Vehicle dock for a portable data collection terminal

• US 6,053,759 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• 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): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US08/966,209
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 439/157, 439/152, 439/153, 439/680, 439/357, 439/326, 439/341, 439/376, 439/929, 361/732, 361/809, 364/708.1, 235/472, 709/222, 709/250, 708/134, 320/107, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 439/376
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever

Abstract

A docking apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle is disclosed. The docking apparatus comprises a housing having a terminal cup mounted therein. The terminal cup may pivot about a horizontal axis to facilitate insertion and removal of the data collection terminal. A lever arm assembly may be depressed by a user causing the terminal cup to pivot to facilitate removal of a portable data collection terminal. The lever arm assembly may provide guides which position the data collection terminal for insertion into the terminal cup and prevent lateral movement of the portable data collection terminal once it is fully inserted therein. A retention pin assembly may secure the portable data collection terminal within the docking apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a terminal cup having a channel into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted, said terminal cup mounted in said housing so that said terminal cup may pivot around an axis to facilitate insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal in said channel; and

a retention pin assembly extending from said housing, said retention pin assembly suitable for engaging said portable data collection terminal to at least partially secure said portable data collection terminal in said docking apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lever arm assembly mounted in said housing, said lever arm assembly suitable for rotating said terminal cup to allow insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said lever arm assembly further comprises a guide for positioning said portable data collection terminal for insertion into said terminal cup and preventing lateral movement of said portable data collection terminal within said terminal cup thereafter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retention pin assembly extends perpendicularly from an upper wall of said housing and includes a retention pin suitable for being removably inserted into an aperture in said data collection terminal to at least partially secure said portable data collection terminal in said docking apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a rear support wall having an opening through which a pistol grip of said portable data collection terminal may protrude when said portable data collection terminal is inserted in said vehicle docking apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a tension spring extending between said terminal cup and said lever arm assembly, said tension spring providing a preload to pull said terminal cup forward to allow insertion of said portable data collection terminal therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a rotatable base plate from which said retention pin extends.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a shortened retention pin extending from said base plate adjacent to said retention pin so that when said base plate is rotated said shortened retention pin is positioned to secure a portable data collection terminal having a pistol grip.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pedestal mount for securing the docking apparatus within a vehicle, said pedestal mount including a pivot adapted to allow rotation of the docking apparatus about its horizontal and vertical axis.

10. An apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing including distal side walls extending perpendicularly from a rear support wall;

(b) a terminal cup having a channel into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted, said terminal cup mounted in said housing between said distal side walls so that said terminal cup may pivot around an axis to facilitate insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal in said channel; and

(c) a lever arm assembly mounted in said housing between said distal side walls so that said lever arm assembly may pivot around an axis, said lever arm suitable for rotating said terminal cup to allow insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal;

wherein said rear support wall of said housing includes an opening for allowing a pistol grip of said portable data collection terminal to protrude when said portable data collection terminal is inserted in said vehicle docking apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said lever arm assembly further comprises a guide for positioning said portable data collection terminal for insertion into said terminal cup and preventing lateral movement of said portable data collection terminal within said terminal cup thereafter.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a tension spring extending between said terminal cup and said lever arm assembly, said tension spring providing a preload to pull said terminal cup forward to allow insertion of said portable data collection terminal therein.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a retention pin assembly having a retention pin extending perpendicularly from an upper part of said rear support wall of said housing, wherein said retention pin is suitable for being removably inserted into an aperture in said data collection terminal to at least partially secure said portable data collection terminal in said docking apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a rotatable base plate from which said retention pin extends.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a shortened retention pin extending from said base plate adjacent to said retention pin so that when said base plate is rotated said shortened retention pin is positioned to secure a portable data collection terminal having a pistol grip.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pedestal mount for securing the docking apparatus within said vehicle, said pedestal mount including a pivot adapted to allow rotation of the docking apparatus about its horizontal and vertical axis.

17. An apparatus for docking a portable data collection terminal in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing including distal side walls extending perpendicularly from a rear support wall;

(b) a terminal cup having a channel into which said portable data collection terminal may be removably inserted, said terminal cup mounted in said housing between said distal side walls so that said terminal cup may pivot around a horizontal axis to facilitate insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal in said channel;

(c) a lever arm assembly having a guide for positioning said portable data collection terminal for insertion into said terminal cup and preventing lateral movement of said portable data collection terminal within said terminal cup thereafter, said lever arm assembly mounted in said housing between said distal side walls so that said lever arm assembly may pivot around a horizontal axis wherein said lever arm assembly is adapted to rotate said terminal cup to allow insertion and removal of said portable data collection terminal; and

(d) a retention pin assembly having a retention pin extending perpendicularly from an upper part of said rear support wall of said housing, wherein said retention pin is adapted to be removably inserted into an aperture in said data collection terminal to at least partially secure said portable data collection terminal in said docking apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said rear support wall of said housing includes an opening through which a pistol grip of said portable data collection terminal may protrude when said portable data collection terminal is inserted in said vehicle docking apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a tension spring extending between said terminal cup and said lever arm assembly, said tension spring providing a preload to pull said terminal cup forward to allow insertion of said portable data collection terminal therein.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a rotatable base plate from which said retention pin extends, said base plate affixed to said housing by a thumbscrew.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said retention pin assembly further comprises a shortened retention pin extending from said base plate adjacent to said retention pin so that when said base plate is rotated said shortened retention pin is positioned to secure a portable data collection terminal having a pistol grip.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a pedestal mount for securing the docking apparatus within said vehicle, said pedestal mount including a pivot adapted to allow rotation of the docking apparatus about its horizontal and vertical axis.