Docking station for electronic devices

• US 9,429,995 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byrne Electrical Specialists Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Burdi, Roger D., Vander Till, Gerald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Dion R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buttar, Mandeep S
• Application Number:
  US14/712,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.49, 3616794-67945, 361/683
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A docking station for mechanically supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device, such as a portable phone, computer, media player, or the like includes a housing with upper and lower housing surfaces, a device mount pivotably coupled to the housing, and an electrical and mechanical connector on the device mount. The upper housing surface defines an opening through which the connector extends. The opening in the upper housing is sized and shaped to correspond to an upper portion of the device mount, which has arcuate surfaces that remain in close proximity or contact with surfaces defining the opening in the upper housing, to limit or preclude the intrusion of contaminants into the housing regardless of the position of the device mount relative to the housing.

Claims

1. A docking station for supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device, said docking station comprising:

a dock housing including upper and lower housing surfaces defining a cavity there between, said upper housing surface defining an opening between a forward inside surface and a rearward inside surface;

a first hinge portion spaced above said lower housing surface, said first hinge portion defining a pivot axis;

a device mount configured to support an electronic device and having a lower mount portion and an upper mount portion having an arcuate surface with forward and rearward portions, said device mount including a second hinge portion spaced above said lower mount portion and configured to engage said first hinge portion whereby said device mount is pivotably coupled to said first hinge portion and movable between a forward position and a rearward position; and

an electrical connector at said device mount, said electrical connector projecting through said opening and configured to electrically engage the electrical device when the electrical device is supported at said device mount;

wherein said pivot axis is located such that as said device mount is pivoted between said forward position and said rearward position, said forward portion of said upper arcuate surface maintains a fixed spacing relative to said forward inside surface of said upper housing surface, and said rearward portion of said upper arcuate surface maintains a fixed spacing relative to said rearward inside surface of said upper housing surface.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said device mount comprises a lower surface with forward and rearward portions, and wherein when said device mount is in said forward position said forward portion of said lower surface contacts said lower housing surface, and when said device mount is in said rearward position said rearward portion of said lower surface contacts said lower housing surface.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said device mount and said dock housing are configured so that pivoting movement of said device mount relative to said dock housing is resisted only by incidental friction at said first and second hinge portions or by incidental contact of said forward and rearward portions of said upper arcuate surface with said forward and rearward inside surfaces of said upper housing surface, or both.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein a portion of said upper arcuate surface of said device mount projects through said opening of said upper housing surface.

5. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a main housing in which said dock housing is pivotably mounted, wherein said dock housing is movable between an in-use position in which said dock housing is extended from said main housing, and a non-use position in which said dock housing is at least partially retracted into said main housing.

6. A docking station for supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device, said docking station comprising:

a main housing;

a dock housing including a base and a cover, said dock housing defining a cavity between said base and said cover, said cover defining an opening between a forward inside surface and a rearward inside surface, wherein said dock housing is movable between an in-use position in which said dock housing is extended from said main housing, and a non-use position in which said dock housing is at least partially retracted into said main housing;

a first hinge portion projecting upwardly from said base, said first hinge portion defining a pivot axis spaced above said base;

a device mount coupled to said base in said cavity and configured to support an electronic device, said device mount having an upper arcuate surface with forward and rearward portions, a lower surface with forward and rearward portions, and a second hinge portion spaced above said lower surface and configured to engage said first hinge portion whereby said device mount is pivotable coupled to said base; and

an electrical connector at said device mount, said electrical connector projecting through said opening and configured to electrically engage the electrical device when the electrical device is supported at said device mount;

wherein when said dock housing is in said in-use position, said device mount is pivotable between a forward position in which said forward portion of said lower surface contacts said base, and a rearward position in which said rearward portion of said lower surface contacts said base;

wherein said pivot axis is located such that as said device mount is pivoted between said forward position and said rearward position, said forward portion of said upper arcuate surface remains in substantially fixed spacing relative to said forward inside surface of said cover, and said rearward portion of said upper arcuate surface remains in substantially fixed spacing relative to said rearward inside surface of said cover; and

wherein said device mount and said dock housing are configured so that pivoting movement of said device mount relative to said dock housing is resisted only by incidental friction at said first and second hinge portions or by incidental contact of said forward and rearward portions of said upper arcuate surface with said forward and rearward inside surfaces of said cover, or both.

7. The docking station of claim 6, wherein a portion of said upper arcuate surface of said device mount projects through said opening of said upper housing surface.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein said upper arcuate surface comprises a generally planar central surface disposed between said forward and rearward portions, and

wherein said generally planar central surface projects through said opening of said upper housing surface.

9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein said electrical connector is positioned at said generally planar central surface.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein said generally planar central surface is configured to be engaged by a lower surface of the electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the weight of the electronic device is supported by said generally planar central surface.

11. A docking station for supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device, said docking station comprising:

a main housing;

a dock housing including a base and a cover, said dock housing defining a cavity between said base and said cover, said cover defining an opening between a forward inside surface and a rearward inside surface, wherein said dock housing is movable between an in-use position in which said dock housing is extended from said main housing, and a non-use position in which said dock housing is at least partially retracted into said main housing;

a first hinge portion projecting upwardly from said base, said first hinge portion defining a pivot axis spaced above said base;

a device mount mounted in said cavity and configured to support an electronic device, said device mount having an upper arcuate surface with forward and rearward portions, a lower surface with forward and rearward portions, and a second hinge portion spaced above said lower surface and configured to engage said first hinge portion whereby said device mount is pivotably coupled to said first hinge portion; and

an electrical connector at said device mount, said electrical connector configured to electrically engage the electrical device when the electrical device is supported at said device mount;

wherein when said dock housing is in said in-use position, said device mount is pivotable between a forward position in which said forward portion of said lower surface contacts said base, and a rearward position in which said rearward portion of said lower surface contacts said base;

wherein said pivot axis is located such that as said device mount is pivoted between said forward position and said rearward position, said forward portion of said upper arcuate surface remains in substantially fixed spacing relative to said forward inside surface of said cover, and said rearward portion of said upper arcuate surface remains in substantially fixed spacing relative to said rearward inside surface of said cover; and

wherein pivoting movement of said device mount relative to said dock housing is resisted only by incidental friction at said first and second hinge portions or by incidental contact of said forward and rearward portions of said upper arcuate surface with said forward and rearward inside surfaces of said cover, or both.