Cradle device having excellent usability and reliability and simple structure and desk telephone having the same device

• US 9,197,725 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Toh, Tadamine
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US14/420,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0297 Telephone sets adapted to be mounted on a desk or on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/11 Supports for sets, e.g. incorporating armrests
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A cradle device according to this invention includes a body (11) and a battery-charging cover (12). An upper end of the battery-charging cover (12) supports a lower end of a portable information terminal (40) to be held on a main mounting surface (11a). The body (11) further includes ribs (30) arranged at a lower end of the main mounting surface (11a). The ribs (30) relatively project from the upper end of the battery-charging cover (12) gradually along with a forward rotation of the battery-charging cover (12) so that the portable information terminal (40) is gradually raised from the upper end of the battery-charging cover (12). In this way, a plug connector (17) of the cradle device is extracted from a receptacle connector (401) of the portable information terminal (40) in a fitting direction without any load in a different direction.

Claims

1. A cradle device configured to removably support a portable information terminal including a receptacle connector formed in a lower end thereof, and to allow fitting between the receptacle connector of the supported portable information terminal and a plug connector to be fitted into the receptacle connector, the cradle device comprising:

a body comprising a main mounting surface inclined backward on an upper side thereof to support a back surface of the portable information terminal; and

a battery-charging cover configured to house the plug connector so that a tip of the plug connector protrudes from an upper end of the battery-charging cover, and to be rotatable forward about pivots arranged at a lower end of the main mounting surface and away from the main mounting surface, the upper end of the battery-charging cover being configured to support the lower end of the portable information terminal to be held on the main mounting surface, the plug connector being configured to be fitted into the receptacle connector in a fitting direction when the lower end of the portable information terminal is supported by the upper end of the battery-charging the ribs being configured to relatively project from the upper end of the battery-charging cover gradually along with the forward rotation of the battery-charging cover so that the portable information terminal is gradually raised from the upper end of the battery-charging cover, to thereby extract the plug connector from the receptacle connector in the fitting direction cover, the body further comprising ribs arranged at the lower end of the main mounting surface, the ribs being configured to relatively project from the upper end of the battery-charging cover gradually along with the forward rotation of the battery-charging cover so that the portable information terminal is gradually raised from the upper end of the battery-charging cover, to thereby extract the plug connector from the receptacle connector in the fitting direction.

2. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the ribs comprise a pair of rib pieces arranged at the lower end of the main mounting surface at positions corresponding to both sides of the plug connector.

3. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the pivots comprise a pair of columnar protrusions that is arranged on both sides of the battery-charging cover and is to be fitted into a pair of U-shaped grooves formed in the body.

4. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the battery-charging cover comprises a stopper configured to limit, in cooperation with the body, a range of rotation of the battery-charging cover about the pivots to a range within a predetermined angle.

5. The cradle device according to claim 1, further comprising an urging mechanism configured to urge the battery-charging cover so that a back surface of the battery-charging cover returns to an initial position in contact with the main mounting surface.

6. A desk telephone, comprising:

the cradle device according to claim 1; and

a handset arranged on a side portion of the body.