Portable device docking station
DCFirst Claim
1. A molded docking station for laptops, mini-laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and ultra mobile personal computers (UMPCs), the docking station adapted for mounting in vehicle applications and comprising:
- a housing comprising;
a molded wall,a device bearing surface on a first portion of an outer surface of the wall between opposing side edges thereof,an expansion connector presentation edge of the wall positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the device bearing surface between the opposing side edges of the wall, anda mounting structure coupled for securely mounting the housing in a vehicle;
a linear expansion connector drive mechanism having a movable connector seat portion movably coupled to a portion of the molded wall between the opposing side edges thereof for substantially linear motion along a linear drive axis relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall, and a driver that is movable between the opposing side edges of the wall and is further coupled to the movable connector seat portion for linear motion thereof;
an expansion connector coupled to the movable connector seat portion of the expansion connector drive mechanism for motion relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall;
a handle coupled to the linear expansion connector drive mechanism for moving the expansion connector between engaged and disengaged positions; and
a resilient retraction mechanism coupled to the linear expansion connector drive mechanism for urging the expansion connector toward the disengaged position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A molded 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.
114 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A molded docking station for laptops, mini-laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and ultra mobile personal computers (UMPCs), the docking station adapted for mounting in vehicle applications and comprising:
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a housing comprising; a molded wall, a device bearing surface on a first portion of an outer surface of the wall between opposing side edges thereof, an expansion connector presentation edge of the wall positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the device bearing surface between the opposing side edges of the wall, and a mounting structure coupled for securely mounting the housing in a vehicle; a linear expansion connector drive mechanism having a movable connector seat portion movably coupled to a portion of the molded wall between the opposing side edges thereof for substantially linear motion along a linear drive axis relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall, and a driver that is movable between the opposing side edges of the wall and is further coupled to the movable connector seat portion for linear motion thereof; an expansion connector coupled to the movable connector seat portion of the expansion connector drive mechanism for motion relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall; a handle coupled to the linear expansion connector drive mechanism for moving the expansion connector between engaged and disengaged positions; and a resilient retraction mechanism coupled to the linear expansion connector drive mechanism for urging the expansion connector toward the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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9. A molded docking station for laptops, mini-laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and ultra mobile personal computers (UMPCs), the docking station adapted for mounting in vehicle applications and comprising:
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a housing comprising; a molded wall defining a rear edge, a front edge, and two opposing side edges extending from the rear edge to the front edge, a device bearing surface on a first portion of an outer surface of the wall between the opposing side edges thereof, wherein the molded wall further comprises two opposing relieved hand clearance spaces formed opposite each other, with one of the two formed opposing relieved hand clearance spaces formed in each of the two opposing side edges of the molded wall adjacent to the device bearing surface, an expansion connector presentation edge of the wall positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the device bearing surface between the opposing side edges of the wall, and a mounting structure coupled for securely mounting the housing in a vehicle; a linear expansion connector drive mechanism having a movable connector seat portion movably coupled to a portion of the molded wall between the opposing side edges thereof for substantially linear motion along a linear drive axis relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall, and a driver that is movable between the opposing side edges of the wall and is further coupled to the movable connector seat portion for linear motion thereof, the linear expansion connector drive mechanism further comprising a resilient retraction mechanism coupled for urging the expansion connector toward the disengaged position; an expansion connector coupled to the movable connector seat portion of the expansion connector drive mechanism for motion relative to the expansion connector presentation edge of the wall between engaged and disengaged positions; and further comprising a latch mechanism operable for constraining the expansion connector in the engaged position.
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10. A molded docking station 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:
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a molded apparatus body having a molded wall at least partially enclosing a cavity, an outer surface of the molded wall having a bearing surface formed thereof on which the device body is to be placed, a connector presentation surface positioned for opposing the I/O connector of the device body placed on the bearing surface, and a device receiver structure projecting above the device bearing surface at a front portion of the device bearing surface, wherein the device receiver structure is integrally molded with the molded wall; an expansion connector connectable with the device I/O connector; an expansion connector drive mechanism comprising;
a linearly movable, unitary frame having the expansion connector mounted thereon, the linearly movable frame being slidably coupled to the molded apparatus body and adapted for linear movement of the expansion connector relative to the bearing surface and the connector presentation surface between a disengaged position spaced away from the bearing surface and an engaged position extended over the bearing surface, wherein the frame moves in a linear fashion along a linear drive axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the connector presentation surface of the body, and a drive handle coupled on an opposite end of the frame from the expansion connector for moving the frame and the expansion connector between the disengaged and engaged positions, the expansion connector drive mechanism further comprising a resilient retraction mechanism coupled for urging the expansion connector toward the disengaged position;a peripheral device connector presentation surface positioned substantially opposite from the bearing surface of the molded wall of the molded apparatus body and comprising one or more interface connectors presented thereon and adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices; and a mounting structure positioned for adapting the molded apparatus body for fixedly mounting to an external support structure within a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18)
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Specification