Docking station and portable computer having the same and a method of connecting the docking station and portable computer

A docking station to support a portable computer having a first end and an opposing second end, on an installation surface, the docking station comprising:

• a main body configured to support the first end of the portable computer against the installation surface, and to electrically connect with the portable computer;
• and
• an angle adjusting unit that moves between an accommodating position in the main body and an adjusting position protruding from the main body, and adjusts an installation angle between an upper surface of the main body and the installation surface such that the second end of the portable computer directly contacts the installation surface when the portable computer has any one of a plurality of different sizes, the angle adjusting unit including:
• a support unit, accommodated by a protrusion accommodating unit, having a hinge shaft and a support protrusion that extends lengthwise in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the hinge shaft and is rotatable about the hinge shaft;
• at least one hinge shaft stationary unit protruding from an inner surface of a lower casing of the docking station and supporting at least one end part of the hinge shaft, to prevent movement of the hinge shaft in an axial direction;
• and
• a separation preventing unit including a curved unit disposed at a contact area of the support protrusion and the protrusion accommodating unit, to apply an elastic force to a rotation of the support protrusion.

A portable computer system, comprising:

• a computer main body having a first end and an opposing second end;
• a display unit that is rotatably coupled to the computer main body;
• a docking main body that is electrically connected with the computer main body;
• and
• an angle adjusting unit that is rotatably coupled to the docking main body, to adjust an installation angle between an upper surface of the docking main body and the installation surface such that the second end of the computer main body directly contacts the installation surface when the portable computer has any one of a plurality of different sizes, the angle adjusting unit including:
• a support unit, accommodated by a protrusion accommodating unit, having a hinge shaft and a support protrusion that extends lengthwise in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the hinge shaft and is rotatable about the hinge shaft;
• at least one hinge shaft stationary unit protruding from an inner surface of a lower casing of the docking station and supporting at least one end part of the hinge shaft, to prevent movement of the hinge shaft in an axial direction;
• and
• a separation preventing unit including a curved unit disposed at a contact area of the support protrusion and the protrusion accommodating unit, to apply an elastic force to a rotation of the support protrusion.

A docking station to support a portable computer having a first end and an opposing second end, on an installation surface, the docking station comprising:

• a main body configured to support the first end of the portable computer against the installation surface;
• and
• an angle adjusting unit attached to a lower surface of the main body, to adjust an installation angle between an upper surface of the main body and the installation surface such that the second end of the portable computer directly contacts the installation surface when the portable computer has any one of a plurality of different sizes, the angle adjusting unit including:
• a support unit, accommodated by a protrusion accommodating unit, having a hinge shaft and a support protrusion that extends lengthwise in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the hinge shaft and is rotatable about the hinge shaft;
• at least one hinge shaft stationary unit protruding from an inner surface of a lower casing of the docking station and supporting at least one end part of the hinge shaft, to prevent movement of the hinge shaft in an axial direction;
• and
• a separation preventing unit including a curved unit disposed at a contact area of the support protrusion and the protrusion accommodating unit, to apply an elastic force to a rotation of the support protrusion.

A method of connecting a portable computer having a first end and an opposing second end with a docking station disposed on an installation surface, the method comprising:

• attaching the first end of the portable computer to an upper surface of a main body of the docking station;
• pivoting an angle adjusting unit about an axis within the main body such that the second end of the portable computer directly contacts the installation surface when the portable computer has any one of a plurality of different sizes, the angle adjusting unit having a support unit, accommodated by a protrusion accommodating unit, including a hinge shaft and a support protrusion that extends lengthwise in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the hinge shaft and is rotatable about the hinge shaft;
• preventing movement of the hinge shaft in an axial direction, by supporting at least one end part of the hinge shaft using at least one hinge shaft stationary unit protruding from an inner surface of a lower casing of the docking station;
• and
• applying an elastic force to a rotation of the support protrusion with a separation preventing unit including a curved unit disposed at a contact area of the support protrusion and the protrusion accommodating unit.