JP2014073038A - Cradle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cradle in which even if dust enters a lock mechanism, a malfunction of the lock mechanism of the cradle caused by the dust is prevented.SOLUTION: In a lock mechanism capable of locking a portable information terminal which is attached to and detached from a cradle by a claw portion 24 which is stored in a claw storage part 38 formed on a side projecting cover 20 so as to be movable in forward and backward directions, a dust discharging groove hole 44 is formed along a direction of the claw portion 24 moving forward and backward on both sides of a sliding surface 42 where the claw portion 24 slides in the claw storage part 38. The dust-discharging groove hole 44 is communicated with the outside by passing through the inside of the cradle. The claw portion 24 has inclined planes 50a on both ends of a bottom face of a base 24b, forming a triangular prism-like space together with both walls 38a and 38b and the sliding surface 42 so as to communicate with the dust discharging groove hole 44. As a result, dust drawn in the claw storage part 38 by the claw portion 24 is discharged from the dust discharging groove hole 44 and the malfunction of the lock mechanism due to the dust is considerably reduced.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cradle, and more particularly, to a cradle including a lock mechanism that can hold a portable information terminal so that the portable information terminal is not easily detached when the portable information terminal is placed.

  A cradle that can be charged and communicated simply by placing a portable information terminal is known. The cradle is normally placed in a horizontal position at a predetermined place, and by placing the portable information terminal, both charging terminals come into electrical contact with each other and charging is performed. The cradle may also be used by being installed vertically on a wall or the like.

  In the transportation industry and the distribution industry, a portable information terminal for business use such as a handy terminal is used as a data collection terminal, and a cradle for that purpose is often installed in a truck or the like. A cradle assumed to be used in a truck or the like includes a lock mechanism that can hold the portable information terminal so that the mounted portable information terminal does not come off due to vibration or the like. The lock mechanism has a claw that protrudes in a state of being biased inward from opposing side walls around the mounting table on which the portable information terminal is mounted. When the portable information terminal is placed on the nail portion and pushed in, the nail portion is retracted outside against the urging force, and when the portable information terminal is further pushed in, the nail portion is moved inwardly into the recess provided in the side surface of the portable information terminal. The nail | claw part currently energized comes to fit. As a result, the portable information terminal is fixed to the cradle by the lock mechanism.

  By the way, a portable information terminal for business use is often operated in a harsh environment such as outdoors or in a dusty warehouse where fog, rain, or dust is dancing. Therefore, the portable information terminal used in such an environment is placed on the cradle with dust attached thereto. Such dust is transferred from the portable information terminal to the cradle and gradually accumulates in the cradle, and the cradle may become defective over time. For example, if dust accumulates on charging or signal terminals, a short circuit may occur between the terminals or a fire may occur due to the short circuit. As a countermeasure against such dust, a configuration has been proposed in which a discharge side opening is provided in the terminal block so that dust and foreign matter flowing into the terminal block are discharged to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-236882 A

  However, the dust attached to the portable information terminal may also adhere to the lock mechanism part and accumulate, and in such a case, when the dust enters the sliding part of the claw part, the claw part is fixed, Finally, there was a problem that the portable information terminal could not be attached or detached.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cradle that reduces the possibility of malfunction of the lock mechanism portion due to dust even if dust enters the lock mechanism portion. To do.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, in a cradle having a lock mechanism for fixing or releasing the portable information terminal when the portable information terminal is attached or detached, a mounting table on which the portable information terminal is placed; The side protruding cover portions disposed opposite to each other with the mounting table interposed therebetween, the claw storage portions respectively formed on the side protruding cover portions, and a part of the lock mechanism portion, each of the claw storage portions The same as the mounting table described above in the claw storage unit, and a claw part that is accommodated in the direction of each other and that is fitted in or can be detached from the fitting concave part provided in the portable information terminal. There is provided a cradle comprising dust discharge grooves formed along the direction in which the claw portion advances and retreats on both sides of a sliding surface on a plane.

  According to such a cradle, by providing the dust discharge groove hole on the sliding surface of the claw part, even if dust attached to the portable information terminal adheres to the claw part, the dust is Since the dust is discharged through the hole, it is possible to reduce dust that bites into the sliding surface and the claw portion is fixed.

  The cradle configured as described above is provided with a dust discharge groove hole to make it difficult for dust to collect, so that the possibility of malfunction such as sticking in the lock mechanism portion is reduced, and the maintenance man-hours such as periodic cleaning work can be reduced. is there.

It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of the cradle and portable information terminal which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the cradle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which mounted the portable information terminal in the cradle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. 3 which shows a locking mechanism part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a locking mechanism part. It is the elements on larger scale which show the nail | claw accommodating part in which the nail | claw part of a locking mechanism part is accommodated. It is a figure which shows the nail | claw part of a locking mechanism part, (A) is the figure which looked at the nail | claw part from the sliding direction inner side, (B), (C), and (D) are the figures which show the modification of a nail | claw part. is there. It is the elements on larger scale of the nail | claw accommodating part which shows the state which put the cradle concerning embodiment of this invention vertically.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case of being installed in a vehicle such as a truck.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a cradle and a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external shape of the cradle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The cradle 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a mounting table 14 on which a portable information terminal 12 is mounted in the center, and the periphery thereof is covered with a side cover 16. A charging circuit, a communication circuit, and the like are accommodated in the interior surrounded by the mounting table 14 and the side cover 16 as necessary.

  The side cover 16 has side protruding cover portions 18, 20, and 22, part of which protrudes from the mounting table 14. The side protrusion cover portion 18 is formed in a U shape along the vicinity of one short side of the rectangular mounting table 14. When the mobile information terminal 12 is placed on the mounting table 14, the side protrusion cover portion 18 positions a part of the mobile information terminal 12 in a U-shaped recess and positions the mobile information terminal 12. The terminals for charging and the like are made to contact correctly with the corresponding terminals accommodated inside.

  The side projecting cover portions 20 and 22 are formed at positions opposite to each other on the opposite side to the side on which the long side side projecting cover portion 18 of the mounting table 14 is provided. The side protruding cover portions 20 and 22 accommodate claw portions 24 and 26, respectively, and the claw portions 24 and 26 are disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of each other. The claw portions 24 and 26 are normally urged so that a part thereof protrudes inward from the side protrusion cover portions 20 and 22, and when the portable information terminal 12 is placed on the placement table 14, the urging force is applied. Thus, the portable information terminal 12 is fixed.

  The side cover 16 is provided with lock levers 28 and 30 on the side protruding cover part 18 side of the side protruding cover parts 20 and 22. The lock levers 28 and 30 are internally linked to the claw portions 24 and 26 of the side protrusion cover portions 20 and 22, and when the portable information terminal 12 is removed, the claw portions 24 and 26 are connected to each other. 22 is used to drive in the direction of retraction and release the fixation. Each of the lock levers 28 and 30 is formed with a plurality of grooves (in the drawing, only the groove 30a of the lock lever 30 is shown) on the outer surfaces which are outside each other. Thereby, when performing operation which remove | releases fixation of the portable information terminal 12 and removes the portable information terminal 12, the groove | channel 30a has a function of slip prevention. The outer sides of the lock levers 28 and 30 are higher than the surface of the mounting table 14, and wedge-shaped inclined surfaces 28 b and 30 b are formed on the inner surfaces facing each other. Thus, after the lock levers 28 and 30 are moved inward and the portable information terminal 12 is unlocked, the lock levers 28 and 30 are further moved inward so that the inclined surfaces 28b and 30b are moved to the portable information terminal. 12 has a function of pushing up 12 from its fixed position.

Next, the configuration of the lock mechanism portion of the cradle 10 will be described.
3 is a plan view showing a state where the portable information terminal is placed on the cradle according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 showing the lock mechanism, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a part.

  In a state where the portable information terminal 12 is placed on the cradle 10, the lock mechanism unit sandwiches and fixes the side surface of the portable information terminal 12. That is, the portable information terminal 12 has fitting recesses 12a and 12b that are respectively provided on both side surfaces, and the fitting protrusions 24a and 26a are formed on the claw portions 24 and 26 of the lock mechanism portion of the cradle 10. Has been. Accordingly, the fitting convex portions 24a and 26a of the claw portions 24 and 26 are fitted into the fitting concave portions 12a and 12b of the portable information terminal 12, so that the portable information terminal 12 is fixed to the claw portions 24 and 26 of the cradle 10. The Further, the fitting projections 24 a and 26 a of the cradle 10 are detached from the fitting recesses 12 a and 12 b of the portable information terminal 12, so that the portable information terminal 12 is released from the claw portions 24 and 26.

  Further, in this embodiment, the claw portions 24 and 26 of the lock mechanism portion are such that the base portions 24b and 26b sliding with the surface of the mounting table 14 are longer in the protruding direction of the fitting convex portions 24a and 26a. It has been extended. Thereby, when the fitting convex portions 24 a and 26 a are fitted into the fitting concave portions 12 a and 12 b, the base portions 24 b and 26 b of the claw portions 24 and 26 support the bottom surface of the portable information terminal 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock mechanism portion includes claw portions 24 and 26, lock levers 28 and 30, arms 32 and 34, and a coil spring 36. The arms 32 and 34 move the claw portions 24 and 26 away from the mounting table 14 when the locking levers 28 and 30 are moved toward the mounting table 14 (when the locking levers 28 and 30 are pushed inward from each other). Let The coil spring 36 urges the arms 32 and 34 to move in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the claw portions 24 and 26.

  That is, the arm 32 has a slide base 32a having a length that substantially crosses the short side of the mounting table 14, and a wall 32b is formed on one long side (upper side in FIG. 5) of the slide base 32a. It is erected from the left end shown in FIGS. Further, the wall 32b has a claw portion attaching portion 32c extending upward from the left end position shown in FIG. 4, and the claw portion 24 is attached to the claw portion attaching portion 32c. The slide base 32a also has a lock lever mounting portion 32d extending on the opposite side of the other long side (bottom of FIG. 5) from the side on which the claw portion mounting portion 32c is provided. A lock lever 30 is attached to the distal end side of the attachment portion 32d. Further, the slide base 32a is a spring hook that hooks one end of the coil spring 36 on the long side where the lock lever mounting portion 32d is provided and opposite to the side where the claw mounting portion 32c is provided. A stop 32e is formed. The arm 32 is formed by integrally forming a slide base 32a, a wall 32b, a claw portion mounting portion 32c, a lock lever mounting portion 32d, and a spring hooking portion 32e by bending a sheet metal punched into an appropriate shape. ing.

  The other arm 34 is formed substantially symmetrically with the arm 32 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, and has a slide base 34a, a wall 34b, a claw portion mounting portion 34c, a lock lever mounting portion 34d, and a spring hooking portion 34e. ing. The claw portion 26 is attached to the claw portion attachment portion 34c of the arm 34, the lock lever 28 is attached to the distal end side of the lock lever attachment portion 34d, and the other end of the coil spring 36 is attached to the spring latching portion 34e. Is locked.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the arms 32 and 34 are arranged so that the slide bases 32 a and 34 a overlap each other, and are urged by a coil spring 36 in a direction approaching each other. This urging force becomes an urging force when the fitting convex portions 24a and 26a of the claw portions 24 and 26 are fitted into the fitting concave portions 12a and 12b of the portable information terminal 12, and thereby, in normal vibration of the vehicle, The portable information terminal 12 is prevented from being detached from the cradle 10. Further, when the thumbs and the index finger, for example, are applied to the lock levers 28 and 30 and moved toward each other, the claw portions 24 and 26 are opposed to each other against the biasing force of the coil spring 36 via the slide bases 32a and 34a. Move away (outward). Accordingly, the claw portions 24 and 26 of the cradle 10 are retracted in the side protruding cover portions 20 and 22, and the fitting convex portions 24 a and 26 a of the claw portions 24 and 26 are fitted into the fitting concave portions of the portable information terminal 12. The portable information terminal 12 is detached from the cradle 10 by exiting from the terminals 12a and 12b.

  FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the claw accommodating portion in which the claw portion of the lock mechanism portion is accommodated, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the claw portion of the lock mechanism portion, and FIG. Viewed, (B), (C) and (D) are diagrams showing a modification of the claw portion, and FIG. 8 is a portion of the claw housing portion showing a state in which the cradle according to the embodiment of the present invention is placed vertically. It is an enlarged view.

  The nail | claw parts 24 and 26 are accommodated in the nail | claw storage part formed in the side protrusion cover parts 20 and 22 so that advancement / retraction is possible. FIG. 6 shows a claw storage portion 38 formed on the side protruding cover portion 20, for example.

  The claw storage part 38 has a rectangular opening 40 according to the shape of the claw part 24, and has a sliding surface 42 formed at the same level as the upper surface of the mounting table 14 at the back. The sliding surface 42 is a surface that supports the base portion 24 b of the claw portion 24, and is also a surface on which the base portion 24 b of the claw portion 24 slides when the portable information terminal 12 is attached to and detached from the cradle 10.

  On both sides of the sliding surface 42 as viewed from the opening 40 of the nail storage portion 38 (that is, on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the mounting table 14), dust discharge grooves 44 are formed along the advancing and retreating direction of the claw portion 24. Yes. The dust discharge groove 44 is preferably formed on the same plane as the both walls 38a and 38b of the claw storage part 38 at the outer sides thereof, and between the both walls 38a and 38b of the claw storage part 38. No step is formed on the surface. The dust discharge groove 44 communicates with the inside of the cradle 10 and further communicates with the outside of the cradle 10 as necessary.

  In the claw storage portion 38, dust discharge grooves 46a and 46b are formed in the upper part of both walls 38a and 38b along the advancing and retreating direction of the claw portion 24. The dust discharge grooves 46a and 46b are also communicated with the internal space of the cradle 10 through which the dust discharge groove hole 44 communicates.

  A slot 48 formed in the center of the sliding surface 42 is a portion through which the claw portion mounting portion 32 c of the arm 32 is inserted, and extends from the inside of the cradle 10 through the slot 48. The claw part 24 is fixed to the claw part attaching part 32c. Therefore, the claw portion 24 can be moved back and forth as the claw portion mounting portion 32 c moves back and forth along the long axis of the slot 48.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the claw portion 24 stored in the claw storage portion 38 has edge portions at both corners on the bottom side of the base portion 24b (that is, the corner corresponding to the dust discharge groove 44). It is chamfered. That is, the claw portion 24 has corner portions 50 at two positions (edge portions) facing the dust discharge groove holes 44 on the bottom surface of the base portion 24 b, and the claw portions 24 are inclined at the corner portions 50 at two locations. A triangular prism which is formed with a surface 50 a and communicates with the dust discharge groove 44 by both walls 38 a and 38 b of the claw storage portion 38, the sliding surface 42, and an inclined surface 50 a formed at the corner portion 50 of the claw portion 24. A space of shape is formed. The inclined surface 50a is preferably such that the lower end position of the inclined surface 50a is located in the dust discharge groove 44 and does not reach the position of the sliding surface 42.

  Further, the corner portion 50 of the claw portion 24 is not limited to the inclined surface 50a, but an R-shaped surface 50b as shown in FIG. 7B, an inverted R-shaped surface 50c as shown in FIG. 7 (D) can be a square cutout shape (cutout portion) 50d. In any case, the corner portion 50 of the claw portion 24 may have a shape in which a space is formed above the dust discharge groove hole 44.

  Thus, when the cradle 10 is placed flat as shown in FIG. 7A, the dust drawn into the nail storage portion 38 by the claw portion 24 is between the claw portion 24 and the sliding surface 42. The dust is discharged from the dust discharge groove hole 44 without entering. Thereby, it is possible to greatly reduce the possibility that the dust is caught in the sliding surface 42 and the lock mechanism portion is fixed.

  On the other hand, when the cradle 10 is placed vertically as shown in FIG. 8 when it is installed on the wall of the vehicle, the dust discharge groove 46b is positioned below the gravitational direction. As a result, when the portable information terminal 12 is attached to or detached from the cradle 10, the dust that adheres to the claw portion 24 and is drawn into the claw storage portion 38 enters the dust discharge groove 46b, and from there, the cradle 10 It is discharged outside through the inside. Further, when dust is drawn into the claw storage portion 38 from the mounting table 14 side, the dust is discharged to the outside through the dust discharge groove hole 44 through the inside of the cradle 10. Therefore, it is greatly reduced that dust is caught between the claw part 24 and the inner wall or the sliding surface 42 of the claw storage part 38 and the lock mechanism part is not moved during use of the cradle 10.

  In the above embodiment, the dust discharge grooves 46a and 46b are formed at positions away from the sliding surfaces 42 of both walls 38a and 38b of the claw storage portion 38. One or a plurality of walls may be formed on both walls 38a and 38b between the opposite positions.

  Further, the above-described embodiment can be variously modified within a range not departing from the gist of the embodiment. Further, the above-described embodiments can be modified and changed by those skilled in the art, and are not limited to the exact configurations and application examples described.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cradle 12 Portable information terminal 12a, 12b Fitting recessed part 14 Mounting base 16 Side cover 18, 20, 22 Side protrusion cover part 24, 26 Claw part 24a, 26a Fitting convex part 24b, 26b Base part 28, 30 Lock lever 28b, 30b Slope 30a Groove 32, 34 Arm 32a, 34a Slide base 32b, 34b Wall 32c, 34c Claw mounting portion 32d, 34d Lock lever mounting portion 32e, 34e Spring latching portion 36 Coil spring 38 Claw storage portion 38a, 38b Wall 40 Opening portion 42 Sliding surface 44 Dust discharge groove hole 46a, 46b Dust discharge groove 48 Groove hole 50 Corner portion 50a Inclined surface 50b R-shaped surface 50c Reverse R-shaped surface 50d Notch

Claims (6)

In a cradle equipped with a lock mechanism for fixing or releasing the portable information terminal when the portable information terminal is attached or detached,
A mounting table on which the portable information terminal is mounted;
A side-projecting cover portion disposed opposite to the mounting table;
Nail storage portions respectively formed on the side protruding cover portions;
A part of the lock mechanism part, which is accommodated in the claw storage part so as to be movable forward and backward in each direction, and is fitted with or fitted into a fitting recess formed in the portable information terminal, respectively. A claw part that can be detached from the recess,
A dust discharge groove hole drilled along the advancing and retreating direction of the claw portion on both sides of a sliding surface on the same plane as the mounting table in the claw storage portion;
A cradle characterized by comprising:   The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion is provided with a space at an edge portion of a corner corresponding to the dust discharge groove hole.   The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the dust discharge groove hole has an outer side formed on the same plane as both walls of the claw storage portion.   4. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the dust discharge groove hole communicates with an internal space of the cradle, and the internal space further communicates with the outside of the cradle. .   2. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the claw storage part has a dust discharge groove formed along the advancing and retreating direction of the claw part at a position away from the sliding surface of both walls.   The cradle according to claim 5, wherein the dust discharge groove communicates with an internal space of the cradle, and the internal space further communicates with the outside of the cradle.

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