Universal docking station for hand-held electronic devices

• US 7,933,117 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Crooijmans, Wim, Howarth, Richard P., Hobson, Phillip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright; Ingrid
• Application Number:
  US12/753,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.44, 361/679.41, 361/679.21, 361/679, 361/26, 361/58, 361/679.26, 361/679.58, 248917-924
• 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 electronic device having sides, the recess having sides that surround the sides of the handheld electronic device when the handheld electronic 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 electronic devices of various sizes and shapes,

wherein a first 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 electronic devices, and wherein a second 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 electronic devices, the first axis being orthogonal to the second axis.

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

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

4. The universal docking station of claim 1, wherein a width of the second adjustable member along the first direction is smaller than the minimum size of the opening obtainable along the first direction.

5. The universal docking station of claim 4, wherein the recess has a first portion having a same width as the first adjustable member and has a second portion having a same width as the second adjustable member.

6. The universal docking station of claim 5, wherein when the size of the opening along the first direction is largest, the first adjustable member is adjacent to a back of the first portion, and wherein when the size of the opening along the second direction is largest, the second adjustable member is adjacent to a back of the second portion.

7. A universal docking station, comprising:

a base including a recess in a top surface of the base, wherein the base that forms an opening for receiving a bottom of a handheld electronic device such that the handheld electronic device is in a substantially vertical position, the handheld electronic device having sides, and the recess having sides that surround the sides of the handheld electronic device when the handheld electronic device is received by the opening; and

one or more adjustable members disposed at least partially within the recess, and having the ability to change a size and shape of the opening for handheld electronic devices of various sizes and shapes, wherein a first of the one or more adjustable members includes a substantially vertical section, wherein the substantially vertical section of the first adjustable member is movable to have a plurality of positions along a horizontal direction, and wherein the substantially vertical section is configured to support the handheld device in the substantially vertical orientation.

8. The universal docking station of claim 7, wherein the first adjustable member further includes a substantially horizontal section.

9. The universal docking station of claim 8, wherein the substantially horizontal section of the first adjustable member includes a tab that moves within a channel formed by an upper surface and a lower surface of the base at a side of the recess.

10. The universal docking station of claim 8, wherein the substantially horizontal section of the first adjustable member includes a channel that receives a tab extending out of the base at a side of the recess.

11. The universal docking station of claim 8, wherein the substantially horizontal section of the first adjustable member includes a flange on a bottom surface of the substantially horizontal section, wherein the flange is configured to slide in a channel located in a top surface of the recess.

12. The universal docking station of claim 8, wherein the base has a spring located on a bottom surface of the recess, and wherein the spring pushes a bottom surface of the substantially horizontal section such that a top surface of the substantially horizontal section is secured against the base.

13. The universal docking station of claim 8, wherein the substantially horizontal section of the first adjustable member includes threads that engage threads of a drive mechanism that is configured to move the first adjustable member.

14. The universal docking station of claim 8, further comprising a spring element that is disposed between the first adjustable member and a first wall of the recess, wherein the first adjustable member has a chamfer at a joint between the substantially vertical section and the substantially horizontal section, the chamfer guiding the handheld electronic device between the first adjustable member and a second wall of the recess, the first wall opposite the second wall.

15. The universal docking station of claim 7, further comprising:

a moveable door pivotably coupled to the first adjustable member and spring biased in a closed position that covers the opening.

16. A universal docking station, comprising:

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

a pair of opposed flexures that are capable of bending downward into the opening when the handheld electronic device is pushed against the flexures, wherein the pair of opposed flexures have the ability to change a size and shape of the opening for handheld electronic devices of various sizes and shapes by bending downward toward a bottom surface of the recess.

17. The universal docking station of claim 16, wherein the pair of opposed flexures are part of a top cover of the universal docking station.

18. The universal docking station of claim 17, wherein the pair of opposed flexures cover the opening when the handheld electronic device is not received.

19. The universal docking station of claim 16, further comprising another pair of opposed flexures that are oriented along a different direction than the pair of opposed flexures.

20. The universal docking station of claim 19, wherein the another pair of opposed flexures are orthogonal to the pair of opposed flexures.