Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

摘要

A docking sleeve has 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.

主权项

1. A protective cover for an electronic device, the cover comprising:
a flexible protective shell comprising a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel wherein the panel and skirt form an interior cavity therebetween, and the skirt forming a mouth opening that communicates with the interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is configured and arranged to receive the electronic device; an adapter fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality of connectors extending into the interior cavity of the shell in an arrangement for mating with a female socket of the device, and a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug; and a positioning interface disposed on the shell and defining a rim around the contactor of the adapter to guide proper mating of the contactor of the adapter to an external connector, wherein the positioning interface comprises a magnetic coupling element resident in the shell adjacent to the contactor, wherein the magnetic coupling element comprises one of a magnetic material or a magnetically attractive material.