Universal mechanical dock

• US 10,427,618 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Siegel, J. Scott, Hanslits, Patrick, Bianchi, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/896,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20180236947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0294 Apparatus with multi-functionalities, e.g. radio and telephone
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/06 Hooks; Cradles

Abstract

A docking system is for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle. The docking system includes a cradle having a pivotable arm with an internal channel carrying first electrical conductors electrically connected to the electronic device. The cradle securely retains the electronic device. A dock housing includes a recess receiving the arm of the cradle such that the first electrical conductors may be electrically connected to second electrical conductors in the motor vehicle. A latch releasably latches the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing.

Claims

1. A docking system for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle, the docking system comprising:

a cradle including a pivotable arm having an internal channel, the cradle being configured to securely retain the electronic device;

a dock housing including a recess receiving the arm of the cradle;

a latch releasably latching the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing; and

a release actuator mechanically coupled to the latch via a cable and configured to release the arm of the cradle from the latch in response to the release actuator being manually actuated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the arm includes a throughhole in communication with the internal channel.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plunger exerting a biasing force on the arm of the cradle, the biasing force being in a direction to bias the arm out of the recess of the dock housing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the arm of the cradle is pivotable to a propping position in which the arm of the cradle is configured to support the electronic device on a desk top such that a user interface of the electronic device faces a user sitting at the desk.

5. A docking system for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle, the docking system comprising:

a cradle including a pivotable arm having an internal channel, the cradle being configured to securely retain the electronic device, wherein opposite sides of a distal end of the arm of the cradle each have a respective indentation;

a dock housing including a recess receiving the arm of the cradle;

two latch arms releasably latching the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing, each latch arm being received in a respective one of the indentations; and

two gears, each said gear being attached to a respective one of the latch arms, teeth of the two gears being intermeshed with each other.

6. An automotive docking system for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle, the docking system comprising:

a cradle including an arm having an internal channel, a distal end of the arm including a throughhole in communication with the internal channel, the throughhole having a first width that is less than a second width of the channel, the cradle being configured to securely retain the electronic device, wherein opposite sides of the distal end of the arm of the cradle each have a respective indentation;

a dock housing including a recess receiving the arm of the cradle;

two latch arms releasably latching the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing, each latch arm being received in a respective one of the indentations; and

two gears, each said gear being attached to a respective one of the latch arms, teeth of the two gears being intermeshed with each other.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a pushbutton release actuator mechanically coupled to the latch and configured to release the arm of the cradle from the latch in response to the pushbutton release actuator being manually actuated.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a plunger exerting a biasing force on the arm of the cradle, the biasing force being in a direction to bias the arm out of the recess of the dock housing.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the arm of the cradle is pivotable to a propping position in which the arm of the cradle is configured to support the electronic device on a desk top such that a user interface of the electronic device faces a user sitting at the desk.

10. A docking system for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle, the docking system comprising:

a cradle including an arm having an internal channel, the cradle being configured to securely retain the electronic device, wherein opposite sides of a distal end of the arm of the cradle each have a respective indentation;

a dock housing including a recess receiving the arm of the cradle;

two latch arms latching the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing, each latch arm being received in a respective one of the indentations;

a release actuator mechanically coupled to the latch arms and configured to release the arm of the cradle from the latch arms in response to the release actuator being manually actuated; and

two gears, each said gear being attached to a respective one of the latch arms, teeth of the two gears being intermeshed with each other.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a plunger exerting a biasing force on the arm of the cradle, the biasing force being in a direction to bias the arm out of the recess of the dock housing.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the arm of the cradle is pivotable to a propping position in which the arm of the cradle is configured to support the electronic device on a desk top such that a user interface of the electronic device faces a user sitting at the desk.