Docking station with multi-function security feature

• US 6,047,572 A
• Filed: 08/07/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bliven, Robert Paul, Kinser, Ralph Waldo Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaterlaus, Clifford B
• Application Number:
  US08/908,540
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 70/58, 70/57, 70/62, 70/14, 70/18, 248/551, 248/553, 361/686, 361/732, 361/740, 361/759
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5027 Supporting stands

Abstract

A docking station for use with a portable electronic device and a docking system including such a docking station. The docking station includes a stand alone body that is configured to receive a complementary portable electronic device and includes support electronics therefor. The stand alone body is preferably further configured to define a generally transverse pass through opening of sufficient dimension to permit a security implement to be passed wholly through said body.

Claims

1. A docking station for use with a portable electronic device, comprising:

a stand alone body configured to receive a portable electronic device into a docked position;

means provided within said body for electronically communicating with a portable electronic device in the docked position;

a lock receptacle provided in an exterior surface of said body;

a lock extension mounted through said body at said lock receptacle, the lock extension being movable upon insertion of a security implement into said lock receptacle so as to protrude from another surface of said stand alone body to engage a portable electronic device in the docked position.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said lock extension comprises a rotatable T-shaped extension pin that is movable between an extended position in which the extension pin protrudes from said body and a withdrawn position in which the extension pin does not protrude from said body, the T-shaped extension pin being biased toward its withdrawn position.