Docking station for a portable computer

• US 5,347,425 A
• Filed: 10/15/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Herron, Matt, Blakely, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/961,236
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 361/336-339, 361/380, 361/390-395, 361/399, 361/679-689, 361/724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A first embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing for a docking station for use with a portable computer. The docking station provides the portable computer with increased display and data storage capabilities. In use, a portable computer is inserted into the docking slot of the docking station. Additionally, a large cathode ray tube display is place on top of the housing for the docking station in typical user scenario. As docking and undocking must not be hindered by the presence of a large display on top of the housing for the docking station, the housing is provided with internally mounted cross beams that distribute the weight of the display around a computer supporting skeleton and through a set of support columns into the surface the housing for the docking station is resting upon. This reinforcing cross beams and columns structure allows the housing for the docking station to support without deformation relatively large displays without being excessive in weight of size.

Claims

1. A housing for a docking station receiving a portable computer and supporting a load comprising a display monitor thereon, the portable computer being capable of insertion into and removal from the docking station without binding interference due to deformation of the docking station due to the load of the display monitor, the housing comprising:

a top case with a top surface having a top and a bottom, right and left sides and a rear wall;

a skeleton and docking platform assembly for receiving and supporting the portable computer when said portable computer is inserted into the docking station;

a base casing with a bottom surface and front, rear, right, and left sides, the skeleton and docking platform assembly mounting on the bottom surface, the top case mounting atop the base casing and substantially enclosing the skeleton and docking platform assembly to form a rigid unit to support said display monitor thereon, the top case, the skeleton and docking platform assembly, and the base casing together defining a rectangular opening above the front side of the base casing through which rectangular opening the portable computer is passed when being docked to the docking station;

at least first and second cross beams having opposing ends mounted on the bottom of the top case, the first and second cross beams being spaced apart and extending from the right side to the left side of the top case above the rectangular opening;

at least first, second, third, and fourth columns each having a top and a bottom, said first and second columns mounted against the right side of the base casing and said third and fourth columns mounted against said left side of the base casing such that each of said columns forms a substantially perpendicular support for one of the opposing ends of the cross beams, the tops of the columns contacting the opposing ends of the cross beams so that the load imposed by the display monitor will be supported by the first and second cross beams in the top case and then directed into the first, second, third, and fourth columns and thence into the bottom surface of the base casing;

the top surface of the top case of the housing resisting deformation due to the load of the display monitor, the housing thereby not interfering with insertion and removal of the portable computer within said rectangular opening.