Apple Wins Patent for another Strange Docking Station

Just last week we posted a report about Apple's patent application for a next-generation wireless charging solution. At some point you realize that the classic docking station of old may not be with us much longer. After years of coming up with one invention after another for docking stations, Apple now appears to be on the right track.

Yet that aside, Apple was granted another docking station patent today for a strange concept that was somewhat on the same track as this other strange one that Apple applied for back in 2009. Obviously Steve Jobs was on the hunt for a breakthrough docking station that was never to be. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Apple's invention is about a docking station that includes a moveable connector. Apple's patent FIGS. 2A and 2B shown below illustrate a plastic or metal portable docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device. According to Apple, the shape of the housing is able to define the ornamental appearance of the docking station and include rectilinear and/or curvilinear shapes.

If this relic interests you, then check out granted patent 8,323,040. Apple credits Chris Prest who is the Manager of Product Design.

Apple Wins Patent for Dielectric Window Antennas for Computer Devices

Apple has been granted a patent that relates to antennas for electronic devices with conductive housings. Apple uses this kind of Antenna in the iMac (at least previous iMac designs) and the patent illustrates that Apple has used this kind of antenna in their MacBook and could design future devices using this technology. If you're interested in knowing more about this, we covered this patent in detail two years ago. 

Apple credits Vazquez Ayala, Gregory Springer, Bing Chiang, Douglas Kough, Robert Schlub, Yi Jiang, Rodney Gomez Angulo and Ruben Caballero X as the inventors of this patent which was originally filed in mid-2009.

Twenty-Three other Patents Granted to Apple Today

NOTICE: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.