Gang charger, shroud, and dock for portable electronic devices

Abstract

An anti-theft device for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal in a retail environment is provided. The anti-theft device includes a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device. The anti-theft device also includes a dock configured to releasably engage the shroud. The dock is configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gang charger for providing power to a plurality of portable electronic devices, the gang charger comprising:
 a plurality of shrouds each configured to at least partially receive and engage one of the plurality of portable electronic devices;   a stand comprising a plurality of shelves, each shelf configured to receive and engage one of the plurality of shrouds; and   a lock mechanism for locking each of the shrouds to a respective shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism is configured to lock each of the shrouds to respective shelves simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism is configured to lock each of the shrouds to respective shelves independently of one another. 
     
     
         4 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of shrouds comprises a hub member configured to releasably engage a respective shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The gang charger of  claim 4 , wherein each shelf comprising an engagement member configured to releasably engage a respective hub member. 
     
     
         6 . The gang charger of  claim 5 , wherein each engagement member and each hub member comprises one or more electrical contacts for transferring power therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism is configured to communicate with an electronic key for unlocking at least one of the shrouds from a respective shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises a manual actuator for unlocking at least one of the shrouds from a respective shelf. 
     
     
         9 . The gang charger of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one voltage regulator configured to regulate voltage provided to each of the portable electronic devices. 
     
     
         10 . The gang charger of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of voltage regulators. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing power to a plurality of portable electronic devices, the method comprising:
 inserting each of the plurality of portable electronic devices into engagement with a respective shroud; and   positioning each of the shrouds on a respective shelf such that each of the shrouds locks to a respective shelf with a lock mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising causing the lock mechanism to become unlocked for removing one or more of the shrouds and respective portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein causing comprising causing the lock mechanism to communicate with an electronic key. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein causing comprise manually actuating an actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning comprises positioning each of the shrouds on a respective shelf such that the lock mechanism automatically locks each of the shrouds simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing one of the shrouds and respective portable electronic device from a respective shelf, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to automatically relock upon removal of the shroud and portable electronic device.