Docking station for hand held electronic devices

• US 7,580,255 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Howarth, Richard P., Hobson, Phillip M., Crooijmans, Wim
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US11/212,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-686, 710/303, 710/304, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking station.

Claims

1. A plurality of removable inserts to adapt a plurality of types of portable media players to a docking station, each of the plurality of types of portable media players having a varying size, each of the plurality of removable inserts comprising:

a basin having an inside surface to receive a bottom end of one of the plurality of types of portable media players, the basin further having an outside surface, the basin configured for insertion and extraction with the docking station, the basin further including;

one or more tabs located on a first side of the outside surface;

a catch located on a second side of the outside surface, the first side opposite the second side;

a lip extending from the inside surface of the basin, the lip configured to support and position the removable insert relative to the docking station when the removable insert is in a mounted position, wherein the lip is planar and is profiled to match a cavity in the docking station;

an opening for a recess, the opening for the recess located in the second side; and

an opening in a bottom for a connector of the docking station,

wherein the opening for the recess is located such that the opening for the recess is located in the center of the catch, wherein the recess comprises a pull for applying force about the one or more tabs on a first side of the basin, wherein the pull can be grasped by a finger.

2. The plurality of removable inserts of claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs are configured for capture by corresponding slots in the docking station, and the catch is configured for capture by a latch in the docking station.

3. The plurality of removable inserts of claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs includes a pair of tabs, the tabs spaced apart and located on opposite sides of a center of the removable insert, and wherein the catch is a rib that mates with a detent of the latch, the rib being located proximate the center of the removable insert, the tabs and rib working together to provide three point stability between the removable insert and the docking station.

4. A removable insert for coupling a portable media player to a docking station, the removable insert comprising:

a basin having an inside surface to receive a bottom end of the portable media player, the basin further having an outside surface, the basin configured for insertion and extraction with the docking station, the basin further including;

two tabs spaced apart and located on a first side of the outside surface and on opposite sides of a center of the removable insert;

a catch located on a second side of the outside surface, the first side opposite the second side;

a lip extending from the inside surface of the basin, the lip configured to support and position the removable insert relative to the docking station when the removable insert is in a mounted position, wherein the lip is planar;

an opening for a recess, the opening for the recess located in the second side such that the opening for the recess is located in the center of the catch; and

an opening in a bottom for a connector of the docking station,

wherein the recess comprises a pull for applying force about the one or more tabs on a first side of the basin, wherein the pull can be grasped by a finger.

5. The removable insert of claim 4, wherein the one or more tabs are configured for capture by corresponding slots in the docking station, and the catch is configured for capture by a latch in the docking station.

6. The removable insert of claim 4, wherein the catch is a rib that mates with a detent of the latch, the rib being located proximate the center of the removable insert, the tabs and rib working together to provide three point stability between the removable insert and the docking station.