U.S. patent application number 11/675454 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for height-adjustable docking station.
This patent application is currently assigned to Inventec Corporation. Invention is credited to Cheng-Hsiang Chuang.
Application Number | 20080137285 11/675454 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39484410 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080137285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chuang; Cheng-Hsiang |
June 12, 2008 |
HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DOCKING STATION
Abstract
A height-adjustable docking station including a main frame, a
hook structure, and a lever is provided. The hook structure and the
lever are pivoted on the main frame. The hook structure has a
plurality of positioning grooves at different levels. One end of
the lever has an adjusting rod, and the other end of the lever has
a tenon for being wedged into one of the positioning grooves. When
a user adjusts the adjusting rod, the tenon comes off the original
positioning groove and is wedged into other positioning groove,
thus changing the horizontal level of the docking station.
Inventors: |
Chuang; Cheng-Hsiang;
(Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J C PATENTS, INC.
4 VENTURE, SUITE 250
IRVINE
CA
92618
US
|
Assignee: |
Inventec Corporation
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
39484410 |
Appl. No.: |
11/675454 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1632
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/686 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/14 20060101
H05K007/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2006 |
TW |
95145603 |
Claims
1. A height-adjustable docking station, comprising: a main frame,
having a recess; a hook structure, having a first end and a second
end connected to the first end, wherein the first end of the hook
structure is pivoted on the main frame, the second end has a first
positioning groove and at least one second positioning groove, the
first positioning groove and the second positioning groove are
disposed at different horizontal levels, and an arc surface is
formed between the first end and the second end and contacts a
carrying surface; a first elastic member, pivoted on the first end
of the hook structure, wherein one end of the first elastic member
is fixed on the main frame, and another end is fixed on the hook
structure, such that the second end of the hook structure is
constantly far away from the main frame; a lever, having a first
rod, a second rod, and a pivot portion connected between the first
and the second rods, wherein the first rod has an adjusting rod
exposed by the recess, the second rod has a tenon protruding
outward for being wedged into the first positioning groove or the
second positioning groove, and the lever is pivoted on the main
frame through the pivot portion; and a second elastic member,
pivoted on the pivot portion of the lever, wherein one end of the
second elastic member is fixed on the main frame, the other end is
fixed on the lever, such that the second rod of the lever
constantly rests against the second end of the hook structure;
wherein, when the tenon is wedged into the first positioning
groove, a first horizontal level is formed between the main frame
and the carrying surface, and when the adjusting rod is adjusted to
make the tenon come off the first positioning groove, the second
end of the hook structure comes off the main frame to make the
tenon being wedged into the second positioning groove, and at this
time, a second horizontal level is formed between the main frame
and the carrying surface, and the second horizontal level is not
equal to the first horizontal level.
2. The height-adjustable docking station as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising a damper pivoted on the first end of the hook
structure.
3. The height-adjustable docking station as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the main frame has an arc surface on which the hook
structure is disposed.
4. The height-adjustable docking station as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a plurality of adjustment sections corresponding to
different horizontal levels is marked beside the recess of the main
frame.
5. The height-adjustable docking station as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the hook structure is an asymmetric arched structure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 95145603, filed Dec. 7, 2006. All disclosure
of the Taiwan application is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a height-adjustable
mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
height-adjustable mechanism applicable to a docking station.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Different from a desktop computer, a portable computer is
light, thin, short, and small, and can be carried by a user and
used in various environments conveniently. However, in another
aspect, limited by the light, thin, short, and small requirements,
the function and expandability of the portable computer cannot
catch up with those of the desktop computer having broad
application space.
[0006] Accordingly, the conventional art provides a docking station
with a connector. A user can connect peripheral devices including a
mouse, a printer, an external hard disk, a Network Interface Card
(NIC), or a scanner of a computer to the docking station
constantly. When intending to use the peripheral devices, the user
can electrically connect the portable computer with the peripheral
devices only through connecting the portable computer with the
docking station. In this manner, the user can enjoy the lightness
of the portable computer, and also by the use of the docking
station, the user will not be bothered by inserting and extracting
the peripheral devices to and from the portable computer, such that
the portable computer has the same function and expandability of
the desktop computer.
[0007] However, when the portable computer is placed on the docking
station, the tilt angle of the docking station of the conventional
art cannot be adjusted according to different users' requirements.
Therefore, the docking station of the conventional art really needs
improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a docking station, which is
wedged into positioning groove at different positions in a hook
structure through a tenon of a lever, so as to adjust the
horizontal level of the docking station.
[0009] The height-adjustable docking station provided by the
present invention includes a main frame, a hook structure, a first
elastic member, a lever, and a second elastic member. The main
frame has a recess. The hook structure has a first end and a second
end connected to the first end. The first end of the hook structure
is pivoted on the main frame, and the second end has a first
positioning groove and at least one second positioning groove. The
first positioning groove and the second positioning groove are
disposed on different horizontal levels. Furthermore, an arc
surface is formed between the first end and the second end, and
contacts a carrying surface. The first elastic member is pivoted on
the first end of the hook structure. One end of the first elastic
member is fixed on the main frame, and another end is fixed on the
hook structure, such that the second end of the hook structure is
constantly far away from the main frame. The lever has a first rod,
a second rod, and a pivot portion connected between the first rod
and second rods. The first rod has an adjusting rod exposed by the
recess, and the second rod has a tenon protruding outwards, so as
to be wedged into the first positioning groove or the second
positioning groove. The lever is pivoted on the main frame through
the pivot portion. The second elastic member is pivoted on the
pivot portion of the lever, in which one end of the lever is fixed
on the main frame, and the other end is fixed on the lever, such
that the second rod of the lever constantly rests against the
second end of the hook structure. When the tenon is wedged into the
first positioning groove, a first horizontal level is formed
between the main frame and the carrying surface. When the adjusting
rod is adjusted to make the tenon come off the first positioning
groove, the second end of the hook structure comes off the main
frame, such that the tenon is wedged into the second positioning
groove, and at this time, a second horizontal level is formed
between the main frame and the carrying surface. The second
horizontal level is not equal to the horizontal level.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the
height-adjustable docking station further includes a damper which
is pivoted on the first end of the hook structure.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the main frame
has an arc surface on which the hook structure is disposed.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of
adjustment sections corresponding to different horizontal levels is
marked beside the recess of the main frame.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the hook
structure is an asymmetric arched structure.
[0014] The height-adjustable docking station provided by the
present invention includes a main frame, a hook structure, and a
lever. The hook structure and the lever are pivoted on the main
frame. The hook structure has a plurality of positioning grooves at
different levels. One end of the lever has a tenon for being wedged
into one of the positioning grooves, such that the user can adjust
the tenon to make it come off the original positioning groove and
being wedged into another positioning groove, thereby achieving the
purpose of changing the horizontal level of the docking station. As
such, the user can adjust the level of the docking station relative
to a desktop according to different requirements, thus changing a
tilt angle formed between a notebook computer and the desktop,
thereby enhancing the comfortability when using the notebook
computer.
[0015] In order to the make aforementioned and other objects,
features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, a
preferred embodiment accompanied with figures are described in
detail below.
[0016] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a schematic cross-sectional diagram and a
schematic appearance diagram of the height-adjustable docking
station according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the
height-adjustable docking station in FIG. 1 when the tenon of the
lever is wedged into a positioning groove at another position to
change the horizontal level.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic appearance diagram of marking a
plurality of adjustment sections corresponding to different
horizontal levels marked beside the recess of the main frame.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a schematic cross-sectional diagram and a
schematic appearance diagram of the height-adjustable docking
station according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 together, the height-adjustable docking
station 100 of the present invention mainly includes a main frame
110, a hook structure 120, a first elastic member 150, a lever 130,
and a second elastic member 140. A connector (not shown) is
disposed on the main frame 110. As such, a user can connect the
connectors of computer peripheral devices including a mouse, a
printer, an external hard disk, a network interface card, or a
scanner with the connector on the main frame 110, such that the
computer peripheral devices are electrically connected to the
docking station 100 constantly. A recess 112 is formed in the main
frame 110, and the bottom has an arc surface 110a, such that the
hook structure 120 can be disposed on the arc surface 110a.
[0022] The hook structure 120 is an asymmetric arched structure and
includes a first end 122 and a second end 124 connected to the
first end 122. The first end 122 of the hook structure 120 is
pivoted on the main frame 110, and the second end 124 has a first
positioning groove 124a, a second positioning groove 124b, and a
third positioning groove 124c at different horizontal levels, such
that the whole docking station 100 can be adjusted to three
different horizontal levels according to different requirements of
the user. Furthermore, an arc surface 120a is formed between the
first end 122 and the second end 124. The arc surface 120a contacts
a carrying surface S. Moreover, in this embodiment, three
positioning grooves at different horizontal levels are disposed on
the second end 124 of the hook structure 120, such that the entire
docking station 100 can be adjusted to three different horizontal
levels. However, more than three positioning grooves can also be
disposed on the second end 124 of the hook structure 120, such that
the docking station 100 can be adjusted to more different
horizontal levels. Therefore, the number of the positioning grooves
is not limited herein.
[0023] The first elastic member 150 is pivoted on the first end 122
of the hook structure 120. One end of the first elastic member 150
is fixed on the main frame 110, and the other end is fixed on the
hook structure 120, such that the second end 122 of the hook
structure 120 is constantly far away from the main frame 110, i.e.,
moves in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1. The lever 130
has a first rod 132, a second rod 134, and a pivot portion 136
connected between the first and the second rods. The first rod 132
has an adjusting rod 132a exposed by the recess 112 of the main
frame 110, and the second rod 134 has a tenon 134a protruding
outward to be wedged into the first positioning groove 124a, the
second positioning groove 124b, or the third positioning groove
124c of the hook structure 120. The lever 130 is pivoted on the
main frame 110 through the pivot portion 136. Further, the second
elastic member 140 is pivoted on the pivot portion 136 of the lever
130, in which one end is fixed on the main frame 110, and the other
end is fixed on the lever 130, such that the second rod 134 of the
lever 130 constantly rests against the second end 122 of the hook
structure 120, and the tenon 134a is wedged into one of the
positioning grooves.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, when the tenon 134a is wedged into the
first positioning groove 124a, a first horizontal level is formed
between the main frame 110 and the carrying surface S. Referring to
FIG. 2, when the user adjusts the adjusting rod 132a forward, the
lever 130 is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot
portion 136 as an axle centre, so as to make the tenon 134a come
off the first positioning groove 124a. At this time, the hook
structure 120 moves in a clockwise direction shown in FIG. 1 about
the first end 122 as an axle center, so as to make the tenon 134a
to be wedged into the third positioning groove 124c. As shown in
FIG. 3, the horizontal level between the main frame 110 and the
carrying surface S increases, thereby achieving the purpose of
changing the horizontal level of the docking station 100.
[0025] If the docking station 100 returns to the horizontal level
corresponding to the first positioning groove 124a, it is only
required to adjust the adjusting rod 132a again to make the tenon
134a come off the third positioning groove 124c, and then adjust
the second end 124 of the hook structure 120 back toward the main
frame 110 manually, or press the entire main frame 110 downward to
make the tenon 134a to be wedged into the first positioning groove
124a, thereby returning to the original horizontal level. According
to the aforementioned operation principles, the user can adjust the
adjusting rod 132 by himself/herself to make the tenon 134a being
wedged into different positioning grooves, so as to adjust the
horizontal level of the docking station 100 according to different
requirements.
[0026] Furthermore, a damper can be additionally disposed on the
first end 122 of the hook structure 120. The arrangement of the
damper is to make the hook structure 120 and the lever 130 have
different rotational speed, such that the lever 130 may limit the
hook structure 120 to the next horizontal level automatically. When
the tenon 134a comes off the hook structure, the second end 124 of
the hook structure 120 falls slowly to achieve the effect similar
to hydraulic pressure.
[0027] Moreover, referring to FIG. 4, adjustment sections A, B, and
C corresponding to different horizontal levels are marked beside
the recess 112 of the main frame 110, such that the user can know
the state of the current horizontal level.
[0028] In view of the above, the height-adjustable docking station
provided by the present invention includes a main frame, a hook
structure, and a lever. The hook structure and the level are
pivoted on the main frame. The hook structure has a plurality of
positioning grooves at different horizontal levels. One end of the
lever has an adjusting rod, and the other end of the lever has a
tenon for being wedged into one of the positioning grooves. When
the user adjusts the adjusting rod, the tenon comes off the
original positioning groove and is wedged into another positioning
groove, thus changing the horizontal level of the docking station
and then changing a tilt angle between a notebook computer and the
desktop, so as to enhance the comfortability when using the
notebook computer. Furthermore, as a damper is disposed at a
position where the hook structure is pivotally connected to the
main frame, when the tenon comes off the hook structure, the hook
structure falls slowly to achieve the effect similar to hydraulic
pressure.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *