Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly...

Details Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly... Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly...

2000-03-13

2001-07-24

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling separator

C361S689000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264484

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly oriented docking connector, more particularly to a docking station which can retain a notebook computer securely and which is easily operable to eject the notebook computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A docking station is commonly used for docking a notebook computer so as to permit connection of the notebook computer with various computer peripheral equipment.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional docking station which includes abase
10
having a top side formed with a computer holding portion
100
for holding a notebook computer (not shown). The base
10
is provided with an electrical connector
101
at one side of the computer holding portion
100
for mating with a docking connector on a rear side of the notebook computer. The base
10
is further provided with limiting members
102
at the other three sides of the computer holding portion
100
. However, as the space between the electrical connector
101
and an opposite one of the limiting members
102
is fixed, it is relatively difficult to extend a notebook computer into the computer holding portion
100
and to register the docking connector precisely with the electrical connector
101
during installation of the notebook computer. It is also difficult for a person to apply a force for removing the notebook computer from the computer holding portion
100
.
FIG. 2
illustrates another conventional docking station for a notebook computer. The docking station includes a base
11
having a top side formed with a computer holding portion
110
, a pair of lateral limiting members
112
formed on lateral sides of the computer holding portion
110
, and an electrical connector
111
for mating with a docking connector provided on a rear side of the notebook computer. Since the docking station is not provided with a limiting member for limiting a front side of the notebook computer, the notebook computer can be easily extended into and removed from the computer holding portion
110
of the docking station. However, the connection between the electrical connector
111
and the docking connector of the notebook computer might not be secure enough. Moreover, when the notebook computer is to be removed from the docking station of
FIG. 2
, the limiting members
112
should be moved outwardly away from each other to facilitate removal of the docking connector from the electrical connector in a forward direction.
Moreover, neither of the aforementioned docking stations can be used for a notebook computer having a downwardly oriented docking connector provided on a bottom side thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly oriented docking connector.
Accordingly, the docking station of the present invention is adapted for use with a notebook computer having a bottom side provided with a downwardly oriented docking connector, and includes a housing, an ejector member, a rotary shaft, and an operating member. The housing has a top side provided with an upwardly oriented electrical connector which is adapted for mating with the docking connector of the notebook computer in a vertical direction. The ejector member is mounted in the housing, and is movable upwardly and downwardly between an ejecting position in which the ejector member abuts against the bottom side of the notebook computer and applies an upward pushing force to the notebook computer, and a retracting position, in which the ejector member moves away from the bottom side of the notebook computer. The rotary shaft is mounted in the housing, and is coupled to the ejector member. The rotary shaft is rotatable in a first direction for moving the ejector member to the ejecting position and in a second direction opposite to the first direction for moving the ejector member to the retracting position. The operating member is mounted on the housing, and is coupled to the rotary shaft. The operating member is operable from an exterior of the housing for rotating the rotary shaft in the first and second directions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5406456 (1995-04-01), Hsu
patent: 5627727 (1997-05-01), Aguilera et al.
patent: 5687060 (1997-11-01), Ruch et al.
patent: 5737541 (1998-04-01), Shimizu et al.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 38, No. 8 (Aug. 1995).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Docking station for a notebook computer with a downwardly... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468288