Abstract:
An portable information handling system includes a monitor stand. The monitor stand includes a base surface with a positioning member movably located on the base surface. A docking system is removably mounted on the positioning member, and a portable computer is docked with the dockingsystem. A support member extends from the base surface and is positioned such that a front section and side sections of the monitor stand are free from obstructions, allowing enhanced access to the portable computer and to the dockingsystem. A cantilever support surface extends from the support member and is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the base surface. A monitor is mounted on the cantilever support surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The disclosures herein relate generally to information handling systems and more particularly to monitor stands used with such systems.  
           [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of is the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
           [0003]    Desktop computers include a monitor which is usually supported on a monitor stand. The stand typically has four support legs and a space is provided under the stand for a docking station and an information handling system such as a notebook computer. Because of this arrangement, a user does not have sufficient access to the sides of the notebook computer and a docking system such as a docking station or an advanced port replicator (APR), especially during the docking process. For example, a user is not able to dock a notebook computer with peripherals attached to the sides of the notebook computer, because the front legs interfere during the docking process. Also, with only one place to mount the existing APR, the user has no choice in how much desk space their notebook computer may take up or how much of the notebook/APR can be viewed or is accessible.  
           [0004]    Currently, one available monitor stand has a sliding tray that users slide out and dock their notebook computers, with legs in the front for support. The APR can be attached to different locations on the tray.  
           [0005]    Therefore, what is needed is a monitor stand which provides more access to the APR and the notebook computer.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    One embodiment, accordingly, provides a monitor stand having enhanced access to a portable information handling system and a docking system. To this end, the monitor stand includes a base, a support member attached to the base and a cantilevered support attached to the support member. The cantilevered support is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the base.  
           [0007]    A principal advantage of this embodiment is that there are no support members obstructing access to the front section and side sections of the monitor stand, thereby providing enhanced access to a docking system mounted on the base surface and the portable information handling system docked with the dockingsystem. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of an information system.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a monitor stand.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a structural support member.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a tray member on the monitor stand.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a portion of the tray member.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an exposed embodiment of the tray member on the monitor stand.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the monitor stand with a docking system mounted on the base surface.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the monitor stand with the docking system mounted on the base surface and a portable computer docked in the docking system in one position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the monitor stand with the portable computer docked with the docking system in another position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the monitor stand with the portable computer docked with the docking system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views illustrating alternate embodiments of the monitor stand.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the monitor stand with an alternative docking system mounted on the base surface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0021]    In one embodiment, computer system  10 , FIG. 1, includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0022]    A monitor stand  36 , FIG. 2, includes a base surface  38 , a pair of support members  28  which are attached to the base surface  38 , and a cantilevered support surface  40  which is attached to the support members  28  and which extends substantially parallel to the base surface  38 . Thus, the base surface  38  and the cantilevered support surface  40  are separated by a defined space indicated at  42 .  
         [0023]    Support members  28 , see FIG. 3, each include a U-shaped reinforcing member which comprises a first beam  32  and a second beam  34 . The beams  32 ,  34  are interconnected by a support portion  30 . The first beam  32  extends in a first direction along the base surface  38 , the support portion  30  extends substantially orthogonal to first beam  32 , and the second beam  34  is a cantilever beam which extends from the support portion  30  in the first direction. Thus, the beams  32 ,  34  are substantially parallel and are also separated by the space  42 . An opening  43 , FIG. 2, opposite the space  42 , is defined between support portions  30 , base surface  38  and support surface  40 . As a result of fabricating the stand  36 , one or more support members  28  may be used to attach to the base surface  38  and the support surface  40 . It may also be desirable to form the stand  36  as a molded piece whereby one or more support members  28  are molded with the surfaces  38  and  40 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 also illustrates a tray member  50  movably mounted on the base surface  38 . By referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that base surface  38  includes a pair of spaced apart guides  52 , and a pair of spaced apart side guides  54 . The side guides  54  also each include a plurality of recesses  55  formed therein. In addition, tray position indicators  1 - 4  are embossed on surface  38  and relate to recesses  55 . Thus, movement of tray member  50  is guided by the guides  52  and  54 .  
         [0025]    The tray member  50 , FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a pair of tray position latches  56  each pivotably mounted at a pivot point  57 . A first end El of each latch  56  includes an actuator tab  58  and a second end E 2  of each latch  56  rides in an arcuate slot  60 . A plunger  62  is resiliently mounted with a spring  64  for reciprocal movement in a slot  66 , and a cam slot  68  in latch  56  receives a cam  70  which extends from plunger  62 . A lock end  72  of plunger  62  is urged by spring  64  to remain extended from tray member  50  in an at rest position P 1 , except when a force F is applied to actuator tab  58  sufficient to pivot latch  56  against spring  64  to a position P 2  and retract lock end  72  into tray member  50 .  
         [0026]    Thus it can be seen in FIGS.  4 - 6  that an edge portion  51  of tray member  50  is positionable at indicators  1 - 4  and also at a fifth position wherein edge portion  51  is immediately adjacent an edge  39  of base surface  38  (See FIG. 6). This is accomplished by positioning the indicators  1 - 4  to correspond with lock end  72  of plunger  62  being seated in a selected one of the recesses  55 .  
         [0027]    A docking system such as an APR  65 , FIG. 7, is removably connected to tray member  50  by placing docking system  65  on retention tabs  61 , see also FIG. 2, and securing docking system  65  with a securing means  63 . When connected to tray member  50 , docking system  65  is electronically connected to a plurality of monitor stand controls  67  through a monitor stand controls connection  69 . A release tab  59 , releases docking system  65  from securing means  63 . A monitor  80 , FIG. 8, is mounted on cantilever support surface  40 . A portable computer  82  is docked on docking system  65  in one position, and in FIGS. 9 and 10, the portable computer  82  is docked in docking system  65  in another position. In this manner, a user has the option of locating the docked computer  82  in a variety of positions.  
         [0028]    In FIG. 11, an alternative fabricated or molded monitor stand  36   a  includes a single support member  28   a,  including a support portion  30   a,  a first beam  32   a  and a second beam  34   a,  a base surface  38   a  and a cantilevered support surface  40   a.  In FIG. 12, another alternative molded stand  36   b  includes a base surface  38   b  and a cantilevered support surface  40   b  interconnected by support portions  30   b.    
         [0029]    An alternative docking system such as a docking station  65   a,  FIG. 13, is removably mounted to tray member  50  by placing docking system  65   a  on retention tabs  61   a,  FIG. 2, and securing docking system  65   a  with securing means  63 . When connected to tray member  50 , docking system  65   a  is electronically connected to controls  67  through connection  69 . However, the docking system  65   a,  FIG. 13, being larger than the docking system  65 , FIG. 7, is mounted on tray member  50  in a stationary position, rather than being movable to multiple positions such as when the relatively smaller docking system  65  is being used. Release of docking system  65   a  from tray member  50 , FIG. 13, is accomplished by actuating release tab  59 , as described above.  
         [0030]    In operation, the present monitor stand is completely open at the front and sides, because there are no front legs. Such construction offers several advantages. This allows a user full access to the docking system and notebook. Within the stand, there is a sliding mechanism that the docking system mounts to, which allows the user to move an APR to five different locations. This will allow the user to choose how much access is available to the notebook and the APR. The user has the option to have the APR/notebook in sight or to completely hide the notebook and APR underneath the monitor stand, which can save desk space. There are three other locations in between these two terminal positions. A docking station can also be mounted on the sliding mechanism. However, when used with the docking station, the sliding mechanism remains stationary.  
         [0031]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.