Mobile device docking station

• US 9,874,902 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BPM Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: BPM Products, LLC
• Inventors: McCracken, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/063,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20160266609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/02 Details casings, cabinets or mounting therein for transducers covered by H04R1/02 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A mobile computing device docking station is provided. The device includes an open enclosure comprising a curved inner surface. A first wall forms a first portion of the open enclosure. A second wall forms a second portion of the open enclosure, the second wall is opposite the first wall, and the first wall extends higher in a direction of an opening of the open enclosure than the second wall. A protrusion extends from the curved inner surface between the first wall and the second wall. Further provided is a combination mobile computing device and docking station and a method of projecting sound emitted by a mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device docking station comprising:

an open enclosure comprising a curved inner surface;

a first wall forming a first portion of the open enclosure;

a second wall forming a second portion of the open enclosure, the second wall opposite the first wall, and the first wall extending higher in a direction of an opening of the open enclosure than the second wall; and

at least one protrusion extending from the curved inner surface between the first wall and the second wall, the at least one protrusion comprising;

a first surface substantially spaced from the second wall and the first wall and substantially facing the first wall; and

at least one elongated top surface comprising a second surface elongated and substantially spaced from the curved inner surface.

2. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, further comprising a base portion, the at least one protrusion comprising at least a first protrusion comprising the first surface, a second protrusion comprising the second surface, and a third protrusion, the second protrusion and the third protrusion being of substantially the same height, the first protrusion extending toward an open end of the open enclosure and higher relative to the base portion than the second and third protrusions, the second protrusion and the third protrusion substantially disposed between the first wall and the first protrusion, wherein the at least one elongated top surface further comprises a third surface on the third protrusion, the third surface elongated and spaced from the curved inner surface substantially the same distance as the second surface.

3. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 2, further comprising an aperture running between the second protrusion and the third protrusion through the curved inner surface and the base portion.

4. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, the at least one protrusion extending from the curved inner surface between the first wall and the second wall.

9. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, the curved inner surface comprising a concave surface.

10. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, further comprising an aperture running through the curved inner surface.

11. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, further comprising a punch out running through the curved inner surface for creating an aperture through the curved inner surface.

12. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, the first wall, the second wall, and the at least one protrusion comprising a polymeric material.

13. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, further comprising a base portion comprising a plurality of elastomeric contacts.

14. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 1, further comprising a ridged surface on a top edge of the first wall.

5. A mobile computing device docking station comprising:

an open enclosure comprising a curved inner surface;

a first wall forming a first portion of the open enclosure;

a second wall forming a second portion of the open enclosure, the second wall opposite the first wall, and the first wall extending higher in a direction of an open end of the open enclosure than the second wall; and

at least one protrusion extending from the curved inner surface between the first wall and the second wall; and

a base portion, the at least one protrusion comprising a first surface opposite the first wall and spaced from the second wall and a second surface angled with respect to the first surface and substantially positioned between the first surface and the first wall, the first surface extending higher relative to the base portion, toward the open end of the open enclosure, than the second surface.

6. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 5, at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprising a ridged surface.

7. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 5, the at least one protrusion comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first surface being on the first protrusion and the second surface being on the second protrusion.

8. The mobile computing device docking station of claim 5, the at least one protrusion further comprising a third surface substantially coplanar with the second surface and substantially positioned between the first surface and the first wall.

15. A combination mobile computing device and docking station comprising:

a docking station comprising;

a body configured for freestanding on a flat surface;

at least one curved surface in the body forming an open enclosure;

a first wall forming a first portion of the open enclosure;

a second wall forming a second portion of the open enclosure, the second wall opposite the first wall, and the first wall extending higher in a direction of an opening of the open enclosure than the second wall; and

at least one mounting surface elevated relative to the curved surface; and

a mobile computing device comprising a user interface display and at least one loudspeaker positioned generally at a first end of the mobile computing device;

the mobile computing device removably positioned within the open enclosure and extending through the open enclosure with the first end of the mobile computing device resting on the at least one mounting surface substantially distanced from the curved surface, substantially distanced from the first wall, and substantially distanced from the second wall, and the at least one loudspeaker substantially unobstructed by the at least one mounting surface and substantially distanced from the curved surface, substantially distanced from the first wall, and substantially distanced from the second wall.

16. The combination mobile computing device and docking station of claim 15,

a surface of the mobile computing device opposite the user interface display resting on the first wall, and the user interface display being substantially unobstructed by the second wall.

17. The combination mobile computing device and docking station of claim 16,

the docking station further comprising at least one protrusion comprising a first surface opposite the first wall and spaced from the first wall and the second wall;

the mounting surface comprising a second surface angled with respect to the first surface and substantially positioned between the first surface and the first wall, the first surface extending higher in a direction of the opening of the open enclosure than the second surface; and

the mobile computing device removably positioned with the first end of the mobile computing device further in contact with the first surface of the at least one protrusion.

18. A method of projecting sound emitted by a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

providing an open ended docking station comprising;

a concave surface forming a cup comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, the first wall extending higher in a direction of an open end of the docking station than the second wall; and

at least one mounting surface elevated relative to the concave surface;

providing a mobile computing device comprising a user interface display and at least one loudspeaker generally positioned at a first end of the mobile computing device;

activating an audio output of the mobile computing device; and

positioning the mobile computing device into the open ended docking station with the first end of the mobile computing device resting on the at least one mounting surface and substantially distanced from the concave surface, substantially distanced from the first wall, and substantially distanced from the second wall and the at least one loudspeaker mostly unobstructed by the at least one mounting surface and substantially distanced from the concave surface, substantially distanced from the first wall, and substantially distanced from the second wall.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein activating the audio output comprises playing at least one of video content and audio content.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a power/data cable;

providing the docking station with an aperture through the concave surface; and

running the power/data cable through the aperture and into a mating portion of the mobile computing device.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a power/data cable;

providing the docking station with punch outs through the concave surface;

pushing through the punch outs to create an aperture; and

running the power/data cable through the aperture and into a mating portion of the mobile computing device.