COMPUTER DOCKING STATION

• US 20110134602A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamber-Johnson LLC
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tarnoff, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• 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: Y10T 70/5611 For control and machine elements

Abstract

A computer docking station includes a body having a cradle portion configured to support a portion of a portable computer and having a connector operable to electrically couple with a docking connector of the portable computer. The body further includes an arm portion. A latching member is coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station. The latching member includes a cam surface and automatically moves from the second position to the first position as the portable computer is inserted into the docking station, and automatically moves from the first position to the second position once the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station.

Claims

1. A computer docking station for supporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer that includes a docking connector, the docking station comprising:

a body having

a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer and having a connector operable to electrically couple with the docking connector of the portable computer; and

an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion; and

a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station;

wherein the latching member automatically moves from the second position to the first position as the portable computer is inserted into the docking station, and automatically moves from the first position to the second position once the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station; and

wherein the latching member includes a cam surface engageable by the portable computer as the portable computer is being inserted into the docking station to automatically move the latching member from the second position to the first position.

2. The computer docking station of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member biasing the latching member toward the second position.

3. The computer docking station of claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism operable to selectively lock the latching member in the second position.

4. The computer docking station of claim 3, wherein the lock mechanism is at least partially received in the arm portion.

5. The computer docking station of claim 1, further comprising an activation member manually operable to move the latching member to the first position.

6. The computer docking station of claim 1, wherein the cradle portion includes a base wall operable to engage and support an edge of the portable computer, and wherein the connector is coupled to the base wall.

7. The computer docking station of claim 6, wherein the arm portion extends from the body in a direction generally parallel to the base wall.

8. The computer docking station of claim 6, wherein the base wall includes at least one aperture formed therein.

9. The computer docking station of claim 6, further comprising at least one flange extending from the base wall and having a first portion that extends in a direction generally normal to the base wall.

10. The computer docking station of claim 9, wherein the at least one flange includes a second portion that extends in a direction oblique to the base wall to facilitate insertion of the portable computer into the cradle portion.

11. The computer docking station of claim 6, wherein the base wall transitions into opposing side walls that also define the cradle portion and engage oppositely-facing edges of the portable computer.

12. The computer docking station of claim 6, wherein the cradle portion further includes a rear wall intersecting the base wall, the rear wall including alignment projections positioned to align with recesses in the portable computer to align the portable computer in the docking station.

13. The computer docking station of claim 6, wherein the cradle portion further includes a rear wall intersecting the base wall, the rear wall transitioning into a transition portion of the body that couples the arm portion and the cradle portion.

14. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein the transition portion is at least partially contoured to generally conform to and receive a rear surface of the portable computer.

15. The computer docking station of claim 6, further comprising at least one grounding pin extending from the base wall.

16. The computer docking station of claim 1, further comprising a connection module coupled with the cradle portion to provide electrical connections to the docking station.

17. A computer docking station for supporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer that includes a docking connector, the docking station comprising:

a body having

a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer and having a connector operable to electrically couple with the docking connector of the portable computer; and

an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion; and

a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station;

a biasing member biasing the latching member toward the second position;

an activation member manually operable to move the latching member to the first position; and

a lock mechanism operable to selectively lock the latching member in the second position;

wherein the latching member automatically moves from the second position to the first position as the portable computer is inserted into the docking station, and automatically moves from the first position to the second position once the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station; and

wherein the latching member includes a cam surface engageable by the portable computer as the portable computer is being inserted into the docking station to automatically move the latching member from the second position to the first position.

18. The computer docking station of claim 17, wherein the cradle portion includes a base wall operable to engage and support an edge of the portable computer, and wherein the connector is coupled to the base wall.

19. The computer docking station of claim 18, wherein the arm portion extends from the body in a direction generally parallel to the base wall.

20. The computer docking station of claim 18, wherein the cradle portion further includes a rear wall intersecting the base wall, the rear wall transitioning into a transition portion of the body that couples the arm portion and the cradle portion, the transition portion being at least partially contoured to generally conform to and receive a rear surface of the portable computer.