Docking station

• US 8,867,202 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamber-Johnson LLC
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US13/316,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking station for an electronic device includes a base at least partially configured to support the electronic device. The base includes a front face and a substantially orthogonal adjacent face. A guide rib extends normally between the front face and the adjacent face. An electrical connector is pivotally coupled to the base and configured to receive a mating connector of the electronic device. An edge portion of the guide rib engages a surface of the electronic device to facilitate alignment of the electrical connector with the mating connector.

Claims

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

a base at least partially configured to support the electronic device, the base including a front face and a substantially orthogonal adjacent face and further including a guide rib having an edge portion extending normally between the front face and the adjacent face;

an electrical connector pivotally coupled to the base and configured to receive a mating connector of the electronic device, wherein the edge portion of the guide rib moves a surface of the electronic device away from the front face of the base to facilitate alignment of the electrical connector with the mating connector; and

a slide translatably coupled to the base and adjustable from a retracted position to an extended position, the slide including a cutout that defines a space to accommodate the guide rib when the slide is in the retracted position.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is electrically coupled to an input/output connection.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector extends through an aperture in the adjacent face and is pivotable between about −

10° and

about +3°

degrees from a direction normal to the adjacent face.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further including an electrical connector cover removably fixed to the base, wherein the electrical connector extends through an aperture in the adjacent face and is pivotable, and wherein the electrical connector cover includes a blocking rib contoured to limit the extent of pivotable motion of the electrical connector to between about −

10° and

about +3°

degrees from a direction normal to the adjacent face.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector extends through an aperture in the adjacent face and is biased at an angle approximately three degrees from a direction normal to the adjacent face.

6. The docking station of claim 5, further including a pad of flexible material positioned between a portion of the base and a portion of the electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is biased by the pad.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein a pivot axis is defined substantially parallel to the front face of the base, and further wherein the electrical connector is operable to rotate about the pivot axis.

8. The docking station of claim 7, further including a projection on one of the electrical connector and the base, and a seat configured to receive the projection on the other of the electrical connector and the base, and wherein the projection snaps into the seat.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the slide includes a cradle for securing the electronic device to the base.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein one of the base and the slide includes a plurality of T-shaped tabs, and further wherein the other of the base and the slide includes a plurality of opposing slots, wherein the slots translate about the T-shaped tabs during adjustment of the slide between the retracted position and the extended position.

11. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, and further including an adapter removably fixable to the slide, wherein the docking station is compatible for use with a second electronic device physically smaller than the first electronic device.

12. The docking station of claim 9, further including a spring having a first end coupled to the base and a second end coupled to the slide, wherein the spring biases the slide to the extended position.

13. The docking station of claim 9, further including a push button locking mechanism fixed to the slide, wherein the second end of the spring is operatively coupled to a bottom surface of the locking mechanism and wherein a top surface of the locking mechanism includes a push button.

14. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the base includes a plurality of mounting apertures arranged for mounting the docking station.

15. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the guide rib is curved.

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

a base at least partially configured to support the electronic device;

a slide translatably coupled to the base and adjustable from a retracted position to an extended position, the slide including a cradle for securing the electronic device to the base; and

an electrical connector connected to the base and configured to receive a mating connector of the electronic device;

wherein one of the base and the slide includes a plurality of T-shaped tabs, and wherein the other of the base and the slide includes a plurality of slots receiving the T-shaped tabs, wherein the T-shaped tabs prevent frontward movement of the slide away from the base while translating relative to the slots during adjustment of the slide between the retracted position and the extended position.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the electrical connector is movable relative to the base.

18. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the electrical connector is pivotally coupled to the base.

19. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the base includes a front face and a substantially orthogonal adjacent face, the base further including a guide rib extending normally between the front face and the adjacent face, wherein a curved edge portion of the guide rib moves a surface of the electronic device to facilitate alignment of the electrical connector with the mating connector.

20. The docking station of claim 16, further including a locking member configured to limit the translation of at least one of the plurality of T-shaped tabs relative to a respective slot.

21. The docking station of claim 20, wherein the locking member is a non-removable insert installed in the respective slot.

22. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the base includes at least one projection distinct from the T-shaped tabs, and wherein the slide includes at least one aperture aligned with the projection for receiving the projection when the slide is in the retracted position to further prevent separation of the slide from the base in a direction normal to a direction of translation of the slide relative to the base.