Detachable securement of an accessory device to a handheld computer

• US 6,115,248 A
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Stowers, David C., Osborn, Neal A., Canova, Francis J., Urban, Alan, Francavilla, Madeleine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, TUNG M
• Application Number:
  US09/313,333
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 361/726, 361/740, 312/223.1, 292/8, 292/30
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0807 Sliding and hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0832 Push or pull rod

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention provide for coupling an accessory device to a back face of a handheld computer while electrically connecting to the handheld computer through a communications or output port. In one embodiment, the accessory device "piggy-backs" on the handheld computer so that the accessory device and handheld computer form a portable combination. An insertion coupling may be used to detachably secure the accessory device with the handheld computer. The insertion coupling used with embodiments of the invention is preferably a snap-in coupling having one or more biased members. The biased members may be contracted to engage an aperture on a back face of the handled computer. When released, the biased members secure the accessory device to the handheld computer.

Claims

1. An accessory device for a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a front face having a display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer, wherein the accessory device comprises:

a front surface and a back surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device; and

a mechanical coupling for inserting into a back face of the handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device with the back face of the handheld computer.

2. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a connector separate from the mechanical coupling for providing communications between the accessory device and the handheld computer.

3. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling is spring-biased to insert into the back face of the handheld computer.

4. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises:

a base secured to the front face of the accessory device; and

a first member extending from the base in a direction orthogonal to the front face and being slideable in a direction parallel to the front face, the first member being biased between an extended position and a contracted position, wherein the first member is adapted to be received in a slot of the back face of the handheld computer when in the contracted position.

5. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the first member includes an enlarged endpiece that is adapted to obstruct against an interior of the back face after the first member has been exposed to release into the expanded state within the handheld computer.

6. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is positioned on a bottom portion of the front surface to access an output port of the handheld computer positioned at or near the bottom edge of the handheld computer.

7. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that the width of the accessory device is less than the width of the handheld computer.

8. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that the width of the accessory device is within 90% of the width of the handheld computer.

9. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that at least two edges of the accessory device are contained within a perimeter equal to the dimensions of the handheld computer.

10. The portable computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a modem device.

11. The portable computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is either a universal serial port device or a modem communication device.

12. The accessory device of claim 4, wherein the mechanical coupling further comprises:

a retainer engaged with an opening of the front face of the accessory device, the retainer being moveable between an extended position distal to the front face of the accessory device and a depressed position proximal to the front face of the accessory device, the retainer being engaged with the first member to allow the first member to release into the extended state when the retainer is moved into the depressed position.

13. The accessory device of claim 4, wherein a distal surface of the retainer includes a slit that retains the first member in the contracted state, and wherein the retainer and the first member are aligned so that upon the back face of the handheld computer depressing the retainer, the first member is engaged with an aperture on the back face of the handheld computer and then moved into the expanded state to secure the first member with the handheld computer.

14. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the width of the accessory device is 2.75 inches, and the width of the handheld computer is 3.0 inches.

15. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the bottom edge of the accessory device extends beyond a perimeter equal to the dimensions of the handheld computer.

16. The accessory device of claim 13, wherein the retainer is biased in the depressed position to move the distal surface towards the extended position.

17. The portable computing assembly of claim 15, wherein the accessory device includes a ledge that supports the bottom edge of the handheld computer.

18. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein a release member couples to the first member to move the first member between the contracted and expanded states.

19. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the release member is an extension of the first member that is accessible from the back surface of the accessory device.

20. A coupling for securing an accessory device to a handheld computer, the coupling comprising:

a base secured to a front face of the accessory device; and

a first member extending from the base in a direction orthogonal to the base and being slideable in a direction substantially parallel to the base, the first member being biased between an extended position and a contracted position, wherein the first member is adapted to be received in a slot of a handheld computer when in the contracted position.

21. The coupling of claim 20, further comprising:

a retainer that retains the first member in the contracted state, the retainer being engaged with an opening of a front face of the accessory device, the retainer being moveable between an extended position distal to the front face and a depressed position proximal to the front face, the retainer being engaged with the first member to allow the first member to release into the extended state when the retainer is moved into the depressed position.

22. The coupling of claim 20, wherein the first member includes an enlarged endpiece that obstructs against an interior of the handheld computer after the first member has been exposed to release into the expanded state within the handheld computer.

23. The coupling of claim 21, wherein a distal surface of the retainer includes a slit that retains the first member in the contracted state, and wherein the retainer and the first member are aligned so that upon the retainer being depressed, the first member is exposed from the retainer to move into the expanded state.

24. The coupling of claim 23, wherein the retainer is biased in the depressed position to move the distal surface towards the extended position.

25. The coupling of claim 24, wherein a release member of the accessory device couples to a tail portion of the first member to move the first member between the contracted and expanded states.

26. An accessory device for a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a front face having a display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer, wherein the accessory device comprises:

a front surface and a back surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device;

a means for detachable securing the accessory device to the handheld computer using a coupling that inserts into the back face of the handheld computer; and

a means for providing communications between the accessory device and the handheld computer, the communications means being separate from the means for detachably securing the accessory device with the handheld computer.