Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

• US 10,050,658 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Tam
• Application Number:
  US15/195,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40, 439638, 439929, 320114, 320115, 36167941, 4555751, 4555758
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities

Abstract

A protective arrangement for an electronic device includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. A docking cradle or external adapter can receive the electronic device and cover.

Claims

1. A protective cover for an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:

a flexible protective shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and skirt form an interior cavity and a peripheral cavity therebetween, and the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device and the peripheral cavity is configured and arranged to receive a peripheral device; and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising;

a body;

a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and disposed on, or extend from, the body;

a male plug fixedly attached to the shell and comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device;

a plurality of first conductors extending through the shell and directly electrically coupling the contacts of the contactor with one or more of the connectors of the male plug;

a peripheral plug fixedly attached to the shell and comprising at least one connector extending into the peripheral cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the peripheral device; and

a bridge comprising a carrier coupled to the body and a plurality of second conductors extending along the carrier and directly electrically coupling the contacts of the contactor with one or more of the at least one connector of the peripheral plug;

wherein the adapter further comprises a sealed housing disposed around the plurality of first conductors and adjacent the body of the contactor with the male plug extending from the sealed housing, wherein the shell is molded around the sealed housing.

2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a sealed housing disposed around a portion of the bridge and second conductors with the peripheral plug extending from the sealed housing, wherein the shell is molded around the sealed housing.

3. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the peripheral cavity is adjacent to the interior cavity of the shell so that the peripheral device can be inserted into the peripheral cavity through the mouth opening and the interior cavity.

4. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the cover defines a peripheral opening in the panel or the skirt configured and arranged for insertion of the peripheral device into the peripheral cavity.

5. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein one of the at least one connector of the peripheral plug and one of the connectors of the male plug are both coupled to a same one of the contacts of the adapter.

6. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the shell further defines at least one opening through the shell into the peripheral cavity to provide external access to a component of a peripheral device disposed in the peripheral cavity.

7. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a thickness of at least 0.4 mm.

8. The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to an external connector.

9. The protective cover of claim 8, wherein the positioning interface comprises a magnetic coupling element resident in the shell adjacent to the contactor, wherein the magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material.

10. The protective cover of claim 8, wherein the rim defines an asymmetric shape.

11. A docking system, comprising:

the protective cover of claim 1; and

a docking cradle comprising a tray configured to receive the protective cover and a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor.

12. The docking system of claim 11, wherein the protective cover further comprises a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter and the docking cradle further comprises a base receiver configured to mate with the positioning interface of the protective cover.

13. A protective cover for an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:

a flexible protective shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and skirt form an interior cavity and a peripheral cavity therebetween, and the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device and the peripheral cavity is configured and arranged to receive a peripheral device; and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising;

a body;

a contactor embedded in the protective shell and comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and disposed on the body;

a male plug fixedly attached to the shell and comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device; and

a sealed housing disposed around a plurality of first conductors and adjacent the body of the contactor with the male plug extending from the sealed housing, wherein the shell is molded around the sealed housing.

14. The protective cover of claim 13, further comprising a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to an external connector.

15. The protective cover of claim 14, wherein the positioning interface comprises a magnetic coupling element resident in the shell adjacent to the contactor, wherein the magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material.

16. The protective cover of claim 14, wherein the rim defines an asymmetric shape.

17. The protective cover of claim 14, wherein the positioning interface and the contactor form a male structure extending from an adjacent portion of the shell.

18. A docking system, comprising:

the protective cover of claim 13; and

a docking cradle comprising a tray configured to receive the protective cover and a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor.

19. The docking system of claim 18, wherein the protective cover further comprises a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter and the docking cradle further comprises a base receiver configured to mate with the positioning interface of the protective cover.