Adaptive dock for use with personal media players
First Claim
1. A dock adapted for use with a media player, comprising:
- a base unit;
a moveable sled in the base unit, the sled including a device connector that is configured for mateable engagement with a mating accessory connector in the media player, and further including a cam; and
a dock insert that removably mateably interfaces with the base unit, the dock insert including i) a receiving space that is configured to hold a portion of the media player, ii) an opening into the receiving space that is arranged to expose the accessory connector when the media player is placed into the dock insert, and iii) an actuator that is arranged for interaction against the cam so as to impart a force to the sled to position the device connector at the opening when the dock insert is mateably engaged with the base unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive dock for use with media players of varying form factors is provided by an arrangement in which a device connector is located on a moveable sled that is located in the dock'"'"'s base unit. A device-specific dock insert is arranged for removable engagement with the base unit to allow the base to have applicability to different media players by using the appropriately configured insert. The insert includes a device receiving space having an opening that is located to expose the media player'"'"'s accessory connector. The insert further includes an actuator that slidably engages with a cam that is located on the sled to impart a lateral motion to the sled as the insert is placed downward into the dock'"'"'s base unit so as to align the device connector on the sled with the opening in the insert.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A dock adapted for use with a media player, comprising:
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a base unit; a moveable sled in the base unit, the sled including a device connector that is configured for mateable engagement with a mating accessory connector in the media player, and further including a cam; and a dock insert that removably mateably interfaces with the base unit, the dock insert including i) a receiving space that is configured to hold a portion of the media player, ii) an opening into the receiving space that is arranged to expose the accessory connector when the media player is placed into the dock insert, and iii) an actuator that is arranged for interaction against the cam so as to impart a force to the sled to position the device connector at the opening when the dock insert is mateably engaged with the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A dock insert that is configured for removably mateable engagement with a dock base unit, comprising:
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a media device receiving portion that is arranged to hold a portion of a media device removably fixedly in an orientation that facilitates access to controls on the media device by a user, the receiving portion having an opening that is configured to expose an accessory connector in the media device when held in the receiving portion; at least one actuator arranged for slidably engaging with a cam as the dock insert is being mateably engaged with the dock base unit, the cam coupled to impart substantially horizontal planar motion to a device connector disposed in the base unit; and one or more ribs that engage in corresponding slots in an element on a sled on which a device locator is located to lock the sled in a fixed position when the dock insert is mateably engaged with the dock base unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for packaging a dock product for sale, the dock product being arranged for use with a plurality of different media devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a base unit having installed therein a moveable sled, the sled including a device connector that is configured for mateable engagement with a mating accessory connector with each of the different media devices and further including a cam, the base unit being arranged to be removably coupled with a dock insert; and packaging a plurality of device-specific dock inserts with the base unit, each of the device-specific dock inserts being tailored to interface with respective ones of the different media devices, each of the device-specific dock inserts including i) a media device receiving portion that is arranged to hold a portion of a media device to which it is tailored, the receiving portion having an opening that is configured to expose an accessory connector in the media device when held in the receiving portion, and ii) an actuator arranged for interacting with the cam to impart motion to the sled to align the device connector with the opening for the accessory connector when the device-specific dock insert is coupled with the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification