Scan crutch

1. A scan crutch comprising:

a base having a planar surface;

a protrusion extending from the planar surface of the base in a first direction to a distance from the base, the distance being in a range from three inches to five inches; and

an attachment member extending from the base in a second direction different from the first direction, the attachment member comprising two short side portions and two long side portions forming a rectangular shape with a through-opening in a center of the rectangular shape.

2. The scan crutch of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a first planar base portion and a second planar base portion oriented at a right angle to the first planar base portion,

wherein the protrusion extends from the first planar base portion, and

wherein the attachment member extends from the second planar base portion.

3. The scan crutch of claim 2 , wherein the second planar base portion is at one edge of the rectangular shape formed by the attachment member, and

wherein the protrusion is at the one edge of and offset from a center of the rectangular shape formed by the attachment member.

4. A scanning system comprising:

a scanner comprising a housing, a window in an upper end of the housing, a light emitter/receiver in the housing under the window, and a slot open to the upper end of the housing adjacent the window; and

a scan crutch configured to be attached to the scanner, the scan crutch comprising:

a base on the upper end of the housing adjacent the window;

a first protrusion extending from an upper surface of the base in a first direction away from the scanner; and

a second protrusion extending from a lower surface of the base in a second direction toward the scanner, the second direction being opposite the first direction, the second protrusion having a smaller width or diameter in a third direction than the base, the third direction being perpendicular to the first and second directions,

wherein the slot extends in the second direction, and

wherein the second protrusion is configured to be fitted in the slot.

5. The scanning system of claim 4 , wherein the first protrusion is offset from the second protrusion in the third direction.

6. The scanning system of claim 5 , wherein the first protrusion is nearer to a center of the scanner than the second protrusion is.

7. The scanning system of claim 4 , wherein the base comprises a planar base portion and a sidewall extending from an edge of the planar base portion, and

wherein the first and second protrusions respectively extend from upper and lower surfaces of the planar base portion.

8. The scanning system of claim 7 , wherein both the first and second directions are normal to the upper surface of the planar base portion, and

wherein the sidewall extends from the planar base portion in the second direction toward the scanner.

9. The scanning system of claim 8 , wherein the sidewall of the base contacts a side surface of the scanner.

10. The scanning system of claim 8 , wherein the sidewall extends from a plurality of edges of the planar base portion and contacts a corner of the scanner.

11. The scanning system of claim 4 , wherein the base comprises a planar base portion and a sidewall extending from an edge of the planar base portion,

wherein the first protrusion extends from an upper surface of the planar base portion, and

wherein the second protrusion extends from the sidewall in the second direction.

12. The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein the sidewall extends along an entire edge of the planar base portion in the third direction.

13. The scanning system of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the sidewall in the second direction extends beyond a proximal end of the second protrusion in the second direction.

14. A method of scanning a target object by using a scanner and a scan crutch, the scanner comprising a housing, a window in an upper end of the housing, and a light emitter/receiver in the housing and under the window, the scan crutch comprising a base and a protrusion extending from the base, the method comprising:

removing a stylus from a slot of the scanner;

attaching the scan crutch to the scanner by inserting a second protrusion of the scan crutch into the slot in the scanner such that the base contacts the upper end of the housing adjacent the window;

orienting the scanner over the target object such that the window faces the target object; and

moving the scanner and the scan crutch toward the target object such that a distal end of the protrusion contacts the target object.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising activating a scanning function of the scanner when the distal end of the protrusion contacts the target object.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the moving of the scanner and the scan crutch comprises positioning the distal end of the protrusion into a dimple in the target object.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the attaching of the scan crutch to the scanner further comprises rotating the scan crutch relative to the scanner such that a sidewall protruding from the base toward the scanner contacts a side surface of the housing adjacent the upper end of the housing.