The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of x-amount newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover Apple's invention that relates to a docking station having a self-retracting connector. For more information on this granted patent, see Patently Apple's report on this invention that was published as a patent application back in May 2014.

Apple's patent FIGS. 3A and 3B noted below illustrate cross-sectional views of a docking station with a portable electronic device docked in it. Apple's patent FIG. 3A shows a plug connector of the docking station in a retracted position and connected with the device. FIG. 3B shows the plug connector in an extended position and nearly disconnected from the device.

Apple's patent FIG. 2C noted below illustrates a perspective view of the retraction mechanism.

Apple's granted patent 9,201,453 was originally filed in Q4 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

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