Connector protection system

• US 7,382,611 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J., Tracy, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/988,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.63, 396/448, 361679-687, 361/724, 361/727, 439/136, 439/138, 174/67
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A connector protection system comprises a connector accessible through a surface, a door that moves substantially parallel to the surface, and a wedge feature that actuates movement of the door.

Claims

1. A connector protection system, comprising:

a connector accessible through a surface;

a movable door that moves rotationally and substantially parallel to the surface between a closed position and an open position, the open position exposing the connector; and

a wedge feature that actuates movement of the door.

2. The connector protection system of claim 1, wherein the door is generally planar.

3. The connector protection system of claim 1, further comprising a spring that resists an opening motion of the door.

4. The connector protection system of claim 3, wherein the spring is an extension spring.

5. The connector protection system of claim 3, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

6. The connector protection system of claim 3, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

7. The connector protection system of claim 1, wherein the surface is a surface of an electronic device.

8. The connector protection system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a portable computer.

9. The connector protection system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a tablet computer.

10. The connector protection system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

11. The connector protection system of claim 1, wherein the connector is a docking connector comprised in an electronic device, and the wedge feature is comprised in a docking station, the docking station further comprising a mating connector configured to engage with the docking connector.

12. The connector protection system of claim 11, wherein a motion that engages the docking connector and the mating connector also causes the wedge feature to actuate motion of the door.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a connector accessible through a surface of the electronic device, the electronic device being at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a portable computer, a tablet computer, and a personal digital assistant; and

a movable door that moves substantially parallel to the surface between a closed position and an open position, the open position exposing the connector; and

wherein the door is configured to be actuated by a wedge feature comprised in a docking station.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a spring that resists an opening motion of the door.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the spring is an extension spring.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the connector is a docking connector and is configured to engage with a mating connector comprised in the docking station.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein a motion that engages the docking connector and the mating connector also causes the wedge feature to actuation the door motion.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the door is generally planar.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the door motion is rotational.

22. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the door motion is translational.

23. A system comprising:

a docking station for an electronic device, comprising;

a mating connector configured to engage a docking connector comprised in the electronic device;

a wedge feature in fixed relation to the mating connector, and configured to actuate motion of a door comprised in the electronic device, the motion of the door being generally parallel to a surface of the electronic device through which the docking connector is accessed.

24. The docking station of claim 23, wherein a motion that engages the docking connector and the mating connector also causes the wedge feature to actuate the door motion.