Gang charger, shroud, and dock for portable electronic devices

Abstract

An anti-theft device for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal in a retail environment is provided. The anti-theft device includes a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device. The anti-theft device also includes a dock configured to releasably engage the shroud. The dock is configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An anti-theft device for securing a portable electronic device from unauthorized removal or theft, the anti-theft device comprising:
 a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device; and   a dock configured to releasably engage the shroud, the dock configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock,   wherein the dock is configured to disengage the shroud in response to receiving a command at the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         22 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , further comprising a mobile payment interface pivotably coupled to the shroud for moving between an open position and a closed position, the mobile payment interface configured to operably couple to a mobile payment device. 
     
     
         23 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the shroud comprises a wireless communications interface configured to communicate and be paired with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         24 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the dock is configured to communicate power and/or data signals with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one adapter configured to releasably engage an input port on the portable electronic device, wherein the shroud is configured to at least partially receive and engage the portable electronic device for establishing electrical communication with the at least one adapter, and wherein the dock is configured to be in electrical communication with the portable electronic device via the at least one adapter. 
     
     
         26 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , further comprising a mobile payment interface coupled to the shroud, the mobile payment interface configured to operably couple to a mobile payment device. 
     
     
         27 . The anti-theft device of  claim 26 , wherein the mobile payment interface is removably attached to the shroud. 
     
     
         28 . The anti-theft device of  claim 26 , wherein the mobile payment interface is attached to the shroud via a hinge for moving between an open position and a closed position relative to the shroud. 
     
     
         29 . The anti-theft device of  claim 26 , wherein the dock is configured to transfer power to both the shroud and the mobile payment interface when the shroud is engaged with the dock. 
     
     
         30 . The anti-theft device of  claim 26 , wherein the dock is configured to communicate power and/or data signals with the portable electronic device and the mobile payment device. 
     
     
         31 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the shroud is configured to rotate relative to the dock about three axes of rotation. 
     
     
         32 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the shroud is configured to be removably attached to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         33 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the dock is configured to disengage the shroud in response to communication with an electronic key. 
     
     
         34 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the dock comprises an alarm configured to be activated in response to unauthorized removal of the portable electronic device and/or the shroud from the dock. 
     
     
         35 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the dock comprises an alarm configured to be activated in response to unauthorized removal of the dock from a support surface. 
     
     
         36 . The anti-theft device of  claim 21 , wherein the dock is configured to disengage the shroud in response to receiving a command at the portable electronic device via a software application on the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         37 . A method for securing a portable electronic device from unauthorized removal or theft, the method comprising:
 positioning a portable electronic device within a shroud;   positioning the shroud and the portable electronic device on a dock such that the shroud and the portable electronic device are locked to the dock; and   inputting a command at the portable electronic device to cause the dock to unlock the shroud from the dock.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising moving a mobile payment interface coupled to the shroud to an open position. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising wirelessly pairing the shroud with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising operably coupling a mobile payment device to a mobile payment interface coupled to the shroud for communicating power and/or data signals with the dock.