Computer docking drawer
First Claim
1. A docking apparatus which docks a portable computer, comprising:
- a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and sliding within the opening between an open position and a closed position; and
a docking connector for serving as an electrical interface for interfacing with the portable computer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable computer is docked within a drawer concealing the computer from view and minimizing use of scarce desktop space. The drawer includes a docking platform with a docking connector. The computer is positioned on the platform at a desired alignment position. The computer includes a docking connector for mating to the drawer'"'"'s docking connector. The action of closing the drawer causes the computer docking connector and drawer docking connector to mate. The drawer docking connector is electrically coupled to an expansion unit which has ports or other interfaces for coupling to a display, full-size keyboard, network resources and peripheral devices, such as a printer, CD-ROM, and floppy disk drive.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A docking apparatus which docks a portable computer, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and sliding within the opening between an open position and a closed position; and
a docking connector for serving as an electrical interface for interfacing with the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A docking apparatus for docking a portable computer, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and moving within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer; and
means for coupling movement of the drawer to docking and undocking of the computer, wherein the computer is docked by closing the drawer to a prescribed position.
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8. A docking apparatus for docking a portable computer, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and moving within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer;
a platform located within the drawer and upon which the portable computer rests while docked, in which the platform includes the docking connector; and
a ramp having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion rotatably coupled to the platform, the ramp having a relaxed position in which the distal portion is elevated relative to the platform and a depressed position in which the distal portion is rotated down to the platform upward surface, wherein the docking connector protrudes beyond a height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the depressed position and protrudes less than the height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the relaxed position, wherein the docking connector is positioned relative to the ramp so as not to contact the portable computer while the ramp is in the relaxed position. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A docking apparatus and portable computer combination, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and sliding within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a first docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer; and
a second docking connector in the portable computer which connects to the first docking connector while the portable computer is docked. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A docking apparatus and portable computer combination, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and moving within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a first docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer;
a second docking connector in the portable computer which connects to the first docking connector while the portable computer is docked; and
means for coupling movement of the drawer to docking and undocking of the computer, wherein the computer is docked by closing the drawer to a prescribed position.
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15. A docking apparatus and portable computer combination, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and moving within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a first docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer;
a second docking connector in the portable computer which connects to the first docking connector while the portable computer is docked;
a platform located within the drawer and upon which the portable computer rests while docked, in which the platform includes the docking connector; and
a ramp having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion rotatably coupled to the platform, the ramp having a relaxed position in which the distal portion is elevated relative to the platform and a depressed position in which the distal portion is rotated down to the platform upward surface, wherein the docking connector protrudes beyond a height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the depressed position and protrudes less than the height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the relaxed position, wherein the docking connector is positioned relative to the ramp so as not to contact the portable computer while the ramp is in the relaxed position. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for docking a portable computer, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a computer into a drawer; and
manually closing the drawer, wherein the step of manually closing the drawer moves a first docking connector of the portable computer into electrical connection with a second docking connector electrically linked to a computer peripheral device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
moving the portable computer into a prescribed alignment position in which the first docking connector is vertically aligned with an engagement position of the second docking connector.
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19. The method of claim 18, in which a ramp having a proximal portion and a distal portion is coupled to the platform at the ramp'"'"'s proximal portion, the ramp having a relaxed position in which the distal portion is elevated relative to the platform and a depressed position in which the distal portion is rotated down to the platform upward surface, wherein the second docking connector protrudes beyond a height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the depressed position and protrudes less than the height of the ramp relative to the platform while the ramp is in the relaxed position, wherein the second docking connector is positioned relative to the ramp so as not to contact the portable computer while the ramp is in the relaxed position, wherein the step of moving the portable computer comprises the steps of sliding the portable computer along the platform and onto the ramp.
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20. A docking apparatus and portable computer combination, comprising:
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a furnishing having a desktop surface and an opening;
a drawer for receiving the portable computer, the drawer located away from the desktop surface and moving within the opening between an open position and a closed position;
a first docking connector which serves as an electrical interface with the portable computer;
a second docking connector in the portable computer;
wherein movement of the drawer from the open position toward the closed position connects the first docking connector and the second docking connector.
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Specification