Secure interface cradle for pocket personal computer device

A secure clamping mechanism comprising:

• two spaced apart surfaces;
• a resiliently compressible biasing member between the two spaced apart surfaces;
• a clamp portion having a drive portion that is structured to be slidingly engaged between the two spaced apart surfaces;
• and
• a notch formed in at least one of the two spaced apart surfaces;
• a locking key engaging the biasing member between the drive portion and at least one of the spaced apart surfaces, the locking key having a complementary detent engaged with the notch;
• and
• one of the locking key and one of the spaced apart surfaces resiliently flexes to permit the locking key to be positioned between the two spaced apart surfaces and further relaxes for interlocking the locking key between the two spaced apart surfaces after the locking key is positioned.

A secure clamping mechanism comprising:

• two spaced apart surfaces;
• a resiliently compressible biasing member between the two spaced apart surfaces;
• a clamp portion having a drive portion having an elongated shaft portion that is structured to be slidingly engaged between the two spaced apart surfaces and that is further structured for engaging a first end of the biasing member;
• and
• a notch formed in at least one of the two spaced apart surfaces;
• a locking key engaging the biasing member between the drive portion and at least one of the spaced apart surfaces, the locking key having a substantially rigid elongated body having a substantially rectangular cross-section;
• a substantially rectangular shoulder portion formed at a first end of the elongated body;
• and first and second complementary detents projecting from opposing sides of the elongated body and engaged with the notch.

A clamping mechanism comprising:

• a pair of resiliently flexible walls spaced apart a substantially constant distance and having an opening formed therebetween;
• a compression spring sized to compress between the spaced apart walls;
• a clamp having a jaw portion and a drive portion extending therefrom, the drive portion being sized to slidingly fit between the spaced apart walls and including structure that is spaced away from the jaw portion and is adapted to engage a first end of the spring;
• and
• a locking key structured to substantially permanently interlock with one or more of the spaced apart walls and to engage a second end of the spring, the locking key having one or more detents projecting from a body portion thereof;
• and
• wherein one or more of the resiliently flexible walls further comprises a notch positioned adjacent to the opening formed therebetween and structured to receive one of the detents of the locking key.

A cradle for a mobile electronics device, the cradle comprising:

• a substantially rigid base having a seat formed therein and a back extending crosswise from the seat, the back including a channel having an opening thereinto formed at a first end that is distal from the seat and that is formed having a substantially rigid but resiliently flexible wall structure that includes at least one notch formed therein adjacent to the opening;
• a substantially rigid clamp having a jaw and an elongated shaft extending crosswise from the jaw, the elongated shaft being structured to be slidingly received into the channel through the opening thereinto and further including a spring engagement structure formed distal from the jaw;
• a locking key having at least one substantially rigid detent projecting from a substantially rigid body portion, the detent being structured to interlock with the notch formed in the channel portion of the base;
• and
• a compression spring that is sized to be received into the channel through the opening thereinto and is further sized to be in a partly compressed state when positioned between the locking key and the spring engagement structure of the elongated shaft distal from the jaw.