Docking stations

• US 10,061,353 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lo, Jose Ticy, Lalinde, Paul Roberto, Park, Chan, Moon, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/563,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075

Abstract

An example device docking station may comprise a base cradle and a rotatable block to engage with the base cradle in multiple set positions to define an insertion slot having a varying width to engage with an electronic device. The insertion slot may have a different width in at least one of the multiple set positions from another of the multiple set positions.

Claims

1. A device docking station, comprising:

a base cradle; and

a rotatable block to engage with the base cradle in multiple set positions to define an insertion slot having a varying width to engage with an electronic device;

wherein the insertion slot has a different width in at least one of the multiple set positions from another of the multiple set positions;

wherein the rotatable block includes multiple sides, wherein each of the multiple sides is to engage with the base cradle in one of the multiple set positions;

wherein each of the multiple sides of the rotatable block includes a keying feature, and the base cradle includes a complementary keying feature that can separately engage with each of the keying features of the rotatable block, wherein each keying feature has a different offset distance from an edge of the rotatable block.

2. The device docking station of claim 1, wherein the rotatable block includes three sides, wherein each of the three sides defines an insertion slot with a different width when engaged in the respective set position.

3. The device docking station of claim 2, wherein the rotatable block comprises a geometry of a generally equilateral triangle, and wherein each of the three sides defines an insertion slot that is generally 60 degrees from a horizontal plane.

4. The device docking station of claim 3, wherein the rotatable block includes an accessory to engage with the electronic device.

5. A device docking station, comprising:

a base cradle having a front lip; and

a rotatable block having multiple sides,

wherein each of the multiple sides can engage with the base cradle such that another of the multiple sides is generally opposing the front lip to define an insertion slot to receive an electronic device in between the front lip and the opposing side, and wherein each of the multiple sides defines an insertion slot with a different width;

wherein the rotatable block includes an accessory to engage with the electronic device.

6. The device docking station of claim 5, wherein the base cradle includes a communication port to engage with the electronic device, wherein the communication port is disposed within the insertion slot and in a fixed orientation and distance relative to the front lip.

7. The device docking station of claim 6, wherein the communication port is to engage with the electronic device within the insertion slot when any one of the multiple sides defines the insertion slot.

8. The device docking station of claim 5, wherein each of the multiple sides includes a keying feature that is to engage with a complementary keying feature disposed on the base cradle.

9. The device docking station of claim 8, wherein each of the keying features of the multiple sides has a different offset distance from an edge of the respective side, and wherein the offset distance of the keying feature on the side engaged with the base cradle is to define the width of the defined insertion slot.

10. A device docking station, comprising:

a base cradle having a partial insertion channel; and

a rotatable block having multiple sides,

wherein each of the multiple sides is to separately engage with the base cradle such that another of the multiple sides defines an insertion slot, with the partial insertion channel, to receive an electronic device, and

wherein each of the multiple sides is to define an insertion slot having a different width;

wherein the rotatable block includes an accessory to engage with the electronic device.

11. The device docking station of claim 10, wherein the base cradle includes a front lip, and wherein the front lip and the another of the multiple sides define the front and rear surfaces of the insertion slot, respectively.

12. The device docking station of claim 11, wherein each of the multiple sides includes a keying feature having a different offset distance from an edge of the respective side.

13. The device docking station of claim 12, wherein each keying feature is to separately engage with a complementary keying feature on the base cradle, wherein the offset distance of each keying feature is to determine the width of the respective defined insertion slot.