Cradle

• US 6,549,401 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Chia-Hsiung, Lin, Yao-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Hung Van
• Application Number:
  US09/908,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/685, 361/727, 361/724-726, 379/446, 379/455, 312/223.2, 296/97.8, 220/211-213, 200/400, 320/114
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A cradle capable of receiving objects having alternative sizes is provided. The cradle includes a main unit, a slide mechanism and a lock mechanism. The main unit loads and holds the object. The slide mechanism is for adjusting the size of the room for placing the object. The lock mechanism positions the slide mechanism by clasping the slide mechanism.

Claims

1. A cradle, comprising:

a main unit for selectively loading and holding an object having a first or a second size, the first size being different from the second size;

a slide mechanism adapted for adjusting a size of a room for receiving the object; and

a lock mechanism for positioning the slide mechanism by clasping the slide mechanism, wherein when said slide mechanism is not clasped by said lock mechanism, a first seat is formed that is adapted to receive the object having the first size, and wherein when said slide mechanism is clasped by said lock mechanism, a second seat is formed that is adapted to receive the object having the second size.

2. A cradle, comprising:

a main unit for loading and holding an object, said main unit comprising a cap, a body having a top and a bottom, and a base, the top and bottom of the body being coupled with the cap and base, respectively;

a slide mechanism adapted for adjusting a size of a room for receiving the object; and

a lock mechanism for positioning the slide mechanism by clasping the slide mechanism.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the body further comprises a first arc blade and a second arc blade, and wherein the slide mechanism further comprises a first slide member, a second slide member and two slide springs;

the slide springs being coupled with a bottom of the first and second slide members, respectively;

the first and second slide members contacting the first arc blade and second arc blade.

4. The cradle according to claim 2, wherein a port and a socket are disposed on a rear side of the body, the port allowing the object to be connected with a computer host for bi-directional data transmission with the object, and the socket allowing the object to be plugged in for battery charging of the object.

5. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the first and second slide members move along an inside of the first and second arc blades and drag the slide springs upwards or downwards.

6. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a slidelock and a slidelock spring;

the slidelock spring being adapted to hold the slidelock for restoring or sustaining the slidelock in a fixed position.

7. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the object is a hand-held computer.

8. The cradle according to claim 7, wherein the hand-held computer is steadily placed on a first seat formed by an upper surface of the cap, and the first and second slide members.

9. The cradle according to claim 4, wherein the computer host is a desktop computer or notework computer.

10. The cradle according to claim 4, wherein the port is a serial port or a USB port.

11. The cradle according to claim 4, wherein the object is mobile phone.

12. The cradle according to claim 6, wherein the slidelock further comprises a first clasper, a second clasper, a beam and a push-button;

the first and second claspers being disposed at two ends of the beam, respectively, and the push-button being disposed on the beam.

13. The cradle according to claim 7, wherein the hand-held computer with a jacket is steadily placed on a second seat formed by the upper surface of the cap, and the first and second arc blades.

14. The cradle according to claim 12, wherein the first and second claspers lock the slide mechanism by clasping bottoms of the first and second slide members, respectively.

15. The cradle according to claim 14, wherein the slidelock is rotatable around an axis of the beam, so that the first and second claspers are moved downward to unlock the slide mechanism by unclasping the bottoms of the first and second slide members, respectively, while the push-button is pressed;

the first and second slide members subsequently moving upwards along an inside of the first arc blade and second arc blade by elastic power of the slide springs.