Portable device docking station

• US 7,298,611 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/480,666
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/322, 70/58, 70/19, 70/57, 710/304, 710/303, 361679-687, 361724-727, 439/131, 439/929, 439/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

An external expanding apparatus or “docking station” operable with a portable computer device of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof.

Claims

1. An external expanding apparatus operable with a portable computer of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

a body portion adapted for mounting to an external support structure, the body portion having a substantially rigid bearing plate formed with a substantially rectangular computer bearing surface on an outer face thereof and a guide mechanism on an inner face thereof opposite from the bearing surface, a computer receiver structure fixedly positioned adjacent to a front edge of the bearing surface and projected there above, and a passage through the bearing plate communicating between the inner and outer faces thereof and positioned between the front edge of the bearing surface and a rear edge thereof;

a pair of engaging pins sized to be matingly received into the pair of locating holes in the bottom surface of the casing of the portable computer, the engaging pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface at opposite corners thereof and adjacent to the rear edge thereof in positions for being matingly received into the pair of locating holes;

an expansion connector drive mechanism being movably coupled to the guide mechanism for moving relative to the inner face of the bearing plate, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising;

a substantially rigid frame having a handle and a follower mechanism structured to cooperate with the guide mechanism on the inner face of the bearing plate for moving the frame relative thereto,

an integral connector seat positioned adjacent to a first end of the frame,

an integral security plate positioned opposite the passage through the bearing plate and having a keyhole aperture therethrough, the keyhole aperture having a relatively narrow elongated slot portion and a relatively enlarged passage communicating therewith,

an integral catch mechanism positioned adjacent to a second end of the frame opposite from the connector seat,

a keeper coupled to the bearing plate and being structured for retaining the frame relative to the guide mechanism, and

the frame being operable between a first disengaged position having the connector seat spaced away from the bearing plate and the rear edge of the bearing surface, and a second engaged position having the connector seat positioned adjacent to the bearing plate and the rear edge of the bearing surface, with the elongated slot portion and enlarged passage of the keyhole being continuously substantially aligned with the passage through the bearing plate between the first disengaged position and the second engaged position;

a connector bracket coupled to the connector seat of the frame and projected above the bearing surface of the bearing plate, the connector bracket having a pair of substantially rigid guides in spaced-apart positions for engaging the pair of positioning apertures provided on the computer back plane on opposite sides of the peripheral component connector;

a computer expansion connector mounted on the connector bracket between the guides thereof, the computer expansion connector being structured to mate with the I/O connector of the computer;

a safety catch operable between the keyhole aperture in the integral security plate of the frame and an aperture through the bearing plate and biased toward the bearing plate, the safety catch having a first portion sized to pass through both the relatively narrow slot portion of the keyhole aperture in the security plate and the passage through the bearing plate, and a second portion sized to pass through the relatively enlarged passage of the keyhole aperture and being oversized relative to the relatively narrow slot portion; and

a latch mechanism operable between the catch mechanism of the frame and the body portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a substantially planar interface surface having the follower mechanism formed therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resilient retraction mechanism coupled between the frame of the expansion connector drive mechanism and the body portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the resilient retraction mechanism is further coupled between the second end of the frame and a rear portion of the body portion adjacent to the rear edge of the bearing surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion further comprises:

a peripheral device connector presentation surface having one or more interface connectors adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices; and

an external wire harness support positioned adjacent to the peripheral device connector presentation surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the external wire harness support further comprises a strain relief positioned on a different surface of the body portion and adjacent to the peripheral device connector presentation surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the external wire harness support further comprises a gang support spaced away from the strain relief and from the peripheral device connector presentation surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm structured with a first end portion that is pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the body portion adjacent to the rear edge of the bearing surface and is pivotable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the bearing plate, and

a display unit clamping mechanism adapted to clamp the display unit, the clamping mechanism positioned adjacent to a second end portion of the rigid support arm opposite from the first end portion, the clamping mechanism comprising:

a substantially rigid anvil having a convexly arcuate support surface extended substantially perpendicularly to the pivot plane of the support arm, and

a substantially rigid jaw that is rotatably coupled to the anvil, the jaw having a substantially rigid finger that is spaced away from the arcuate support surface of the anvil and is rotatable about an axis in the pivot plane of the support arm and crosswise to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, the finger being rotatable between a first position opposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, and a second position unopposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion further comprises:

a first and a second body portion connected along a line of mutual contact;

a pair of mating shapes formed between the first and second body portions along the line of mutual contact, the pair of mating shapes forming a hole communicating between interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions;

a nut pocket formed on the interior surface of one of the first and second body portions and being substantially aligned with the hole between interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions, the nut pocket having a plurality of spaced apart walls being fixed substantially perpendicularly to one or both of the interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions and forming therebetween a cavity having an opening to the exterior surface of one of the first and second body portions, the opening being sized to admit a mechanical nut thereinto with its threaded bore substantially perpendicular to one or both of the interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions, and the cavity being structured to accept the mechanical nut thereinto with its threaded bore aligned with the hole and being further structured to constrain the nut from turning.

10. An external expanding apparatus for expanding the function of a portable electronic device having a device body provided with an input/output (I/O) connector, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body having a bearing surface on which the device body is to be placed, a connector presentation surface for opposing the device I/O connector of the device body placed on the bearing surface, and a receiver structure positioned adjacent to a front portion of the bearing surface opposite from the connector presentation surface;

a pair of engaging pins positioned on a rear portion of the bearing surface adjacent to the connector presentation surface, the engaging pins being structured for being slidingly received into mating locating holes in the device body;

an expansion connector connectable with the device I/O connector;

an expansion connector drive mechanism structured for moving the expansion connector relative to the connector presentation surface between a disengaged position spaced away from the bearing surface and an engaged position extended over the bearing surface, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising;

a movable frame movably coupled to the apparatus body for motion relative to the bearing surface linearly between the connector presentation surface and the opposing front portion of the bearing surface, the frame including an integral connector seat having the expansion connector mounted thereon, an integral security plate, an integral catch mechanism, and a handle,

a releasable safety catch operable between the integral security plate of the frame and an aperture communicating with the bearing surface, the safety catch being movable between a locked position having a sensing portion thereof extended above the bearing surface and having a locking portion thereof interlocked with the security plate, and an unlocked position having the sensing portion thereof retracted relative to the bearing surface and having the locking portion thereof disengaged from the security plate, and

a releasable latch mechanism operable between the integral catch mechanism of the frame and a portion of the apparatus body; and

a mounting structure that is structured to adapt the body portion for mounting to an external support structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a substantially automatic retraction mechanism coupled between the movable frame of the expansion connector drive mechanism and a portion of the apparatus body portion adjacent to the connector presentation surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism further comprises one or more guides positioned on the body apparatus opposite from the bearing surface thereof and aligned between the connector presentation surface and the opposing front portion of the bearing surface, and a cooperating follower mechanism formed in an integral interface surface of the movable frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an integral wire harness strain relief structured on an external surface of the apparatus body spaced away from a peripheral device connector presentation surface of the apparatus body having one or more interface connectors presented thereon and adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm rotatable relative to a rear portion of the apparatus body portion adjacent to the connector presentation surface and in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface thereof, and

a display unit clamping mechanism positioned on the rigid support arm spaced away from the apparatus body, the clamping mechanism comprising:

a substantially rigid anvil having a convexly arcuate support surface extended substantially perpendicularly to the rotation plane of the support arm,

a substantially rigid jaw that is rotatably coupled to the anvil, the jaw having a substantially rigid finger that is spaced away from the arcuate support surface of the anvil and is rotatable between a first position opposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, and a second position unopposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an edge mounting hole formed between upper and lower portions of the apparatus body; and

a nut pocket formed on an interior surface of one of the upper and lower apparatus body portions by a plurality of walls extended interior of one of the upper and lower apparatus body portions, the plurality of walls forming a shaped cavity substantially aligned with the edge mounting hole and an opening thereinto from an exterior surface of one of the upper and lower apparatus body portions.

16. An external expanding apparatus operable with a portable computer device of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid body portion having a substantially rigid bearing plate formed with a substantially rectangular computer bearing surface on an outer face thereof on which the computer device body is to be placed and one or more guides on an inner face thereof opposite from the bearing surface, a connector presentation surface adjacent to the bearing surface along a rear edge thereof and having an opening formed therein projected above the bearing surface for opposing the device I/O connector of the computer device body placed on the bearing surface, a computer device receiver structure fixedly positioned adjacent to a front edge of the bearing surface and projected there above opposite from the connector presentation surface and having a jaw structure with an opening facing toward the connector presentation surface and structured to receive and mate with a front face of the computer device casing, a clearance hole through the bearing plate communicating between the inner and outer faces thereof and positioned between the front edge of the bearing surface and a rear edge thereof, and a peripheral device connector presentation surface having one or more peripheral device connectors;

a pair of engaging pins sized to be matingly received into the pair of locating holes in the bottom surface of the casing of the portable computer device, the engaging pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface at opposite corners thereof and adjacent to the rear edge thereof in positions for being matingly received into the pair of device locating holes;

an expansion connector drive mechanism movable relative to the connector presentation surface, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising;

a substantially rigid movable frame having an integral retention plate formed with a lengthwise slot that is movably coupled to the one or more guides on the inner face of the bearing plate for moving the frame relative thereto between the front and rear edges of the bearing surface along a drive axis aligned with the opening in the connector presentation surface,

an integral connector seat adjacent to a first end of the frame,

an integral security plate positioned opposite the clearance hole through the bearing plate and having a keyhole aperture therethrough, the keyhole aperture having a relatively narrow elongated slot portion oriented substantially parallel with the frame drive axis and a relatively larger aperture communicating with one end of the slot portion opposite from the integral connector seat,

an integral catch mechanism positioned adjacent to a second end of the frame opposite from the integral connector seat,

one or more keepers coupled to the bearing plate with the integral retention plate of the frame being movably secured therebetween, and

a handle extended from the frame;

a connector bracket connectable with the pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides of the device I/O connector and being coupled to the connector seat of the frame and projected above the bearing surface of the bearing plate and substantially aligned with the opening in the connector presentation surface, the connector bracket having a pair of substantially rigid guides in spaced-apart positions for engaging the pair of positioning apertures provided on the computer device back plane on opposite sides of the I/O connector;

a computer expansion connector connectable with the I/O connector of the computer, the computer expansion connector being mounted on the connector bracket between the guides thereof;

a releasable safety catch operable between the keyhole aperture in the integral security plate of the frame and the clearance hole through the bearing plate, the safety catch having a first relatively narrow stem portion sized to pass through both the relatively narrow slot portion of the keyhole aperture in the security plate and the clearance hole through the bearing plate, and a second base portion having a relatively wider shoulder portion sized to pass through the relatively larger keyhole aperture and being oversized relative to the relatively narrow slot portion;

a biasing mechanism coupled to the safety catch and structured for urging the safety catch toward the bearing plate, the biasing mechanism structured for urging the relatively narrow stem portion to pass through both the relatively narrow slot portion of the keyhole aperture in the security plate and the passage through the bearing plate, and for urging the relatively wider shoulder portion of the base portion to pass through the relatively enlarged passage of the keyhole aperture;

a latch mechanism positioned on the body portion adjacent to a front surface of the bearing plate and projected below the inner face thereof adjacent to a near end of the guide mechanism, the latch mechanism being structured to alternately engage and disengage the catch mechanism;

a mounting structure that is structured to adapt the body portion for mounting to an external support structure; and

the connector bracket being linearly movable substantially parallel with the frame drive axis between a first disengaged position having the connector bracket guides and expansion connector retracted within the opening in the connector presentation surface adjacent to the rear edge of the bearing surface, and a second engaged position having the connector bracket guides and expansion connector extended from the opening in the connector presentation surface over the rear edge of the bearing surface, wherein the connector bracket of the frame is linearly movable between the first disengaged position and the second engaged position by release of the releasable safety catch including retraction of the first relatively narrower portion thereof relative to the clearance hole through the bearing plate and disengagement of the second relatively wider portion thereof from the relatively larger keyhole aperture in the security plate, and the elongated slot portion of the keyhole being continuously substantially aligned with the passage through the bearing plate between the first disengaged position and the second engaged position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a resilient biasing mechanism coupled between the frame of the expansion connector drive mechanism and a rear portion of the inner face of the bearing plate of the body portion adjacent to the rear edge of the bearing surface for urging the frame away from the second engaged position toward the first disengaged position.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the body portion further comprises:

a body surface adjacent to the peripheral device connector presentation surface; and

an external wire harness support positioned on the body surface adjacent to the peripheral device connector presentation surface, the external wire harness support comprising;

one or more strain relief structures each being formed with a valley portion that is structured to securely receive a substantially cylindrical cable thereinto, the valley portion of each of the one or more strain relief structures being projected above the body surface and being substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the one or more peripheral device connectors and spaced away therefrom, and

one or more gang supports projected above the body surface and being spaced away from both the one or more strain relief structures and from the peripheral device connector presentation surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a rotatable display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm structured with a first pivot end portion that is rotatably coupled in a releasably lockable manner to the body portion adjacent to the connector presentation surface and is rotatable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the bearing plate, and

a display unit clamping mechanism adapted to clamp the inner surface and hard shell backing of the display unit, the clamping mechanism positioned adjacent to a second clamping end portion of the rigid support arm opposite from the first pivot end portion, the clamping mechanism comprising:

a substantially rigid anvil having a substantially smooth convexly arcuate support surface extended substantially perpendicularly to the pivot plane of the support arm;

a substantially rigid jaw that is rotatably coupled to the anvil, the jaw having a substantially rigid finger that is spaced away from the arcuate support surface of the anvil and is rotatable about an axis in the pivot plane of the support arm and crosswise to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, the finger being rotatable between a first position opposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, and a second position unopposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil;

a resilient biasing mechanism for urging the substantially rigid finger toward the arcuate support surface of the anvil; and

a detent mechanism between the jaw and the anvil.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the body portion further comprises:

a first body portion and a second body portion interconnected along a line of mutual contact;

a pair of mating shapes formed between the first and second body portions along the line of mutual contact, the pair of mating shapes forming a hole communicating between interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions;

a nut pocket formed on the interior surface of one of the first and second body portions and being substantially aligned with the hole between interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions, the nut pocket having a plurality of spaced apart walls being fixed substantially perpendicularly to one or both of the interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions and forming therebetween a cavity having an opening at a first end thereof to the exterior surface of one of the first and second body portions, the opening being sized to admit a mechanical nut thereinto with a threaded bore thereof oriented substantially perpendicular to one or both of the interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second body portions and substantially parallel to the walls of the cavity, and the cavity being structured to accept the mechanical nut thereinto through the opening with its threaded bore substantially aligned with the hole and being further being closed at a second with a one or more walls mutually arranged in a manner to constrain the nut from turning.

21. An external expanding apparatus for expanding the function of a portable electronic device having a device body provided with an input/output (I/O) connector, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body having a bearing surface structured for receiving the device body;

a pair of engaging pins positioned on a portion of the bearing surface, the engaging pins being structured for being received into mating locating holes in the device body;

an expansion connector drive mechanism structured for moving an expansion connector of a type that is connectable with the device I/O connector relative to the bearing surface between a disengaged position spaced away from the bearing surface and an engaged position extended over the bearing surface, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising a movable frame having an opening therein and a portion thereof that is structured for having the expansion connector mounted thereon, the movable frame being movably coupled to the apparatus body for moving relative to the bearing surface thereof; and

a safety catch operable between the opening in the frame and an aperture communicating with the bearing surface, the safety catch being movable between a safety position having a first portion thereof extended from the bearing surface and having a second portion thereof engaged with the opening in the frame, and an operating position having the first portion thereof depressed relative to the bearing surface and having the second portion thereof disengaged from the opening in the frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first portion of the safety catch is further sized to pass through the aperture communicating with the bearing surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the safety catch further comprises a stop portion that is oversized relative to the aperture communicating with the bearing surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a biasing mechanism that is structured to cooperate with the safety catch for urging the second portion thereof toward being engaged with the opening in the frame.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the biasing mechanism that is further structured to cooperate with the safety catch for urging the first portion thereof toward being extended from the bearing surface.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the biasing mechanism is further positioned to operate against the second portion of the safety catch for urging the first and second portions thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the biasing mechanism further comprises a compression spring.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the second portion of the safety catch and the opening in the frame are cooperatively structured to engage regardless of relative rotational orientation.

29. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism is further structured for moving the frame portion thereof substantially linearly relative to the bearing surface of the apparatus body.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism further comprises a biasing mechanism coupled for urging the frame to move relative to the bearing surface of the apparatus body for moving an expansion connector coupled thereto toward the disengaged position.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a catch mechanism operable for retaining the frame in the engaged position.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising an expansion connector of a type that is connectable with the device I/O connector, the expansion connector being coupled to the portion of the frame that is structured for having the expansion connector mounted thereon.