Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-31
2001-04-17
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S759000, C361S801000, C361S802000, C361S796000, C174S034000, C211S041170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a universal docking station, and particularly to a docking station with an interlocking mechanism for assembling upper and lower shells together.
With the development of computer technology, mobile computers, especially notebook computers, are becoming increasing popular. Connectors for transferring signals or power between a computer and exterior devices, such as a printer, a keyboard and a monitor, are commonly assembled within an enclosure of the computer. The connectors occupy a significant amount of space within the computer thereby increasing the volume thereof. To reduce the volume of the computer, especially a notebook computer, the connectors are commonly disposed outside of the computer and concentrated in a docking station. The docking station connects the computer and the exterior devices by a small number of high-density cables and corresponding connectors.
Related invention is disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 87301097. Referring to
FIG. 1
, ports
12
are provided in a connecting section of upper and lower shells
10
,
11
of a conventional docking station
1
. During insertion/withdrawal between a cable end connector and the docking connector, additional force will be exposed to one of the upper and lower shells. After a period time of usage, a gap will be generated between the junction of the upper and lower shells. In addition, the quality of the signal transmission will be negatively effected as the EMI shield provided by the upper and lower shells is broken.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a universal docking station having an interlocking mechanism to securely assemble upper and lower shells together thereby ensuring tight connection between upper and lower shells and which benefits EMI-free signal transmission.
Accordingly, the universal docking station in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper shell, a lower shell, and a circuit board carrying a plurality of connectors thereon. The lower shell has a bottom section and a front and rear panels respectively extending from longitudinal edges of the bottom section. A plurality of ports is formed in predetermined positions of the panels for receiving connectors therein. The lower shell has several supporting blocks for supporting the circuit board at a predetermined position after the upper and the lower shells assembled together. The upper shell forms a pair of side walls extending from lateral edges thereof. An interlocking means comprises an upper and lower locking devices for assembling the upper and the lower shells together.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4303296 (1981-12-01), Spaulding
patent: 4672510 (1987-06-01), Castner
patent: 5313369 (1994-05-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5715139 (1998-02-01), Nakajima
Chung Wei Te
Dinh Tuan
Gaffin Jeffrey
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
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