AU2018208632A1 - A Soft Wired Integrated Docking Station - Google Patents

Abstract

5254S-AU A soft wired integrated docking station (1) for use at a corporate hot desk installation (6) is disclosed. The docking station takes the form of an inter engageable power module (2) and a computer enabling module (3). Preferably the power module is secured to the underside of a desk (5) and is therefore located above the other module (3). The power module (2) includes AC electrical installation coupler connectors (13, 14) compatible with a soft wired AC mains wiring harness, at least one AC general purpose outlet (10), and a DC power connector (17). The computer enabling module (3) takes the form of a DC power receptacle or socket (18), a data inlet (23), and a computer connection cable (53) such as a USB-C connection to provide both DC power and data to a computer (4) to be used at the hot desk installation. The two modules (2,3) are engageable to inter-connect the DC power connector and DC power receptor to thereby energise the computer enabling module (3) and provide power to the computer connection cable (53). Two monitors (33, 43) are also supplied from the other module (3). C\l 'PIS CNJ L-C) cm w ca 04%

Description

A Soft Wired Integrated Docking Station

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to computer facilities for corporate hot desk office installations and, in particular, to docking stations used in such installations.

Background Art

Modem corporate office layouts utilise hot desks rather than individual offices. Corporate employees often move between office locations and no longer have a designated office or location from where they work. Instead, such corporate employees are provided with a portable computer of some kind such as a laptop or tablet which they carry with them. Such a portable computer is utilised at any one of a number of desks each of which is provided with electrical facilities such as general purpose outlets (GPOs or mains AC power outlets), DC charging equipment, data connections such as Internet and corporate in-house intranet connections, computer monitors and the like.

Changing computer technology has changed the nature of the equipment provided at each hot desk location over time. A recent development is an appliance known as a docking station. This device has an AC mains power cable, typically rated at 10 A, which is able to be plugged into a GPO at the hot desk. The docking station also includes a computer connection cable to provide both DC power and data to the portable computer to be used at the hot desk. Such a computer connection cable can be selected from various standards or types such as USB-C, THUNDERBOLT (Trade Mark), and the like. In addition sockets are provided for video monitors, Internet connectivity, corporate intranet connectivity, and so on.

One problem with such docking stations is that they are prone to be “borrowed” by employees who wish to use them to work at home, or even stolen by dishonest persons in the vicinity of the hot desks. Irrespective of the identity and motivation, removal of the docking station prevents subsequent operation of the hot desk as intended.

5254S-AU

2018208632 24 Jul 2018

Another problem with such docking stations is that as electrical appliances they need to comply with Australian corporate electrical safety standards relating to appliances.

Genesis of the Invention

The genesis of the present invention is a desire to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, such problems.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a soft wired integrated docking station for use at a corporate hot desk installation, said docking station comprising an inter-engageable power module and a computer enabling module; said power module comprising an AC power plug and socket compatible with a soft wired AC mains wiring harness, at least one AC general purpose outlet, and a DC power connector; said computer enabling module comprising a DC power receptacle, a data inlet, and a computer connection cable to provide both DC power and data to a computer to be used at said hot desk installation; said power module being mountable to a furniture item of said hot desk installation and said computer enabling module being engageable with said power module to inter-connect said DC power connector and said DC power receptor to thereby energise said computer enabling module and provide power to said computer connection cable.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of permanently installing a computer docking station as described above at a corporate hot desk installation having a desk, said method comprising the steps of: mounting said power module to the underside of said desk and interconnecting said AC power plug and socket with said AC mains harness, and inter-engaging said computer enabling module and said power module to interconnect said DC power connector and said DC power receptor to thereby energise said computer enabling module and power said computer connection cable.

5254S-AU

2018208632 24 Jul 2018

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hot desk working station with a docking station of the preferred embodiment installed under a desk,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from one side of the docking station of Fig. 1 with both modules interconnected,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the other side of the docking station of Fig. 1 with both modules interconnected,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from one end of the docking station of Fig. 1 showing the coupling and uncoupling mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the other end of the docking station showing the installation to the underside of a desk.

Detailed Description

As seen in Fig. 1, a docking station 1 of the preferred embodiment is formed from an upper module 2 and a lower module 3 which are coupled together. The docking station 1 is secured to the underside of a desk 5 located at a workstation area 6 in a modern commercial office. In the illustrated embodiment, a laptop computer 4 and a tablet computer 7 are connected to the docking station 1 via a grommet 9 which lines an aperture in the desktop.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper module 2 is provided with a pair of brackets 8 which permit the upper module 2 to be secured to the underside of the desk 5. In addition, the upper module 2 provides a pair of general purpose outlets 10. On the other side of the upper module 2 is a circuit breaker 11 incorporating an on/off switch.

As seen in Fig. 4, the upper module 2 is also provided with a pair of electrical installation coupler connectors 13,14 which enable the upper module 2 to be soft wired to the AC mains supply via power cables 15 (Fig. 1). Located within the upper module 2 is a mains transformer and power supply circuitry (both not illustrated), which take the AC mains supply voltage as an input and output a DC voltage to the lower module 3. As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the output from the upper module 2 is

5254S-AU

2018208632 24 Jul 2018 provided by a male DC supply plug 17 which connects with a female DC supply socket 18 in the lower module 3.

The lower module 3 contains the essential electronics (not illustrated but conventional) to facilitate modern day computing. Accordingly, as seen in Fig. 2 the module 3 is supplied with four USB-A outlets 21, three monitor outlets 22 such as two display outlets and a single HDMI outlet, a network connector 23, and a USB-C outlet 24. Similarly, as seen in Fig. 3, the module 3 is also supplied with a microphone inlet 26, an audio outlet 27, a fast charge USB outlet 28, a slow charge USB outlet 29, a USB indicator light 30, a power on indicator light 31, and a power reset orifice 32. Other configurations of inlets and outlets will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Turning now to Fig. 4, the mode of interconnecting and disconnecting the two modules 2, 3 will now be described. The upper module 2 is provided with a thin slit 40 in its end wall 35. The lower module 3 is provided with an L-shaped tongue 41 which extends from its end wall 36. By engaging the tongue 41 in the slit 40, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a temporary pivot is created. This enables the two modules 2, 3 to be pivoted relative to each other through an arc as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. As seen in Fig. 4, swinging the modules together enables the DC supply plug 17, which extends from a short length of cable, to be engaged with the DC supply socket 18 as indicated in Fig. 5. Also indicated in Fig. 5 is a bolt 45 having a knurled head 46 which passes through the lower module 3 and is received in a threaded internal aperture within the upper module 2. In this way, the two modules 2, 3 can be retained in the inter-engaged or inter-coupled state as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to uncouple the two modules 2, 3 the bolt 45 is undone, the modules are pivoted relative to each other as illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby separating the DC supply plug 17 and the DC supply socket 18. Then the lower module 3 is moved longitudinally so as to slide the L-shaped tongue 41 out of the slit 40.

As seen in Fig. 5, the upper module 2 is able to be secured to the underside of a desk such as desk 5, by means of fasteners 50 which passes through the brackets 8 and into the underside of the desk top.

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2018208632 24 Jul 2018

The above described arrangement enables, in particular, the laptop computer 4 of Fig.

to be supplied with both power and data by means of a USB-C cable or THUNDERBOLT cable 53 which passes through the grommet 9. Two monitors 33, 43 are mounted behind the laptop 4 so as to be visible by the computer operator. The conventional support columns or other mounting arrangement for the monitors 33, 43 are not illustrated so as to not overburdened the drawing. Each monitor 33, 43 is connected via a corresponding cable to a corresponding one of the monitor outlets 22. These cables are not illustrated in full in order not to overburdened the drawing but preferably also pass through the grommet 9.

In addition, the tablet 7 (or a mobile phone or similar) is able to be recharged by means of a USB-A cable 54 which also passes through the grommet 9. Still further, an AC mains supply is available to power any power rail 20, desk lamp (not illustrated), or other AC load via a mains cable 55 which leads from the GPO 10 to the desk top via the grommet 9.

A number of advantages spring from the above described arrangement. Firstly, because the inter-coupled modules 2, 3 are securely fastened to the underside of the desk 5, the docking station 1 is not liable to be borrowed or stolen or otherwise removed from the workstation area 6. In particular, employees of the company are not tempted to take the docking station with them when leaving the workstation area 6 in order to use it to work at home.

Secondly, because the electronics required for modern-day computers are rapidly evolving, the lower module 3 can be upgraded from time to time but still couple with, and be supplied with power by, the upper module 2. In this way a docking station 1 with enhanced and/or updated facilities can be provided at a reduced cost because the power supply(ies) contained within the upper module 2 can be retained for future service.

5254S-AU

2018208632 24 Jul 2018

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the office equipment arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “including” or “having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of’.

Claims (10)

1. A soft wired integrated docking station for use at a corporate hot desk installation, said docking station comprising an inter-engageable power module and a computer enabling module; said power module comprising an AC power plug and socket compatible with a soft wired AC mains wiring harness, at least one AC general purpose outlet, and a DC power connector; said computer enabling module comprising a DC power receptacle, a data inlet, and a computer connection cable to provide both DC power and data to a computer to be used at said hot desk installation; said power module being mountable to a furniture item of said hot desk installation and said computer enabling module being engageable with said power module to inter-connect said DC power connector and said DC power receptor to thereby energise said computer enabling module and provide power to said computer connection cable.

2. The docking station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer connection cable is selected from the class of cables consisting of USB-C cables and THUNDERBOLT cables.

3. The docking station as claimed in claim lor 2 wherein the data inlet of said computer enabling module provides connection to the Internet and/or a corporate intranet.

4. The docking station as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein said computer enabling module has at least one video outlet for a corresponding computer monitor or screen.

5. The docking station as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein said DC power connector comprises a male plug and said DC power receptor comprises a female socket.

6. The docking station as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein one end of said computer enabling module is releasably pivotable with respect to a

5254S-AU

2018208632 24 Jul 2018 corresponding end of said power module.

7. The docking station as claimed in claim 6 wherein said computer enabling module and said power module have substantially the same lengths between opposite ends and a releasable fastener interconnects said ends other than said one ends.

8. The docking station as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 wherein said power module includes a mounting bracket to permit same to be mounted to the underside of a desk at said hot desk installation.

9. The docking station as claimed in claim 8 wherein both modules are mounted to the underside of said desk and said computer connection cable extends from said computer enabling module to above said desk.

10. A method of permanently installing a computer docking station as claimed in any one of claims 1 -9 at a corporate hot desk installation having a desk, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting said power module to the underside of said desk and interconnecting said AC power plug and socket with said AC mains harness, and inter-engaging said computer enabling module and said power module to interconnect said DC power connector and said DC power receptor to thereby energise said computer enabling module and power said computer connection cable.