IP Library Granted Patent US 10,004,150
Granted Patent B2
US 10,004,150 · App. 15/308,251 · Granted Jun 19, 2018

Vertical electronic device and modular unit

Inventor: William Phillip Dernier (Indianapolis, IN)
Assignee: THOMSON Licensing
H05K5/0013H05K5/0021H05K5/0217H05K5/0221H05K5/0226H05K5/0247H05K5/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,004,150
App. No.
15/308,251
Granted
Jun 19, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device system is provided that comprises: a vertically oriented set top box having an outer casing that includes a wall; and an electronic modular component connected to the wall. The wall comprises: at least one connector aperture; latch catch; and an electronic jack between the at least one connector aperture and the latch catch. The modular component comprises: at least one connector that engages the at least one connector aperture; a latch engages the latch catch to connect the electronic modular component to the wall of the electronic device; and an electronic connector that engages the electronic jack when the latch is engaged.

Claims (31)

1. An electronic device system comprising:

an electronic device having an outer casing, wherein the outer casing has a height that is higher than a width of front vertical surface of the outer casing, a width of a wall which forms a rear vertical surface of the outer casing, and a lateral depth of the outer casing; and

an electronic modular component connected to the wall;

wherein the wall comprises:

at least one connector aperture;

a latch catch; and

an electronic jack between the at least one connector aperture and the latch catch, the latch catch positioned above the electronic jack; and

wherein the modular component comprises:

at least one connector that engages the at least one connector aperture;

a latch that engages the latch catch to connect the electronic modular component to the wall of the electronic device;

an electronic connector that engages the electronic jack when the latch is engaged;

wherein the latch is positioned adjacent an upper edge of a side of the electronic modular component, the latch comprises a planar portion perpendicular to the side and extending away from the side, and the planar portion having a leading edge having a protruding angled portion which grasps the latch catch, thereby causing the latch to engage the latch catch.

2. The electronic device system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector is a hook positioned adjacent a lower edge of the side of the electronic modular component, the hook creating a hinge when engaged in the at least one connector aperture.

3. The electronic device system of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a latch hinge to which the planar portion is connected, the latch hinge being attached to the electronic modular component and the latch hinge permits the planar portion to rotate about an attachment point such that when an exterior angled portion of the protruding angled portion contacts an exterior region of the latch catch of the electronic device and is pushed toward the electronic device, the exterior angled portion causes the leading edge of the planar portion to rotate to an extent where the leading edge is laterally positioned so the leading edge and the protruding angled portion enters the latch catch, whereby the planar portion elastically laterally repositions once the leading edge and the protruding angled portion are in the latch catch to cause an interior contact edge opposite the exterior angled portion to grasp an interior edge of the latch catch.

4. The electronic device system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a wall portion connected to the wall, the wall portion forms an obtuse angle with the wall; and

wherein the electronic modular component comprises a side facing the wall of the electronic device and a side wall parallel to the wall portion.

5. The electronic device system of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion of the latch comprises:

a trailing portion opposite the leading edge, the trailing portion being configured to disengage the protruding angled portion from the latch catch when the trailing portion is pressed to enable the electronic modular component to be detached from the electronic device.

6. An electronic modular component comprising:

a back broad side;

at least one connector on the back broad side adjacent one edge of the back broad side, the at least one connector configured to engage at least one connector aperture of an electronic device;

a latch positioned at an opposite edge of the back broad side, the latch configured to engage a latch catch;

an electronic connector between the latch and the at least one connector on the back broad side, the electronic connector configured to engage an electronic jack when the latch is engaged, the latch catch positioned above the electronic jack;

wherein the latch comprises:

a latch hinge positioned at an end of the electronic modular component;

a planar portion connected to the latch hinge, the planar portion extending beyond the lateral position of the back broad side; and

a leading edge at one end of the planar portion having an interior contact edge extending from the planar portion at an angle from planar portion, the interior contact edge being configured to grasp an interior edge of the latch catch of the electronic device.

7. The electronic modular component of claim 6 , wherein the electronic modular component has a top plan view quadrilateral shape in which the back broad side is parallel to a front broad side and two vertical side walls extend between the front and back broad sides, the back broad side having a smaller lateral width than the lateral width of the front broad side.

8. The electronic modular component of claim 6 , wherein the planar portion of the latch comprises:

a trailing portion opposite the leading edge, the trailing portion being configured to disengage the interior contact edge from the latch catch when the trailing portion is pressed.

9. The electronic modular component of claim 6 , wherein the at least one connector is a hook positioned at the one edge and is configured to create a hinge when engaged in the at least one connector aperture of the electronic device.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME FROM INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS TO INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS, SAS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 47332 FRAME: 511. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS, SAS
Reel/Frame 066703/0509 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 047332/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2016
From: DERNIER, WILLIAM PHILLIP
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 040191/0828 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61989828 · May 7, 2014
Related Publication 20170064843A1 · Mar 2, 2017