Elastomeric Protective Cover With Integrated Electrical Adapter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective covers for portable electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, lack the ability to provide efficient and reliable docking capabilities with docking stations, as they do not include a built-in docking connector and cannot pass-through power or external wired functions like audio and USB.
Innovation Solution
A flexible protective cover with an integral electrical adapter that mates with the device's input/output socket and includes contacts for docking cradles, allowing for pass-through power and external function access, featuring a male plug and contactor for mating with the device's socket and docking connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a protective cover is designed as a simple flexible shell, then it provides basic protection and flexibility, but it cannot provide docking capabilities or pass-through power functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective cover with an integrated electrical adapter into a single unit. The adapter includes a male plug that mates with the device's I/O socket and a contactor with contacts that interface with the docking cradle, merging protection and docking functionality into one component without requiring separate accessories
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides physical protection for the device, enables docking capability through the integrated adapter, and allows pass-through power and external wired functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective cases and docking adapters
2Adaptability or versatility
If a protective cover includes an integral electrical adapter, then it enables docking and pass-through power functions, but it increases the complexity and size of the cover
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical adapter is nested within the protective cover structure. The male plug of the adapter extends into the cover's interior cavity to mate with the device's I/O socket, while the contactor with its contacts is positioned on the exterior surface, creating a nested configuration that minimizes overall volume increase
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is made from flexible elastomeric material that can be molded into a thin, form-fitting shell. This flexible construction allows the cover to envelop the device closely while accommodating the integrated adapter components without significant volume increase
3Ease of operation
If existing protective covers are used, then they provide basic protection, but they require removal from the device to enable docking functions
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical adapter is pre-integrated into the protective cover during manufacturing, with the male plug positioned to mate with the device's I/O socket and the contactor positioned to interface with the docking cradle. This preliminary integration ensures that docking functionality is ready immediately when the device is placed in the cover, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the protective cover and electrical adapter into a single integrated unit, the patent ensures that the connection between the device, adapter, and docking cradle remains stable and reliable. The integrated design prevents connection issues that could arise from separate components and eliminates the need to remove the cover for docking operations
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A docking sleeve having an elastomeric protective cover, or skin, adapted for partially enveloping a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet or another portable electronic device of the prior art having a port for a docking connector. The protective cover is a sheath molded of a suitable elastic or flexibly resilient elastomer in a size and shape to fit over and closely conform to the particular portable electronic device so that the cover fits the device like a surgical glove. An adapter is provided for electrically connecting to the female input/output socket of the particular electronic device, including a male plug having a plurality of electrical connectors extended internally of the sheath and arranged for mating with the female input/output socket of the device, and a plurality of contacts electrically coupled to different ones of the plurality of electrical connectors and exposed externally of the sheath.