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US 8,986,029 B2Granted
Dock connector with compliance mechanism
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Webb, Ian P. Colahan, Paul J. Thompson
Life of this patent
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AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Webb, Ian P. Colahan, Paul J. Thompson
Estimating the term…
Docking stations having a connector with a compliance mechanism to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliance mechanism may be attached to a connecter in a base of a docking station that extends through an opening in a housing or shell attached to the base. The compliance mechanism may include any or all of a flexure, a torsion bar, damping members, a compressive foam member, and an engineered base plate. The compliance mechanism may be configured to provide sufficient rigidity to the connector to support a portable device when mounted on the connector within the dock in an upright position, sufficient flexibility to allow angular displacement of a mounted portable device, and sufficient elasticity to provide a resilient biasing force to return the connector and a mounted portable device from a displaced position to the upright position.
A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:
A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:
A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.