Mobile portable computer docking/office station

• US 5,966,285 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sellers, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/869,529
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 248/183, 248/503, 248/503.1, 248/183.1-183.4, 108/44, 297/188.01, 297/188.2, 364/708.1, 224/275, 224/929
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A mobile portable computer docking/office station is adapted for use in an automotive vehicle or a hotel room and includes a portable housing which may be rested on a car or truck seat. The housing is shaped to resemble a child'"'"'s car seat, and has exterior side surface indentations which receive portions of the vehicle'"'"'s passenger side seat belt structure to hold the housing in place on the vehicle seat. A docking area is formed in the housing and is provided with an electrical connector that mates with a corresponding connector on a portable computer when the computer is operatively inserted into the docking area. A printer/scanner unit, a cellular modem, a pair of speakers, and a computer battery charger are carried by the housing and are operatively coupled to the docking area connector. DC electrical power may be transmitted to these components by a self-retracting power cord carried by the housing and having an outer end member that may be plugged into the vehicle'"'"'s cigarette lighter. A cellular phone is also included with the docking/office station and is removably supportable in a cradle recess formed in the housing portion of the portable docking/office station.

Claims

1. Mobile portable computer docking/office station apparatus comprising:

a portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area;

data transfer apparatus, carried by said portable housing for inputting and outputting data in both hard copy and electronic formats;

coupling apparatus, carried by said portable housing for electrically interconnecting said data transfer apparatus to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area; and

a seat belt attachment structure carried by said portable housing and having an indented portion configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented portion having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and restrain movement of the received longitudinal seat belt portion relative to said portable housing in opposite directions transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a portable computer operatively receivable in said docking area and having a second electrical connector releasably mateable with said first electrical connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data transfer apparatus includes a printer/scanner structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said printer/scanner structure is carried within said portable housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data transfer apparatus includes a cellular modem.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cellular modem is carried within said portable housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery charger carried by said portable housing and being operative to receive and charge a computer battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said battery charger is carried within said portable housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one speaker carried by said portable housing; and

means for electrically coupling said at least one speaker to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cellular telephone cradle structure disposed on said portable housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a cellular telephone removably receivable by said cradle structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising power receiving apparatus, carried by said portable housing, for receiving electrical power from a source thereof and transferring the received electrical power to said coupling apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said power receiving means include a self-retractable power cable having a power-receiving outer end portion removably insertable into an automotive vehicle cigarette lighter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portable housing is sized to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said portable housing has a shape similar to that of a child'"'"'s car seat.

16. Mobile portable computer docking/office station apparatus comprising:

a portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area;

data transfer apparatus, carried by said portable housing, for inputting and outputting data in both hard copy and electronic formats; and

coupling apparatus, carried by said portable housing, for electrically interconnecting said data transfer apparatus to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area;

said portable housing being sized to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat and configured to facilitate the seat belt securement thereof on the automotive seat, said portable housing having at least one outer side surface depression configured to receive a portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing.

17. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat and being shaped to resemble a child'"'"'s car seat, said portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area; and

a seat belt attachment structure carried by said portable housing and having an indented portion configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented portion having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and restrain movement of the received longitudinal seat belt portion relative to said portable housing in opposite directions transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.

18. The computer apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a portable computer operatively receivable in said docking area and having a second electrical connector releasably mateable with said first electrical connector.

19. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat and being shaped to resemble a child'"'"'s car seat, said portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a sortable computer; and

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area,

said portable housing being configured to facilitate the seat belt securement of said portable housing to an automotive vehicle seat, said portable housing having at least one outer side surface depression formed in said portable housing and configured to receive a portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing.

20. Portable computer docking/workstation apparatus comprising a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat having a generally horizontally extending bottom portion and a generally vertically extending backrest portion, said portable housing having:

a base portion with a front side, a back side adapted to be positioned against the vehicle seat backrest portion, a top side, a bottom side adapted to be rested on the vehicle seat bottom portion, and left and right vertical sides extending between said top and bottom sides;

a top rear end portion extending upwardly from a rear part of said top side of said base portion;

a recess formed in said top side of said base portion, said recess being positioned forwardly of said top rear end portion, spaced horizontally inwardly from said left and right vertical sides, and defining in said base portion a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area; and

a securement structure for facilitating the seat belt securement of said portable housing to the vehicle seat, said securement structure including a seat belt attachment structure carried by said portable housing and having an indented portion configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented portion having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and restrain movement of the received longitudinal seat belt portion relative to said portable housing in opposite directions transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.

21. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a portable computer operatively receivable in said docking area and having a second electrical connector releasably mateable with said first electrical connector.

22. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

data transfer apparatus carried by said portable housing and operative to input and output data in both hard copy and electronic formats, and

coupling apparatus carried by said portable housing and operative to electrically interconnect said data transfer apparatus to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area.

23. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 22 further comprising power receiving apparatus, carried by said portable housing, for receiving electrical power from a source thereof and transferring the received electrical power to said coupling apparatus.

24. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a battery charger carried by said portable housing and being operative to receive and charge a computer battery.

25. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

at least one speaker carried by said portable housing, and

means for electrically coupling said at least one speaker to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area.

26. Portable computer docking/workstation apparatus comprising a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat having a generally horizontally extending bottom portion and a generally vertically extending backrest portion, said portable housing having:

a base portion with a front side, a back side adapted to be positioned against the vehicle seat backrest portion, a top side, a bottom side adapted to be rested on the vehicle seat bottom portion, and left and right vertical sides extending between said too and bottom sides;

a top rear end portion extending upwardly from a rear part of said top side of said base portion;

a recess formed in said top side of said base portion, said recess being positioned forwardly of said top rear end portion, spaced horizontally inwardly from said left and right vertical sides, and defining in said base portion a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area; and

a securement structure for facilitating the seat belt securement structure of said portable housing to the vehicle seat, said securement structure including at least one outer side surface indentation formed in said portable housing and configured to receive a portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing.

27. The portable computer docking/workstation apparatus of claim 26 wherein said at least one outer side surface indentation includes:

a first indentation formed in the front side of said top rear end portion of said portable housing and configured to receive a section of a shoulder portion of a seat belt, and

a second indentation formed in the front side of said base portion of said portable housing and configured to receive a section of a lap portion of a seat belt.

28. Mobile portable computer docking/office station apparatus comprising:

a portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area;

data transfer apparatus, carried by said portable housing for inputting and outputting data in both hard copy and electronic formats;

coupling apparatus, carried by said portable housing for electrically interconnecting said data transfer apparatus to the portable computer when it is operatively received in said docking area; and

means, associated with said portable housing, for defining an indented area configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented area having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and being operative to restrain the received longitudinal seat belt portion against movement relative to said portable housing in opposite directions generally transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.

29. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat and being shaped to resemble a child'"'"'s car seat, said portable housing having a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area; and

means, associated with said portable housing, for defining an indented area configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented area having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and being operative to restrain the received longitudinal seat belt portion against movement relative to said portable housing in opposite directions generally transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.

30. Portable computer docking/workstation apparatus comprising a portable housing adapted to rest atop an automotive vehicle seat having a generally horizontally extending bottom portion and a generally vertically extending backrest portion, said portable housing having:

a base portion with a front side, a back side adapted to be positioned against the vehicle seat backrest portion, a top side, a bottom side adapted to be rested on the vehicle seat bottom portion, and left and right vertical sides extending between said top and bottom sides;

a top rear end portion extending upwardly from a rear part of said top side of said base portion;

a recess formed in said top side of said base portion, said recess being positioned forwardly of said top rear end portion, spaced horizontally inwardly from said left and right vertical sides, and defining in said base portion a docking area for removably receiving a portable computer inserted thereinto;

a first electrical connector carried in said docking area and being removably mateable with a second electrical connector on the portable computer in response to insertion of the portable computer into said docking area; and

means, associated with said portable housing, for defining an indented area configured to complementarily receive a longitudinal portion of a seat belt looped around said portable housing, said indented area having facing abutment surfaces positioned and configured to be closely adjacent opposite portions of the received longitudinal seat belt portion and being operative to restrain the received longitudinal seat belt portion against movement relative to said portable housing in opposite directions generally transverse to the length of the received longitudinal seat belt portion.