Patent US5544010A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5544010A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Portable electronic device docking system

Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
•
Filing: 1995-04-17
•
Granted: 1996-08-06
•
Expires: 2015-04-17
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved device for docking a first electrical apparatus, having a first apparatus connector, such as a portable interchangeable data terminal, to a second electrical apparatus having a second apparatus connector, such as a vehicle mount. The device includes a portable dock for selectively receiving the data terminal. The dock includes a laterally extending base having a first dock connector, a second dock connector, and first guides extending transversely from each end of the base. Similarly, the second electrical apparatus has transversely extending second guides. The first guides are configured to operably guide the first dock connector to matingly connect with the first apparatus connector as the first apparatus is received by the dock and, similarly, the second guides are configured to operably guide the second dock connector to matingly connect with the second apparatus connector as the dock is received by the second electrical apparatus, such that information is processable between the first electrical apparatus and the second electrical apparatus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Darald R. Schultz
  • 👤 Arvin D. Danielson
  • 👤 Alan G. Bunte
  • 👤 Richard A. Sherman
  • 👤 Robert B. Jaeger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:39
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; B; B60; B60R; B60R11/00; B60R11/02; B60R11/0241; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F1/163; G06F1/1632; G06F1/26; G06F1/28; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10564; G06K7/10574; G06K7/10584; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10683; G06K7/10702; G06K7/10712; G06K7/10722; G06K7/10732; G06K7/10792; G06K7/10801; G06K7/10811; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10841; G06K7/10851; G06K7/10881; G06K7/12; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/0001; H04L1/0023; H04L1/0025; H04L1/0032; H04L1/12; H04L1/16; H04L1/1607; H04L1/1671; H04L1/1685; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; B60R11/0229; B60R11/0235; B60R2011/0042; B60R2011/0049; B60R2011/0064; B60R2011/0075; B60R2011/0078; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/163; G06F2200/1632; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B2001/3894; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 194 words
A docking system comprising: (a) a first electrical apparatus having opposing first sides and a first electrical connector; (b) a second electrical apparatus having a pair of extending side panels and a second electrical connector; (c) a dock having: (1) a first connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said first electrical apparatus wherein said first connecting mechanism is releasably and matingly engageable with said first electrical connector, (2) a second connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said second electrical apparatus wherein said second connecting mechanism is electrically connected with said first connecting mechanism and is releasably and matingly engageable with said second electrical connector, and (3) a first guide mechanism for guiding said first connecting mechanism into said mating engagement with said first electrical connector wherein said guide mechanism includes a pair of opposing side pieces adapted to extend along said opposing first sides of said first electrical apparatus, and a second guide mechanism for guiding said second connecting mechanism into mating engagement with said second electrical connector; and (d) wherein said pair of extending side panels are adapted to extend along sides of said dock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 194 words
A docking system comprising: (a) a first electrical apparatus having opposing first sides and a first electrical connector; (b) a second electrical apparatus having a pair of extending side panels and a second electrical connector; (c) a dock having: (1) a first connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said first electrical apparatus wherein said first connecting mechanism is releasably and matingly engageable with said first electrical connector, (2) a second connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said second electrical apparatus wherein said second connecting mechanism is electrically connected with said first connecting mechanism and is releasably and matingly engageable with said second electrical connector, and (3) a first guide mechanism for guiding said first connecting mechanism into said mating engagement with said first electrical connector wherein said guide mechanism includes a pair of opposing side pieces adapted to extend along said opposing first sides of said first electrical apparatus, and a second guide mechanism for guiding said second connecting mechanism into mating engagement with said second electrical connector; and (d) wherein said pair of extending side panels are adapted to extend along sides of said dock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The docking system according to claim 1, wherein said second guide mechanism includes at least one set of locators comprising a cooperating pin and opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a keyboard and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said keyboard as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a scanner and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said scanner as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a magnetic reader and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said magnetic reader as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said dock includes a battery.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4345147A Cited
US4794381A Cited
US5105335A Cited
US5041924A Cited
US5030128A Cited
US5133076A Cited
US5227953A Cited
US5186646A Cited
US5290178A Cited
US5209583A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-08-06 2000-02-05 2000-08-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-08-06 2004-02-05 2004-08-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-08-06 2008-02-05 2008-08-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag