Holder for a portable electronic device

• US 6,171,127 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, Isaac, Hebblewhite, Malcolm R., Gartrell, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US09/268,932
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 439/341, 439/929, 439/500, 439/138, 320/2, 379/446, 379/755, 361/732, 360/96.6
• US Class Current: 439/341
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

A deskstand for a radio telephone handset or battery pack therefor, the deskstand having a retention mechanism including pivot members which allow an inserted handset or battery pack to be tilted into a locking position with respect to the deskstand, and to be located in relation to the deskstand.

Claims

1. A holder for a portable electronic device including a retention mechanism therebetween, the holder having a body defining an opening extending into a cavity for receiving the device, and a shutter rotatably mounted with respect to the body and resiliently biased towards a closed position in which said opening is substantially blocked by the shutter from an open position in which the opening is substantially unblocked by the shutter so as to expose said cavity, the retention mechanism comprising complementary formations provided respectively on the holder and the device, and pivot members adapted to locate the device with respect to the holder and in use cooperating to allow pivoting of the device in relation to the holder between an unlocked condition and a locked condition in which the complementary formations interengage, wherein said shutter is arranged to urge the device about the pivot members from said unlocked condition towards said locked condition.

2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the pivot members comprise a projection rotatably coupled to a socket.

3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein the projection comprises a convex rib and the socket comprises a concave channel.

4. A holder according to claim 3 wherein the convex rib extends from the base of the device and the concave channel is provided in the holder.

5. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the pivot members comprise a rocker member pivotally mounted with respect to the holder and adapted to receive a projection extending from the device.

6. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said shutter acts on an opposite face of the device to that carrying a formation of said retention mechanism.

7. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said shutter acts to guide the device on insertion into said opening in such a manner that the pivot members are caused to interconnect.

8. A holder according to claim 1 comprising further resilient means so disposed as to urge the device into the locked condition.

9. A holder according to claim 8 wherein the resilient means acts on the base of the device.

10. A holder according to claim 8 wherein the resilient means comprises a spring arm.

11. A portable electronic device as in any one of the preceding claims having formations for a retention mechanism adapted for use in said holder.

12. A portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said device is a rechargeable battery pack.

13. A portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said device is a mobile phone.

14. A holder for a portable electronic device, said holder including an opening for receiving said device and a rotably mounted shutter resiliently biased towards a closed position in which said opening is blocked by said shutter, said holder including a retention mechanism, positioned between said holder and said device, the retention mechanism comprising complementary formations provided respectively on said holder and said device, and pivot members adapted to locate said device and cooperating to allow pivoting of said device in relation to the holder between an unlocked condition and a locked condition in which the complementary formations interengage, whereby said shutter is arranged to urge said device about said pivot members from said unlocked condition towards said locked condition.

15. A holder for a portable electronic device, said holder including an opening for receiving said device and a rotably mounted shutter resiliently biased towards a closed position in which said opening is blocked by said shutter, said holder including a retention mechanism, positioned between said holder and said device, the retention mechanism comprising complementary formations provided respectively on said holder and said device and pivot members adapted to locate said device and cooperating to allow pivoting of said device in relation to the holder between an unlocked condition and a locked condition in which the complementary formations interengage, whereby said shutter is arranged to urge said device about said pivot members from said unlocked condition towards said locked condition, said shutter guiding said device on insertion into said opening whereby said pivot members interconnect.