Trigger mechanism for hand held devices
First Claim
1. A trigger mechanism for a device having a switch, comprising:
- a trigger receptacle within the device, the trigger receptacle having a trigger axis and comprising a soft stop insert;
a free floating trigger positioned within the trigger receptacle for moving along the trigger axis and engaging the device'"'"'s switch, the trigger comprising a soft stop projection positioned on the trigger to engage the trigger receptacle'"'"'s soft stop insert; and
a biasing member positioned between the trigger receptacle and the trigger for urging the trigger away from the device'"'"'s switch when the trigger mechanism is not activated by a user;
wherein the trigger receptacle and the biasing member constrain the trigger'"'"'s motion to movements along the trigger axis;
wherein the trigger receptacle comprises a hard stop surface; and
wherein the trigger comprises a hard stop surface positioned to engage the trigger receptacle'"'"'s hard stop surface to limit the range along the trigger axis that the trigger travels when depressed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trigger mechanism includes soft stops and an associated method activates a switch in a device or apparatus. The trigger mechanism includes a trigger receptacle, a trigger disposed in the trigger receptacle and movable between an un-actuated and an actuated position by a user depressing the trigger, and a soft stop comprised of at least one projection positioned to engage a resilient elastomeric insert. Moving the trigger from the un-actuated to actuated position compresses the elastomeric insert with the projection and activates the switch to provide a tactile sensation of the switch activation to the user. The switch may be an electric switch disposed in a hand held device, such as a barcode scanner in some embodiments.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A trigger mechanism for a device having a switch, comprising:
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a trigger receptacle within the device, the trigger receptacle having a trigger axis and comprising a soft stop insert; a free floating trigger positioned within the trigger receptacle for moving along the trigger axis and engaging the device'"'"'s switch, the trigger comprising a soft stop projection positioned on the trigger to engage the trigger receptacle'"'"'s soft stop insert; and a biasing member positioned between the trigger receptacle and the trigger for urging the trigger away from the device'"'"'s switch when the trigger mechanism is not activated by a user; wherein the trigger receptacle and the biasing member constrain the trigger'"'"'s motion to movements along the trigger axis; wherein the trigger receptacle comprises a hard stop surface; and wherein the trigger comprises a hard stop surface positioned to engage the trigger receptacle'"'"'s hard stop surface to limit the range along the trigger axis that the trigger travels when depressed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A trigger mechanism for a device having a switch, comprising:
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a trigger receptacle within the device, the trigger receptacle having a trigger axis; a free floating trigger positioned within the trigger receptacle for moving along the trigger axis and engaging the device'"'"'s switch; a biasing member positioned between the trigger receptacle and the trigger and between the trigger and the device'"'"'s switch for urging the trigger away from the device'"'"'s switch when the trigger mechanism is not activated by a user and for sealing the trigger mechanism from the interior of the device; and a compressible insert positioned between the trigger receptacle and the trigger; wherein the trigger receptacle and the biasing member constrain the trigger'"'"'s motion to movements along the trigger axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A trigger mechanism for a device having a switch, comprising:
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a trigger receptacle within the device, the trigger receptacle having a trigger axis; a free floating trigger positioned within the trigger receptacle for moving along the trigger axis and engaging the device'"'"'s switch; a biasing member positioned between the trigger and the device'"'"'s switch for sealing the trigger mechanism from the interior of the device; and a compressible insert positioned between the trigger receptacle and the trigger; wherein the trigger receptacle and the biasing member constrain the trigger'"'"'s motion to movements along the trigger axis. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification