Holder

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device, 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 at least partially covers an exterior surface of the electronic device, the removable protective cover including
 a top surface and a bottom surface defined by a proximal end side and a distal end side each having respective individual 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 the 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, 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, 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 the removable protective cover, the holder having
 a support surface defined by a top end having a top end length, a bottom end opposite the top end, the 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, 
 a receiver comprising a plurality of fingers, the receiver to receive and engage portions of the proximal end side and the distal end side of the removable protective cover, as well as to receive and engage a portion of one of either the first or 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 first or second opposed side of the removable protective cover to hold the electronic device in either a first orientation with the touchscreen display facing the support surface of the holder, or in a second orientation with the touchscreen display facing away from the support surface of the holder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fingers engages portions of the proximal end side, top surface, and bottom surface of the removable protective cover, and another of the fingers engages portions of the distal end side, top surface, and bottom surface of the removable protective cover when the removable cover is inserted into the holder. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of the fingers is angled away from the support surface 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 latch receiver of the first opposed side when the removable protective cover is in the second orientation, or engages the second latch receiver of the second opposed side when the removable protective cover is in the first orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable protective cover comprises a rigid component and a flexible component fitted over the rigid component. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible, stretchable material, and wherein the flexible component engages several sides of the rigid component. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bendable beam spring extending from the support surface of the holder, wherein the latch is connected to the support surface of the holder by the bendable beam spring. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable protective cover is waterproof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of: a barcode scanner, a camera, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable instrument. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting mechanism attached to the holder. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a belt clip. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting mechanism is rotatable relative to the support surface of the holder. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device while in a protective cover, the electronic device having a touchscreen display, the protective cover having a front surface and a rear surface each defined by a top end and a bottom end separated from one another by first and second opposed sides, the apparatus comprising:
 a holder to receive 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, 
 a receiver comprising a plurality of fingers, the receiver to receive and engage portions of a top end and a bottom end of the removable protective cover, as well as to receive and engage a portion of one of either the first or 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 an indent of the respective latch receiver positioned on the respective first or second opposed side of the removable protective cover. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the fingers engages portions of the top end, the front surface, and the rear surface of the removable protective cover, and another one of the fingers engages portions of the bottom end, front surface, and rear surface of the removable protective cover when the removable protective cover is inserted into the holder. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of each of the fingers is angled away from the support surface to ease installation and removal of the removable protective cover from the holder. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the latch of the holder comprises a ball that engages the first latch receiver of the first opposed side when the removable protective cover is in a second orientation with the touchscreen display facing the support surface of the holder, or engages the second latch receiver of the second opposed side when the removable protective cover is in a first orientation with the touchscreen display facing away from the support surface of the holder. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a bendable beam spring extending from the support surface of the holder, wherein the latch of the holder is connected to the support surface of the holder by the bendable beam spring. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for mounting and protecting an electronic device while in a removable protective cover, the removable protective cover having a top surface and a bottom surface each defined by a top end and a bottom end separated from one another by first and second opposed sides, the electronic device having a touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:
 a holder to receive the removable protective cover, the holder having
 a support surface defined by a top end having a top end length, a bottom end opposite the top end, the 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, 
 a receiver extending at least part of the first side length of the support surface, the receiver being discontinuous along at least a portion of the first side length of the receiver, the receiver to receive and engage portions of the top end and the bottom end of the protective cover, as well as to receive and engage a portion of one of either the first or second opposed sides of the removable protective cover, and 
 a latch extending from the second side of the holder to latch with a first latch receiver of the first opposed side or a second latch receiver of the second opposed side of the removable protective cover. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein at least one portion of the receiver engages portions of the top side, front surface, and rear surface of the removable protective cover, and another portion of the receiver engages portions of the bottom side, front surface, and rear surface of the removable protective cover when the removable protective cover is inserted into the holder. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the receiver is angled away from the support surface to ease installation and removal of the removable protective cover from the holder. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the latch of the holder comprises a ball that engages the first latch receiver of the first opposed side when the removable protective cover is in a second orientation with the touchscreen display facing the support surface of the holder, or engages the second latch receiver of the second opposed side when the removable protective cover is in a first orientation with the touchscreen display facing away from the support surface of the holder. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a bendable beam spring extending from the support surface of the holder, wherein the latch of the holder is connected to the support surface of the holder by the bendable beam spring.