GB2414348A

GB2414348A - Docking station for media player

Info

Publication number: GB2414348A
Application number: GB0411258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jake Sadiq
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-20
Filing date: 2004-05-20
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-20
Also published as: GB0411258D0; GB2414348B

Abstract

A docking station for a media player (such as a digital hard disk music player) comprises a main body 11 and a cover 12. The body has a docking surface, on which is an electrical connector to transfer power, signals or data to or from the player. The cover can be locked closed, in which case the player cannot be removed. Preferably the cover has openings 14 to allow the player to be used when the cover is closed. This means that the player can conveniently be used in shops, restaurants, bars or the like, while being protected from being stolen.

Description

241 4348

DOCKING STATION

This invention relates to a docking station and, in particular, to a docking station for a portable electronic media player, such as a personal stereo, compact disk player or digital music player.

It is well known to provide portable stereos, e.g., a personal cassette player or personal compact disk player, which a user can carry around and listen to their own choice of music via a set of personal headphones. Such devices require a number of different cassettes or compact disks if the user is to be able to listen to a wide variety of music and, if travelling, carrying a large number of cassettes or compact disks can be awkward and is impractical.

To alleviate this problem, digital music players have been developed which store music or the like in digital format on a re-recordable memory medium, such as a hard disk.

The capacity of such devices is considerably greater than that of a single CD or cassette and enables the user to have a considerably wider variety of music to which they can listen, without the additional hassle of carrying many different cassettes or compact disks.

Given that such digital music players are able to store such a large number of different songs and albums, these digital music players are suitable for use in shops, restaurants or bars and the like, i.e. any environment in which background music is played to enhance the atmosphere within the particular environment. However, given that digital music players are typically small, it is relatively simple for someone to steal such a device unless it is securely hidden away. However, by hiding the digital music player away, it makes it difficult for the music player to be operated, for example, to change the music being played or to turn the device on or off or the volume up or down.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a device into which the digital music player or, indeed, any electronic media player can be securely mounted, but which enables the device to be used and, furthermore, to be operated without the need to remove the device from a secure location.

According to the present invention, there is provided a docking station for an electronic media player, the docking station comprising: a main body having a surface on to which the electronic media player can be docked, the surface having at least one electrical connector for transferring at least one of data, an audio signal and/or power into and/or out of the electronic media player; a cover connected to the main body and movable between an open position in which the media player can be removed from the main body and a closed position in which removal of the media player is prevented, the cover being lockable in the closed position to reduce or prevent relative movement of the cover portion and the main body; and at least one mounting point for use in fixing the main body to a surface.

Thus, the present invention provides a secure docking station into which the electronic media player can be placed, but which also allows the media player to be located in an easy to access position, thereby enabling simpler operation.

The docking station preferably further comprises a second electrical connector for transferring data, an audio signal and/or power into and/or out of the electronic media player. In this way, there can be a separate audio line out from the docking station and a separate power line, although it is envisaged that it would be possible for both these functions to be achieved using a single connector. If a digital music player is to be used, music could be downloaded directly into or out of the player whilst it is still retained in the docking station.

The cover portion is preferably provided with at least one opening through which a user can operate the electronic media player when the cover is in the closed position, thereby making it easy for the music to be changed or the volume altered, whilst ensuring that the media player remains securely retained.

The cover portion may either be hinged to the main body or, alternatively, may be slidably mounted on the main body.

The cover portion may be removable from the main body so as to be interchangeable with a different cover of, for example, a different design or material.

The cover may be lockable in the closed position by means of either an integral lock between the cover portion and the main body or, alternatively, by means of fixing a padlock or other appropriate lock to a projection extending from one of the main body and the cover through an associated hole in the other of the main body and the cover.

The docking station, and in particular the main body and the cover, may be formed from any suitable material, but is preferably formed from one of the following: aluminium, stainless steel, perspex, glass or wood. The cover and the main body do not need to be made of the same material, although it is preferable for them to be the same material.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one example of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a device similar to that of Figure 1 in the open configuration; Figure 3 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a further example of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a docking station 10 comprises a main body 11 and a removable cover 12. The main body and the cover define a cavity 13 in which an electronic media player can be securely retained when the cover is closed as in Figure 1.

The cover 12 is provided with a number of openings 14 through which a user can access controls on the electronic media player stored within the docking station 10 or observe displays, such as LCD screens, on the media player. The cover 12 is hinged at one end to the main body 11 and this can be seen more fully from Figure 2, which illustrates the docking station in the open configuration. The cover 12 is also provided with an opening 16 through which a locking member 17 projects, the locking member 17 being mounted on or formed integrally with the main body 11. This, too, can also be seen in greater detail in Figure 2. In use, a padlock 18 can be passed through one or more of the holes 19 in the locking member 17, so as to prevent the cover 12 from being opened.

In Figure 2, the cover 12 is shown in the open position i.e. the cover 12 has pivoted about a hinge 20 which consists of a cylindrical pin 21 passing through interdigitated projections 22 and 23 on the main body 11 and the cover 12 respectively.

The rear surface 24 of the main body 11 is provided with four fixing points 25 to enable the docking station 10 to be fixed, by means of for example screws, to a surface, such as a wall or a counter.

The locking member 17 is mounted on a lower internal surface 26 of the main body 11 and is fixed to that surface 26 using suitable fixing means, such as screws (not shown), at fixing locations 27.

Figures 3 and 4 show front and rear views respectively of the docking station 10 and, in dotted line, show first 28 and second 29 electrical connectors in the lower surface of the main body 11. In this example, connector 28 is connected to a power line 30 and connector 29 provides a pair of audio outlets 31. However, as can be seen from Figure 5, a single connector 32 may be used, the connection lead 33 having both power 34 and audio 35 components. The example in Figure 5 also includes an integral lock 36, rather than the locking member 17 in the previous examples, although either of these locking methods could be used.

It is envisaged that further openings and/or electrical connectors could be provided in the main body 11 or cover 12 to allow headphones, a remote control or other connections to be made to the electronic media player located within the docking station 10.

The internal dimensions of the docking station are such that the device to be accommodated can easily be inserted. The outer dimensions are therefore not important, but should not be too large so as to be intrusive to the surface on which it is mounted.

Typically, for a digital music player, the docking station would be 120150mm tall, 70 75mm wide and 25-30mm deep.

Claims

1. A docking station for an electronic media player, the docking station comprising: a main body having a surface on to which the electronic media player can be docked, the surface having at least one electrical connector for transferring at least one of data, an audio signal and power into and/or out of the electronic media player; a cover connected to the main body and movable between an open position in which the media player can be removed from the main body and a closed position in which removal of the media player is prevented, the cover being lockable in the closed position to reduce or prevent relative movement of the cover portion and the main body; and at least one mounting point for use in fixing the main body to a surface.

2. A docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrical connector for transferring at least one of the data, an audio signal and/or power into and/or out of the electronic media player.

3. A docking station according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cover is provided with at least one opening through which a user can operate the electronic media player when the cover is in the closed position.

4. A docking station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover is hinged to the main body.

5. A docking station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover is slidably mounted on the main body.

6. A docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover is removable from the main body so as to be interchangeable with a different cover.

7. A docking station according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an integral lock between the main body and the cover.

8. A docking station according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a projection extending from one of the main body and the cover through an associated hole in the other of the main body and the cover, the projection having a hole through which a locking device can be fixed so as to reduce relative movement of the cover and the main body.