Electronic accessory for an MP3 player, and method of providing the same

• US 7,980,892 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kleeman, David A., Neu, Thorben, Razo, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/858,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20100310099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 439/569, 439/527, 439/374, 700/94, 700/95
• US Class Current: 439/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/00 Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronic accessory configured to couple with an electronic device can comprise a housing and a spacer. The housing can comprise a body comprising a width, a length, and a thickness; and a neck extending from the body, the neck comprising a length less than the length of the body. The spacer can comprise an opening configured to be removably coupled around the neck. When the electronic accessory is fully electrically coupled to the electronic device through a docking end of the electronic device, the neck can be located between the body and the electronic device and the electronic device remains uncradled by the electronic accessory. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An electronic accessory for a electronic device, the electronic accessory comprising:

a neck comprising;

a neck height;

a first neck surface facing an exterior of the electronic accessory; and

a first neck cross-sectional dimension;

a body coupled to the neck and comprising;

a first body surface facing the exterior of the electronic accessory and substantially parallel to the first neck surface; and

a first body cross-sectional dimension greater than, and substantially parallel to, the first neck cross-sectional dimension;

and

an electrical connector located at least partially within the neck and configured to couple the electronic accessory to the electronic device through a docking surface of the electronic device at a docking end of the electronic device;

wherein;

the neck is integral with, coupled to, and protrudes from, the first body surface;

a portion of the first neck surface and a portion of the first body surface form an integral piece and are immovable relative to each other;

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device through the docking surface;

the first neck surface and the first body surface are substantially parallel to the docking surface; and

the first neck surface is closer than the first body surface to the docking surface;

and

the first body surface is substantially non-concave relative to an external portion of the electrical connector.

2. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the body further comprises;

a second body surface continuous with the first body surface;

a third body surface continuous with the first body surface; and

a connector end comprising the first body surface and at least a portion of the second and third body surfaces;

wherein the connector end of the body is substantially convex relative to the external portion of the electrical connector.

3. The electronic accessory of claim 2, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device through the docking surface;

the second body surface is substantially perpendicular to the docking surface and substantially planar with a side surface of the electronic device.

4. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device through the docking surface;

the docking end of the electronic device is substantially uncradled by the body of the electronic accessory.

5. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device through the docking surface;

a distance between the docking surface of the electronic device and the first body surface is sufficient to accommodate a wall thickness of a removable case for the electronic device.

6. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device through the docking surface;

the first neck surface is adjacent to the docking surface of the electronic device; and

the first body surface is separated from the docking surface of the electronic device by a distance comprising at least the neck height.

7. The electronic accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a spacer comprising a spacer thickness and an opening configured to removably accommodate the electrical connector when the opening is concentric with the neck;

wherein;

when the spacer is fully seated with the body, such that the opening is concentric with the neck, the spacer thickness fits between the electronic device and the body of the electronic accessory when the docking end of the electronic device is not covered by a removable case for the electronic device.

8. The electronic accessory of claim 7, wherein:

the neck extends outward from the first body surface;

the spacer comprises first and second spacer surfaces; and

when the spacer is fully seated with the body;

the first spacer surface is adjacent and substantially parallel to the first body surface; and

the second spacer surface is adjacent and substantially parallel to the docking surface of the electronic device when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device and the docking surface of the electronic device is not covered by the removable case.

9. The electronic accessory of claim 8, wherein:

the first spacer surface comprises a curvature to match a curvature of the first body surface; and

the second spacer surface is substantially flat.

10. The electronic accessory of claim 7, wherein:

the spacer thickness is approximately equal to the neck height.

11. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device is an MP3 player.

12. The electronic accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrical component located at least partially within the body; and

at least two electrical conductors electrically coupling the at least one electrical component to the electrical connector.

13. The electronic accessory of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one electrical component comprises at least one of;

a microphone;

a stereo receiving system for the electronic device;

a speaker;

or

an FM transmitter.

14. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the electronic device, the first neck surface contacts the docking surface of the electronic device.

15. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first cross-sectional dimension of the neck is smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of an opening of a removable case for the electronic device.

16. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the neck further comprises a second neck cross-sectional dimension substantially perpendicular to the first neck cross-sectional dimension;

the body further comprises a second body cross-sectional dimension substantially perpendicular to the first body cross-sectional dimension and substantially parallel to the second neck cross-sectional dimension; and

the body second cross-sectional dimension is greater than or equal to the second neck cross-sectional dimension.

17. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

an end portion of the body, comprising the first body surface, is substantially convex relative to the external portion of the electrical connector.

18. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

a position of the neck is immovable relative to the first body surface; and

the first neck cross-sectional dimension is substantially centered to the first body cross-sectional dimension.

19. The electronic accessory of claim 18, wherein:

a position of the electrical connector is immovable relative to the first body surface and the neck.

20. An electronic accessory configured to couple with an electronic device, the electronic accessory comprising:

a housing comprising;

a body comprising a width, a length, a thickness, and an end portion; and

a neck integral with the body, coupled to and protruding from an exterior surface of the end portion of the body, and comprising a length less than the length of the body;

wherein;

the neck remains fully exposed and uncradled by the body;

the neck remains centered relative to the width and the length of the body; and

when the electronic accessory is fully electrically coupled to the electronic device through a docking end of the electronic device;

the neck is located between the body and the electronic device; and

the electronic device remains uncradled by the electronic accessory.

21. The electronic accessory of claim 20, further comprising:

a spacer comprising an opening configured to be removably coupled around the neck;

wherein;

the neck and the body of the housing are integral with each other;

at least one of a length of the spacer or a length of the housing is less than or approximately equal to a length of the docking end of the electronic device;

when the electronic accessory is fully electrically coupled to the electronic device through the docking end of the electronic device, a gap exists between the electronic device and at least one of;

the body of the housing;

or

the neck of the housing;

and

when the electronic accessory is fully electrically coupled to the electronic device through the docking end of the electronic device, and the opening of the spacer is concentric with the neck of the housing, and the docking end of the electronic device is not covered by a removable case for the electronic device;

a first surface of the spacer is adjacent and substantially parallel to a first surface of the housing of the electronic accessory; and

a second surface of the spacer is adjacent, substantially parallel, and non-concave with respect to the docking end of the electronic device.

22. The electronic accessory of claim 21, wherein:

a first surface of the body of the housing has a curvature; and

a face of the spacer has a curvature complementary to the curvature of the first surface of the body of the housing.

23. The electronic accessory of claim 21, wherein:

the spacer comprises;

a disk portion having a width, a length, and a thickness; and

a lip portion extending outward substantially perpendicular to the width of the disk portion and to the length of the disk portion;

and

the lip portion decreases in thickness from the disk portion towards a distal end of the lip portion.

24. The electronic accessory of claim 21, wherein:

when the removable case houses the electronic device, the electronic accessory is configured to be coupled to the electronic device without the spacer; and

when the removable case does not house the electronic device, the electronic accessory is configured to be coupled to the electronic device with at least a portion of the spacer located between the body of the housing and the electronic device.

25. The electronic accessory of claim 21, wherein:

one of the spacer or the neck comprises a protrusion;

a different one of the spacer or the neck comprises a dimple;

wherein;

the protrusion is configured to interlock with the dimple when the spacer is fully seated relative to the neck of the housing; and

the body and the neck of the housing comprise at least one of;

a metallic material;

an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material;

a polycarbonate material;

a polypropylene material;

or

a polyethylene material.

26. The electronic accessory of claim 21, wherein:

the electronic device is an MP3 player; and

the electronic accessory comprises at least one of a microphone, a stereo receiving system, a speaker, or an FM transmitter.

27. The electronic accessory of claim 20, wherein:

a position of the neck is fixed in place relative to the exterior surface of the body; and

the exterior surface of the body is substantially convex relative to the neck.

28. The electronic accessory of claim 20, further comprising:

an electrical connector protruding from the neck of the housing to couple the electronic accessory with the electronic device;

wherein the end portion of the body the end portion of the body is non-cradling with respect to the electrical connector.

29. A method for providing an accessory for an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a housing of the accessory; and

providing an electrical connector coupled to the housing to electrically couple the accessory to a docking end of the electronic device;

wherein;

providing the housing comprises;

providing a body comprising a body cross-sectional dimension and an external body surface;

providing a neck protruding from, coupled to, and integral with, the external body surface, the neck comprising a neck cross-sectional dimension;

providing the external body surface to remain non-cradling to the neck;

providing the external body surface to be substantially non-concave with respect to the electrical connector; and

providing the external body surface to be substantially non-concave with respect to the electronic device when the accessory is coupled to the docking end;

providing the electrical connector comprises;

locating the electrical connector at least partially within the neck and protruded from a neck surface of the neck;

and

providing the neck comprises;

providing the neck to comprise a permanent external configuration relative to the body;

providing the neck cross-sectional dimension to remain substantially parallel with, centered relative to, and less than, the body cross-sectional dimension; and

providing the neck surface to be closer than the body surface to the docking end of the electronic device when the electrical connector is fully seated with the electronic device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

providing the housing comprises;

providing at least one of a switch, a speaker, or a display coupled to the body of the housing; and

providing a component located at least partially within the body and configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic device via the electrical connector;

and

providing the body of the housing comprises;

providing the body to be separated from the docking end of the electronic device by a separation distance comprising at least a neck height of the neck when the electrical connector is fully seated with the electronic device; and

providing the separation distance to accommodate a wall thickness of a removable case for the electronic device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the component comprises at least one of;

a microphone;

an FM transmitter;

or

at least two microphones substantially offset from each other by at least one of a distance or an angle.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein:

providing the neck comprises;

providing for a gap between the neck surface and the docking end of the electronic device when the electrical connector is fully seated with the electronic device.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing a spacer comprising;

an opening configured to removably circumscribe at least a portion of the neck of the housing; and

a thickness configured to fit between the body surface and the docking end of the electronic device when;

the docking end of the electronic device is not covered by a removable case; and

the electrical connector is fully seated with the electronic device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

providing the spacer comprises;

providing a first surface of the spacer to face towards, be substantially flush with, and be non-cradling with respect to, the docking end of the electronic device;

providing a length of the first surface of the spacer to be less than or approximately equal to a length of the docking end of the electronic device; and

providing a second surface of the spacer to conform to a contour of the body surface.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

providing a packaging configured to at least partially contain the electronic accessory and the spacer;

wherein the packaging comprises at least one of;

instructions to remove the spacer when docking end of the electronic device is covered by a removable case;

or

instructions to include the spacer between the body of the housing and the electronic device when the docking end of the electronic device is not covered by the removable case.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein:

providing the housing comprises;

providing the external body surface to be substantially convex with respect to the electrical connector.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein:

providing the electrical connector comprises;

providing the electrical connector to comprise a permanent external configuration relative to the body and the neck.