Abstract:
A docking station for a tablet device includes a security frame that is releasably connected to a pedestal. An upper head portion of the pedestal is rotatable through three degrees of freedom to allow for angular adjustment of the frame as it retains a tablet device. Electrical conductivity is maintained through the rotational connection.

Description:
[0001]    This disclosure claims priority on provisional application filing 61/733,842. The contents of the provisional are incorporated here by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The design disclosed below relates to a docking station for a tablet device. More particularly, the design relates to a docking station that allows the tablet device to be used as a work station, or alternatively, the tablet device can be undocked and used remotely from the work station position. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In general terms, electronic tablet devices (or “tablets”) have evolved such that they are now performing many of the functions that were formerly performed by laptop or desktop computers. The processing capability of tablets now allow them to perform standard business functions. 
         [0004]    Because of their size and portability, one of the problems associated with the use of tablets in a business setting relates to physical security and/or theft of the device itself. The design disclosed here addresses these problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following is a summary of the various improvements disclosed in this document. 
         [0006]    The disclosed design is a docking station that is primarily intended to be used in connection with tablet devices. Tablet devices are well-known electronic devices. They are sometimes called electronic tablets, tablet computers, or just “tablets.” 
         [0007]    The docking station disclosed here includes a security frame portion for retaining the tablet. The security frame portion surrounds the tablet and provides a framework for carrying the tablet from place-to-place while retained within the security frame. 
         [0008]    The frame portion carries or has a first universal adaptor that electrically couples the tablet to the frame portion. The universal adaptor is designed so that it may electrically couple to the different kinds of connection ports that relate to different brands of tablets. As a person skilled in the art would know, these connection ports provide a means for transmitting power and data to and from the tablet. 
         [0009]    The docking station also includes a pedestal, or pedestal portion, that normally rests on a workstation surface or the like. The pedestal has a connecting head portion that provides a means for releasably connecting the above-described frame portion to the pedestal portion. The head portion carries a second universal adaptor for electrically coupling the head portion to the first universal adaptor on the frame portion, previously described, when the frame portion is connected or “docked” to the pedestal portion. 
         [0010]    Another feature of the design involves a rotational connection between the head portion of the pedestal and a lower base portion of the pedestal. The rotational connection enables three degrees of angular orientation or adjustment of the head portion relative to the base portion. This, in turn, allows for adjustment of the view angle of the tablet when it is docked. 
         [0011]    The base portion is connectable to or provides electrical connection ports for at least one electrical signal, although preferably, it includes ports for numerous kinds of electrical connections that normally involve power and data. A conductor pathway is provided through the base member to the universal adaptor carried by the head portion by crossing the rotational connection between the head portion and the base portion. This allows electrical connectivity to be maintained regardless of the angular portion of the frame (and tablet) relative to the pedestal. 
         [0012]    Another feature of the design involves locking the frame to the pedestal. While this may be accomplished in different ways, the design disclosed here includes an electronic lock for additional security 
         [0013]    The foregoing summary will become better understood upon review of the attached drawings which are to be taken in conjunction with the written description set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a docking station constructed in accordance with the patent claims; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the docking station; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the docking station; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a security frame portion of the docking station that holds or retains a tablet; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a back-side part of the security frame portion illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adaptor portion of the security frame illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the back-side of the security frame portion illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pedestal portion of the docking station illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the head of the pedestal portion illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a view like  FIG. 9 , but is taken from the back-side perspective of the pedestal portion; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a view of the lower portion of the pedestal portion illustrated in  FIG. 8 , with a cover removed to reveal an electronics board; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the docking station, showing angular rotation of the tablet device; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a top view of  FIG. 12  and shows different rotational positions of the tablet device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawings, and first to  FIG. 1 , indicated generally at  10  is a docking station in accordance with the present disclosure. The docking station  10  includes a security frame portion, indicated generally at  12 , and a pedestal portion, indicated generally at  14 . 
         [0029]    The pedestal portion  14  surrounds and captures a tablet device  16 . The outline of the tablet&#39;s screen is indicated by dashed line  18  in  FIG. 1 . The activating button on the tablet is indicated at  20 . 
         [0030]    Although the frame  12  is illustrated here as surrounding and capturing the tablet  16 , it is to be understood that there could be other physical embodiments that perform the same function without completely surrounding the entire or full periphery of the tablet  16 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , further details of the frame portion  12  will now be described.  FIG. 4  illustrates the frame portion  12  without the tablet inside (looking at the front). As can be seen from the Fig., it has a rectangular peripheral edge  22  that captures the edge of the tablet  16 . Depending on the configuration, the edge structure  22  may be provided with built-in openings for different kinds of tablet access ports (for the purpose of pushing buttons on the tablet or accessing jacks, etc.). 
         [0032]    The frame  12  carries a first electrical adaptor, indicated generally at  24  in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , that provides the needed electrical connection to the tablet  16 . The adaptor  24  is “universal” in that it has a universal connector fitting  26  that would be shaped to fit a variety of different kinds of tablets (tablet variations are dictated by brand). Typically, and as a person skilled in the art would understand, the universal adaptor  24  provides power and data connections for the tablet—i.e., power for the device&#39;s battery, etc., and data for network or Internet connections, if hard-wired connections are desired. The conductors for the universal adaptor  24  run through a stem portion  28  (see  FIG. 6  of the universal adaptor  24 ). 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates the back-side or back plate  30  of the frame portion  12 . It is surrounded by the edge  22  previously described. As is shown in  FIG. 5 , it has an opening  30  for capturing the universal adaptor  24  previously described. When all of these components are assembled together, it produces the frame portion of the docking station indicated in  FIG. 4  (the front side) and  FIG. 7  (the back side). 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , reference numeral  14  generally indicates the pedestal portion of the docking station  10 . The pedestal portion includes an upper head portion, indicated generally at  36 , and a lower base portion, indicated generally at  38 . The head portion  36  carries a second universal adaptor  40  that connects into a similar connector fitting in a recess of  42  of the first adaptor  24 . 
         [0035]    The first adaptor  24  releasably rests on protrusions  44 ,  46  on head portion  36 . It has a conventional catch  48  that allows adaptor  24  (and therefore, frame  12 ) to be releasably connected to and from the pedestal portion  14  (via the head  36 ). 
         [0036]    An advantage to the design is that the portion fitting  40  adjacent the front face  52  of head portion  36  creates a reliable interface connection point for engagement/disengagement of the first universal adaptor  24  (and frame portion  12 ) with the pedestal portion  14 . 
         [0037]    The head portion  36  is designed to rotate at three physical positions. The first position is indicated by arrow  50  in  FIG. 9 , which illustrates a circular rotation of the front face  52  of the head portion about an axis that would project normally out from face  52 . When the frame portion  12  is mounted to the pedestal  14 , this arrangement provides one degree of freedom of rotation that would allow the tablet  16  to be rotated between portrait and landscape orientations, if desired. Arrow  54  in  FIG. 10  points to another area designed to allow the head  36  to rotate up or down to rotationally lift or lower the screen of the tablet for vertical positioning, as desired. 
         [0038]    Finally, arrow  56  points to a last position for angularly rotating the head about a vertical or upright axis for angularly adjusting the tablet screen  16  from left-to-right, as desired. 
         [0039]    The physical structure of the above rotational connections can take different forms, using different types of pins or moldings that allow one part to rotate relative to another. In all cases, what is important about the design is that it allows three degrees of rotation without interfering with the wiring in the pedestal portion.  FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate different possible rotational positions. 
         [0040]    In this last respect,  FIG. 11  illustrates base portion  38  with its cover plate  60  removed, thus exposing an electronics control board (ECB)  58  inside the base portion. A series of electrical connector fittings (USB, etc.) are electrically connected to the ECB  58  for providing data or power. These electrical signals are passed, via wiring, or a wiring harness, up through the body of the pedestal  14 , which is hollow. The position of the wiring is schematically indicated by dashed line  63  in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the pedestal  14  has openings  64 ,  66  that enable the wiring to pass through the head space, and through the physical zone of rotational connections described above. This allows rotation without stressing the wiring. The wiring connects to a board  67  upon which the second adaptor fitting  40  rests. The board  67  provides the wiring connections to the fitting  40 . 
         [0042]    Finally, the frame portion  12  could be releasably locked to the pedestal portion via a RFID lock if desired. The ECB  58  in the base portion has surface space for a RFID sensor  70  that could detect a wireless keycard, if desired. The sensor would activate locks on the head portion, upon detection of the keycard. 
         [0043]    It is to be appreciated that the foregoing description sets forth the best known examples and embodiments. It is not intended that any of the foregoing description be used to limit the scope of the patent protection. Instead, all patent protection is to be defined solely by the patent claim or claims that follow this description, the interpretation of which is to be made according to the legal rules of patent claim interpretation and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.