Docking mechanisms and methods of restraining two portions of a computing device

• US 10,303,214 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rosen, David Ian, Gault, Joseph Benjamin, Ambriz Rios, Cesar, Hillyerd, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/785,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20190113950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 36167929, 36167941, 36167958
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/14 using wedges
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/16 with grooves or notches in the pin or shaft
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking mechanism is described. The docking mechanism may include a locking protrusion and a locking receptacle configured to receive the locking protrusion and having an inclined surface. The docking mechanism may include a wedging member abutting the inclined surface. The docking mechanism may include a locking detent. The locking detent may have a spring configured to bias the locking detent towards the locking protrusion. Computing devices that include docking mechanisms are also described. Methods of use of the docking mechanisms are also described.

Claims

1. A docking mechanism, comprising:

a locking protrusion;

a locking receptacle configured to receive the locking protrusion and having an inclined surface;

a wedging member abutting the inclined surface; and

a locking detent located within the locking receptacle, the locking detent having a spring configured to bias the locking detent towards the locking protrusion.

2. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wedging member and the locking detent are in surface contact with the locking protrusion.

3. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wedging member and the locking detent are in line contact with the locking protrusion.

4. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wedging member and the locking detent are in point contact with the locking protrusion.

5. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wedging member and the locking detent are in at least partial surface contact with the locking protrusion.

6. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member and the locking detent are both in line contact with the locking protrusion.

7. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member and the locking detent are both in point contact with the locking protrusion.

8. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member is in line contact with the inclined surface.

9. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member is in point contact with the inclined surface.

10. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member includes a curved surface.

11. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member includes a curved back surface.

12. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wedging member includes a curved front surface.

13. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein a first coefficient of friction between the wedging member and the inclined surface is the same as a second coefficient of friction between the wedging member and the locking protrusion.

14. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein a first coefficient of friction between the wedging member and the inclined surface is between 0.2 and 0.4.

15. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the locking detent, the wedging member, and the locking protrusion cooperate to retain the locking protrusion within the locking receptacle until a separation force of greater than 28 Newtons is applied.

16. The docking mechanism of claim 15, wherein the separation force is less than 50 Newtons is applied.

17. The docking mechanism of claim 1, further comprising one or more magnets, wherein the one or more magnets, the locking detent, the wedging member, and the locking protrusion cooperate to retain the locking protrusion within the locking receptacle until a separation force of greater than 28 Newtons is applied.

18. The docking mechanism of claim 1, wherein a height of the locking protrusion is less than 5 mm.

19. A computing device, comprising:

a locking protrusion;

a locking receptacle configured to receive the locking protrusion and having an inclined surface;

a wedging member having a spring configured to bias the wedging member toward the locking protrusion, at least a portion of a front surface of the wedging member being curved and at least a portion of a back surface of the wedging member being curved, the curved portion of the back surface abutting the inclined surface in a restraining state, the curved portion of the front surface abutting the locking protrusion in a biased state; and

a locking detent having a spring configured to bias the detent towards the locking protrusion, one or more of the wedging member and the locking protrusion or the locking detent and the locking protrusion being in line to surface, point to surface, line to line, point to line, or point to point contact.

20. A method for restraining two portions of a computing device, comprising:

inserting a locking protrusion of a first portion into a locking receptacle of a second portion, the locking receptacle having an inclined surface, a wedging member abutting the inclined surface, and a locking detent within the locking receptacle, the locking detent having a spring configured to bias the locking detent towards the locking protrusion;

applying a separation force between the first portion and the second portion;

if the separation force is less than 40 Newtons, resisting separation of the first portion from the second portion; and

if the separation force is greater than 50 Newtons, separating the first portion from the second portion.