Holder, electrical supply, and RF transmitter unit for electronic devices

• US 7,930,006 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Scott, Razo, Vincent, Neu, Thorben
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRPOUR, NAGHMEH
• Application Number:
  US12/171,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455575-573, 455344-345, 455/517, 455/666.1, 455/426.1, 455/454, 455/74.1, 455/88, 4555691-5692, 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/68.1, 455/571, 455/575.1, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronic accessory for coupling electronic devices to an external power supply includes: (a) a holder having: (1) a cradle section configured to couple to at least two of the electronic devices, the cradle section comprising a power coupling; and (2) two or more side supports, each of the two or more side supports configured to removably couple to the cradle section; and (b) a power unit electrically coupled to the power coupling and configured to removably couple to the external power supply. At least a first one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a first one of the electronic devices when the first one of the electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section. At least a second one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a second one of the electronic devices when the second one of the electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. An electronic accessory for coupling two or more electronic devices to an external power supply, the electronic accessory comprising:

a holder comprising;

a cradle section configured to couple to at least two of the two or more electronic devices, the cradle section comprising a power coupling;

two or more spacer pads, each of the two or more spacer pads is configured to removably couple to the cradle section; and

two or more side supports, each of the two or more side supports is configured to removably couple to the cradle section; and

a power unit electrically coupled to the power coupling and configured to removably couple to the external power supply,

wherein;

at least a first one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a first one of the two or more electronic devices when the first one of the two or more electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section and the at least the first one of the two or more side supports is coupled to the cradle section;

at least a second one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a second one of the two or more electronic devices when the second one of the two or more electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section and the at least the second one of the two or more side supports is coupled to the cradle section;

at least a first one of the two or more spacer pads is configured to provide support to the first one of the two or more electronic devices when the first one of the two or more electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section and the at least the first one of the two or more spacer pads is coupled to the cradle section; and

at least a second one of the two or more spacer pads is configured to provide support to the second one of the two or more electronic devices when the second one of the two or more electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section and the at least the second one of the two or more spacer pads is coupled to the cradle section.

2. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the cradle section comprises;

a base portion coupled to the power unit and comprising the power coupling; and

an extension portion extending away from the base portion and configured to removably couple to each of the two or more side supports.

3. The electronic accessory of claim 2, wherein:

the base portion is configured to couple to a first side of the two or more electronic devices.

4. The electronic accessory of claim 2, wherein:

the extension portion comprises;

a first side coupled to the base portion;

a second side adjacent to the first side and configured to removably couple to a first support of the at least the first one of the two or more side supports; and

a third side adjacent to the first side and opposite the second side, the third side configured to removably couple to a second support of the at least the first one of the two or more side supports.

5. The electronic accessory of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one of the two or more side supports is a unitary structure.

6. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the cradle section is configured to couple, at any particular time, to only one of the two or more side supports.

7. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

each of the two or more side supports has a first width; and

the first width of the at least the first one of the two or more side supports is different than the first width of the at least the second one of the two or more side supports.

8. The electronic accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter mechanically coupled to the holder,

wherein;

the holder further comprises a signal coupling; and

the signal coupling is electrically coupled to the transmitter and configured to transmit data from the two or more electronic devices to the transmitter when the two or more electronic devices are coupled to the cradle section.

9. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

each of the two or more side supports comprises;

a connection mechanism configured to removably couple to the cradle section;

at least two arms, each arm of the at least two arms comprising;

a proximal end coupled to the connection mechanism;

a distal end; and

a body extending between the distal end and the proximal end.

10. The electronic accessory of claim 9, wherein:

the first one of the two or more electronic devices comprises;

a bottom side;

a front side having a display and adjacent to the bottom side;

a back side adjacent to the bottom side and opposite the front side; and

a first side adjacent to the front side, the back side, and the bottom side; and

when the at least the first one of the two or more side supports is coupled to the cradle section and the cradle section is coupled to the bottom side of the first one of the at least two or more electronic devices, the distal end of a first one of the two arms of the first side support is adjacent to the front side of the first one of the two or more electronic devices, a portion of the body of the first one of the at least two arms of the first side support is adjacent to the first side of the first one of the two or more electronic devices, and the proximal end of the first one of the at least two arms of the first side support is adjacent to the back side of the first one of the two or more electronic devices.

11. The electronic accessory of claim 9, wherein:

each of the two or more side supports further comprises;

a bridge section coupled to a first arm of the at least two arms and a second arm of the at least two arms.

27. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

at least a third one of the two or more side supports is configured to provide support to a third one of the two or more electronic devices without concurrent use of the two or more spacer pads when the third one of the two or more electronic devices is coupled to the cradle section and the at least one third one of the two or more side supports is coupled to the cradle section.

28. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the cradle section comprises;

a base portion coupled to the power unit; and

an extension portion extending away from the base portion; and

the two or more spacer pads are configured to couple to the extension portion of the cradle section.

29. The electronic accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the at least the first one of the two or more spacer pads has a first thickness;

the at least the second one of the two or more spacer pads has a second thickness; and

the first thickness is different than the second thickness.

12. An electronic device to hold two or more media players, each media player of the two or more media players having a first side, a second side, and a third side, the electronic device comprising:

a holding structure configured to hold a first one of the two or more media players and comprising;

at least two clasps; and

a base, the base comprises;

a base portion; and

an extension portion coupled to the base portion and extending away from the base portion; and

an electronic component electrically coupleable to the first one of the two or more media players through the holding structure,

wherein;

the at least two clasps are removably coupleable to the extension portion;

a first clasp of the at least two clasps is configured to couple to the first side of the first one of the two or more media players;

a second clasp of the at least two clasps is configured to couple to the second side of the first one of the two or more media players;

the extension portion is configured to support the third side of the first one of the two or more media players when the first clasp of the at least two clasps is coupled to the first side of the first one of the two or more media players.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the holding structure is configured to hold, at a given time, only one of the two or more media players;

the holding structure is also configured to hold a second one of the two or more media players having a different size than the first one of the two or more media players; and

the electronic component is electrically coupleable to the second one of the two or more media players through the holding structure when the second one of the two or more media players is held by the holding structure.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein:

a third clasp of the at least two clasps is configured to couple to the first side of the second one of the two or more media players;

a fourth clasp of the at least two clasps is configured to couple to the second side of the second one of the two or more media players; and

a first distance between a distal end of the first clasp and a distal end of the second clasp when the first and second clasps are coupled to the extension portion is different than a second distance between a distal end of the third clasp and a distal end of the fourth clasp when the third and fourth clasps are coupled to the extension portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a compressor for modifying audio signals from the two or more media players,

wherein;

the electronic component is a transmitter; and

the compressor is configured to receive an audio signal from the two or more media players and, when instructed by a user, output a modified audio signal to the electronic component.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

when instructed by the user, the compressor is configured to apply to the audio signal at least one of a dynamic compression or a pre-gain amplification.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a power unit electrically coupleable to the first one of the two or more media players through the holding structure.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a connecting bar coupling the first clasp to the second clasp.

30. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the holding structure further comprises;

at least one spacer pad configured to couple to extension portion; and

a third clasp of the at least two clasps configured to couple to the first side of a second one of the two or more media players;

a fourth clasp of the at least two clasps configured to couple to the second side of the second one of the two or more media players; and

the at least one spacer pad is configured to support the third side of the second one of the two or more media players when the first clasp of the at least two clasps is coupled to the first side of the second one of the two or more media players, and the second clasp of the at least two clasps is coupled to the second side of the second one of the two or more media players.

19. An electronic accessory for two or more electronic devices, the electronic accessory comprising:

a holder comprising;

a cradle section configured to couple to the two or more electronic devices; and

a side support coupled to the cradle section; and

an electronic component electrically coupleable to the two or more electronic devices through the holder,

wherein;

the side support comprises;

a connection region;

at least two arms coupled to the connection region;

a first clamping mechanism coupling a first arm of the at least two arms to the connection region; and

a second clamping mechanism coupling a second arm of the at least two arms to the connection region; and

the first clamping mechanism and the second clamping mechanism are configured to create a tension between the first arm and the second arm to secure the cradle section to the two or more electronic devices.

20. The electronic accessory of claim 19, wherein:

the first clamping mechanism comprises;

a first spring coupled to the first arm of the at least two arms and the connection region;

the second clamping mechanism comprises;

a second spring coupled to the second arm of the at least two arms and the connection region; and

the first spring is coupled to the first arm and the second spring is coupled to the second arm such that the tension is created between the first arm and the second arm.

21. The electronic accessory of claim 19, wherein:

the first one of the two or more electronic devices comprises;

a first side;

a second side opposite the first side;

a front side having a display and adjacent to the first side and the second side; and

a back side adjacent to the first side and second side and opposite the front side;

the first arm of the at least two arms is adjacent to the first side of the first one of the two or more electronic devices; and

the second arm of the at least two arms is adjacent to the second side of the first one of the two or more electronic devices.

31. The electronic accessory of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one spacer pad configured to couple to the cradle section and configured to provide support to the two or more electronic devices when the two or more electronic devices are coupled to the holder.

22. A method of using an electronic accessory, the electronic accessory comprising:

a cradle having a base section with an electrical coupling; and

an electronic component electrically coupled to the electrical coupling;

the method comprising;

choosing one or more first side supports based on at least one characteristic of a first electronic device;

coupling the one or more first side supports to the cradle;

choosing a first spacer pad based on the at least one characteristic of the first electronic device;

coupling the first spacer pad to the cradle; and

coupling the cradle, the first spacer pad, and the one or more first side supports to the first electronic device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

coupling the electronic component to an external power source; and

providing power from the external power source to the first electronic device through the electrical coupling,

wherein;

the electronic component is a power unit; and

the electrical coupling is a power coupling.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

rotating the cradle and the first electronic device relative to the power unit; and

using the one or more first side supports to provide support to the first electronic device during the rotating.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

decoupling the first electronic device from the cradle and the one or more first side supports;

decoupling the first spacer pad from the cradle;

decoupling the one or more first side supports from the cradle;

choosing one or more second side supports based on at least one characteristic of a second electronic device;

coupling the one or more second side supports to the cradle;

choosing a second spacer pad based on the at least one characteristic of the second electronic device;

coupling the second spacer pad to the cradle; and

coupling the cradle, the second spacer pad, and the one or more second side supports to the second electronic device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

coupling the one or more second side supports to the cradle further comprises;

providing the one or more second side supports to have a second width when coupled to the cradle that is different than a first width of the one or more first side supports when coupled to the cradle.