Apparatus, system, and method for secure storage bay for an electronic handheld device

• US 7,580,254 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David M. Anderson
• Original Assignee: David M. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/551,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 361/724, 361/725, 361/727, 361/679.41, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for secure storage of an electronic handheld device. The apparatus may include a retractable tray having a surface for receiving the electronic handheld device, an electrical connector within the retractable tray for making electrical connection with the electronic handheld device, and the retractable tray having an exterior housing with electrical connectors for being received within a fixed electronic device. The system includes the apparatus, and a data communications link coupling the apparatus with a fixed electronic device. The method includes receiving an electronic handheld device, making an electrical connection with the electronic handheld device through a retractable tray, and retracting the electrical device within an exterior housing, the exterior housing having electrical connectors for connecting with a fixed electronic device.

Claims

1. A secure storage bay for an electronic handheld device, comprising

a retractable tray having a surface for receiving at least one of a plurality of electronic handheld devices;

an electrical connector within the retractable tray for making electrical connection with the electronic handheld device;

the retractable tray having an exterior housing with electrical connectors for being received within a fixed electronic device; and

an adapter having a plurality of electrical connectors configured to mateably connect with the electrical connector on the retractable tray and configured to mateably connect with a respective plurality of connectors on the plurality of electronic handheld devices, wherein the secure storage bay is configured to receive each of the plurality of electronic handheld devices on the retractable tray within the exterior housing, with the retractable tray in a retracted state of use, wherein the electronic handheld device remains matebly connected while in the retracted state of use.

2. The secure storage bay of claim 1, the plurality of electrical connectors further comprising a first set of electrical connectors for mateably connecting with the electrical connector on the retractable tray and a second set of electrical connectors for mateably connecting with the electronic handheld devices.

3. The secure storage bay of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism disposed on a faceplate connected with the retractable tray such that the locking mechanism secures the retractable tray in a closed position.

4. The secure storage bay of claim 1, further comprising a sync module for accessing the electronic handheld device through the fixed electronic device when the electronic handheld device is secured in the secure storage bay.

5. The secure storage bay of claim 1, further comprising a dummy faceplate attached to the retractable tray.

6. The secure storage bay of claim 1, further comprising an LCD screen attached to the retractable tray.

7. The secure storage bay of claim 6, wherein the LCD screen is configured to emulate a control layout of the electronic device.

8. The secure storage bay of claim 1, wherein the retractable tray comprises a dynamically positionable cradle.

9. The secure storage bay of claim 1, wherein the fixed electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a stereo receiver, a car stereo, and an external housing in communication with a computer.

10. A system for securely storing an electronic handheld device, the system comprising

a retractable tray configured to be moved between an extended state of use and a retracted state of use, the retractable tray having a surface for universally receiving at least one of a plurality of electronic handheld devices;

an electrical connector within the retractable tray for making electrical connection with the electronic handheld device;

the retractable tray having an exterior housing with electrical connectors for being received within a fixed electronic device; and

a sync module for accessing the electronic handheld device over a data communications link when the electronic handheld device is secured in a secure storage bay formed by the retractable tray and the exterior housing;

wherein the secure storage bay is configured to receive each of the plurality of electronic handheld devices on the retractable tray within the exterior housing, with the retractable tray in the retracted state of use.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an adapter having a first set of electrical connectors for mateably connecting with the electrical connector on the retractable tray and a second set of electrical connectors for mateably connecting with the electronic handheld device.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism for securing the retractable tray in the closed position.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a dummy faceplate attached to the retractable tray, wherein the dummy faceplate includes a false optical drive door configured to camouflage the secure storage bay.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising an LCD screen attached to the retractable tray.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the LCD screen is configured to emulate a control layout of the electronic device, wherein the LCD screen comprises a user interface screen configured to enable operation of the electronic device by the user interface screen when the retractable tray is closed and loaded with the electronic device inside the exterior housing.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the retractable tray comprises a dynamically positionable cradle.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the fixed electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a stereo receiver, a car stereo, and an external housing in communication with a computer.

18. A method for securely storing an electronic handheld device, the method comprising

receiving at least one of a plurality of distinct electronic handheld devices on a retractable tray movably supported on an exterior housing;

selecting at least one of a plurality of adapters for connecting the retractable tray with the at least one of the plurality of distinct handheld devices;

making an electrical connection with the electronic handheld device through the adapter to the retractable tray; and

retracting the electronic handheld device while connected to the retractable tray within an exterior housing, the exterior housing having electrical connectors for connecting with a fixed electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising mateably connecting the electrical connector on the retractable tray with the electronic handheld device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising securing the retractable tray in a closed position.