Obviousness

US Patent 8545247, titled "Dock for a portable electronic device," can be found obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103 by combining existing prior art references. The analysis below identifies combinations of prior art that would render the independent claims of US8545247 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date of June 30, 2011). A PHOSITA in this field would possess knowledge of mechanical design, material science for flexible components, and common challenges in connector design, such as misalignment and tolerance stack-up.

Obviousness Analysis of Independent Claims

Claim 1: Dock with Elastically Deformable Support, Connector, and Collar

Claim 1 describes a dock with a housing, an aperture, an elastically deformable support coupled to an inner wall, a connector received in the support, and a collar abutting the connector to limit translation while allowing the connector to pivot relative to the collar. The support elastically deforms in response to non-axial movement of the connector. [cite: The provided patent text]

• Primary Reference: US7931494B2 to Janam Technologies, Llc ("Flexible holder for a connector having a receptacle with multiple degrees of motion").

  • Janam teaches a flexible holder (which functions as an elastically deformable support) for a connector. The abstract explicitly states "a connector having a receptacle with multiple degrees of motion." [cite: US7931494B2] The specification clarifies that this includes translation and rotation (pivoting), covering the "non-axial movement" and the elastic deformation of the support. [cite: US7931494B2] This reference thus teaches the core concept of an elastically deformable support for a connector that allows non-axial movement.

• Secondary Reference (for the collar): US20060250764A1 to Apple Computer, Inc. ("Universal docking station for hand held electronic devices").

  • Apple illustrates a conventional docking station with a housing and an aperture (104) through which a connector (106) extends (Fig. 1, 2). [cite: US20060250764A1] The edges of this aperture or a surrounding structure implicitly function as a collar to broadly limit the lateral (translational) movement of the connector. The "multiple degrees of motion" taught by Janam inherently imply that the connector is pivotable within these limits. [cite: US7931494B2]

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA, seeking to improve the robustness and ease of use of docking stations, would be motivated to combine the flexible connector mounting system of Janam (US7931494B2) with the typical housing and aperture structure of a conventional dock (such as Apple's US20060250764A1). [cite: US20060250764A1, US7931494B2] The flexible holder in Janam mitigates misalignment issues by allowing movement, while the dock's aperture inherently provides a guiding and limiting function for gross lateral translation. [cite: US7931494B2] A PHOSITA would recognize that by designing the interface between the flexible support and the housing's aperture, or by integrating a collar feature into the flexible support itself (as described in US8545247's embodiment where the collar is part of the spring component), one could effectively limit gross lateral translation while permitting the necessary pivoting and fine non-axial adjustments enabled by the deformable support. This combination addresses the common problem of damaging connectors during misaligned insertion by combining flexibility with guided restriction.

Claim 12: Dock with Spring Component, Ribs, and Reduced Rib Cross-Sectional Area

Claim 12 describes a dock with a housing, aperture, a support comprising a spring component in a support tray, where the spring component has a passage with ribs for contacting the connector and is elastically deformable for non-axial movement. The distinguishing feature is that the cross-sectional area of the ribs is reduced between a top end (adjacent the aperture) and a bottom end of the spring component. [cite: The provided patent text]

• Primary References: US7931494B2 to Janam Technologies, Llc and US20080057764A1 to Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. ("Electrical connector assembly with springs").

  • Janam (US7931494B2) teaches an elastically deformable flexible holder (spring member) for a connector, allowing non-axial movement. [cite: US7931494B2] While not explicitly showing "ribs," a flexible holder surrounding a connector in a passage would use elements contacting the connector to provide elastic deformation. Hon Hai (US20080057764A1) more explicitly teaches an electrical connector assembly using springs (e.g., leaf springs, Figs. 3, 4) that contact a connector to allow movement, functioning similarly to ribs. [cite: US20080057764A1] Together, these references establish the concept of a dock having a flexible support with elements (ribs/springs) contacting a connector for non-axial movement.

• Secondary Reference (for reduced cross-sectional area): US4940417A to Yazaki Corporation ("Connector device with fitting adjustment mechanism").

  • Yazaki teaches an elastic member with varying thickness (non-uniform cross-section) to control its flexibility (Fig. 4). [cite: US4940417A] This demonstrates the known engineering principle of tailoring the elastic properties of a flexible component by modifying its geometry.

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA designing elastic elements like the ribs in a floating connector system (as taught by Janam, US7931494B2, and Hon Hai, US20080057764A1) would recognize the need to optimize their flexibility and stress distribution. [cite: US20080057764A1, US7931494B2] It is a well-known engineering principle, exemplified by Yazaki (US4940417A), to vary the cross-sectional area of flexible components to control their stiffness and deflection characteristics. [cite: US4940417A] Applying this principle to the ribs of the spring component, specifically by reducing the cross-sectional area towards the top, would be an obvious design modification to allow for greater initial compliance during mating while maintaining sufficient strength towards the base to protect sensitive electrical connections (e.g., solder joints, as acknowledged in US8545247, para 0101) from excessive force.

Claim 13: Dock with Elastically Deformable Support, Connector, and Axial Pad

Claim 13 describes a dock with a housing, an aperture, an elastically deformable support, and a connector, similar to Claim 1. The distinguishing feature is the inclusion of "a pad disposed in the support and elastically deformable in response to axial movement of the connector." [cite: The provided patent text]

• Primary Reference: US7931494B2 to Janam Technologies, Llc ("Flexible holder for a connector having a receptacle with multiple degrees of motion").

  • Janam provides the foundation of an elastically deformable support for a connector allowing non-axial movement. [cite: US7931494B2]

• Secondary Reference (for axial cushioning/tolerance): US7121857B1 to Emc Corporation ("Tolerance-absorbing interconnect system using a spring-loaded connector").

  • Emc explicitly teaches a "tolerance-absorbing interconnect system." [cite: US7121857B1] While it focuses on spring-loaded connectors, the general problem of managing tolerances in connector systems—which includes axial tolerances—is addressed. Using an elastically deformable pad for axial cushioning and tolerance absorption is a conventional mechanical solution.

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA, starting with a flexible connector system that accommodates non-axial misalignment (as taught by Janam, US7931494B2), would further recognize the common need to manage axial (vertical) tolerances and forces during device insertion and removal. [cite: US7931494B2] It is a widely known and conventional mechanical design practice to use resilient or elastically deformable pads (e.g., rubber, foam, or spring-loaded elements) to absorb impact, cushion movement, and account for manufacturing tolerances in the axial direction. Emc (US7121857B1) explicitly highlights the importance of tolerance absorption in connector systems. [cite: US7121857B1] Therefore, incorporating such a pad, positioned beneath the connector within the flexible support structure, would be an obvious solution to address axial movement and tolerances, thereby complementing the non-axial flexibility provided by the main support and improving the overall durability and user experience of the dock.

Claim 14: Connector Assembly with Spring Component, Ribs, and Reduced Rib Cross-Sectional Area

Claim 14 describes a connector assembly for a dock, including a support with a spring component in a support tray, a passage with ribs for contacting the connector, and a connector. The spring component is elastically deformable, and the passage comprises ribs where the cross-sectional area is reduced between a top end and a bottom end. [cite: The provided patent text]

• This claim is structurally similar to Claim 12 but is directed to a "connector assembly" rather than a full "dock." The inventive concept remains the same: the reduced cross-sectional area of the ribs.

• Primary References: US7931494B2 to Janam Technologies, Llc and US20080057764A1 to Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.

  • Janam teaches a flexible holder (spring member) for a connector as part of a receptacle (assembly) designed for a host device (dock), covering the "support for coupling to an inner wall the dock," an "elastically deformable spring component," and a "connector received in the support." [cite: US7931494B2] Hon Hai explicitly shows springs (functioning as ribs) contacting the connector within an assembly. [cite: US20080057764A1]

• Secondary Reference (for reduced cross-sectional area): US4940417A to Yazaki Corporation.

  • Yazaki teaches varying the thickness (cross-sectional area) of an elastic member to control flexibility. [cite: US4940417A]

• Motivation to Combine: The motivation is identical to that for Claim 12. A PHOSITA designing connector assemblies (as taught by Janam, US7931494B2, or Hon Hai, US20080057764A1) would understand the need to manage stress on the connector and its mounting during insertion and removal. [cite: US20080057764A1, US7931494B2] It is a fundamental mechanical engineering principle, exemplified by Yazaki (US4940417A), to tailor the stiffness of flexible elements by varying their cross-sectional geometry. [cite: US4940417A] Implementing such a design for the ribs of the spring component in a floating connector assembly is an obvious way to achieve desired flexibility characteristics (e.g., softer at the top for initial engagement, stiffer at the bottom for secure connection) and mitigate the risk of damage to critical components like solder joints, which are known concerns in connector design.

Claim 15: Connector Assembly with Support, Collar, and Deformable Portion for Non-Axial Translation and Pivoting

Claim 15 describes a connector assembly for a dock, comprising a support with a collar and an elastically deformable portion, and a connector received in the support. The distinguishing feature is that the elastically deformable portion of the support deforms in response to non-axial translation and pivoting of the connector relative to the collar. [cite: The provided patent text]

• This claim is structurally similar to Claim 1 but is directed to a "connector assembly" for a dock.

• Primary Reference: US7931494B2 to Janam Technologies, Llc ("Flexible holder for a connector having a receptacle with multiple degrees of motion").

  • Janam teaches a flexible holder (support, elastically deformable portion) for a connector. The connector has "multiple degrees of freedom" including non-axial translation and pivoting. [cite: US7931494B2] This covers the "support," the "elastically deformable portion," the "connector received in the support," and the elastic deformation in response to "non-axial translation and pivoting."

• Secondary Reference (for the collar): US20060250764A1 to Apple Computer, Inc. ("Universal docking station for hand held electronic devices").

  • Apple illustrates a conventional docking station with an aperture that provides a surrounding structure acting as a collar to limit gross translation. [cite: US20060250764A1] The flexible holder in Janam (US7931494B2) inherently provides a constraint that defines a "collar" or aperture that the connector moves relative to.

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA designing a connector assembly (as taught by Janam, US7931494B2) would naturally integrate or design the flexible support in conjunction with a guiding element, such as a collar, that further refines the movement of the connector. [cite: US7931494B2] The function of a collar to define the entry point and limit excessive lateral travel is well-understood in connector design, as exemplified by conventional docking stations like those described in Apple (US20060250764A1). [cite: US20060250764A1] The flexible holder of Janam inherently has a shape that acts as a collar. [cite: US7931494B2] It would be an obvious design optimization to ensure that this collar effectively limits gross non-axial translation while specifically allowing for the fine non-axial translation and pivoting enabled by the deformable portion of the support. This combination achieves a desirable balance of guidance and flexibility for improving the user experience and preventing damage in docking systems.