Attachment apparatus with suction cup
View Patent ↗In one embodiment of the invention, an attachment apparatus ( 100 ) for attaching a first device to a second device includes a cradle ( 110 ) and a suction cup ( 120 ) removably attached to the cradle. As an example, the first device can be a battery pack ( 400 ) for an electronic device. The cradle includes a major surface ( 111 ), a first sidewall ( 112 ) coupled to the major surface, a second sidewall ( 113 ) coupled to the major surface opposite the first sidewall, and a hole ( 114 ) in the major surface. The suction cup is attached to the cradle at the hole.
1. An attachment apparatus for attaching a first device to a second device, the attachment apparatus comprising:
a cradle comprising:
a major surface;
a first sidewall coupled to the major surface;
a second sidewall coupled to the major surface opposite the first sidewall; and
a hole in the major surface; and
a suction cup coupled to the cradle at the hole,
wherein:
the suction cup comprises:
a suction pad; and
a knob attached to the suction pad; and
the knob comprises:
a primary portion; and
a secondary portion extending from the primary portion.
2. The attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the suction cup further comprises a release tab located at an edge of the suction pad; and
the primary portion has a depression therein.
3. The attachment apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the hole comprises:
a primary opening; and
a secondary opening coupled to the primary opening.
4. The attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cradle further comprises:
a pad protruding from the major surface.
5. The attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the first device is a battery pack.
6. The attachment apparatus of claim 5 wherein:
the battery pack comprises:
a battery module comprising:
a battery compartment; and
an on/off switch; and
a cover enclosing the battery compartment and removably attached to the battery module.
7. The attachment apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the battery module further comprises a charge indicator.
8. The attachment apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the battery module further comprises a charge indicator actuator.
9. The attachment apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the battery pack further comprises:
a cantilever arm coupled to the battery module opposite the battery compartment; and
a depression in the battery module opposite the battery compartment and adjacent to the cantilever arm; and
the cantilever arm comprises a locking tab.
10. The attachment apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the cover comprises a first portion;
the first portion covers the charge indicator when the cover is attached to the battery module; and
the charge indicator is visible through the first portion.
11. The attachment apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the cover further comprises:
an extension arm; and
the battery pack further comprises:
a hole for receiving at least a portion of the extension arm and securing the cover to the battery pack.
12. A battery pack for attachment to an electronic device, the battery pack comprising:
a battery module;
a cover removably coupled to the battery module;
a cradle coupled to the battery module; and
a suction cup removably coupled to the cradle,
wherein:
the suction cup comprises:
a suction pad;
a release tab located at an edge of the suction pad; and
a knob attached to the suction pad; and
the knob comprises:
a primary portion having a depression therein and extending through the hole; and
a secondary portion extending from the primary portion.
13. The battery pack of claim 12 wherein:
the battery module comprises:
a battery compartment;
an on/off switch; and
a charge indicator; and
the cover encloses the battery compartment.
14. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein:
the battery module further comprises a charge indicator actuator adjacent to the battery compartment.
15. The battery pack of claim 12 wherein:
the cover further comprises:
an extension arm; and
the battery pack further comprises:
a hole for receiving at least a portion of the extension arm and securing the cover to the battery pack.
16. The battery pack of claim 12 wherein:
the cradle comprises:
a major surface;
a pad protruding from the major surface in a first direction;
a first sidewall coupled to the major surface and extending in the first direction;
a second sidewall coupled to the major surface opposite the first sidewall and extending in the first direction; and
a hole in the major surface; and
the suction cup is removably coupled to the cradle through the hole.
17. The battery pack of claim 16 wherein:
the hole comprises:
a primary opening; and
a secondary opening coupled to the primary opening.
18. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein:
the battery pack further comprises:
a cantilever arm coupled to the battery module opposite the battery compartment; and
a depression in the battery module opposite the battery compartment and adjacent to the cantilever arm; and
the cantilever arm comprises a locking tab.
19. The battery pack of claim 18 wherein:
the cover comprises a first portion;
the first portion covers the charge indicator when the cover is attached to the battery module; and
the charge indicator is visible through the first portion.
20. An attachment apparatus for attaching a battery pack to an electronic device, the attachment apparatus comprising:
a cradle comprising:
a major surface;
a first sidewall coupled to the major surface;
a second sidewall coupled to the major surface opposite the first sidewall; and
a hole in the major surface; and
a suction cup removably attached to the cradle at the hole;
wherein:
the battery pack comprises:
a battery module comprising:
a battery compartment;
an on/off switch;
a charge indicator; and
a charge indicator actuator;
a cable coupled to the battery module; and
a cover enclosing the battery compartment removably attached to the battery module; and
the suction cup comprises:
a suction pad; and
a knob attached to the suction pad; and
the knob comprises:
a primary portion; and
a secondary portion extending from the primary portion.
21. The attachment apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
the battery pack further comprises:
a cantilever arm attached to the battery module opposite the battery compartment; and
a depression in the battery module opposite the battery compartment and adjacent to the cantilever arm; and
the cantilever arm comprises a locking tab.
22. The attachment apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
the suction cup comprises:
a vacuum release tab located at an edge of the suction pad; and
the primary portion of the knob has a depression therein.
23. The attachment apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
the cover comprises a thick portion and a thin portion;
the thin portion covers the charge indicator when the cover is attached to the battery module; and
the charge indicator is visible through the thin portion.
24. The attachment apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
the hole comprises:
a primary opening; and
a secondary opening communicating with the primary opening.
25. The attachment apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
the cover further comprises:
an extension arm; and
the battery pack further comprises:
a hole for receiving at least a portion of the extension arm and securing the cover to the battery pack.