Computer docking station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852797-B2
Application number	US-201715720762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A computer docking station devised to save desktop space while also eliminating the presence of permanent cables that can clutter the work surface is disclosed. The computer docking station utilizes a split design, with a lower dock subassembly positioned beneath the work surface for housing the permanent cables necessary for the computer workstation to operate and an upper dock subassembly comprising one or more data ports positioned on top of the work surface. A monitor arm mount can be attached to, or integrated into, the upper dock subassembly, thereby alleviating the need for a separate monitor arm mount without negatively impacting the docking station's footprint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer docking station comprising:
a) an upper dock subassembly adapted to be positioned on top of a work surface, the upper dock subassembly comprising a monitor arm mount connected to a data port hub, wherein the data port hub comprises an upper subassembly printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having one or more active data ports; and
b) a lower dock subassembly adapted to be positioned beneath the work surface, the lower dock subassembly comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower subassembly printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having one or more passive data ports; wherein the one or more active data ports of the upper subassembly PCBA are operatively connected to the one or more passive data ports of the lower subassembly PCBA.

2. The computer docking station of claim 1 , wherein the one or more active data ports comprise a first active data port, a second active data port, and a third active data port.

3. The computer docking station of claim 2 , wherein the first active data port is selected from a group consisting of an audio port, a USB data port, and a USB charging port.

4. The computer docking station of claim 3 , wherein the second active data port is selected from a group consisting of an audio port, a USB data port, and a USB charging port.

5. The computer docking station of claim 4 , wherein the third active data port is selected from a group consisting of an audio port, a USB data port, and a USB charging port.

6. The computer docking station of claim 5 , wherein the one or more passive data ports comprise a first passive data port, a second passive data port, and a third passive data port.

7. The computer docking station of claim 6 , wherein the first passive data port is selected from the group consisting of an Ethernet connector, a display port connector, a HDMI connector, a DVI connector, a USB port, and a DC power connector.

8. The computer docking station of claim 7 , wherein the second passive data port is selected from the group consisting of an Ethernet connector, a display port connector, a HDMI connector, a DVI connector, a USB port, and a DC power connector.

9. The computer docking station of claim 8 , wherein the third passive data port is selected from the group consisting of an Ethernet connector, a display port connector, a HDMI connector, a DVI connector, a USB port, and a DC power connector.

10. The computer docking station of claim 2 , wherein the first active data port is an audio port, the second active data port is a USB data port, and the third active data port is a USB charging port.

11. The computer docking station of claim 6 , wherein the first passive data port is an Ethernet connector, the second passive data port is a USB data port, and the third passive data port is a DC power connector.

12. The computer docking station of claim 11 , wherein the one or more active data ports further comprise a fourth active data port and a fifth active data port, the fourth active data port and the fifth active data port each being selected from the group consisting of a USB data port and a USB charging port.

13. The computer docking station of claim 12 , wherein the one or more passive data ports further comprise a fourth passive data port and a fifth passive data port, the fourth passive data port and the fifth passive data port each being selected from the group consisting of a USB data port, an Ethernet connector, a display port connector, a DVI connector, and a USB charging port.

14. The computer docking station of claim 9 , further comprising a cable management enclosure attached to the lower dock subassembly, the cable management enclosure comprising an upper cable housing mated to a lower lid, with the upper cable housing and lower lid each comprising one or more hooks for securing a cable within the cable management enclosure.

15. The computer docking station of claim 1 , wherein the monitor arm mount is connected to the data port hub with one or more fasteners.

16. The computer docking station of claim 1 , wherein the monitor arm mount is connected to the data port hub by being integrally formed into a top portion of the data port hub.

17. The computer docking station of claim 15 , wherein the lower dock subassembly further comprises a screw threadingly engaged with a clamp bracket.

18. The computer docking station of claim 16 , wherein the lower dock subassembly further comprises a screw threadingly engaged with a clamp bracket.

19. A computer docking station comprising:
a) an upper dock subassembly adapted to be positioned on top of a work surface, the upper dock subassembly comprising a data port hub having one or more active data ports;
b) a lower dock subassembly adapted to be positioned beneath the work surface, the lower dock subassembly comprising a housing having one or more passive data ports; and
c) a means for operatively connecting the one or more active data ports of the upper dock subassembly to the one or more passive data ports of the lower dock subassembly.

20. A computer docking station comprising:
a) an upper dock subassembly adapted to be positioned on top of a work surface, the upper dock subassembly comprising a monitor arm mount connected to a data port hub, wherein the data port hub comprises one or more active data ports;
b) a lower dock subassembly adapted to be positioned beneath the work surface, the lower dock subassembly comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises one or more passive data ports; and
c) a means for operatively connecting the one or more active data ports of the upper dock subassembly to the one or more passive data ports of the lower dock subassembly.

21. The computer docking station of claim 20 , wherein the one or more active data ports comprise a first active data port, a second active data port, and a third active data port.

22. The computer docking station of claim 21 , wherein the first active data port, the second active data port, and the third active data port are each selected from a group consisting of an audio port, a USB data port, and a USB charging port.

23. The computer docking station of claim 22 , wherein the one or more passive data ports comprise a first passive data port, a second passive data port, and a third passive data port.

24. The computer docking station of claim 23 , wherein the first passive data port, the second passive data port, and the third passive data port are each selected from the group consisting of an Ethernet connector, a display port connector, an HDMI connector, a DVI connector, a USB port, and a DC power connector.

25. The computer docking station of claim 21 , wherein the first active data port is an audio port, the second active data port is a USB data port, and the third active data port is a USB charging port.

26. The computer docking station of claim 23 , wherein the first passive data port is an Ethernet connector, the second passive data port is a USB data port, and the third passive data port is a DC power connector.

27. The computer docking station of claim 20 , wherein the monitor arm mount is connected to the data port hub with one or more fasteners.

28. The computer docking station of claim 20 , wherein the monitor arm mount is connected to the data port hub by being integrally formed into a top portion of the data port hub.

Assignees

• Humanscale Corp

Inventors

• Volek Robert
• Bender Steve

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/266 Primary

  Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips · CPC title

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title