CRADLE FOR HANDHELD MACHINE-READABLE SYMBOL READER
First Claim
1. A cradle for an electrical device, the electrical device includes an external surface having an electrical contact thereon, the electrical contact electrically coupled to at least one electrical component of the electrical device, the cradle comprising:
- a body that includes;
a device receiver portion that receives or supports at least a portion of the electrical device, the device receiver portion includes a contact surface positioned adjacent the external surface of the electrical device when the at least a portion of the electrical device is received or supported by the device receiver portion, the contact surface includes a contact aperture therein;
an electrical contact; and
a contact actuator physically coupled to the electrical contact, the contact actuator moves the electrical contact between a retracted position wherein the electrical contact of the cradle is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion, and a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and articles to provide a charging cradle or base station that includes one or more movable electrical contacts. Generally, each of the movable contacts protrudes through an opening in a surface of the cradle only when a cordless electrical device is positioned on or within the cradle. When the cordless electrical device is not positioned on or within the cradle, the one or more movable contacts are retracted inside the body of the cradle such that the movable contacts cannot be bumped or hit by the reader during insertion of the reader into the cradle and during removal of the reader from cradle. Systems, methods, and articles to provide a charging cradle or base station with selectively removable electrical contacts are also disclosed.
28 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A cradle for an electrical device, the electrical device includes an external surface having an electrical contact thereon, the electrical contact electrically coupled to at least one electrical component of the electrical device, the cradle comprising:
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a body that includes; a device receiver portion that receives or supports at least a portion of the electrical device, the device receiver portion includes a contact surface positioned adjacent the external surface of the electrical device when the at least a portion of the electrical device is received or supported by the device receiver portion, the contact surface includes a contact aperture therein; an electrical contact; and a contact actuator physically coupled to the electrical contact, the contact actuator moves the electrical contact between a retracted position wherein the electrical contact of the cradle is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion, and a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cradle for an electrical device, the electrical device includes an external surface having an electrical contact thereon, the electrical contact electrically coupled to at least one electrical component of the electrical device, the cradle comprising:
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a contact connector comprising; a device receiver portion that receives or supports at least a portion of the electrical device, the device receiver portion includes a contact surface positioned adjacent the external surface of the electrical device when the at least a portion of the electrical device is received by the device receiver portion, the contact surface includes a contact aperture therein; an electrical contact; and a contact actuator physically coupled to the electrical contact, the contact actuator moves the electrical contact between a refracted position wherein the electrical contact of the cradle is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion, and a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture; and a base portion that houses an electrical component electrically coupleable to a power source, wherein the electrical contact of the contact connector is coupleable to the electrical component of the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a recharging cradle for an electrical device, the electrical device includes an external surface having an electrical contact thereon, the electrical contact electrically coupled to at least one electrical component of the electrical device, the method comprising:
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providing a device receiver portion that receives or supports at least a portion of the electrical device, the device receiver portion includes a contact surface positioned adjacent the external surface of the electrical device when the at least a portion of the electrical device is received or supported by the device receiver portion, the contact surface includes a contact aperture therein; positioning an electrical contact in a retracted position wherein the electrical contact is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion; and moving the electrical contact from the retracted position to a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of operating a recharging cradle for an electrical device, the electrical device includes an external surface having an electrical contact thereon, the electrical contact electrically coupled to at least one electrical component of the electrical device, the method comprising:
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providing a contact connector comprising; a device receiver portion that receives or supports at least a portion of the electrical device, the device receiver portion includes a contact surface positioned adjacent the external surface of the electrical device when the at least a portion of the electrical device is received or supported by the device receiver portion, the contact surface includes a contact aperture therein; an electrical contact; and a contact actuator physically coupled to the electrical contact, the contact actuator moves the electrical contact between a refracted position wherein the electrical contact of the cradle is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion, and a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture; providing a base portion that houses an electrical component electrically coupleable to a power source; and selectively coupling the contact connector to the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification