Docking device

A docking device capable of docking a portable information apparatus having an outer wall formed with an engaging hole, the docking device comprising:

• a device chassis having an apparatus placement portion for placement of the portable information apparatus;
• an engaging member having a hook portion projecting from a surface of the apparatus placement portion and configured to engage with and disengage from the engaging hole of the portable information apparatus, the hook portion being movable between an engagement position in which the hook portion engages with the engaging hole and an engagement release position in which a state of engagement of the hook portion with the engaging hole is released;
• and
• an impact sound generation mechanism configured to generate an impact sound when the portable information apparatus is placed on the apparatus placement portion and the engaging member is disposed at a position engageable with the engaging hole or at the engagement position,
• the impact sound generation mechanism including:
• a detector configured to detect that the portable information apparatus is placed on the apparatus placement portion;
• a slide member that is slidable in the device chassis in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and is configured to slide in the first direction when the portable information apparatus is detected by the detector;
• a movable member having a receiving portion configured to be pressed by a pressing piece of the slide member sliding in the first direction, the movable member configured to be movable in the device chassis;
• a guide hole in one of the movable member and the device chassis;
• a guide pin in the other of the movable member and the device chassis, and inserted in the guide hole to be slidable relative to the guide hole;
• an elastic member having one end attached to the device chassis and an other end attached to the movable member, the other end disposed at a position farther from the slide member than the one end so that the elastic member is disposed in a posture in which an expansion/contraction direction of the elastic member is inclined relative to a sliding direction of the slide member;
• and
• a hitting base in the device chassis and configured to be hit by a hitting portion in an outer surface of the movable member,
• wherein, in the impact sound generation mechanism, when the portable information apparatus is detected by the detector, the slide member slides in the first direction to cause the pressing piece to press the receiving portion and to move the movable member against an urging force of the elastic member, and then when the pressing piece disengages from the receiving portion, the movable member moves along the guide pin by receiving the urging force of the elastic member so that the hitting portion hits the hitting base to generate the impact sound.