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:
Sep. 26, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 29, 1999
Shih-Kai Wang, Taipei, TW;
Yu-Chen Wu, Hua-Lien, TW;
Inventec Corporation, Taipei, TW;
Abstract
A mechanism for automatically opening a docking connector cover (DCC) of a portable computer is provided. A docking station is provided with a boss projecting therefrom. A cover of a portable computer (300) includes an activation hole (111) for receiving the boss therethrough when the computer is docked onto the docking station. The cover further includes a connecting bar (105) slideably mounted thereon, including an angled end (106) and a first hook (220). The cover also includes a DCC (200) for selectively covering a connector slot of the computer. The DCC is mounted on the cover to be slideable in a direction generally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the connecting bar. The DCC includes a second hook (150a) selectively engageable with the first hook of the connecting bar, and the second hook is attached to a biasing means, such as a spring 170. When the DCC is closed, the first hook of the connecting bar and the second hook of the DCC are engaged with each other. When the computer is docked onto the docking station, the boss projects through the activation hole through the computer cover to thereby contact the angled end of the connecting bar to slide the connecting bar in a first direction (130a). This causes the first hook of the connecting bar to be disengaged from the second hook of the DCC, and further causes the DCC to be pulled in a second direction (130b) by the biasing means into an open position, to allow the connector slot of the computer to be connected to a connector slot of the docking station.