Docking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9329634-B1
Application number	US-201615004126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2016
Priority date	Sep 16, 2011
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A docking system includes a base, a deck having an upper surface configured to contact a computing device resting upon the deck, wherein the upper surface includes at least one aperture therethrough, and projections extending upwardly from a surface of the base. The deck is movable along a plane that is inclined with respect to the surface of the base between a first position and a second position, the at least one aperture of the deck when in the first position being located away from the projections such that the deck conceals the projections, and the at least one aperture of the deck when in the second position exposing the projections to allow engagement of the projections with the computing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A docking system comprising: a base; a deck having an upper surface configured to contact a computing device resting upon the deck, wherein the upper surface includes at least one aperture therethrough; and projections extending upwardly from a surface of the base, the projections comprising: a computing device connector projection having electrical contacts for electrically connecting the docking system to a computing device; and a computing device retainer projection configured to engage the computing device when resting upon the deck to retain the computing device relative to the deck; and wherein the deck is movable along a plane that is inclined with respect to the surface of the base between a first position and a second position, the at least one aperture of the deck when in the first position being located away from the projections such that the deck conceals the projections, and the at least one aperture of the deck when in the second position exposing the projections to allow engagement of the projections with the computing device, wherein the base comprises a guide along which the deck is slideable between the first position and the second position, and wherein the projections are to make sideways contact with interfaces of the electronic device as the electronic device slides down the guide.

2. The docking system of claim 1 , wherein the deck when in the first position conceals the projections when viewed from above the deck.

3. The docking system of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the base from which the projections extend upwardly is an upper surface of the base.

4. The docking system of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element to bias the deck to the first position.

5. The docking system of claim 4 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

6. The docking system of claim 1 , wherein a first point of the deck is at a higher elevation when the deck is at the first position than when the deck is at the second position.

7. A method of providing a docking system, comprising: providing a base; providing a deck having an upper surface configured to contact a computing device resting upon the deck, wherein the upper surface includes at least one aperture therethrough; and extending projections upwardly from a surface of the base, the projections comprising: a computing device connector projection having electrical contacts for electrically connecting the docking system to a computing device; and a computing device retainer projection configured to engage the computing device when resting upon the deck to retain the computing device relative to the deck; and arranging the deck to be movable along a plane that is inclined with respect to the surface of the base between a first position and a second position, the at least one aperture of the deck when in the first position being located away from the projections such that the deck conceals the projections, and the at least one aperture of the deck when in the second position exposing the projections to allow engagement of the projections with the computing device, wherein the base comprises a guide along which the deck is slideable between the first position and the second position, and wherein the projections are to make sideways contact with interfaces of the electronic device as the electronic device slides down the guide.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the deck when in the first position conceals the projections when viewed from above the deck.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the surface of the base from which the projections extend upwardly is an upper surface of the base.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising arranging a biasing element to bias the deck to the first position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein a first point of the deck is at a higher elevation when the deck is at the first position than when the deck is at the second position.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Ashcraft Britt C
• Chen Eric
• Brown Craig T

Classifications

• G06F13/4081

  Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging (current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004) · CPC title

• H01R13/44

  Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

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

• H01R43/26

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49208

  by assembling plural parts · CPC title