Overheating and Spill Resistant Mobile Device Docking Cradle

Abstract

A docking station for a portable electronic device comprises a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station and a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well in combination with a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A docking station for a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the docking station comprising: 
 a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface, the device receiving recess receiving therein a device to be docked;    an air flow channel which, when a device is received within the device receiving recess, is adjacent to a battery of the device, the air flow channel extending from an open top end to the device receiving bottom surface; and    a second channel extending through the device receiving bottom surface to establish fluid communication between the air flow channel and an exterior of the docking station.    
   
   
       11 . The docking station according to  claim 10 , wherein the device receiving bottom surface includes a docking station connector for mating with a device connector on a device received in the device receiving recess and wherein a portion of the device receiving bottom surface immediately beneath the air channel forms a well extending downward from the docking station connector to form a space beneath a battery of a device received in the device receiving recess.  
   
   
       12 . The docking station according to  claim 11 , wherein the second channel extends from an opening at a lower-most point of the well.  
   
   
       13 . The docking station according to  claim 10 , further comprising a battery receiving station including a battery recess configured to receive a battery from the device to be received within the device receiving recess, a battery receiving bottom surface of the battery recess including a battery connector configured to mate with connections on the battery, the battery recess being sized so that, when a battery is received therein a perimeter of the battery is separated from walls of the battery recess to permit air flow therearound.  
   
   
       14 . The docking station according to  claim 13 , further including a plurality of fins extending from the walls of the battery recess to maintain a desired separation between the walls of the battery recess and a battery received therein.  
   
   
       15 . The docking station according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one fin for maintaining a desired separation between the battery and the battery receiving bottom surface.  
   
   
       16 . The docking station according to  claim 13 , further comprising a third channel extending through the battery receiving bottom surface establishing fluid communication between the battery receiving recess and an exterior of the docking station.  
   
   
       17 . The docking station according to  claim 16 , wherein the third channel extends from a lower-most point of the battery receiving bottom surface.  
   
   
       18 . The docking station according to  claim 10 , wherein the second channel includes a cylindrical channel.  
   
   
       19 . A docking station for a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the docking station comprising: 
 a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface, the device receiving recess receiving therein a device to be docked in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station;    a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well; and    a channel extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.    
   
   
       20 . The docking station according to  claim 19 , wherein the second channel includes a cylindrical channel.  
   
   
       21 . The docking station according to  claim 20 , wherein the second channel includes a cylindrical channel.