Patent ID: 6182169
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A tether and latch for a shirt pocket (palm) sized note taking and record keeping Personal Digital Assistant computer (PDA) having a docking base with latching notches recessed into opposite side edges and configured for seating within female sockets of external mounting cradles and circuitry modules, comprising in combination:a) a latch body providing,(i) a socket for snugly receiving curvilinear docking surfaces of the docking base of the PDA having a mating curvilinear circumferential lip with a fitting gap and a fixed catch nib projecting inwardly at a location within the socket opposite the gap located for seating into a latching notch in a side edge of the docking base,(ii) a yoke above the fitting gap in the circumferential lip; and(iii) a tab having a tether hole;b) a compression spring; andc) a manual toggle mechanically coupled to and translating on the yoke linearly inward and outward relative to the socket providing,(i) an exterior tongue extending downward closing the gap in the circumferential lip of the latch body having a catch nib projecting inwardly located for seating into the latching notch in the opposite side edge of the docking base when the PDA is docked in the socket provided by the latch body, andd) cooperating mechanical means integral with the yoke and integral with the manual toggle for,(i) confining and compressing the spring between the yoke and toggle biasing the toggle to translate inward on the yoke relative to the socket, and(ii) resisting outward translation of the toggle on yoke relative to the socket, whereby, the toggle translates outward responsive to manual force pushing the toggle outward compressing the spring further and translates inward responsive to expansion force exerted by the compressed spring, ande) a tether fastened to the tether hole adapted to be fastened to a person using the PDA.