Docking station for portable electronics

• US 9,285,831 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US14/292,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 654 Days
• Field of Search: 36167941-67945
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1639 Arrangements for locking plugged peripheral connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

Disclosed is a docking station for holding a plurality of external connectors in position to interface with an electronic device including a main body having a first side and a second side, a positioning member extending vertically from the first side of the main body for receiving the electronic device, a stabilizing member extending horizontally on the second side, a first through-hole extending from the first side to the second side, and a fastening mechanism for securing an external connector in the through-hole.

Claims

1. A docking station for holding a plurality of external connectors in position to interface with an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a main body having a first side and a second side;

a positioning member extending vertically from the first side of the main body for receiving the electronic device;

a stabilizing member extending horizontally on the second side;

a first through-hole extending from the first side to the second side; and

a fastener for securing an external connector in the through-hole.

2. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a first side wall of the positioning member;

a second side wall of the positioning member;

a third side wall of the positioning member; and

a fourth side wall of the positioning member.

3. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a first ridged surface;

a first ridge on the first ridged surface;

a second ridged surface facing the first ridged surface;

a second ridge on the second ridged surface; and

a gap separating the first ridge and the second ridge.

4. The docking station of claim 3 wherein the gap is between ¼

″ and

½

″

.

5. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a plate at least partially covering the fastening mechanism.

6. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a retention mechanism for securing the plate.

7. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a tool for actuating the fastening mechanism; and

a slot in the main body for storing the tool.

8. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a shell of the main body formed from a first material;

a tray of the main body formed from a second material; and

wherein the first material is harder than the second material.

9. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a first vent-hole extending from the first side of the main body to the second side of the main body.

10. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a second vent-hole extending from the first side of the main body to the second side of the main body.

11. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a first side wall of the positioning member; and

a first vent-hole formed in the first side wall.

12. A docking station for connecting a plurality of external connectors to an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a main body;

an interface surface on the main body;

a first plug on the interface surface;

a second plug on the interface surface;

a positioning member extending vertically from the interface surface for receiving the electronic device;

a bottom side of the main body; and

a stabilizing member substantially parallel to the interface surface and forming a base on the bottom side.

13. The docking station of claim 12 further comprising:

a shell of the main body formed from a first material;

a tray of the main body formed from a second material; and

wherein the first material is harder than the second material.

14. The docking station of claim 12 further comprising:

a first vent-hole disposed on the interface surface; and

a second vent-hole disposed on a sidewall of the positioning member.

15. The docking station of claim 12 further comprising:

a first port on the main body electrically connected to the first plug.

16. The docking station of claim 15 further comprising:

a second port on the main body electrically connected to the second plug.

17. A docking station for holding a plurality of external connectors in position to interface with an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a main body having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side;

a positioning member extending vertically from the top side of the main body for receiving the electronic device;

a stabilizing member on the bottom side;

a first through-hole extending from the top side to the bottom side;

a fastener for securing an external connector in the through-hole; and

a plate at least partially covering the fastening mechanism.

18. The docking station of claim 17 further comprising:

a first ridged surface;

a first ridge on the first ridged surface;

a second ridged surface facing the first ridged surface;

a second ridge on the second ridged surface; and

a gap separating the first ridge and the second ridge.

19. The docking station of claim 17 further comprising:

a tool for actuating the fastening mechanism; and

a slot in the main body for storing the tool.

20. The docking station of claim 17 further comprising:

a shell of the main body formed from a first material;

a tray of the main body formed from a second material; and

wherein the first material is harder than the second material.

21. The docking station of claim 17 further comprising

a first vent-hole on the interface surface extending from the top side of the main body to the bottom side of the main body;

a side wall of the positioning member; and

a second vent-hole formed in the side wall.