Docking system for MP3 players and other portable electronic devices

• US 7,778,023 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victor Mohoney
• Original Assignee: Victor Mohoney
• Inventors: Mohoney, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/400,409
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41, 361/697.56
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

Sleeves for different portable electronic devices (portable media players, wireless telephones, handheld computers, etc.) adapt the outer contours of the devices such that all can fit within the pocket of a standard device dock. Each sleeve situates its portable electronic device within the pocket of the dock such that at least one of its power/communications ports is situated at a standard location. The device dock then also accommodates a connector which fits within the dock pocket, and which has power/communications ports situated at the standard location, such that when the sleeved device is inserted into the pocket, its power/communications ports interface with the power/communications ports of the connector. The connector can incorporate data storage devices, power supplies, interface cables extending to other devices (such as personal computers, stereo systems, etc.) such that it lends the functionality of these devices to the sleeved device situated within the pocket.

Claims

1. A docking system for a first portable electronic device having a device connection port thereon, the docking system including:

a. a device dock having a dock interior pocket;

(1) with a dock port connector therein, the dock port connector being configured to directly interface with the device connection port of the first portable electronic device when the device connection port and dock port connector are engaged together;

(2) bounded by pocket walls wherein the dock interior pocket is configured to loosely receive the first portable electronic device between the pocket walls when inserted within the dock interior pocket, such that when the first portable electronic device is inserted within the dock interior pocket in abutment with at least one of the pocket walls, the device connection port of the first portable electronic device cannot directly interface with the dock port connector;

(3) wherein the device dock includes;

(a) a dock receiver portion having the dock interior pocket therein, and

(b) a dock connector portion having the dock port connector thereon,

wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged to the dock receiver portion;

b. a first device sleeve configured to;

(1) extend about a portion of the exterior of the first portable electronic device to;

(a) removably engage the first portable electronic device within the first device sleeve, while

(b) leaving the device connection port exposed;

(2) abut at least a portion of the pocket walls when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, and

(3) guide the device connection port of the first portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock when the first device sleeve, with the first portable electronic device engaged therein, is fully received within the dock interior pocket.

2. The docking system of claim 1 wherein portions of the pocket walls on opposing sides of the dock interior pocket complementarily engage opposing sides of the first device sleeve when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket.

3. The docking system of claim 1 wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged to the dock receiver portion within the dock interior pocket.

4. The docking system of claim 1 wherein:

a. the dock port connector extends from a standalone device situated within the dock connector portion, and

b. the standalone device includes one or more of;

(1) a power supply;

(2) a wireless receiver and/or transmitter;

(3) a memory; and

(4) a terminal connector and attached interface cable.

5. The docking system of claim 4 wherein:

a. the dock connector portion is formed in two or more dock connector portion sections,

b. the dock connector portion sections are connected about the standalone device to enclose the standalone device therein,

c. the connected dock connector portion sections define an opening through which the dock port connector extends, whereby the dock port connector is exposed on the dock connector portion.

6. The docking system of claim 1 wherein the dock interior pocket defines an internal passage within the dock receiver portion, with the dock interior pocket extending between:

a. a dock device insertion mouth into which the first device sleeve is received,

b. a dock connector insertion mouth spaced from the device insertion mouth, wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged within the dock connector insertion mouth.

7. The docking system of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first device sleeve has opposing sleeve sidewalls bearing sleeve ridges thereon,

b. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls with ridge slots defined therein, and

c. the sleeve ridges engage within the ridge slots when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, with the sleeve ridges and ridge slots guiding the device connection port of the first portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock.

8. The docking system of claim 7 wherein the first device sleeve, when fully received within the dock interior pocket with the first portable electronic device engaged within the first device sleeve, has at least a major portion of the outer circumference of the first device sleeve spaced from the pocket walls.

9. The docking system of claim 1 further including a sleeve cover having:

a. a cover body,

b. a pair of opposing cover sidewalls extending outwardly from opposite sides of the cover body, and

c. a sleeve insertion space defined between the opposing cover sidewalls and adjacent the cover body,

the sleeve cover being configured to receive the sleeve within the sleeve insertion space with the opposing cover sidewalls removably engaging the sleeve therein.

10. The docking system of claim 9 wherein the cover body includes a clip thereon.

11. The docking system of claim 1 in combination with a second device sleeve configured to:

a. extend about a portion of the exterior of a second portable electronic device, the second portable electronic device having a device connection port thereon, to;

(1) removably engage the second portable electronic device within the second device sleeve, while

(2) leaving the device connection port of the second portable electronic device exposed;

b. abut at least a portion of the pocket walls when the second device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, and

c. guide the device connection port of the second portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock when the second device sleeve, with the second portable electronic device engaged therein, is fully received within the dock interior pocket,

wherein;

(1) the second portable electronic device has an exterior surface configured differently from the exterior surface of the first portable electronic device, and

(2) the second device sleeve cannot receive the first portable electronic device therein, and

(3) the first device sleeve cannot receive the second portable electronic device therein.

12. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the first device sleeve includes a sleeve body having:

a. opposing top and bottom sleeve sides,

b. opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, wherein;

(1) the sleeve sidewalls extend outwardly from the sleeve body to define a device insertion space between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body,

(2) the sleeve sidewalls include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the device insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave, and

(3) the sleeve sidewalls include outer sidewall faces opposite their inner sidewall faces, the outer sidewall faces each including a sleeve ridge thereon extending in a direction between the top and bottom sleeve sides; and

c. opposing front and rear sleeve sides situated between the top and bottom sleeve sides and between the sleeve sidewalls,

wherein the first portable electronic device may rest within the device insertion space with edges of the first portable electronic device received within the concave inner sidewall faces, and with the device connection port being unobstructed by the first device sleeve.

13. The docking system of claim 12, wherein:

a. the pocket walls include ridge slots defined therein, whereby the first device sleeve may be received within the dock interior pocket with the sleeve ridges fit within the ridge slots,

b. the dock interior pocket is bounded by front and rear pocket walls situated between the lateral pocket walls, and

c. the first device sleeve, when fully received within the dock interior pocket with the sleeve ridges fit within the ridge slots, has at least a major portion of at least one of;

(1) the front sleeve side spaced from the front pocket wall, and

(2) the rear sleeve side spaced from the rear pocket wall,

with any portable electronic device within the device insertion space of the first device sleeve having its device connection port directly interfaced with the dock port connector.

14. The docking system of claim 1, wherein:

a. the first device sleeve includes a sleeve body having;

(1) opposing top and bottom sleeve sides; and

(2) opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, and

b. wherein the sleeve body is thinner at a location;

(1) spaced at least substantially halfway between the sleeve sidewalls, and

(2) extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides.

15. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the first device sleeve includes a sleeve body having:

a. opposing top and bottom sleeve sides, and

b. opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, wherein the sleeve sidewalls;

(1) extend outwardly from the sleeve body to define a device insertion space between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body,

(2) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the device insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave, and

(3) are spaced at least substantially uniformly away from each other save for at the top and bottom sleeve sides, where the sleeve sidewalls extend inwardly toward each other,

whereby a channel is defined between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body, the channel being narrower at the top and bottom sleeve sides and broader therebetween.

16. The docking system of claim 15, wherein the sleeve body is thinner at a location:

a. spaced at least substantially halfway between the sleeve sidewalls, and

b. extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides.

17. The docking system of claim 16 wherein:

a. the sleeve sidewalls extend outwardly from the sleeve body between a rear sleeve side and a front sleeve side,

b. the sleeve sidewalls include outer sidewall faces opposite their inner sidewall faces, and

c. the outer sidewall faces each include a sleeve ridge thereon extending in a direction between the top and bottom sleeve sides, the sleeve ridge being spaced closer to the front sleeve side than the rear sleeve side.

18. The docking system of claim 17 wherein:

a. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls with ridge slots defined therein, and

b. the sleeve ridges of the outer sidewall faces engage within the ridge slots when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, with the sleeve ridges and ridge slots guiding the device connection port of the first portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock.

19. The docking system of claim 17 further including a sleeve cover having:

a. a cover body,

b. opposing top and bottom cover sides, and

c. opposing lateral cover sidewalls extending between the top and bottom cover sides, wherein the cover sidewalls;

(1) extend outwardly from the cover body to define a sleeve insertion space between the cover sidewalls and adjacent the cover body,

(2) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the sleeve insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave,

the sleeve cover being configured to receive the sleeve within the sleeve insertion space with the sleeve ridges being received within the concave inner sidewall faces of the cover sidewalls.

20. A docking system for a first portable electronic device having a device connection port thereon, the docking system including:

a. a device dock having a dock interior pocket;

(1) with a dock port connector therein, the dock port connector being configured to directly interface with the device connection port of the first portable electronic device when the device connection port and dock port connector are engaged together;

(2) bounded by pocket walls wherein the dock interior pocket is configured to loosely receive the first portable electronic device between the pocket walls when inserted within the dock interior pocket, such that when the first portable electronic device is inserted within the dock interior pocket in abutment with at least one of the pocket walls, the device connection port of the first portable electronic device cannot directly interface with the dock port connector;

b. a first device sleeve configured to;

(1) extend about a portion of the exterior of the first portable electronic device to;

(a) removably engage the first portable electronic device within the first device sleeve, while

(b) leaving the device connection port exposed;

(2) abut at least a portion of the pocket walls when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, and

(3) guide the device connection port of the first portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock when the first device sleeve, with the first portable electronic device engaged therein, is fully received within the dock interior pocket;

wherein the first device sleeve includes a sleeve body having;

(1) opposing top and bottom sleeve sides, and

(2) opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, wherein the sleeve sidewalls;

(a) extend outwardly from the sleeve body to define a device insertion space between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body,

(b) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the device insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave, and

(c) are spaced at least substantially uniformly away from each other save for at the top and bottom sleeve sides, where the sleeve sidewalls extend inwardly toward each other,

whereby a channel is defined between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body, the channel being narrower at the top and bottom sleeve sides and broader therebetween;

wherein the sleeve body is thinner at a location;

i. spaced at least substantially halfway between the sleeve sidewalls, and

ii. extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides.

21. The docking system of claim 20 wherein:

a. the sleeve sidewalls extend outwardly from the sleeve body between a rear sleeve side and a front sleeve side,

b. the sleeve sidewalls include outer sidewall faces opposite their inner sidewall faces, and

c. the outer sidewall faces each include a sleeve ridge thereon extending in a direction between the top and bottom sleeve sides, the sleeve ridge being spaced closer to the front sleeve side than the rear sleeve side.

22. The docking system of claim 21 wherein:

a. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls with ridge slots defined therein, and

b. the sleeve ridges of the outer sidewall faces engage within the ridge slots when the first device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, with the sleeve ridges and ridge slots guiding the device connection port of the first portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock.

23. The docking system of claim 21 further including a sleeve cover having:

a. a cover body,

b. opposing top and bottom cover sides, and

c. opposing lateral cover sidewalls extending between the top and bottom cover sides, wherein the cover sidewalls;

(1) extend outwardly from the cover body to define a sleeve insertion space between the cover sidewalls and adjacent the cover body,

(2) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the sleeve insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave,

the sleeve cover being configured to receive the sleeve within the sleeve insertion space with the sleeve ridges being received within the concave inner sidewall faces of the cover sidewalls.

24. The docking system of claim 23 wherein the cover body includes a clip thereon.

25. A docking system for a portable electronic device having a device connection port thereon, the docking system including:

a. a device sleeve configured to;

(1) removably engage the portable electronic device within the device sleeve;

(2) extend about a portion of the exterior of the portable electronic device to leave the device connection port exposed, and

b. a device dock having a dock interior pocket;

(1) configured to receive the device sleeve therein,

(2) with a dock port connector therein, the dock port connector being configured to directly interface with the device connection port of the portable electronic device;

wherein the device dock includes;

(i) dock receiver portion having the dock interior pocket therein, and

(ii) a dock connector portion having the dock port connector thereon, wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged to the dock receiver portion;

wherein the device connection port of the portable electronic device directly interfaces with the dock port connector of the device dock when the device sleeve, with the portable electronic device therein, is fully inserted within the dock interior pocket.

26. The docking system of claim 25 wherein:

a. the dock interior pocket is bounded by pocket walls, with at least a portion of the pocket walls;

(1) abutting at least a portion of the device sleeve when the device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, and

(2) guiding the device connection port of the portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock when the device sleeve, with the portable electronic device therein, is inserted within the dock interior pocket;

b. when the portable electronic device is inserted within the dock interior pocket;

(1) without the device sleeve, and

(2) in abutment with at least one of the pocket walls,

the device connection port of the portable electronic device cannot directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock.

27. The docking system of claim 25 wherein:

a. the device sleeve has opposing sleeve sidewalls, and

b. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls, and

c. the opposing sleeve sidewalls complementarily engage the opposing pocket walls when the device sleeve is inserted within the dock interior pocket.

28. The docking system of claim 25 wherein:

a. the device sleeve has opposing sleeve sidewalls bearing sleeve ridges thereon, and

b. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls with ridge slots defined therein, and

c. the opposing sleeve sidewalls complementarily engage the opposing pocket walls with the sleeve ridges engaged within the ridge slots when the device sleeve is inserted within the dock interior pocket,

whereby the sleeve ridges and ridge slots guide the device connection port of the portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock when the device sleeve, with the portable electronic device therein, is inserted within the dock interior pocket.

29. The docking system of claim 25 wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged to the dock receiver portion within the dock interior pocket.

30. The docking system of claim 25 wherein the dock receiver portion includes an internal passage extending between:

a. a dock device insertion mouth into which the device sleeve is received,

b. a dock connector insertion mouth spaced from the device insertion mouth, wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged within the dock connector insertion mouth,

wherein the dock interior pocket defines at least a portion of the internal passage.

31. The docking system of claim 25, wherein the device sleeve includes a sleeve body having:

a. opposing top and bottom sleeve sides,

b. opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, wherein;

(1) the sleeve sidewalls extend outwardly from the sleeve body to define a device insertion space between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body,

(2) the sleeve sidewalls include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the device insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave, and

(3) the sleeve sidewalls include outer sidewall faces opposite their inner sidewall faces, the outer sidewall faces each including a sleeve ridge thereon extending in a direction between the top and bottom sleeve sides; and

c. opposing front and rear sleeve sides situated between the top and bottom sleeve sides and between the sleeve sidewalls,

wherein the portable electronic device may rest within the device insertion space with edges of the portable electronic device received within the concave inner sidewall faces, and with the device connection port being unobstructed by the device sleeve.

32. The docking system of claim 31, wherein:

a. the pocket walls include ridge slots defined therein, whereby the first device sleeve may be received within the dock interior pocket with the sleeve ridges fit within the ridge slots,

b. the dock interior pocket is bounded by front and rear pocket walls situated between the lateral pocket walls, and

c. the device sleeve, when fully received within the dock interior pocket with the sleeve ridges fit within the ridge slots, has at least a major portion of at least one of;

(1) the front sleeve side spaced from the front pocket wall, and

(2) the rear sleeve side spaced from the rear pocket wall,

with any portable electronic device within the device insertion space of the device sleeve having its device connection port directly interfaced with the dock port connector.

33. The docking system of claim 25 wherein:

a. the dock port connector extends from a standalone device situated within the dock connector portion, and

b. the standalone device includes one or more of;

(1) a power supply;

(2) a wireless receiver and/or transmitter;

(3) a memory; and

(4) a terminal connector and attached interface cable.

34. The docking system of claim 33 wherein:

a. the dock connector portion is formed in two or more dock connector portion sections,

b. the dock connector portion sections are connected about the standalone device to enclose the standalone device therein,

c. the connected dock connector portion sections define an opening through which the dock port connector extends, whereby the dock port connector is exposed on the dock connector portion.

35. The docking system of claim 25 wherein the dock interior pocket defines an internal passage within the dock receiver portion, with the dock interior pocket extending between:

a. a dock device insertion mouth into which the first device sleeve is received,

b. a dock connector insertion mouth spaced from the device insertion mouth, wherein the dock connector portion is removably engaged within the dock connector insertion mouth.

36. The docking system of claim 25, wherein:

a. the device sleeve includes a sleeve body having;

(1) opposing top and bottom sleeve sides; and

(2) opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, and

b. wherein the sleeve body is thinner at a location;

(1) spaced at least substantially halfway between the sleeve sidewalls, and

(2) extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides.

37. The docking system of claim 25, wherein the device sleeve includes a sleeve body having:

a. opposing top and bottom sleeve sides, and

b. opposing lateral sleeve sidewalls extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides, wherein the sleeve sidewalls;

(1) extend outwardly from the sleeve body to define a device insertion space between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body,

(2) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the device insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave, and

(3) are spaced at least substantially uniformly away from each other save for at the top and bottom sleeve sides, where the sleeve sidewalls extend inwardly toward each other,

whereby a channel is defined between the sleeve sidewalls and adjacent the sleeve body, the channel being narrower at the top and bottom sleeve sides and broader therebetween.

38. The docking system of claim 37, wherein the sleeve body is thinner at a location:

a. spaced at least substantially halfway between the sleeve sidewalls, and

b. extending between the top and bottom sleeve sides.

39. The docking system of claim 38 wherein:

a. the sleeve sidewalls extend outwardly from the sleeve body between a rear sleeve side and a front sleeve side,

b. the sleeve sidewalls include outer sidewall faces opposite their inner sidewall faces, and

c. the outer sidewall faces each include a sleeve ridge thereon extending in a direction between the top and bottom sleeve sides, the sleeve ridge being spaced closer to the front sleeve side than the rear sleeve side.

40. The docking system of claim 39 wherein:

a. the dock interior pocket has opposing pocket walls with ridge slots defined therein, and

b. the sleeve ridges of the outer sidewall faces engage within the ridge slots when the device sleeve is received within the dock interior pocket, with the sleeve ridges and ridge slots guiding the device connection port of the portable electronic device to directly interface with the dock port connector of the device dock.

41. The docking system of claim 39 further including a sleeve cover having:

a. a cover body,

b. opposing top and bottom cover sides, and

c. opposing lateral cover sidewalls extending between the top and bottom cover sides, wherein the cover sidewalls;

(1) extend outwardly from the cover body to define a sleeve insertion space between the cover sidewalls and adjacent the cover body,

(2) include inner sidewall faces facing inwardly toward each other across the sleeve insertion space, the inner sidewall faces being concave,

the sleeve cover being configured to receive the sleeve within the sleeve insertion space with the sleeve ridges being received within the concave inner sidewall faces of the cover sidewalls.