Universal modular docking platform for portable device

Abstract

An improved mounting platform (300) holds a variety of electronic devices (500, 510, 515) of differing sizes and shapes. A customized saddle assembly (310), designed for a particular electronic device, is affixed to the base (305) of the platform. The device is then inserted into the saddle and held securely in place by the top surface (905) of a cam assembly (315). Buttons (325, 326) and shuttle (925) control the raising and lowering of the cam. When the platform is in use, a spring (910) urges the cam against the back of the device being held. The device is released from the platform by squeezing the buttons together, causing the cam to move away from the device, and sliding the device out of the saddle. In an alternative embodiment, a pressure pad (1600) is used in place of the cam. A variety of electronic connections (335-375) and other accessories such as a loudspeaker (376) and a magnetic-stripe card reader (330) can be included in the platform in order to provide useful interfaces to the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent is based on an application that claims priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/631,006, filed Nov. 24, 2004.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to mounting or docking platforms, in particular those used to contain and interact with portable devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, and other hand-held devices.

BACKGROUND—NEED FOR PORTABLE-DOCKING PLATFORMS

Hand-held portable devices are used in a variety of circumstances—at a desk, in one's hand, and in moving vehicles, for example. When used by the driver of a moving vehicle, it is both convenient and much safer for the device to be rigidly mounted on the vehicle's dashboard or console, rather than held in the user's hand. Portable-device docking platforms also provide connections to external power sources and various accessories such as printers and wireless modems. These platforms may also include on-board audio amplifiers, speakers, magnetic card readers, bar-code scanners, and the like, that are not normally part of the device.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART—CELLULAR TELEPHONE CONNECTION DEVICE

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,274 (1996), Braitberg et al. teach a holder and connecting host device for use with cellular telephones. Base assemblies of various designs hold removable pocket adapters of various designs. Each pocket adapter is designed to hold a particular cellular telephone. The pocket adapter is held in place on the base assembly by a clip which mates with a latching assembly. The cellular telephone is held in the pocket adapter by a phone retainer latch 286 which secures the telephone in place in the adapter. Various electrical connections are facilitated between the cellular telephone, the base assembly, and the pocket adapter. Braitberg's holder and pocket adapters are designed for cellular telephone use only, and each separate pocket adapter must contain a custom phone retainer latch for each phone accommodated.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART—FIGS. 1 AND 2

PDAs and other hand-held electronic devices are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes. Because of this, prior-art mounting platforms designed to hold one device were unsuitable for use with another device of a different size or shape. However some prior-art mounting platforms were able to hold devices comprising a range of sizes. However, these platforms suffered from various deficiencies, such as not securely gripping the device in the platform, not being custom-fit to the device, and being awkward to use. These deficiencies are especially important when the platform is mounted in a moving vehicle. Previous attempts at overcoming these deficiencies resulted in a large number of platform designs, each of which would rapidly become obsolete.

For example, in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,956 (1999), I teach a mounting platform for holding (docking) and interacting with various electronic devices, such as PDAs of the kind sold by Palm Computing of Mountain View, Calif., USA, and others. The platform secures the device to a convenient location in a vehicle, for example. The location can be the vehicle's windshield, dashboard, cigarette lighter socket, and the like.

The user interacts with the PDA by pressing the tip of a hand-held stylus against a touch screen at various predetermined locations. In the past, such devices normally required two hands to operate. Prior to my invention, one hand was required to hold the device, while the other hand manipulated the stylus. When my mounting platform is used to hold the device, the PDA can be operated by a single hand. This is especially useful when the device is to be used in a moving vehicle, for example.

A front view of the platform of my '956 patent in use is shown in FIG. 1. A PDA 2 with screen 4 and buttons 3 is secured in platform 6 by fixed tabs 10 and movable tabs 12. The bottom edge of PDA 2 is first inserted behind fixed tabs 10. PDA 2 is then rotated toward platform 6 about an axis lying between tabs 10 and containing the bottom edge of PDA 2. The top edge of PDA 2 engages the lower surface of movable tabs 12, springably urging tabs 12 upward. When PDA 2 is fully seated in platform 6, tabs 12 move downward thus clamping PDA 2 in place in platform 6.

To remove PDA 2 from platform 6, the user pushes button 13, which lifts movable tabs 12 upward. This frees PDA 2 to rotate about an axis between fixed tabs 10 in a direction away from platform 6. PDA 2 is then lifted in a direction away from platform 6.

FIG. 2 shows platform 6 without PDA 2. Spring 14 extends outward from a front mounting surface 8 in order to force PDA 2 (FIG. 1) into firm contact with tabs 10 and 12.

While this platform provides convenient and secure mounting for PDA 2, it can accommodate only PDA models with near-identical dimensions. PDAs which are thicker or thinner, or wider or narrower, require individually tailored platforms. This limits application of this platform to specific PDA models for which it is intended. Many PDAs of different sizes and shapes are produced by a number of manufacturers and their sizes and shapes are continually changing. Thus the present platform may not accommodate all models, including future models.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR-ART

A variety of mounting platforms, also called docks or cradles, are available from distributors such as Seidio, Inc. of Houston, Tex. USA, Arkon Resources, Inc. of Arcadia, CA, USA, National Products Inc., of Seattle, Wash., USA, Brodit AG, of Karlsborg, Sweden, Gomadic Corporation, of Herndon, Va., USA, and others.

These platforms suffer from one or more deficiencies, such as being designed to securely hold only a limited number of otherwise hand-held devices, being awkward to use, or failing to securely hold the device.

SUMMARY

An improved platform according to one aspect of my invention includes a base, a detachable saddle, a lever, buttons, and a movable restraining member so that when an electronic device is inserted into the saddle, the restraining member is activated by the lever, thereby securing the device to the base. Squeezing the buttons releases the device, allowing it to be removed from the base.

ADVANTAGES

The present invention may have one or more of the following advantages. In one aspect, one advantage is to provide a mounting platform that improves the ease of access to and use of an electronic device, especially one that facilitates single-handed use of the device. Another advantage of one or more aspects is to reduce the problem of obsolescence by providing a standardized base platform with a replaceable custom saddle that accommodates a variety of individual hand held devices comprising various sizes and shapes. These can include, but are not limited to, PDAs, cell phones, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and the like. A further advantage of one or more aspects is to provide a clamping feature that is easily operated by one hand, thus reducing the amount of effort required to insert and remove a device from the mounting platform.

These mounting platforms may be held in a user's hand, attached in vehicles, or otherwise used for holding a PDA for viewing or for interacting with the PDA without the need to hold the PDA in the users hand. Common use of the platform is in the practice of law enforcement, transportation, field service and sales, as well as consumer use for GPS voice navigation, hands-free speakerphone interaction, amplified electronic audio file output, and other uses.

Other advantages and features of various aspects of the present invention will become apparent by a review of the specification, claims, and appended figures.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a prior-art mounting platform holding a PDA.

FIG. 2 shows the platform of FIG. 1 without a PDA.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting platform of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the platform of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5A-5C show various electronic devices mounted in the platform of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a base and saddle of the mounting platform.

FIG. 7 shows an assembled view of the base and saddle of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows details of the mating electrical connectors in the saddle of the preferred embodiment and a typical hand-held electronic device.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the locking and release mechanism of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a top assembly view of the mechanism of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a bottom assembly view of the mechanism of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 12-14 are sequential views showing capture and release of an electronic device with the mechanism of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 3 of the platform holding and locking an electronic device.

FIG. 16 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the mounting platform showing the saddle in place.

FIG. 17 is the view of FIG. 16 with the saddle removed.

FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of the locking and release mechanism of the alternative embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a top assembly view of the mechanism of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 shows a bottom assembly view of the mechanism of FIG. 18.

FIGS. 21-23 are sequential views showing capture and release of an electronic device with the mechanism of FIG. 18.

DRAWING FIGURE REFERENCE NUMERALS
2	PDA	3	Buttons
4	Screen	6	Prior-art platform
8	Prior-art mounting surface	10	Prior-art tabs
12	Prior-art tabs	13	Prior-art button
14	Prior-art spring	300	Platform
305	Base	310	Saddle
311	Opening	312	Opening
315	Cam	320	Lever
325	Button	326	Button
330	Magnetic card reader	335	Jack
340	Connector	345	Connector
350	Light	355	Jack
360	Switch	365	Jack
370	Jack	375	Speaker
376	Grill	380	Volume control
500, 505, 510	Device	515	Key
520	Screen	600	Tab
601	Tab	605	Hook
606	Hook	610	Hook
611	Hook	615	Tab
616	Tab	620	Arrow
625	Connector	630	Surface
635	Surface	638	Surface
640	Tab	645	Vertical surface
650	Vertical surface	800	Connector
805	Arrow	900	Pivot
901	Pivot	905	Wedge surface
910	Spring	915	Surface
920	Surface	921	Pin
922	Pin	925	Shuttle
926	Gap	930	Ramp
935	Ramp	940	Ramp
945	Synchronizing link	946	Axis
950	Pin	951	Ramp
955	Pin	960	Slotted hole
965	Slotted hole	970	Spring
975	Stop	976	Pin
977	Pin	980	Stop
981	Post	982	Post
983	Post	984	Post
985	Edge	990	Edge
992	Surface	994	Surface
1200	Top of base	1205	Datum, Bottom
			of base
1600	Pressure pad	1800	Shuttle
1805	Spring	1810	Surface
1820	Arm	1822	Surface
1824	Surface	1825	Arm
1830	Ramp	1835	Ramp
1840	Pin	1845	Pin
2100	Surface

DESCRIPTION

Preferred Embodiment—FIGS. 3 to 5

FIGS. 3 and 4 show top and bottom views, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of a mounting platform 300 of the present invention. The mounting platform comprises a custom, replaceable saddle assembly 310, and a universal base 305 having a movable restraining member in the form of cam 315, a cam trigger lever 320, and release buttons 325 and 326 (FIG. 4). Base 305 is designed to accommodate a variety of configurations of saddle 310, as described below. A number of optional handheld device (PDA) interface features are associated with platform 300. These include a magnetic card reader 330, a PDA battery charging, voltage-converter circuit (not shown), a PDA audio output amplifier circuit (not shown), power input jack 335, a serial port connector 340, a universal serial bus (USB) connector 345, a power indicator light 350, a power output jack 355, a switch 360, a microphone jack 365, an audio input jack 370, a speaker 375, and a volume control 380. A grill 376 (FIG. 4) permits sound from speaker 375 to emanate from platform 300. These features can be located at other positions and in other orientations on base 305, if desired.

Platform 300 is preferably about 14 cm long, 6 cm wide, 4 cm high at its proximal (left) end) and 2 cm high at its distal (right) end, as shown in FIG. 3. Platform 300, base 305, saddle assembly 310, cam 315, cam trigger lever 320, and release buttons 325 and 326 are all made of a strong, engineering-grade plastic material, such as ABS or acetal, manufactured by E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company, of Wilmington, Del., USA, and others.

As shown in FIG. 5A, saddle 310A holds the sides and bottom of an electronic device 500 mounted on platform 300. Saddle 310 is available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (310A in FIG. 5A, 310B in FIG. 5B, and 310C in FIG. 5C), each of which designed to fit a particular respective electronic device (500, 505, 510), to be held by platform 300. In general, saddles 310A, 310B, and 310C have a U-shape with parallel legs and a base or bight portion. The lower side of saddle 310A (FIG. 5A) has a concave round shape so as to mate with device 520A, which has a rounded bottom. Saddle 310B (FIG. 5B) has narrow sides to permit access to all of keys 515B of device 520B. Saddle 310C (FIG. 5C) has a square bottom to mate with device 520C, which also has a square bottom.

An opening 311 on the rear or bottom side of saddle 310 (FIG. 3) allows a cam 315 to project above the inner surface of saddle 310. Opening 311 is preferably about 2.5 cm wide and 2.5 cm high.

A second opening 312 on the front side of saddle 310 permits access to all components, view screens (520A, 520B, 520C), and other buttons, keys, and the like (515A, 515B, 515C), on the front side of the device (312A, 312B, 312C, in FIG. 5) being held in platform 300. Saddles 310A, 310B, and 310C are sized and shaped to provide a snug, sliding fit for their intended devices 500, 505, 510, respectively.

Custom, Replaceable Saddle—FIGS. 6 to 8

FIG. 6 shows saddle 310 for holding a device 500, 505, or 510 (FIG. 5), separated from base 305. FIG. 7 shows another view of base 305. A single base 305 is suitable for use with a plurality of saddles 310 of the same or different sizes and shapes. Although saddles 310 have different sizes and shapes to accommodate the various devices, they all are arranged to mount on base 305. Surfaces 630 and 635 restrain device 500 when it is pushed from behind by cam 315 (FIG. 3). Surfaces 630 and 635 preferably are made of a material that has a high coefficient of friction to restrain the top surface of device 500. Saddles 310 have mounting tabs 600 and 601, and hooks 605 and 606 located symmetrically on the other side of opening 311. Base 305 has hooks 610 and 611 (FIG. 7), and tabs 615 and 616.

When it is desired to join a saddle 310 to base 305, saddle 310 is first moved into position above base 305. Saddle 310 is then lowered toward base 305 and tabs 600 and 601, and hooks 605 and 606 (not visible in this view) are inserted into their respective hooks 610 and 611, and tabs 615 and 616. Hooks 605 and 606 are relieved in such a way that their undersides (not shown) slide beneath tabs 615 and 616 on base 305 as saddle 310 is urged, in the direction shown by arrow 620, into firm contact with base 305. Once saddle 310 is slid to its extreme position on base 305, flexible locking tab 640 (FIG. 6) rotates up and vertical surface 645 of tab 640 rests against vertical surface 650 of saddle 310, blocking saddle 310 from sliding off base 305. Saddle 310 is thus securely installed onto base 305.

Saddle 310 contains an electrical connector 625 (FIG. 6) which connects to a flexible printed-circuit ribbon conductor assembly 630 (FIG. 7) in base 305. The other end of connector 625 connects to an electrical connector 800 (FIG. 8) generally available at the bottom of the device (500, 505, 510, FIG. 5) to be held by saddle 310. Thus all pertinent electrical connections available at the connector of device 500, 505, 510, etc. are routed into base 305 for further use.

FIG. 8 shows connector 625 as it is seen from the device side of saddle 310, and a connector 800 at the bottom of a generic electronic device. Connectors 625 and 800 are electrically and mechanically joined when device 500 (or 505 or 510) is fully inserted into saddle 310, as indicated by arrow 805.

Cam, Shuttle, and Release Button Assembly—FIGS. 9 to 11

FIGS. 9 to 11 show the components of the mechanism that urges cam 315 to move. FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of a shuttle 925, a synchronizing link 945, release buttons 325 and 326, and cam 315. Shuttle 925 and link 945 are preferably made of the same material as release buttons 325 and 326. Cam 315 comprises a wedge surface 905, two symmetrically disposed pivots 900 and 901 (FIG. 11), two bearing surfaces 915 and 920, and two bearing pins 921 and 922, discussed below. Cam 315 rotates about an axis through pivots 900 and 901. Cam 315 is springably urged to rotate clockwise in this view by a spring 910. The bottom end of spring 910 compressibly rests against a rigid datum or base 1205 (FIGS. 12-14) on the interior of the bottom of base 305. Two bearing surfaces 915 and 920 are formed on the sides of cam 315. Surfaces 915 and 920 bear against the inside of top 1200 (FIGS. 12-14) of base 305 when cam 315 is free to rotate, thus preventing rotational over travel of cam 315. Wedge surface 905 is arranged to have a high coefficient of friction to the bottom surface 2100 of device 500 and has a side profile including radii R1 and R2 from the axis defined by the centerline of pins 900 and 901. In this case, R2 is greater than R1. Forced contact between wedge surface 905 and bottom surface 2100 of device 500 (FIGS. 12-14) which has been inserted into platform 300 implements capture of device 500, as explained below.

Cam trigger lever 320 is part of shuttle 925. Shuttle 925 includes two frontal ramps 930 and 935, two flat surfaces 992 and 994 which lie parallel to the direction travel of shuttle 925, and two rear ramps 940 and 951 (FIG. 10).

Release buttons 325 and 326 are constrained to move along an axis that lies parallel to their long dimensions. A synchronizing link 945 is constrained to rotate about an axle (not shown) located on an axis 946 (FIG. 11) positioned halfway between the outer edges of buttons 325 and 326. Pins 950 and 955 on synchronizing link 945 are normally positioned in slotted holes 960 and 965 of buttons 325 and 326, respectively. Axis 946 is located at the common center line of cam 315 and shuttle 925. The purpose of synchronizing link 945 is to facilitate the synchronized movement of release buttons 325 and 326. A spring 970 springably urges buttons 325 and 326 away from each other. Spring 970 slides over and is held in place by posts 981 (shown with dashed lines) and 982 on buttons 325 and 326, respectively. An optional extra spring (not shown) can be mounted on posts 983 and 984 (FIG. 11) of buttons 325 and 326, respectively, if desired. Normally, spring 970 provides adequate force to return buttons 325 and 326 to their resting positions, as restrained by the inner wall of base 305 through which they extend (FIGS. 3 and 4), and stops 975 and 980. Stops 975 and 980 prevent over-travel of buttons 325 and 326. Buttons 325 and 326 further include bearing pins 976 and 977, discussed below in connection with FIG. 10. When buttons 325 and 326 are urged in a direction toward one-another, their travel is limited by contact between stops 975 and 980 and edges 985 and 990 of shuttle 925.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the components of FIG. 9 in their proper positional relationship when cam 315 is in its “released” position, i.e. urged to its maximum rotational position by spring 910.

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the components of FIGS. 9 and 10 when cam 315 is in its “released” position.

OPERATION

Preferred Embodiment—FIGS. 10 and 12 to 15

Cam, Shuttle, and Release Button Assembly

FIG. 10 shows cam 315 in its full-clockwise, raised position. Shuttle 925 and therefore cam trigger lever 320 are at their left-most position in this figure, i.e., farthest from cam 315. In this position, ramps 940 and 951 are resting against pins 976 and 977. In the absence of downward forcing by shuttle 925, spring 910 urges cam 315 to remain in its uppermost possible position. In the absence of an inserted device, bearing surfaces 915 and 920 rest against the inside top of base 305, preventing further rotation of cam 315.

To prepare platform 300 for a first insertion of a device 500, or to release an already-held-in-place device 500, the user squeezes buttons 325 and 326 together, causing pins 976 and 977 to slide along ramps 940 and 951, forcing shuttle 925 in the direction of cam 315. As shuttle 925 moves toward cam 315, ramps 930 and 935 move slidably on pins 921 and 922, respectively, forcing cam 325 to rotate counter-clockwise (CCW) against the force exerted by spring 910. When buttons 325 and 326 reach their closest point, cam 315 has been rotated to its most CCW, lowest profile position, fully lowering wedge surface 905. In the position shown in FIG. 12, radius RI is directly below lower surface of device 500, creating a clearance gap 926 between wedge surface 905 and device 500.

FIGS. 12 through 14 show the operation of the cam, ramp, and release assembly during insertion and removal of a device 500. Saddle 310 (FIG. 6) and various other components have been removed from these three figures for clarity.

Prior to insertion of device 500, release buttons 325 (not shown in this view) and 326 have been depressed or squeezed together to their closest position. To insert device 500 (FIG. 12) it is slid from left to right along the inner surface 638 of saddle 310. As described above, shuttle 925 has forced cam 315 to its lowest profile position with the surface of cam 315 lying beneath the inner surface 638 of saddle 310. Cam 315 is rotationally held in place by pins 921 and 922 landing on flat surfaces 992 and 994. Once released from being squeezed, release buttons 325 and 326 are then urged back to their outermost positions by spring 970. Pins 921 and 922 rest on 992 and 994 respectively, causing cam 315 to remain in its cocked position.

As device 500 is inserted further (FIG. 13) and in contact with inside surfaces 630 and 635 of saddle 310, its right-hand end urges lever 320 to move to the right, away from cam 315 and urges pins 921 and 922 away from flat surfaces 992 and 994 and onto ramps 930 and 935. This permits cam 315 to rotate CCW, urged by spring 910, thus raising wedge surface 905 toward device 500. As cam 315 is urged to rotate CCW, pins 921 and 922 induce a force on ramps 930 and 935, thus urging lever 320 of shuttle 925 to its left-most position and away from contact with device 500.

FIG. 14 shows device 500 fully inserted. Cam 315 is at its highest position above the inner surface 638 of saddle 310 and wedge surface 905 is in firm contact with the back side of device 500, urged by spring 910. Device 500 is restrained from moving in a direction normal to the top surface of platform 300 by inside surfaces 630 and 635 of saddle 310. Since wedge surface 905 has a high coefficient of friction, any force introduced to move device 500 to the left will cause cam 315 to rotate CCW. Since the profile of wedge surface 905 has an increasing radius as it rotates CCW, the normal forces between surface 630 and 635 and wedge surface 905 and device 500 upper and lower surfaces are increased. In this way, device 500 is securely captured in platform 300.

Device 500 is removed by squeezing buttons 325 and 326 together, reversing the process discussed above in connection with FIGS. 12 through 14.

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of device 500 installed in platform 300 having a saddle 310 and a base 305. Device 500 is securely held in place by inside surfaces 630 and 635 of saddle 310 and surface 905 of cam 315.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

Alternative Embodiment—FIGS. 16-23

Instead of a radiused, rotating cam (315 in FIG. 9), FIGS. 16 and 17 use a movable restraining member comprising a flat pressure pad 1600 to hold an electronic device (not shown) in base 305′ and saddle 310 of platform 300′. As in the preferred embodiment, saddle 310 is designed to accommodate a particular electronic device, such as a PDA (not shown). Saddle 310 is secured in base 305′ using vertical surfaces 645 and 650, as described above. Pad 1600 moves to positions slightly above and below the upper surface of base 305′ in order to hold and release an electronic device, as explained below.

FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of a shuttle 1800, release buttons 325 and 326, and pressure pad assembly 1600. The mechanism incorporating buttons 325 and 326, lever 320, and their operational relationship to shuttle 1800 are the same as described above in connection with the preferred embodiment.

Pad 1600 is springably urged upward by a spring 1805. The upper surface of pad 1600 comprises a surface 1810 that presents a high coefficient of friction to the back side of an electronic device 500 (not shown in this view).

FIG. 19 shows the elements of FIG. 18 in their assembled condition. Spring 1805 bears against a datum comprising the inner surface of the bottom of base 305′ at one end, and pad 1600 at the other end. Shuttle 1800 includes a pair of arms 1820 and 1825 which terminate in ramps 1830 and 1835 (FIG. 18), respectively and two flat surfaces 1822 and 1824 which lie parallel to the direction travel of shuttle 1800. Squeezing buttons 325 and 326 together forces ramps 1830 and 1835 to push against pins 1840 and 1845, respectively. As shown, this causes pad 1600 to be lowered, compressing spring 1805.

FIGS. 21-23 show insertion of an electronic device into saddle 310. Other components have been removed from this figure for clarity. In FIG. 21, buttons 325 and 326 have previously been squeezed together, releasing device 500. Now, device 500 is to be inserted into saddle 310 and base 300.

In FIG. 21, device 500 is first inserted into saddle 310. It has not yet contacted lever 320. Pad 1600 is at its lowest position beneath the inner surface 638 of saddle 310, creating a clearance gap 926′ between pad 1600 and device 500. Pad 1600 is held in position by pins 1840 and 1845 resting on surfaces 1822 and 1824 of arm 1825 of shuttle 1800. As in the first embodiment, the bottom end of spring 1805 rests on datum 1205.

In FIG. 22, device 500 has contacted lever 320 and moved it an intermediate distance to the right. Pin 1840 has begun to ride up the surface of ramp 1835. Under the urging of spring 1805, pad assembly 1600 has moved an intermediate distance toward the back surface 2100 of device 500.

In FIG. 23, device 500 is fully installed in platform 300′. Pad 1600 rises above inner surface 638 of saddle 310 and presses against back side 2100 of device 500. Surfaces 630 and 635 of saddle 310 contstrain device 500 in a direction normal to the top surface of platform 300. Top surface 1810 of pad 1600 presents a high coefficient of friction to back side 2100 of device 500, thereby holding it securely in place in platform 300.

The above steps are reversed to remove device 500 from platform 300.

SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus it is seen that I have provided an improved universal docking platform for a portable device. A plurality of saddles, each uniquely adapted to the requirements of a particular device, are arranged to mount onto the same platform base with a common clamping means. Instead of a unique platform for each device, only the saddle is changed. In view of the constantly changing sizes and shapes of electronic devices, this results in considerable savings in design, tooling, and manufacturing costs, as well as reducing time to market.

While the above description contains many specificities, it will be apparent that the inventive system is not limited to these and can be practiced with the use of additional hardware and combinations of the various components described. For example, the platform is not limited to electronic devices but can be used to securely hold any portable device or article that can be accommodated by a custom saddle. The platform can be mounted on a surface or hand-held. Instead of or in addition to a magnetic card reader, an optical card reader, a bar-code reader, and the like can be included. Other features, such as an RFID (radio-frequency identification) circuit, a video camera, a disk drive, an extended power source battery, and an audio recorder can be included. Instead of providing two buttons for releasing the movable restraining element, a single button can be used. Instead of a coil spring, a leaf spring, torsion spring, extension spring, or another energy-storing member can be used. The materials, sizes, and shapes of the components can be varied from those shown and described.

Accordingly the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the examples given. Also, while the present system employs elements that are well known to those skilled in the art of mechanical engineering and hardware design, it combines these elements in a novel way, which produces a new result not heretofore discovered.

Claims

1. A platform for holding a portable device, comprising:

a base with a movable restraining member,

a saddle mountable on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,

said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,

a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions, and

a plurality of buttons, which when squeezed together, urge said lever and said restraining member from their said second positions to their said first positions,

whereby when said saddle is mounted on said base and said electronic device is inserted into said saddle, said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position, in turn urging said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device, when inserted into said saddle, between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and when said buttons are squeezed together, said lever and said restraining members return to their respective said first positions, thereby releasing said device.

2. The platform of claim 1 wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.

3. The platform of claim 1 wherein the surface of said restraining member is overlaid with a high-coefficient-of-friction material.

4. The platform of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of said saddle is coated with a high-coefficient-of-friction material.

5. The platform of claim 1 wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.

6. The platform of claim 1, further including a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls mounted within said platform.

7. The platform of claim 6, further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.

8. The platform of claim 6, further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.

9. The platform of claim 1 wherein said saddle is generally U-shaped and comprises a base or bight portion and a pair of generally parallel legs.

10. The platform of claim 9 wherein the opening between said legs is smaller on the bottom side than on the top side.

11. The platform of claim 1 wherein said saddle is secured to said platform by fasteners selected from the group consisting of hooks and tabs.

12. A method for holding an electronic device, comprising:

providing a platform having a base with a movable restraining member,

providing a saddle mounted on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,

said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,

providing a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions,

providing a plurality of buttons, which when squeezed together, urge said lever and said restraining member from their said second positions to their said first positions,

inserting said device into said saddle so that said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position so as to urge said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and

squeezing said buttons together, thereby causing said lever and said restraining members to return to their respective first positions, thereby releasing said device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said platform further includes a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls.

16. The platform of claim 15, further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.

17. The platform of claim 15, further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.

18. A platform for holding an electronic device, comprising:

a base with a movable restraining member,

a saddle mountable on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,

said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,

a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions,

means for urging said lever and said restraining member from their said second to their said first positions,

whereby when said saddle is mounted on said base and said electronic device is inserted into said saddle, said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position so as to urge said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and when said buttons are squeezed together, said lever and said restraining members return to their respective said first positions thereby releasing said device.

19. The platform of claim 18 wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.

21. The platform of claim 18, further including a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls.

22. The platform of claim 21, further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.

23. The platform of claim 21, further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.