Product demonstration fixture for a portable electronic device

• US 10,292,505 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Havskjold, David G., Herbst, Steven G., Montevirgen, Anthony S., Terlizzi, Jeffrey J., Manullang, Tyson B., Schwalbach, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hull, James
• Application Number:
  US14/634,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20150245722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 434379
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2005/165 with inclined display surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/007 Cases or cabinets of the counter type
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/16 Platform-type show stands with flat, inclined, or curved upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials A47F5/0006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0246 for rectangular articles, e.g. books, cassettes on the article itself E05B73/0023
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings

Abstract

A retail electronic product demonstration fixture for demonstrating portable electronic devices. The product demonstration fixture may include an exhibition portion and a base portion. A portable electronic device offered for sale may be affixed to the exhibition portion. The base portion may include an electronic display, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic display upon determining that a battery within the electronic display has fallen below a particular selected level. Similarly the auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the portable electronic device offered for sale upon determining that a battery within the portable electronic device has fallen below a selected level.

Claims

1. A demonstration fixture for a portable electronic device comprising:

a base comprising;

a housing comprising;

a bottom surface; and

a top surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the bottom surface;

a cover glass disposed over the top surface and comprising;

an opaque area;

an optically transparent area; and

an aperture within the opaque area;

a display disposed within the housing and positioned below the optically transparent area of the cover glass;

a processor coupled to the display and disposed within the housing; and

a battery disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor;

an elevating attachment positioned at least partially within the aperture of the cover glass configured to couple to the portable electronic device; and

a cable at least partially concealed by the elevating attachment configured to couple the portable electronic device to a power supply;

wherein the processor is in communication with the portable electronic device via the cable;

wherein the portable electronic device comprises a battery and a display; and

wherein the processor is configured to;

monitor the power level of the battery of the portable electronic device, and

direct power from the battery of the base to the portable electronic device upon determining that the power level of the battery of the portable electronic device is depleted at least to a selected battery threshold.

2. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to direct power from the battery of the base to the battery of the portable electronic device upon determining that the battery of the portable electronic device is depleted at least to the selected battery threshold.

3. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to directly power the display disposed within the housing upon determining that a battery of the display disposed within the housing is depleted at least to a selected battery threshold.

4. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, the base further comprising a port configured to couple to and receive power from an external power source.

5. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to direct power from an external power source to the battery of the base and to the battery of the portable electronic device.

6. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a wearable device.

7. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, the housing of the base further comprising an alignment adjuster configured to adjust the alignment of the cover glass with respect to the housing.

8. The demonstration fixture of claim 7, wherein the alignment adjuster comprises a rotatable member configured to apply a biasing force to the cover glass so as to align an edge of the cover glass with a sidewall of the housing.

9. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the elevating attachment at least partially separates the portable electronic device from the cover glass.

10. The demonstration fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to charge the battery of the base, the battery of the portable electronic device, and a battery of the display disposed within the housing during a charging sequence.

11. A demonstration fixture for a portable electronic device comprising:

a base comprising a processor and a first battery disposed within the base;

a display disposed at least partially within the base and comprising a second battery;

an elevating attachment coupled to the base; and

a portable electronic device secured to the elevating attachment, the portable electronic device comprising a third battery,

wherein the first battery is coupled to the second battery and the third battery,

wherein the processor is configured to;

monitor the power level of the second battery and the power level of the third battery,

direct power from the first battery to the second battery upon determining that the power level of the second battery is depleted at least to a selected battery threshold, and

direct power from the first battery to the third battery upon determining that the power level of the third battery is depleted at least to a selected battery threshold.

12. The demonstration fixture of claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a wearable device.

13. The demonstration fixture of claim 11, the base further comprising:

a housing comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface comprising a display window;

wherein the display is disposed within the housing and aligned with the display window.

14. The demonstration fixture of claim 11, wherein the elevating attachment is configured to hold the portable electronic device next to the display such that the portable electronic device and the display are disposed in a side-by-side relationship with the display disposed to the left of the portable electronic device.

15. The demonstration fixture of claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is a wearable electronic device and wherein the wearable electronic device is coupled to the product demonstration fixture by an accessory of the wearable electronic device that extends over and hides the elevating attachment.