Docking sleeve with electrical adapter
A protective arrangement for an electronic device includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. A docking cradle or external adapter can receive the electronic device and cover.
1. An arrangement, comprising:
an adapter coupleable to a portable electronic device for mating with an external connector, the adapter comprising a contactor and a male positioning interface, the contactor comprising a contactor surface and a plurality of contacts exposed and arranged on the contactor surface and electrically coupleable to the portable electronic device, the male positioning interface defining a rim surrounding, and in contact with, a perimeter of the contactor surface of the contactor of the adapter to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to the external connector; and
a hard shell configured to receive the portable electronic device and adapter, wherein the hard shell is configured so that the adapter extends out of the hard shell for mating with the external connector;
wherein the adapter is detachable from the hard shell by a user.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the adapter further comprises a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors configured for mating with a female socket of the portable electronic device to electrically couple the connectors to the portable electronic device, wherein the connectors are electrically coupled to the contacts of the contactor.
3. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the hard shell defines an opening through which the adapter protrudes when received by the hard shell.
4. The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible cover configured to receive the portable electronic device and extend around four side faces of the portable electronic device and extend around a peripheral edge of both front and back faces of the portable electronic device, wherein the adapter forms part of the flexible cover.
5. The arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the hard shell is configured to receive the electronic device received within the flexible cover.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the contacts are contact rings at least partially flush with the contact surface.
7. A docking system, comprising:
the arrangement of claim 1 ; and
a docking cradle comprising a tray configured to receive the arrangement and a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor.
8. The docking system of claim 7 , wherein the docking cradle further comprises a female base receiver configured to mate with the male positioning interface of the arrangement.
9. The docking system of claim 7 , wherein the male positioning interface comprises a first magnetic coupling element and the docking cradle comprises a second magnetic coupling element, wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material and the second magnetic coupling element comprises a different one of the magnetic material or the magnetically attractive material.
10. An arrangement, comprising:
an adapter coupleable to a portable electronic device for mating with an external connector, the adapter comprising a contactor and a male positioning interface, the contactor comprising a contactor surface and a plurality of contacts exposed at the contactor surface and electrically coupleable to the portable electronic device, the male positioning interface defining a rim to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to the external connector; and
a hard shell configured to receive the portable electronic device and adapter, wherein the hard shell defines an opening through which the adapter protrudes when received by the hard shell;
wherein the adapter is detachable from the hard shell.
11. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the contactor is at least partially embedded in the male positioning interface.
12. The arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising a flexible cover configured to receive the portable electronic device and extend around four side faces of the portable electronic device and extend around a peripheral edge of both front and hack faces of the portable electronic device, wherein the adapter forms part of the flexible cover.
13. The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the hard shell is configured to receive the portable electronic device received within the flexible cover.
14. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the adapter further comprises a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors configured for mating with a female socket of the portable electronic device to electrically couple the connectors to the portable electronic device, wherein the connectors are electrically coupled to the contacts of the contactor.
15. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the contactor surface is flat and the contacts are at least partially flush with the flat contactor surface.
16. A docking system, comprising:
the arrangement of claim 10 ; and
a docking cradle comprising a tray configured to receive the arrangement and a docking connector comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect with one or more of the plurality of contacts of the contactor.
17. The docking system of claim 16 , wherein the docking cradle further comprises a female base receiver configured to mate with the male positioning interface of the arrangement.
18. The docking system of claim 16 , wherein the male positioning interface comprises a first magnetic coupling element and the docking cradle comprises a second magnetic coupling element, wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material and the second magnetic coupling element comprises a different one of the magnetic material or the magnetically attractive material.