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US 6,142,593 AGranted
Docking station with adjustable guide rails
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsTae-Yong Kim, Phil-Kyu Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable computer docking station provided with adjustable guide rails. The guiding device effectively guides various portable computers on the docking station irrespective of different widths or differently positioned computer ports. Thus, the present invention allows users to buy a docking station regardless of the types of portable computers that will be interfaced with the docking station. The present invention also allows a user to use an existing docking station when the user changes a currently used portable computer for a new one. The invention further allows computer manufacturers to disregard specifically designing docking stations every time a new portable computer is developed.
Claims39
A docking station for a portable computer, said docking station comprising:
- a chassis comprising:
- a structure having a front side bearing a port for interfacing with said portable computer, and bearing a plurality of peripheral ports for interfacing with a peripheral device;
- a tray attached to said structure, having a top side, and extending from said front side of said structure to support said portable computer while said portable computer is interfaced with said chassis;
- and
- a depression in a top side of said tray creating a seating surface;
- said seating surface comprising:
- a first groove located in a bottom of said seating surface;
- and
- a second groove located in said bottom of said seating surface substantially parallel to said first groove;
- a plurality of guide means respectively disposed on opposite sides of said tray for guiding said portable computer on said tray at least one of said guide means comprising a guide rail slidably insertable inside said depression in said tray and engageable with said seating surface, said guide rail comprising:
- a body having a base and a first flange for guiding said portable computer along said tray of said chassis during the interfacing of said portable computer with said chassis;
- a plug attached to said base for engaging said second groove;
- and
- a pair of opposing latches attached to said base for engaging said first groove;
- a second flange attached to said top side of said chassis as another of said plurality of guide means forming a fixed guide rail operating cooperatively with said guide rail to properly align a portable computer while interfacing said portable computer with said docking station.
12 more elements
A docking station for a portable computer, said docking station comprising:
- a chassis comprising:
- a structure having a front side bearing a port for interfacing with said portable computer, and bearing a plurality of peripheral ports for interfacing with a peripheral device;
- a tray attached to said structure, having a top side, and extending from said front side of said structure to support said portable computer while said portable computer is interfaced with said chassis;
- and
- a plurality of depressions in a top side of said tray each creating a seating surface;
- said seating surface comprising:
- a first groove located in a bottom of said seating surface;
- and
- a second groove located in said bottom of said seating surface substantially parallel to said first groove;
- a plurality of guide rails each respectively slidably insertable inside a corresponding one of said plurality of depressions in said tray and engageable with a corresponding said seating surface, each of said plurality of guide rails comprising:
- a body having a base and a flange for guiding said portable computer along said tray of said chassis during the interfacing of said portable computer with said chassis;
- a plug attached to said base for engaging said second groove;
- and
- a pair of opposing latches attached to said base for engaging said first groove;
- each said flange from each of said plurality of guide rails operating cooperatively to properly align said portable computer while interfacing said portable computer with said docking station.
12 more elements
A docking station for a portable computer, said docking station comprising:
- a chassis comprising:
- a structure having a front side bearing a port for interfacing with said portable computer, and bearing a plurality of peripheral ports for interfacing with a peripheral device;
- a tray attached to said structure, having a top side, and extending from said front side of said structure to support said portable computer while said portable computer is interfaced with said chassis;
- and
- a depression in a top side of said tray creating a seating surface;
- said seating surface comprising:
- a groove located in a bottom of said seating surface;
- and
- a plurality of slits located in a bottom of said seating surface;
- a plurality of guide means respectively disposed on opposite sides of said tray for guiding said portable computer on said tray, one of said plurality of guide means comprising a guide rail slidably insertable inside said depression in said tray and engageable with said seating surface, said guide rail comprising:
- a body having a base and a top side;
- a first flange for guiding said portable computer along said tray of said chassis during the interfacing of said portable computer with said chassis;
- a counterbored hollow;
- and
- a pair of ribs attached to said base for engaging said slits in said seating surface;
- a fastener means for securing said guide rail to said seating surface;
- and
- a second flange attached to said top side of said chassis as another of said plurality of guide means forming a fixed guide rail operating cooperatively with said guide rail to properly align said portable computer while interfacing said portable computer with said docking station.
15 more elements
A docking station for a portable computer, said docking station comprising:
- a chassis comprising:
- a structure having a front side bearing a port for interfacing with said portable computer, and bearing a plurality of peripheral ports for interfacing with a peripheral device;
- a tray attached to said structure, having a top side, and extending from said front side of said structure to support said portable computer while said portable computer is interfaced with said chassis;
- and
- a plurality of seating surfaces positioned on said top side of said tray,
- each of said plurality of seating surfaces comprising:
- a groove;
- and
- a plurality of slits oriented substantially perpendicularly to said groove;
- a plurality of guide rails each slidably engageable with a corresponding one of said plurality of seating surfaces, each of said plurality of guide rails comprising:
- a body having a base and a top side;
- a flange for guiding said portable computer along said tray of said chassis during the interfacing of said portable computer with said chassis;
- a counterbored hollow;
- and
- a pair of ribs attached to said base for engaging corresponding ones of said plurality of slits in a corresponding one of said plurality of seating surfaces;
- each said flange from each of said plurality of guide rails operating cooperatively to properly align said portable computer while interfacing said portable computer with said docking station.
13 more elements
A docking station for a portable computer, said docking station comprising:
- a chassis comprising:
- a structure having a front side bearing a port for interfacing with said portable computer, and bearing a plurality of peripheral ports for interfacing with a peripheral device;
- a tray attached to said structure, having a top side, and extending from said front side of said structure to support said portable computer while said portable computer is interfaced with said chassis;
- and
- a plurality of seating surfaces positioned on said top side of said tray;
- each of said plurality of seating surfaces comprising a groove;
- a plurality of guide rails each slidably engageable with a corresponding of one said plurality of seating surfaces, each of said plurality of guide rails comprising:
- a body having a base and a top side;
- a flange for guiding said portable computer along said tray of said chassis during the interfacing of said portable computer with said chassis;
- and
- a counterbored hollow for fastenably engaging a corresponding one of said plurality of said guide rails to said chassis;
- each said flange from each of said plurality of guide rails operating cooperatively to properly align said portable computer while interfacing said portable computer with said docking station.
9 more elements
A docking station for a portable computer, comprising:
- a housing for supporting said portable computer on a top side of said housing;
- a port provided on said housing for electrically interfacing with said portable computer;
- and
- a plurality of guide means for guiding said portable computer along said top side of said housing when said portable computer is being engaged with said docking station, said plurality of guide means being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said top side of said housing, at least one of said plurality of guide means being slidably attached to said docking station.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.