# US 9,568,950 B2 · On-wall docking station for touch-panel devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,568,950 B2 - Document ID: US9568950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/047,425 - Filed: 2016-02-18 - Published: 2016-08-25 - Granted: 2017-02-14 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-19 - Assignees: Intuitive Corporation - Applicants: Intuitive, LLC - Inventors: Cary Lee Christie, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9568950B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus} - F16M 11/105: {the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation} - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - H02G 3/121: {in plain walls} - F16B 2200/83: Use of a magnetic material - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to systems for mounting touch-panel devices such as smartphones or tablets. An example embodiment of an on-wall docking station is provided wherein the docking station comprises a metallic pad, a gripping surface, mounting screws, a mounting plate, an external connection port, magnets, a near field communication device, and a magnet buffer. The docking station may allow for mounting a touch-panel device in a plurality of mounting orientations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An on-wall docking station coupled to a mounting surface for selectively retaining a touch-panel device comprising: a mount assembly including a mounting plate with one or more magnets, a gripping surface on the external front face of the mounting plate, a near field communication device disposed within an interior region of the mounting plate, and a magnet buffer in contact with the one or more magnets, wherein the mount assembly comprises a substantially thin profile in line with a plane common to the mounting surface; and a metallic pad magnetically retained on the mount assembly in a freely rotatable manner parallel to the mounting surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the metallic pad comprises a substantially thin profile of about 0.25 inches or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the one or more magnets of the mounting plate are oriented exhibiting an alternating polarity and combined magnetic field that allows for a first, second, and third position of the metallic pad on the mount assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, further comprising a first, second, and third position for the metallic pad, wherein a first position is a vertical orientation parallel to the plane common to the mounting surface comprising 0 degrees of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface, a second position is a horizontal orientation parallel to the plane common to the mounting surface comprising 90 degrees of rotation about the axis perpendicular to the mounting surface, and a third position is any position between the first and second positions parallel to the mounting surface plane and rotated about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is a durable plastic, metal, or magnetic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the gripping surface is a rubber or gripping foam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the metallic pad is releasably coupled to the touch-panel device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein mounting screws fixedly attach the mount assembly to the mounting surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein a double-sided adhesive tape fixedly attaches the mount assembly to the mounting surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The on-wall docking station of claim 1, wherein the magnet buffer increases the magnetic field strength of the one or more magnets of the mounting plate. ### Claim 11 A mount assembly for a docking station comprising: a mounting plate including an external connection port configured to accept a wired input; a gripping surface disposed on the external front face of the mounting plate; one or more magnets disposed within the mounting plate; and a magnet buffer in contact with the one or more magnets, wherein the magnet buffer increases the magnetic field strength of the one or more magnets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mount assembly of claim 11, wherein the mounting plate is a durable plastic, metal, or magnetic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The mount assembly of claim 11, wherein mounting screws fixedly attach the mount assembly to a mounting surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The mount assembly of claim 11, wherein a double-sided adhesive tape fixedly attaches the mount assembly to a mounting surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The mount assembly of claim 11, further comprising a metallic pad releasably coupled to a touch-panel device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mount assembly of claim 15, wherein the metallic pad is releasably coupled to a touch-panel device with a double-sided adhesive tape. ### Claim 17 A docking station for a touch-panel device comprising: a mounting plate; one or more magnets disposed within the mounting plate; and a metal pad magnetically retained by the mounting plate; wherein the metal pad is selectively coupled to the mounting plate in a freely rotatable manner. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The docking station of claim 17, wherein the metal pad comprises a substantially thin profile of about 0.25 inches or less. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The docking station of claim 17, wherein the one or more magnets are oriented exhibiting an alternating polarity and combined magnetic field that allows for a first, second, and third position orientation of the metal pad. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The docking station of claim 17, further comprising a first, second, and third position for the metallic pad, wherein a first position is a vertical orientation parallel to the plane common to the mounting surface comprising 0 degrees of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface, a second position is a horizontal orientation parallel to the plane common to the mounting surface comprising 90 degrees of rotation about the axis perpendicular to the mounting surface, and a third position is any position between the first and second positions parallel to the mounting surface plane and rotated about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface.