# US 2014/0153163 A1 · Combined storage and docking unit for a portable electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153163 A1 - Document ID: US20140153163A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/922,446 - Filed: 2013-06-20 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-05 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: John K. Harding; Steve David Fleming - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153163A1 ## CPC - B60R 11/0258: {for navigation systems} - B60R 7/06: mounted on or below dashboards - B60R 11/02: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof - B60R 2011/0005: {Dashboard} - B60R 2011/0094: {characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A combined storage and docking unit for attachment to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle is disclosed in which a portable electronic device such as an MP3 player or GPS navigation device can be held in a display position by clamping it between lid and storage box parts of the combined storage and docking unit. The storage box includes a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device can be stowed if it is not required to be used. The combined storage and docking unit is of a simple construction and allows portable electronic devices of differing size and shape to be accommodated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combined storage and docking unit for a portable electronic device comprising: a storage box for attachment to an instrument panel of a motor vehicle; a lid hingedly connected to the storage box by a pair of depending arms located near a rear end of the lid; at least one electrical connector attached to the storage box for selectively connecting the portable electronic device to one or more electrical circuits of the motor vehicle; a lid opening spring connected to the lid to bias the lid towards an open position; and a user operable locking mechanism to hold the lid in a desired position against action of the lid opening spring, wherein the user operable locking mechanism is operable to allow free movement of the lid when released and prevent movement of the lid in either direction when engaged and is selectively engageable to hold the cover in a position in which the portable electronic device is clamped between the lid and the storage box in a display position in which the electronic device is visible to a user of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage box has a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device is stowable, and wherein the at least one electrical connector is located within the trough shaped portion of the storage box. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage box has a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device is stowable and, when the portable electronic device is in a stowed position within the trough shaped portion of the storage box, the user operable locking mechanism is engageable to hold the lid in a closed position so as to obscure the portable electronic device from view. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid has a first jaw portion located near a front end of the lid for cooperation with a second jaw portion of the storage box located near a front end of the storage box, and wherein the first and second jaw portions form in combination a clamp for holding the portable electronic device in the display position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw portions has a compressible non-slip pad attached thereto to aid with gripping of the portable electronic device between the lid and the storage box. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the depending arms forms part of the user operable locking mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the depending arms is used to connect the lid to the lid opening spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user operable locking mechanism includes a user input device wherein, when the user input device is operated by a user of the motor vehicle, the locking mechanism is released to permit free movement of the lid and, when the user input device is not operated by a user of the motor vehicle, the user operable locking mechanism is engaged to prevent movement of the lid in either direction. ### Claim 9 A portable electronic device docking unit comprising: a storage box for attachment to a vehicle; a lid hingedly connected to the storage box; a spring operative to bias the lid to an open position; and a user operable locking mechanism to hold the lid in a desired position against action of the spring and to selectively clamp the portable electronic device between the lid and the storage box. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user operable locking mechanism is operable to allow free movement of the lid when released and prevent movement of the lid in either direction when engaged and is selectively engageable to hold the cover in a position in which the portable electronic device is clamped between the lid and the storage box in a display position in which it is visible to a user of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring biases the lid towards an open position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising an electrical connector adapted to connect to the portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrical connector is attached to the storage box for selectively connecting the portable electronic device to one or more electrical circuits of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises a motor vehicle, and wherein the storage box is attached to an instrument panel of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the storage box has a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device is stowable, and wherein the at least one electrical connector is located within the trough shaped portion of the storage box. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the storage box has a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device is stowable and, when the portable electronic device is in a stowed position within the trough shaped portion of the storage box, the user operable locking mechanism is engageable to hold the lid in a closed position so as to obscure the portable electronic device from view. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lid has a first jaw portion located near a front end of the lid for cooperation with a second jaw portion of the storage box located near a front end of the storage box, and wherein the first and second jaw portions form in combination a clamp for holding the portable electronic device in the display position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw portions has a compressible non-slip pad attached thereto to aid with gripping of the portable electronic device between the lid and the storage box. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The unit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a pair of arms located near a rear end of the lid for hingedly connecting the lid to the storage box.