Patent ID: 7426108

Claim:
An external expanding apparatus operable with a portable computer of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof, the external expanding apparatus comprising: a body portion adapted for mounting to an external support structure, the body portion having a substantially rigid bearing plate formed with a computer bearing surface, a computer receiver structure fixedly positioned adjacent to a front edge of the bearing surface and projected there above; a pair of locating pins sized to be matingly received into the pair of locating holes in the bottom surface of the casing of the portable computer, the locating pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface in positions for being matingly received into the pair of locating holes; a computer expansion connector positioned for mating with the input/output (I/O) connector positioned on the back plane of the portable computer; a rotatable display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm structured with a first end portion that is rotatably coupled to the body portion and is pivotable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the bearing plate; and a display unit clamping mechanism positioned adjacent to a second end portion of the rigid support arm opposite from the first end portion and adapted to clamp the display unit between a substantially rigid support surface and a substantially rigid jaw portion resiliently biased substantially theretoward.