Apparatus for holding an electronic device

• US 9,608,366 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawyer, Steven T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnes, Ahmad D
• Application Number:
  US14/099,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,206 Days
• Field of Search: 361/729, 361/742, 361/758, 361/753, 361/757, 361/807, 361/808, 361/809, 439/38, 439/39, 439/76.1, 439/217, 439/218, 439/700, 4555751-5754, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for holding an electronic device that includes an interface surface, a central electrical contact on the interface surface, a first radial electrical contact on the interface surface, a first magnetic member near the first radial electrical contact, and a second magnetic member near the central electrical contact.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

an interface surface;

a central electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first radial electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first magnetic member below the first radial electrical contact;

a second magnetic member below the central electrical contact;

a first hole of the first magnetic member;

a second hole of the second magnetic member;

a first magnetic pole of the first magnetic member on the interface surface;

an opposite magnetic pole of the second magnetic member on the interface surface;

wherein a portion of the first radial electrical contact passes through the first hole; and

wherein a portion of the central electrical contact passes through the second hole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second radial electrical contact on the interface surface;

a third radial electrical contact on the interface surface; and

a fourth radial electrical contact on the interface surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth radial electrical contacts are radially offset by 90 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth radial electrical contacts are electrically connected.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a third magnetic member near the second radial electrical contact;

a fourth magnetic member near the third radial electrical contact; and

a fifth magnetic member near the fourth radial electrical contact.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a third magnetic member radially offset 45 degrees from the second radial electrical contact;

a fourth magnetic member radially offset 45 degrees from the third radial electrical contact; and

a fifth magnetic member radially offset 45 degrees from the fourth radial electrical contact.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least ¾

inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least 1 inch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first convex portion surrounding the first radial electrical contact; and

a second convex portion surrounding the central electrical contact.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic member radially offset from the first radial electrical contact.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic member has a first cut-out and a portion of the first radial electrical contact passes through the first cut-out.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second magnetic member has a second cut-out and a portion of the central electrical contact passes through the second cut-out.

13. An apparatus for holding an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

an interface surface;

a central electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first radial electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first magnetic member below the first radial electrical contact;

a second magnetic member below the central electrical contact;

a second radial electrical contact on the interface surface and radially offset 90 degrees from the first radial electrical contact;

a third radial electrical contact on the interface surface and radially offset 90 degrees from the second radial electrical contact; and

a fourth radial electrical contact on the interface surface and radially offset 90 degrees from the third radial electrical contact;

a first hole of the first magnetic member;

a second hole of the second magnetic member;

a first magnetic pole of the first magnetic member on the interface surface;

an opposite magnetic pole of the second magnetic member on the interface surface;

wherein a portion of the first radial electrical contact passes through the first hole; and

wherein a portion of the central electrical contact passes through the second hole.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least ¾

inches.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least 1 inch.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a first convex portion surrounding the first radial electrical contact; and

a second convex portion surrounding the central electrical contact.

17. An apparatus for holding an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

an interface surface;

a central electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first radial electrical contact on the interface surface;

a first magnetic member below the first radial electrical contact;

a first magnetic pole of the first magnetic member, the first magnetic pole facing the interface surface;

a second magnetic member below the central electrical contact;

a second magnetic pole of the second magnetic member, the second magnetic pole facing the interface surface and being an opposite magnetic pole with respect to the first magnetic pole;

a first hole of the first magnetic member;

a second hole of the second magnetic member;

wherein a portion of the first radial electrical contact passes through the first hole;

wherein a portion of the central electrical contact passes through the second hole; and

wherein magnetic attraction created by the first magnetic member substantially maintains the electronic device in position to interface with the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least ¾

inches.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a middle of the central electrical contact is spaced apart from a middle of the first radial electrical contact by at least 1 inch.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a first convex portion surrounding the first radial electrical contact; and

a second convex portion surrounding the central electrical contact.