GB2577704A

GB2577704A - Docking station for reducing desktop occupying space

Info

Publication number: GB2577704A
Application number: GB1816108.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: lin lin Yu
Original assignee: Oxti Corp
Current assignee: Oxti Corp
Priority date: 2018-10-03
Filing date: 2018-10-03
Publication date: 2020-04-08

Abstract

A docking station comprising a first container 10 and an extension 11 extending from the first container, two orifices 13 formed in the first container, a control board 50 engaged in the first container and electrically connected to a number of connectors 15-17, a second container 30 engaged with the extension of the first container, the extension of the first container separating the first and second containers from each other for forming a space between the containers, the second container including a number of connectors 32-36 electrically connected to a control board, and two fasteners 20 engaged with the first container and threaded 21 with screw holes 31 of the second container for adjusting the containers relative to each other. The connectors may comprise USB, USB type-C, LAN, audio, display, link and/or power connector. A cover panel 24 may engage an upper portion of the first container.

Description

DOCKING STATION FOR REDUCING DESKTOP OCCUPYING SPACE

The invention relates to a converter hub assembly or docking station including an improved compact structure or configuration for suitably reducing or decreasing the desktop occupying space or using area and for preventing the docking station from interfering or affecting the working operation of the user.

Typical converter hub assemblies or docking stations comprise a housing or receptacle including a chamber or compartment formed therein for receiving or storing various electric circuit boards or parts or elements therein, and including a number of ports or terminals or connectors for electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 9,237,217 B2 to Zeung et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,864,421 B2 to Li et al., and U.S. Patent No. 9,997,939 B2 to Li disclose several of the typical converter hubs or docking stations each comprising a container having one or more ports or terminals or connectors for electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements.

However, the ports or terminals or connectors provided in the container are limited and, normally, there are no ports or terminals or connectors enough for suitably and electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements, and two or more containers may further be required and provided on the desktop for electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements.

However, the containers that are provided on the desktop may interfere or affect the working operation of the user, or the user may be affected or interfered by the containers that are provided on the desktop.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the 5 afore-described disadvantages of the conventional converter hub assemblies or docking stations.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a docking station including an improved compact structure or configuration for suitably reducing or decreasing the desktop occupying space or using area and for preventing the docking station from interfering or affecting the working operation of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a docking station comprising:-a first container including an extension extended from the first container, the first container including two orifices formed in the first container, a first control board engaged in the first container, the first container including a number of connectors electrically connected to the first control board, a second container engaged with the extension of the first container, the extension of the first container spacing and separating the first container from the second container for forming a space 25 between the first and the second containers, the second container including two screw holes formed in the second container, a second control board engaged in the second container, the second container including a number of connectors electrically connected to the second control board, and two fasteners engaged with the orifices of the first container, and the fasteners each including a threaded end for threading and engaging with the screw holes of the second container and for adjusting the first and the second containers relative to each other and thus for allowing the containers to be snugly fitted or engaged onto a table of different heights or thicknesses.

The orifices of the first container are preferably partially formed through the extension of the first container. The first container may include an inner peripheral shoulder formed in each of the orifices of the first container for forming a stepped structure for the orifice of the first container. The fasteners may each include an enlarged head for engaging with the inner peripheral shoulder of the first container and for anchoring the fasteners to the first container and thus for adjusting the first and the second containers relative to each other.

The fasteners may each include an engaging hole formed in the fastener for engaging with a driving tool which may be used to rotate or drive the fasteners relative to the first container and the second container in order to adjust the first and the second containers toward or away from each other. The first container may include a cover panel or shield engaged onto an upper portion of the first container for covering or shielding the fasteners and the like.

The connectors of the first container may include an audio connector, at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector, and a USB Type-C connector. The connectors of the second container may include a Ian connector, at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector, at least one display connector, a link connector and a power connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan schematic view illustrating the operation of a docking station; FIG. 2 is a side plan schematic view of the docking station; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the docking station; FIG. 4 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating 10 the operation of the docking station; and FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view illustrating the parts or elements of the docking station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a docking station 1 comprises one or more (such as two) converter hubs or containers 10, 30 to be disposed or engaged onto the desktop or table 8, for example, the first container 10 is to be disposed or engaged onto the upper portion or upper surface 80 of the table 8, and the other or second container 30 is to be disposed or engaged onto the bottom portion or bottom surface 81 of the table 8.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the first container 10 includes a fence or leg or extension 11 extended downwardly therefrom, such as extended downwardly from one side or the rear portion 12 thereof for engaging with or onto the second container 30 and for spacing or separating the first container 10 from the second container 30, and for forming or defining a gap or space 40 between the first and the second containers 10, 30 and for receiving or engaging with the

table 8.

The first container 10 includes one or more (such as two) orifices or through holes 13 formed therein and partially formed through the extension 11 of the first container 10, best shown in FIG. 5 for receiving or engaging with screws or bolts or fasteners 20 respectively. The second container 30 includes one or more (such as two) screw holes 31 formed therein and aligned with the orifices 13 of the first container 10 for receiving or threading or engaging with the fasteners 20 which may adjustably secure the first and the second containers 10, 30 together.

For example, the fasteners 20 each include a threaded end 21 for threading or engaging with the screw holes 31 of the second container 30 and for adjusting the first and the second containers 10, 30 toward or away from each other and for allowing the first and the second containers 10, 30 to be snugly fitted or engaged onto the table 8, and for allowing the first and the second containers 10, 30 to be snugly fitted or engaged onto the table 8 of different heights or thicknesses.

The first container 10 includes an inner peripheral shoulder 14 (FIG. 5) formed in each of the orifices 13 of the first container 10 for forming or defining a stepped hole structure or configuration for the orifices 13 of the first container 10, and the fasteners 20 each include an enlarged head 22 for engaging with the inner peripheral shoulder 14 of the first container 10 and for anchoring or retaining or positioning the fasteners 20 to the first container 10.

The fasteners 20 each further include an engaging hole 23, such as a hexagonal hole 23 formed therein for engaging with a driving tool (not illustrated) which may be used to rotate or drive the fasteners 20 relative to the first container 10 and the second container 30 in order to adjust the first and the second containers 10, 30 toward or away from each other. A hood or cover panel 24 may further be provided and attached or engaged onto the upper portion of the first container 10 and to cover or shield the fasteners 20 and the like.

The first container 10 includes a first electric circuit board or main control board 50 disposed or engaged therein, and the second container 30 also includes an electric circuit board or second main control board 60 disposed or engaged therein. The first container 10 further includes an audio port or connector 15, one or more (such as three) universal serial bus (USB) ports or connectors 16, and a USB Type-C port or connector 17 for electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements or power suppliers. The ports or connectors 15, 16, 17 are electrically connected or coupled to the first control board 50.

The second container 30 further includes a lan port or connector 32, one or more (such as three) universal serial bus (USB) ports or connectors 33, and one or more (such as two) display ports or connectors 34 for electrically connecting or coupling to various electrical facilities or implements or power suppliers. The second container 30 further includes a link port or connector 35 for electrically connecting or coupling to the first control board 50 of the first container 10, and a power port or connector 36 for electrically connecting or coupling to the power supply or the like. The ports or connectors 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 are electrically connected or coupled to the second control board 60.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first container 10 may be engaged onto the upper portion or surface 80 of the table 8, and the second container 30 may be engaged onto the bottom portion or surface 81 of the table 8, and the fasteners 20 may then adjustably secure the first and the second containers 10, 30 together, and may adjust the first and the second containers 10, 30 toward or away from each other for allowing the first and the second containers 10, 30 to be snugly fitted or engaged onto the table 8, and for thus allowing the first and the second containers 10, 30 to be snugly fitted or engaged onto the table 8 of different heights or thicknesses.

It is to be noted that only the first container 10 is disposed or engaged onto the upper portion or upper surface 80 of the table 8, and the other or second container 30 is disposed or engaged onto the bottom portion or bottom surface 81 of the table 8, and is not supported or engaged onto the upper portion or upper surface 80 of the table 8, such that the desktop occupying space or using area may be suitably reduced or decreased and such that the working operation of the user will not be affected or interfered by the second container 30.

Accordingly, the docking station includes an improved compact structure or configuration for suitably reducing or decreasing the desktop occupying space or using area and for preventing the docking station from interfering or affecting the working operation of the user.

Claims

RCLAI NIS:- 1. A docking station comprising: a first container including an extension extended from the first container, the first container including two orifices formed in the first container, a first control board engaged in the first container, the first container including a plurality of connectors electrically connected to the first control board, a second container engaged with the extension of the first container, the extension of the first container spacing and separating the first container from the second container for forming a space between the first and the second containers, the second container including two screw holes formed in the second container, a second control board engaged in the second container, the second container including a plurality of connectors electrically connected to the second control board, and two fasteners engaged with the orifices of the first container, and the fasteners each including a threaded end for threading and engaging with the screw holes of the second container and for adjusting the first and the second containers relative to each other.
2. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orifices of the first container are partially formed through the extension of the first container.
3. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first 25 container includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed in each of the orifices of the first container for forming a stepped structure for the orifice of the first container.
4. The docking station as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fasteners each include an enlarged head for engaging with the inner peripheral shoulder of the first container and for anchoring the fasteners to the first container.
5. A docking station as claimed in claim I, wherein the fasteners each include an engaging hole formed in the fastener.
6. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first container includes a cover panel engaged onto an upper portion of the first container.
7. A docking station as claimed in claim I, wherein the plurality of connectors of the first container include an audio connector, and at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector.
8. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors of the first container include a USB Type-C 15 connector.
9. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors of the second container include a lan connector, and at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector.
10. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 20 plurality of connectors of the second container include at least one display connector.
11. A docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors of the second container include a link connector and a power connector.