Tablet storage and transportation device

• US 10,044,203 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ergun, Mustafa A., Lindblad, Shaun C., Funk, Joseph, Tischer, William D., Segar, Peter, Prince, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinclair, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milliser, Theron S
• Application Number:
  US14/919,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20160111902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet storage device includes a module on a cart frame that includes a wheeled base. A cart module defines a selectively accessible interior space having multiple storage slots within the interior space for holding tablets. In some cases a tablet storage device holds multiple tablets using two or more modules in a stacked arrangement on a wheeled base. Each module can hold a portion of the multiple tablets within storage slots within an interior space inside the module. The storage slots may have connectors for connecting to tablets, and the cart frame can have a network connection system that is adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors. The cart frame may also have a power supply system for charging each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

Claims

1. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:

a wheeled base including a horizontal top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining an internal compartment, the wheeled base sized and shaped to detachably support at least a first tablet storage module and a second tablet storage module in a vertically stacked arrangement in which the first tablet storage module is configured to be vertically stacked on the wheeled base and the second tablet storage module is configured to be vertically stacked on the first tablet storage module, wherein the first tablet storage module and a second tablet storage module are unenclosed when in the stacked arrangement;

a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets, the power supply positioned within the internal compartment of the wheeled base;

the first tablet storage module including a pair of rotatable handles to lift the first storage module, a pair of locking mechanisms, a top portion, a bottom portion, a back portion, a front portion including at least one door having a lock, and side portions defining a selectively accessible interior space, the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions being distinct from the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the wheeled base, the tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein the top portion of the first tablet storage module defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of a bottom portion of the second tablet storage module, and wherein the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the bottom portion of the first tablet storage module;

wherein the wheeled base is configured to be detachably coupled to the first tablet storage module above the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base in the vertically stacked arrangement, and wherein the first tablet storage module has connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system, and

wherein the pair of rotatable handles are configured to rotate and engage corresponding locking mechanisms on the second tablet storage module to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked.

2. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the wheeled base includes a network connection system, the network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

3. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

4. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the internal compartment includes a fan and a vent.

5. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of storage slots of the first tablet storage module have docking stations for connecting to the first portion of the plurality of tablets.

6. The tablet storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage module identical to the first tablet storage module and defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets.

7. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the first tablet storage module has a port; and

the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector, the wheeled base connector for connecting to the port such that the wheeled base and the first tablet storage module are in electronic communication.

8. The tablet storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage identical to the first tablet storage module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein;

the first tablet storage module has a port and a connector;

the second tablet storage module has a port; and

the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector, wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the first tablet storage module connector is connectable to the second tablet storage module port to form a second connection, such that the wheeled base and the first tablet storage module are in electronic communication through the first connection, and the wheeled base and the second tablet storage module are in electronic communication through the first and second connections.

9. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector and a network connection system;

the first tablet storage module has a port; and

at least one of the storage slots has a slot connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets, wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector is connectable to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the network connection system is in electronic communication with the first tablet storage module through the first connection, and the network connection system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

10. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector;

the first tablet storage module has a port; and

at least one of the storage slots has a slot connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets;

wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector is connectable to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the power supply system is in communication with the first tablet storage module through the first connection, and the power supply system is in communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

11. The tablet storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein;

the first and second tablet storage modules include a locking mechanism adapted to enable the first tablet storage module to be locked to the second tablet storage module in the stacked arrangement, the locking mechanism further adapted to enable at least one of the first and second tablet storage modules immediately adjacent to the wheeled base in the stacked arrangement to be locked to the wheeled base.

12. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:

a wheeled base including a horizontal top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining an internal compartment, the wheeled base sized and shaped to detachably support a plurality of tablet storage modules in a vertically stacked arrangement, wherein the plurality of tablet storage modules are unenclosed when in the stacked arrangement;

a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets, the power supply positioned within the internal compartment of the wheeled base;

the plurality of tablet storage modules identical to each other and each configured to hold the plurality of tablets, each of the plurality of tablet storage modules including a pair of rotatable handles, a pair of locking mechanisms, a top portion, a bottom portion, a back portion, a front portion including at least one door having a lock, and side portions defining a selectively accessible interior space, the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the plurality of tablet storage modules being distinct from the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the wheeled base, and each of the plurality of tablet storage modules having a plurality of storage slots within the interior space adapted to hold a portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein the top portion of a first one of the tablet storage modules defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of a bottom portion of a second one of the tablet storage modules, and wherein the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the bottom portion of the first one of the tablet storage modules,

wherein the wheeled base is adapted to support the plurality of tablet storage modules above the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base in a vertically stacked arrangement, wherein the first one of the tablet storage modules is configured to be detachably coupled to the wheeled base, and wherein the storage slots of the plurality of tablet storage modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system, and

wherein the pair of rotatable handles on the first one of the tablet storage modules are configured to rotate and engage corresponding locking mechanisms on the second one of the tablet storage modules to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked.

13. The tablet storage device of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of tablet storage modules comprises three or more tablet storage modules in the vertically stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

14. The tablet storage device of claim 12, further comprising one or more non-tablet modules in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

15. The tablet storage device of claim 14, wherein the one or more non-tablet modules comprises an auxiliary storage module in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

16. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:

a wheeled base including a horizontal top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining an internal compartment, at least a first module and a second module in a vertically stacked arrangement in which the first module is configured to be vertically stacked on the wheeled base and the second module is configured to be vertically stacked on the first module, wherein the first module and a second module are unenclosed when in the stacked arrangement;

a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets, the power supply positioned within the internal compartment of the wheeled base;

the first module including a pair of handles to lift the module, a pair of locking mechanisms, a top lid portion, a bottom portion;

a back portion;

a front portion including at least one door having a lock, and side portions defining a selectively accessible first interior space, the top portion, the bottom portion; and

the side portions of the first module being distinct from the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the wheeled base, the first module having a plurality of storage slots within the first interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets; and

the second module identical to the first module and including a pair of handles to lift the module, a pair of locking mechanisms, a top lid portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the top lid portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the second module being distinct from the top lid portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the wheeled base and the first module, the bottom portion of the second module supported by the top lid portion of the first module;

the second module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets,

wherein the top portion of the first module defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the bottom portion of the second module, and wherein the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the bottom portion of the first module; and

wherein the pair of rotatable handles of the first module are configured to rotate and engage corresponding locking mechanisms on the second module to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked;

a network connection system located in the wheeled base, the network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors, wherein the wheeled base is adapted to detachably support the first and second modules in a stacked arrangement, and wherein the first and second modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.

17. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

18. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein the internal compartment includes a fan and a vent.

19. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of storage slots of the first module have docking stations for connecting to the first portion of the plurality of tablets.