Computer dock station

A computer dock station includes a bracket covered with a cover member and having a fence at one side and upright pivot pins on the inside, and a locking mechanism, which includes a motive member, two follower members pivoted to the two opposite ends of the motive member and respectively coupled with the respective sliding slot to the upright pivot pins, two clamps respectively mounted on the follower members outside the bracket, and a screw rod threaded through the motive member and pivoted to the bracket and rotatable to move the motive member and to further turn the follower members about the respective upright pivot pins for adjusting the position of the clamps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dock station and more particularly, to a computer dock station for holding a computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following fast development of industrial technology, computer has been intensively used to perform many operation processes that require a big amount of labor according to conventional methods. Nowadays, industrial computers or control computers commonly seen in factories and plant houses to run different automation processes.

However, the use of an industrial computer or control computer requires a stable tool-operation space or tool-installation space, such as tabletop. However, it is not the best way to provide a table for every industrial computer or control computer in the limited space of an expensive factory or plant house. Therefore, efficient utilization of factory or plant house space is necessary. The use of a regular home computer may encounter the same problem. Specialists are trying hard to design computer deck stations that improve space utilization and facilitate computer operation.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a computer desk station for computer according to the prior art. According to this design, the computer deck station comprises a bracket10with a fence11at one side for holding a computer12, and a mount13at the back side of the bracket10for mounting on, for example, a mechanical arm that facilitates adjustment of the location and angle of the bracket10and the computer12.

However, the fence11cannot give an effective support to the computer12in case of horizontal inclination of the bracket10. When this condition occurs, the computer12may slip from place or fall from the bracket10, causing damage or interfering with the operator's physical motion.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a computer dock station, which holds the loaded computer firmly in place, assuring high security and preventing an industrial accident. It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer dock station, which is adjustable to fit computers of different specifications of size. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a computer dock station, which has a pretty neat looking. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a computer dock station, which facilitates ventilation and accelerates dissipation of heat from the computer carried thereon.

To achieve these and other objects and according to one aspect of the present invention, the computer dock station comprises a bracket, a cover member, and a locking mechanism. The bracket comprises a stop member disposed at one side for stopping a computer, and a plurality of upright pivot pins disposed on the inside. The cover member covers the bracket for supporting a computer on the bracket. The locking mechanism is for locking a computer on the cover member, comprising a motive member, a plurality of follower members, a screw rod, and a plurality of clamps. The motive member has two opposite ends and a screw hole equally spaced from the two opposite ends. The follower members each have a first end respectively pivoted to the two opposite ends of the motive member, a second end, and a sliding slot disposed between the first end and the second end and respectively coupled to the upright pivot pins of the bracket. The screw rod is inserted through the first top member and threaded into the screw hole of the motive member and pivoted to a part of the bracket and rotatable to move the motive member in the bracket. The clamps are respectively provided at the second ends of the follower members for clamping a computer on the cover member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a flat cushion pad is adhered to the top side of the cover member to decorate the computer dock station and to keep the cover member mounting screws from sight and to give protection to computer surface.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the cover member and the bracket have openings for ventilation.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, cooling fans are installed in the bracket for causing currents of air to dissipate heat from the computer carried on the cover member.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a spring clamping bar is provided at one side of the bracket for clamping on one side of the loaded computer opposite to the stop member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 3,4A and4B, a computer dock station200in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a bracket20, and a locking mechanism30. The locking mechanism30is comprised of a screw rod31, a motive member32, a plurality of follower members33, and a plurality of clamps34. The bracket20comprises a stop member, for example, a fence21at its one side, a plurality of pivot pins22vertically disposed on the inside, and a cover plate28covered thereon.

The screw rod31is inserted into the bracket20and threaded into a screw hole321of the motive member32. The follower members33each have a longitudinal sliding slot331. The pivot pins22are fixedly mounted in the bracket20in vertical and respectively inserted through the longitudinal sliding slots331of the follower members33. Each follower member33has one end provided with one clamp34, and the other end connected to one end of the motive member32.

Rotating the screw rod31(see the double arrowhead line A) causes movement of the motive member32, and the follower members33are relatively moved. Because the longitudinal sliding slots331of the follower members33are respectively coupled to the respective pivot pins22, moving the motive member32causes the follower members33to turn about the respective pivot pins22, and therefore the clamps34are moved with the respective follower members33in a respective specific interval, as indicated by the double arrowhead lines B.

Further, the bracket20is shaped like a top-open box. The cover plate28covered on the bracket20and affixed thereto with screws285, defining with the bracket20an accommodation chamber25. The accommodation chamber25accommodates the screw rod31, the motive member32, the follower members33and the pivot pins22. Therefore, when the computer dock station is assembled, it has a pretty neat looking and can hold a computer40firmly on the cover plate28of the bracket20.

By means of rotating the screw rod31to adjust the position of the clamps34and by means of the support of the fence21, a computer40(for example, notebook computer) can be held on the cover plate28at the bracket20firmly. In case of horizontal inclination of the computer dock station200, the computer40can still be locked to the bracket20firmly by means of the clamps34and the fence21, preventing industrial accident. Because the clamps34are adjustable in the respective interval B, the computer dock station200fits different specifications or sizes of computers40.

Further, multiple openings26are formed on the cover plate28and the bracket20as well as in between the bracket20and the cover plate28for quick dissipation of heat during operation of the computer40that is carried on the cover plate28.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6andFIG. 3again, each clamp34comprises a connection block341, an elastic member342(for example, coil spring), an adjustment rod member343, a clamping member344, and an engagement block345. By means of the connection block341, each clamp34is connected to one respective follower member33.

The engagement block345is partially inserted into the connection block341. The elastic member342is mounted inside the connection block341and stopped between one end of the connection block341and one end of the engagement block345. The adjustment rod member343is inserted through the connection block341and the engagement block345and fixedly connected to the clamping member344, having an engagement portion346forced by the spring force of the elastic member342into engagement with an engagement portion347of the engagement block345. By means of adjusting the engagement position between the engagement portion346of the adjustment rod member343and the engagement portion347of the engagement block345, the elevation of the clamping member344is relatively changed. Therefore, the clamping member344can be adjusted vertically relative to the bracket20subject to the thickness of the computer40to be held.

The engagement portions346and347each are comprised of a plurality of teeth340. The teeth340each have a flat face348at one side and a bevel face349at the opposite side. The engagement portions346of the adjustment rod member343is reversed to the engagement portion347of the engagement block345, i.e., the flat face348of each tooth340of the adjustment rod member343faces the clamping plate344and the bevel face349of each tooth340of the engagement block345faces the clamping plate344.

Referring toFIG. 7, the arrangement of bevel faces349of the engagement portions346and347allows the user to push the clamping member344in one direction toward the connection block341without interference. When the clamping plate344is forced toward the connection block341and closely attached to the computer40against the cover plate28at the bracket20, the flat faces348of the teeth340of the engagement portion346of the adjustment rod member343are respectively stopped against the flat faces348of the teeth340of the engagement portion346of the engagement block345, prohibiting backward movement of the clamping member344with the adjustment rod member343relative to the computer40, and therefore the computer40is locked to the bracket20. When wishing to remove the computer40from the bracket20, press the engagement block345against the elastic member342to disengage its engagement portion347from the engagement portion346of the adjustment rod member343. At this time, the user can pull the clamping member344away from the computer40, unlocking the computer40.

FIGS. 8A˜8Cshow a computer dock station200in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception of the added spring clamp23. The spring clamp23is coupled to the bracket20at one side opposite to the fence21for clamping on one side of the computer40against the fence21, enhancing stability of the computer40on the computer dock station200. According to this embodiment, the spring clamp23and the fence21are respectively disposed at the front and rear sides relative to the bracket20, and the clamps34are disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the bracket20. Therefore, the computer dock station200gives a clamping force to the computer40from four sides, holding the computer40firmly in place.

The spring clamp23comprises a clamping bar231, two elastic compression members, for example, compression springs232, two locating members, for example, nuts233, and two second stop members24. The clamping bar231has its two opposite ends arranged in parallel and respectively inserted through the second stop members24. The nuts233are respectively threaded onto the two distal ends of the clamping bar231. The compression springs232are respectively sleeved onto the two opposite ends of the clamping bar231and respectively stopped between the nuts233and the second stop members24. Further, a cushion pad29is adhered to the top surface of the cover plate28to decorate the computer dock station200and to keep the screws285from sight and, preventing damage of the computer40by the screws285. When pulling the clamping bar231outwards relative to the bracket20, the computer40can then be put on the cushion pad29. When release the hand from the clamping bar231, the compression springs232immediately push the nuts233away from the second stop members24, forcing the clamping bar231to clamp on the computer40.

Further, a mount50is provided at the back side of the bracket20for fastening to, for example, a mechanical arm (seeFIG. 8C).

FIG. 9AandFIG. 9Bshow a computer dock station200in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception of the spring clamp23. According to this embodiment, the spring clamp23comprises a clamping bar231, two elastic tensile members, for example, tensile springs234, two third stop members235(seeFIG. 9B), and two second stop members24. The clamping bar231has its two opposite ends arranged in parallel and respectively inserted through the second stop members24and the third stop members235are respectively disposed on the two opposite ends of the clamping bar231, for example, a jut protrude out from the surface of the clamping bar231(seeFIG. 9B). The tensile springs234are respectively sleeved onto the two opposite ends of the clamping bar231and respectively stopped between the third stop members235and a part of the bracket20. When pulling the clamping bar231outwards relative to the bracket20, the computer40can then be put on the cushion pad29and then clamped by the clamping bar231.

The screw rod31and the follower member33are respectively connected to the motive member32and partially extending to the outside of the accommodation chamber25. The clamping bar231is inserted through the second stop members24and partially extending to the outside of the accommodation chamber25. The locking mechanism30and the spring clamp23can also be disposed outside the accommodation chamber25. For example, the locking mechanism30and the spring clamp23can be provided at the bottom side of the bracket20outside the accommodation chamber25.

FIG. 10shows a computer dock station200in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception of the added cooling fans27. As illustrated, two cooling fans27are mounted in the accommodation chamber25. During operation of the computer40, the cooling fans27are started to cause currents of air, dissipating heat from the computer40.