Tablet storage and transportation device

• US 10,476,285 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• 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 Christopher, Funk, Joseph, Tischer, William Dale, Segar, Peter, Prince, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinclair, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milliser, Theron S
• Application Number:
  US16/017,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20180375354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 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 system 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;

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 configured to rotate and engage corresponding locking mechanisms on the second tablet storage module to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked, wherein rotation of the handles is configured to rotate and engage the locking mechanisms on the second tablet storage module to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked; and

a plurality of storage slots within an interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets,

wherein the first tablet storage module includes connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.

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

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

5. The tablet storage system 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 system of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage module identical to the first tablet storage module and having a plurality of storage slots adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets.

7. The tablet storage system 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 system of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage identical to the first tablet storage module and having a plurality of storage slots 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 system 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 system of claim 1,

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 system of claim 1, further comprising:

the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein;

the first and second tablet storage modules including a second locking mechanism 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 storage system for holding a plurality of electronic devices, 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 electronic device storage modules in a vertically stacked arrangement;

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

the plurality of electronic device storage modules configured to hold the plurality of electronic devices, each of the plurality of electronic device storage modules including a pair of rotatable handles, a pair of locking mechanisms, and each of the plurality of electronic device storage modules having a plurality of storage slots within an interior space adapted to hold a portion of the plurality of electronic device,

wherein the storage slots of the plurality of electronic device storage modules include connectors for connecting the plurality of electronic device to the power supply system, and

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

13. The storage system of claim 12, wherein:

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

14. The storage system of claim 12, wherein a top portion of a first one of the electronic device storage modules defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of a bottom portion of a second one of the electronic device 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 a bottom portion of the first one of the tablet storage modules.

15. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the wheeled base includes a network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each electronic device that is connected to one of the connectors.

16. The storage system of claim 15, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

17. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the internal compartment of the wheel base includes a fan and a vent.

18. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of storage slots include docking stations for connecting to the plurality of electronic devices.

19. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electronic devices include tablet devices.