Locking cradle for tablet computers

• US 7,274,564 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jaco, Inc. (GCX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jaco, Inc. (GCX Corporation)
• Inventors: Rossini, Alfred P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US10/874,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/681, 248/920
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

A cradle for supporting and retaining a tablet computer having four sides, a front, and a back. The cradle has a base, projecting arms coupled to the base and located along three of the four sides of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, and one or more moveable arms that are selectively engagable along the fourth side of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, to selectively retain the tablet computer in the cradle.

Claims

1. A cradle for supporting and retaining a tablet computer having four sides, a front, and a back, the cradle comprising:

a base;

projecting arms coupled to the base and located along at least three of the four sides of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base;

one or more moveable arms that are selectively engagable along the fourth side of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, to selectively retain the tablet computer in the cradle;

a support structure coupled to the base; and

a mechanical structure between the base and the support structure, that allows the base to be rotated relative to the support structure.

2. The tablet computer cradle of claim 1, wherein at least some of the arms overlap the front of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, to prevent the computer from being removed from the cradle.

3. The tablet computer cradle of claim 2, wherein the base has four sides, and there are projecting arms located along three of the four sides.

4. The tablet computer cradle of claim 3, wherein at least one projecting arm located along one side of the base is a retaining arm that has an upper, inwardly-directed distal portion that overlies part of the front of the tablet computer.

5. The tablet computer cradle of claim 4, wherein there are two retaining arms projecting from the two ends of one side of the base.

6. The tablet computer cradle of claim 4, wherein the base has two pairs of generally parallel sides, and the moveable arm is located along a side of the base that is parallel to the side of the base along which is located the at least one retaining arm.

7. The tablet computer cradle of claim 4, wherein there are projecting arms located along the two sides of the base that are adjacent to the side of the base along which is located the at least one retaining arm.

8. The tablet computer cradle of claim 7, wherein the projecting arms located along the two sides of the base that are adjacent to the side of the base along which is located the at least one retaining arm, do not extend over the front of the tablet computer.

9. The tablet computer cradle of claim 1, wherein at least one movable arm is moved by a key-operated device.

10. The tablet computer cradle of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a support arm.

11. The tablet computer cradle of claim 10, further comprising a hinge between the support arm and the base, to allow the base to be pivoted relative to the support arm.

12. The tablet computer cradle of claim 1, wherein the mechanical structure provides for rotation of the base through at least about a ninety degree angle, to allow the cradle to be used with tablet computers in both portrait and landscape modes.

13. The tablet computer cradle of claim 12, wherein the mechanical structure comprises a projection that rides in a crescent-shaped slot, the slot defining the rotation end points.

14. The tablet computer cradle of claim 1, wherein one or more of the projecting arms are compliant, to more tightly grip the tablet computer.

15. A cradle for supporting and retaining a tablet computer having four sides, a front, and a back, the cradle comprising:

a base;

a support arm coupled to the base;

projecting arms coupled to the base and located along at least three of the four sides of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, wherein at least some of the arms overlap the front of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, to prevent the computer from being removed from the cradle, and wherein at least one projecting arm located along one side of the base is a retaining arm that has an upper, inwardly-directed distal portion that overlies part of the front of the tablet computer;

one or more moveable arms that are selectively engagable along the fourth side of the tablet computer when the back of the computer is on the base, to selectively retain the tablet computer in the cradle; and

a mechanical structure between the base and the support arm, that allows the base to be rotated relative to the support arm, wherein the mechanical structure provides for rotation of the base through at least about a ninety degree angle, to allow the cradle to be used with tablet computers in both portrait and landscape modes.

16. The tablet computer cradle of claim 15, further comprising a hinge between the support arm and the base, to allow the base to be pivoted relative to the support arm.

17. The tablet computer cradle of claim 15, wherein the mechanical structure comprises a projection that rides in a crescent-shaped slot, the slot defining the rotation end.