Tablet storage and transportation device

• US 9,182,793 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ergun, Mustafa A., Lindblad, Shaun C., Funk, Joe, Tischer, William D., Segar, Peter, Prince, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinclair, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLISER, THERON S
• Application Number:
  US13/650,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20130277930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 36167941-67944, 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 361724-727, 3122231-2233
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet storage device includes a module on a cart frame that includes a wheeled base. A cart module defines a selectively accessible interior space having multiple storage slots within the interior space for holding tablets. In some cases a tablet storage device holds multiple tablets using two or more modules in a stacked arrangement on a wheeled base. Each module can hold a portion of the multiple tablets within storage slots within an interior space inside the module. The storage slots may have connectors for connecting to tablets, and the cart frame can have a network connection system that is adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors. The cart frame may also have a power supply system for charging each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

Claims

1. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:

a generally L-shaped cart frame including;

a wheeled base including a horizontal portion and having four sides;

only one vertical portion, the only one vertical portion extending from one of the four sides of the wheeled base, the vertical portion defining a recess; and

a translatable tray movably coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base and configured to translate horizontally from a first position adjacent the vertical portion to a second position spaced away from the vertical portion;

a first module having an end, the first module defining a selectively accessible first interior space, the first module having a plurality of storage slots within the first interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets; and

a second module having an end, the second module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets;

a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets;

wherein the cart frame is adapted to removably hold the first and second modules in a stacked arrangement on the translatable tray coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base,

wherein the recess defined by the vertical portion is configured to receive the end of the first module and the end of the second module when the translatable tray is in the first position, and

wherein the storage slots of the first and second modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.

2. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the cart frame has a network connection system, the network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

3. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

4. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the cart frame has an internal compartment, the internal compartment housing equipment for the network connection system, the internal compartment including a fan and a vent.

5. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of storage slots of the first module have docking stations for connecting to the first portion of the plurality of tablets.

6. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the first module has an equipment bay, the equipment bay housing equipment for the network connection system.

7. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the first module has a port; and

the cart frame has a connector, the connector for connecting to the port such that the cart frame and the first module are in electronic communication.

8. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the first module has a port and a connector;

the second module has a port; and

the cart frame has a connector, wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the first module connector can be connected to the second module port to form a second connection, such that the cart and the first module are in electronic communication through the first connection, and

the cart and the second module are in electronic communication through the first and second connections.

9. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the cart frame has a connector and a network connection system;

the first module has a port; and

at least one of the storage slots has a connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets, wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector can be connected to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the network connection system is in electronic communication with the first module through the first connection, and

the network connection system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

10. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the cart frame has a connector;

the first module has a port; and

wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector can be connected to the tablet to form a second connection, such that

the power supply system is in electronic communication with the first module through the first connection, and

the power supply system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

11. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

wherein the horizontal portion of the wheeled base includes a translatable tray on which the first and second modules rest, the translatable tray translatable from a first position to a second position, the first position in which a vertical surface of at least one of the first and second modules is disposed immediately adjacent to the vertical portion of the cart frame, and the second position in which the vertical surface is spaced from the vertical portion of the cart frame.

12. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the vertical portion includes a handle.

13. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the first module and/or the second module includes an alignment feature to facilitate alignment with the other of the first module and the second module.

14. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the cart frame includes an alignment feature to facilitate alignment of the first and/or second module with the cart frame.

15. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second modules include a locking mechanism adapted to enable the first module to be locked to the second module in the stacked arrangement,

the locking mechanism further adapted to enable at least one of the first and second modules immediately adjacent to the wheeled base in the stacked arrangement to be locked to the cart frame.

16. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:

a generally L-shaped cart frame including;

a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets;

a wheeled base including a horizontal portion and having four sides;

only one vertical portion, the only one vertical portion extending from one of the four sides of the wheeled base, the vertical portion defining a recess; and

a translatable tray movably coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base and configured to translate horizontally from a first position adjacent the vertical portion to a second position spaced away from the vertical portion;

a plurality of tablet storage modules configured to hold the plurality of tablets, each of the plurality of tablet storage modules having a respective end, and each of the plurality of tablet storage modules defining a selectively accessible interior space and having a plurality of storage slots within the interior space adapted to hold a portion of the plurality of tablets;

wherein the cart frame is adapted to removably hold the plurality of tablet storage modules in a stacked arrangement on the translatable tray coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base,

wherein the recess defined by the vertical portion is configured to receive the ends of the storage modules when the translatable tray is in the first position, and

wherein the storage slots of the plurality of tablet storage modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.

17. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of tablet storage modules comprises at least a first tablet storage module and at least a second tablet storage module in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

18. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of tablet storage modules comprises three or more tablet storage modules in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

19. The tablet storage device of claim 17, further comprising one or more non-tablet modules in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.

20. The tablet storage device of claim 19, wherein the one or more non-tablet modules comprises an auxiliary storage module in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.