Abstract:
A USB device securement apparatus is disclosed. The USB device securement apparatus includes a dock that includes a device side and an attachment side. The device side of the dock receives the plug side of the USB device and the attachment side of the dock is coupled to a surface. This arrangement provides proper securement of the USB device during retail, transportation, and storage.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/425,923 filed Apr. 17, 2009 which is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/US08/61015 filed Apr. 21, 2008 both herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus that holds any type of a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of media storage devices such as USBs, compact disks (CD), and digital video disks (DVD) are known in the prior art. For the purposes of retail, transportation, and storage, CD and DVD media devices are usually held in place by a dock and are normally contained in a packaging case. Currently, however, there is no USB dock that will properly secure a USB device within a packaging case or to other surfaces. Therefore, it is desirable to have a securement and packaging apparatus for a USB device where the apparatus is a dock that secures the USB device within a packaging case or to a surface. 
         [0004]    Various techniques have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,374 (Keiner), U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,329 (Yang), U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,452 (Rochelo), 6,839,239 (Lee), U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,647 (Wong et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,159 (Rochelo), U.S. Patent Application Nos. 20030062275 (Rochelo), 20040038592 (Yang), 20050150796 (Wong), 20060144751 (Tsang), 20060266671 (Langerak), and 20070163913 (Or et al.) to overcome the problems with media securement devices. However, these disclosures suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages. First, none of these inventions include a dock for a USB device. Second, none of these inventions are simple designs that are easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A securement apparatus for use with a USB device comprises a dock. The dock includes a device side and an attachment side. The device side of the dock further comprises a hollowed center, where the hollowed center is sized to receive a plug side of the USB device. The attachment side couples the dock to a surface. 
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to a securement apparatus for use with a USB device. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securement apparatus for use with a USB device such that the securement apparatus is integrally coupled to a surface. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securement apparatus that protects and secures a USB device. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securement apparatus that protects and secures a USB flash drive. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securement apparatus that protects and secures a USB flash drive and its protective cap. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securement apparatus that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0012]    The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the USB dock when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. 
         [0013]    Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention integrated into an outer packaging surface. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section top view of the dock of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  shows a cross section of the inside of the dock of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section side view of the dock of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the dock of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of the dock of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a USB device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the plug side of the USB device sliding in to the device side of the dock and the protective cap of the USB device sliding on to the cap side of the dock. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the USB device and the protective cap secured to the dock. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a preferred embodiment of the USB dock  300  includes a device side  310  and an attachment side  320 . As in  FIG. 7 , a USB device  500 , such as a flash drive, is coupled to the dock  300  such that it cannot be detached during retail, transportation, or storage of the device. The device side  310  of the dock  300  has a hollowed center  325  to allow a plug side  510  of the USB device  500  to slide in to place such that the USB device  500  is secured to the dock  300  as seen in  FIG. 6 . The attachment side  320  of the dock  300  can be coupled to any surface such that the dock  300  and USB device  500  are secured in place. This coupling can be via a mold where the dock  300  is formed as part of an outer packaging  200 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , or via an adhesive, such as glue, hook and loop type fastener, etc. (not shown) that grips the surface. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A , the inside of the hollowed center  325  of the device side  310  of the dock  300  includes a rounded interior wall  312 . This wall  312  allows a smooth insertion of the plug side  510  of the USB device  500  into the device side  310  of the dock  300  and holds the plug side  510  of the USB device  500  in place through a friction fit. Because the plug sides  510  of USB devices are a standard size, the dimensions of the hollowed center  325  of the device side  310  of the dock  300  will also be a standardized size to allow a secure fit between the plug side  510  of the USB device  500  and the dock  300 . This feature allows easy manufacturing of the dock  300 . Moreover, because only the plug side  510  of the USB device  500  is inserted into the hollowed center  325  of the device side  310  of the dock  300 , any type of USB device  500  can be secured by the USB dock  300  regardless of the body shape of the USB device  500 . 
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment of the dock  300 , the attachment side  320  of the dock  300  is a round plastic disc that is molded onto the dock  300 . The round disc can include an adhesive that is used to couple the dock  300  to a surface. The adhesive can be glue, hook and loop type fastener, or any other suitable adhesive material. Additionally, the surface to which the dock  300  is coupled can be any type of smooth surface such as a plastic packaging case, a wall, a tabletop, a display rack, etc. The dock  300  secures the USB device to the surface and aids in shipping, display, storage, etc. 
         [0026]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the USB dock  300  is designed to secure a USB flash drive. In this embodiment, the dock  300  may include a cap side  315  in addition to the device side  310 . The cap side  315  of the dock  300  secures the protective cap  520  of the USB flash drive  500  as shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the device side  310  and the cap side  315  of the dock  300  are oriented such that they face opposite directions. The cap side  315  of the dock  300  is structured to receive the protective cap  520  of the USB flash drive. The dock  300 , however, does not have to include a cap side  315 . This alternate embodiment accommodates USB flash drives that do not include a protective cap  520 . 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the cap side  315  of the dock  300  and the device side  310  of the dock  300  are coupled together such that they are one piece. However, they could be molded as two separate pieces. Because the USB flash drive and its protective cap  520  are, by their nature, a standardized size, the dock  300  is easily sized to accommodate the pieces. Further, it is preferred that the dock  300  is made of plastic or some other rigid, protective material The dock  300 , however, can be made of any appropriate material 
         [0028]    As seen in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the outer surface is a plastic packaging case  200 . The plastic packaging  200  is a standard 14 mm digital video disc (DVD) case. When the case is open, the left side  205  of the outer packaging  200  includes the standard clips  210  that hold a booklet with information and instructions for operating the enclosed media device. The right side  207  of the outer packaging  200  includes the dock  300 . The dock  300  is integrally molded to the outer packaging  200  such that it will not separate from the outer packaging  200  during shipment or display. This can be done with adhesive or by molding the outer packaging  200  and the dock  300  as one piece. Alternate embodiments of the outer packaging  200  include compact disc (CD) jewel cases, software packaging, and video game packaging to name a few. While it is preferred that the outer packaging is made of plastic, it can be any material that will support and protect the media device inside and will hold the dock  300  securely in place. The dock  300  can be coupled to either side of the outer packaging  200 . It is preferred, however, to mold the dock  300  on the right side of the packaging. Additionally, the dock  300  can be located at any location vertically and/or horizontally on the outer packaging  200 . Moreover, in an additional alternate embodiment, the cap side  315  of the dock  300  is molded onto an outer packaging surface  200  such that it is separate from the device side  310  of the dock  300 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the dock  300  is positioned such that an additional type of media (i.e., CD, DVD, video game) can be placed on the same side of the outer packaging  200  as the USB device. 
         [0029]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the one embodiment, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.