Apparatus with twistable electronics dock and rotatable connecting port having a plurality of heads

• US 9,891,666 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Anthony Buss
• Original Assignee: Scott Anthony Buss
• Inventors: Buss, Scott Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/143,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/086 Desktop clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• 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: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus such as a clock with an electronics dock that is twistable relative to a body and with a rotatable connecting port having a plurality of heads. The body has a top generally lying in a plane, a first face with a display and a second face with a display. An electronics dock is secured relative to the body in a twistable manner relative to the body top. In this regard, an electronic device held within the electronics dock can be selectively rotated for viewing about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the body top. Further, a connecting port with multiple charging heads is provided, such as for Android or Apple type devices. The connecting port can be rotated about an axis to allow access to the desired head. A lock is provided to hold the desired head in position for use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

a body with a body plane; and

an electronics dock on said body, said electronics dock having a surface and a back with a back plane for supporting the electronic device, said back being in a fixed position with respect to said surface and is upstanding from said surface, wherein said electronics dock is rotatable along an electronics dock axis that is generally perpendicular to said body plane, whereby a viewing angle of the electronic device is adjustable about said electronics dock axis, wherein said surface has a connector opening there through, said electronics dock having a connecting port extending through said connector opening, wherein said connecting port has a first head and a second head, and wherein said connecting port is rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to said back plane, whereby either of said first head or said second head can extend above said surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said body has a first face with a first display;

said body has a second face with a second display; and

said first display and said second display being viewable from different angles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is generally perpendicular to said electronics dock axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first pad is located on a first side of said connector opening and a second pad is located on a second side of said connector opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lock, said lock locking a rotational position of said connecting port about said pivot axis to lock one of said first head and said second head in a position adjacent to said back, said back having a back opening therethrough wherein said first head passes through said back opening when said second head is positioned adjacent to said back.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lock has a plunger, said plunger being biased to a first plunger position wherein said electronics device is unlocked, and is capable of being moved to a second plunger position wherein said lock locks said device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lock comprises a bar with an arm and a tooth, said tooth moving under operation of a plunger when said plunger is moved to said second plunger position so that said tooth engages a gear that is fixed in rotational orientation with said connecting port.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lock comprises a plate with a slot, said slot having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end, said plate being unmovable with respect to said plunger when said plunger is in said second plunger position.

10. An apparatus for use with an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

a body; and

an electronics dock on said body having a surface and a back stationarily upstanding from said surface, said body having a body plane and said back having a back opening therethrough;

said electronics dock having a connecting port with a first head and a second head,

wherein said connecting port is rotatable about a pivot axis, said pivot axis being generally parallel to a back plane, said first head and said second head being selectably positionable adjacent to said back by rotating said connecting port, said first head passing through said back opening when said second head is in a position adjacent to said back.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said electronics dock is rotatable relative to said body about an electronics dock axis, said electronics dock axis being generally perpendicular to said pivot axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a switch and a lock.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lock has a plunger, said plunger being biased to a first plunger position wherein said electronics device is unlocked, and is capable of being moved to a second plunger position wherein said lock locks said device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lock comprises a bar with an arm and a tooth, said tooth moving under operation of a plunger when said plunger is moved to said second plunger position so that said tooth engages a gear that is fixed in a rotational orientation with respect to said connecting port.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lock comprises a plate with a slot, said slot having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end, said plate being unmovable with respect to said plunger when said plunger is in said second plunger position.

16. A clock for use with an electronic device, said clock comprising:

a body with;

a first face with a first face display; and

a second face with a second face display; and

an electronics dock having a base with a back having a back plane, said back plane having a back opening, and a connecting port, said connecting port having a first head and a second head,

wherein;

said electronics dock is rotatable relative to said body; and

said connecting port is rotatable relative to said base to position one of said first head and said second head adjacent to said back for use with the electronic device, wherein said first head passes through said back opening when said second head is positioned adjacent to said back, wherein said connecting port is rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to said back plane, whereby either of said first head or said second head can extend above said surface.