UNIVERSAL ADAPTOR MOUNT FOR A DOCKING STATION

• US 20130223003A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking station having a docking tray that is adapted for seating a portable electronic device therein with a docking port of the portable electronic device seated against an interface portion thereof, and the interface portion of the docking tray being formed with an interface outlet aperture positioned for alignment with the docking port of the portable electronic device. A connector retainer is coupleable for releasably urging individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces toward the interface portion of the docking tray and positioning a connection portion thereof adjacent to the interface outlet aperture and directed inwardly of the docking tray. An urging mechanism is adapted for urging the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray and the interface outlet aperture thereof.

Claims

1. A docking station, comprising:

a docking tray adapted for seating a portable electronic device therein with a docking port of the portable electronic device seated against an interface portion thereof, the interface portion of the docking tray comprising an interface outlet aperture positioned for alignment with the docking port of the portable electronic device; and

a connector retainer coupleable for releasably positioning individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces adjacent to the interface portion of the docking tray and positioning a connection portion thereof adjacent to the interface outlet aperture and directed inwardly of the docking tray; and

a mechanism adapted for directing the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray adjacent to the interface outlet aperture thereof.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least a second one of the plurality of different interfaces further supports a different function from a first one thereof.

3. The docking station of claim 2, further comprising access means for removing the first one of the different interfaces and substituting therefor the second one thereof;

and

wherein the connector retainer further comprises;

a compression member positioned adjacent to the interface portion of the docking tray with a body portion of one of the first and second interfaces between the compression member and the interface outlet aperture; and

a means for urging the compression member toward the interface outlet aperture, whereby the connection portion of the interface is projected outwardly through the interface outlet aperture.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the means for urging the compression member further comprises a threaded member.

5. The docking station of claim 2, further comprising a connection portion outlet plate positioned adjacent to the interface portion of the docking tray, the connection portion outlet plate comprising interface outlet aperture sized to pass therethrough the connection portion of the different interfaces.

6. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the mechanism adapted for directing the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray further comprises means for urging the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray and the interface outlet aperture thereof.

20. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the connector retainer is further coupleable for releasably urging the interfaces toward the interface portion of the docking tray and positioning the connection portion thereof adjacent to the interface outlet aperture.

21. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the mechanism adapted for directing the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray adjacent to the interface outlet aperture thereof further comprises an urging mechanism adapted for urging the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion of the docking tray and the interface outlet aperture thereof.

7. A docking station, comprising:

a docking tray comprising a bearing surface adapted for seating a portable electronic device thereon with a docking port of the portable electronic device seated against an interface portion thereof, the interface portion of the docking tray comprising an interface outlet aperture positioned for alignment with the docking port of the portable electronic device; and

a connector retainer coupleable adjacent to the interface outlet aperture of the docking tray for releasably positioning individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces partially through the interface outlet aperture adjacent to the interface portion of the docking tray and positioning a connection portion thereof adjacent to the interface outlet aperture and directed inwardly of the docking tray toward the bearing surface thereof; and

an urging mechanism positioned substantially opposite from the receiver structure of the docking tray and adapted for urging the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion and the interface outlet aperture thereof.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein a second one of the plurality of different interfaces further supports a different function from a first one thereof.

9. The docking station of claim 7, further comprising a chamber in a position adjacent to the interface outlet aperture, the chamber sized for receiving therewithin the first one of the different interfaces, and further comprising an opening thereinto sized for removing the first one of the different interfaces therefrom and installing therein the second one thereof;

and

wherein the connector retainer coupleable further comprises;

a compression plate positioned within the chamber with a body portion of one of the first and second interfaces between the compression plate and the interface outlet aperture, the compression plate comprising an aperture sized to pass an adapter signal interface of alternative ones of the plurality of different interfaces; and

one or more compressors adapted for urging the compression plate toward the interface outlet aperture, whereby at least the connection portion of the interface is projected outwardly through the interface outlet aperture.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein at least one of the compressors further comprises a threaded member.

11. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the chamber further comprises a channel communicating with the opening thereinto;

and

further comprising a guide cooperating between the compression plate and the channel.

12. The universal adapter module of claim 11, wherein the guide further comprises a keyway and a cooperating key between the compression plate and the channel.

13. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the receiver structure of the docking tray further comprises the interface housing.

14. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the receiver structure is further pivotable relative to the tray body.

22. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the connector retainer is further coupleable adjacent to the interface outlet aperture of the docking tray for releasably urging the individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces partially through the interface outlet aperture and toward the interface portion of the docking tray.

15. A docking station, comprising:

a docking tray comprising a receiver structure adjacent to a bearing surface that is adapted for seating a portable electronic device thereon with a docking port of the portable electronic device seated against an interface portion thereof, the interface portion of the docking tray comprising an interface outlet aperture positioned for alignment with the docking port of the portable electronic device; and

a connector retainer coupleable adjacent to the interface outlet aperture of the docking tray for releasably compressing individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces partially through the interface outlet aperture and toward the interface portion of the docking tray and positioning a connection portion thereof adjacent to the interface outlet aperture and directed inwardly of the docking tray toward the bearing surface thereof, wherein at least two of the individual ones of the plurality of different interfaces each support a different function relative to the portable electronic device; and

an urging mechanism positioned substantially opposite from the receiver structure of the docking tray and adapted for cooperating therewith for securing the portable electronic device relative to the bearing surface, and further adapted for urging the seated portable electronic device toward the interface portion and the interface outlet aperture thereof.

16. The docking station of claim 15, further comprising a molded interface housing in a position adjacent to the interface outlet aperture, the interface housing comprising an internal cavity sized for receiving therewithin a first one of the different interfaces, and further comprising an access opening through one surface thereof into the internal cavity sized for removing the first one of the different interfaces from the housing and installing therein a second one thereof;

and

wherein the connector retainer further comprises;

a substantially rigid compression plate positioned within the internal cavity of the housing with a body portion of one of the interfaces between the compression plate and the interface outlet aperture, the compression plate comprising an aperture sized to pass an adapter signal interface of alternative ones of the plurality of different interfaces; and

one or more compressors adapted for urging the compression plate toward the interface outlet aperture, whereby at least the connection portion of the interface is projected outwardly through the interface outlet aperture toward the bearing surface of the docking tray.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the internal cavity of the housing further comprises a channel communicating between the access opening and the outlet plate in the adapter opening of the housing;

and

further comprising a guide cooperating between the compression plate and the channel for guiding the compression plate along the channel.

18. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the receiver structure is further pivotable relative to the bearing surface of the docking tray.

19. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the receiver structure further comprises the interface outlet aperture.

23. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the connector retainer is further coupleable adjacent to the interface outlet aperture of the docking tray for releasably urging the individual ones of a plurality of different interfaces partially through the interface outlet aperture and toward the interface portion of the docking tray.