초록 ▼

A docking station has a removable guide and support shelf along which a portable computer may be slid into operatively coupled engagement with the docking station. By using a vertical side portion of the shelf as a horizontal computer guide, and appropriately positioning the computer docking connect

A docking station has a removable guide and support shelf along which a portable computer may be slid into operatively coupled engagement with the docking station. By using a vertical side portion of the shelf as a horizontal computer guide, and appropriately positioning the computer docking connector relative to the corresponding guided computer surface, the shelf enables the same docking station to be used with portable computers having different geometric configurations. Alternatively, a differently configured portable computer may be operatively coupled to the docking station by replacing the shelf with a differently configured guide and support shelf. The removable shelf is provided with a mounting latch structure for removably retaining it on the docking station, and a security latch structure that automatically engages the computer during its docking movement. When docked, the computer rests atop three mutually spaced vertical projections formed on the top side of the base wall portion of the shelf. This forms a cooling air passageway between the bottom of the computer and the top side of the shelf. A fan in the docking station draws ambient air through this passageway and then flows the air downwardly through cooling slots in the shelf before exhausting the air back to ambient. The fan also draws ambient cooling air downwardly through a gap between the rear side of the docked computer and a facing connection area of the docking station.

대표청구항 ▼

Shelf apparatus for slidably engaging a portable computer and guiding it into an operatively coupled relationship with a docking station, said shelf apparatus comprising a shelf member having: a body portion having a top side surface; a guide and support portion positioned on said top side surface o

Shelf apparatus for slidably engaging a portable computer and guiding it into an operatively coupled relationship with a docking station, said shelf apparatus comprising a shelf member having: a body portion having a top side surface; a guide and support portion positioned on said top side surface of said body portion and being slidably engageable by the portable computer in a manner guiding it into an operatively coupled relationship with the docking station; and an attachment portion associated with said body portion and being cooperative with a portion of the docking station to removably secure said shelf member thereto to thereby permit said shelf member to be removed and replaced with a second shelf member having a differently configured guide and support portion, said guide and support portion projecting upwardly from said top side surface and being slidably engageable by the portable computer in a manner supporting the portable computer in an upwardly spaced relationship with said top side surface, said guide and support portion including first, second and third spaced apart, noncollinear vertical support projections having upper side surfaces upwardly offset from said top side surface of said shelf member body portion and lying generally in a plane, said upper side surfaces being adapted to underlie and slidingly support an underside portion of the portable computer, at least two of said first, second and third support projections being relatively staggered in mutually perpendicular directions parallel to said top side surface of said body portion. A docking station for operatively linking a portable computer to a computer peripheral device, comprising: a side surface section; a spaced plurality of projections extending outwardly from said side surface section and operative to engage a side portion of the portable computer when it is operatively docked with said docking station, the engaged side surface of the docked portable computer forming with said side surface section a passage; and cooling means for flowing cooling air through said passage to dissipate operating heat from the docked portable computer.