Drivetrain for a motorized docking station

• US 9,727,084 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parod, Brandon, Vroom, Matthew Leigh
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/987,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20170115694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

Disclosed is a drivetrain for use in a motorized docking station including a driveshaft, a first threaded end of the driveshaft having a left-hand thread, a second threaded end of the driveshaft having a right-hand thread, a plurality of gears, an electric motor coupled to the plurality of gears, and a linking gear of the plurality of gears, the linking gear fixed to the drive shaft. The drivetrain can have a manual override gear coupled to the driveshaft and a tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear.

Claims

1. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a port block;

a drivetrain interface of the port block;

a threaded receiving portion of the drivetrain interface;

a driveshaft;

a threaded end of the driveshaft coupled to the threaded receiving portion; and

a limit washer on the threaded end of the driveshaft.

2. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of gears;

a electric motor coupled to the plurality of gears; and

a linking gear of the plurality of gears, the linking gear fixed to the drive shaft.

3. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a Kensington-style security slot;

a manual override gear;

a tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear; and

wherein the tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear is disposed behind the Kensington-style security slot.

4. The docking station of claim 3 wherein the manual override gear is coupled to the linking gear.

5. The docking station of claim 3 further comprising:

a second linking gear coupled to the driveshaft and the manual override gear.

6. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the port block is configured to translate between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position along the threaded end of the driveshaft.

7. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising:

a chassis;

a pillow block of the chassis; and

wherein the driveshaft passes through the pillow block.

8. A drivetrain for use in a motorized docking station, the drivetrain comprising:

a driveshaft;

a first threaded end of the driveshaft having a left-hand thread;

a second threaded end of the driveshaft having a right-hand thread;

a limit washer on one of the first threaded end or the second threaded end;

a plurality of gears;

a electric motor coupled to the plurality of gears; and

a linking gear of the plurality of gears, the linking gear fixed to the drive shaft.

9. The drivetrain of claim 8 further comprising:

a retention member securing the limit washer.

10. The drivetrain of claim 8 further comprising:

a port block coupled to the first threaded end of the driveshaft.

11. The drivetrain of claim 10 wherein the port block is configured to translate between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position along the first threaded end of the driveshaft.

12. The drivetrain of claim 8 further comprising:

a manual override gear; and

a tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear.

13. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the manual override gear is coupled to the linking gear.

14. The docking station of claim 12 further comprising

a second linking gear coupled to the driveshaft and the manual override gear.

15. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear is disposed behind a Kensington-style security slot.

16. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a port block;

a drivetrain interface of the port block;

a threaded receiving portion of the drivetrain interface;

a driveshaft;

a first threaded end of the driveshaft having a first thread direction and coupled to the threaded receiving portion;

a limit washer on the first threaded end of the driveshaft,

a plurality of gears;

a electric motor coupled to the plurality of gears;

a linking gear of the plurality of gears, the linking gear fixed to the drive shaft; and

wherein the port block is configured to translate between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position along the first threaded end of the driveshaft.

17. The docking station of claim 16 further comprising:

a second port block;

a second drivetrain interface of the second port block;

a second threaded receiving portion of the second drivetrain interface;

a second threaded end of the driveshaft having a second thread direction, wherein the second thread direction is an opposite thread direction of the first thread direction; and

wherein the second threaded end of the driveshaft is coupled to the second threaded receiving portion.

18. The docking station of claim 16 further comprising:

a Kensington-style security slot;

a manual override gear;

a tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear; and

wherein the tool-receiving portion of the manual override gear is disposed behind the Kensington-style security slot.