Housing for an optical reader
A body portion of an optical reader has an elastomeric skirt surrounding the lateral edges thereof. The laterally spaced front edges of the skirt, which are on either side of a window through which the light is emitted and received along an optical axis, are angled rearwardly from a plane normal to the axis. The front edges extend downwardly and forwardly from a front edge of the bottom wall of a body, and also extend forwardly from a front edge of the top wall of the body. These features allow the lower ends of the front edges of the skirt to be placed on a surface near the target to act as a fulcrum in rotating the handle of the scanner to selectively place the reader in close proximity to the target, while at the same time allowing the operator to view the target. An elastomeric collar is applied to the lower end of the handle such that when the scanning device is placed at rest in an unused condition, no matter what the rotational position with respect to the axis of the handle, the device will be supported at one elastomeric covered position on each of the handle and the skirt. Other features of the scanning device provide for a stable parking of the scanner when not in use and a substantial recessing of the front window to thereby protect it from contact with objects that may tend to scratch or damage the window.
1. An optical scanning device of the type having apparatus for emitting light and for receiving light along an optical axis and through a forward window placed in proximity to a target and which is adapted for contact with a planar surface, said optical scanning device comprising:
a handle to be grasped by an operator for selectively positioning the scanning device near the target;
a head connected at one end of said handle and containing the light emitting and receiving apparatus, said head having a front face comprising spaced apart first and second elongated surfaces, each being shaped to be slightly convex outwardly, said scanning device being configured so that said first and second spaced apart elongated surfaces can contact said planar surface simultaneously, said first and second spaced apart elongated surfaces each extending in a direction generally parallel to a plane extending normal to said optical axis but angled rearward from said plane such that lower portions of said first and second elongated surfaces extend more forwardly than upper portions of said first and second surfaces; and
wherein said each elongated surface extends downwardly from a front edge of a bottom wall of a body extending there between.
2. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the angle between each said elongated surface and said plane is the range of 5 to 10 degrees.
3. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said head has a top surface coated with elastomeric materials.
4. The optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first and second elongated surfaces comprise elastomeric material.
5. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said each elongated surface extends forwardly of a front edge of a bottom wall of a body extending there between.
6. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said each elongated surface extend forwardly of a front edge of a top wall of a body extending there between.
7. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second elongated surfaces terminate in a base point.
8. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second elongated surfaces consist of elastomeric material.
9. An optical scanning device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises a lower end coated with elastomeric material.