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.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/437,563 filed on Jan. 28, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a detachable and adjustable docking station system which can attach and detach a portable computing device, such as a smart phone device, to a musical instrument. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Smart phone apps now exist for use with musical instruments using built in pickups or microphones that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals. These apps allow the user to add effects, record, playback, listen to what is being played using ear phones, tune the instrument, share information and recordings using the internet or connect to external powered speakers. Example of such an app is Amplitube® made by IK Multimedia for electric guitars. In order for the user to connect the smart phone to the guitar additional external cables and an electronic interface, are needed. The user is also required to be able to access all the control buttons of the smart phone to operate these apps, to include the volume, touch screens, and power. Therefore the smart phone must be kept within reach to the user to control the apps. These connections and requirements restrict the freedom of the user to move around freely while playing the instrument and operating the smartphone. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention introduces a portable docking station system which supports a portable computing device such as a smart phone. The system allows easy attachment to an instrument, such as a guitar, and the system affords the user the ability to freely move while playing the instrument. 
         [0005]    An aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a docking station system mounted flush to minimize obstruction to playing the instrument. 
         [0006]    A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a docking station system which provides easy access to controls on the portable computing device. 
         [0007]    A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a docking station system adaptable to receive portable computing devices of various thicknesses. 
         [0008]    Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the docking station system of the present invention in an electric guitar. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the docking station system of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is side view of the docking station system of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cut-out opening illustrating slots which receive spacers. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an end view of a spacer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the spacer.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the docking station system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the docking station system  100  of the present invention in an electric guitar  200 . Pickup  1  is a transducer that captures sound vibrations from the guitar  200 . The volume control  2  and tone control  3  control the volume and tone of the guitar,  200 , respectively. The guitar  200  features a connection  5  for external devices such as ear phones or an amplifier, for example. The guitar also features a wireless connection system  6 , which enables the guitar to connect to a Wi-fi, cell phone or blue tooth service. Built inside of the guitar  200  with the wires hidden in the casing of the guitar  200  is an adapter  7 . The adapter  7  allows a user to access a large bank of amps, pedals and effects directly through a portable computing device,  400 , such as a smartphone. The adapter  7  gets the instrument&#39;s signal into and out of the portable computing device, such as a smart phone device like an Iphone® or Ipod touch®. The adapter may be an IRig® device or a comparable adapter currently available on the market. In the present invention, it is preferred that the adapter  7  be embedded in the guitar  200  such that the wires are hidden. The adapter  7  may also be embedded in the docking station itself A wire is connected to the volume control  2  and tone control  3 , the computing device  400  and to the connection  5  for external devices. Once the user connects the computing device in the docking station system of the present invention to the adapter  7 , the user can move around with the guitar freely without the worries of any external loose wires. The casing of the guitar  200  covers the wires of the connected devices. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the docking station system  100  of the present invention. The docking station system  100  is capable of receiving a portable computing device  400 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The docking station system features a housing  150  having a top side  160  with a cut-out opening  170  about the size of the portable computing device. The cut-out opening  170  allows the user easy access to the touch screen and buttons on the front of the computing device  400 . The opening  170  is supported and surrounded by a top edge  180 , bottom edge  181  and left  182  and right edge  183  of the housing  150 . The edges  180 ,  181 ,  182  and  183  act as the border of the opening  170 . The top edge  180  has control buttons  200 ,  300  that aligns with the portable computing device&#39;s  400  control buttons  201 ,  301  when the device is in the housing  150 . Typically, when the device  400  is an Iphone®, the control buttons  201  and  301  are the volume control of the device. Button  201  decreases the volume of the phone and  301  increase the volume. Control buttons  200 ,  300  may be rocker switches. The switches  200 ,  300  are positioned such that the phone  400  is secure in the docking station system  100 , the user can still access the control buttons on the device  400  without having to remove the device  400 . 
         [0017]    The user can simply rock the switch  200  over button  201  to decrease the volume and switch  300  over control  301  to increase the volume, for example. Alternatively, rather than having control buttons on the top edge, the top edge  180  features top edge cut-outs that are aligned with the portable computing device&#39;s control buttons when the device is in the housing. The top edge cut-outs will afford the user the ability to use a digit or an extension of their digit to control the buttons  201 ,  301  without having to remove the device unnecessarily once positioned in the docking station  100 . The right edge  183  of the top side  160  features a right edge cut-out or a button  183   a  that is aligned with the power control for the computing device. The user can either use its digit or an extension of its digit to power the device or the button to control the device&#39;s power. The right edge  183  also features an opening  183   b  that receives the adapter  7 . The opening  183   b  is sized to receive the cord of the adapter  7  and it is aligned with the opening of the device  400 , which receives the cord. The area  500  on a musical instrument is sized to receive the docking system station. Alternatively, the docking station can be attached to a panel and then the panel secured to the guitar. The bottom side  300  of the housing  150  is symmetrical to the top side  160 . The bottom side has bottom side edges that are aligned with the top side edges and the edges connect to fit the width of the portable computing device. 
         [0018]    The docking station system also features an ejection system  800  having a pivoting mechanism that allows the top side  160  to pivot on the right edge  183 , shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a side view of the docking station system. Alternatively, the ejection system  800  can be configured to allow the top side  160  to pivot on the left edge  182  to open the housing to receive the portable computing device.  FIG. 3  is side view of the docking station system of the present invention. On the top side  160 , bottom edge  181 , features an ejection button  801  on the top side of the housing which releases the top side  160  from the bottom side  300  of the housing  150 . In a closed position, shown in  FIG. 3 , the eject button  801  contacts a catch  802 , which locks the top side of the housing in a down and closed position. 
         [0019]    When  801  is pushed, to release the catch  802 , the top side of the housing is moved to an open position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The ejection system  800  also features a pivot member  500 , shown in  FIG. 2 , pivoted about an axis which runs along the length L of the top side edge in a clockwise direction of the arrow  502  shown in  FIG. 2 . to open the top side. When the top lid is closed, or pushed in a downward direction, the pivot member is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The pivot member may be a spring loaded hinge, for example. The pivot member  500  has a left end  510  and a right end  520  and spans at least the length of the right edge  183 . The member  500  is connected to the right edge and an edge of the bottom side, as shown in  FIG. 3 . A spring  530   a  span a length between the edge on the top to the bottom of the housing. The spring  530  is in a compressed position when the top side is closed and decompressed when the top side is open. The spring  530   a  exerts a force when decompressed to rotate the pivot member in direction  502  to facilitate in lifting the top side of the housing. Although one spring is discussed, alternatively, multiple springs may be positioned along the underside of the pivot member to add in the rotation. A stopper  375  is positioned in the area between the top side and bottom side of the housing. When the top side is opened, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the stopper  375 , is positioned to prevent the top side from extending past the stopper  375 , whereby the top side is opened at about a 45 degree angle.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cut-out opening  170  illustrating parallel slots  270  which receive spacers. The slots  270  extend through the housing and act as rails around the device  400 . The slots  270  extend at least the length of the device and may be larger than the device. The slots receive spacers  270   a  of various thicknesses to adjust the size of the cut-out to receive various sized computing devices.  FIG. 5  is an end view of a spacer  270   a.  The spacers  270   a  are positioned in the slots  270  to accommodate thickness of devices.  FIG. 6  is a top view of the spacer  270   a.  For example, a thin spacer would be used in the housing for the system to receive a thicker device. A thicker spacer would be used in the housing to receive a thinner device, depending on the spacing needed along the edges to secure a device. Alternatively, a spring plate may be used to hold the device in the system. Or, the system can be designed with interchangeable bodies sized to receive devices of numerous shapes and sizes. 
         [0020]    The docking station system may be connected and mounted flush to a musical instrument having an open area on the musical instrument designed to receive the docking station system and connected portable computing device. Or, the system can be mounted or secured to a plate and then attached to a musical instrument. 
         [0021]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.