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:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2000
Minh H. Nguyen, Katy, TX (US);
John E. Youens, Magnolia, TX (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A docking station for a portable computer has a top side from which peripheral rib structures upwardly project and form a receiving and holding area into which the computer may be lowered in preparation for docking. The receiving and holding area complementarily receives the computer, with the rib structures preventing the computer from shifting parallel to the top docking station side. A lever structure is then manually pivoted to responsively move a docking station electrical connector relative to the stationary computer into a releasably mated relationship with a corresponding connector on the computer to complete the docking process. The rotation of the docking lever also interlocks a security latch member with the computer to block its upward removal from the docking station. A Kensington lock may be used to hold the lever in its docking orientation, and thus keep the security latch interlocked with the docked computer. The computer may subsequently be undocked by simply removing the lock and pivoting the lever back to its original position to move the docking station connector out of engagement with the computer connector.