Patent ID: 6280212
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: G06F,H01R

Abstract:
A docking station for use in operatively coupling a portable computer to a desktop computer peripheral device, the portable computer having a first electrical docking connector structure, said docking station comprising:a housing having a wall portion with an area upon which the portable computer may be supported;a holding structure associated with said wall portion and operative to stationarily restrain the supported portable computer against appreciable movement relative to said housing parallel to said wall portion area;a second electrical docking connector structure releasably mateable with the first electrical docking connector structure and carried by said housing for movement relative thereto toward and away from said wall portion area; anda force exerting structure linked to said second electrical docking connector structure and operative to selectively drive it relative to said housing into and out of mating engagement with the first electrical docking connector structure of the supported portable computer when it is stationarily restrained on said wall portion area by said holding structure.