Electronic accessories for digital music players and related methods

• US 8,366,480 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• 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: Neu, Thorben, Razo, Vincent, Kleeman, David A
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US13/491,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 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

Embodiments of electronic accessories for digital music players are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

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

a neck comprising;

a neck surface at an exterior of the electronic accessory;

a neck cross-sectional dimension; and

two or more of;

a neck front portion facing a front of the electronic accessory;

a neck rear portion facing a rear of the electronic accessory;

a neck left portion facing a left side of the electronic accessory;

or

a neck right portion facing a right side of the electronic accessory;

a body coupled to the neck and comprising;

a first body surface at the exterior of the electronic accessory; and

a first body cross-sectional dimension greater than and substantially parallel to the 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 at a docking end of the electronic device;

wherein;

the neck extends from the body and remains permanently protruded past the first body surface;

when the electrical connector is coupled to the docking end of the electronic device, the first neck surface is closer than the first body surface to the docking end; and

at least two of the neck front portion, the neck rear portion, the neck left portion, or the neck right portion are unbounded by the body.

2. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first body surface circumscribes the two or more of the neck front portion, the neck rear portion, the neck left portion, or the neck right portion.

3. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

each of the neck front portion, the neck rear portion, the neck left portion, and the neck right portion protrudes past the first body surface.

4. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the body is configured such that a straight line intersecting two of the neck front portion, the neck rear portion, the neck left portion, or the neck right portion does not intersect the body.

5. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

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

6. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the neck cross-sectional dimension is centered within the first body cross-sectional dimension.

7. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the neck surface is substantially parallel to the first body surface and the neck cross-sectional dimension.

8. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

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

9. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the body further comprises a second body surface coupled to the first body surface; and

when the electrical connector is coupled to the docking end of the electronic device;

the second body surface is substantially planar with an electronic display surface of the electronic device.

10. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

when the electrical connector is coupled to the docking end of the electronic device;

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

11. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the neck is substantially non-detachable from the body;

the neck surface and the first body surface are substantially immovable relative to each other;

the neck cross-sectional dimension is substantially centered within the first body cross-sectional dimension; and

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

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

at least one of a microphone, a stereo receiving system, a speaker, or an FM transmitter coupled to the body; and

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;

the electronic device comprises a digital music player; and

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.

13. 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 a first body surface; and

a neck extending from the body and permanently protruded past the first body surface;

wherein;

at least two opposite sides of the neck are uncradled by the body; and

when the electronic accessory is 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

at least two opposite sides of the docking end of the electronic device remain uncradled by the body.

14. The electronic accessory of claim 13, wherein:

at least a portion of the first body surface is convex relative to the neck.

15. The electronic accessory of claim 13, wherein:

the first body surface circumscribes the neck around a perimeter of the neck.

16. The electronic accessory of claim 13, wherein:

the neck comprises;

a neck front portion facing a front of the electronic accessory;

a neck rear portion facing a rear of the electronic accessory;

a neck left portion facing a left side of the electronic accessory;

or

a neck right portion facing a right side of the electronic accessory; and

each of the neck front portion, the neck rear portion, the neck left portion, and the neck right portion protrudes past the first body surface.

17. The electronic accessory of claim 13, further comprising:

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

wherein;

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 coupled to the electronic device through the docking end of the electronic device, and the spacer is decoupled from the neck;

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 coupled to the electronic device through the docking end of the electronic device, and the opening of the spacer is coupled concentrically with the neck of the housing;

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

a second surface of the spacer is opposite to the first surface and is adjacent and substantially parallel to the docking end of the electronic device.

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

providing a housing of the accessory; and

coupling an electrical connector to the housing to permit the accessory to be electrically coupled to a docking end of the electronic device;

wherein;

providing the housing comprises;

providing a body comprising a body cross-sectional dimension and a first body surface; and

providing a neck protruding from the body and past the first body surface, the neck comprising a neck cross-sectional dimension;

the first body surface is non-concave with respect to at least two opposite sides of the neck;

coupling 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 in a permanent external configuration relative to the first body surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

providing the neck comprises;

providing the first body surface to be substantially non-concave relative to the neck throughout a perimeter of the neck.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a spacer comprising;

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

a thickness configured to fit between the first 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.

21. The method of claim 18, 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;

one or more instructions to remove the spacer from between the body of the housing and the electronic device when the docking end of the electronic device is covered by a removable case;

or

one or more 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.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein:

providing the housing comprises;

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

23. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the first body surface circumscribes a perimeter of the neck.