A holder for a device may have a receiver that captures an end of the device, and an engagement mechanism that may latch or secure the device into the holder. The holder may permit the device to be held in two or more different positions, and may secure the device in the holder when the holder may be oriented in several different orientations. The holder may operate in conjunction with a removable protective cover that may include features that interact with the engagement mechanism.
1. An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device while in a protective cover, the electronic device having a touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:
a removable protective cover to receive, enclose, and protect the electronic device from physical damage, the removable protective cover being a supplemental case that covers an exterior surface of the electronic device, the removable protective cover including
a top surface and a bottom surface being defined by a proximal end side and a distal end side, the proximal end side and distal end side each having respective lengths, the proximal and distal end sides being separated from one another by first and second opposed sides each having respective individual lengths, the two opposed sides and proximal and distal end sides together forming a perimeter of the removable protective cover, the individual lengths of the first and second opposed sides being longer than the individual lengths of the proximal and distal end sides,
the top surface providing an area that permits viewing of the touchscreen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover,
the first opposed side having a first latch receiver with a first indent positioned at the first opposed side's center portion, the first indent including a length and a width to receive an engagement element of a latch of a holder,
the second opposed side having a second latch receiver with a second indent positioned at the second opposed side's center portion, the second indent including a length and a width to receive an engagement portion of a latch of a holder; and
a holder to receive and mechanically hold the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover, the holder having
a support surface defined by a top end having a top end length, a bottom end having a bottom end length, a first side having a first side length, and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a second side length, wherein the lengths of the first and second sides are greater than the lengths of the top and bottom ends, the holder further having
a receiver extending the entire length of the first side of the holder, the receiver to receive and engage a portion of the lengths of the proximal end side and the distal end side as well as an entire length of one of either the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, and
a latch extending from the second side of the holder to latch with the other one of the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, the latch including an engagement element to engage with the second or first indent of the respective latch receiver positioned on the respective second or first opposed side of the removable protective cover, thereby enabling holding of the electronic device in either a first orientation with the touchscreen display facing the support surface of the holder, or a second orientation with the touchscreen display facing away from the support surface of the holder.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver forms an open-topped box comprising a primary side having four edges, wherein four additional sides mate to the primary side along each of the four edges, and wherein the primary side of the receiver is the bottom of the open-topped box.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein one of the four additional sides of the receiver is angled outward to ease installation and removal of the removable protective cover from the holder.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latch of the holder comprises a ball that engages the first indent in the latch receiver of the first opposed side when the removable protective cover is in the second orientation.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latch of the holder comprises a ball that engages the second indent in the latch receiver of the second opposed side when the removable protective cover is in the first orientation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the removable protective cover comprises a rigid component and a flexible component fitted over the rigid component.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible, stretchable material, and wherein the flexible component wraps around several sides of the rigid component.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bending beam spring extending from the back of the holder and defined by a first groove and a second groove in the back of the holder, wherein the latch is connected to the back of the holder by the bending beam spring.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the removable protective cover is waterproof.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a barcode scanner.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a camera.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a portable instrument.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting mechanism attached to the holder.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a belt clip.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the mounting mechanism is rotatable relative to the back member of the holder.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the removable protective cover comprises a top member having a top surface, and a bottom member having a bottom surface to form the protective cover.
19. An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device while in a protective cover, the electronic device having a touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:
a removable protective cover to receive, enclose, and protect the electronic device from physical damage, the removable protective cover being a supplemental case that covers an exterior surface of the electronic device, the removable protective cover including
a top surface and a bottom surface being defined by a proximal end side and a distal end side, the proximal end side and distal end side each having respective lengths, the proximal and distal end sides being separated from one another by first and second opposed sides each having respective individual lengths, the opposed sides and end sides together forming a perimeter of the removable protective cover, the individual lengths of the first and second opposed sides being longer than the individual lengths of the proximal and distal end sides,
the top surface providing an area that permits viewing of the touchscreen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover,
the first opposed side having a first latch receiver with a first indent, the first indent to engage with an engagement element of a latch of a holder,
the second opposed side having a second latch receiver with a second indent, the second indent to engage with an engagement portion of a latch of a holder; and
a holder to receive and mechanically hold the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover, the holder having
a support surface defined by a top end having a top end length, a bottom end having a bottom end length, a first side having a first side length, and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a second side length, wherein the lengths of the first and second sides are greater than the lengths of the top and bottom ends, the holder further having
a receiver extending the length of the first side of the holder, the receiver to receive and engage a portion of the lengths of the proximal end side and the distal end side as well as an entire length of one of either the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, and
a latch extending from the second side of the holder to latch with the other one of the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, the latch including an engagement element to engage with the second or first indent of the respective latch receiver positioned on the respective second or first opposed side of the removable protective cover.
20. An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device while in a protective cover, the electronic device having a touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:
a removable protective cover to receive, enclose, and protect the electronic device from physical damage, the removable protective cover being a supplemental case that covers an exterior surface of the electronic device, the removable protective cover including
a top surface and a bottom surface being defined by a proximal end side and a distal end side, the proximal end side and distal end side each having respective lengths, the proximal and distal end sides being separated from one another by first and second opposed sides each having respective individual lengths, the opposed sides and end sides together forming a perimeter of the removable protective cover, the individual lengths of the first and second opposed sides being longer than the individual lengths of the proximal and distal end sides,
the top surface providing an area that permits viewing of the touchscreen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover,
the first opposed side having a first latch receiver to engage with a latch of a holder,
the second opposed side having a second latch receiver to engage with a latch of a holder; and
a holder to receive and mechanically hold the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed within the removable protective cover, the holder having
a support surface defined by a top end having a top end length, a bottom end having a bottom end length, a first side having a first side length, and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a second side length, wherein the lengths of the first and second sides are greater than the lengths of the top and bottom ends, the holder further having
a receiver extending the length of the first side of the holder, the receiver to receive and engage a portion of the lengths of the proximal end side and the distal end side as well as an entire length of one of either the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, and
a latch extending from the second side of the holder to latch with the other one of the latch receiver of the first and second opposed sides of the removable protective cover.