Universal modular docking platform for portable device

Abstract

An improved mounting platform ( 300 ) holds a variety of electronic devices ( 500, 510, 515 ) of differing sizes and shapes. A customized saddle assembly ( 310 ), designed for a particular electronic device, is affixed to the base ( 305 ) of the platform. The device is then inserted into the saddle and held securely in place by the top surface ( 905 ) of a cam assembly ( 315 ). Buttons ( 325, 326 ) and shuttle ( 925 ) control the raising and lowering of the cam. When the platform is in use, a spring ( 910 ) urges the cam against the back of the device being held. The device is released from the platform by squeezing the buttons together, causing the cam to move away from the device, and sliding the device out of the saddle. In an alternative embodiment, a pressure pad ( 1600 ) is used in place of the cam. A variety of electronic connections ( 335 - 375 ) and other accessories such as a loudspeaker ( 376 ) and a magnetic-stripe card reader ( 330 ) can be included in the platform in order to provide useful interfaces to the device.

1 . A platform for holding a portable device, comprising: 
 a base with a movable restraining member,    a saddle mountable on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,    said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,    a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions, and    a plurality of buttons, which when squeezed together, urge said lever and said restraining member from their said second positions to their said first positions,    whereby when said saddle is mounted on said base and said electronic device is inserted into said saddle, said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position, in turn urging said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device, when inserted into said saddle, between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and when said buttons are squeezed together, said lever and said restraining members return to their respective said first positions, thereby releasing said device.    
   
   
       2 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.  
   
   
       3 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein the surface of said restraining member is overlaid with a high-coefficient-of-friction material.  
   
   
       4 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of said saddle is coated with a high-coefficient-of-friction material.  
   
   
       5 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.  
   
   
       6 . The platform of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls mounted within said platform.  
   
   
       7 . The platform of  claim 6 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.  
   
   
       8 . The platform of  claim 6 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.  
   
   
       9 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said saddle is generally U-shaped and comprises a base or bight portion and a pair of generally parallel legs.  
   
   
       10 . The platform of  claim 9  wherein the opening between said legs is smaller on the bottom side than on the top side.  
   
   
       11 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said saddle is secured to said platform by fasteners selected from the group consisting of hooks and tabs.  
   
   
       12 . A method for holding an electronic device, comprising: 
 providing a platform having a base with a movable restraining member,    providing a saddle mounted on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,    said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,    providing a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions,    providing a plurality of buttons, which when squeezed together, urge said lever and said restraining member from their said second positions to their said first positions,    inserting said device into said saddle so that said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position so as to urge said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and    squeezing said buttons together, thereby causing said lever and said restraining members to return to their respective first positions, thereby releasing said device.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said platform further includes a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls.  
   
   
       16 . The platform of  claim 15 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.  
   
   
       17 . The platform of  claim 15 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.  
   
   
       18 . A platform for holding an electronic device, comprising: 
 a base with a movable restraining member,    a saddle mountable on said base, said saddle having an inside surface and an opening to permit passage of said restraining member through said opening,    said restraining member being movable between a first position beneath said inside surface of said saddle and a second position above said inside surface of said saddle,    a lever having first and second positions, said first position of said lever corresponding to said first position of said restraining member, and said second position of said lever corresponding to said second position of said restraining member, said lever being arranged to urge said restraining member from said first to said second positions when said lever is moved from said first to said second positions,    means for urging said lever and said restraining member from their said second to their said first positions,    whereby when said saddle is mounted on said base and said electronic device is inserted into said saddle, said device urges said lever to move from said first to said second position so as to urge said restraining member to move from said first to said second position, thereby wedging and securely capturing said device between said restraining member and said inside surface of said saddle, and when said buttons are squeezed together, said lever and said restraining members return to their respective said first positions thereby releasing said device.    
   
   
       19 . The platform of  claim 18  wherein said restraining member is selected from the group consisting of cams and pressure plates.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said saddle arranged to be removably mounted on said base so that any of a plurality of different saddles can be mounted on said base to hold a respective a plurality of sizes and shapes of devices.  
   
   
       21 . The platform of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of accessories selected from the group consisting of magnetic card readers, power input jacks, serial port connectors, universal serial bus connectors, power indicator lights, power output jacks, switches, microphone jacks, audio input jacks, speakers, and volume controls.  
   
   
       22 . The platform of  claim 21 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said saddle for connecting said device to said electrical connector mounted in said platform.  
   
   
       23 . The platform of  claim 21 , further including an electrical connector mounted in said platform for connecting said accessories to said electrical connector mounted in said saddle.