Trigger device used in a palmtop computer

A trigger device includes a retaining frame, a swing arm, a toggle switch, a resilient member and a touch component. An end of the swing arm is connected to the middle of the retaining frame, and another end of the swing arm is connected to a magnetic sensor, and an end of the toggle switch is pivotally connected to the top of the retaining frame. The swing arm forms a pressing rod disposed on the toggle switch and pressed for swinging the swing arm. The retaining frame and swing arm are connected to the resilient member, and the touch component is mounted into the retaining frame and installed at another end of the toggle switch. An elastic button is installed between the touch component and the toggle switch for pressing the toggle switch. Obvious feel and tough can be provided to enhance the operability and convenience of the trigger device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a trigger device, and more particularly to a trigger device used in a palmtop computer.

2. Description of Prior Art

To expedite distributions, logistics and warehouse businesses and process a large quantity of data in the shortest time, a bar code is the trend for products of our daily life. Not only supermarket, warehouse and distribution businesses use bar codes as a tool for controlling merchandises, but payments for parking tickets, credit cards and other bills also use bar codes as a necessary input tool. Further, a bar code cannot be read and determined visually and totally relies on a palmtop computer such as a scanner for its operation. Therefore, it is a main subject of the present invention to find a way of enhancing the operability and convenience.

In general, a traditional trigger device of a palmtop computer having a magnetic switch includes a retaining frame, a swing arm, a toggle switch and a resilient member, wherein an end of the swing arm is connected to a middle section of the retaining frame and another end of the swing arm is connected to a magnetic sensor, and an end of the toggle switch is pivotally connected to the top of the retaining frame, and a pressing rod is formed on the toggle switch for pressing the swing arm, and the resilient member is connected separately to the retaining frame and the swing arm, such that when the toggle switch is pressed, the sensor of the swing arm will be controlled to turn on or off the palmtop computer.

However, there are still some drawbacks existed in the practical applications of traditional trigger devices used in palmtop computers. Since a traditional device usually does not come with a touch component, users cannot observe a palmtop computer being turned on and reading data while the toggle switch is moved backward all the way to the end of its traveling path. As a result, users may press the toggle switch repeatedly to read data, or users may press the toggle switch too long that rapidly wastes a great deal of power consumption of the palmtop computer and greatly lowers its operability and convenience. The foregoing shortcomings of the prior art demand immediate attentions and require further improvements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct experiments and modifications, and finally designed a trigger device for a palmtop computer in accordance with the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

The present invention is to overcome the shortcomings and avoid the existing deficiencies of the prior art by providing a trigger device for a palmtop computer, wherein a touch component is installed between a retaining frame and a toggle switch, such that when the toggle switch is pressed, obvious feel and touch of a click can be provided to greatly enhance the operability and convenience.

The invention provides a trigger device that comprises a retaining frame, a swing arm, a toggle switch, a resilient member and a touch component. An end of the swing arm is connected to the middle section of the retaining frame, and another end of the swing arm is connected to a magnetic sensor and an end of the toggle switch is pivotally connected to the top of the retaining frame, and a pressing rod is formed on the toggle switch for pressing the swing arm. The resilient member is connected separately to the retaining frame and the swing arm. The touch component is fixed in the retaining frame and installed at another end corresponding to the toggle switch, and an elastic button is installed between the touch component and the toggle switch for pressing the toggle switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technical characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2for an exploded view and a schematic view of the present invention respectively, the invention provides a trigger device used in a palmtop computer, and the trigger device comprises a retaining frame10, a swing arm20, a toggle switch30, a resilient member40and a touch component50.

The retaining frame10is a rectangular frame being formed by a plurality of surrounding panels and comprising: two corresponding support arms11protruded outward from the top of the retaining frame10; a through hole12connected to an end of each support arm11; a transversal stop board13disposed at the middle of the rear of the two support arms11for limiting the swinging scope of the end of the swing arm20; a transversal rod14disposed on both left and right sides of the bottom of the stop board13; a fan-shaped hole15disposed at the middle section of the stop board13on the right side; and a containing groove16disposed on a board behind the fan-shaped hole15.

The swing arm20is substantially in a n-shape, and comprises a fan-shaped member21protruded separately from the exterior of the bottom of both left and right sides and passed through the fan-shaped hole15of the retaining frame1O. The swing arm20forms a rectangular groove22at the top of the swing arm20, and the groove22is provided for installing and connecting a magnetic sensor23, wherein the magnetic sensor23can be a permanent magnet, and the groove22forms a transversal rod body24under the groove22.

The toggle switch30comprises a cap-shaped triggering portion31, two corresponding protruding shafts32protruded from both left and right sides of the triggering portion31and pivotally connected to a through hole12of the retaining frame10, a L-shaped pressing board33protruded backward from the bottom of the triggering portion31, and two pressing rods34disposed at the lower edge of the triggering portion31and corresponding to both left and right side arms of the swing arm20for pressing and swinging the swing arm20.

The resilient member40can be a tension spring having a hook41extended from both upper and lower ends of the resilient member40, and the hooks41,42are hooked onto the transversal rod14of the retaining frame10and the rod body24of the swing arm20respectively.

The touch component50can be a micro switch, but the micro switch is not electrically connected and it also conducts no transmission of electric signals. The touch component50comprises a base51and an elastic button52protruded from the front of the base51, and the base51is mounted into the containing groove16of the retaining frame10, and the elastic button52is installed corresponding to the pressing board33of the toggle switch30, such that the touch and feel of a click can be produced during an operation. In addition, the touch component50of the invention further comprises a connected elastic plate53disposed at the bottom of the base51and extended obliquely outward, so that after the pressing board33of the toggle switch30is pressed onto the elastic plate53, the elastic plate53will be pressed on the elastic button52to produce a feel of the click.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4for an exploded view and a cross-sectional view of a handle trigger device and a handle of the present invention respectively, the trigger device of the invention further comprises a T-shape handle60, a hollow chamber61formed in the middle of the handle60, and a through hole62formed at the front of a lateral side of the handle60and interconnected with the chamber61. After the foregoing components are installed and placed into the chamber61, the triggering portion31of the toggle switch30is precisely disposed at the corresponding position of the through hole62and exposed from the handle60and then mounted onto a horizontal board of the retaining frame10and screwed onto the handle60, so as to constitute a trigger device of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6for a schematic view and a cross-sectional of a trigger device being used together with a scanner in accordance with the present invention respectively, the invention is provided for connecting a palmtop computer7such as a scanner, and the palmtop computer7installs a magnetic switch71at the position of a magnetic sensor23corresponding to the swing arm20. Normally, the resilience of the resilient member40drives the trigger device to press the top of the swing arm20onto a stop board13of the retaining frame10; such that if a user triggers the triggering portion31of the toggle switch30, the pressing rod34of the toggle switch30is moved backward and pressed onto two lateral boards of the swing arm20. While the swing arm20is swinging backward, the magnetic sensor23is moved backward as well, and the magnetic force of the sensor23is used for controlling the magnetic switch71, such that the palmtop computer7can read data such as bar codes. Further, when the toggle switch30is moved to the end of its traveling path, the pressing board33is pressed on the elastic plate53, and the elastic plate53is pressed on the elastic button52; so that when the toggle switch30is triggered, obvious touch and feel of a click can be produced to greatly enhance the operability and convenience.

In summation of the description above, the trigger device used in a palmtop computer of the present invention complies with the patent application requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application.

The present invention are illustrated with reference to the preferred embodiment and not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.