Automated contact cleaning system for docking stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9606581-B1
Application number	US-201514851062-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2015
Priority date	Sep 11, 2015
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A docking station for mobile electronic devices with an automated cleaning feature is provided. The docking station includes a receiver for receiving an electronic device, a base, a piston, a nozzle, and electrical contacts for connecting to the electronic device. The piston has a plunger and an air chamber. The receiver is mounted to the plunger, such that pushing the receiver in a downward direction forces the plunger to compress air in the air chamber. The nozzle is mounted on the air chamber. Air passes through the nozzle when the air in air chamber is compressed. The electrical contacts are positioned directly under the receiver. The nozzle is directed towards the electrical contacts, whereby air is directed over the electrical contacts when the receiver is pushed in a downward direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automated contact cleaning device on a docking station for electronic devices, comprising:
a receiver for receiving an electronic device;
a base;
a piston; the piston having a plunger and an air chamber, the piston being mounted to the base;
the receiver being mounted on an exterior top portion of the piston plunger, such that pushing the receiver in a downward direction forces the plunger to compress air in the air chamber;
at least one nozzle; the nozzle having a nozzle body and a spray tip, the nozzle being mounted in proximity to the a bottom portion of the air chamber and extending into the air chamber;
electrical contacts on the base for connecting to the electronic device, the electrical contacts being positioned directly under the receiver, such that a port on the electronic device will contact the electrical contacts when the receiver is pushed in the downward direction; and
the spray tip of the nozzle being directed towards the electrical contacts, whereby the spray tip directs air over the electrical contacts when the receiver is pushed in a downward direction.

2. The automated contact cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the base is comprised of a flat portion and an inclined portion; the nozzle being positioned over the elevated portion of the incline portion, and the electrical contacts being located at a lower elevation than the nozzle on the incline portion.

3. The automated contact cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is comprised of an arm portion and a bracket portion; the arm portion being connected to the top portion of the plunger; the bracket portion being sized to receive the electronic device; the bracket portion further having top end and a lower end; the arm portion is located on the top end of the bracket; the lower end being provided with an opening directly over the electrical contacts, whereby the port of the mobile electronic device is positioned over the opening in the lower end of the bracket when the electronic device is received in the receiver.

4. The automated contact cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is comprised of an array of nozzles.

5. The automated contact cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is an air jet nozzle.

6. A docking station for mobile electronic devices, comprising:
a receiver for receiving a mobile electronic device;
a base;
a piston; the piston having a plunger and a gas chamber the piston being mounted to the base;
the receiver being mounted on an exterior top portion of the piston plunger, such that pushing the receiver in a downward direction forces the plunger to compress gas in the gas chamber;
at least one gas jet nozzle, the gas jet nozzle having a nozzle body and a spray tip, the gas jet nozzle being mounted on a bottom portion of the air chamber and extending into the air chamber;
electrical contacts on the base for connecting to the mobile electronic device, the electrical contacts being positioned directly under the receiver, such that a port on the mobile electronic device will contact the electrical contacts when the receiver is pushed in the downward direction; and
the spray tip of the gas jet nozzle being directed towards the electrical contacts, whereby the spray tip directs gas over the electrical contacts when the receiver is pushed in a downward direction.

7. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the base is comprised of a flat portion and an inclined portion; the gas jet nozzle being positioned over the elevated portion of the incline portion, and the electrical contacts being located in proximity to the lower elevation portion of the incline portion.

8. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the receiver is comprised of an arm portion and a bracket portion; the arm portion being connected to the top portion of the plunger; the bracket portion being sized to receive the mobile electronic device; the bracket portion further having a top end and a lower end; the arm portion is located on the top end of the bracket; the lower end being provided with an opening directly over the electrical contacts, whereby the port of the mobile electronic device is positioned over the opening in the lower end of the bracket when the mobile electronic device is received in the receiver.

9. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the electrical contacts provide means to charge the electronic device.

10. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the docking station provides communicative links to electronic storage, processing, and electronic display to the electronic device received in the docking station via the electrical contacts.

11. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the gas nozzle is comprised of an array of nozzles.

12. The docking station of claim 8 , further comprising: a frame, the frame having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the frame being connected to the base, the upper end of the frame being open for insertion of the electronic device into the receiver, the frame at least partially enclosing the docking station; the frame being further provided with a slot parallel to the electrical contacts and at the lower elevation portion of the incline portion of the base.

13. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the gas is selected from air and nitrogen.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Howe Mark
• Starr John
• Morris Paul R
• Hulett Paul W

Classifications

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• B08B5/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• B08B5/00

  Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow (cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00) · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• H04M1/04 Primary

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title