Docking station for media player

• US 8,773,845 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alco Electronics Ltd. (Alco Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Alco Electronics Ltd. (Alco Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Leung, Wilson Wai Sing
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffberg, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/018,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.41, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.06, 248/125.7, 248130-131, 248/278.1, 248/349.1, 248/371, 248/919
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• 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: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches

Abstract

A docking station for an iPad or the like, having a base, a support on the base for releasably holding an iPad, an operating circuit for amplifying an audio signal received from the iPad, and speakers connected to the operating circuit for reproducing sound based on the audio signal amplified by the operating circuit. The support is movable between two angular positions for supporting the iPad in portrait and landscape orientations. The support is also movable to change the direction in which the iPad faces, between left and right orientations.

Claims

1. A docking station comprising:

a frusto-conical base having a bottom surface for resting on a flat surface, a central axis transverse to the bottom surface, and a frusto-conical side surface that is substantially symmetrical about the central axis, wherein

a tangent to the frusto-conical side surface of the base and intersecting the central axis forms a first fixed acute angle with the central axis;

the base comprises a main body including the bottom surface and a head that is coaxial with and mounted on the main body opposite the bottom surface, and

the base includes a bearing rotationally connecting the main body to the head so that the head may rotate freely with respect to the main body about the central axis;

a support rotatably mounted on the head for releasably holding a media player on the docking station, wherein

the support lies substantially in a plane that forms substantially the first fixed acute angle with the central axis,

the support rotates about a rotational axis that is fixed in position with respect to the head so that a media player mounted on the support can be selectively rotated between landscape and portrait orientations,

the rotational axis intersects the central axis, and

the rotational axis forms a second fixed acute angle with the central axis;

an operating circuit located within the base for amplifying an audio signal received from a media player mounted on the docking station; and

a speaker within the base and electrically connected to the operating circuit for reproducing sound based on the audio signal amplified by the operating circuit.

2. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating circuit includes a clock circuit.

3. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating circuit includes a radio circuit.

4. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support includes a central limb and a cross limb, which is transverse to the central limb, for retaining a media player mounted on the docking station.

5. The docking station as claimed in claim 4, including a signal connector which is electrically connected to the operating circuit for electrically connecting a media player that is mounted on the support to the operating circuit.

6. The docking station as claimed in claim 5 wherein the central limb has an end projecting transverse to the plane of the support.

7. The docking station as claimed in claim 6, wherein the signal connector is mounted on the end of the central limb of the support.

8. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sum of the first and second fixed acute angles equals substantially 90 degrees.