Dual-orientation docking apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorHui Leng Lim
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a dual-orientation docking apparatus for a mobile computing device. According to one embodiment, the docking apparatus includes a main body having a first side and a second side perpendicular to the first side. A docking connector is disposed on the first side of the main body, and a locking member formed on the second side of the main body. Furthermore, the locking member is configured to automatically engage and maintain a mobile computing device in a docked state when the mobile device is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation.
Claims17
A docking apparatus for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body having a first side and a second side perpendicular to the first side;
- a docking connector formed on the first side of the main body,
- at least one locking member formed on the second side of the main body;
- wherein the at least one locking member is configured to automatically engage and maintain the mobile device in a docked state with the docking connector when the mobile computing device is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation,
- wherein the at least one locking member automatically moves from an open position to a locked position due to a weight of the docking apparatus and the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is moved to the second orientation such that the second side of the main body contacts a supporting surface.
A docking apparatus for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body having a first side and a second side perpendicular to the first side;
- a docking connector formed on the first side of the main body,
- at least one locking member formed on the second side of the main body;
- wherein the at least one locking member is configured to automatically engage and maintain the mobile device in a docked state with the docking connector when the mobile computing device is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation.
- wherein when the at least one locking member is in a locked position, the at least one locking member extends from a retracted position in the main body so as to abut a side of the mobile device opposite the side of the connector port such that the docking connector of the main body remains engaged with the connector port of the mobile device.
A docking system comprising:
- a mobile computing device including a connection port formed on an elongated side;
- and
- a docking apparatus configured to provide a mounting platform for the mobile computing device, wherein the docking station includes a dock connector formed on a docking side and at leant one locking element formed on a locking side perpendicular to the docking side,
- wherein the at least one locking member of the docking apparatus is configured to automatically engage and maintain the mobile device in an electronically coupled state in response to the mobile computing device being moved from a first orientation to a second orientation while mounted in the docking station via coupling of the dock connector and connection port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.