Computer docking station with retractable release lever

• US 6,185,095 B1
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Derocher, Michael D., Helot, Jacques H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, TUNG M
• Application Number:
  US09/141,942
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, D14/107, D14/434, 395/281, 395/282, 395/283, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A computer docking station for a portable computer has an enclosure to mate physically and electrically with the portable computer. The enclosure has a docking tray upon which the portable computer rests when docked. One or more slideable engagement members are mounted to slide on the docking tray to engage the portable computer when the computer is being docked. The engagement members slide as the computer is moved to the docked position to securely hold the portable computer in the docking station. A link mechanism internal of the enclosure is connected to move the engagement members between the undocked and docked positions. A lever is provided to allow a user to actuate the link mechanism. The lever is movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to the user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user. In the unexposed position, the lever is retracted into the enclosure. A lever release mechanism is provided to transition the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position. Upon actuation, the docking station informs the portable computer of an impending undocking action to give the portable computer adequate time to prepare for undocking. The lever release mechanism delays movement of the lever until receiving a message from the portable computer indicating readiness for undocking. Once the portable computer is ready, the lever release mechanism moves the lever to the exposed position for accessibility by the user.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure configured to dock the portable computer;

a mechanism to engage and hold the portable computer in a docked position relative to the enclosure and to release the portable computer in an undocked position; and

a lever for actuating the mechanism to control docking and undocking of the portable computer, the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user.

2. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the lever is retracted into the enclosure in the unexposed position.

3. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a docking tray to support the portable computer and the lever extends along side the docking tray in the exposed position and is retracted into the enclosure in the unexposed position.

4. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the lever slides between the exposed and unexposed positions in a direction approximately parallel with a direction in which the portable computer moves between the docked and undocked positions.

5. A docking station as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for locking the lever in the unexposed position.

6. A docking station as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lever release mechanism to move the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position.

7. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein upon actuation of the lever release mechanism, the portable computer is informed of an impending undocking to give the portable computer adequate time to prepare for undocking, the lever release mechanism delaying movement of the lever until receiving a message from the portable computer indicating readiness for undocking.

8. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure configured to dock the portable computer;

a mechanism to engage and hold the portable computer in a docked position relative to the enclosure and to release the portable computer in an undocked position;

a lever for actuating the mechanism to control docking and undocking of the portable computers the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user; and

a lever release mechanism to move the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position, wherein the lever release mechanism includes an undock button, which upon activation causes the lever release mechanism to move the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position.

9. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure configured to dock the portable computer;

a mechanism to engage and bold the portable computer in a docked position relative to the enclosure and to release the portable computer in an undocked position;

a lever for actuating the mechanism to control docking and undocking of the portable computer, the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user, wherein the lever has a tab to provide a grip location for the user; and

a counter tab spaced from the lever to provide a second grip location for the user to apply a counter force when moving the lever.

10. A docking station as recited in claim 9, wherein the counter tab is movable between a retracted position and a non-retracted position.

11. A docking station as recited in claim 9, wherein the enclosure has a docking tray to support the portable computer and the counter tab rotates between a flush position in which the counter tab is flush with the docking tray and a projected position in which the counter tab projects upwardly from the docking tray.

12. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure having a docking tray to dock a portable computer;

at least one slideable engagement member slidably mounted in the tray of the enclosure to engage the portable computer in an undocked position and to slide and hold the portable computer in a docked position;

a mechanism connected to move the engagement member between the undocked and docked positions;

a lever for actuating the mechanism, the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user;

a lever release mechanism to move the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position; and

whereupon actuation of the lever release mechanism, the portable computer is informed of an impending undocking to give the portable computer adequate time to prepare for undocking, the lever release mechanism delaying movement of the lever.

13. A docking station as recited in claim 12, wherein the lever is retracted into the enclosure in the unexposed position.

14. A docking station as recited in claim 12, wherein the lever extends along side the docking tray in the exposed position and is retracted into the enclosure in the unexposed position.

15. A docking station as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for locking the lever in the unexposed position.

16. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure having a docking tray to dock a portable computer;

at least one slideable engagement member slidably mounted in the tray of the enclosure to engage the portable computer in an undocked position and to slide and hold the portable computer in a docked position;

a mechanism connected to move the engagement member between the undocked and docked positions;

a lever for actuating the mechanism, the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user for actuating the mechanism and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user, wherein the lever has a tab to provide a grip location for the user;

a counter tab spaced from the lever to provide a second grip location for the user to apply a counter force when moving the lever;

a lever release mechanism to move the lever from the unexposed position to the exposed position;

whereupon actuation of the lever release mechanism, the portable computer is informed of an impending undocking to give the portable computer adequate time to prepare for undocking, the lever release mechanism delaying movement of the lever.

17. A docking station as recited in claim 16, wherein the counter tab is movable between a retracted position and a non-retracted position.

18. A docking station as recited in claim 16, wherein the counter tab rotates between a flush position in which the counter tab is flush with the docking tray and a projected position in which the counter tab projects upwardly from the docking tray.

19. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

an enclosure having a docking tray to dock a portable computer;

a release lever to release the portable computer from the enclosure; and

a retractable tab spaced from the lever to provide a grip location for the user to apply a force when moving the lever, the retractable tab being movable between a flush position in which the counter tab is flush with the docking tray and a projected position in which the counter tab projects upwardly from the docking tray.

20. A docking mechanism for computer docking station, comprising:

at least one engagement member to engage a portable computer;

a mechanical assembly connected to move the engagement member from an undocked position in which the portable computer is undocked from the docking station to a docked position in which the portable computer is docked at the docking station;

a lever connected to actuate the mechanical assembly, the lever being movable between an exposed position in which the lever is accessible to a user and an unexposed position in which the lever is inaccessible to the user.

21. A docking station comprising the docking mechanism as recited in claim 20.