Overheating and spill resistant mobile device docking cradle

• US 7,257,429 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Kogan, Eduard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mack; Sylvia
• Application Number:
  US11/128,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/550.1, 455/569.3
• US Class Current: 455/573
• 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 docking station for a portable electronic device comprises a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station and a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well in combination with a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the docking station comprising:

a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess;

an air flow channel which, when a device is received within the device receiving recess, is adjacent to a battery of the device, the air flow channel extending from an open top end to the device receiving bottom surface; and

a first lumen extending through the device receiving bottom surface to establish fluid communication between the air flow channel and an exterior of the docking station.

2. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the device receiving bottom surface includes a docking station connector for mating with a device connector on a device received in the device receiving recess and wherein a portion of the device receiving bottom surface immediately beneath the air channel forms a well extending downward from the docking station connector to form a space beneath a battery of a device received in the device receiving recess.

3. The docking station according to claim 2, wherein the first lumen extends from an opening at a lower-most point of the well.

4. The docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a battery receiving station including a battery recess configured to receive a battery from a device to be received within the device receiving recess, a battery receiving bottom surface of the battery recess including a battery connector configured to mate with connections on the battery, the battery recess being sized so that, when a battery is received therein a perimeter of the battery is separated from walls of the battery recess to permit air flow therearound.

5. The docking station according to claim 4, further including a plurality of fins extending from the walls of the battery recess to maintain a desired separation between the walls of the battery recess and a battery received therein.

6. The docking station according to claim 4, further comprising at least one fin for maintaining a desired separation between the battery and the battery receiving bottom surface.

7. The docking station according to claim 4, further comprising a second lumen extending through the battery receiving bottom surface establishing fluid communication between the battery receiving recess and an exterior of the docking station.

8. The docking station according to claim 7, wherein the second lumen extends from a lower-most point of the battery receiving bottom surface.

9. A docking station for a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the docking station comprising:

a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station;

a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well; and

a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.