Automobile computer dock

• US 6,381,133 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack Chen
• Original Assignee: Jack Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/425,924
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 361/724, 361/679, 312/21-30, 312/223--22, 307/10.1, 248/918, 701/1, 701/33, 701/208
• US Class Current: 361/679.42
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A computer dock for use in a vehicle has a retainer body suitable for mounting in the vehicle. A moveable member is moveable with respect to the body from a retracted position within the body to an extended position, and a mounting on the moveable members retains a notebook computer. The dock has a plurality of cables for connecting power from the vehicle and for connecting a cell phone and other facilities in the vehicle to the computer.

Claims

1. A dock for retaining a computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a power cable, said dock for use in a vehicle having a console behind which is a cavity accessible through an opening in said console, a front seat adjacent said console, and said vehicle further having an electrical system, said dock comprising

a housing sized to fit within said cavity,

first attachment means for attaching said housing to said vehicle and within said cavity,

a moveable member moveable with respect to said housing from a retracted position wherein said moveable member is within said housing, to an extended position wherein a portion of said moveable member extends through said opening in said console,

slide means in said housing and on said moveable means for providing linear sliding movement of said moveable means from said retracted position to said extended position,

a table having an attachment surface for retaining a computer thereto,

said attachment surface defining a plane,

pivot means between said moveable member and said table, and said pivot means for moving said table between a first position in which said plane of said table is parallel to the direction of said linear sliding movement of said moveable means to a second position in which said a screen of said computer retained to said attachment surface is visible to a passenger in said front seat, and

a cable for connecting power from said electrical system of said vehicle to said jack of said computer while said computer is attached to said table.

2. The dock of claim 1 wherein said moveable member is moveable to said retracted position with said computer attached thereto.

3. The dock of claim 1 and further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end connectable into said electrical systems of said vehicle,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack of said computer.

4. The dock of claim 1 for use in a vehicle having a global positioning detector, and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a global positioning detector, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said global positioning detector,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a connector for a global positioning detector.

5. The dock of claim 1 for use in a vehicle having a cellular telephone therein and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a telephone line, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said cellular telephone,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a telephone line.

6. The dock of claim 1 for use in a vehicle having a CD ROM and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a CD ROM, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said CD ROM,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a CD ROM.

7. The dock of claim 1 for use in a vehicle having a floppy disc reader and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a floppy disc reader, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said floppy disc reader,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a floppy disc reader.

8. The dock of claim 1 wherein said attachment means for releasably retaining saidcomputer includes a rotatable table, and means for retaining said computer to said table, said table rotatable from a first position in which a long side of said computer is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said moveable member to a second position where said long side of said computer is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

9. The dock of claim 1 for use in a vehicle having a global positioning detector, a cellular telephone, a CD ROM reader and a floppy disc reader, said computer having jacks for receiving connectors for a global positioning detector, a telephone line, a CD ROM reader and a floppy disc reader, said dock further comprising

a first cable having a first end connectable to said electric system of said vehicle and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a power cable,

a second cable having a first end attachable to said global positioning detector and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a global positioning detector,

a third cabling having a first end attachable to said cellular telephone and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for a telephone line,

a fourth cable having a first end attachable to said CD ROM reader and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a CD ROM reader, and

a fifth cable having a first end attachable to said floppy disc reader and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a floppy disc reader.

10. The dock for retaining a computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plane defined by said table is vertical when said table is in said second position.

11. The dock for retaining a computer in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising

rotating means on said table for rotating said computer mounted thereon about an axis perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said pivot means.

12. The dock for retaining a computer in accordance with claim 11 wherein said, said plain of said table is horizontal which said table is in said second portion.

13. A dock for retaining a computer having a jack for receiving a connection for a power cable, said dock for use in an automobile having a dashboard, a console forming a drivers foot well and a passenger foot well, and an electrical system, said dock comprising

a housing,

mounting means for mounting said housing against a surface in said passenger foot well of said automobile,

a moveable member moveable with respect to housing moveable from a retracted position wherein said moveable member is within said housing to an extended position wherein a portion of said moveable member extends outward of said housing, and

attachment means on said moveable member for releasably retaining said computer to said moveable member wherein said computer is moveable from a first position retracted within said housing while said housing is in said passenger foot well, to a second position exterior of said housing, where said computer is usable by a passenger in said automobile.

14. The dock of claim 13 wherein said housing will receive said moveable member with said computer attached thereto while said moveable member is in said retracted position.

15. The dock of claim 13 and further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end connectable into said electrical systems of said vehicle, and

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack of said computer.

16. The dock of claim 13 for use in a vehicle having a global positioning detector and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a global positioning detector, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said global positioning detector, and

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a connector for a global positioning detector.

17. The dock of claim 13 for use in a vehicle having a cellular telephone therein and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a telephone line, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said cellular telephone, and

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a telephone line.

18. A dock in accordance with claim 13 for use in a vehicle having a CD ROM and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a CD ROM, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said CD ROM,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a CD ROM.

19. The dock of claim 13 for use in a vehicle having a floppy disc reader and said computer having a jack for receiving a connector for a floppy disc reader, said dock further comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said cable connectable to said floppy disc reader,

said second end having a connector for attachment to said jack for receiving a floppy disc reader.

20. The dock of claim 13 wherein said computer has a long side, and said moveable member has a longitudinal axis, said attachment means further comprising

a retainer for releasably retaining said computer thereto,

a pivot between said moveable member and said retainer for pivoting said computer from a first orientation in which said long side of said computer is parallel with said axis of said moveable member and a second orientation in which said long side is vertically oriented.

21. The dock of claim 13 for use in a vehicle having a global position detector, a cellular telephone, a CD ROM reader and a floppy disc reader, said computer having jacks for receiving connectors for a global positioning detector, a telephone line, a CD ROM reader and a floppy disc reader, said dock further comprising

a first cable having a first end connectable to said electric system of said vehicle and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a power cable,

a second cable having a first end attachable to said global positioning detector and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a global positioning detector,

a third cable having a first end attachable to said cellular telephone and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for a telephone line,

a fourth cable having a first end attachable to said CD ROM reader and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a CD ROM reader, and

a fifth cable having a first end attachable to said floppy disc reader and a connector on a second end for attachment to said jack for receiving a floppy disc reader.