Motorized Horizontal Docking Station Having Integrated Locking Mechanism

• US 20150185775A1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2035/106 Monitoring of overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 35/10 Arrangements or devices for absorbing overload or preventing damage by overload for screw mechanisms F16H25/2021
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0024 Peripheral component interconnect [PCI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2066 Friction

Abstract

Disclosed is a sliding arm for use with a docking station having a connector block with a plurality of plugs, the arm includes a block-side portion and a follower portion. The block-side portion can have a first end connected to the connector block. The follower portion can be connected to a second end of the block-side portion with a linear clutch. The linear clutch can include a bolt, a spring, and two sliding members. The bolt can pass through the block-side portion and the follower portion. A force on an end of the arm can cause the clutch to slip allowing the follower portion to move independently of the block-side portion. A sensor can detect a slippage of the linear clutch.

Claims

1. A sliding arm for use with a docking station having a connector block with a plurality of plugs, the arm comprising:

a block-side portion having a first end connected to the connector block;

a follower portion; and

a linear clutch connecting a second end of the block-side portion to the follower portion.

2. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor associated with the linear clutch, the sensor configured to detect a slippage of the linear clutch.

3. The sliding arm of claim 2 further comprising:

a resistive pad of the sensor connected to the follower portion; and

an electrical contact of the sensor connected to the block-side portion and touching the resistive pad.

4. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a rack-gear on the follower portion.

5. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a position indicating member for interfacing with a second sensor and indicating the position of the arm within the docking station.

6. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a rail;

a sliding member connected to the arm and slidably connected to the rail.

7. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a cutout in the block-side portion for receiving the linear clutch; and

a slot in the follower portion for receiving the linear clutch.

8. The sliding arm of claim 7 wherein the cutout in the block-side portion is larger than a bottom washer of the linear clutch.

9. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a channel of the follower portion for receiving a bottom alignment member of the linear clutch.

10. The sliding arm of claim 1 further comprising:

a bolt of the linear clutch;

a bottom slider member of the linear clutch;

a top slider member of the linear clutch;

a spring of the linear clutch;

11. The sliding arm of claim 10 further comprising:

a bottom alignment member of the linear clutch.

12. The sliding arm of claim 10 further comprising:

a bottom washer of the linear clutch; and

a top washer of the linear clutch.

13. A sliding arm for use with a docking station having a connector block with a plurality of plugs, the arm comprising:

a block-side portion having a first end connected to the connector block;

a follower portion;

a linear clutch connecting a second end of the block-side portion to the follower portion;

a bolt of the linear clutch;

a bottom slider member of the linear clutch;

a top slider member of the linear clutch;

a spring of the linear clutch;

a cutout in the block-side portion for receiving the bolt of the linear clutch; and

a slot in the follower portion for receiving the bolt of the linear clutch.

14. The sliding arm of claim 13 further comprising:

a sensor associated with the linear clutch, the sensor configured to detect a slippage of the linear clutch.

15. The sliding arm of claim 14 further comprising:

a resistive pad of the sensor connected to the follower portion; and

an electrical contact of the sensor connected to the block-side portion and touching the resistive pad.

16. The sliding arm of claim 13 further comprising:

a rack-gear on the follower portion.

17. The sliding arm of claim 13 further comprising:

a position indicating member on the follower portion for interfacing with a second sensor and indicating the position of the arm within the docking station.

18. The sliding arm of claim 13 further comprising:

a rail;

a sliding member connected to the arm and slidably connected to the rail.

19. The sliding arm of claim 13 further comprising:

a channel of the follower portion for receiving a bottom alignment member of the linear clutch.

20. A sliding arm for use with a docking station having a connector block with a plurality of plugs, the arm comprising:

a block-side portion having a first end connected to the connector block;

a follower portion;

a linear clutch connecting a second end of the block-side portion to the follower portion;

a sensor associated with the linear clutch, the sensor configured to detect a slippage of the linear clutch.

a bolt of the linear clutch;

a bottom slider member of the linear clutch;

a top slider member of the linear clutch;

a spring of the linear clutch;

a cutout in the block-side portion for receiving the bolt of the linear clutch; and

a slot in the follower portion for receiving the bolt of the linear clutch.