Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

• US 9,954,330 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US15/384,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 320103, 320112-115, 379445, 379446, 36167941, 439638, 439929, 439 38- 40, 4555751, 4555758
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A protective arrangement for an electronic device includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. A docking cradle or external adapter can receive the electronic device and cover. A docking cradle may have a movable arm.

Claims

1. A docking system, comprising:

a cover comprising

a flexible shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and the skirt form an interior cavity therebetween with the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device, and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device, and a contactor extending outwardly from the shell and comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the male plug; and

an external adapter configured and arranged to attach to the adapter of the cover along only one side of the shell, the external adapter comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing and positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor, wherein the external adapter further comprises two ridged elements opposite each other and the adapter of the cover comprises two detents on opposite surfaces of the adapter, wherein the two detents are configured and arranged to receive the two ridged elements of the external adapter so that the external adapter can be coupled to the cover and maintain that coupling.

2. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the external adapter further comprises a cable attached to housing.

3. The docking system of claim 2, wherein the cable is removably attached to the housing.

4. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising the electronic device.

5. The docking system of claim 4, wherein the external adapter further comprises a cable attached to housing and the cable has a plug that fits into the female socket of the electronic device.

6. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a first magnetic coupling element resident in the shell or the contactor and the external adapter comprises a second magnetic coupling element, wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material and the second magnetic coupling element comprises another of the magnetic material or the magnetically attractive material.

7. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the shell is configured and arranged to at least partially cover each of a plurality of side faces of the electronic device.

8. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured and arranged to at least partially cover one of a back face or a front face of the electronic device, at least partially cover a plurality of side faces of the electronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of another one of the front face or the back face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell.

9. The docking system of claim 8, wherein the cover is configured and arranged to at least partially cover the back face of the electronic device, to at least partially cover each of the side faces of the electronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of the front face of the electronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell.

10. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the cover forms a skin around a portion of the electronic device.

11. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the male plug is a single male plug configured and arranged to mate with a female power and input/output socket of the electronic device.

12. The docking system of claim 1, wherein, prior to engagement of the adapter of the cover, the two ridged elements of the external adapter are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of the adapter of the cover.

13. A docking system, comprising:

a cover comprising

a flexible shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and the skirt form an interior cavity therebetween with the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity;

wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device, and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device, and a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the male plug; and

an external adapter configured and arranged to attach to the adapter of the cover along only one side of the shell, the external adapter comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing and positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor, wherein the external adapter further comprises at least one ridged element and the adapter of the cover comprises at least one detent configured and arranged to receive the at least one ridged element of the external adapter so that the external adapter can be coupled to the cover and maintain that coupling.

14. The docking system of claim 13, further comprising a tab extending from one of the at least one ridged element and configured and arranged to, when pushed, disengage the one of the at least one ridged element from the at least one detent of the adapter of the cover.

15. The docking system of claim 14, wherein the at least one ridged member comprises two ridged members disposed opposite each other, wherein the tab extends from only one of the two ridged members.

16. A docking system, comprising:

a cover comprising

a flexible shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and the skirt form an interior cavity therebetween with the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive an electronic device, and

an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the electronic device, and a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the male plug; and

an external adapter configured and arranged to attach to the adapter of the cover along only one side of the shell, the external adapter comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing and positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor, wherein the external adapter further comprises at least one gripping member that extends away from a remainder of the external adapter and is configured and arranged to grip the adapter of the cover when the external adapter engages the adapter of the cover.

17. The docking system of claim 16, wherein the at least one gripping member comprises two gripping members disposed opposite each other.

18. The docking system of claim 17, wherein the adapter of the cover defines a rim around the contactor of the adapter to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to the external adapter and the rim defines an asymmetric shape with a straight edge and a curved edge opposite the straight edge.

19. The docking system of claim 18, wherein a one of the two gripping members has a shape to fit the straight edge of the rim and another of the two gripping members has a shape to fit the curved edge of the rim.