Compact docking station for portable computer

• US 5,555,491 A
• Filed: 02/14/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tao, Adam M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/388,579
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-686, 361/724-727, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A compact docking station for a portable computer includes a mounting bracket assembly for supporting together as a compact unit a computer port replicating device, a DC power supply and a light for illuminating the work area of the computer. The mounting bracket assembly includes lower and upper mounting brackets that are pivotably connected to each other. The lower mounting bracket can be directly mounted on a support base such as a vehicle console. The upper mounting bracket provides a computer support surface and carries the port replicating device adjacent thereto. The upper mounting bracket is pivotable between a generally horizontal computer use position, and an upwardly angled computer removal/attachment position. This arrangement allows the computer to be positioned for use in a limited space, with minimal handling and clutter.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

a lower mounting bracket including attachment means for attaching said mounting bracket to a base;

an upper mounting bracket providing a generally planar computer support surface for removably supporting a portable computer, said upper mounting bracket being pivotably connected to said lower mounting bracket such that said upper mounting bracket is moveable between a computer use position wherein said support surface extends generally parallel and adjacent to said lower mounting bracket, and a computer attachment/removal position wherein said support surface extends upwardly away from said lower mounting bracket; and

a computer port replicating device attached to said upper mounting bracket adjacent said computer support surface, said port replicating device having;

power input means for receiving power from a power supply;

at least one data input/output port; and

connector means for electrically connecting the portable computer with said power input means and said at least one data input/output port, said connector means being engageable with mating connector means provided on the portable computer, by positioning the portable computer on the computer support surface and moving the computer against said port replicating device, and disengageable from the mating connector means by moving said computer away from said port replicating device.

2. A docking station according to claim 1 further comprising a DC power supply for supplying conditioned power to said port replicating device.

3. A docking station according to claim 2, wherein said DC power supply is attached to said lower mounting bracket.

4. A docking station according to claim 1, further comprising an electric light assembly for illuminating the work area of a portable computer supported on said computer support surface.

5. A docking station according to claim 4, wherein said light assembly is mounted to said upper mounting bracket.

6. A docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a clip for removably securing the computer to said upper mounting bracket and releasably maintaining said upper mounting bracket in said computer use position, said clip comprising a lower arm portion attached to said lower mounting bracket, and an upper arm portion extending above said upper mounting bracket for engagement with a computer positioned on said computer support surface.

7. A docking station according to claim 6, wherein said clip is a spring clip having at said upper arm portion an inwardly directed flange that is biased inwardly to a computer engagement position overhanging the upper mounting bracket, said flange being displaceable outwardly from said computer engagement position to release the computer and to allow the upper mounting bracket to be pivoted to the computer attachment/removal position.

8. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein a forward edge portion of said upper mounting bracket overhangs a forward edge of said lower mounting bracket, said forward edge of the lower mounting bracket being hinged to a bottom surface of said upper mounting bracket adjacent said forward edge portion of said overhanging portion.

9. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein said lower mounting bracket and said upper mounting bracket are hinged together with a removable hinge pin, whereby said lower and upper brackets are readily separable from each other.

10. A mounting bracket assembly for removably supporting a portable computer in a confined space, said bracket assembly comprising:

a lower mounting bracket having mounting means for mounting said bracket assembly to a base;

an upper mounting bracket providing a generally planar computer support surface for removably supporting a portable computer, said upper mounting bracket being pivotably connected to said lower mounting bracket such that said upper mounting bracket is moveable between a computer use position wherein said support surface extends generally parallel and adjacent to said lower mounting bracket, and a computer attachment/removal position wherein said support surface extends upwardly away from said lower mounting bracket; and

a clip for removably securing the computer to said upper mounting bracket and releasably maintaining said upper mounting bracket in said computer use position, said clip comprising a lower arm portion attached to said lower mounting bracket and an upper arm portion extending above said upper mounting bracket for engagement with a computer positioned on said computer support surface.

11. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clip is a spring clip having at said upper arm portion an inwardly directed flange that is biased inwardly to a computer engagement position overhanging the upper mounting bracket, said flange being displaceable outwardly from said computer engagement position to release the computer and to allow the upper mounting bracket to be pivoted to the computer attachment/removal position.

12. A docking station according to claim 10, wherein said upper mounting bracket has a forward edge portion that overhangs a forward edge of said lower mounting bracket, said forward edge of the lower mounting bracket being hinged to a bottom surface of said upper mounting bracket adjacent said forward edge portion.

13. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, wherein said lower bracket and said upper bracket are hinged together with a removable hinge pin, whereby said lower and upper brackets are readily separable from each other.

14. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, wherein said upper mounting bracket comprises mounting means for mounting a computer port replicating device adjacent to said computer support surface.

15. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means for mounting a computer port replicating device comprises a generally planar support surface provided at a forward end of said upper mounting bracket, and fastening means for fastening the computer port replicating device to said generally planar support surface.

16. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, further comprising mounting means for mounting a DC power supply on said bracket assembly.

17. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 16, wherein said mounting means for mounting a DC power supply comprises a vertical support surface provided on said lower mounting bracket, and fastening means for fastening said power supply to said vertical support surface.

18. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, further comprising auxiliary latch means for tightly latching said upper mounting bracket to said lower bracket, whereby said upper mounting bracket can be firmly held in said computer use position.

19. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 10, further comprising mounting means for mounting a light assembly on said bracket assembly.

20. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 19, wherein said mounting means for mounting a light assembly comprises a second support surface of the upper mounting bracket, located adjacent to the computer support surface, and fastening means for fastening said light assembly to said second support surface.

21. A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:

a bracket assembly including attachment means for attaching said bracket assembly to a base, and a generally planar computer support surface for removably supporting a portable computer;

a computer port replicating device attached to said bracket assembly adjacent said computer support surface, said port replicating device having;

power input means for receiving power from a power supply;

at least one data input/output port; and

connector means for electrically connecting the portable computer with said power input means and said at least one data input/output port, said connector means being engageable with mating connector means provided on the portable computer, by positioning the portable computer on the computer support surface and moving the computer against said port replicating device, and disengageable from the mating connector means by moving said computer away from said port replicating device;

a DC power supply attached to said bracket assembly for providing power to said port replicating device; and

an electric light assembly attached to said bracket assembly for illuminating the work area of a portable computer supported on said computer support surface.

22. A docking station according to claim 21, wherein said electric light assembly is attached to said bracket assembly adjacent said computer support surface, said light assembly comprising a lamp mounted to a free end of an elongated flexible arm, whereby said lamp is positionable overhead said computer support surface.