PORTABLE COMPUTER VEHICLE DOCK

• US 20140285963A1
• Filed: 09/30/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InTal Tech Ltd.
• Original Assignee: InTal Tech Ltd.
• Inventors: Vasilevsky, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,298,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/185 using levers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

An automatically-lockable, shock absorbing dock for a portable computer, the dock comprising: a top plate configured to receive a portable computer, said top plate comprising: an automatic locking mechanism for securing the portable computer to said top plate, a set of connectivity ports, and a port replicator configured to connect the portable computer to the set of connectivity ports; and multiple pairs of shock absorbers connected to a bottom surface of said top plate and configured to connect to a target surface, wherein each pair of shock absorbers is coaxially-positioned and connected to opposite sides of said bottom surface, and wherein each shock absorber has an essentially equal resiliency in its x, y and z axes.

Claims

1. An automatically-lockable, shock absorbing dock for a portable computer, the dock comprising:

a top plate configured to receive a portable computer, said top plate comprising;

an automatic locking mechanism for securing the portable computer to said top plate, a set of connectivity ports, and a port replicator configured to connect the portable computer to the set of connectivity ports; and

multiple pairs of shock absorbers connected to a bottom surface of said top plate and configured to connect to a target surface, wherein each pair of shock absorbers is coaxially-positioned and connected to opposite sides of said bottom surface, and wherein each shock absorber has an essentially equal resiliency in its x, y and z axes.

2. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises:

at least one hook for securing a first side of the portable computer to said top plate; and

an automatically-lockable handle positioned essentially opposite of said at least one hook, said handle comprising a driving lever, a handle locking tab and an object locking tab.

3. The dock according to claim 2, wherein said handle locking tab is configured to maintain said handle in an open and locked position in the absence of the portable computer.

4. The dock according to claim 2, wherein said driving lever is configured to be pushed downwards when engaged by the portable computer, to cause said object locking tab to secure the portable computer from a second side, and to cause said handle locking tab to maintain said handle in a closed and locked position.

5. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said multiple pairs of shock absorbers comprise two pairs of shock absorbers.

6. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said pairs of shock absorbers are positioned such that a center of gravity of the portable computer is essentially at an intersection of a central axis of each of said pairs of shock absorbers.

7. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said pairs of shock absorbers are positioned such that a center of gravity of a combination of the portable computer and the dock is essentially at an intersection of a central axis of each of said pairs.

8. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said port replicator comprises a computer connector and a printed circuit board (PCB).

10. The dock according to claim 1, wherein said top plate further comprises a peripheral skirt configured to peripherally protect said set of connectivity ports and said port replicator.

11. The dock according to claim 10, wherein said multiple pairs of shock absorbers are connected to said bottom surface of said top plate peripherally, through said skirt and a bottom guard plate connected to said skirt,

wherein said bottom guard plate is configured to protect said set of connectivity ports and said port replicator from below.

12. The dock according to claim 11, wherein said top plate and said skirt are integrally formed, and wherein a gasket is provided between said skirt and said bottom guard plate, to seal an internal space of said dock against fluids.

17. The dock according to claim 12, wherein said gasket is disposed inside a trench in said skirt, and said bottom guard plate comprises a protrusion matching said trench, to enhance EMI shielding.

18. The dock according to claim 12, wherein said gasket is disposed inside a trench in said bottom guard plate, and said skirt comprises a protrusion matching said trench, to enhance EMI shielding.

19. The dock according to claim 1, further comprising a Faraday cage for containing a power supplier of said port replicator, wherein said Faraday cage is configured to block EMI generated by said power supplier.

9. (canceled)

13-16. -16. (canceled)

20. An automatic locking mechanism for securing an object to a mounting surface, the automatic locking mechanism comprising:

at least one hook for securing a first side of the object to the mounting surface; and

an automatically-lockable handle positioned essentially opposite of said at least one hook, said handle comprising an object locking tab, a driving lever and a handle locking tab, wherein said handle locking tab is configured to maintain said handle in an open and locked position in the absence of the object, and wherein said driving lever is configured to be pushed downwards when engaged by the object, to cause said object locking tab to secure the object, and to cause said handle locking tab to maintain said handle in a closed and locked position.

21. A suspension mechanism comprising multiple pairs of shock absorbers configured to interface between a suspended object and a target surface, wherein each pair of shock absorbers is coaxially-positioned and connected to opposite sides of said suspended object, and wherein each shock absorber has an essentially equal resiliency in its x, y and z axes.

22. The suspension mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said pairs of shock absorbers are positioned such that a center of gravity of the suspended object is essentially at an intersection of a central axis of each of said pairs of shock absorbers.

23. The suspension mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said pairs of shock absorbers are positioned such that a center of gravity of a combination of the suspended object and the suspension mechanism is essentially at an intersection of a central axis of each of said pairs.

24. The suspension mechanism according to claim 21, wherein each of said shock absorbers comprises a flexible interface connecting two opposing parts.

25. The suspension mechanism according to claim 24, further comprising a hinge threaded through said flexible interface and said two opposing parts, so as to secure said two opposing parts together upon structural failure of said flexible interface.