Computer docking station
First Claim
1. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
- a body havinga cradle portion havinga base wall configured to support an edge of the portable computer, wherein the base wall defines a first plane, anda rear wall configured to support a portion of the portable computer, wherein the rear wall defines a second plane that intersects the first plane;
an arm portion that extends in a first direction from the second plane and is spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to the rear wall;
a transition portion extending between the cradle portion and the arm portion, wherein at least part of the transition portion is spaced from the second plane in a second direction opposite the first direction;
a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which the portable computer, when fully inserted into the docking station, cannot be removed from the docking station, wherein the latching member is spaced from the second plane in the first direction such that when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station the latching member in the second, extended position engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer that is on the first side so that at least a portion of the extended latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer; and
an activation member extending from the latching member and manually operable to move the latching member to the first position upon user contact with and movement of the activation member in a same direction that the latching member moves from the second position to the first position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer includes a body with a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer, and an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion. A latching member is coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first position relative to the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second position relative to the arm portion, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station. The latching member engages the handle portion of the portable computer in the second position.
44 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion having a base wall configured to support an edge of the portable computer, wherein the base wall defines a first plane, and a rear wall configured to support a portion of the portable computer, wherein the rear wall defines a second plane that intersects the first plane; an arm portion that extends in a first direction from the second plane and is spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to the rear wall; a transition portion extending between the cradle portion and the arm portion, wherein at least part of the transition portion is spaced from the second plane in a second direction opposite the first direction; a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which the portable computer, when fully inserted into the docking station, cannot be removed from the docking station, wherein the latching member is spaced from the second plane in the first direction such that when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station the latching member in the second, extended position engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer that is on the first side so that at least a portion of the extended latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer; and an activation member extending from the latching member and manually operable to move the latching member to the first position upon user contact with and movement of the activation member in a same direction that the latching member moves from the second position to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 23, 24)
-
-
8. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer; and an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to at least a portion of the cradle portion; and a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first position retracted within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second position extended from the arm portion, in which the portable computer, when fully inserted into the docking station, cannot be removed from the docking station, and wherein the latching member moves from the second position to the first position as the portable computer is inserted into the docking station, and automatically moves from the first position to the second position as the portable computer moves past and clears the latching member as the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, and wherein the latching member is positioned relative to the arm portion such that when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station the latching member in the second, extended position engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer on the first side so that at least a portion of the extended latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer; and an activation member extending from the latching member and manually operable to move the latching member to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 20, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
12. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer; and an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to at least a portion of the cradle portion; a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first, retracted position within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second, extended position from the arm portion, in which, when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, the latching member in the second, extended position engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer that is on the first side so that the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station and so that at least a portion of the extended latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer; and an activation member extending from the arm portion and manually operable to move the latching member to the first position upon user contact with and movement of the activation member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 28, 29)
-
-
18. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer; and an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to at least a portion of the cradle portion; a latching member coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first position retracted within the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second position relative to the arm portion, in which the portable computer, when fully inserted into the docking station, cannot be removed from the docking station; and an activation member extending from the latching member and manually operable to move the latching member to the first position upon user contact with and movement of the activation member in a same direction that the latching member moves from the second position to the first position; wherein when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station the latching member in the second position engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer that is on the first side so that at least a portion of the latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 21, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A computer docking station for supporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer that includes a docking connector and an aperture at least partly defining a carrying handle for the portable computer, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer and having a connector operable to electrically couple with the docking connector of the portable computer; an arm portion sized and configured to be received in the aperture in the portable computer, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to the cradle portion; and a latching member coupled with the body and movable between a first position relative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion can be inserted into or removed from the aperture in the portable computer, and a second position relative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion cannot be removed from the aperture in the portable computer when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer having a first side that includes a display, the docking station comprising:
-
a body having a cradle portion configured to support a first portion of the portable computer; an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion, wherein the arm portion does not translate with respect to the cradle portion; and a latching member coupled with the body adjacent to the arm portion, wherein the latching member is movable relative to the arm portion between a first position, in which the portable computer can be inserted into or removed from the docking station, and a second position, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, wherein the portable computer moves the latching member from the second position to the first position as the portable computer is inserted into the docking station and the latching member automatically moves from the first position to the second position as the portable computer moves past and clears the latching member as the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, wherein the latching member is positioned relative to the body so that when in the second position, the latching member engages a portion of a surface of the portable computer that is on the first side so that at least a portion of the latching member is exposed to view by a user of the portable computer when the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, and wherein the latching member includes an activation portion that is accessible to a user to manually move the latching member to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification