Patent Application
20060176222
This invention relates generally to an apparatus with an alignment function, and more particularly to an apparatus for aligning an irregular shaped head with a cavity during insertion.
Devices with extractable portions, such as an antenna of a cellular phone, can suffer damage during insertion. This is particularly evident when there is only a single way to insert an irregular shaped head of the antenna in a corresponding cavity without damage. A user's repeated attempts at inserting the irregular shaped head into the corresponding cavity without additional guidance can cause undue friction and wear on such components.
Embodiments in accordance with the invention provide an apparatus for aligning an irregular shaped head with a cavity during insertion.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus has an irregular shaped head coupled to a top end of a stem, a nipple coupled to a side surface of the stem, and a housing assembly. The housing assembly comprises a conduit for insertion and extraction of the stem, a cavity above the conduit, wherein the cavity is shaped according to the irregular shaped head for engaging therewith, and a slide coupled to the conduit to rotationally guide the nipple so that the irregular shaped head aligns with the cavity during insertion.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a selective call radio (SCR) has an antenna comprising an irregular shaped head coupled to a top end of a stem having a nipple coupled to a side surface of the stem, a receiver coupled to the antenna, a processor coupled to the receiver, and a housing assembly. The housing assembly comprises a conduit for insertion and extraction of the stem, a cavity above the conduit, wherein the cavity is shaped according to the irregular shaped head for engaging therewith, and a slide coupled to the conduit to rotationally guide the nipple so that the irregular shaped head aligns with the cavity during insertion.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus has an irregular shaped head coupled to a top end of a stem, a protrusion coupled to a side surface of the stem, and a housing assembly. The housing assembly comprises a conduit for insertion and extraction of the stem, a cavity above the conduit, wherein the cavity is shaped according to the irregular shaped head for engaging therewith, and a guiding element coupled to the conduit to rotationally guide the protrusion of the stem so that the irregular shaped head aligns with the cavity during insertion.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the embodiments of the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
The processor 106 utilizes conventional means such as a microprocessor, memory and software applications operating therein for controlling operations of the foregoing components 102-114 of the SCR 100. The receiver 104 is a conventional receiver for receiving radio messages from a communication network. Although not shown in
The foregoing electrical components 102-114 of the SCR 100 are contained in a housing assembly using conventional materials such as plastics, metal, and/or other commonly used compounds. Portions 200 of this housing assembly are shown in
Rear housing elements can also be included with these portions. For example, the flip portion can include a second component of the display 108 for presenting, for example, caller ID information, clock and date, or other pertinent information to an end user of the SCR 100. The base housing portion can include a rear battery door for carrying a battery coupled to the power supply 114, and a housing assembly 204 such as shown in
In the illustration of
As shown in
Referring now to
The slide 212 can have three surfaces. A first surface of the slide 212 is a peak 212A, which in the present embodiment has a sharp edge so as to cause the nipple 208 to slide in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Alternatively, the peak 212A can be a smooth surface with a surface area small enough to maintain the tendency in the nipple 208 to move rotationally according to an angle of engagement therewith. On each side of the peak 212A of the slide is a counter-clockwise declining slope 212B and a clockwise declining slope 212C that circles the conduit 209 and convenes at an end point. The rate of descent of the slopes 212B and 212C can be any range (e.g., 45 to 60 degrees) so long as it is suitable for producing a rotating effect on the nipple 208 while the antenna 102 components are being forced down into the conduit 209 by an external force such as an end user of the SCR 100. The slopes 212B and 212C can have a symmetrical or an asymmetrical rate of decline. Moreover, a portion of said surfaces 212B-212C of the slide 212 has an angular geometry relative to the conduit for rotationally guiding the nipple 208 to the end point.
The end point is represented in the embodiment of
As an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the end point of the slides 212 can be represented by a convergence point of the counter-clockwise and clockwise declining slopes 212B-212C thereby forming, for example, a “V” or “U” shaped juncture. Accordingly, as the nipple 208 slides down either of the declining slopes 212B-212C of the slide 212, it meets at the end point of the slide 212 as represented by any one of three embodiments: the “V” shaped, “U” shaped or tunnel 218 embodiments. Other shapes for the end point of the slide 212 suitable for the present invention can be used. When the nipple 208 reaches the end point of the slide 212, the irregular shaped head 202 of the antenna 102 aligns with the cavity 222 at zero degrees rotation 202B as shown in
As a supplement to the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the housing assembly 204 further includes a first protrusion 214 and a second protrusion coupled to a cavity 220 of the conduit 209, which are situated above the slide 212 with sufficient spacing to allow the nipple 208 to travel below said protrusions 214A-214B. The protrusions 214A-214B are separated by the gap described above for allowing the nipple 208 to traverse between them. In addition, the first and second protrusions 214A-214B have protrusion slides 214C-214D with declining slopes. Any suitable rate of decline (e.g., 60 degrees) can be used for these slopes so long as it is sufficient to cause the nipple 208 to slide on said protrusion slides 214C-214D towards the gap.
There are three possible functions for the protrusions 214A-214B depending on the position of the nipple 208. A first case involves the nipple 208 aligned with the tunnel 218 during insertion of the antenna 102. In this instance, the nipple 208 travels downward between the protrusions 214A-214B and into the tunnel 218. In this example, the irregular shaped head 202 of the antenna 102 aligns with the cavity 222 and no significant rotations occur during insertion.
A second case involves the nipple 208 positioned away from the protrusions 214A-214B during insertion with a probable engagement with either the peak 212A or either of the counter-clockwise or clockwise declining slopes 212B-212C of the slide 212. In this instance, the nipple 208 travels down the slide 212 eventually passing below either protrusion 214A-214B and moving abruptly down the tunnel 218 when it reaches the end point of the slide 212. During this insertion process, the protrusions 214A-214B are also serving to guide the stem 206 in alignment with the conduit 209 to avoid a bend in the stem 206 that might cause the nipple 208 to disengage with the slide 212.
A third case involves the nipple 208 engaging with either protrusion slide 214C-214D. In this case, the nipple 208 slides on one of the protrusion slides 214C-214D towards the tunnel 218 thereby causing an abrupt downward motion during insertion of the stem 206. In each of the foregoing cases, the nipple 208 is directed to the tunnel 218, thereby aligning the irregular shaped head 202 of the antenna 102 with the cavity 222.
In light of the foregoing description, it should be evident that embodiments in the present invention could be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope and spirit of the claims below. It should also be understood that the claims are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents. For example, although a nail and a screw fastener may not be structural equivalents in that the nail has no spiral threading, a nail and a screw fastener can be used for securing objects firmly together, thereby making the nail and screw fastener equivalent structures. Accordingly, equivalent structures that read on the description provided herein are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
