US 12,421,766 B2
Apparatus, method and a computer program for retaining a hand portable electronic device
Jacob Peter Boston, Windsor (GB); and Anthony John Rainbow, Windsor (GB)
Assigned to Zebra Technologies Corporation, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed by ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/866,237.
Claims priority of application No. 2110260 (GB), filed on Jul. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0074807 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. E05B 73/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/00 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 73/0082 (2013.01) [E05B 47/0002 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0067 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0094 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locking apparatus for retaining one or more hand held portable electronic devices, the locking apparatus comprising:
a retainer configured for receiving and retaining a hand portable electronic device in a secured state relative to the locking apparatus;
an electronically operated lock configured to translate the retainer between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, wherein in the locked configuration the retainer is arranged to prevent release of a hand portable electronic device retained by the retainer;
at least one sensor arranged to receive at least one wireless signal emitted by the hand portable electronic device retained by the retainer; and
processing circuitry configured to control the lock to transition the retainer from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration based on the at least one wireless signal received by the sensor from the hand portable electronic device when retained by the retainer and by means of authentication the hand portable electronic device is transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state, thereby allowing the retainer to release the hand portable electronic device such that it can be removed from the locking apparatus.