IP Library Granted Patent US 9,256,255
Granted Patent B2
US 9,256,255 · App. 14/056,962 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Docking station

Inventors: Yi-Mu Chang (New Taipei, TW); Chyun-Nan Liu (New Taipei, TW); Yan-Lin Kuo (New Taipei, TW); Ming-Yen Wu (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Acer Incorporated
G06F1/1632
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,256,255
App. No.
14/056,962
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A docking station capable of assembling a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a display screen and a slot. The docking station includes a body and a pressing member. The body has a protrusion. The pressing member is movably arranged in the body, so as to be hidden in the body or moved out of the body. When the portable electronic device is locked with the protrusion through the slot, the pressing member is moved out of the body and presses against the portable electronic device along a pressing direction, so that the portable electronic device is fixed onto the body. The pressing direction is perpendicular to the display screen.

Claims (30)

1. A docking station capable of assembling a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a display screen and a slot, the docking station comprising:

a body having a protrusion suitable for being lodged in the slot, such that the portable electronic device and the docking station are assembled to each other;

a pressing member movably arranged in the protrusion; and

an elastic member located in the protrusion, the elastic member being in contact with the body and the pressing member and constantly driving the pressing member to move out of the protrusion and to press against an inside of the slot along a pressing direction, wherein the pressing direction is perpendicular to the display screen.

2. The docking station as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a screw locking member sliding into the pressing member, the screw locking member being locked to a threaded hole of the protrusion, so as to assemble the pressing member into a groove of the protrusion,

wherein a portion of the pressing member protrudes from the groove when the portable electronic device is not assembled to the body.

3. The docking station as recited in claim 2 , wherein the protrusion further has a protruding pillar located in the groove and extended toward the pressing member, and the protruding pillar is inserted into the elastic member.

4. The docking station as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a host and a support member pivoted to each other, and the support member has the protrusion lodged in the slot, such that the portable electronic device is suitable for being held by the support member and rotating relative to the host together with the support member.

5. A docking station capable of assembling a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a display screen and a slot, the docking station comprising:

a body having a protrusion, a recess, and a sliding groove adjacent to one another;

a pressing member slidably pivoted to the sliding groove and located in the recess; and

an elastic member in contact with the pressing member and the body, the elastic member constantly driving the pressing member to move into the recess, wherein when the portable electronic device enables the protrusion to be inserted into the slot along an assembling direction, the portable electronic device presses against the pressing member along the assembling direction, so as to drive the pressing member to slide along the sliding groove, rotate, and move out of the recess, the pressing member presses against the portable electronic device along a pressing direction, such that the portable electronic device is clamped by the pressing member and the protrusion, the assembling direction is parallel to the display screen, and the pressing direction is perpendicular to the display screen.

6. The docking station as recited in claim 5 , wherein the body comprises a host and a support member pivoted to each other, the support member has a bottom surface, the protrusion and the recess are vertically arranged on the bottom surface, the recess faces the protrusion, the pressing member is located between the recess and the protrusion, the sliding groove is located below the protrusion, and the protrusion is lodged in the slot, such that the portable electronic device is held by the support member and rotates relative to the host together with the support member.

7. The docking station as recited in claim 6 , wherein the pressing member has a pressing portion, a holding portion, and a pivoting portion, the pivoting portion is slidably pivoted to the sliding groove and inserted into the elastic member, the elastic member is in contact with the protrusion and the bottom surface of the support member, the holding portion adjoins the pressing portion and the pivoting portion and is located outside the recess, and the pressing portion is located above the pivoting portion and faces the protrusion.

8. The docking station as recited in claim 7 , wherein the pressing member further has a leaning portion extended from the pivoting portion toward a direction away from the sliding groove, the leaning portion is located below the holding portion, the holding portion slidably presses against an inner wall of the recess, and the sliding groove and the inner wall provide the pressing member with a route for sliding and rotating relative to the body.

9. The docking station as recited in claim 8 , wherein the inner wall is divided into a first guiding surface, a second guiding surface, and a step between the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface, the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface have an up-and-down layout, the second guiding surface adjoins the bottom surface, a distance from the first guiding surface to the protrusion is greater than a distance from the second guiding surface to the protrusion, and when the leaning portion presses against the first guiding surface, the pressing portion is located in the recess, and when the leaning portion presses against the second guiding surface, the pressing portion is moved out of the recess.

10. A docking station capable of installing a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a display screen and a slot, the docking station comprising:

a body having a protrusion; and

a pressing member movably arranged in the body, so as to be hidden in the body or moved out of the body, wherein when the portable electronic device is locked with the protrusion through the slot, the pressing member is moved out of the body and presses against the portable electronic device along a pressing direction, such that the portable electronic device is fixed onto the body, and the pressing direction is perpendicular to the display screen.

11. The docking station as recited in claim 10 , further comprising an elastic member located in the protrusion, the elastic member being in contact with the body and the pressing member and constantly driving the pressing member to move out of the protrusion and to press against an inside of the slot along the pressing direction.

12. The docking station as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a screw locking member sliding into the pressing member, the screw locking member being locked into a threaded hole of the protrusion, so as to assemble the pressing member into a groove of the protrusion,

wherein a portion of the pressing member protrudes from the groove when the portable electronic device is not assembled to the body.

13. The docking station as recited in claim 12 , wherein the protrusion further has a protruding pillar located in the groove and extended toward the pressing member, and the protruding pillar is inserted into the elastic member.

14. The docking station as recited in claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a host and a support member pivoted to each other, and the support member has the protrusion lodged in the slot, such that the portable electronic device is suitable for being held by the support member and rotating relative to the host together with the support member.

15. The docking station as recited in claim 14 , further comprising an elastic member in contact with the pressing member and the body, the body having the protrusion, a recess, and a sliding groove adjacent to one another, the elastic member constantly driving the pressing member to move into the recess, wherein when the portable electronic device enables the protrusion to be inserted into the slot along an assembling direction, the portable electronic device presses against the pressing member along the assembling direction, so as to drive the pressing member to slide along the sliding groove, rotate, and move out of the recess, the pressing member presses against the portable electronic device along the pressing direction, such that the portable electronic device is clamped by the pressing member and the protrusion, and the assembling direction is parallel to the display screen.

16. The docking station as recited in claim 15 , wherein the support member has a bottom surface, the recess and the protrusion are vertically arranged on the bottom surface, the recess faces the protrusion, the pressing member is located between the recess and the protrusion, and the sliding groove is located below the protrusion.

17. The docking station as recited in claim 16 , wherein the pressing member has a pressing portion, a holding portion, and a pivoting portion, the pivoting portion is slidably pivoted to the sliding groove and inserted into the elastic member, the elastic member is in contact with the protrusion and the bottom surface of the support member, the holding portion adjoins the pressing portion and the pivoting portion and is located outside the recess, and the pressing portion is located above the pivoting portion and faces the protrusion.

18. The docking station as recited in claim 17 , wherein the pressing member further has a leaning portion extended from the pivoting portion toward a direction away from the sliding groove, the leaning portion is located below the holding portion, the holding portion slidably presses against an inner wall of the recess, and the sliding groove and the inner wall provide the pressing member with a route for sliding and rotating relative to the body.

19. The docking station as recited in claim 18 , wherein the inner wall is divided into a first guiding surface, a second guiding surface, and a step between the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface, the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface have an up-and-down layout, the second guiding surface adjoins the bottom surface, when the leaning portion presses against the first guiding surface, the pressing portion is located in the recess, and when the leaning portion presses against the second guiding surface, the pressing portion is moved out of the recess.

20. The docking station as recited in claim 19 , wherein a distance from the first guiding surface to the protrusion is greater than a distance from the second guiding surface to the protrusion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2014
From: CHANG, YI-MU; LIU, CHYUN-NAN; KUO, YAN-LIN; WU, MING-YEN
To: ACER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 031933/0758 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 102130242 A · Aug 23, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150055289A1 · Feb 26, 2015