초록 ▼

An electronic handheld device with remote cable release mechanism, a handle portion and method for performing the same. The device includes a housing defining an internal cavity and has an elastically deformable flexible portion. An electrical connector block is disposed in the cavity and includes a

An electronic handheld device with remote cable release mechanism, a handle portion and method for performing the same. The device includes a housing defining an internal cavity and has an elastically deformable flexible portion. An electrical connector block is disposed in the cavity and includes a female receptacle configured for receiving a male electrical cable connector having a movable locking clip configured to releasably engage the connector block. An actuating protrusion is preferably disposed on the flexible portion of the housing for releasing the cable connector. The protrusion is movable towards the connector block in response to the application of an inward pressing force on the flexible portion. The protrusion operates to depress the locking clip on the cable connector, thereby releasing the cable connector. In another embodiment, a resealable dimple may be provided in the flexible portion which can be punctured via a probe to access the locking clip.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A handheld scanner electronic device with remote cable release mechanism comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity and a cap having an elastically deformable flexible portion; an electrical connector block disposed in the cavity for receiving a male cable connector ha

What is claimed is: 1. A handheld scanner electronic device with remote cable release mechanism comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity and a cap having an elastically deformable flexible portion; an electrical connector block disposed in the cavity for receiving a male cable connector having a movable cable release locking clip configured to releasably engage the connector block; and an actuating protrusion disposed on the flexible portion of the cap for releasing the cable connector, the protrusion being movable towards the cavity in response to the application of an inward pressing force on the flexible portion and operative to depress the locking clip on the cable connector when seated in the connector block for unlocking the cable connector from the connector block. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on an interior surface of the flexible housing portion and extends inwards toward the cavity. 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pressing force is in an inwards direction towards the cavity and elastically deforms the flexible portion. 4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion is made of a rubber or elastomeric material. 5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuating protrusion has the shape of a lug or tab. 6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion forms part of an end cap connected to a handle portion of the housing. 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a handheld device barcode scanner. 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector block is configured to receive an RJ-type cable connector. 9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a cantilevered actuating arm interposed between the release protrusion and the connector block. 10. A handheld scanner electronic device with remote cable release mechanism comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity and a handle portion; an electrical connector block disposed in the cavity and defining a female receptacle configured for receiving a male electrical cable connector having a movable locking clip configured to releasably engage the receptacle; a cap attached to an end of the housing handle portion, at least a part of the cap including a flexible portion made of an elastically deformable material; an actuating protrusion disposed on the flexible portion of the cap for releasing the cable connector, the protrusion being movable towards the cavity in response to the application of an inward pressing force on the flexible portion and operative to depress the locking clip on the cable connector for unlocking the cable connector from the connector block. 11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the entire cap is made of an elastically deformable material. 12. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises a cantilevered actuating arm interposed between the release protrusion and the connector block. 13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the cap includes an opening for receiving the cable connector therethrough to be inserted into the connector block. 14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the device is a barcode scanner. 15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a cantilevered actuating arm interposed between the release protrusion and the connector block, the actuating arm being movable in unison with the actuating protrusion to depress the locking clip of the cable connector. 16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the connector block is configured to receive an RJ-type cable connector. 17. The scanner of claim 10, wherein the connector block is configured to receive an RJ-type cable connector. 18. A barcode scanner with remote cable release mechanism comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity and a handle portion; an electrical connector block disposed in the cavity and defining a female receptacle configured for receiving a male electrical cable connector having a movable locking clip configured to releasably engage the receptacle; an end cap attached to an end of the housing handle portion, at least a part of the cap being disposed laterally to the connector block and defining a flexible portion made of an elastically deformable material, the flexible portion being movable towards the cavity in response to the application of a lateral pressing force inwards on the flexible portion; an actuating protrusion extending laterally inwards from the flexible portion of the cap for releasing the cable connector, the protrusion being movable towards the cavity in response to the application of the pressing force on the flexible portion and operative to depress the locking clip on the cable connector when seated in the connector block for unlocking the cable connector from the connector block. 19. The scanner of claim 18, wherein the actuating protrusion has the shape of a lug or tab. 20. The scanner of claim 18, wherein the housing further comprises a cantilevered actuating arm interposed between the release protrusion and the connector block, the actuating arm being movable in unison with the actuating protrusion to depress the locking clip of the cable connector. 21. A method of releasing an electrical cable connector from a connector block of a handheld scanner electronic device, the method comprising: providing a male electrical cable connector seated in a female electrical connector block disposed inside an electronic device housing, the cable connector having a movable locking clip engaged with connector block; applying an external pressing force on an actuating protrusion to deform the flexible portion of a cap; displacing the flexible portion of the cap towards engagement with the locking clip of the cable connector; and depressing the locking clip via displacement of the flexible portion of the housing to disengage the clip from the connector block. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the depressing step includes directly engaging the flexible portion with the locking clip. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the depressing step is performed by an actuating protrusion formed on the inside of the flexible portion of cap that engages the locking clip. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the depressing step is performed by a cantilevered actuating arm disposed on the housing that engages the locking clip and is movable in response to deforming the flexible portion. 25. The scanner of claim 21, wherein the electronic device housing forms part of a handheld barcode scanner. 26. A handheld scanner electronic device with cable release mechanism comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity and a handle portion; an electrical connector block disposed in the cavity and defining a female receptacle configured for receiving a male electrical cable connector having a movable locking clip configured to releasably engage the receptacle; a self-sealing end cap attached to the housing, at least a part of the cap including a flexible portion made of an elastically deformable material and having a cross-sectional wall thickness; a dimple disposed on the flexible portion of the cap for releasing the cable connector, the dimple having a depth that is less than the wall thickness of the flexible portion of the cap, wherein the dimple may be punctured by a probe inserted into the housing to release the cable connector when seated in the electrical connector block and the cap is at least partially resealable when the probe is withdrawn. 27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the end cap is made of an elastomeric material or rubber. 28. The electronic device of claim 26, further comprising the cable connector seated in the connector block, the dimple aligned with the locking clip of the connector for engaging the probe. 29. A method of releasing an electrical cable connector from a connector block of a handheld scanner electronic device, the method comprising: providing a male electrical cable connector seated in a female electrical connector block disposed inside an electronic device housing, the cable connector having a movable locking clip engaged with connector block; aligning a dimple on a self-sealing elastomeric deformable portion of a cap with the locking clip, the dimple extending partially through but not penetrating the deformable portion; inserting a probe through the dimple to puncture the deformable portion and form an opening; and engaging the locking clip of the cable connector with the probe to release the connector from the connector block. 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising retracting the probe from the deformable portion and at least partially resealing the opening.