ADAPTER AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING A CORD OF A PERIPHERAL DEVICE WITH A PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20080032533A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Viduya, Andres, Suwalski, Henry J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,442,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/180
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

An adapter and apparatus for coupling a corded peripheral device with a portable terminal. The adapter may be used to convert the portable terminal to include an electrical connector having a break-away capability for connecting a corded peripheral device with the terminal. The connector is adapted to disconnect from the portable terminal when a sufficient force is applied to the cord, which disengages the peripheral device from the portable terminal. The ability of the cord to break-away from the portable terminal prevents damage not only to the connector, but also to the cord, peripheral, and terminal.

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting an end of a cord of a peripheral device with a terminal having a case and a cooperating electrical connector element, the adapter comprising:

an electrical connector element for interfacing with the cooperating electrical connector element of the terminal to establish a path for electrical communications between the peripheral device and the terminal;

a socket having a first electrical contact electrically coupled with the electrical connector element, the socket including an engagement lip with an angled surface; and

a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a second electrical contact and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket;

wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and unplug the plug member from the socket.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing carrying the socket; and

a mounting plate for affixing the housing to the case of the terminal.

3. The adapter of claim 2 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be adhesively bonded to the case of the terminal.

4. The adapter of claim 2 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be mechanically attached to the case of the terminal.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the mounting plate further includes a plurality of internally-threaded posts, and the housing includes a plurality of clearance openings registered with the posts to provide engagement points for fastening the housing to the mounting plate with fasteners.

6. The adapter of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a first skirt and a second skirt separated from the first skirt by a distance sufficient to insert a side edge of the case of the terminal between the first and second skirts.

7. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a resilient boot configured to conform externally to the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured between the resilient boot and the case of the terminal.

8. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a clip configured to be secured with the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured to the clip.

9. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of shell members configured to be mutually secured about the case of the terminal, said housing carrying the socket.

10. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing is affixed to the terminal as a replacement for a portion of the case of the terminal.

11. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector element is selected from the group consisting of an audio connector, a D-subminiature connector, a high-density connector, a universal serial bus mini-B connector, and an IEEE-1394 connector.

12. An adapter for coupling with a terminal having a case and a face with an existing cooperating electrical connector element, the adapter providing a damage resistant connection between an end of a cord of a peripheral device and the terminal, the adapter comprising:

an electrical connector element configured for interfacing with the existing cooperating electrical connector element of the terminal;

a socket with a first electrical contact electrically coupled with the electrical connector element, the socket presented by the adapter at the face of the terminal; and

a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a second electrical contact and a pivoting lever biased with a biasing force to a first position for securing the plug in the socket, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for connecting the first and second electrical contacts, and the lever arm moveable from the first position to a second position for unplugging the plug member from the socket, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force.

13. The adapter of claim 12 further comprising:

a housing carrying the socket; and

a mounting plate for affixing the housing to the case of the terminal.

14. The adapter of claim 13 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be adhesively bonded to the case of the terminal.

15. The adapter of claim 13 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be mechanically attached to the case of the terminal.

16. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the mounting plate further includes a plurality of internally-threaded posts, and the housing includes a plurality of clearance openings registered with the posts to provide engagement points for fastening the housing to the mounting plate with fasteners.

17. The adapter of claim 12 further comprising:

a resilient boot configured to conform externally to the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured between the resilient boot and the case of the terminal.

18. The adapter of claim 12 further comprising:

a clip configured to be secured to the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured to the clip.

19. The adapter of claim 12 further comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of shell members configured to be mutually secured about the case of the terminal, said housing carrying the socket.

20. The adapter of claim 12 wherein the housing includes a first skirt and a second skirt separated from the first skirt by a distance sufficient to insert a side edge of the case of the terminal between the first and second skirts.

21. The adapter of claim 12 wherein the housing is affixed to the terminal as a replacement for a portion of the case of the terminal.

22. The adapter of claim 12 wherein the electrical connector element is selected from the group consisting of an audio connector, a D-subminiature connector, a high-density connector, a universal serial bus mini-B connector, and an IEEE-1394 connector.

23. An apparatus for use with a terminal having a case and a cooperating electrical connector element, the adapter comprising:

a peripheral device having of a cord with an end;

an electrical connector element for interfacing with the cooperating electrical connector element of the terminal to establish a path for electrical communications between the peripheral device and the terminal;

a socket having a first electrical contact electrically coupled with the electrical connector element, the socket including an engagement lip with an angled surface; and

a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a second electrical contact and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket;

wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and thereby unplug the plug member from the socket.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the peripheral device includes a headset electrically coupled with the cord.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a housing carrying the socket; and

a mounting plate for affixing the housing to the case of the terminal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be adhesively bonded to the case of the terminal.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be mechanically attached to the case of the terminal.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the mounting plate further includes a plurality of internally-threaded posts, and the housing includes a plurality of clearance openings registered with the posts to provide engagement points for fastening the housing to the mounting plate with fasteners.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the housing includes a first skirt and a second skirt separated from the first skirt by a distance sufficient to insert a side edge of the case of the terminal between the first and second skirts.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a resilient boot configured to conform externally to the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured between the resilient boot and the case of the terminal.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a clip configured to be secured to the case of the terminal; and

a housing carrying the socket, the housing being secured to the clip.

32. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of shell members configured to be mutually secured about the case of the terminal, said housing carrying the socket.

33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the housing is affixed to the terminal as a replacement for a portion of the case of the terminal.

34. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the electrical connector element is selected from the group consisting of an audio connector, a D-subminiature connector, a high-density connector, a universal serial bus mini-B connector, and an IEEE-1394 connector.