Cradle device for portable terminal

• US 7,669,829 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ogatsu, Toshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US10/591,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 248/682, 248/688, 248/691, 248/309.1, 248/314, 248/300, 248/176.1, 248/671, 248/346.5, 248/455, 248/463, 345/173, 345/179, 345/901, 345/146, 361/686, 455/569.2, 379419-446, 235/486
• US Class Current: 248/682
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The present invention provides a cradle device designed to be connected to a portable terminal which is provided with a connector at an upper part thereof for external electrical connection and with grooves formed at four corners of the outline to be held by means of the grooves. The cradle device has a structure to allow the portable terminal to slide so that the grooves formed in the connector portion and the portable terminal body can be securely engaged. The cradle device also has a rotate and slide mechanism in the face thereof opposing the connector, and has a structure to ensure reliable engagement with the grooves formed in the portable terminal body. Thus, the portable terminal cradle device is easy to carry, small-sized and superior in mechanical reliability, equally to the base unit, or the portable terminal.

Claims

1. A portable terminal cradle device comprising a plurality of projections to be fitted on grooves in upper and lower ends of a portable terminal;

characterized in that;

the projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal;

the other projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the lower end of the portable terminal and the engagement is held by a rotate and slide mechanism which is capable of, after rotation of said other projections of the portable terminal cradle device with respect to the portable terminal engaged with the projections of the portable terminal cradle device, sliding said other projections of the portable terminal cradle device into the grooves in the lower end of the portable terminal; and

two of the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal and two of the grooves in the lower end of the portable terminal are formed at four corners of the portable terminal, said portable terminal cradle device holds the four corners of the portable terminal.

2. The portable terminal cradle device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal, while, at the same time, the cradle device is electrically connected to the portable terminal through a connector joint provided for connection to a connector of the portable terminal.

3. The portable terminal cradle device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for locking the rotate and slide mechanism, wherein lock blocks are slid along an L-shaped folded portion formed in a slide plate of the rotate and slide mechanism to fix and release an L-shaped folded portion formed in a hinge.

4. A portable terminal cradle device according to claim 1, comprising a rotate and slide cover as a part of a rotatable portion, and characterized in that the portable terminal cradle device can also be used as a stand in the condition where the cradle device is held in a standing position by means of the rotate and slide cover by engaging the projections of the portable terminal cradle device in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal.

5. A combination of a portable terminal and a portable terminal cradle device according to any one of claims 1-3 and 4, characterized in that the portable terminal and the portable terminal cradle device are mounted to each other by mutually engaging grooves and projections formed in the portable terminal and the portable terminal cradle device.

7. The portable terminal cradle device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4, and 6, comprising the projections formed at four corners thereof to be fitted on two of the grooves formed in the upper end of the portable terminal and two of the grooves formed in the lower end of the portable terminal.

6. A portable terminal cradle device comprising a plurality of projections to be fitted on grooves formed in upper and lower ends of a portable terminal, characterized in that:

the projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal;

the other projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the lower end of the portable terminal and the engagement is held by a rotate and slide mechanism which is capable of both rotation and sliding; and

the portable terminal cradle device does not project forward beyond a monitor or an operating face of the portable terminal, whereby the operation of the portable terminal when mounted to the cradle device is made easy and the portable terminal when mounted to the cradle device is made usable in the condition hung down from a user neck with the use of a neck hang strap provided on the portable terminal;

said portable terminal cradle device further comprising a mechanism for locking the rotate and slide mechanism, wherein lock blocks are slid along an L-shaped folded portion formed in a slide plate of the rotate and slide mechanism to fix and release an L-shaped folded portion formed in a hinge.

8. A combination of a portable terminal and a portable terminal cradle device according to claim 6, characterized in that the portable terminal and the portable terminal cradle device are mounted to each other by mutually engaging grooves and projections formed in the portable terminal and the portable terminal cradle device.

9. A portable terminal cradle device comprising a plurality of projections to be fitted on grooves in upper and lower ends of a portable terminal;

characterized in that;

the projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal; and

the other projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the lower end of the portable terminal and the engagement is held by a rotate and slide mechanism which is capable of both rotation and sliding;

said portable terminal cradle device further comprising a mechanism for locking the rotate and slide mechanism, wherein lock blocks are slid along an L-shaped folded portion formed in a slide plate of the rotate and slide mechanism to fix and release an L-shaped folded portion formed in a hinge.

10. The portable terminal cradle device according to claim 9, characterized in that:

the projections of the portable terminal cradle device are engaged in the grooves in the upper end of the portable terminal, while, at the same time, the cradle device is electrically connected to the portable terminal through a connector joint provided for connection to a connector of the portable terminal.