Abstract:
Disclosed is a docking station for an electronic device comprising a main body which holds an electronic device and voids in the main body to allow for the passage of external connectors directly into the docked device and the securing of the external connectors to the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The embodiments of the invention relate to a cable organizer, and more particularly, to a docking station for portable electronics. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for facilitating the rapid connection of external connectors to a portable electronic device. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     A docking station for electronic devices refers to a peripheral which facilitates the connection of external connectors to a portable device. Such docking stations usually contain electronic connectors integrated into the body of the docking station that mate with the ports on the docked device. Output ports on the main body of the docking station essentially replicate the ports on the electronic device. The user can then attach connectors for external devices to the output ports of the docking station. Such docking stations are useful because they facilitate the easy insertion and removal of an electronic device without the need to individually connect and disconnect cables for external devices. 
     Despite the time-saving efficiencies of prior art docking stations, the unnecessary duplication of ports increases the materials costs and manufacturing labor costs. Additionally, certain proprietary ports, by virtue of manufacturer&#39;s patent rights, cannot be duplicated without a license. Through extended use, individual ports and connectors can become worn and dysfunctional. When a single component of the docking station is broken, the entire dock must be replaced. Finally, duplication of ports contributes to the deterioration of signal integrity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a docking station without integral connectors 
     Another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a docking station with integral cable fasteners. 
     Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of embodiments of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener includes an apparatus for attaching an external connector to an electronic device comprising a main body which interfaces with an electronic device, at least one void in the main body each of which allows the passage an external connector directly into the electronic device, and an integral fastener which secures the external connector to the main body. 
     In another aspect, a docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener includes a method for attaching an external connector to an electronic device, the method comprising inserting an external connector into at least one void in a main body of an apparatus, securing the external connector to the main body with an integral fastener, and inserting an electronic device into the apparatus such that the external connector secured in the main body connects to a port on the electronic device. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of embodiments of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating the shape and location of voids in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing illustrating the shape and location of voids in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating external connectors passing through voids and secured to the docking station and the insertion of an electronic device; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic drawing illustrating a top-view of a caliper-style fastener; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic drawing illustrating a side-view of a setscrew-style fastener; 
         FIG. 4C  is a schematic drawing illustrating a top-view of a setscrew-style fastener; 
         FIG. 4D  is a schematic drawing illustrating a self-locking connector fastener; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing illustrating a void for an Ethernet connector. 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic drawing illustrating an electronic device interfacing with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic drawing illustrating an electronic device interfacing with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of the docking station for an electronic device (docking station)  100  includes a main body  110  and a plurality of voids  120 . The voids  120  are positioned in the main body  110  such that they align with the ports on a specific electronic device (not shown for clarity.) The voids  120  each have an integral fastener  130  for securing external connectors (not shown for clarity.) The main body  110  optionally includes support guides  140  for aiding in the insertion, alignment, and stability of an electronic device (not shown for clarity) inserted into the docking station  100 . 
     External connectors are electrical connector that attach to ports on the electronic device. External connectors can be USB, VGA, ⅛″ audio, power, HDMI, DVI, Display Port, Mini Display Port, serial or Firewire. External connectors proprietary to Apple are also contemplated including the MagSafe connector. While specific types of external connectors have been named, other types of external connectors can also be used with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows external connectors  300  inserted into the docking station  100  and the insertion an electronic device  310 . The depth which external connectors  300  are inserted into the docking station  100  is to be determined by the user. In practice, the depth chosen by the user will be sufficient to allow the electrical contacts  320  of the external connectors  300  to protrude from the main body  330  and engage the ports of the electronic device  310 . 
     One method for the user to determine the optimal insertion depth for the external connectors  300  is to insert the electronic device  310  into the docking station  100  before inserting the external connectors  300 . After the electronic device  310  is inserted, the user can insert the external connectors  300 . Optimal insertion depth of the external connectors  300  is achieved when the external connectors  300  are fully engaged with the ports on the electronic device  310 . The external connectors can now be secured to the docking station  100  with a fastener (not shown for clarity.) When the electronic device  310  is removed, the external connectors  300  are held in place by the fasteners and are optimally positioned for subsequent reinsertion of the electronic device  310 . 
     The electronic device  310  can be an Aluminum Unibody Macbook Pro. While an Aluminum Unibody Macbook Pro is contemplated, the present invention is equally applicable to other electronic devices including laptops, cell phones, and PDAs. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a top-view of a caliper-style means for fastening an external connector  300  to the main body  110  of the docking station. The external connector  300  passes through a void  120  into the aperture  400  of the caliper. When the fastener is activated, in this case by tightening a screw  410 , the jaws  420  are drawn together, securing the external connector  300 . 
       FIG. 4B  shows a side-view of a setscrew-style means for fastening an external connector  300  to the main body  110  of the docking station. The external connector  300  passes through a void  120  and is secured to the main body  110  by tightening a setscrew  430 . Tightening the setscrew  430  pushes the external connector into the opposite wall of the void  120  causing sufficient friction to hold the external connector  300  fast. In some embodiments, the pilot hole  440  is sized to accommodate a 0.25″ diameter, 20 TPI setscrew. Setscrews of other dimensions are contemplated to accommodate varying sizes of external connectors and provide maximum resistance to stripping the threads of pilot hole  430 . 
       FIG. 4C  shows a top-view of a setscrew-style means for fastening an external connector  300  to the main body  110  of the docking station. The external connector  300  passes through a void  120  and is secured to the main body  110  by tightening a setscrew  430 . Tightening the setscrew  430  pushes the external connector into the opposite wall of the void  120  causing sufficient friction to hold the external connector  300  fast. The pilot hole  440  is sized to accommodate a 0.25″ diameter, 20 TPI setscrew. 
     Cup-style setscrews having a hemispherical indentation in the end and are particularly suited for this purpose because the sharp edges of the hemisphere indentation impress slightly on the ferrule of the external connector  300  creating a positive connection between the external connector  300  and the fastener. While cup-style setscrews with 0.25″ diameter and 20 TPI have been shown and described in this exemplary embodiment, nearly any type of screw capable of securing the external connectors  300  would sufficiently enable the invention. Obviously, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other screws can be used without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. Thumb screws provide an advantage over setscrews by allowing for the toolless installation and removal of external connectors although at higher materials cost. 
     The main body  110  can be made from injection molded ABS plastic according to common methods known in the art of injection molding. The main body  110  can be formed from a single piece of plastic. Alternatively, the main body  110  can be formed in two halves which are glued or screwed together after molding. Holes  440  for fasteners  430  and voids  120  for external connectors  300  can be created as part of the injection molding process or by post-process machining. Although plastic has been disclosed as a preferred structural material for the main body, other materials are also contemplated including aluminum alloys, steel alloys, and wood. Such materials can be selected based upon their mechanical and aesthetic properties. 
       FIG. 4D  shows a side-view of a self-locking connector means for fastening an external connector  300  to the main body  110  of the docking station. The external connector  300  passes through a void  120  and is secured to the main body by a locking tab  450  which engages an indentation  460  in the void  120 . Removal is facilitated by depressing the locking tab  450  to disengage it from the indentation  460 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a side-view of a void  120  specifically designed to accommodate an external RJ-45 (Ethernet) connector  500 . The void  120  has a channel  510  to accommodate the self-locking tab  520  of the Ethernet connector. The channel is sized such that the self-locking tab  520  is depressed and thereby deactivated when inserted into the main body  110 . This design prevents the Ethernet connector  500  from locking to an electronic device (not shown) inserted into the docking station. The connector  520  can then be secured to the main body  110  by employing a fastener  430 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show an electronic device  600  interfacing with an exemplary embodiment  610  of the present invention. External connectors  620  pass through voids  630  in the main body and are secured using a fastener  640 . In an exemplary embodiment, the docking station can be oriented vertically as shown in  FIG. 6B . In a vertical orientation, a stabilizing means  650  maintains the docking station  610  and electronic device  600  in the desired orientation. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the docking station for portable electronics with voids for connector pass-through and integral connector fastener of embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.