Abstract:
A docking station for mechanically supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device, such as a portable phone, computer, media player, or the like includes a housing with upper and lower housing surfaces, a device mount pivotably coupled to the housing, and an electrical and mechanical connector on the device mount. The upper housing surface defines an opening through which the connector extends. The opening in the upper housing is sized and shaped to correspond to an upper portion of the device mount, which has arcuate surfaces that remain in close proximity or contact with surfaces defining the opening in the upper housing, to limit or preclude the intrusion of contaminants into the housing regardless of the position of the device mount relative to the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/993,849, filed May 15, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to docking stations for electronic devices and, more particularly, to devices that provide both mechanical support and electrical or electronic communication with portable phones, handheld computers, portable media players, or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Docking stations are commonly used to provide both mechanical support and electrical and/or electronic communication with an electronic device that is placed on the docking station, such as for charging a battery associated with the electronic device and/or providing an electronic data feed to or from the electronic device when it is mounted at the docking station. In some cases, an electrical or electronic coupler physically supports the electronic device while also electrically communicating with the device, while in other cases a docking station may provide a mechanical support or surface that is separate from the electrical/electronic coupler. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a docking station for electronic devices, in which a movable electrical/mechanical connector physically supports and electrically communicates with an electronic device that is coupled to the docking station via the connector. The connector is pivotable between forward and rearward positions, without creating excessive gaps between the connector and a housing to which it is coupled. The connector is capable of supporting electronic devices of different shapes and sizes, such as portable phones, handheld computers, cameras, media players, and the like. Although it is envisioned that the electrical/mechanical connector is fully capable of mechanically supporting an electronic device in substantially any position of the connector, it is further envisioned that, at least for some larger sizes of electronic devices, the devices may be partially supported by another surface that is associated with the docking station. 
     According to one form of the present invention, a docking station is provided for supporting and electrically communicating with an electronic device. The docking station includes a housing defining a cavity or interior space between upper and lower surfaces, a device mount with electrical connector, and first and second hinge portions that cooperate to pivotably couple the device mount to the housing. The upper surface of the housing defines an opening between at least a forward inside surface or edge and a rearward inside surface or edge. The first hinge portion is spaced above the lower housing surface and defines a pivot axis. The device mount is configured to support an electronic device and has an upper arcuate surface with forward and rearward portions, as well as a second hinge portion that is spaced above the lower surface and is configured to engage the first hinge portion. The engagement of the hinge portions pivotably couples the device mount so that it is movable between a forward position and a rearward position. The electrical connector projects through the opening and is configured to electrically engage the electrical device when the electrical device is supported at the device mount. The pivot axis defined by the cooperating hinge portions is located such that as the device mount is pivoted between the forward position and the rearward position, the forward portion of the upper arcuate surface maintains substantially fixed spacing relative to the forward inside surface of the cover, and the rearward portion of the upper arcuate surface maintains substantially fixed spacing relative to the rearward inside surface of the cover. 
     In one aspect, the device mount includes a lower surface with forward and rearward portions. The forward and rearward portions of the lower surface are arranged or positioned so that when the device mount is in the forward position, the forward portion of the lower surface contacts the lower housing surface, and so that when the device mount is in the rearward position, the rearward portion of the lower surface contacts the lower housing surface. 
     In another aspect, the device mount and the dock housing are configured so that pivoting movement of the device mount relative to the dock housing is resisted only by incidental friction at the first and second hinge portions and/or by incidental contact of the forward and rearward portions of the upper arcuate surface with the forward and rearward inside surfaces of the cover. 
     In yet another aspect, a portion of the upper arcuate surface of the device mount projects through the opening of the upper housing surface. 
     In still another aspect, the docking station further includes a main housing in which the dock housing is pivotably mounted. The dock housing is movable between an in-use position in which the dock housing is extended from the main housing, and a non-use position in which the dock housing is at least partially retracted into the main housing. 
     In a further aspect, a portion of the upper arcuate surface of the device mount projects through the opening of the upper housing surface. Optionally, the upper arcuate surface includes a generally planar central surface disposed between the forward and rearward portions, and the generally planar central surface also projects through the opening of the upper housing surface. Optionally, the electrical connector is positioned at the generally planar central surface. The generally planar central surface may be configured to be engaged by a lower surface of the electronic device, so that at least a portion of the weight of the electronic device is supported by the generally planar central surface of the device mount. 
     Thus, the docking station of the present invention provides both a mechanical support and an electrical coupling for portable electronic devices, which permits a coupled device to be pivoted according to a user&#39;s preferences, while maintaining the mechanical and electrical coupling. During such pivoting movement the minimal spacing between the device mount and the housing remains substantially constant to reduce the likelihood of contaminants entering the housing. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a power and data center incorporating a docking station in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the docking station of  FIG. 1 , in which the connector is shown pivoted forward; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the docking station of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the docking station taken along section line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another top plan view of the docking station of  FIG. 1 , in which the connector is pivoted rearward; 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional elevation of the docking station, taken along section line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the docking station; 
         FIG. 8  is a right side elevation of the docking station; 
         FIG. 9  is a left side elevation of the docking station; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation of the docking station; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevation of the docking station; 
         FIG. 12  is another top plan view of the docking station; and 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the docking station. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A docking station for electronic devices is provided for mechanically supporting and electrically energizing and/or electronically communicating with a portable electronic device that is positioned on or along the docking station. The docking station accommodates different sizes and/or shapes of portable electronic devices, and uses a single connector to both mechanically support and electrically or electronically communicate with the device. The connector permits the electronic device to be moved forward and aft (rearward), such as via a pivoting movement, to adjust a viewing angle or to suit the preferences of a user. In addition, the connector pivots in such a way as to substantially prevent the formation of gaps between the connector and an associated housing, such as to limit or prevent the intrusion of contaminants into the housing. Throughout this specification and the claim, it will be appreciated that the terms “electrical” and “electronic” may be used interchangeably, and are not intended to be limiting in any way. 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a docking station  10  for electronic devices is mountable in a power and data unit  12  ( FIG. 1 ) that is configured for mounting at or near a work surface or in a work area, and provides users with access to power and/or data connectors such as low voltage DC power connectors (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), HDMI, serial port, Ethernet port, coaxial connector, or the like). Docking station  10  includes a pivotable dock housing  14  in which a pivotable device mount  16  is housed, such as shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . Device mount  16  includes an electrical/mechanical connector  18 , and is pivotable relative to dock housing  14  between a forward position ( FIGS. 2-4 ) and a rearward position ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). In the illustrated embodiment, dock housing  14  is pivotable relative to a main housing  20 , between an extended or in-use position (shown) and a retracted or non-use position, such as in a manner that is more fully described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,482,252 and 8,559,172, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Dock housing  14  is a two-piece housing including an upper housing portion  14   a  that is coupled to a lower housing portion  14   b  in a snap-together arrangement, such as shown in  FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 . Upper housing portion  14   a  includes an upper housing surface  22  that defines an opening  24  between a forward inside surface or edge  26   a , a rearward inside surface or edge  26   b , a left inside surface or edge  26   c , and a right inside surface or edge  26   d . Upper housing portion  14   a  further includes a forward surface  28  that defines an opening  30  ( FIGS. 2, 7 and 10 ) that provides access to an audio jack  32  or other type of electronic or electrical connector. A pair of downwardly-extending resilient latch tabs  34  are located at a rear of upper housing portion  14   a , and are configured to engage respective receiving portions  36  of lower housing portion  14   b , such as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . 
     Lower housing portion  14   b  includes a lower housing surface  38  including a downwardly-angled forward portion  38   a  and a rear hinge portion  38   b . Receiving portions  36  extend upwardly from rear hinge portion  38   b  and are supported by respective upstanding walls  40  at opposite outboard sides of lower housing portion  14   b  ( FIG. 7 ). Each receiving portion  36  defines an opening  42  that is engaged by a distal latch portion  34   a  of the respective latch tab  34 . A pair of spaced-apart upstanding hinge pieces  44  extend upwardly from lower housing surface  38 , and each includes a respective first hinge portion  46  in the form of a generally circular opening having a slot that is open at its forward end, to facilitate engagement by a corresponding hinge portion of device mount  16 , as will be described below. A plurality of cavities  48  are defined between respective wall portions  49  that are located generally between upstanding hinge pieces  44 , and extend part way along the forward downwardly-angled lip portion  38   a  of lower housing surface  38 . Cavities  48  and their corresponding wall portions  49  are optional features that are provided to permit or facilitate the attachment or inclusion of additional elements associated with docking station  10 , or to accommodate variations (or associated hardware) in device mount  16 , and that can also serve to limit the maximum forward pivot angle of device mount  16 , as will be described below. 
     A pair of hinge pins  50  extend laterally outwardly from the hinge portion  38   b  of lower housing surface  38 , and are sized and shaped to be received in respective cavities or slots  52  that are formed in a forward edge portion of main housing  20 , such as shown in  FIG. 7 . Hinge pins  50  may be unitarily formed with the other portions and surfaces of lower housing portion  14   b , or may be respective opposite end portions of a cylindrical shaft that is held in place at rear hinge portion  38   b  by a threaded fastener  53 , such as a grub screw or the like. A rectangular audio jack opening  54  is defined in lower housing surface  38 , just outboard of the upstanding hinge piece  44  on the left side of lower housing portion  14   b , and facilitates the mounting and wiring of audio jack  32 . Optionally, each upstanding wall  40  includes a respective outwardly-extending projection  56  that is disposed in and rides along an arcuate channel  58  formed along an inside surface at a forward end portion of main housing  20  ( FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 ), with arcuate channel  58  optionally including detent regions  58   a ,  58   b  that are selectively engaged by projections  56  to initially resist pivoting of movement of dock housing  14  out of its extended or retracted positions. 
     Device mount  16  includes a pair of upper arcuate surfaces including a forward arcuate surface  60   a  and a rearward arcuate surface  60   b , with a generally planar central upper surface  62  disposed between arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b , such as shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 . A pair of opposite sidewalls  63  extend downwardly from opposite ends of the arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b  and central upper surface  62 . Arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b  and central planar surface  62  cooperate to form a contiguous upper surface portion of device mount  16 , which is wider than the spacing of upstanding hinge pieces  44  of lower housing portion  14   b , so that hinge pieces  44  are substantially covered by the upper surface portion of device mount  16  when the device mount is coupled to lower housing portion  14   b  of dock housing  14 . A second hinge portion in the form of one or two hinge pins  64  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ) is located directly beneath central planar surface  62 , and is sized, shaped, and positioned for snap-fit engagement with first hinge portions (openings)  46  defined at upper end portions of upstanding hinge pieces  44 , to define a generally horizontal pivot axis that is spaced above lower housing surface  38  of dock housing  14 . 
     Optionally, central planar surface  62  may be engaged by a lower surface of an electronic device, to thereby support at least a portion of the weight of the electronic device that is coupled to connector  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, central surface  62  is substantially planar, but it will be appreciated that the central area between the forward and rearward arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b  could also be arcuate in shape, such as a continuation of the partial-cylindrical arcuate surfaces, whereby the upper surface portion of the device mount would be essentially half-cylindrical in shape. 
     The tight spacing of forward and rearward arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b  with corresponding ones of the forward and rearward inside surfaces  26   a ,  26   b  of upper housing surface  22 , and of sidewalls  63  with the respective corresponding left and right inside surfaces  26   c ,  26   d  of upper housing portion  14   a , ensures that there is only a small gap, or substantially no gap at all, between the various outer surfaces  60   a ,  60   b ,  62 ,  63  of device mount  16  and the inside surfaces  26   a - d  that define opening  24  in dock housing  14 . It will be appreciated that this arrangement reduces the risk or likelihood of contaminants entering an interior cavity of dock housing  14 , to thereby reduce the risk of damage to electrical or mechanical components due to the inadvertent intrusion of contaminants such as spilled liquids, dust, grit, food particles, or the like. 
     The configurations of device mount  16  and upper housing portion  14   a  are similar to a ball-and-socket arrangement, except that the surfaces do not necessarily contact one another and are partially cylindrical in shape rather than partially spherical, and it is the interaction of hinge pins  64  with hinge portions  46  that permits the pivoting movement of device mount  16  rather than the engagement of outer-most surfaces of the device mount with inner surfaces of the dock housing. Thus, forward and rearward arcuate surfaces  60   a ,  60   b  of device mount  16  are partially cylindrical in shape, with each point along the respective surfaces being substantially equidistant from the pivot axis defined through hinge pin  64 . Similarly, forward and rearward inside surfaces  26   a ,  26   b  of upper housing surface  22  may be generally arcuate (partially cylindrical) in shape, with all points along these surfaces being substantially equidistant from the pivot axis defined through hinge ping  64 . Thus, with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , forward arcuate surface  60   a  will maintain substantially constant spacing S 1  from forward inside surface  26   a , and rearward arcuate surface  60   b  will maintain substantially fixed spacing S 2  from rearward inside surface  26   b  during or throughout the full range of pivoting movement of device mount  16  relative to docking housing  14 , so as to not create enlarged gaps through which contaminants may readily enter the interior of dock housing  14 . 
     Optionally, device mount  16  and opening  24  may be sized so as to substantially eliminate any gaps between these components, to further reduce the likelihood that contaminants could intrude into dock housing  14 . In addition, it is envisioned that a soft and/or flexible skirt or gasket material could be applied to upper housing portion  14   a , surrounding opening  24 , to provide a seal or dust jacket that contacts respective outer surfaces of device mount  16  as the device mount pivots relative to dock housing  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, no pivot-resisting elements are included, so that pivoting movement of device mount  16  relative to dock housing  14  is resisted only by incidental friction at the interacting hinge portions and/or by incidental frictional contact of the upper arcuate surfaces of the device mount with corresponding surfaces of the dock housing. However, it is envisioned that pivot-resisting elements such as springs or resilient biasing members or components such as those described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,482,252 and 8,559,172, which are incorporated herein by reference, could be incorporated into the docking station of the present invention, such as to provide a centering function of device mount  16  relative to dock housing  14 . 
     Device mount  16  further includes a lower surface or region having a forward lower surface portion  66   a , a rearward lower surface portion  66   b , and a centrally located central lower surface portion  66   c , such as shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , forward lower surface portion  66   a  is positioned and oriented, relative to hinge pin  64 , so that it will contact lower housing surface  38  to limit or prevent further forward-pivoting movement of device mount  16  relative to dock housing  14 , with forward arcuate surface  60   a  of device mount  16  remaining in close proximity to forward inside surface  26   a  of upper housing portion  14   a , and with rearward arcuate surface  60   b  of device mount  16  remaining in close proximity to rearward inside surface  26   b  of upper housing portion  14   b . Similarly, and with reference to  FIG. 6 , rearward lower surface portion  66   b  is positioned and oriented, relative to hinge pin  64 , so that it will contact lower housing surface  38  to limit or prevent further rearward-pivoting movement of device mount  16  relative to dock housing  14 , with forward arcuate surface  60   a  of device mount  16  remaining in close proximity to forward inside surface  26   a  of upper housing portion  14   a , and with rearward arcuate surface  60   b  of device mount  16  remaining in close proximity to rearward inside surface  26   b  of upper housing portion  14   b . Central lower surface portion  66   c  of device mount  16  is located between the forward surface portion  66   a  and the rearward surface portion  66   b , and is spaced below hinge pin  64  approximately the same distance by which hinge pin  64  is spaced above lower housing surface  38 , so that central lower portion  66   c  remains in close proximity to (or in light contact with) lower housing surface  38  as device mount  16  pivots relative to dock housing  14 , such as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . 
     Forward lower surface portion  66   a  and rearward lower surface portion  66   b  are spaced radially outwardly from hinge pin  64  a greater distance than is central surface portion  66   c , so that the forward and rearward lower surface portions  66   a ,  66   b  act as hard stops against further pivoting movement of device mount  16 . The wall portions  49  that cooperate to define cavities  48  in lower housing portion  14   b  are contacted by forward lower surface portion  66   a  when device mount  16  reaches its forward most pivoting position, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the height of wall portions  49  serve to limit or set the forward pivoting extent of device mount  16 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, main housing  20  is made up of an upper housing portion  20   a  and a lower housing portion  20   b  that are configured to snap together during assembly, and which cooperate with a front bezel or face plate  68  to secure dock housing  14  to main housing  20 , in a manner that permits limited pivoting movement of dock housing  14 , which may be more fully understood with reference to the above-identified commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,482,252 and 8,559,172, which are incorporated herein by reference. Docking station  10  further includes a circuit board  70  and a voltage transformer  72  with cover that protects the electrical circuitry when dock housing  14  is pivoted out to an in-use position as shown in the drawings. Circuit board  70  handles all or a portion of the electrical and/or electronic functions of docking station  10  such as, for example, directing audio signals received from the portable electronic device via connector  18  to audio jack  32 , and directing and/or converting electrical or electronic signals to or from the electronic device coupled to connector  18  and other electrical or electronic devices that may be coupled to docking station  10 , such as a video projector, audio speakers, an internet connection or other communication source, and the like. Voltage transformer  72  converts or transforms a high voltage AC power input to a low voltage DC power output at connector  18 , such as for charging the battery of a portable electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , and as briefly noted above, docking station  10  is configured for mounting to power and data unit  12 , which can be adapted to provide various other electrical devices, connections, and functions for a user, such as is more fully described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,429, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, in addition to docking station  10 , power and data unit  12  may be fitted with electronic data ports  74  (such as telephone jacks, Ethernet or HDMI ports, or the like), a video receptacle assembly  76 , and high voltage AC power receptacles  78 . Although docking station  10 , and particularly its main housing  20 , are configured for mounting at power and data unit  12 , it will be appreciated that the docking station of present invention would be equally well suited for freestanding applications or different types of mounting arrangements and locations, such as by altering the configuration of its various housings, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Accordingly, the docking station of the present invention provides a mechanical support and an electrical or electronic connection to a portable or electronic device, in a manner that substantially precludes or prevents the intrusion of contaminants, such as spilled liquids, dust, food particles, or the like, into areas where electronic components and connections are made or established, and permits pivoting movement of the portable electronic device according to a particular user&#39;s preferences, substantially without creating enlarged gaps that would be more conducive to the intrusion of contaminants. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.