Docking station for hand held electronic devices

• US 20070047198A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarth, Richard, Crooijmans, Wim, Hobson, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.410
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking station.

Claims

1. A docking station for handheld devices with varying shapes and sizes, the docking station comprising:

a top member with a cavity formed therein, the cavity being configured to rotatably receive a removable insert that accommodates the bottom end of a hand held device with a particular size and shape.

2. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the cavity includes one or more slots on a first side of the cavity, and a latch on the second side of the cavity, the first side being opposite the second side, the slots being configured to capture corresponding tabs of the removable insert, the latch being configured to capture a rib of the removable insert.

3. The docking station as recited in claim 2 wherein the cavity includes a pair of slots on a front side of the cavity, the slots being spaced apart and located on opposite sides of the center of the cavity, and wherein the latch is located on a back side of the cavity proximate the center of the cavity, the slots and latch working together to provide three point stability between the removable insert and the docking station.

4. The docking station as recited in claim 2 wherein the latch includes a detent that springs into engagement with the rib of the removable insert when the removable insert is rotated into position within the docking station, the detent being disposed through an opening in the back side of the cavity.

5. The docking station as recited in claim 4 wherein the detent is attached to a flexure that biases the detent to a forward position in a direction towards the front side.

6. The docking station as recited in claims 1 wherein the cavity includes an opening and an enclosed region, and wherein the top member includes a recess extending from the opening, the recess being configured to support and position the removable insert relative to the docking station when the removable insert is rotatably received by the cavity, the recess providing a reference point about which the removable insert rotates when being inserted and extracted to and from the docking station.

7. The docking station as recited in claims 1 further including

a connector disposed in the cavity, the connector protruding through a bottom wall of the cavity;

and

a collar surrounding and positioned at the base of the connector, the collar protruding through the bottom wall of the cavity with the connector.

8. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station is a stand alone unit that operatively couples to an external electronic device through wired or wireless connections.

9. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station is integrated into an electronic device.

10. A removable insert for hand held devices with varying shapes and sizes, the removable insert comprising:

a basin having an opening and an enclosed region that receives the bottom end of a hand held device with a particular size and shape, the basin being configured for rotatable insertion and extraction to and from a docking station, the removable insert rotating between an initial position, where the removable insert is capable of being inserted or extracted, and a mounted position, where the removable insert is secured in the docking station.

11. The removable insert as recited in claim 10 wherein the removable insert includes one or more tabs on a first side of the basin, and a catch on the second side of the basin, the first side being opposite the second side, the tabs being configured for capture by corresponding slots in the docking station, and the catch being configured for capture by a latch of the docking station.

12. The removable insert as recited in claim 11 wherein the insert includes a pair of tabs on a front side of the basin, the tabs being spaced apart and located on opposite sides of the center of the removable insert, and wherein the catch is a rib that mates with a detent of the latch, the rib being located proximate the center of the removable insert, the tabs and rib working together to provide three point stability between the removable insert and the docking station.

13. The removable insert as recited in claim 10 wherein the removable insert further includes a lip extending from the opening in the basin, the lip being configured to support and position the removable insert relative to the docking station when the removable insert is in the mounted position, the lip providing a reference point about which the removable insert rotates when being inserted and extracted to and from the docking station.

14. The removable insert as recited in claim 10 wherein the enclosed region includes sidewalls and a bottom wall, and wherein the bottom wall includes a hole for receiving a connector of the docking station, the edge of the hole having a chamfer to allow clearance between the connector and the basin when the removable insert is rotated into the docking station.

15. A docking system for a handheld device, the docking system comprising:

a docking station; and

a removable insert, the removable insert being configured to rotate relative to the docking station during insertion and extraction from the docking station.

16. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the docking station includes a top member and a cavity formed in the top member, and wherein the removable insert includes a basin for receiving the bottom end of a particular handheld device, the basin being configured to rotate in and out of the cavity during insertion and extraction.

17. The docking system as recited in claim 16 wherein the removable insert rotates between an initial position, where the insert is capable of being inserted or removed from the docking station, and a mounted position, where the insert is positioned in the docking station.

18. The docking system as recited in claim 16 further including a retention mechanism for securing the removable insert to the docking station when the removable insert is in the mounted position, the retention mechanism including one or more tabs extending from a first side of the basin, the tabs being configured for placement within slots located in a first side of the cavity, the retention mechanism including a catch located on a second side of the basin, the catch being configured to be captured by a latch located on a second side of the cavity, the second side being opposite the first side.

19. The docking system as recited in claim 16 wherein the docking station includes a connector located within the cavity, and wherein the basin includes a hole for receiving the connector, the edge of the hole including a chamfer so as to provide clearance between the basin and the connector when the removable insert is rotated into the docking station, the base of the connector being surrounded by a collar, the collar filling the space between the edge of the hole and the outer surface of the connector.

21. The docking station as recited in claim 18 wherein the docking station further includes a retention mechanism for holding the removable insert within the cavity.

22. The docking station as recited in claim 19 wherein the retention mechanism includes one or more front side retention features and one or more backside retention features, each of the retention features matingly engaging a corresponding retention feature on the removable insert in order to secure the removable insert within the cavity of the docking station.

20. A docking station, comprising:

a top member with a cavity formed therein, the cavity being configured to rotatably receive a removable insert that accommodates the bottom end of a hand held device with a particular size and shape;

a connector disposed in the cavity, the connector protruding through a bottom wall of the cavity; and

a collar surrounding and positioned at the base of the connector, the collar protruding through the bottom wall of the cavity with the connector, the collar being configured to produce a snug fit with an opening in the removable insert when the removable insert is positioned within the cavity of the top member, the opening in the removable insert being configured to allow rotation of the removable insert into the cavity without hitting the connector.

23. The docking station as recited in claim 20 wherein at least one of the retention features is a latch for securing and releasing the removable insert to and from the cavity of the docking station.

24. A removable insert for hand held devices with varying shapes and sizes, the removable insert comprising:

a basin having an opening and an enclosed region that receives the bottom end of a hand held device with a particular size and shape, the basin being configured for insertion and extraction within a cavity of a docking station;

a lip that surrounds and extends away from the opening in the basin, the lip being configured for placement in a recess in the docking station, the recess catching the lip and providing a reference point for the insert during insertion and extraction from the cavity of the docking station;

one or more tabs extending from the front wall of the basin, and being configured to mate with corresponding slots located inside the cavity of the docking station; and

a catch formed on the back wall of the basin, and being configured to mate with a latch located within the cavity of the docking station.

25. The removable insert as recited in claim 24 wherein the catch is a rib that engages a detent located on the latch in order to secure the removable insert within the cavity of the docking station.

26. The removable insert as recited in claim 24 wherein the catch is a slot, recess or void that engages a detent located on the latch in order to secure the removable insert within the cavity of the docking station.

27. The removable insert as recited in claim 24 wherein the removable insert rotates between an initial position, where the removable insert is capable of being inserted or extracted into or from the cavity of the docking station, and a mounted position, where the removable insert is secured in the cavity of the docking station.

28. A docking system, comprising:

a docking station including,

a top member;

a pocket formed in the top member and configured to receive a plurality of inserts therein, the cavity including an opening and an enclosed region that are sized to accommodate the largest insert, the enclosed region having sidewalls and a bottom wall that surround the inserts when they are placed in the cavity;

a recess formed in the top member and surrounding the opening in the pocket;

a connector located within the pocket and protruding through the bottom wall of the pocket;

a collar surrounding and positioned at the base of the connector, the collar protruding through the bottom wall of the pocket with the connector,

a plurality of removable inserts, each removable insert including,

a basin configured for rotatable insertion into the pocket of the docking station, the basin including an opening and an enclosed region that are sized to accommodate a particular hand held device, the enclosed region having sidewalls and a bottom wall that surround the bottom end of the particular hand held device, the bottom wall including a hole for receiving the connector and collar when the basin is rotated within the pocket of the docking station, the edge of the hole including a chamfer so that the basin clears the connector when the basin is rotated within the pocket of the docking station;

a lip that surrounds and extends away from the opening in the basin, the lip being configured for placement in the recess in the top member, the recess catching the lip and providing a reference point about which the insert is rotated when being inserted and extracted from the pocket of the docking station;

a retention mechanism configured to secure the inserts within the docking station, the retention mechanism including,

one or more slots formed in a front wall of the pocket;

one or more tabs extending from the front wall of the basin, and being configured to mate with the slots;

a catch formed on the back wall of the basin;

a latch located on the back wall of the pocket and being configured to move between a latched position, where the catch is captured by the latch, and an unlatched position, where the catch is released from the latch, the latch including,

a detent that springs into engagement with the catch when the insert is rotated into its final position within the pocket of the docking station; and

a flexure that biases the detent towards the center of the pocket.