MULTI-PURPOSE INTERFACE FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140232328A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pegg, Albert Murray
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/083 Watches distributed over several housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A multi-purpose band for use with a portable electronic device comprises a base link, an interface link, and a coupling link. The base link is joined to the interface link by an interface support hinge, and the coupling link is joined among the base link, and the interface link. The multi-purpose band is configured to be arranged in a band configuration for wearing on a wrist or ankle of a user and in a stand configuration for supporting a portable electronic device at a support angle. The interface link defines an interface surface. A charging feature may be disposed on the interface link proximate the interface surface, wherein the charging feature is configured to facilitate establishing a charging relationship between the charging feature and an electrical connector of the portable electronic device to facilitate engagement between the charging feature and the electrical connector.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose band for use with a portable electronic device comprising:

a base link, an interface link, and a coupling link, the base link being joined to the interface link by an interface support hinge, the coupling link being joined among the base link, and the interface link;

the multi-purpose band being configured to be arranged in a band configuration, for wearing on a wrist or ankle of a user, and in a stand configuration for supporting the portable electronic device at a support angle, the support angle being defined between the base link and the interface link;

the interface link defining an interface surface;

the base link defining a base inner surface, the interface link defining an interface inner surface, and the coupling link defining a coupling inner surface;

the base inner surface, the interface inner surface, and the coupling inner surface defining, when arranged in the band configuration, a passage that extends through the multi-purpose band, the passage being sized to facilitate wearing the multi-purpose band on the wrist or ankle.

2. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, further comprising a charging feature disposed on the interface link proximate the interface surface, the charging feature configured to facilitate establishing a charging relationship between the charging feature and an electrical connector of the portable electronic device to facilitate an engagement between the charging feature and the electrical connector.

3. A multi-purpose band as in claim 2, wherein the charging feature comprises a magnetic material.

4. A multi-purpose band as in claim 3, wherein the magnetic material is configured to facilitate an engagement between the multi-purpose band and the portable electronic device.

5. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, further comprising a band power storing component disposed in the base link, the interface link, or the coupling link.

6. A multi-purpose band as in claim 2, comprising a power source port configured to receive a wired power source.

7. A multi-purpose band as in claim 6, wherein:

the power source port is disposed within the coupling link, the base link, or the interface link; and

an electrical connection extends from the power source port to the charging feature.

8. A multi-purpose band as in claim 2, wherein the charging feature is configured to route power to the portable electronic device through a direct physical connection between the charging feature and at least one of the electrical connector.

9. A multi-purpose band as in claim 2, wherein the charging feature is configured to route power to the portable electronic device through a wireless connection.

10. A multi-purpose band as in claim 9, wherein the charging feature comprises a wireless power transfer coil for transmission of power to an inductive pad of the portable electronic device.

11. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, further comprising a communication subsystem configured for wirelessly communicating with the portable electronic device.

12. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, wherein the interface support hinge defines the support angle between the base link and the interface link and support for the interface link is provided at the support angle when the multi-purpose band is in the stand configuration.

13. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, wherein the coupling link is disposed as a kickstand so as to define the support angle between the base link and the interface link and support for the interface link is provided at the support angle when the multi-purpose band is arranged in the stand configuration.

14. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, wherein each of the base link, the interface link, and the coupling link defines two edges, each of said two edges being joined, by a hinged connector, to an edge of another base link, interface link, stabilizer link or coupling link, and wherein the multi-purpose band is configured to be re-arranged from the band configuration to the stand configuration.

15. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, wherein:

the base link is joined, by a first interface support hinge, to the coupling link;

the coupling link is joined, by a second interface support hinge, to the interface link; and

the first interface support hinge and the second interface support hinge, together, define the support angle, at which the interface link is disposed.

16. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, further comprising a stabilizer disposed so as to extend from the base link in a direction substantially parallel to the base link when the multi-purpose band is in the stand configuration.

17. A multi-purpose band as in claim 16, wherein the stabilizer is configured to be retracted when the multi-purpose band is in the band configuration.

18. A multi-purpose band as in claim 16, wherein the stabilizer is configured to slide into a cavity defined the base link when the multi-purpose band is in the band configuration.

19. A multi-purpose band as in claim 16, wherein the stabilizer is configured to occupy a retracted position aligned with, and along a side of, the base link when the multi-purpose band is in the band configuration.

20. A multi-purpose band as in claim 1, wherein the support angle is deviated from vertical.