed area;

a rear wall, having a center portion, retaining the portable electronic device in the recessed area; and

a back portion of the portable electronic device that includes an outer surface, having a first contact portion, and a contoured edge, having a second contact portion less than a width of the contoured edge, wherein the portable electronic device moves along the inclined recessed area at the second contact portion and the first contact portion is positioned along the center portion as the portable electronic device is inserted within the inclined recessed area.