Abstract:
A dongle or port extender and a cover design for electronic devices is provided. The port extender replicates a port on a given electronic device, and port extenders may be provided for all ports, including electrical and fiber optic ports. The replication of some or all of the ports by the separable port extender provides the ability to inexpensively repair a port by the replacement of the port extender.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/841,331, filed on Jun. 29, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to covers for electronic devices that serve to protect and/or provide water resistance to an electronic device. Such device covers may be provided as an after-market add-on, attached to a housing or case of an electronic device during manufacturing, or may be directly formed on a housing or case for an electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electronic devices, such as personal portable phones, which may also be described as cell phones, mobile phones, etc., tablets, and MP3 players, are subject to significant wear and damage through use and contact with other objects, or being dropped. A variety of protective sleeves, masks, covers, shrouds, etc., have been provided to reduce damage and wear and tear to electronic devices. 
         [0004]    Electronic devices also include a plurality of electrical or electronic ports. Such electrical or electronic ports may connect power and data to and from the electronic device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Advantages and features of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a form--fitted top cover and a form-fitted bottom covers for an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, including electronic port extenders in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an electronic port extender in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows an electronic port extender in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows an electronic device, an electronic port extender, and an electronic device cover in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of the electronic device, electronic port extender, and electronic device cover of  FIG. 4 , with the electronic port extender installed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the electronic device, electronic port extender, and electronic device cover of  FIG. 5  along the lines  6 - 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows electronic port extenders in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    An exemplary embodiment electronic device cover assembly is shown in  FIG. 1  and generally indicated at  10 . Device cover assembly  10  is secured to an electronic device  101  to provide protection for electronic device  101 . Device cover assembly  10  may include one or more electronic port extenders or dongles  103  and  104 , though dongles  103  and  104  may be provided as separate devices. Dongles  103  and  104  are electronic devices that electrically connect to a mating electronic port positioned in electronic device  101 . Device cover assembly  10  secures dongles  103  and  104  to electronic device  101  relatively rigidly, as will be described further herein, reducing stress on the mating electronic ports of electronic device  101 . Because the dongles described herein provided a connection between two connectors, the dongles described herein may also be described as null dongles. 
         [0014]    Stress from connectors that would normally attach to the mating electronic ports of electronic device  101  is transmitted instead to dongles  103  and  104 . If dongle  103  or dongle  104  becomes damaged, the damaged dongle can be easily, quickly, and inexpensively replaced in comparison to replacing or repairing the mating electronic ports of electronic device  101 , which are relatively expensive to repair, requiring a skilled technician and potentially significant time to repair. During the time it takes to repair an electronic port of electronic device  101 , electronic device  101  will be unavailable to a user. If electronic device  101  is, for example, a cell phone or a tablet used for work, the unavailability may represent a significant inconvenience, and potentially a loss of productivity, or even a loss of business. Thus, device cover assembly  10 , and dongles  103  and  104  represent a significant improvement in the reliability of the electrical ports of an electronic device  101 . 
         [0015]    While an electronic device may include an exterior shell that may be described by a variety of terms, such as housing, cover, shell, case, skin, etc., the exterior housing of the electronic device will be described as the case for simplicity, consistency, and clarity. Similarly, while the term cover is used to describe a separate element that may be formed on or attached to the case, the term cover may be replaced by other terms, such as separate case, shell, skin, housing, etc. To reduce the chance for confusion with the case of an electronic device, the separate housing portion will be described as a cover or cover portions for simplicity, consistency, and clarity. 
         [0016]    In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , one or more dongles, dongles  103  and  104 , are positioned in a first electrical or electronic port  112  and a second electrical or electronic port  114 , respectively. It should be understood that dongles  103  and  104  are used to represent an array of potential dongles for electrical devices. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, an electronic device may have one electrical port, and thus, only one dongle would be required. In another exemplary embodiment, an electronic device may have three or more electronic ports, and thus, numerous port extenders or dongles would be needed. Further, dangles may mate with a variety of electrical port types, including USB, IEEE 1394 high speed serial bus, parallel SCSI, DC power ports, AC power ports, etc. As will be understood from the exemplary embodiments presented herein, any electrical port can benefit from the features of the present disclosure. Further, though the term “electrical” and “electronic are used in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that other ports may benefit from the features of the present disclosure, such as fiber optic ports. 
         [0017]    Device cover assembly  10  includes a first or top cover  100  and a second or bottom cover  102 . At least one of top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  includes one or more openings formed therein that permit dongles to extend from first electrical port  112  or second electrical port  114  through top cover  100  and/or bottom cover  102  to permit the dongles to be accessible from an exterior of top cover  100  and/or bottom cover  102 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , top cover  100  includes a portion of a first opening  116   a  and a portion of a second opening  1 . 18   a,  and bottom cover  102  includes a portion of a first opening  116   b  and a portion of a second opening  188   b.  Top cover  100  may further include a transparent integral membrane or film  106  that permits viewing of a display  126  of electronic device  101  and actuation of buttons  128 , as shown in, for example,  FIG. 4 , or a touch screen of electronic device  101 . 
         [0018]    In the exemplary embodiment of Ha  1 , first or top cover  100  is positioned on a first side of an electronic device  101 , and second or bottom cover  102  is positioned on a second side of electronic device  101 . Either top cover  100  engages bottom cover  102  or bottom cover  102  engages top cover  100  to secure electronic device  101  in an interior cavity, hollow, compartment, or chamber  110 . When top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  are engaged to each other, capturing or restraining electronic device  101 , top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  also capture or contact dongles  103  and  104 , which extend through a first opening  116  formed by first opening portions  116   a  and  116   b,  and through a second opening  118  formed by second opening portions  118   a  and  118   b,  respectively. As will be seen, by capturing dongles  103  and  1 . 04 , dongles  103  and  104  are held relatively rigidly with respect to first electrical port  112  and second electrical port  114 , respectively. It should also be noted that each opening if positioned in the area of or adjacent to at least one electrical port. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first opening  116  is adjacent to first electrical port  112  and second opening  118  is adjacent to second electrical port  114 . 
         [0019]    Prior to installing any device cover, such as device covers, the dongles may be tested to verify the dongle-electrical port interface, the functioning of the electrical port, and the functioning of the dongle. Once the dongles, such as dongles  103  and  104  of  FIG. 1 , are installed, associated cables, such as cable and connector assembly  120 , may be connected to the appropriate dongle, such as dongle  103 . Now power or data may be routed to or from electronic or electrical device  101  to determine whether the various components are functioning properly, prior to installation of top cover  100  and bottom cover  102 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , port extender or dongle  103  is described in more detail. Dongle  103  includes, in a longitudinally-extending direction, a first connector  130 , a side portion  132  including a groove or channel  134  formed therein, and a second connector  136 . First connector  130  mates with an electrical port of an electronic device, for example, first electrical port  112  of electronic device  101 . Typically, second connector  136  is identical to first electrical port  112 , though it need not be identical to first electrical port  112 , and thus, in instances where second connector  136  is identical to first electrical port  112 , dongle  103  may be described as a replica port. Second connector  136  mates with another connector, for example, a connector of cable  120 , shown in  FIG. 1 . In an exemplary embodiment, top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  include a region  122  adjacent to first opening  116 . When top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  are engaged with each other, with electronic device  101  positioned in cavity  110 , and dongles  103  and  104  positioned in first electrical port  112  and second electrical port  114 , region  122 , which includes a wall portion  124 , extends into groove  134 , engaging and capturing dongle  103 . Dongle  104  may be similarly configured. 
         [0021]    A body portion  138  of dongle  103  may be formed of a compliant material, such as nitrite, or other similar materials. Consequently, contact between body portion  138  and regions  122  of top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  may provide resistance to water and debris passing along the interface between body portion  138  and top cover  100  and bottom cover  102 . Furthermore, top cover  100  and bottom cover  102  are configured to mate with a shape of a case  142  of electronic device  101  to limit or reduce the movement of electronic device  101  with respect to top cover  100  and bottom cover  102 . In order to reduce shocks communicated to electronic device  101  that electronic device cover assembly  10  may receive, top cover  100  and bottom cover  1102  may be formed of a resilient material, or may include a cushioning material (not shown) in cavity  100 . 
         [0022]    A second exemplary embodiment dongle is shown in  FIG. 3  and generally indicated at  150 . Similar to dongle  103 , dongle  150  includes interior first connector  130  and exterior second connector  136 . Dongle  150  further includes a body  152  that may be made of a flexible or compliant material to provide environmental resistance when mated with a cover, described further herein. Rather than engaging a groove formed in the side of the dongle, as is the case with exemplary dongle  103 , body  152  of dongle  150  includes a plurality of substantially fiat side surfaces  107  that provide a friction fit with surfaces adjacent to an opening in a device cover, described further herein. Dongle  150  may further include a flange  108  that mates with a recess  160 , formed by a recess wall  162 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , formed in the device cover. In another embodiment, recess wall  162  may be configured to engage groove  134  of dongle  103 . Flange  108  may be sized and dimensioned such that an exterior surface of flange  108  is substantially flush with an exterior surface of a device cover, forming a smooth finish over a replicated or extended electronic port so as to avoid wear, tear and snagging on the flange of the dongle or the opening in which the dongle is position. 
         [0023]    Flange  108  may be used to limit the amount of force applied to an electrical port, such as electrical port  112 , by mating electrical connector  130  during installation of dongle  150 . Flange  108  may also assist in limiting the movement of dongle  150  under a variety of conditions, thus stabilizing dongle  150 . The advantage to dongle  150  is that it may be installed or removed without removing the device cover first. 
         [0024]    When using the configuration of dongle  150 , as with dongle  103 , a user can plug dongles into their respective ports and test the respective electronic ports and dongle  150  by using the electronic port(s) for their specific functions, such as power or data input or output. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a cover  200  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, which protects a peripheral rim  140  of electronic device  101 . Cover  200  is compatible with dongle  150  and is configured to limit the movement or substantially immobilize dongle  150  with respect to electronic device  101 , and particular the ports of electronic device  101 . 
         [0026]    Cover  200  may be rigid or firm, semi-rigid, or flexible. In configurations where cover  200  is rigid or semi-rigid, cover  200  “snaps” over rim  140  to engage electronic device  101 . In configurations where cover  200  is made of a flexible, compliant, or stretchable material, e.g., rubberized material, cover  200  stretches or expands slightly for installation on electronic device  101 , and form fits to electronic device  101  when installed. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a cover  210  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Cover  210  is similar to cover  200 , however cover  210  is made of a flexible material, and dongle  150 , or a dongle similar to dongle  150 , is captured by cover  210 ; i.e., dongle  150  is integral with cover  210 . Typically, the end of cover  210  that includes dongle  150  would be installed before stretching a flexible rim or periphery  212  of cover  210  about a perimeter or rim  140  of electronic device  101 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , which eliminates some details for clarity, a portion of electronic device  101  and device cover  210  are shown, with dongle  150  installed. Dongle  150  is constrained at a first location  154  by contact with first electrical port  112  and at a second location  156  by contact of flange  108  with cover  210 . Further, frictional engagement or contact of side surfaces  107  with device cover  210 , i.e., further constrains dongle  150 , thus reducing or preventing angular movement between dongle  150  and first electrical port  112 , which reduces stress on first electrical port  112 . By reducing stress on first electrical port  112 , first electrical port  112  achieves greater reliability. Of course, if dongle  150  should fail, it may be easily removed and replaced, restoring the functionality of electronic device  101  rapidly, providing improved user satisfaction and increasing the desirability of electronic device  101 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows an electronic device, which may be a cell phone  301 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and differing from electronic device or cell phone  101  in that cell phone  301  has incorporated the removable null dongle concept in its factory design; i.e., its original design, as received by the end user out of the box. Cell phone  301  includes a dongle  305  that is similar to dongle  150 , and may be identical to dongle  150 . In another exemplary embodiment, cell phone  301  may include a dongle  310  that includes a greater length than dongle  305 , thus positioning an opening of second connector  312  a spaced distance from an exterior surface  302  of cell phone  301 . The benefit of the configuration of dongle  310  is that permits the user to adapt a new external case (not shown) to cell phone  301  while interlocking with dongle  310 . 
         [0030]    A significant advantage to the dongle configuration is that a user or a manufacturer can include a dongle as part of a cover kit, which decreases design complexity for highly robust electronic device covers having relatively thick walls. In existing configurations, an electrical or optical port can become distanced from an exterior surface of a cover that the port is difficult to access, leading to connection challenges, and potentially requiring pulling on a wire to disconnect a cable, which weakens the cable. The dongle of the present disclosure solves these problems by keeping exterior ports near a surface where they can be easily accessed. 
         [0031]    Certain features have been omitted from the figures for clarity and simplicity of explanation. For example, screws, snap springs, pins, or tangs may be used to secure various elements to each other for added rigidity or environmental isolation. 
         [0032]    While not shown, the dongles of the present disclosure are adaptable to other cover configurations. For example, a cover may be incorporated on an electrical device through a dipping or an insert molding process, where a cover is formed about an external case of the electronic device, though the case itself may also be produced by such a process. Further, a cover may be formed directly on an electronic device by a printing process, such as via a 3D printer. Because of the adaptability of the dongle configuration, such configurations would either be compatible with cover variations, or could be configured to be compatible with a cover variation, as one of skill could readily acquire upon reading of this specification and review of the drawings. 
         [0033]    The dongles and covers of the present disclosure are thus extremely versatile to be compatible with a large range prior art devices, In an embodiment, the invention can be made as a low cost kit, providing modest protection. In another embodiment, a kit may be provided with such features as a powered case that illuminates in the dark, provides signal tracking and a beacon, port replicators (with null dongles), and a UV, dirt, and moisture protective film for the display portions of the device. Other embodiments of the invention include a continuum of intermediate embodiments, along a cost axis.