Abstract:
A stowing mechanism for a laptop or other device can secure different devices with varying thicknesses and widths within a compartment. The mechanism includes a cover which serves as the actuator for a jack mechanism. A pressure plate pivotally attached to the jack mechanism pushes against the device when the lid is closed, thereby securing the device within the compartment. The device can be released from the secure position by opening the cover. A buffer spring operating in conjunction with the jacking mechanism allows the mechanism to secure devices having different thicknesses and widths, while the pivotal pressure plate allows the plate to conform to devices having different shapes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is being filed concurrently with application Ser. No. 12/885,506, entitled “Sliding Lock Mechanism” and by the same inventors as the present application, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to the present application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Devices are known for docking laptop computers for connection to external monitors, power supplies, control devices and connection to networks. Such devices can be universal types or specific to a laptop model. In some instances, such as with a model specific device, the laptop may be directly connected with the device. In other instances, such as for a universal device, the laptop may be connected to the device only via connecting cables. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device stowing mechanism of the present invention includes a compartment defined by at least a portion of a housing and a pressure plate positioned within the housing and operated by a jack mechanism to move the pressure plate between a securing position toward a laptop computer or other device positioned between the housing and the pressure plate and an unsecuring position away from the laptop. At least one buffering spring is used in conjunction with the jack mechanism to accommodate various laptop sizes and shapes within the compartment. A cover of the stowing mechanism can serve as the actuator of the jack mechanism and further define the compartment. Additionally a base and side walls can complete the enclosure of the compartment. 
     The cover has at least two positions, an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the laptop can be loaded into the compartment. The cover can then be pushed toward the closed or second position. 
     As the cover closes, the linkages drive a driving carriage downward on a slide rail. A sliding carriage is attached to the pressure plate via linkage arms to move the pressure plate toward and away from the laptop. The spring is disposed between the driving carriage and the sliding carriage and moves the sliding carriage via movement of the driving carriage. The spring acts as a buffer between movement of the driving carriage and movement of the sliding carriage and thus allows the stowing mechanism to accommodate laptops and other devices having varying thicknesses. The process is reversed by unlocking the cover via a latch and pulling upward on the cover. 
     The mechanism is totally contained within the compartment which can also contain an electric interface box having a variety of outlets to accommodate connection to various connectors of a variety of laptops. The compartment can be secured to the floor of a cockpit via mounting lugs on the base of the compartment. Furthermore, additional compartments can be stacked back to back by utilizing offset mounting lugs on the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention stowing mechanism showing a laptop computer or other device positioned within a compartment of the stowing mechanism; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut away side view of the stowing mechanism in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut away front perspective view of the stowing mechanism in an open position mounted on a base; 
         FIG. 4  is a cut away rear perspective view of the stowing mechanism in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cut away side view of the stowing mechanism in a closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cut away front perspective view of the stowing mechanism mounted on a base and in a closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a cut away rear perspective view of the stowing mechanism in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a cut away rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the stowing mechanism in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a stowing mechanism  2  for a laptop or other device  4  held within a compartment  6  in a vertical configuration. The compartment  6  can be a space defined by a portion of the housing  8 , which can be a front wall  10 ; two side walls  12 ,  14 ; a base  16 ; a rear wall  18 ; and a cover  20 . These components combine to form a box  3 , which surrounds the laptop  4  and protects it from external impact or other damage. The housing can be perforated to allow for cooling air flow. In addition to the laptop  4 , the box  3  can also house an interface device  22 , which can include a power supply having the ability to power a variety of brands and types of laptops or other devices. Thus, the interface device can recharge batteries or provide external power to the device, whether the device is in use or not when stowed in the stowing mechanism. The interface device can also include other connectors for connecting to a laptop video output, for connecting the laptop  4  to a network, for connecting external control devices to the laptop  4  and for making any other desired connections with the laptop or other device  4 . These connections can be made between the interface device  22  and the laptop or other device  4  via connector cables having appropriate connector ends. The box  3  can also house a control panel  99  for controlling the laptop  4 , which control panel  99  is accessible through a window  98  in cover  20  when the cover  20  is in a closed position. 
       FIGS. 2-4  show an embodiment of the stowing mechanism  2  in a first position corresponding to an open position. In this open position, the laptop or other device  4  can be loaded into the compartment  6 . The cover  20  is in a near vertical position and is pivotally attached to one of the parts defining the space of the compartment  6 , the rear wall  18  in this embodiment. 
     Through a system of operating linkages  19 , including cover linkages  23 , the cover  20  is in communication with a pair of driving carriages  21 . One side of the mechanism will now be described, with the opposite side having the same detail. See, for instance,  FIG. 4 . It will be noted that the stowing mechanism can operate with a pair of opposed mechanisms as shown, with only a single mechanism, or with more than two mechanisms. 
     The cover  20  can have a depending ear  24  which is connected to an L-shaped pivot arm  28  via a first connecting member  26 . The points of connection between the ear  24 , first connecting member  26  and pivot arm  28  are all pivotable and each held together with pivot pins  30 , which each engage a respectively positioned bore  31  in each of the cover linkages  23 . The pivot arm  28  has a first extending link  32  and a second extending link  34  which are generally perpendicular to one another in the preferred embodiment, forming an L-shape. The first extending link  32  is longer than the second extending link  34  to increase leverage as the cover  20  is moved between the closed and open positions. The pivot arm  28  is pivotally attached via pivot pin  30  to one of the stationary structures, such as a side wall  12 ,  14  and/or the rear wall  18 . A second connecting member  36  is pivotally attached at one end to the second extending link  34  via one of the pivot pins  30 , and also pivotally attached at an opposite end to a flange  38  of the driving carriage  21 . The second connecting member  36  is shaped to provide clearance space for a mounting bracket  40  while the mechanism  2  is in a closed position, and in this embodiment is somewhat L-shaped. See  FIGS. 5-7  to see how the L-shaped second connecting member  36  clears the mounting bracket  40  when the stowing mechanism is in the closed position. 
     The driving carnage  21  is in further connection with a sliding carriage  42  via a drive spring  44  (see  FIG. 4 ). In the preferred embodiment, the drive spring  44  is a gas spring having a first end  48  and second end  50 , wherein the first end  48  is attached to an inner flange of the driving carriage  21  and the second end  50  is attached to an inner side of the sliding carriage  42 . In this embodiment, first end  48  is the cylinder of the gas spring  44  and the second end  50  is the ram  52  of the gas spring  44 , although this can be reversed. In the preferred embodiment, the gas spring  44  is vertically positioned, in alignment with a slide rail  70  on which the driving carriage  21  and sliding carriage  42  move. The use of a gas spring  44  also provides damping to the mechanism which improves performance of the mechanism under vibration. 
     The sliding carriage  42  is in turn connected to a pressure plate  54  via a first linkage arm  53  of a jack mechanism  56 . The first linkage arm  53  has a first end  57  pivotally attached to the sliding carriage  42  and a second end  58  pivotally attached to a flange  60  which extends from and is attached to the pressure plate  54 . The flange  60  can be a separate component attached to the pressure plate  54  or can be integral with the pressure plate  54 . A second linkage arm  62  has a first end  64  and a second end  66 . The first end  64  is also pivotally attached to the flange  60 , below the location where the first linkage arm  53  attaches to the flange  60 . This configuration allows the pressure plate  54  to pivot in two locations and better secure differently shaped laptops, and especially, laptops that have covers/bases slanted toward a front or rear side. The second linkage arm  62  is pivotally attached via second end  66  to a stationary structure such as the side wall  12 ,  14 . A second spring  68  is positioned between the second linkage arm  62  and the stationary structure to bias the second linkage arm  62 , and the pressure plate  54 , toward an unsecured position in a direction away from the laptop or other device. Alternatively, the second spring  68  can also be operatively positioned between the second linkage arm  62  and the pressure plate  54 , between the first linkage arm  53  and the pressure plate  54  or the sliding carriage  42 , between the pressure plate  54  and the stationary structure, or elsewhere. A second spring  68  can also be positioned in multiple positions. 
     The sliding carriage  42  and the driving carriage  21  are selectively movable upon the slide rail  70 . Preferably, the sliding carriage  42  and driving carriage  21  each contain a central bore on which they are held on the slide rail  70 . Preferably, the slide rail  70  is anchored to the stationary structures at both ends of the slide rail  70  for stability. As mentioned above, the preferred embodiment uses an identical set of components (although such components can be mirror images of the components described above) on the opposite side of the compartment  6 .  FIGS. 5-7  show the components described above when the cover  20  is in the second or closed position. The cover  20  is pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to axes of the slide rails  70 . 
     The mechanism of the invention can be best described by referring to  FIGS. 3-4  and  6 - 7  which respectively show the parts in the first/open position and the second/closed position. It is to be understood that there are a number of intermediate positions between the first and second positions. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cover  20  is used as the actuator for the jack mechanisms  56 . As the cover  20  is pivotally moved toward the closed position, or downward toward the compartment  6 , it moves the cover linkages  23 , the driving carriages  21 , the sliding carriages  42  and thus, the jack mechanisms  56  and pressure plate  54 . More specifically, movement of the cover  20  from the open position to the closed position forces the pivot arm  28  to pivot around its pivot pin  30  such that the first extending link  32  is pushed toward a near horizontal position and the second extending link  34  is forced to a toward a near vertical position. 
     The movement of the second extending link  34  forces the driving carriage  21  downward on the slide rail  70  via the second connecting member  36 . Since the gas spring  44  is attached between the driving carriage  21  and the sliding carriage  42 , downward movement of the driving carriage  21  causes the gas spring  44  to move the sliding carriage  42  downward on the slide rail  70 , overcoming the biasing force of the second spring  68 . Placement of the gas spring  44  between the driving carriage  21  and the sliding carriage  42  maintains the gas spring  44  in alignment with the slide rail  70  at all times. This generally eliminates side loads on the gas spring  44 , which side loads increase wear of internal sealing o-rings of the gas spring  44 , Thus, the reliability and service life of the gas spring  44  are improved. The movement of the sliding carriage  42  moves the second end  58  of the first linkage arm  53  of the jack mechanisms  56 ,  72  toward the second end  66  of the second linkage arm  62  thereby pushing the first ends  57 ,  64 , and thus the pressure plate  54 , toward the laptop  4 . In this manner, the pivotal movement of the cover  20  is converted to the transverse movement of the pressure plate  54 . That is, in the preferred embodiment, the pressure plate  54  moves in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the slide rails. Other movement orientations can be used in alternative embodiments. 
     At some point between the open and closed positions of the cover (depending on the thickness of the laptop or device), the pressure plate  54  contacts the laptop  4 . Then, the gas spring  44  acts as a buffer between movement of the cover  20 /driving carriage  21  and movement of the sliding carriage  42 /pressure plate  54  to limit the amount of clamping pressure that can be applied against the laptop to prevent damage to the laptop, and to accommodate a range of thicknesses of laptops that can be effectively clamped between the compartment wall and the pressure plate. The range of lateral movement of the pressure plate to effectively clamp the desired range of thicknesses of laptops thus determines the minimum needed amount of compression of the gas spring  44 , after considering the geometry of the operating mechanism. With a thicker laptop  4 , the pressure plate  54  will contact the laptop  4  when the cover  20  is still a first distance from being in the closed position. On the other hand, the thinner the laptop is with respect to the thicker laptop  4 , the nearer the cover  20  will be to the closed position when the pressure plate  54  contacts the laptop  4 . At the point of contact of the pressure plate  54  with the laptop  4 , the cover  20  will still not be in the closed position, whether the laptop is thick or thin (within the desired range of thicknesses to be covered). Further movement of the cover  20  to the closed position will cause compression of the gas spring  44 , with greater compression for a thicker laptop and lesser compression for a thinner laptop. The use of a gas spring  44  allows the amount of pressure exerted by the gas spring on the sliding carriage  42 , and thus, the amount of pressure exerted by the pressure plate  54  on the laptop  4 , to remain relatively constant whether the laptop  4  is thick or thin. The spring force for the drive springs is selected to provide a clamping force sufficient to secure the device without causing damage to the device. Once the cover  20  is in the fully closed position, the laptop  4  or other device is secured. 
     The use of a drive spring  44  on each of the pair (or other number) of operating mechanisms also allows for accommodation of irregularly shaped laptops by allowing for different amounts of movement of opposite ends of the pressure plate  54 . Each of the drive springs  44  can compress a different amount, thereby allowing each jack mechanism, and thus, each side of the pressure plate  54 , to move a different amount toward the laptop  4 , independently of one another within a reasonable allowable plate deflection, to accommodate a laptop  4  that is thicker on one side than on the other side. In an alternative embodiment, the pressure plate  54  can be mounted to each of the flanges  60  on vertically pivotal joints, thereby allowing greater pivoting of the pressure plate  54  from side to side to accommodate greater side to side thickness variations of devices. In the embodiment shown, the pressure plate  54  is connected on opposite sides to the first and second jack mechanisms. In another alternative embodiment, each jack mechanism can have its own separate pressure plate. The pressure plate  54  is also pivotal top to bottom about first ends  57  and  64  of the first and second linkage arms  53  and  62  to conform to wedge shaped top to bottom profiles (as the device is situated in the compartment) of different devices. 
     In the embodiment shown, each drive spring  44  is positioned beside and parallel with its respective slide rail. By positioning the spring between a topward mounted lug on the driving carriage  21  and a bottomward mounted lug on the sliding carriage  42  (see  FIG. 4 ), the allowable length of the drive spring  44  can be increased, along with the range of compression of the drive spring  44 , thereby accommodating a greater range of thicknesses of laptops to be stowed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pressure plate  54  will have a relatively soft surface that engages the laptop  4  to prevent scratching or other damage to the laptop  4 , as well as to provide a better clamping grip between the pressure plate  54  and the laptop  4 . This surface can be an integral part of the pressure plate or a separate surface material attached to or applied over the pressure plate  54 . 
     Another feature of the stowing mechanism  2  is the “over-center” operation of the cover  20 /pivot arm  28 . The location of the pivotable attachment of the second connecting member  36  and the pivot arm  28  is on one side of the drive spring  44  in the opened position and crosses over a center of compression of the drive spring  44  as the pivot arm  28  travels from the open position to the closed position, thereby resulting in a downward pulling force on the cover after the pivot arm crosses over the center of compression of the drive spring. This results in a positive tactile feel for the user indicating that the cover has completely closed, as well as helps maintain the cover  20  in the closed position. 
     To further maintain the cover  20  in the closed position, the cover  20  is also equipped with a positive latch mechanism  81  attached to the cover  20 . In order to safeguard the contents of the compartment  6 , a padlock ear  90  contains a bore which can receive a padlock or other locking instrument and thereby prevent opening of the cover  20  until the lock is removed. 
     In reversing the process and going from a closed position to an open position, the latch  81  is pulled upward releasing the cover  20  so that the cover  20  can be rotated to the open position, thereby reversing the operation described above. 
     The base  16  can include features which allow two or more boxes  3  to be stacked back to back to one another. First power cords and other cords necessary to run the laptop can enter the compartment  6  through a cavity  92 , thus allowing the cords to enter the bottom of wall  12 . Additionally, the lugs  94  on the front of the base  16  are offset from the lugs  94  on the rear of the base  94  to allow a nesting relationship between the lugs of a front side of one stowing mechanism with the lugs of a rear side of a second stowing mechanism. 
     Other embodiments are possible, including one in which the second end of the gas spring is attached directly to the pressure plate  54 . Such an embodiment would omit the sliding carriage and the parts associated with the sliding carriage. Another embodiment is one in which the first end of the gas spring  48  is attached directly to the L-shaped pivot arm  28 . Such an embodiment would omit the drive carriage and the parts associated with the drive carriage. Additionally, there are possible embodiments which remove, combine and/or reshape some of the linkages. Still other embodiments may remove certain parts such as the second spring and/or the latch mechanism. Another embodiment utilizes a compression coil spring between the driving carriage and sliding carriage instead of the gas spring. In such an embodiment, the compression spring can be positioned around the slide rail, as compared to the sideward positioning of the gas spring described above. Other types of springs can also be used throughout. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the stowing mechanism  2  can use one or more powered drive mechanisms for actuating the jack mechanisms. The powered drive mechanism can include a powered screw mechanism, a linear drive motor, a hydraulic/air cylinder, or another type of powered drive mechanism. See  FIG. 8 . A powered drive mechanism  244  is attached between powered drive mount  221  and sliding carriage  42  of each jack mechanism for moving the respective sliding carriage  42  between the clamped and unclamped positions. A spring mechanism can be positioned between each powered drive mechanism  244  and either the powered drive mount  221  and the sliding carriage  42  to act as a buffer spring, as described above. A switch  210  is positioned to be actuated by the opening and closing of the cover  20  and is operatively connected to the powered drive mechanisms  244  for connecting to and disconnecting from a power supply, thereby powering on and powering off the powered drive mechanisms  244 . Operation of the powered drive mechanisms  244  can also be at least partially controlled by a controller. 
     Also, operation of the switch or actuator can be separated from operation of the cover. Although the stowing device is shown vertically receiving the laptop, other orientations can also be used. The stowing device can be used in other environments, including helicopters, boats, trains, wheeled vehicles, military vehicles, construction vehicles, other types of vehicles, or even in stationary locations. 
     The use of the stowing mechanism of the present invention provides for quick and easy stowing of a laptop or other device brought into the environment. The stowing mechanism secures the device against movement and protects the device from external impact or other damage. When desired, the laptop can be quickly and easily unsecured and removed from the stowing mechanism, with the stowing mechanism then ready to receive another laptop. The described stowing mechanism provides for the secure holding of a wide range of sizes, shapes and types of laptops or other devices without modification to the stowing mechanism or procedure for using the stowing mechanism. 
     Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the several embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.