Docking station

• US 20060092605A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Paul, Moore, Earl, DeLuga, Ronald E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

One exemplary docking station has a surface for receiving a portable computer, with a wall and a latch projecting from the receiving surface. The latch is movable towards and away from the wall, is resiliently biased towards the wall, and has an overhang that can engage a striker plate of a portable computer when the latch is moved towards the wall, so that the overhang restrains the striker plate against movement away from the receiving surface. The overhang can release the striker plate when the latch is moved away from the wall. A release actuator operable by a user engages the latch so that operation of the release actuator causes the latch to move away from the wall.

Claims

1. A docking station, comprising:

a receiving surface for receiving a portable computer;

a wall projecting from the receiving surface;

a latch projecting from the receiving surface, wherein the latch is movable towards and away from the wall, is resiliently biased towards the wall, and has an overhang;

wherein said overhang can engage a striker plate of the portable computer when said latch is moved towards the wall, said overhang restraining the striker plate against movement away from the receiving surface; and

wherein said overhang can release the striker plate when said latch is moved away from the wall; and

a release actuator operable by a user to cause the latch to move away from the wall.

2. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the release actuator is arranged to be locked, wherein locking of the release actuator prevents operation of the release actuator to cause the latch to move away from the wall but locking of the release actuator does not prevent the latch moving away from the wall.

3. A docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a rib surrounding the latch and including said wall.

4. A docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a second latch and wall.

5. A docking station according to claim 4, further comprising a single said release actuator so engaging both said latches that operation of said single release actuator causes both said latches to move away from their respective said walls.

6. A docking station according to claim 4, wherein said latches are movable away from their respective walls independently of one another.

7. A combination of a docking station and personal computer, comprising:

a receiving surface on the docking station for receiving the portable computer;

a wall and a latch projecting from the receiving surface;

an opening in the portable computer for receiving the wall and latch, having a striking surface for the latch;

wherein the latch is movable towards and away from the wall and is resiliently biased towards the wall;

wherein the latch has an overhang;

wherein said overhang can engage the striking surface of the portable computer so that said latch restrains the computer in a docked position against movement away from the receiving surface,

wherein said overhang releases the striking surface when said latch is moved away from the wall; and

wherein the latch is arranged to deflect away from the wall to permit movement of the computer towards the receiving surface into the docked position; and

a release actuator in the docking station operable by a user to cause the latch to move away from the wall.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the release actuator is arranged to be locked, wherein locking of the release actuator prevents operation of the release actuator causing the latch to move away from the wall but does not prevent the latch deflecting away from the wall to permit movement of the computer towards the receiving surface into the docked position.

9. A combination according to claim 7, further comprising a lock that locks the release actuator and that is arranged to lock the docking station to an external structure.

10. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the docking station comprises a rib surrounding the latch and including said wall.

11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the rib fits in said opening in the portable computer and prevents movement of said computer parallel to said receiving surface in the docked position.

12. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the striking surface includes a striker plate that in the docked position overhangs said wall.

13. A docking station comprising:

a supporting surface against which a portable computer can rest;

an opening in the supporting surface;

a rib surrounding the opening;

a latch projecting through the opening, and having a beak, the latch being movable between a latching position in which the beak overhangs the rib and an unlatching position in which the beak does not overhang the rib;

the latch being biased into the latching position;

a user-operable release member to move the latch into the unlatching position; and

a locking mechanism arranged to prevent operation of the release member without preventing movement of the latch.

14. A docking station according to claim 13, further comprising a second said latch surrounded by a second said rib.

15. A docking station according to claim 14, comprising a single said release member, wherein said single release member is user-operable to move both said latches into the unlatching position.

16. A docking station according to claim 14, wherein said latches are independently movable into the unlatching position.

17. A combination of a portable computer and a docking station, comprising:

a surface on the docking station for receiving the portable computer;

an opening in said surface;

a rib surrounding the opening;

a latch projecting through the opening, and having a beak, the latch being movable between a latching position in which the beak overhangs the rib and an unlatching position in which the beak does not overhang the rib;

the latch being biased into the latching position;

a user-operable release member to move the latch into the unlatching position;

a key-lockable locking mechanism arranged to prevent operation of the release member without preventing movement of the latch;

a socket in the portable computer arranged in a docking position to receive the rib and the latch; and

a striker plate in the socket positioned in the docking position to overhang the rib, to be overhung by the beak of the latch in the latching position, and to pass the beak in the unlatching position;

the striker plate and the beak being arranged to engage when the portable computer is moved into the docking position so as to move the latch into the unlatching position and allow the striker plate to pass the beak.

18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein the docking station further comprises a second said latch surrounded by a second said rib on the docking station.

19. A combination according to claim 18, comprising a single said release member so engaging both said latches that operation of said single release member moves both said latches into the unlatching position.

20. A combination according to claim 18, wherein said latches are independently movable into the unlatching position.

21. A docking station, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a portable computer;

engaging means for permitting said portable computer to move towards said receiving means, releasably engaging said portable computer, and preventing movement of said portable computer away from said receiving means;

releasing means for causing said engaging means to release said portable computer; and

excluding means for preventing manipulation of said engaging means without using said releasing means to release said portable computer.

22. A docking station according to claim 21, comprising means for locking said releasing means for preventing operation of the releasing means without preventing said engaging means permitting said portable computer to move towards said receiving means and releasably engaging said portable computer.

23. A combination of a docking station and personal computer, comprising:

receiving means on the docking station for receiving the portable computer;

engaging means on the docking station for permitting said portable computer to move towards said receiving means, releasably engaging said portable computer, and preventing movement of said portable computer away from said receiving means;

co-engaging means on the portable computer for co-operating with the engaging means releasably engaging said portable computer, and preventing movement of said portable computer away from said receiving means;

releasing means for causing said engaging means to release said portable computer; and

excluding means for preventing manipulation of said engaging means without using said biasing means to release said portable computer.

24. A combination according to claim 23, further comprising locking means for preventing operation of the releasing means without preventing said engaging means permitting said portable computer to move towards said receiving means and releasably engaging said portable computer.