Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

• US 10,389,399 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• 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 T
• Application Number:
  US15/960,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20180241429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38, 439 39, 439638, 439929, 320114, 320115, 36167941, 4555751, 4555758, 4555759
• 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 arrangement for an electronic device, the arrangement comprising:

a flexible cover comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, the panel comprising an exterior surface, wherein the panel and skirt form an interior 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, wherein the flexible cover is configured and arranged to cover a back face of the electronic device with the panel, at least partially cover a plurality of side faces of the electronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of a front face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the flexible cover;

an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device;

a contactor disposed on the exterior surface of the panel configured to be positioned over the back face of the electronic device when the electronic device is received in the interior cavity, the contactor comprising a plurality of electrical contacts; and

electrical conductors extending through the flexible cover and electrically interconnecting the electrical contacts of the contactor with the connectors of the male plug of the adapter.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the contactor comprises a plurality of contact rings.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the contact rings are disposed in a concentric arrangement.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover comprises a magnetic coupling element adjacent to the contactor, wherein the magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover further comprises a male nesting appendage extending from the panel, wherein the contactor is disposed on the male nesting appendage.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the male nesting appendage defines a locator dam around a perimeter of the male nesting appendage.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the locator dam defines one or more rotational control features formed as indents or intrusions into the male nesting appendage.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover further comprises a female nest with the contactor disposed within the female nest.

9. A docking system, comprising:

the protective arrangement of claim 1; and

a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts arranged to connect with a plurality of the electrical contacts of the contactor.

10. A docking system, comprising:

the protective arrangement of claim 2; and

a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts arranged to connect with a plurality of the electrical contacts of the contactor.

11. The docking system of claim 10, wherein the contacts of the docking connector are biasing electrical contacts.

12. The docking system of claim 11, wherein the biasing electrical contacts are spring-loaded pogo pins.

13. The docking system of claim 10, wherein the contact rings are disposed in a concentric arrangement.

14. The docking system of claim 13, wherein the contacts of the docking connector are arranged in a single line.

15. The docking system of claim 10, wherein the flexible cover comprises a first magnetic coupling element adjacent to the contactor and the docking connector comprises a second magnetic coupling element, wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material and the second magnetic coupling element comprises another of the magnetic material or the magnetically attractive material.

16. The docking system of claim 10, wherein the flexible cover further comprises a male nesting appendage extending from the panel, wherein the contactor is disposed on the male nesting appendage.

17. The docking system of claim 16, wherein the docking connector defines a female nest configured to receive the male nesting appendage, wherein the contacts of the docking connector are disposed within the female nest.

18. The docking system of claim 17, wherein the male nesting appendage defines one or more first rotational control features formed as indents or intrusions into the male nesting appendage and the female nest defines one or more second rotational control features complementary to the first rotational control features.

19. The docking system of claim 10, wherein the flexible cover further comprises a female nest with the contactor disposed within the female nest.

20. The docking system of claim 19, wherein the docking connector further comprises a male nesting appendage with the contacts of the docking connector disposed on the male nesting appendage.