Docking station and associated method for docking a portable printer

A docking station for an electronic device comprising:

• a base member;
• a latching mechanism positioned within the base member and operable to move from an engaging position to a non-engaging position, the latching mechanism capable of securing the electronic device to the base member in the engaging position, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a push button coupled to one or more latches, and wherein the push button is operable to move the one or more latches linearly from the engaging position to the non-engaging position;
• and
• a locking mechanism positioned within the base member, wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the latching mechanism and is operable to lock the latching mechanism in the non-engaging position when the electronic device is undocked and unlock the latching mechanism when the electronic device is docked.

A docking station for an electronic device comprising:

• a base member;
• a latching mechanism positioned within the base member and operable to move from an engaging position to a non-engaging position, the latching mechanism capable of securing the electronic device to the base member in the engaging position;
• a locking mechanism positioned within the base member, wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the latching mechanism and is operable to lock the latching mechanism in the non-engaging position;
• and
• an actuator operable to move the locking mechanism to lock and unlock the latching mechanism from the non-engaging position in response to biasing of the electronic device on the actuator.

A method for docking and undocking an electronic device in a docking station comprising:

• providing a latching mechanism positioned within a base member;
• providing a locking mechanism coupled to the latching mechanism and positioned within the base member;
• unlocking the locking mechanism such that the latching mechanism moves from a non-engaging position to an engaging position, wherein unlocking further comprises biasing the electronic device on an actuator coupled to the locking mechanism,
• actuating the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism moves from the engaging position to the non-engaging position;
• and
• locking the latching mechanism in the non-engaging position with the locking mechanism.

A docking station for an electronic device comprising:

• a base member having a first surface upon which the electronic device is capable of at least partially resting;
• a latching mechanism positioned within the base member and including one or more latches, the one or more latches operable to move from an engaging position to a non-engaging position, wherein the one or more latches are capable of securing the electronic device to the base member in the engaging position;
• and
• an actuator operable to lock and unlock the one or more latches from the non-engaging position, the one or more latches and actuator capable of biasing the electronic device outwardly from the base member in a non-engaging position.

A docking station for an electronic device comprising:

• a base member comprising a first surface upon which the electronic device is capable of at least partially resting, wherein the first surface comprises first and second ends, and lateral edges extending between the first and second ends, and wherein at least a portion of the lateral edges and the first and second ends extend above the first surface to define a cradle, the electronic device capable of being positioned within the cradle;
• a latching mechanism positioned within the base member and operable to move from an engaging position to a non-engaging position, the latching mechanism capable of securing the electronic device to the base member in the engaging position;
• and
• a locking mechanism positioned within the base member, wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the latching mechanism and is operable to lock the latching mechanism in the non-engaging position when the electronic device is undocked and unlock the latching mechanism when the electronic device is docked.

A method for docking and undocking an electronic device in a docking station comprising:

• providing a latching mechanism positioned within a base member;
• providing a locking mechanism coupled to the latching mechanism and positioned within the base member;
• unlocking the locking mechanism such that the latching mechanism moves from a non-engaging position to an engaging position,
• actuating the latching mechanism such that the latching mechanism moves from the engaging position to the non-engaging position, wherein actuating the latching mechanism comprises actuating a push button coupled to one or more latches to move the one or more latches linearly to the non-engaging position;
• and
• locking the latching mechanism in the non-engaging position with the locking mechanism.