METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGING AND MOUNTING A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
A system for mounting a mobile electronic device (MED) having a charging port includes a case to receive the MED and a docking surface to receive the case. The case has a front surface facing the MED and a mounting surface. One or more stationary alignment tabs project from the docking surface and face the mounting surface when the case is received by the docking surface. A key projects from the docking surface and has at least one pair of mating sections movable relative to each other between expanded and compressed positions during mounting. The tabs facilitate alignment of and engagement between the charging port of the MED and a charging connector during mounting. The tabs and the key are structured such that when the mounting surface of the case engages with the key and the tabs, only sliding movement of the case relative to the dock is permitted.
1 . A system for mounting a mobile electronic device having a charging port, the system comprising:
a case configured to receive the mobile electronic device, the case having a front surface configured to face the mobile electronic device, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and one or more peripheral side surfaces surrounding the front surface, the rear surface including a mounting surface;
a dock having a docking surface configured to receive the case, the docking surface comprising:
one or more stationary alignment tabs projecting from the docking surface and facing the mounting surface of the case when the case is received by the docking surface, the tabs configured to facilitate alignment of and engagement between the charging port of the mobile electronic device and a charging connector during mounting,
a key projecting from the docking surface, the key comprising at least one pair of mating sections movable relative to each other between an expanded position and a compressed position during mounting,
wherein the one or more alignment tabs and the key are structured such that, when the mounting surface of the case engages with the key and the one or more alignment tabs, only sliding movement of the case relative to the dock is permitted.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface includes one or more grooves configured to mate with corresponding protrusions of the mating sections to align the case with the dock during mounting.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the mounting surface includes one or more projections configured to mate with the corresponding one or more stationary alignment tabs to align the charging connector with the charging port during mounting and to secure the case to the dock during charging.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the mounting surface includes at least one stop surface positioned to prevent movement of the at least one pair of mating sections toward the compressed position when the one or more projections of the mounting surface are mated to the one or more stationary alignment tabs, thereby preventing disconnection of the case from the dock during charging.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the stop surface extends for a length between the at least one pair of mating sections.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the key includes one or more biasing elements, the one or more biasing elements biasing the at least one pair of mating sections away from each other in the expanded position.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one pair of mating sections move toward the compressed position when the one or more grooves are mated to the corresponding protrusions of the mating sections during mounting.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one pair of mating sections moves toward the expanded position when the one or more projections are mated to the one or more stationary alignment tab, thereby preventing disconnection of the case from the dock during charging.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one pair of mating sections remain in the expanded position as the one or more grooves are mated to the corresponding protrusions of the mating sections during mounting.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more peripheral side surfaces includes an opening to enable access by the charge connector to the charging port of the mobile electronic device.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the dock includes a base fixedly coupled to the docking surface, the base comprising a first surface facing the one or more peripheral side surfaces including the opening, the first surface defining an aperture through which the charge connector extends.
12 . A method for charging a mobile electronic device via a wired connection with a charge connector, the method comprising:
housing a mobile device having a charging port in a case configured to receive the mobile electronic device, the case having a front surface configured to face the mobile electronic device, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and one or more peripheral side surfaces surrounding the front surface, the rear surface including a mounting surface;
mounting the case to the dock, the dock having a docking surface configured to receive the case, the docking surface comprising:
one or more stationary alignment tabs projecting from the docking surface and facing the mounting surface of the case when the case is received by the docking surface, the tabs configured to facilitate alignment of and engagement between the charging port of the mobile electronic device and a charging connector during mounting,
a key projecting from the docking surface, the key comprising at least one pair of mating sections movable relative to each other between an expanded position and a compressed position during mounting, and wherein the one or more alignment tabs and the key are structured such that, when the mounting surface of the case engages with the key and the one or more alignment tabs, only sliding movement of the case relative to the dock is permitted; and
charging the mobile electronic device.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the key includes one or more biasing elements, the one or more biasing elements biasing the at least one pair of mating sections away from each other in the expanded position.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of mounting the case to the dock further comprises applying a force to the key when the mounting surface of the case faces the docking surface of the dock, such that one or more grooves of the mounting surface mate with corresponding protrusions of the mating sections.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one pair of mating sections moves from the expanded position to the compressed position in response to application of the force to the key.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of mounting the case to the dock further comprises sliding the case downwardly when the mounting surface of the case faces the docking surface of the dock, until one or more projections of the mounting surface mate with the corresponding one or more stationary alignment tabs.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of mounting the case to the dock further comprises engaging one or more projections of the mounting surface with the corresponding one or more stationary alignment tabs, and wherein the at least one pair of mating sections move from the compressed position to the expanded position in response to engagement between one or more projections and the corresponding one or more stationary alignment tabs.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of mounting the case to the dock further comprises sliding the case downwardly when the mounting surface of the case faces the docking surface of the dock, such that the one or more grooves are mated to the corresponding protrusions of the mating sections during mounting, but the at least one pair of mating sections are maintained in the expanded position during mounting.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of mounting the case to the dock further comprises sliding the case further downwardly after the mounting surface of the case engages with the key to align one or more projections of the mounting surface with the corresponding one or more stationary alignment tabs.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the mounting surface includes at least one stop surface positioned to prevent movement of the at least one pair of mating sections toward the compressed position when the one or more projections of the mounting surface are mated to the one or more stationary alignment tabs, thereby preventing disconnection of the case from the dock during charging.