Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

• US 9,602,639 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US14/829,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320112-115, 379/445, 379/446, 361/679.41, 439/638, 439/929
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A protective arrangement for an electronic device includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. A docking cradle or external adapter can receive the electronic device and cover. A docking cradle may have a movable arm.

Claims

1. A docking system, comprising:

a protective cover comprising

a flexible protective shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and skirt form an interior cavity therebetween, and the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device, wherein the shell is configured and arranged to at least partially cover one of a back face or a front face of the electronic device, at least partially cover a plurality of side faces of the electronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of another one of the front face or the back face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell, and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device, and a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug; and

a docking cradle comprising a tray configured to receive the cover, a movable arm coupled to the tray, and a docking connector disposed opposite the movable arm and comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor, wherein the movable arm is configured and arranged for movement between an extended position with the moveable arm extended away from the tray and a close position with the moveable arm close to the tray.

2. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the movable arm comprises a forward extension configured and arranged to fit over an edge of the electronic device received on the tray of the docking cradle.

3. The docking system of claim 2, wherein the forward extension comprises a lip configured and arranged to contact the front face of the electronic device received on the tray of the docking cradle.

4. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the docking cradle comprises a spring coupled to the movable arm and biased toward the close position.

5. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter and the docking cradle further comprises a base receiver configured to mate with the positioning interface of the cover.

6. The docking system of claim 5, wherein the positioning interface defines an asymmetric rim and the base receiver defines an asymmetric rim configured and arranged to be disposed adjacent the rim of the positioning interface when the base receiver is mated to the positioning interface.

7. The docking system of claim 6, wherein the asymmetric rim of the positioning interface comprises a straight side and a curved side opposite the straight side.

8. The docking system of claim 5, wherein one of the positioning interface and the base receiver comprises a female portion and a different one of the positioning interface and the base receiver comprises a male portion complementary to the female portion.

9. The docking system of claim 8, wherein the position interface comprises the male portion and the base receiver comprises the female portion.

10. The docking system of claim 5, wherein the positioning interface comprises a first magnetic coupling element resident in the shell adjacent to the contactor and the base receiver comprises a second magnetic coupling element, wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material and the second magnetic coupling element comprises another of the magnetic material or the magnetically attractive material.

11. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the docking cradle further comprises a base receiver extending from the docking connector and a cable attached to the base receiver.

12. The docking system of claim 11, wherein the cable is removably attached to the base receiver.

13. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the shell is configured and arranged to at least partially cover each of the side faces of the electronic device.

14. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the shell is configured and arranged to at least partially cover the back face of the electronic device and extend around a peripheral edge of the front face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell.

15. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the shell is configured and arranged to at least partially cover the back face of the electronic device, to at least partially cover each of the side faces of the electronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of the front face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell.

16. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the flexible protective shell forms a skin around a portion of the electronic device.

17. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the docking cradle comprises a ratchet arrangement coupled to the movable arm for moving the movable arm relative to the tray.

18. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the male plug is a single male plug configured and arranged to mate with a female power and input/output socket of the electronic device.

19. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising the electronic device.