Multi-position computing device docking station
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMemphis Zhihong Yin, Glen A. Oross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A docking station that accepts a portable computing device is disclosed. The docking station comprises a first surface that supports a bottom surface of the portable computing device. The first surface includes a means for restricting the movement of the portable computing device. The docking station additionally includes a body or a trunk that interfaces the portable computing device with an external device. The docking station additionally includes a hinge which joins the first surface to the body or trunk, in which the hinge permits the portable computing device to be rotated between a horizontal and a vertical orientation as well as various acute angles.
Claims27
A docking station that accepts a portable computing device, said docking station comprising:
- a first surface that supports a bottom surface of said portable computing device, said first surface including means for restricting movement of said portable computing device;
- a body that interfaces said portable computing device with an external device;
- and
- a hinge which joins said first surface to said body, said hinge permitting said portable computing device to be rotated between a horizontal and a vertical orientation.
A docking station adapted to accept a computing device, comprising:
- a rear wall that binds with an end portion of said computing device;
- a first surface that supports a bottom surface of said computing device;
- a body that interfaces said portable computing device to an external device;
- and
- a rotary joint which joins said first surface and said rear wall to said body, said rotary joint permitting said computing device to be rotated from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position.
A method for positioning a computing device in a multi-position docking station, the method comprising:
- sliding said computing device along a substantially horizontal surface of said multi-position docking station;
- retaining said computing device on said horizontal surface;
- and
- rotating said computing device toward a substantially vertical orientation by way of a hinge that couples said substantially horizontal surface to a body, wherein said body interfaces said portable computing device to an external device.
A docking station adapted to position a computing device to a vertical orientation, comprising:
- means for receiving said computing device on a substantially horizontal surface;
- means for retaining said computing device on said substantially horizontal surface;
- and
- means for rotating said computing device and said horizontal surface to a substantially vertical orientation.
A docking station that accepts a computing device, said docking station comprising:
- front and rear opposing surfaces that confine the body of said computing device, wherein said computing device is predominantly vertically oriented, and wherein the display of said computing device is hingedly coupled to said body of said computing device and is able to rotate relative to said body of said computing device;
- a docking station trunk that joins said front and rear opposing surfaces;
- and
- a swivel, coupled to said docking station trunk, for orienting said front and rear opposing surfaces in a horizontal plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.