Docking sleeve with electrical adapter
Patent No. US10778275 (titled "Docking sleeve with electrical adapter") on Apr 21, 2020. The application was issued on Sep 15, 2020.
What is this patent about?
'275 is related to the field of protective covers for portable electronic devices, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently connecting these devices to docking stations without removing the cover. The background acknowledges the widespread use of flexible covers, or 'skins,' for smartphones and tablets but identifies their limitations in providing reliable connectivity.
The underlying idea behind '275 is to integrate an electrical adapter directly into a flexible protective cover. This adapter features a male plug that connects to the device's input/output socket and a contactor with external contacts on the cover's exterior. This allows the device to be docked without removing the cover, simplifying the docking process.
The claims of '275 focus on a cover for receiving an electronic device, comprising a panel and a skirt forming an interior cavity for the device. A male plug with connectors extends into the cavity for mating with the device's female socket. Crucially, a contactor with electrical contacts is positioned on the panel's exterior surface, designed to overlay the device's back face when inserted. Electrical conductors internally connect the contactor's contacts to the male plug's connectors.
In practice, the electronic device is placed inside the flexible cover, automatically connecting the integrated male plug to the device's input/output socket. The cover, with the device inside, can then be placed on a docking station. The external contacts on the cover's contactor align and connect with the docking station's connector, establishing an electrical pathway without needing to remove the protective cover.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by embedding the adapter within the cover itself. Instead of requiring users to remove the cover for docking, '275 provides a seamless connection through the integrated adapter. The contactor's placement on the panel's exterior, specifically designed to overlay the device's back face, optimizes the connection point for docking, ensuring a stable and reliable electrical interface.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the mid-2010s when ’275 was filed, mobile computing hardware was typically implemented using integrated handheld form factors that required frequent physical connection to external power and data sources. At a time when systems commonly relied on standard consumer-grade protective shells that lacked integrated electrical pass-throughs, the integration of male-to-female adapter interfaces within flexible protective skins was a common approach to address port accessibility. During this era, hardware constraints made the alignment of internal connectors with external contact pads non-trivial, as designers had to maintain structural integrity and environmental protection while ensuring reliable electrical continuity between the device and a docking station.
Prosecution Position
Following the filing of this application, the examiner issued a non-final Office action rejecting all pending claims. The prosecution record indicates that rejections were issued under 35 U.S.C. § 112 for indefiniteness and under nonstatutory double patenting over a previously issued patent. While the examiner suggested specific claim amendments to resolve clarity issues, the provided record does not describe the final technical reasoning or the specific claim changes that led to a subsequent allowance.
Claims
This patent contains 20 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 focuses on an arrangement for receiving an electronic device, including a cover, a male plug, and a contactor. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features and configurations of the cover and contactor, and also describe a docking system incorporating the protective arrangement.
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US10778275
- Application Number
- US16854828A
- Filing Date
- Apr 21, 2020
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 2020
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents