Vertical docking station

• US 7,679,902 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Thompson
• Original Assignee: Eric Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US10/515,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• Field of Search: D14/315, D14439-441, 361/686, 361/679.44
• US Class Current: 361/679.44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking station, serving as a digital hub and cable management platform, support a laptop computer (42) in an upright position with the laptop screen (43) in a comfortable viewing position relative to the working position of the user. The laptop (42) is positioned in an upright slot (4) in the docking station, with the connection ports easily seen and accessed. The surface of the laptop slot (4) is lined with non-slip surface (3) to ease insertion and control of the laptop (42) as it is lowered into the slot (4). An adjustable front cover (15) defining the front boundary of the slot (4) covers the keyboard of the mobile computer (42) so that the user does not need to view two keyboards, and the appearance of the docked laptop (42) is clean and aesthetic. Wireless data and power transmission into the laptop (42) is provided while the laptop (42) is in the slot (4) so that the laptop (42) can be used in the docking station without a need for cable connections (45, 46) at all.

Claims

1. A process for supporting a laptop computer for use on a work surface with an auxiliary keyboard, while concealing an integral keyboard of said laptop and presenting a folding screen of said laptop at a selected ergonomic upright viewing angle, comprising:

inserting said laptop computer into a slot defined between a rear support plate and a front cover, said slot being open on three sides and closed on a fourth side;

catching and supporting said laptop on an elastomeric end pad at said closed side of said slot when said laptop is inserted into said slot;

adjusting said upright angle of said slot relative to said supporting surface to a desired upright angle for viewing said screen by rotating said front cover and said rear support plate relative to said work surface;

said adjusting step includes adjusting an adjustable foot on one edge of said base to change the elevation of said one edge of said base relative to said work surface and thereby rotate said front cover and said rear support plate relative to said work surface.