Cradle apparatus and printing device interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10252554-B2
Application number	US-201715455680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are described herein. An example disclosed printing device includes a printer body; a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface defining a first recess and a second recess disposed proximate a first side of a battery compartment; and a bumper attachment extending from the printer body and disposed proximate a front side of the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A printing device comprising:
a printer body;
a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface including:
a first electrical connector configured to engage a first communication port of the cradle;
a first recess configured to receive a first biased latch extending from the cradle, the first recess comprising first recess walls;
a second recess configured to receive a second biased latch extending from the cradle, the second recess comprising second recess walls; and

a second electrical connector configured to electrically connect the printing device to a bumper attachment, the bumper attached to, when connected to the printing device, extend from the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle; wherein:
the first biased latch is configured to snap in to the first recess;
the second biased latch is configured to snap into the second recess; and
a bottom wall of the cradle engagement surface proximate the first recess and the second recess is captured into cavities defined by respective lock surfaces of the first biased latch and the second biased latch.

2. The printing device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second biased latches comprises a locking angle and a driving angle and is configured to move to a locked position when the first and second recess walls interface with the respective locking angles and the respective driving angles.

3. The printing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two capture cavities are each defined by a left bumper cavity side, a right bumper cavity side, a top bumper cavity side, and a bottom bumper cavity side.

4. The printing device of claim 3 , wherein the top bumper cavity side and the right bumper cavity side form a first angle.

5. The printing device of claim 4 , wherein the right bumper cavity side and the bottom bumper cavity side form a second angle.

6. The printing device of claim 5 , wherein the bottom bumper cavity side and the left bumper cavity side form a third angle.

7. The printing device of claim 6 , wherein the left bumper cavity side and the top bumper cavity side form a fourth angle.

8. The printing device of claim 1 , wherein the bumper attachment is configured to remain securely attached to the printing device in response to a depressed contact on a surface of a biased release member that extends from the cradle.

9. The printing device of claim 1 , wherein portions of the cradle engagement surface disposed proximate the first recess and the second recess are configured to drive downwardly into respective printer drive surfaces of the first and second biased latches.

10. A printing device comprising:
a printer body;
a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface including a first electrical connector configured to engage a first communication port of the cradle;
a second electrical connector configured to electrically connect the printing device to a bumper attachment, the bumper attachment to, when connected to the printing device, extend from the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle; and
wherein the at least two capture cavities are each defined by a left bumper cavity side, a right bumper cavity side, a top bumper cavity side, and a bottom bumper cavity side.

11. A method of manufacturing a printing device to interface with a cradle, the method comprising:
providing a printer body having a cradle engagement surface, wherein the cradle engagement surface includes:
a first electrical connector configured to engage a first communication port of the cradle;
a first recess configured to receive a first biased latch extending from the cradle, the first recess comprising first recess walls;
a second recess configured to receive a second biased latch extending from the cradle, the second recess comprising second recess walls; and

providing a second electrical connector on a bumper engagement surface of the printer body; and
extending a bumper attachment from the bumper engagement surface, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle,
wherein:
extending the bumper attachment from the bumper engagement surface includes interfacing the bumper attachment with the second electrical connector;
the first biased latch is configured to snap in to the first recess;
the second biased latch is configured to snap into the second recess; and
a bottom wall of the cradle engagement surface proximate the first recess and the second recess is captured into cavities defined by respective lock surfaces of the first biased latch and the second biased latch.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second biased latches comprises a locking angle and a driving angle and is configured to move to a locked position when the first and second recess walls interface with the respective locking angles and the respective driving angles.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least two capture cavities are each defined by a left bumper cavity side, a right bumper cavity side, a top bumper cavity side, and a bottom bumper cavity side.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the top bumper cavity side and the right bumper cavity side form a first angle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the right bumper cavity side and the bottom bumper cavity side form a second angle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bottom bumper cavity side and the left bumper cavity side form a third angle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the left bumper cavity side and the top bumper cavity side form a fourth angle.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bumper attachment is configured to remain securely attached to the printing device in response to a depressed contact on a surface of a biased release member that extends from the cradle.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein portions of the cradle engagement surface disposed proximate the first recess and the second recess are configured to drive downwardly into respective printer drive surfaces of the first and second biased latches.

20. A method of manufacturing a printing device to interface with a cradle, the method comprising:
providing a printer body having a cradle engagement surface configured to interface with a cradle, the cradle engagement surface including a first electrical connector configured to engage a first communication port of the cradle;
connecting a second electrical connector between the printing device and a bumper attachment, the bumper attachment to, when connected to the printing device, extend from the printer body, the bumper attachment defining at least two capture cavities structured to slideably receive reciprocally structured first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle, wherein the at least two capture cavities are each defined by a left bumper cavity side, a right bumper cavity side, a top bumper cavity side, and a bottom bumper cavity side.

Assignees

• Zebra Tech Corp

Inventors

• Lyman Roy P
• Gui Wang Zhong
• Beck David F
• Helberg Anthony R

Classifications

• H01R33/7664

  having additional guiding, adapting, shielding, anti-vibration or mounting means · CPC title

• H01R33/765

  the terminal pins having a non-circular disposition · CPC title

• B41J29/06 Primary

  Special supports, platforms or trolleys for supporting machines on tables · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G07G5/00

  Receipt-giving machines · CPC title