Display for hand-held electronics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10861300-B2
Application number	US-201916281690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2019
Priority date	Jun 21, 2010
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, the apparatus comprising:
a puck assembly adapted to receive the electronic device;
a base assembly; and
a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly, wherein the tether assembly comprises a portion that is adapted to transmit an optical signal;
wherein the puck assembly is adapted to be moveable between (1) a rest position in which (i) the puck assembly is in engagement with the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly, and (2) a lift position in which (i) the puck assembly is disengaged from the base assembly and (i) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly;
wherein the base assembly further comprises (1) base assembly circuitry configured to receive power from a power source, and (2) a plurality of base assembly electrical contacts connected to the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly comprises (1) a plurality of puck assembly electrical contacts, (2) a power storage device, (3) puck assembly circuitry connected to the puck assembly electrical contacts and the power storage device, and (4) a central region on a bottom surface of the puck assembly, wherein the central region is connectable to the tether assembly and does not include the puck assembly electrical contacts;
wherein the base assembly contacts and the puck assembly contacts are adapted to contact each other when the puck assembly is in the rest position to form an electrical connection between the puck assembly circuitry and the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is configured to, when the puck assembly is in the rest position, draw power from the power source through the electrical connection and provide the drawn power to the power storage device to charge the power storage device; and
wherein the base assembly contacts and the puck assembly contacts are adapted to lose contact with each other when the puck assembly is in the lift position to thereby break the electrical connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the puck assembly further comprises a security sensor, and wherein the puck assembly circuitry, in cooperation with the security sensor, is further configured to generate a security condition signal in response to a detection by the security sensor of an event relating to a removal of the electronic device from the puck assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the security condition signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the optical signal comprises the security condition signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the puck assembly circuitry is further configured to draw power from the power storage device for wirelessly communicating the security condition signal when the puck assembly is in the lift position.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the tether assembly further comprises a tether and a fitting, wherein the fitting is rotatable around the tether, and wherein the fitting is adapted to connect to the central region of the puck assembly lower surface for allowing the puck assembly to rotate relative to the tether.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the tether assembly further comprises a swivel, the swivel adapted for cooperation with the fitting to allow the puck assembly to rotate relative to the tether in response to the connection between the fitting and the puck assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fitting is further adapted for detachable connection with the puck assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detachable connection between the fitting and the puck assembly is adapted to allow for the puck assembly and the electronic device to be swapped out of the apparatus as an integrated unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the puck assembly contacts and the base assembly contacts are located at a plurality of positions around the puck assembly and the base assembly, respectively, to allow for the puck assembly to be rotatable to a plurality of orientations when the puck assembly is in the rest position while still forming the electrical connection when the puck assembly is in the rest position at the orientations.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the puck assembly and the base assembly comprise a plurality of complementary recesses and projections where the puck assembly and the base assembly engage with each other when in the rest position at the orientations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the complementary recesses and projections comprise complementary contours.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base assembly contacts comprise a plurality of spring contacts.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tether assembly is a retractable tether assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the retractable tether assembly comprises a modular retractable tether assembly, wherein the modular retractable tether assembly further comprises a mechanical retractor and retractor housing that are adapted to provide retractability for the tether.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the puck assembly further comprises a power cable that is connectable to a power input of the electronic device, and wherein the puck assembly circuitry is further configured to deliver power to the power cable for charging the electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tether assembly portion comprises a fiber optic cable for transmitting the optical signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base assembly comprises a first base assembly portion and a second base assembly portion;
wherein the first base assembly portion is adapted to (1) engage with the puck assembly when the puck assembly is in the rest position and (2) disengage from the puck assembly when the puck assembly is in the lift position;
wherein the second base assembly portion is adapted as a pedestal for the apparatus;
wherein the first and second base assembly portions are further adapted for detachable engagement with each other such that the first base assembly portion can engage with the base assembly portion a plurality of display angles.

19. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, the apparatus comprising:
a puck assembly adapted to receive the electronic device;
a base assembly; and
a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly, wherein the tether assembly comprises a portion that is adapted to transmit an optical signal;
wherein the puck assembly is adapted to be moveable between (1) a rest position in which (i) the puck assembly is in engagement with the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly, and (2) a lift position in which (i) the puck assembly is disengaged from the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly;
wherein the base assembly further comprises (1) base assembly circuitry configured to receive power from a power source, and (2) a plurality of base assembly electrical contacts connected to the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly comprises (1) a plurality of puck assembly electrical contacts, (2) a power cable that is connectable to a power input of the electronic device, (3) puck assembly circuitry connected to the puck assembly electrical contac

Assignees

• Mobile Tech Inc

Inventors

• Henson Donald
• Allison Thaine
• Goldberg Jason
• Olson Justin
• Pitt Eric
• Schatz Kris
• Wheeler Wade
• Peters Ron

Classifications

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B13/1472

  with force or weight detection · CPC title

• G08B17/06

  Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch · CPC title

• G08B13/1454

  Circuit arrangements thereof · CPC title

• G08B13/1445

  with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable (furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861) · CPC title