DOCKING STATION FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH IMPROVED ELECTRICAL INTERFACE

• US 20130303012A1
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,443 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

Disclosed is an adapter piece for retaining an external connector and to be used with a docking station for an electronic device, the adapter piece comprising a main body, a cavity in the main body forming an inner portion sized to match the dimensions of the external connector, a first opening to the cavity on the main body for receiving the external connector, a second opening to the cavity on the main body allowing a portion of the external connector to protrude therefrom, and an outer portion sized to match the dimensions of a slot on the docking station.

Claims

1. An adapter piece for retaining an external connector, the adapter piece to be used with a docking station for an electronic device, the adapter piece comprising:

a main body;

a cavity in the main body forming an inner portion sized to match the dimensions of the external connector;

a first opening to the cavity on the main body for receiving the external connector;

a second opening to the cavity on the main body allowing a portion of the external connector to protrude from the adapter piece; and

an outer portion sized to match the dimensions of a slot o he docking station.

2. The adapter piece of claim 1 wherein the first opening is perpendicular to the second opening.

3. The adapter piece of claim 1 wherein the first opening is parallel to the second opening.

4. The adapter piece of claim 1 wherein the inner portion further comprises a rear wall for maintaining the external connector at a predetermined depth within the inner portion.

5. The adapter piece of claim 1 wherein the inner portion further comprises a side wall for maintaining the external connector in a predetermined orientation within the adapter piece.

6. The adapter piece of claim 1 further comprising a retention mechanism for securing the adapter piece in a docking station.

7. The adapter piece of claim 6 wherein the retention mechanism is a protrusion on the main body of the adapter piece.

8. The adapter piece of claim 1 wherein the docking station includes a retention mechanism that engages the adapter piece.

9. The adapter piece of claim 8 wherein the retention mechanism is a set screw.

10. The adapter piece of claim 1 further comprising a retention mechanism.

11. The adapter piece of claim 10 wherein the retention mechanism is self-locking connector.

12. The adapter piece of claim 11 wherein the self-locking connector is an Ethernet-style connector.

13. The adapter piece of claim 11 wherein the self-locking connector is a Keystone-style connector.

14. The adapter piece of claim 10 wherein the retention mechanism includes a tab connected to the adapter piece, the tab positioned to interface with a corresponding depression in the slot of the docking station.

15. A device for retaining an external connector in position to interface with an electronic device, the device comprising:

a main body;

a slot in the main body, the slot positioned adjacent to a port of the electronic device,

an adapter piece sized for insertion into the slot, the adapter piece including

a cavity in the adapter piece forming an inner portion sized to match the dimensions of the external connector;

a first opening to the cavity of the adapter piece for receiving the external connector;

a second opening to the cavity of the adapter piece allowing a portion of the external connector to protrude from the adapter piece; and

an outer portion sized to match the dimensions of the slot on the docking station.

16. The adapter piece of claim 15 wherein the first opening is perpendicular to the second opening.

17. The adapter piece of claim 15 wherein the first opening is parallel to the second opening.

18. The adapter piece of claim 15 wherein the inner portion further comprises a rear wall for maintaining the external connector at a predetermined depth within the inner portion.

19. The adapter piece of claim 15 wherein the inner portion further comprises a side wall for maintaining the external connector in a predetermined orientation within the adapter piece.

20. The adapter piece of claim 15 further comprising a retention mechanism for securing the adapter piece in a docking station.