Universal docking station for hand held electronic devices

• US 7,719,830 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Wright; Ingrid
• Application Number:
  US11/125,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 361/679.56, 361/679.41, 361/727, 710/303, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A docking station is disclosed. The docking station has an adjustable opening that accommodates portable electronic devices with differing sizes and shapes. The opening is capable of expanding to accommodate larger devices and retracting to accommodate smaller devices while still supporting the portable electronic device in its proper position within the docking station.

Claims

1. A universal docking station, comprising:

a base including a recess that forms an opening for receiving a handheld device, the recess having sides that surround the sides of the handheld device when the handheld device is received by the opening; and

a plurality of adjustable members disposed at least partially within the recess, and having the ability to change a size and shape of the opening for handheld devices of various sizes and shapes,

wherein one of the plurality of adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess along a first axis to change the size of the opening in a first direction thereby accommodating a first dimension of the handheld devices, and wherein another of the plurality of adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess along a second axis to change the size of the opening in a second direction thereby accommodating a second dimension of the handheld devices, the first axis being orthogonal to the second axis,

wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members are sliding members that slide relative to the base in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

2. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying thicknesses.

3. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying widths.

4. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying heights.

5. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second dimensions are selected from thickness, width and height.

6. The universal docking station as recited in claim 5 wherein the first dimension is the width of the handheld device, and the second dimension is the thickness of the handheld device, and wherein the plurality of adjustable members are configured to accommodate widths of between substantially 2.0 inches and about 2.4 inches, and thicknesses of between substantially 0.5 inches and about 0.75 inches.

7. The universal docking station as recited in claim 5 wherein the first dimension is the width of the handheld device, and the second dimension is the height of the handheld device, and wherein the adjustable members are configured to accommodate widths of between substantially 2.0 inches and about 2.4 inches, and heights of between substantially 3.6 inches and about 4.1 inches.

8. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members are flexure members that bend in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

9. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of adjustable members are conforming members that deform in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

10. A universal docking station, comprising:

a base having an opening that is partially recessed in the base, the opening having four sides and a bottom, the opening being configured to receive a hand held electronic device, the opening including an interface that operatively couples the hand held electronic device to the universal docking station when the hand held electronic device is inserted into the opening, the base including one or more adjustable members that have the ability to change the dimensions of the opening, the one or more adjustable members expanding the opening outwardly to accommodate larger hand held devices and retracting the opening inwardly to accommodate smaller devices,

wherein the one or more adjustable members are located on all four sides of the opening, and wherein the one or more adjustable members are sliding members that slide relative to the base in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

11. The universal docking station as recited in claim 10 wherein the universal docking station is a stand alone unit that operatively couples to an external electronic device through wired or wireless connections.

12. The universal docking station as recited in claim 10 wherein the universal docking station is integrated into an electronic device.

13. The universal docking station as recited in claim 10 wherein the base includes a first adjustable member located on a first side of the opening and a second adjustable member that is located on a second side of the opening opposite the first side.

14. The universal docking station as recited in claim 13 further including a third adjustable member located on a third side of the opening and a fourth adjustable member located on a fourth side of the opening opposite the third side.

15. The universal docking station as recited in claim 10 wherein the universal docking station includes a door to cover the opening when the hand held electronic device is not inserted therein.

16. A universal docking station for a handheld device, comprising:

a base with a recess having an adjustable opening;

a first sliding member at least partially located within the recess, and being configured to slide relative to the base along a first axis, the first sliding member sliding between a retracted position that forms a large opening in the recess for receiving larger handheld devices, and an expanded position that forms a small opening in the recess for receiving smaller handheld devices; and

a second sliding member,

wherein the first sliding member is located on a first side of the recess and the second sliding member is located on a second side of the recess opposite the first side, and wherein the first and second sliding members move along the first axis in directions towards and away from one another in order adjust the distance of the adjustable opening.

17. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the first sliding member is located on a first side of the recess, and wherein the first sliding member is configured to move linearly towards a second side of the recess that is opposite the first side in order to adjust the distance of the opening.

18. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the second sliding member is at least partially located within the recess, and is configured to slide relative to the base along the first axis, the second sliding member sliding between a retracted position that forms a large opening in the recess for receiving larger handheld devices, and an expanded position that forms a small opening in the recess for receiving smaller handheld devices, the second sliding member cooperating with the first sliding member in order to adjust the distance of the opening.

19. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the first and second sliding members span a width of the adjustable opening, and are configured to move forwards and backwards along the first axis in order to accommodate hand held electronic devices with varying thicknesses, the first and second sliding members setting the maximum distance of the adjustable opening when they are both placed in the retracted position, the first and second sliding members setting the minimum distance of the adjustable opening when they are both placed in the expanded position.

20. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the first sliding member takes the form of a flange having a substantially horizontal upper section and a substantially vertical lower section, the upper section being seated within a recessed portion in a surface of the base next to the recess, the lower section extending into the recess such that it drapes around a side of the recess, the lower section acting as a wall of the recess and providing a reference surface for supporting the hand held electronic device when the electronic device is inserted into the recess.

21. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the universal docking station includes a locking device for holding a position of the first sliding member.

22. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the universal docking station includes a positioning mechanism for moving the first sliding member to a position between the retracted and expanded positions.

23. The universal docking station as recited in claim 16 wherein the universal docking station includes one or more spring elements for biasing the first and second sliding member in the expanded position.

24. A universal docking station, comprising:

a first adjustable member located on a first side of an opening and a second adjustable member located on a second side of the opening, the second side being opposite the first side, the first and second adjustable members cooperating to adjust a size of the opening in order to accommodate handheld electronic devices of various sizes,

wherein the first and second adjustable members move along a first axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another, and

wherein at least one of the first and second adjustable members is a sliding member that slides relative to a base in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

25. The universal docking station as recited in claim 24 wherein the first and second adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another.

26. The universal docking station as recited in claim 24 further including a third adjustable member located on a third side of the opening and a fourth adjustable member located on a fourth side of the opening, the fourth side being opposite the third side.

27. The universal docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the first and second adjustable members move along a first axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another, and wherein the third and fourth adjustable members move along a second axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another, the first and second axes being orthogonal.

28. The universal docking station as recited in claim 27 wherein the first and second adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another, and wherein the third and fourth adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another.

29. A sound system, comprising:

a base with an integrated universal docking station, the universal docking station being configured to receive handheld music players, the universal docking station including an adjustable opening for accommodating handheld music players of various sizes and shapes, the adjustable opening having first and second adjustable members capable of moving along a first axis in a direction towards and away from one another; and

one or more speakers connected to the base,

wherein at least one of the first and second adjustable members is a sliding member that slides relative to the base in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

30. The sound system as recited in claim 29 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a first axis to distances between about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches.

31. The sound system as recited in claim 30 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a second axis to distances between about 2.0 inches to about 2.4 inches.

32. The sound system as recited in claim 29 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a first axis to distances between about 3.6 inches to about 4.1 inches.

33. The sound system as recited in claim 32 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a second axis to distances between about 2.0 inches to about 2.4 inches.