Adaptable consumer electronic device cradle

• US 9,685,803 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DOK Solution
• Original Assignee: DOK Solution
• Inventors: Strauser, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/217,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20160329728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A consumer electronic device cradle for holding and providing power to any number of consumer electronic devices has a cavity that is large enough to contain a largest anticipated consumer electronic device. The cavity has there within one or more steps and each step defines a sub cavity within the cavity. Each sub cavity within the cavity supports another smaller sized consumer electronic device. A trough is cut or formed in a side surface of the cavity for routing a cable to the consumer electronic device resting in the cavity. In some embodiments, a support wall extends from a surface of the cradle for supporting the consumer electronic device and the trough is also cut or formed through the support wall.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic device cradle for supporting any one of a plurality of consumer electronic devices of differing sizes, the consumer electronic device cradle comprising:

a base;

a cavity in the base, the cavity having a first set of dimensions that accepts an end portion of a largest consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices;

a trough in a back side of the base, the trough adapted to route a cable connected to the one of the plurality consumer electronic devices; and

whereas the cavity includes at least one step, each of the at least one step defines a sub cavity having a smaller set of dimensions than the first set of dimensions, whereas each sub cavity is sized to hold a different one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

2. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 1, further comprising a support wall, the support wall extends from a surface of the base, the support wall for supporting the one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

3. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 2, wherein the trough extends through the support wall.

4. The consumer electronic system of claim 1, wherein the cable provides power to the one of the plurality of consumer electronic device.

5. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 2, wherein the cable connects data to the one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

6. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 1, wherein the cable is an audio cable connected to the one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

7. A method of supporting one of a plurality of consumer electronic devices, each of the consumer electronic devices having a different size, the method comprising:

connecting a first consumer electronic device to a first end of the cable, the first consumer electronic device being a largest consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices;

connecting a second end of the cable connected to a source of power;

inserting a first end of the first consumer electronic device into a cavity in a base of a cradle, the cavity sized to accept an end portion of the first consumer electronic device and the cavity having at least one step within the cavity, each of the at least one step forming decreasing sized sub cavities towards a bottom of the cavity, whereas the first consumer electronic device rests on a first step of the at least one step;

passing the cable through a trough in a side of the cavity;

removing the first consumer electronic device from the cavity;

connecting a second consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices to the first end of the cable, the second consumer electronic device being smaller than the first consumer electronic device; and

inserting a first end of the second consumer electronic device into the cavity, the first end of the second consumer electronic device resting within a first sub cavity of the cavities formed by a first step of the at least one step.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a support wall extends upward from the base and the step of inserting the first end of the first consumer electronic device into the cavity includes resting the first consumer electronic device on the support wall.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a support wall extends upward from the base and the trough continues through the support wall and the step of inserting the first end of the first consumer electronic device into the cavity includes resting the first consumer electronic device on the support wall and the step of passing the cable through the trough includes passing the cable through the trough in the support wall.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a support wall extends upwardly from the base and the steps of inserting the first end of the second consumer electronic device into the cavity includes resting the second consumer electronic device on the support wall.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a support wall extends upwardly from the base and the trough continues through the support wall and the step of inserting the first end of the second consumer electronic device into the cavity includes resting the second consumer electronic device on the support wall and the step of passing the cable through the trough includes passing the cable through the trough in the support wall.

12. A consumer electronic device cradle for supporting any one of a plurality of consumer electronic devices of differing sizes, the consumer electronic device cradle comprising:

a base;

a cavity in the base, the cavity for accepting an end portion of a consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices;

means for routing a data cable that is connected to the end portion of the consumer electronic devices; and

means for supporting any one the plurality of consumer electronic devices within the base, the means for supporting the any one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices including at least one step that forms sub cavities of decreasing size towards a bottom of the cavity, whereas each sub cavity is of a size to hold a different one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

13. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 12, further comprising means for supporting the any one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

14. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 13, wherein the means for routing a data cable extends through the means for supporting the any one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

15. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 12, wherein the data cable is a Universal Serial Bus cable for connecting to a computer system.

16. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 12, wherein a first consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices is wider than a second consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.

17. The consumer electronic device cradle of claim 12, wherein a first consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices is thicker than a second consumer electronic device of the plurality of consumer electronic devices.