Adjustable docking stand

• US 9,829,918 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Suckle, Mitchell, Beaupre, Eric, McDonald, Eric A., Holleman, Avery, Lane, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/247,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking stand that includes a first surface including a connector well. The first surface can be configured to support a first side of an electronic device. The docking stand also can include a docking connector configured to be raised and lowered within the connector well and configured to removably attach to the electronic device. Other embodiments are provided.

Claims

1. A docking stand comprising:

a first surface comprising a connector well, the first surface being configured to support a first side of an electronic device;

a docking connector configured to be raised and lowered within the connector well and configured to removably attach to the electronic device;

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the docking connector relative to the first surface; and

an adjustment sled comprising a channel,

wherein;

a first portion of the channel is higher than a second portion of the channel when a base of the docking stand is placed on a substantially horizontal surface; and

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the adjustment sled and adjust a height of the docking connector.

2. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment wheel.

3. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the docking connector is configured to pivot frontward and rearward.

4. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the docking stand is configured to support the docking connector in a substantially vertical configuration when the docking connector is detached from the electronic device.

5. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the first surface is convexly curved relative to the docking stand.

6. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the docking connector comprises an eight-pin Lightning connector.

7. The docking stand of claim 1 further comprising:

a second surface configured to support a second side of the electronic device.

8. The docking stand of claim 1, wherein the connector well is fanned out upward toward the first surface.

9. A docking stand comprising:

a docking connector configured to removably attach to an electronic device;

an adjustment sled comprising a channel, a first portion of the channel being higher than a second portion of the channel when a base of the docking stand is placed on a substantially horizontal surface; and

an adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism being configured to move the adjustment sled and adjust a height of the docking connector.

10. The docking stand of claim 9 further comprising:

a first surface comprising a connector well, the first surface being configured to support a first side of the electronic device,

wherein;

the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the height of the docking connector within the connector well.

11. The docking stand of claim 10 further comprising:

a second surface configured to support a second side of the electronic device.

12. The docking stand of claim 10, wherein the connector well is fanned out upward toward the first surface.

13. The docking stand of claim 10, wherein the first surface is convexly curved relative to the docking stand.

14. The docking stand of claim 10, wherein a rear portion of the first surface is lower than a front portion of the first surface when the base of the docking stand is placed on the substantially horizontal surface.

15. The docking stand of claim 9, wherein the docking stand is configured to support the docking connector in a substantially vertical configuration when the docking connector is detached from the electronic device.

16. The docking stand of claim 9, wherein the docking connector comprises an eight-pin Lightning connector.

17. The docking stand of claim 9, wherein the docking connector is configured to pivot frontward and rearward.

18. The docking stand of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment wheel.