Tablet storage and transportation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10044203-B2
Application number	US-201514919520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2011
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A tablet storage device includes a module on a cart frame that includes a wheeled base. A cart module defines a selectively accessible interior space having multiple storage slots within the interior space for holding tablets. In some cases a tablet storage device holds multiple tablets using two or more modules in a stacked arrangement on a wheeled base. Each module can hold a portion of the multiple tablets within storage slots within an interior space inside the module. The storage slots may have connectors for connecting to tablets, and the cart frame can have a network connection system that is adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors. The cart frame may also have a power supply system for charging each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:
a wheeled base including a horizontal top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining an internal compartment, the wheeled base sized and shaped to detachably support at least a first tablet storage module and a second tablet storage module in a vertically stacked arrangement in which the first tablet storage module is configured to be vertically stacked on the wheeled base and the second tablet storage module is configured to be vertically stacked on the first tablet storage module, wherein the first tablet storage module and a second tablet storage module are unenclosed when in the stacked arrangement;
a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets, the power supply positioned within the internal compartment of the wheeled base;
the first tablet storage module including a pair of rotatable handles to lift the first storage module, a pair of locking mechanisms, a top portion, a bottom portion, a back portion, a front portion including at least one door having a lock, and side portions defining a selectively accessible interior space, the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions being distinct from the top portion, the bottom portion, and the side portions of the wheeled base, the tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein the top portion of the first tablet storage module defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of a bottom portion of the second tablet storage module, and wherein the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base defines at least one alignment feature to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the bottom portion of the first tablet storage module;
wherein the wheeled base is configured to be detachably coupled to the first tablet storage module above the horizontal top portion of the wheeled base in the vertically stacked arrangement, and wherein the first tablet storage module has connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system, and
wherein the pair of rotatable handles are configured to rotate and engage corresponding locking mechanisms on the second tablet storage module to lock the storage modules together when vertically stacked.

2. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , wherein the wheeled base includes a network connection system, the network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.

3. The tablet storage device of claim 2 , wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

4. The tablet storage device of claim 2 , wherein the internal compartment includes a fan and a vent.

5. The tablet storage device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of storage slots of the first tablet storage module have docking stations for connecting to the first portion of the plurality of tablets.

6. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second tablet storage module identical to the first tablet storage module and defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets.

7. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first tablet storage module has a port; and
the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector, the wheeled base connector for connecting to the port such that the wheeled base and the first tablet storage module are in electronic communication.

8. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second tablet storage identical to the first tablet storage module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein:
the first tablet storage module has a port and a connector;
the second tablet storage module has a port; and
the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector, wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the first tablet storage module connector is connectable to the second tablet storage module port to form a second connection, such that the wheeled base and the first tablet storage module are in electronic communication through the first connection, and the wheeled base and the second tablet storage module are in electronic communication through the first and second connections.

9. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , wherein:
the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector and a network connection system;
the first tablet storage module has a port; and
at least one of the storage slots has a slot connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets, wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector is connectable to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the network connection system is in electronic communication with the first tablet storage module through the first connection, and the network connection system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

10. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , wherein:
the wheeled base has a wheeled base connector;
the first tablet storage module has a port; and
at least one of the storage slots has a slot connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets; wherein the wheeled base connector is connectable to the first tablet storage module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector is connectable to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the power supply system is in communication with the first tablet storage module through the first connection, and the power supply system is in communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.

11. The tablet storage device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second tablet storage module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second tablet storage module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets, wherein:
the first and second tablet storage modules include a locking mechanism adapted to enable the first tablet storage module to be locked to the second tablet storage module in the stacked arrangement, the locking mechanism further adapted to enable at least one of the first and second tablet storage modules immediately adjacent to the wheeled base in the stacked arrangement to be locked to the wheeled base.

12. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:
a wheeled base including a horizontal top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions defining an internal compartment, the wheeled base sized and shaped to detachably support a plurality of tablet storage modules in a vertically stacked arrangement, wherein the plurality of tablet storage modules are unenclosed when in the stacked arrangement;
a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets, the power supply positioned within the internal compartment of the wheeled base;
the plurality of tablet storage modules identical to each other and each configured to hold the plurality of tablets, each of the plurality of tablet storage modules including a pair of rotatable handles, a pair of locking

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Ergun Mustafa A
• Lindblad Shaun C
• Funk Joseph
• Tischer William D
• Segar Peter
• Prince David J

Classifications

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/189

  Power distribution · CPC title

• G06F1/181

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• A47B23/043

  adjustable, foldable · CPC title