Docking assembly for a computer and method
View Patent ↗A docking assembly for a computer. The docking assembly includes a base station, and a computer-support assembly coupled to the base station. A method for positioning a computer -support assembly for receiving a portable computer comprising moving away from a base station at least one engager member bound to a computer-support assembly. The base station and the computer-support assembly are rotatably coupled to an arm assembly. The method additionally includes moving the computer-support assembly away from the base station while rotating about the arm assembly, and positioning the computer-support assembly in a posture for receiving a portable computer.
1. A docking assembly for a computer, comprising:
a base station, and
a computer-support assembly moveably coupled to said base station and moveable from a first position in which the computer-support assembly is disposed adjacent to a side of the base station, to a second position in which the computer-support assembly is disposed above the base station;
wherein the height of the docking assembly when the computer-support assembly is in the first position is not more than about the height of the base station.
2. The docking assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising an arm assembly coupled to said base station and to said computer-support assembly.
3. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein said computer-support assembly additionally comprises at least one engaging member.
4. The docking assembly of claim 2 wherein said arm assembly is rotatably coupled to said base station and to said computer-support assembly.
5. The docking assembly of claim 3 wherein said engaging member comprises a flexible engaging member.
6. The docking assembly of claim 3 wherein said at least one engaging member comprises a pair of opposed engaging members.
7. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein a top of the base station includes one or more of a capacitive input device, a key, a set of keys, a keypad and a keyboard.
8. The docking assembly of claim 5 wherein each of said engaging member comprises a structure defining an opening.
9. The docking assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising an arm assembly pivotally coupled to said base station and to said computer-support assembly.
10. The docking assembly of claim 9 wherein said arm assembly comprising a generally hollow arm.
11. The docking assembly of claim 10 , additionally comprising at least one conductive wire passing through the hollow arm from said base station to said computer-support assembly.
12. The docking assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising a computer supported by said computer-support assembly.
13. The docking assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said engaging members has a structure defining a slot for slidably receiving a computer.
14. The docking assembly of claim 1 , wherein said computer-support assembly interlocks with said base station when disposed in the first position.
15. A method for positioning a computer-support assembly for receiving a portable computer comprising:
moving a computer-support assembly from a first position in which the computer-support assembly is disposed adjacent to a base station to a second position in which the computer-support assembly is disposed over the base station, said base station and said computer-support assembly being rotatably coupled to an arm assembly;
and
positioning said computer-support assembly in a posture for receiving a portable computer;
wherein the height of the computer-support assembly and the base station when the computer-support assembly is in the first position is not more than about the height of the base station.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said computer-support assembly comprises at least one computer connector.
17. The method of claim 16 additionally comprising slidably engaging the support assembly with a portable computer.
18. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising connecting the portable computer to the computer connector.