Dock with air flow arrangement for heating/cooling an electronic device and methods of making and using

1 . A dock for an electronic device, the dock comprising:

a base configured to fit over at least a portion of a back surface of the electronic device;

a tray extending from the base for receiving one side of the electronic device, wherein the tray comprises an opening through the tray;

one or more contacts disposed in the tray and configured to electrically couple to contacts of the electronic device; and

an air flow arrangement comprising

a hose coupled, or coupleable, to the tray for air flow from the hose to pass through the opening in the tray, and

a vent adapter coupled, or coupleable, to the hose and configured for coupling to a vent of an air flow source, wherein the dock is configured for directing air flow over the one or more contacts disposed in the tray for heating or cooling of the one or more contacts disposed in the tray.

2 . The dock of claim 1 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a hose fitting coupling the hose to the vent adapter.

3 . The dock of claim 2 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of magnets disposed in the hose fitting or vent adapter or both for magnetically coupling the hose fitting to the vent adapter.

4 . The dock of claim 3 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of coupling elements made of a magnetic material and disposed in the hose fitting or vent adapter or both for magnetically coupling the hose fitting to the vent adapter.

5 . The dock of claim 1 , wherein the vent adapter comprises a shape complementary to vents of a specified vehicle or set of vehicles.

6 . The dock of claim 1 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a tie or strap for coupling the vent adapter to the vent of the air flow source.

7 . The dock of claim 1 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a dock connector for coupling the hose to the base of tray of the dock.

8 . A system comprising:

the dock of claim 1 ; and

the electronic device.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a vehicle comprising a ventilation system configured to be the air flow source.

10 . A method for cooling or heating an electronic device disposed in the dock of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing a dock and an air flow arrangement coupled to the dock;

coupling the vent adapter to a vent of an air flow source; and

operating the air flow source to direct cool air or warm air through the hose to the dock to, respectively, cool or heat the electronic device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the air flow source is a ventilation system of a vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a hose fitting coupled to the hose, the method further comprising coupling the hose to the vent adapter using the hose fitting.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of magnets disposed in the hose fitting or vent adapter or both, wherein coupling the hose to the vent adapter using the hose fitting comprises magnetically coupling the hose fitting to the vent adapter using the magnets.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the air flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of coupling elements made of a magnetic material and disposed in the hose fitting or vent adapter or both, wherein the magnetically coupling comprises magnetically coupling the hose fitting to the vent adapter using the magnets and the coupling elements.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the providing comprises coupling the air flow arrangement to the dock.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the coupling comprises attaching the vent adapter to the vent using at least one tie or strap.

17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising decoupling the hose from the vent adapter.

18 . The dock of claim 1 , wherein the dock is configured for directing air flow over the contacts of the electronic device, when received in the dock, for heating or cooling of the contacts of the electronic device.