Support tray including a platform and a body providing a cavity

• US 8,665,593 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lev, Jeffrey A., Hoffman, Dustin L., Doczy, Paul J
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/054,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20110121776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/115, 361/679.55
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

In one embodiment, a support tray that may be used in a notebook computer charging system includes a body adapted to support a power adapter, and a platform extending out from the body, the platform being adapted to support a notebook computer.

Claims

1. A support tray for supporting a notebook computer and an associated power adapter, the support tray comprising:

a body including walls providing a cavity to removably receive the power adapter; and

a platform extending out from the body, the platform being configured to support the notebook computer,

wherein the body provides an opening through which an electrical connector of the power adapter extends to connect to the notebook computer without use of a power cable upon the notebook computer being placed on the platform and the power adapter being placed in the cavity.

2. The support tray of claim 1, wherein the walls providing the cavity comprise a base, a front wall, and a rear wall of the body.

3. The support tray of claim 2, further comprising a lateral end wall that extends up from the base that limits insertion of the power adapter into the cavity.

4. The support tray of claim 2, wherein the cavity is further defined by a top wall of the body.

5. The support tray of claim 1, further comprising a first mounting member extending from the body and configured to connect the support tray to a mounting member of a second support tray.

6. The support tray of claim 5, wherein the first mounting member extends upwardly from the body, the support tray further comprising a second mounting member that extends downwardly from the body, the second mounting member being configured to connect with a mounting member of a third support tray.

7. The support tray of claim 1, wherein the body and the platform are unitarily formed from a single piece of material.

8. The support tray of claim 1, wherein the opening is between the platform and the cavity.

9. A computer charging system comprising:

multiple support trays stacked on top of each other, each support tray comprising;

a body including walls providing a cavity to removably receive a power adapter, and

a platform extending out from the body, the platform being configured to support a computer,

wherein the walls of the body further provide an opening through which an electrical connector of the power adapter extends to connect to the computer without use of a power cable upon the computer being placed on the platform and the power adapter being placed in the cavity.

10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the walls of the body of each support tray comprise a base, a front wall, a rear wall of the body, and a top wall.

11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the body of each support tray further comprises a lateral end wall that that extends up from the base that limits insertion of the respective power adapter into the cavity.

12. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the body of each support tray comprises first mounting members that extend upwardly from the body, the first mounting members connected with mounting members of an adjacent upper support tray.

13. The charging system of claim 12, wherein the body of each support tray further comprises second mounting members that extend downwardly from the body, the second mounting members connected with mounting members of an adjacent lower support tray or a base of the charging system.

14. The charging system of claim 9, further comprising the power adapters supported by the respective support trays, each power adapter comprising a respective electrical connector configured to directly connect to a respective notebook computer such that the power adapters can be electrically connected to the notebook computers without use of respective power cables.

15. The charging system of claim 9, further comprising the power adapters adapter, wherein each electrical connector is pivotally mounted to the respective power adapter, each electrical connector pivotable from a first position to a second position, each computer connectable to the respective electrical connector in the second position, and each electrical connector in the first position connectable to a respective power cable connected to the respective computer.

16. The computer charging system of claim 9, wherein the opening is between the platform and the cavity.

17. A system comprising:

a computer;

a power adapter having an electrical connector; and

a support tray separate from the computer, the support tray supporting the computer and the power adapter, the support tray comprising;

a body including walls providing a cavity in which the power adapter is removably placed; and

a platform extending out from the body, the computer placed on the platform,

wherein the body provides an opening through which the electrical connector of the power adapter extends to connect to the computer without use of a power cable.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a second computer;

a second power adapter; and

a second support tray separate from the second computer, the second support tray supporting the second computer and the second power adapter, the second support tray comprising;

a body including walls providing a cavity in which the second power adapter is removably placed; and

a platform extending out from the body of the second support tray, the second computer placed on the platform of the second support tray.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector is pivotable with respect to the power adapter between a first position and a second position, the electrical connector in the first position connectable to the computer through the opening, and the electrical connector in the second position facing toward a side away from the opening.