Docking station with ruggedized case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310841-B2
Application number	US-201514754525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Aug 23, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A docking station for an electronic device that is contained within a case, in which the case includes a retractable connector access panel at least partially overlying a portion of a connector port of the electronic device, includes a base at least partially configured to support the electronic device. An electrical connector is coupled to the base and configured to receive the connector port of the electronic device. A retraction member is coupled to the base and configured to retract the connector access panel to at least partially expose the connector port during docking of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A docking station for an electronic device contained within a case, the case including a retractable connector access panel at least partially overlying a portion of a connector port of the electronic device, the docking station comprising:
a base to support the electronic device, wherein the base comprises a support panel;
an electrical connector coupled to the base and positioned to receive the connector port of the electronic device; and
a retraction member coupled to the base support panel and positioned to contact the connector access panel to retract the panel to at least partially expose the connector port during docking of the electronic device.

2. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the retraction member is pivotally coupled to the base.

3. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the retraction member moves from a first position to a second position upon contact with the case during docking of the electronic device.

4. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is removably contained within the case.

5. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the retraction member further includes a receiving surface positioned to contact the connector access panel during docking of the electronic device.

6. The docking station of claim 5 , wherein the receiving surface defines a receptacle sized to hold the connector access panel.

7. The docking station of claim 5 , wherein the receiving surface comprises an arm extending away from the base.

8. The docking station of claim 7 , wherein the retraction member further includes a contact surface separate from the receiving surface to contact an external surface of the case during docking of the electronic device to pivot the retraction member.

9. The docking station of claim 8 , wherein the contact surface comprises a pair of arms extending away from the base.

10. The docking station of claim 9 , wherein the pair of arms comprising the contact surface are disposed on opposite sides of the arm comprising the receiving surface.

11. The docking station of claim 1 , further including a slide translatably coupled to the base adjacent the support panel and adjustable from a retracted position to an extended position, the slide including a cradle for securing the electronic device to the base.

12. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the slide includes a cutout through which the retraction member extends to retract the connector access panel.

13. The docking station of claim 11 , further including a spring having a first end in contact with the base and a second end in contact with the slide, wherein the spring biases the slide to the extended position.

14. The docking station of claim 13 , 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.

15. A docking station for an electronic device contained within a case, the case including a retractable connector access panel at least partially overlying a portion of a connector port of the electronic device, the docking station comprising:
a base to support the electronic device, wherein the base comprises a panel having opposing lateral edges and opposing walls extending along portions of the edges;
an electrical connector coupled to the base and positioned to receive the connector port of the electronic device; and
a retraction member coupled to the base panel between the opposing walls and biased to contact the connector access panel to retract the panel and at least partially expose the connector port during docking of the electronic device.

16. The docking station of claim 15 , wherein the retraction member is pivotally coupled to the base.

17. The docking station of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device is removably contained within the case.

18. The docking station of claim 15 , wherein the retraction member contacts an external surface of the case during docking of the electronic device to pivot the retraction member.

19. The docking station of claim 15 , wherein the retraction member further includes a receiving surface positioned to contact the connector access panel during docking of the electronic device.

20. The docking station of claim 19 , wherein the receiving surface comprises an arm extending away from the base.

21. The docking station of claim 20 , wherein the retraction member further includes a contact surface separate from the receiving surface to contact the external surface of the case during docking of the electronic device to pivot the retraction member.

22. The docking station of claim 21 , wherein the contact surface comprises a pair of arms extending away from the base.

23. The docking station of claim 15 , further including 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.

24. The docking station of claim 23 , wherein the slide includes a cutout through which the retraction member extends to retract the connector access panel.

25. The docking station of claim 23 , further including a spring having a first end in contact with the base and a second end in contact with the slide, wherein the spring biases the slide to the extended position.

26. The docking station of claim 25 , 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.

27. A docking station for an electronic device contained within a case, the case including a retractable connector access panel at least partially overlying a portion of a connector port of the electronic device, the docking station comprising:
a base to support the electronic device, wherein the base comprises opposing lateral edges with opposing side walls extending along portions of the edges;
an electrical connector coupled to the base and positioned to receive the connector port of the electronic device; and
a retraction member pivotally coupled to the base between the opposing side walls and having a first portion positioned to contact the connector access panel to retract the panel and at least partially expose the connector port during docking of the electronic device and a second portion positioned to contact the case at a point separate from the panel to pivot the retraction member during docking of the electronic device.

28. The docking station of claim 27 , wherein the retraction member is biased to contact the connector access panel during docking of the electronic device.

29. The docking station of claim 27 , wherein the electronic device is removably contained within the case.

30. The docking station of claim 27 , wherein the first portion is shaped to receive and hold the connector access panel during docking of the electronic device.

31. The docking station of claim 27 , wherein the second portion comprises a pair of arms extending away from the base.

32. The docking station of claim 27 , wherein the first portion comprises an arm extending away from the base.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• Williams Steve

Classifications

• G06F2200/1633

  Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

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