Cradles for a mobile device including a cavity for a wireless device and methods of making and using

A cradle for a mobile device includes a cradle base including a removable cover, a cavity base, and sidewalls extending from the cavity base to the removable cover, where the removable cover is configured for resting a back surface of a mobile device received in the cradle, where the removable cover, the cavity base, and the sidewalls define a cavity configured for receiving a wireless device configured for wirelessly interacting with the mobile device received in the cradle. The cradle also includes a top device receiver coupled to the cradle base and configured to receive and retain a top portion of the mobile device received in the cradle and a bottom device receiver coupled to the cradle base and configured to receive and retain a bottom portion of the mobile device received in the cradle.

FIELD

The present invention is directed to cradles for a mobile device. The present invention is also directed to a cradle for a mobile device including a cavity for a wireless charging device or other wireless device and methods of making and using.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices, such as smartphones, cellular or mobile phones, tablets, personal data assistants, and other portable devices, are now ubiquitous. Cradles can be used to protect the mobile device and to mount the mobile device onto a surface or object.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One embodiment is a cradle for a mobile device. The cradle includes a cradle base including a removable cover, a cavity base, and sidewalls extending from the cavity base to the removable cover, wherein the removable cover is configured for resting a back surface of a mobile device received in the cradle, where the removable cover, the cavity base, and the sidewalls define a cavity configured for receiving a wireless device configured for wirelessly interacting with the mobile device received in the cradle. The cradle also includes a top device receiver coupled to the cradle base and configured to receive and retain a top portion of the mobile device received in the cradle and a bottom device receiver coupled to the cradle base and configured to receive and retain a bottom portion of the mobile device received in the cradle.

In at least some embodiments, the cradle further includes a device platform disposed within the cavity and configured for receive the wireless device. In at least some embodiments, the device platform includes one or more retention walls configured to retain the wireless device on the device platform. In at least some embodiments, the device platform is slidable within the cavity. In at least some embodiments, the device platform includes at least one pin extending from the device platform, each of the at least one pin including a foot at a distal end of the pin, wherein the cradle base includes at least one track with an elongated opening and a surface, wherein each of the at least one pin extends through a one of the at least one track and engages the surface with the foot. In at least some embodiments, the cradle further includes at least one fastener configured to be inserted in the at least one foot to tighten the at least one foot against the surface of the at least one track when the device platform is disposed in a desired position within the cavity. In at least some embodiments, the surface of the at least one track includes teeth formed thereon.

In at least some embodiments, the cradle further includes a slide arm coupled to the top device receiver for sliding the top device receiver away from, or toward, the cradle base. In at least some embodiments, the slide arm biases the top device receiver toward the cradle base. In at least some embodiments, the cradle base further includes a slide arm housing into which the slide arm extends. In at least some embodiments, the cradle further includes a spring disposed within the slide arm housing and arranged relative to the slide arm to bias the top device receiver toward the cradle base.

In at least some embodiments, the sidewalls of the cradle base define an opening for passage of a cord of the wireless device out of the cavity. In at least some embodiments, the top device receiver is a top cup. In at least some embodiments, the bottom device receiver is a bottom cup.

In at least some embodiments, the cradle base further includes at least one cover support to further define the cavity and to support the removable cover when the removable cover is disposed on a remainder of the cradle base. In at least some embodiments, the cradle base further includes at least one non-removable plate disposed adjacent the removable cover when the removable cover is disposed on a remainder of the cradle base. In at least some embodiments, the cradle base further includes at least one mounting hole configured for attachment of a mount to the cradle base.

Another embodiment is a system that includes any of the cradles described above and the wireless device or the mobile device or both. In at least some embodiments, the wireless device is a wireless charging device. In at least some embodiments, the wireless device is a wireless communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to cradles for a mobile device. The present invention is also directed to a cradle for a mobile device including a cavity for a wireless charging device or other wireless device and methods of making and using.

FIGS.1A to1Hillustrate one embodiment of a cradle100for a mobile device101, such as a cellular or mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal data assistant, or any other suitable mobile device. The cradle100includes a cradle base102, a top device receiver104, such as a top cup104′, for receiving a top portion of the mobile device, a slide arm106(FIG.1B) coupled to the top device receiver and extending into the cradle base, and a bottom device receiver108, such as bottom cup108′, coupled to the cradle base102for receiving a bottom portion of the mobile device. The top device receiver104and bottom device receiver108are illustrated as cups, but it will be understood that any other suitable arrangement for receiving and retaining a top portion or bottom portion, respectively, of the mobile device can be used including, but not limited to, clips, retention arms, or the like or any combination thereof.

The top device receiver104and slide arm106are slidingly coupled to the cradle base102to permit use of the cradle with mobile devices of different lengths. The cradle base102includes a removable cover114and optionally one or more non-removable plates116, as illustrated inFIG.1B, that form a platform upon which the back of the mobile device101rests when received in the cradle100. In at least some embodiments, the removable cover114is a plate. In at least some embodiments, the removable cover114can be removed by sliding the removable cover way from the bottom cup108to release the removable cover114from the remainder of the cradle base102. In at least some embodiments, the removable cover114can include one or more pins or extensions that engage openings or holes in the cradle base102. The removable cover114can be removed by lifting the removable cover away from the cradle base102.

As illustrated inFIG.1F, below the removable cover114is a cavity118defined by a cavity base120, one or more cover supports123(that are recessed relative to the non-removable plate(s)116, if present), and cavity sidewalls122extending from the cavity base to the cover support(s) or removable cover114(when attached). In at least some embodiments, the cavity sidewalls122or cover supports include openings (or holes)121for receiving pins or extensions from the removable cover114to hold the removable cover114in place.

The cavity118is configured to retain a wireless device124, such as a wireless charging device or charging puck or other wireless device, as illustrated inFIG.1G. The wireless device124is capable of charging, communicating, or otherwise interacting with the mobile device101wirelessly. In at least some embodiments, the wireless device124is connected to a power or data source by a cord125. In at least some embodiments, the cavity sidewalls122and bottom cup108include at least one opening130for passage of the cord125of the wireless device124out of the cavity118and out of the cradle100, as illustrated inFIG.1G.

In at least some embodiments, the removable cover114does not include any port or opening for wired coupling of the wireless device124to the mobile device101. In at least some embodiments, the cradle100does not include any contacts, wires, traces, or the like for non-wirelessly coupling of the wireless device124to the mobile device101.

In at least some embodiments, the cradle base102includes a device platform126with one or more retention walls128, as illustrated inFIG.1F. The device platform126is arranged to receive and hold the wireless device124, as illustrated inFIG.1G. In at least some embodiments, the device platform126includes at least two retention walls128positioned at opposite ends of the device platform. In at least some embodiments, one or more (or all) of the retention wall(s)128are flexible to facilitate loading or unloading the wireless device124on the device platform126.

In at least some embodiments, the device platform126is slidable within the cavity118as illustrated inFIGS.1G and1H. Sliding of the device platform126may facilitate orienting the wireless device124with the mobile device101to enhance or improve charging, communication, or other interaction. In at least some embodiments, at least one pin127(for example, two pins) extends from the device platform126and each terminates in a foot129, as illustrated inFIG.1E. The cradle base102includes at least one track140(for example, two tracks) with each including an elongated aperture142through which a pin127extends with the foot129of the pin engaging a surface144of the track. The pin(s)127can be moved along the elongated aperture(s)142to adjust the position of the device platform126within the cavity118. In at least some embodiments, the cradle100also includes at least one fastener146that can be inserted into the foot129of each pin127to tighten the foot against the surface144of a corresponding track140when the desired position of the device platform126is determined in order to maintain the device platform in the desired position. In at least some embodiments, the surface144of the track140may include teeth145(and, optionally, corresponding teeth (not shown) disposed on the foot129) to facilitate maintenance of the device platform126in the determined position.

The slide arm106extends away from the top device receiver104and into a slide arm housing132on a back side of the cradle base102, as illustrated inFIG.1D. In at least some embodiments, the slide arm housing132is disposed beneath at least a portion of the cavity base120. In at least some embodiments, the slide arm housing132is disposed beneath a portion of the cover supports123. In at least some embodiments, the slide arm housing132is disposed beneath a portion of the non-removable plates116.

In at least some embodiments, the top device receiver104is biased toward the cradle base102to hold the mobile device in the cradle100. InFIG.2A, a back plate133(FIG.1D) of the slide arm housing132has been removed for illustration of the interior of the slide arm housing. A cross-sectional view is presented inFIG.2B. The back plate133may be removable from a remainder of the slide arm housing132or may be an integral (e.g., unremovable) portion of the slide arm housing.

In at least some embodiments, a spring134or other biasing element is positioned in the slide arm housing132in a cavity136formed by the slide arm106. In at least some embodiments, slide arm housing132includes a stop138to prevent or resist removal of the slide arm106entirely from the slide arm housing132. As the top device receiver104is pulled away from the cradle base102, the spring134is compressed. This allows a mobile device101to be loaded into the cradle100. When the force pulling the top device receiver104away from the cradle base102is removed or relaxed, the spring134biases the top device receiver toward the cradle base to hold and retain the mobile device101in the cradle100.

In at least some embodiments, the top device receiver104may include one or more openings137(FIG.1B) for access to a speaker, microphone, button, or other element on the mobile device101. The bottom cup108may include one or more openings139(FIG.1B) for access to a speaker, microphone, button, or other element on the mobile device101or for access to a connector port on the mobile device.

In at least some embodiments, an optional mount (not shown) is coupled or coupleable to the cradle100using at least one mounting hole135(FIGS.1D and1F) on the slide arm housing132which receive a fastener (such as a screw or a nut/bolt) to couple mount to the cradle100. In at least some embodiments, the mounting hole(s)135may be accessible with the removable cover114is removed, as illustrated inFIG.1F. Non-limiting examples of mounts can be found at U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,845,885; 6,561,476; 7,997,554; 8,454,178; 8,505,861; 9,831,904; RE42,060; RE42,581; and RE43,806, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.