Quick mount system for computer terminal

• US 8,531,829 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Oberpriller, Mark, Bullard, Robert, Kidari, Khalid
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/983,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20120170203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

A mounting system for quickly attaching and detaching a computer terminal from a mounting station. The mounting station can be semi-permanently attached to an object, such as on forklift or a non-mobile structure, such as a wall. The mounting station can include a power input port for receiving external power for the computer terminal and one or more communication ports for providing data communication between the computer terminal and another device. The computer terminal includes an electrical connector that engages an electrical connector of the mounting station to receive the supply power and facilitate the data communication between the computer terminal and other device. The computer terminal and/or the mounting station can include a locking mechanism that releasably couples the computer terminal to the mounting station such that the electrical connectors maintain proper contact.

Claims

1. A mounting station for releasably holding a computer terminal, comprising:

a housing comprising a first surface, a second surface, and an attachment mechanism disposed on the first surface for attaching the mounting station to a structure;

a power input port disposed along the housing for receiving supply power for the computer terminal;

an electrical connector electrically coupled to the power input port and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed in an indentation of the second surface, the indentation for receiving a raised surface of the computer terminal comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements;

a tab disposed along an upper edge of the second surface for engaging a slot disposed on an upper surface of the computer terminal to align each electrically conductive member with a respective electrically conductive element of the plurality of electrically conductive elements; and

a ridge disposed along a lower edge of the second surface for engaging a locking mechanism of the computer terminal to securely attach the computer terminal to the mounting station,

wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductive members contact the respective electrically conducive element when the computer terminal is properly attached to the mounting station.

2. The mounting station of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a ball-shaped coupler for coupling to a socket coupler of the structure.

3. The mounting station of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an alignment notch disposed on the second surface for receiving an alignment pin disposed on the computer terminal.

4. The mounting station of claim 1, further comprising at least one data communication port disposed along the housing for receiving a data communication cable, wherein the at least one data communication port is logically coupled to the electrical connector.

5. The mounting station of claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive members are disposed in a plurality of rows and wherein the electrically conductive members of one of the rows are electrically coupled to the power input port such that during attachment of the computer terminal to the mounting station, the electrically conductive members of the one row contact respective electrically conductive elements prior to electrically conductive members logically coupled to the at least one data communication port contact with respective electrically conductive elements.

6. A computer terminal, comprising:

a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

at least one attachment mechanism disposed on the rear surface for releasably attaching the computer terminal to a mounting station;

a front panel disposed on the front surface and comprising a display;

a processor disposed within the housing and logically coupled to the display;

an electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements logically coupled to the processor and disposed on a raised area of the rear surface for engaging an indentation of the mounting station comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements;

wherein the attachment mechanism is operable to attach the computer terminal to the mounting station such that each of the electrically conductive elements contacts a corresponding electrically conductive member of the mounting station.

7. The computer terminal of claim 6, wherein the rear surface comprises a slot for receiving a tab of the mounting station.

8. The computer terminal of claim 6, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism comprises a spring loaded locking mechanism for receiving a ridge of the mounting station and securely holding the ridge within the locking mechanism.

9. The computer terminal of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch actuatable to release the ridge from the locking mechanism and thereby release the computer terminal from the mounting station.

10. The computer terminal of claim 6, wherein the rear surface comprises an alignment pin for engaging an alignment notch of the mounting station.

11. The computer terminal of claim 6, wherein the front panel is removably attached to the computer terminal.

12. A system, comprising:

a mounting station for releasably holding a computer terminal and providing supply power to the computer terminal, the mounting station comprising;

a first housing comprising a first surface, a second surface, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the mounting station to another object;

a power input port disposed along the first housing for receiving supply power for the computer terminal;

a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the power input port and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed in an indentation of the second surface;

a tab extending from an upper edge of the second surface; and

a ridge disposed along a lower edge of the second surface;

the computer terminal comprising;

a second housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

at least one attachment mechanism disposed on the rear surface for releasably engaging the ridge;

a front panel disposed on the front surface and comprising a display;

a processor disposed within the second housing and logically coupled to the display;

a second electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements logically coupled to the processor and disposed on a raised area of the rear surface for engaging the indentation; and

a slot for receiving the tab,

wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductive members contact a corresponding electrical conductive element when the computer terminal is attached to the mounting station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting station further comprises at least one data communication port disposed along the first housing for receiving a data communication cable, wherein the at least one data communication port is logically coupled to the first electrical connector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is logically coupled to a device connected to the at least one data communication port via the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector when the computer terminal is attached to the mounting station.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first housing and the second housing each comprise waterproof housings.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism comprises a locking mechanism for receiving the ridge of the first housing and securely holding the ridge within the locking mechanism.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch actuatable to release the ridge from the locking mechanism and thereby release the computer terminal from the mounting station.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the rear surface comprises an alignment pin for engaging an alignment notch disposed on the first housing.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the rear surface comprises an alignment notch for accepting an alignment pin disposed on the first housing.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the front panel is removable from the computer terminal.