# US 11,994,250 B2 · Gang charger, shroud, and dock for portable electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,250 B2 - Document ID: US11994250B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/591,303 - Filed: 2022-02-02 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30 - Assignees: InVue Security Products Inc. - Applicants: InVue Security Products Inc. - Inventors: Jonathon D. Phillips; Antonios L Karagiannis; Mark D. Reeves; Matthew Thomas Kerley; John A. Buchanan; Daniel C. Symons; Darin J. Shaw; Joshua Abdollahzadeh; Scott M. Speck; Erik L. van Bergen; Larry T. McKinney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994250B2 ## CPC - G08B 13/14: by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles - E05B 47/00: Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00) - E05B 65/00: Locks {or fastenings} for special use - E05B 73/0082: {for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators} - F16M 11/04: Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus} - F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/2014: {around a vertical axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 1/1607: {Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing (G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence)} - G06F 1/1635: {Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter} - G06F 21/00: Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity - G06F 21/84: output devices, e.g. displays or monitors - G06F 21/87: by means of encapsulation, e.g. for integrated circuits - G06F 21/88: Detecting or preventing theft or loss - G08B 13/149: {with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation} - H02B 1/01: Frameworks - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H05K 5/03: Covers - H05K 7/18: Construction of rack or frame - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An anti-theft device for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal in a retail environment is provided. The anti-theft device includes a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device. The anti-theft device also includes a dock configured to releasably engage the shroud. The dock is configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anti-theft device for securing a portable electronic device from unauthorized removal or theft, the anti-theft device comprising: a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device; a mobile payment interface configured to releasably and electrically engage with a mobile payment device and communicate with the portable electronic device, wherein the mobile payment device is configured to be engaged with and removed from the mobile payment interface, and wherein the mobile payment interface comprises one or more electrical contacts for electrically connecting to the mobile payment device when in engagement therewith; and a dock configured to releasably and electrically engage the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to be engaged with and removed from the dock, wherein each of the shroud and the dock comprises an electrical connector configured to engage with one another when the shroud is engaged with the dock, and wherein the dock is configured to communicate power and data signals with both the portable electronic device and the mobile payment device in response to engagement of the electrical connector of the shroud with the electrical connector of the dock. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the dock is configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the dock is configured to disengage the shroud in response to communication with an electronic key. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the dock is configured to disengage the shroud in response to receiving a command at the portable electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein mobile payment interface is pivotably coupled to the shroud. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a wireless communications interface configured to communicate and be paired with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein each of the shroud and the mobile payment interface comprises a printed circuit board electrically connected to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the dock is configured to transfer power to both the shroud and the mobile payment interface when the shroud is engaged with the dock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to rotate relative to the base about three axes of rotation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the dock comprises an alarm configured to be activated in response to unauthorized removal of the portable electronic device and/or the shroud from the dock. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the dock comprises an alarm configured to be activated in response to unauthorized removal of the dock from a support surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a wireless communications interface for communicating with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the mobile payment interface is attached to the shroud. ### Claim 14 A method for securing a portable electronic device from unauthorized removal or theft, the method comprising: coupling a portable electronic device to a shroud such that the portable electronic device is at least partially received by the shroud; electrically engaging a mobile payment device to a mobile payment interface for communicating with the portable electronic device, wherein the mobile payment device is configured to be engaged with and removed from the mobile payment interface, and wherein the mobile payment interface comprises one or more electrical contacts for electrically connecting to the mobile payment device when in engagement therewith; and releasably and electrically engaging the shroud and the portable electronic device on a dock such that the dock is configured to communicate power and data signals with the portable electronic device and the mobile payment device in response to engagement of an electrical connector of the shroud with an electrical connector of the dock when the shroud is engaged with the dock, wherein the shroud is configured to be engaged with and removed from the dock. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mobile payment interfaces each configured to releasably and electrically engage with a respective mobile payment device, each of the plurality of mobile payment interfaces further being interchangeable for communicating with the portable electronic device, wherein the dock is configured to communicate power and data signals with both the portable electronic device and any one of the mobile payment devices in response to engagement of the electrical connector of the shroud with the electrical connector of the dock. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the mobile payment interface is configured to detect engagement of the mobile payment device with the mobile payment interface for determining whether to enable power and data to be transferred to the mobile payment device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the mobile payment interface comprises a plurality of electrical contacts defined on an outer surface thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the mobile payment interface is configured to engage the mobile payment interface in a snap fit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to engage the dock with a dovetail engagement.