초록 ▼

A portable terminal having a handle configured for connection to an enclosure of the portable terminal, such that the portable terminal has one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objects 16 in a logistics environment. The handle has a handle body having a grip portion shaped

A portable terminal having a handle configured for connection to an enclosure of the portable terminal, such that the portable terminal has one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objects 16 in a logistics environment. The handle has a handle body having a grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of the user of the portable terminal, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to the housing of the portable terminal, and a distal end of the grip portion. An actuator assembly of the handle is configured for affecting the operation of one or more scanning functions and is positioned in an aperture of the handle body for access by one or more fingers of the user's hand. The actuator assembly includes an actuator body connected at a proximal portion to the handle body by a pivot connection, biasing member(s) for biasing the actuator body towards a first position, and a face portion of the actuator body configured for contacting with the one or more fingers such that the face portion has a raised portion for defining the plurality of actuator regions for interaction with the one or more fingers for facilitating rotation of the actuator body about the pivot connection for displacement from the first position to a second position into an interior of the handle body, wherein the displacement of the actuator body affects the operation of the one or more scanning functions (e.g. via activation of a switch by a control arm).

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A handle for connection to a portable computer, the portable computer having one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objects in a logistics environment, the handle comprising: a handle body having a grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of a user of the por

We claim: 1. A handle for connection to a portable computer, the portable computer having one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objects in a logistics environment, the handle comprising: a handle body having a grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of a user of the portable computer, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to a housing of the portable computer, and a distal end of the grip portion; an actuator assembly for affecting the operation of said one or more scanning functions and positioned in an aperture of the handle body for access by one or more fingers of the user's hand, the actuator assembly including an actuator body connected at a proximal portion to the handle body by a pivot connection, a biasing member for biasing the actuator body towards a first position, and a face portion of the actuator body configured for contact with said one or more fingers such that the face portion has a raised portion for defining a plurality of actuator regions for interaction with said one or more fingers for facilitating the rotation of the actuator body about said pivot connection for displacement from the first position to a second position into an interior of the handle body; a resilient covering of at least a portion of the grip portion of the handle body, the resilient covering positioned over the aperture, the material of the resilient covering is configured for inhibiting the penetration of foreign matter through the aperture and into the interior of the handle body; and an indicator region on the resilient covering for indicating a presence of the actuator assembly in the first position underneath the resilient covering, wherein the displacement of the actuator body affects said operation of said one or more scanning functions. 2. The handle of claim 1, wherein the coupling to the housing is selected from the group consisting of: a releasable secure connection; a connection integrally formed as a component of the housing; and a fixedly bonded connection. 3. The handle of claim 2, further comprising a switch mounted in an interior of the handle body, the switch for facilitating generation of a control signal for affecting said operation of said one or more scanning functions, said switch operated as a result of the actuator body being displaced from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions. 4. The handle of claim 3, further comprising a control arm attached to the actuator body for coupling the actuator body to the switch, wherein the control arm activates the switch as a result of the actuator body being displaced from the one of the first and second positions to said other of the first and second positions. 5. The handle of claim 4, wherein the displacement of the actuator body in said second position results in activation of the switch for facilitating generation of the control signal. 6. The handle of claim 5, further comprising an abutment surface in the interior of the handle body for limiting the degree of the displacement of the actuator body towards the second position. 7. The handle of claim 6, wherein the abutment surface is positioned to contact the control arm when the actuator body is displaced towards the second position. 8. The handle of claim 2, further comprising a member for coupling a distal portion of the actuator body to the handle body in the interior of the handle body. 9. The handle of claim 8, wherein the member is the biasing member for biasing the actuator body about the pivot connection towards the first position. 10. The handle of claim 2, further comprising at least one inclined surface of the face portion rising from one end of the face portion to the raised portion, such that the inclined surface is one of the plurality of actuator regions and the raised portion is another of the plurality of actuator regions. 11. The handle of claim 2, further comprising a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface of the face portion, the first inclined surface rising from one end of the face portion to the raised portion and the second inclined surface rising from the other end of the face portion to the raised portion, such that the raised portion is positioned between the ends of the face portion. 12. The handle of claim 11, wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface connect together at the raised portion to form an obtuse angle. 13. The handle of claim 12, wherein the first inclined surface is one of the plurality of actuator regions, the second inclined surface is another of the plurality of actuator regions, and the raised portion is a further one of the plurality of actuator regions. 14. The handle of claim 13, wherein manipulation of any of the plurality of the actuator regions by said one or more fingers provides the same displacement of the actuator body about the pivot connection from the first position to the second position. 15. The handle of claim 13, wherein the inclined surfaces are arcuate. 16. The handle of claim 15, wherein the arcuate inclined surfaces are concave for providing a contoured surface for interaction with said one or more fingers. 17. The handle of claim 13, wherein the inclined surfaces are positioned substantially flush with the exterior surface of the handle body adjacent to the aperture at either end of the actuator body. 18. The handle of claim 1, wherein the indicator region is selected from the group consisting of: a colouring different from the material of the resilient covering adjacent to the indicator region; a label on the resilient covering; shading different from the material of the resilient covering adjacent to the indicator region; and a texture different from the material of the resilient covering adjacent to the indicator region. 19. A handle for connection to a portable computer, the portable computer having one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objects in a logistics environment, the handle comprising: a handle body having a grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of a user of the portable computer, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to a housing of the portable computer, and a distal end of the grip portion; an actuator assembly for affecting the operation of said one or more scanning functions and positioned in an aperture of the handle body for access by one or more fingers of the user's hand, the actuator assembly including an actuator body connected at a proximal portion to the handle body by a pivot connection, a biasing member for biasing the actuator body towards a first position, and a face portion of the actuator body configured for contact with said one or more fingers such that the face portion has a raised portion for defining a plurality of actuator regions for interaction with said one or more fingers for facilitating the rotation of the actuator body about said pivot connection for displacement from the first position to a second position into an interior of the handle body; and a resilient covering of at least a portion of the grip portion of the handle body, the resilient covering positioned to cover the aperture during the one or more scanning functions; wherein the displacement of the actuator body affects said operation of said one or more scanning functions.