Carrier for a digital pen

• US 8,384,696 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adapx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Adapx Incorporated
• Inventors: Paratore, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US12/553,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads

Abstract

A carrier for a digital pen includes a main case with an internal channel to closely receive and align the digital pen with an electronic package contained within the main case. In addition, the carrier includes an upper lid rotationally coupled to the main case. In one embodiment, the upper lid may be both partially and fully opened with a dual-action latch mechanism. In addition, the carrier may include a lower lid that may be opened to provide access to an electronic package. In one embodiment, an extendable serial communication device may be extended from the electronic package when the lower lid is open. Further, the carrier is configured to sufficiently protect the digital pen from harsh environmental conditions and even from harsh user-induced conditions, such as drops onto a hard surface, exposure of the carrier to rain, dust, and sand particulate, brief water submersion, and even temperature extremes.

Claims

1. A carrier for a digital pen comprising:

a main case for receiving the digital pen, the main case having a main case lip;

an upper lid rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case about a pivot axle, the upper lid having a contoured engagement surface configured to engage a complementary engagement surface of the main case; and

a latch mechanism having a lifting portion rotationally coupled to a latching portion, the latch mechanism also having a hook, the latching portion rotationally coupled to the upper lid, the lifting portion operable to allow the upper lid to partially rotate away from the main case to form a gap while the hook of the latch mechanism remains engaged with the main case lip, the latching portion releasable from the first main case by partially closing the gap to allow the hook to disengage from the main case lip.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the main case includes a lower body portion with an internal channel for receiving the digital pen.

3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the internal channel is contoured to frictionally engage and substantially restrain the digital pen after insertion of the digital pen into the carrier.

4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the contour of the internal channel is configured to closely and frictionally receive the digital pin and align the digital pen with the electrical contacts of an electronic package located within the main case.

5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the upper lid is rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case with a torsional spring positioned on the pivot axle.

6. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower lid located on a distal end of the main case relative to the upper lid.

7. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic package having a plurality of electrical contacts for engaging complementary electrical contacts on the digital pen, the electronic package located proximate the internal channel of the main case.