Portable device docking station

• US 7,894,180 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US12/462,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/122.1, 248/289.11, 248/324, 248/274.1, 248/274.8, 715/530, 715/764, 715/710, 715/790, 715/810, 715/751, 361/679.06, 361/679.43, 361/679.26, 361/679.31, 361/679.41, 361/679.29, 361/679.4, 361/679.55, 361/679.33, 361/679.48, 361/679.27, 370/392, 370/419, 370/225, 370/389, 439/62, 439/296, 439/55, 439/78
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• 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 for expanding the function of a portable electronic device, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body comprising a bearing surface on which the portable electronic device is to be placed, and a connector presentation surface adjacent to one edge of the bearing surface;

an expansion connector connectable with the portable electronic device; and

an expansion connector drive mechanism coupled for moving the expansion connector along a linear drive axis 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 unitary frame that is movably coupled to the apparatus body for linear motion relative to the bearing surface between the connector presentation surface and an opposing front portion of the bearing surface, the frame being coupled to the expansion connector, an integral security portion formed with a safety catch slot opening therethrough, and a linearly movable handle positioned on an opposing end of the frame from the expansion connector, and

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

a peripheral device connector presentation surface formed on the apparatus body and having one or more interface connectors adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices, one or more of the interface connectors being, electrically interfaced to the expansion connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle maintains a constant position relative to the expansion connector when the expansion connector is moved relative to the connector presentation surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus body further comprises a first body portion comprising the bearing surface, and a second body portion, the first and second body portions being interconnected;

and

wherein each of the first and second body portions further comprises a hole communicating between interior and exterior surfaces thereof, the holes being substantially aligned; and

wherein a nut pocket is formed on an interior surface of one of the first and second body portions and being substantially aligned with the hole between interior and exterior surfaces thereof, the nut pocket having a plurality of spaced apart walls forming therebetween a cavity having an opening communicating with the exterior surface of one of the first and second body portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of engaging pins sized to be matingly received into a pair of locating holes in a bottom surface of the portable electronic device, the engaging pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface thereof in positions for being matingly received into the pair of locating holes.

5. An external expanding apparatus for expanding the function of a portable electronic device, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body comprising a bearing surface structured for receiving the portable electronic device, and further comprising a linear guide positioned opposite from the bearing surface;

an expansion connector connectable with the portable electronic device;

a linearly movable frame comprising a linearly movable handle, wherein the handle and the expansion connector are fixedly positioned on opposing ends of the frame, the movable frame being movably coupled to the linear guide of the apparatus body for moving the frame linearly relative to the bearing surface thereof between a disengaged position having the expansion connector linearly spaced away from the bearing surface of the apparatus body, and an engaged position having the expansion connector positioned adjacent to the bearing surface of the apparatus body;

an engagement latch coupled to the apparatus body and being engageable with the frame in the engaged position; and

a peripheral device connector presentation surface formed on the apparatus body and having one or more interface connectors adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices, one or more of the interface connectors being electrically interfaced to the expansion connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the handle maintains a constant position relative to the expansion connector when the expansion connector is moved relative to the bearing surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one biasing member coupled between the expansion connector frame and the apparatus body, the at least one biasing member urging the expansion connector away from the bearing surface of the apparatus body, and wherein the at least one biasing member is positioned substantially parallel to the linear movement of the frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one biasing member has a fixed end and a movable end, wherein the fixed end is position closer to the expansion connector than the movable end.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a pair of engaging pins sized to be matingly received into a pair of locating holes in a bottom surface of the portable electronic device, the engaging pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface thereof in positions for being matingly received into the pair of locating holes.

10. An external expanding apparatus for electrically coupling with an electronic device, the external expanding apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body comprising a substantially planar surface configured and arranged to receive the electronic device, the substantially planar surface having a front portion and an opposing rear portion;

an expansion connector positioned adjacent to the rear portion of the substantially planar surface, the expansion connector configured and arranged to electrically couple with the electronic device; and

a drive mechanism coupled to the expansion connector, the drive mechanism configured and arranged for transitioning between an engaged position wherein the expansion connector is electrically coupleable to the electronic device, and a disengaged position wherein the expansion connector is not electrically coupleable to the electronic device, the drive mechanism comprising

a frame having the expansion connector positioned thereon and being positioned beneath the substantially planar surface, the frame configured and arranged to slide linearly along a linear direction of travel relative to the planar surface from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and

a handle fixedly coupled to the frame, wherein the handle is movable in a linear direction of travel that is substantially parallel to the linear direction of travel of the frame; and

a peripheral device connector presentation surface formed on the apparatus body and having one or more interface connectors adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices, one or more of the interface connectors being electrically interfaced to the expansion connector.

11. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a safety mechanism configured and arranged for preventing the drive mechanism from transitioning to the engaged position when the electronic device is not properly seated on the substantially planar surface of the apparatus body.

12. The external expanding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the safety mechanism further comprises a safety catch comprising a sensing portion and a latching portion, the sensing portion extending at least partially through a safety aperture through the apparatus body and communicating with the substantially planar surface and the latching portion extending in proximity to the frame, the safety catch configured and arranged for transitioning between a first position whereby the frame is slidable and a second position whereby the frame is prevented from sliding by the latching portion.

13. The external expanding apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the safety catch is in the first position thereof the sensing portion is substantially flush with the substantially planar surface of the apparatus body and the latching portion does not obstruct the sliding of the frame, and wherein when the safety catch is in the second position the sensing portion extends outward beyond the substantially planar surface and the latching portion prevents the frame from sliding.

14. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, wherein sliding the frame along the linear direction of travel thereof towards the front portion of the substantially planar surface transitions the drive mechanism to the engaged position, and sliding the frame towards the rear portion of the substantially planar surface transitions the drive mechanism to the disengaged position.

15. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises at least one biasing mechanism that is adapted to urge the frame towards the disengaged position.

16. The external expanding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is positioned substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the frame.

17. The external expanding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism has a fixed end and a movable end, wherein the fixed end is positioned closer to the expansion connector than the movable end.

18. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handle and the expansion connector are fixedly positioned adjacent to substantially opposing ends of the frame.

19. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handle is non-pivoting relative to the frame.

20. The external expanding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handle maintains a constant position relative to the expansion connector during the transitioning of the drive mechanism between the engaged and disengaged positions.