Aesthetically pleasing universal dock

• US 20090303692A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing universal dock may support a variety of electronic devices of different shapes and designs while appearing to be customized to individually support each electronic device. The universal dock may support an electronic device using a support layer that may include any suitable material, including, for example, an array of vertical members, an elastic sponge-like substance, or any other suitable material. The compression of the support layer may be retained for future use with the electronic device, or the compression may be relieved, once the electronic device is removed from the universal dock.

Claims

1. A dock for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices, the dock comprising:

a housing;

a connector coupled to the housing; and

a compressible support layer positioned at least partially about the connector, wherein at least a portion of the compressible support layer compresses to the shape of at least a portion of an electronic device that is attached to the connector.

2. The dock of claim 1, further comprising circuitry coupled to the connector to detect the electronic device attached to the connector and to operate the electronic device.

3. The dock of claim 2, further comprising a sensor coupled to the circuitry.

4. The dock of claim 3, wherein the sensor receives from an external device an instruction to control the electronic device, and wherein the circuitry operates the electronic device in response to the sensor receiving the instruction.

5. The dock of claim 1, further comprising a button coupled to the housing, wherein depression of the button ends the attachment between the connector and the electronic device.

6. The dock of claim 5, wherein the depression of the button ejects the electronic device from the dock.

7. The dock of claim 5, wherein the depression of the button relieves the compression of the compressible support layer.

8. The dock of claim 1, wherein the compressible support layer comprises at least one of an elastic material and an array of vertical members.

9. The dock of claim 1, further comprising a base coupled between the housing and the connector.

10. The dock of claim 1, wherein at least a non-compressed portion of the compressible support layer provides lateral support to the electronic device that is attached to the connector.

11. The dock of claim 1, wherein the compressible support layer comprises an array of compressible vertical members.

12. The dock of claim 11, wherein each of the vertical members includes a top portion, and wherein at least some of the top portions are interconnected using at least one of a webbing and a Teflon sheet.

13. The dock of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the compressible support layer compresses more than at least a second portion of the compressible support layer, and wherein at least the first portion of the compressible support layer compresses less than at least a third portion of the compressible support layer.

14. A method for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices in a dock that includes a compressible support layer positioned at least partially about a connector, the method comprising:

attaching an electronic device to the connector of the dock;

compressing at least a first portion of the compressible support layer with at least a portion of the bottom of the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the connector; and

supporting at least a portion of a side of the electronic device with at least a second portion of the compressible support layer when the electronic device is attached to the connector.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving with a sensor from an external device an instruction to control the electronic device;

transmitting the instruction from the sensor to the dock; and

controlling the electronic device in response to the sensor transmitting the instruction.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

depressing a button of the dock; and

ending the attachment between the electronic device and the connector in response to the depressing of the button.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising relieving the compression of the at least the first portion of the compressible support layer in response to the depressing of the button.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the compressible support layer is at least partially comprised of at least one of an elastic material and an array of vertical members.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the compressible support layer is at least partially comprised of an array of compressible vertical members.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the vertical members includes a top portion, and wherein at least some of the top portions are interconnected using at least one of a webbing and a Teflon sheet.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising compressing a first subset of the first portion of the compressible support layer more than a second subset of the first portion of the compressible support layer.

22. A method for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices in a dock that includes a support layer positioned at least partially about a connector, the method comprising:

detecting an electronic device;

determining the make of the electronic device in response to the detecting the electronic device;

adjusting at least a first portion of the support layer to support at least a portion of the bottom of the electronic device in response to the determining the make of the electronic device;

attaching the electronic device to the connector; and

adjusting at least a second portion of the support layer to support at least a portion of a side of the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the connector.

23. A dock for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices, the dock comprising:

a housing;

a connector coupled to the housing; and

a compressible support layer positioned at least partially about the connector, wherein the compressible support layer is configured to appear customized to the shape of any electronic device of the differently-shaped electronic devices attached to the connector, and wherein the compressible support layer supports the electronic device.

24. The dock of claim 23, wherein the compressible support layer comprises at least one of an elastic material and an array of vertical members.

25. The dock of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the compressible support layer provides lateral support to the electronic device that is attached to the connector.