Removable and Replaceable Docking Unit

• US 20080164845A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SDI Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SDI Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Choi, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A removable/replaceable docking unit includes a cradle, a dock connector extending through an opening in a bottom portion of the cradle, a circuit board to which the dock connector is integrally attached, a wire connector integrally attached to the circuit board at a side thereof opposite the dock connector and the dock connector and the wire connector communicatively coupled via the circuit board and a removable connector provided in the cradle for removably connecting the docking unit to an electronic device.

Claims

1. A removable docking unit comprising:

a cradle;

a dock connector extending through an opening in a bottom portion of the cradle;

a circuit board to which the dock connector is integrally attached;

a wire connector integrally attached to the circuit board at a side thereof opposite the dock connector, the dock connector and the wire connector communicatively coupled via the circuit board; and

means provided in the cradle for removably connecting the docking unit to an electronic device.

2. The removable docking unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for removably connecting the docking unit to an electronic device includes a removable connector.

3. The removable docking unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said removable connector comprises at least one of a screw hole and a screw, a clamp, and a gripping material.

4. The removable docking unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is attached to a side of the bottom of the cradle opposite the dock connector, and the docking unit further comprises a support bracket provided at a side of the circuit board opposite the cradle and removably attached to the cradle for supporting the circuit board and the dock connector.

5. The removable docking unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire connector of the docking unit receives a wire connector of an electronic device to which the docking unit is removably attached.

6. The removable docking unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle is provided with an insert hook for receiving an insert to adjust an effective size of the cradle in accordance with a size of a portable electronic device to be inserted therein.

7. A portable electronic device charger comprising:

a housing connectable to a power supply;

a device receiving portion provided in and removably connectable to a top portion of the housing;

a dock connector positioned within the device receiving portion and removably attachable to a portable electronic device; and

means provided in the device receiving portion for removably connecting the device receiving portion to the top portion of the housing.

8. The portable electronic device charger as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for removably connecting the device receiving portion to the top portion of the housing includes a removable connector.

9. The portable electronic device charger as claimed in claim 8, wherein said removable connector comprises at least one of a screw hole and a screw, a clamp, and a gripping material.

10. The portable electronic device charger as claimed in claim 7, wherein the power supply for charging the portal electronic device comprises at least one of a battery, a DC power source and an AC power source.

11. An electronic device for charging a portable electronic device comprising:

a housing having a wire connector positioned in the housing; and

a docking unit removably attached to a top portion of the housing, the docking unit including a cradle provided with means for removably attaching the docking unit to the top portion of the housing, a dock connector positioned at a bottom portion of the cradle, a circuit board to which the dock connector is integrally attached, a dock wire connector integrally attached to the circuit board at a side opposite the dock connector, the dock connector and the dock wire connector communicatively coupled to the circuit board and the dock wire connector communicatively engaging the wire connector of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for removably attaching the docking unit to the top portion of the housing includes a removable connector.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said removable connector comprises at least one of a screw hole and a screw, a clamp, and a gripping material.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a power supply connectable to the housing for charging the portable electronic device through the electronic device.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power supply comprises at least one of a battery, a DC power source and an AC power source.