Docking Station System

• US 20120194994A1
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Lloyd
• Original Assignee: Bruce Lloyd
• Inventors: Lloyd, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,481,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A portable docking station system is designed to mount a portable computing device flush onto a musical instrument. The system features buttons or openings so the user can easily access the controls on the computing device such as volume and power. The system features a housing having a eject system allowing the edge to pivot which provides ease in installing and removing an attached portable computing device. The system is adjustable to receive computing devices of various sizes and thicknesses. Fillers or spacers are added to the system to accommodate various computing devices.

Claims

1. A docking station system capable of receiving a portable computing device comprising:

a housing having a top side with a cut-out opening about the size of the portable computing device,

wherein the opening is supported by a top edge, bottom edge and left and right edge of the housing;

wherein the top edge has at least one control button that aligns with the portable computing device'"'"'s control button when the device is in the housing;

a bottom side which is symmetrical to the top side, wherein the bottom side has bottom side edges that are aligned with the top side edges;

and an ejection system having a pivoting mechanism that allows the top side to pivot on the right or left edge to open the housing to receive the portable computing device.

2. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the ejection system further comprises an ejection button on the top side of the housing which releases the top side from the bottom side of the housing.

3. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the ejection system features a pivot member pivoted about an axis which runs along the length of the top side edge.

4. The docking station system of claim 3, wherein the pivot member has a left end and a right end which are aligned with a left spring and a right spring whereby the left and right springs exert a force when decompressed to rotate the pivot member to facilitate in lifting the top side of the housing.

5. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the cut-out features parallel slots that extend through the housing, wherein the slots receive spacers of various thickness to adjust the size of the cut-out to receive various sized computing devices.

6. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the housing is connected to a musical instrument.

7. A docking station system capable of receiving a portable computing device comprising:

a housing having a top side with a top side cut-out opening about the size of the portable computing device,

wherein the opening is supported by a top edge, bottom edge and left and right edge of the housing;

wherein the top edge has a top edge cut-out which aligns with at least one of the portable computing device'"'"'s control buttons when the device is in the housing;

a bottom side which is symmetrical to the top side, wherein the bottom side has bottom side edges that are aligned with the top side edges;

and an ejection system having a pivoting mechanism that allows the top side to pivot on its right or left edge to open the housing to receive the portable computing device.

8. The docking station system of claim 7, wherein the ejection system further comprises an ejection button on the top side of the housing which releases the top side from the bottom side of the housing.

9. The docking station system of claim 7, wherein the ejection system features a pivot member pivoted about an axis which runs along the length of the top side edge.

10. The docking station system of claim 9, wherein the pivot member has a left end and a right end which are aligned with a left spring and a right spring whereby the left and right springs exert a force when decompressed to rotate the pivot member to facilitate in lifting the top side of the housing.

11. The docking station system of claim 7, wherein the top side cut-out features parallel slots that extend through the housing, wherein the slots receive spacers of various thickness to adjust the size of the top side cut-out to receive various sized computing devices.

12. The docking station system of claim 7, wherein the housing is connected to a musical instrument.

13. A method of connecting a portable computing device to a musical instrument comprising:

providing a docking station system having a housing with a top side;

providing a cut-out opening on the top side, wherein the cut-out opening provides access to the portable computing device;

wherein the cut-out opening is supported by a top edge, bottom edge and left and right edge of the housing;

providing a bottom side of the housing that is symmetrical to the top side, wherein the bottom side has bottom side edges that are aligned with the top side edges;

providing an ejection system which allows the top side to pivot on the right or left edge to open the housing to receive the portable computing device; and

inserting the portable computing device in the docking station system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, providing at least one control button that aligns with the portable computing device'"'"'s control button.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising, providing a top edge cut-out on the top edge which aligns with at least one of the portable computing device'"'"'s control buttons.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the ejection system further comprises a pivot member pivoted about an axis which runs along a length of the top side edge.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing parallel slots in the cut-out opening on the top side that extend through the housing, wherein the slots receive spacers of various thickness to adjust the size of the top side cut-out to receive various sized computing devices.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising a musical instrument having an area on the musical instrument that receives the docking station system and connected portable computing device.