Vertically docking an information handling system to a media slice

• US 7,085,132 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Schlesener, Maria, Godsted, Jeffrey, Gold, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/720,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-686, 361/725, 361/726, 361/732, 361/740, 361/747, 361/754, 361/798, 361/801, 710/303, 710/304, D14/107
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A media slice includes a guide member and a docking surface with locating members, locking members and a first connector. A cavity in the media slice is open to the docking surface. An information handling system includes locating member receivers and a second connector. The information handling system is docked in the media slice by using the guide member and locating members to align the information handling system above the media slice. The locating members engage the locating member receivers and hold the information handling system parallel to the docking surface. With the locating members and locating member receivers engaged, the information handling system may be lowered onto the media slice, allowing the first connector and second connector to be mated and the locking members to lock the information handling system to the media slice. A battery may be stored in the cavity to be locked into the information handling system/media slice combination.

Claims

1. A vertical docking apparatus comprising:

a docking receiver member having a docking surface, the docking receiver member including a battery cavity open to the docking surface;

a guide member extending vertically from an edge of the docking surface;

a plurality of elongated locating members extending vertically from the docking surface;

a first connector extending vertically from the docking surface;

a plurality of locking members mounted on the docking surface;

a plurality of locating receivers for receiving the locating members;

a docking member having a mating surface for engagement with the docking surface, the elongated locating members engaging the locating receivers positioned on the mating surface for maintaining the docking surface substantially parallel to the mating surface during a relative movement of the docking member and the docking receiver member;

a second connector extending vertically from the mating surface; and

a plurality of locking member receivers mounted on the mating surface, whereby primary engagement of the docking member with the guide member and secondary engagement of the of the locating members with the locating receivers aligns the first and second connectors for seating and for engagement of the locking members and the locking member receivers, the locking members being automatically simultaneously actuated by an ejection device for disengagement of the docking member and the docking receiver member; and

wherein at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a first direction and at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a second direction opposite the first direction so that a battery placed in the cavity is secured in the cavity due to the locking members moving in opposite directions to disengage the docking member and the docking receiver member.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the docking receiver member is a media slice.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the docking member is an information handling system.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of ejection members housed in the docking receiver member.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the ejection device is located on the docking receiver member.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

means on the docking member receiver for disengaging the locking members from the locking member receivers and extending the ejection members vertically from the docking surface.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a battery in the cavity.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means on the docking member receiver for locking the locking members in the locking members receivers.

9. An information handling system comprising:

a docking receiver member having a docking surface, the docking receiver member including a battery cavity open to the docking surface;

a guide member extending vertically from an edge of the docking surface;

a plurality of elongated locating members extending vertically from the docking surface;

a first connector extending vertically from the docking surface;

a plurality of locking members mounted on the docking surface;

a docking member including a chassis, a microprocessor in the chassis and a storage coupled to the microprocessor, the chassis having a mating surface for engagement with the docking surface;

a plurality of locating receivers on the mating surface for receiving the locating members, the elongated locating members engaging the locating receivers for maintaining the docking surface substantially parallel to the mating surface during a relative movement of the docking member and the docking receiver member;

a second connector extending vertically from the mating surface; and

a plurality of locking member receivers mounted on the mating surface, whereby primary engagement of the docking member with the guide member and secondary engagement of the of the locating members with the locating receivers aligns the first and second connectors for seating and for engagement of the locking members and the locking member receivers, the locking members being automatically simultaneously actuated by an ejection device for disengagement of the docking member and the docking receiver member; and

wherein at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a first direction and at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a second direction opposite the first direction so that a battery Placed in the cavity is secured in the cavity due to the locking members moving in opposite directions to disengage the docking member and the docking receiver member.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein the docking receiver member is a media slice.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the docking member is a portable computer.

12. The system as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of ejection members housed in the docking receiver member.

13. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein the ejection device is located on the docking receiver member.

14. The system as defined in claim 12 further comprising:

means on the docking receiver member for disengaging the locking members from the locking member receivers and extending the ejection members vertically from the docking surface.

15. The system as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a battery in the cavity.

16. The system as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

means on the docking receiver member for locking the locking members in the locking members receivers.

17. A method for vertically docking an information handling system comprising:

providing a docking receiver member having a docking surface, the docking receiver member including a battery cavity open to the docking surface;

providing a guide member extending vertically from an edge of the docking surface;

providing a plurality of elongated locating members extending vertically from the docking surface;

providing a first connector extending vertically from the docking surface;

providing a plurality of locking members mounted on the docking surface;

providing a docking member having a chassis including a mating surface for engagement with the docking surface;

providing a plurality of locating receivers on the mating surface for receiving the locating members, providing the elongated locating members and the locating receivers with a structure sufficient for maintaining the docking and mating surfaces substantially parallel during a relative movement of the docking member and the docking receiver member;

providing a second connector extending vertically from the mating surface;

providing a plurality of locking member receivers mounted on the mating surface;

engaging the docking member with the guide member;

engaging the locating members with the locating receivers for aligning the first and second connectors;

engaging the locking members with the locking receivers; and

connecting the first and second connectors;

providing an ejection device;

automatically simultaneously actuating the locking members by the ejection device for disengagement of the docking member from the docking receiver member; and

wherein at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a first direction and at least one of the locking members is oriented to the function in a second direction opposite the first direction so that a battery placed in the cavity is secured in the cavity due to the locking members moving in opposite directions to disengage the docking member and the docking receiver member.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the locating members and locating member receivers provide means for maintaining the docking member substantially parallel to the docking receiver member during a vertical movement of the docking member.