Docking apparatus for handheld computer and mobile payment terminal

{
  "publication_number": "US11269375B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Docking apparatus for handheld computer and mobile payment terminal",
  "abstract": "A connectivity sled for docking and undocking a mobile computer and a payment device, comprises a first adapter plate assembly directly coupled to the payment device, including a configuration that couples to a surface of the payment device is exposes all ports, function keys, and interfaces of the payment device and at least one magnet. The sled further comprising a second adapter plate assembly directly coupled to the mobile computer, including a first portion that couples to a top surface of the mobile computer device, and at least one magnet that magnetically couples to the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A connectivity sled for docking and undocking a mobile computer and a payment device, comprising: a first adapter plate assembly directly coupled to the payment device, including: a configuration that couples to a surface of the payment device in a manner that exposes all ports, function keys, and interfaces of the payment device; and at least one magnet, wherein the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly comprises a first magnet affixed to a top region of the first adapter plate assembly and a second magnet affixed to a bottom region of the first adapter plate assembly; a second adapter plate assembly directly coupled to the mobile computer device, including: a first portion that couples to a top surface of the mobile computer, and including at least one other magnet of the second adapter plate assembly that magnetically couples to the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly.",
    "2. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the second adapter plate assembly further includes a second portion at a bottom of the mobile computer for attaching a wrist strap.",
    "3. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly and the at least one other magnet of the second adapter plate assembly allow a docking and undocking of the mobile computer and payment device without a manual switch or clip actuator.",
    "4. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the mobile computer and payment device pair with each other to communicate via wireless or wired connection when docked or undocked to each other.",
    "5. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the mobile computer device is a Zebra® TC-70 computer, and the payment device is an Ingenico® iSMP payment device.",
    "6. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the first adapter plate assembly is constructed and arranged to permit access by a user to at least one of an input/output port, connector, card reader slot, or battery cover of the payment device.",
    "7. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet is positioned in a hole of the first adapter plate assembly so that a surface of the at least one magnet is substantially co-planar with the surface of the first adapter plate assembly.",
    "8. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the first adapter plate assembly includes a center hole having a central region and a plurality of lobe or rounded corners.",
    "9. The connectivity sled of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the second adapter plate assembly includes a top bracket having a tooth extending from a rear surface of the top bracket configured for insertion into a cavity of the mobile computer.",
    "10. A method for coupling a mobile electronic device to a payment device, comprising: coupling a first adapter plate assembly directly to the payment device, the first adapter plate assembly including: a configuration that couples to a surface of the payment device in a manner that exposes all ports, function keys, and interfaces of the payment device; and at least one magnet, wherein the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly comprises a first magnet affixed to a top region of the first adapter plate assembly and a second magnet affixed to a bottom region of the first adapter plate assembly; and coupling a second adapter plate assembly directly to the mobile computer device, including: a first portion that couples to a top surface of the mobile computer, and including at least one other magnet of the second adapter plate assembly that magnetically couples to the at least one magnet of the first adapter plate assembly.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, further including positioning a second portion at a bottom of the mobile computer for attaching a wrist strap.",
    "12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one magnet allows a docking and undocking of the mobile computer and payment device without a manual switch or clip actuator.",
    "13. The method of claim 10, further comprising pairing the mobile computer and payment device with each other to communicate via wireless or wired connection when docked or undocked to each other.",
    "14. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile computer device is a Zebra® TC-70 computer, and the payment device is an Ingenico® iSMP payment device.",
    "15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first adapter plate assembly is constructed and arranged to permit access by a user to at least one of an input/output port, connector, card reader slot, or battery cover of the payment device.",
    "16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one magnet is positioned in a hole of the first adapter plate assembly so that a surface of the at least one magnet is substantially co-planar with the surface of the first adapter plate assembly.",
    "17. The method of claim 10, further comprising constructing the first adapter plate assembly to include a center hole having a central region and a plurality of lobe or rounded corners.",
    "18. The method of claim 10, further constructing the first portion of the second adapter plate assembly to include a top bracket having a tooth extending from a rear surface of the top bracket configured for insertion into a cavity of the mobile computer."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present inventive concepts relate generally to handheld computers used for processing customer purchases in a store, and more specifically, to a docking apparatus, or sled, that physically and removably couples a handheld computer and a mobile payment terminal.\n\nA mobile checkout operation at a retail establishment such as a supermarket, department store, and so on typically requires a store employee to operate two different mobile electronic devices. The first is a mobile electronic device that performs barcode scanning and/or other point-of-sale functions. The second is a mobile payment computing device for performing electronic payment functions such as credit card processing. The two electronic devices may communicate with each other via Bluetooth™ or other electronic pairing technology. One or both mobile devices may communicate with a remote computer such as a database to perform such point-of-sale functions.\n\nThere may be instances where it is preferable for the two devices to be physically co-located and coupled to each other, and other instances where they must be separated from each other. For example, a user may be required to present only the mobile payment computing device to swipe a credit card, which is difficult to hold or use if attached to the barcode scanning device. In another example, the payment computing device may be large and bulky compared to the smaller mobile scanning device, which may have a footprint similar to a smartphone or related mobile electronic device.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/1613",
    "A45F 2005/008",
    "A45F 2200/0525",
    "A45F 5/00",
    "A45F 5/1525",
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    "A47F 9/04",
    "F16B 1/00",
    "F16B 2001/0035",
    "F16B 2200/83",
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    "G06F 1/163",
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    "G06K 7/087",
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  "ipc": [
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    "G06K 7/08",
    "G06Q 20/20",
    "H01F 7/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Walmart Apollo LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daniel Coward",
    "Nathan McClure",
    "Jordon Paul Hoelzeman",
    "Douglas E. Humphrys"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-05-27",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-08",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-08",
  "priority_date": "2019-05-28",
  "application_number": "US-202016884145-A",
  "family_id": "73550688",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}