The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 10, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1992
David C Johnson, Winston Salem, NC (US);
Robert M Renn, Pfafftown, NC (US);
Keith L Volz, Jamestown, NC (US);
Frederick R Deak, Kernersville, NC (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A computer docking system (10, 10') has a computer (11, 11') provided with a guide housing (12, 12') within which a device (13, 13') is slidably inserted. In one embodiment, the device (13) carries a pair of manually-releasable spring-loaded latches (24, 25) pivotally mounted thereon about respective axes which are substantially perpendicular to the direction which the device (13) is slidably inserted into the guide housing (12) for engagement with respective hooks (36) on the computer (11). In another embodiment, the latches (51, 52) are pivotably mounted on the guide housing (12') about respective axes which are substantially parallel to the direction in which the device (13') is slidably inserted into the guide housing (12'). The guide housing (12') includes a fixed bottom portion (44) on which the latches (51, 52) are pivotably mounted, and further includes a spring-loaded movable top portion (45) receiving the device (13') and ultimately nested telescopically within the fixed bottom portion (44). In each embodiment, a substantially zero insertion force ('ZIF') is achieved between at least one flexible electrical connector (41, 57, 58) and a circuit pad (43, 60, 61) as the device (13, 13') is inserted into the guide housing (12, 12').