Docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener

• US 8,105,108 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Edwards Maskell, Matthew Leigh Vroom
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US12/562,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20110065314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/299, 439/300, 439/807, 439/810, 439/811, 439/812, 439/813, 439/814, 439/815
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

Disclosed is a docking station for an electronic device comprising a main body which holds an electronic device and voids in the main body to allow for the passage of external connectors directly into the docked device and the securing of the external connectors to the main body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attaching a plurality of external connectors to an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a main body which holds the plurality of external connectors and interfaces with the electronic device;

a plurality of voids in the main body;

a first external connector of the plurality of external connectors;

a first void of the plurality of voids which allows the passage of the first external connector of the plurality of external connectors directly into the electronic device, wherein the first void is larger than a housing of the first external connector; and

an integral fastener which secures the first external connector to the main body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a setscrew.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a thumbscrew.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a self-locking connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a caliper.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the first void corresponds with the position of a port on the electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shape of the first void corresponds with the shape of the external connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main body is formed from a single piece of material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the material is plastic.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external connector is a USB plug.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external connector is a ⅛

″

audio connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external connector is a Mini DisplayPort plug.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external connector is a magnetic connector.

14. A method for attaching an external connector to an electronic device, the method comprising:

inserting an external connector into a void in a main body of an apparatus;

securing the external connector to the main body with an integral fastener;

inserting an electronic device into the apparatus such that the external connector secured in the main body connects to a port on the electronic device; and

wherein the void is larger than a housing of the external connector.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fastener is a setscrew.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the fastener is a thumbscrew.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the fastener is a self-locking connector.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the fastener is a caliper.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the positioning of the void corresponds with the position of a port on the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the shape of the void corresponds with the shape of the external connector.