GB2591233A - Docking station for mobile device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is, inter alia, a docking station for at least one mobile, electronic, data processing device, having a connection port for charging and/or data transfer, the docking station comprising at least one receptacle for removably receiving and retaining a mobile device with its connection port in a position accessible from the outside of the receptacle, at least one connection arm which, in use, carries a respective connector releasably connectable to the port of the mobile device, the arm being moveable between a closed condition in which, in use, the connector is connected to the port, and an open position in which the port and connector are not connected and in which the arm is so positioned as to allow the device to be removed from the receptacle.

Description

Title: Docking Station for Mobile Device

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a docking station for a mobile, electronic, data processing device. Examples of such devices include smartphones, tablet computers, phablet devices and the like

Background to the Invention

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a docking station for multiple mobile, electronic, data processing devices.

Such a docking station will have a plurality of receiving locations, such as bays, Is cavities, shelves or other receptacles, each for receiving a respective mobile device.

Where the mobile device is a smartphone, tablet computer, phablet or the like, it will have a charging and data transfer port on a side/end, and will be inserted so that the port is at the distal end of the location. That end will include a complementary connector, which will connect to the port, so that the device can then be charged and subject to data syncing and transfer operations while in the receiving location.

Such docking stations can be found at communal facilities, such as schools or hospitals, where a number of people will each use a respective mobile device, but there are advantages in storing the devices in one place for charging and/or performing coordinated data processing operations.

Thus, for example, in a hospital, a worker such as a doctor or nurse may use a respective mobile device which, while in the docking station, has been loaded with data specific to that person's duties, for example, a schedule of patients to visit, reminders or clinical data relating to that person's patients. One problem with known docking stations is that, because the connection between the station and the mobile devices is at a position buried inside the station, it can be hard for a user properly to align the mobile device in the receiving site so that the respective connector properly engages the device's port. Such connectors can also, therefore, be prone to wear and damage through misalignment of mobile devices. In addition, known docking stations tend to have a large number of specialised components, and accordingly can be expensive to produce It is desirable for the type of docking station that may be used in a hospital to be provided with locking mechanisms which lock mobile devices in place in the station in order to prevent the removal of any given mobile device by an unauthorised person. Such systems can be arranged to allow an authorised person to remove their mobile to device with the aid of an RF ID tag which would be read by a control system that controls the operation of the docking station. However, since multiple locking systems, one for each receiving location, are needed, this facility can significantly increase the size of the docking station.

Is Another problem with known docking stations is that they tend only to be suitable for one particular size of mobile device having one particular type of connector.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a docking station for at least one mobile, electronic, data processing device, having a connection port for charging and/or data transfer, the docking station comprising at least one receptacle for removably receiving and retaining a mobile device with its connection port in a position accessible from the outside of the receptacle, at least one connection arm which, in use, carries a respective connector releasably connectable to the port of the mobile device, the arm being movable between a closed condition in which, in use, the connector is connected to the port, and an open position in which the port and connector are not connected and in which the arm is so positioned as to allow the device to be removed from the receptacle Preferably, the docking station is for use with multiple devices, each having a respective connection port, the receptacle being one of multiple such receptacles, each for accommodating a respective mobile device, and the connection arm being one of a plurality of such connection arms, each for connection to a respective mobile device.

Preferably, the docking station includes entrance means, through which mobile devices are inserted into the receptacles with their ports exposed so as to be accessible from the other side of the entrance means from the receptacles, the arms being mounted on the docking station in the region of the entrance means.

The docking station may have a front face, and the entrance means may be set back io from that face, but is preferably formed in the front face.

By providing an arrangement in which the connection port is accessible from outside of the receptacle and in which connection of the port is achieved using the arm, the invention gives rise to the advantage that the positioning of the mobile device, in particular the distal end of the device (typically the end furthest away from the front of the docking station) is less critical to the process of correctly aligning the connector with the docking port. The arm also provides a clear visual indication to the user that the device in the receptacle has been connected.

Preferably, the entrance means comprises multiple entrance openings in the front of the station, each opening being aligned with a respective receptacle Preferably, the arms are mounted on the other side of the openings from the receptacles Preferably, each arm has a base pivotally mounted on the docking station, a head for carrying the connector, and a flexible intermediate portion through which the head is mounted on the base This enables the connector to move linearly towards and away from the port of the mobile device as the base is pivoted. The orientation of the head, and hence of the connector can be maintained during the pivoting movement. Thus the arm, whilst being pivotal, also allows the connector to be moved linearly into and out of engagement with the port. The flexible intermediate portion also increases the tolerance of the docking station to differing positions of connection port, thus enabling the docking station to be used with mobile devices of differing sizes and/or connector positions Preferably, the intermediate portion comprises a flexible elongate connecting strip.

The strip may to advantage be one of at least two such strips arranged in a V-shaped configuration.

Preferably, the intermediate portion is integrally formed with the base and the head This enables the arm to be of a relatively simple, and thus cheap, construction.

Preferably, the arm is configured to receive cables terminated at one end by said connector.

Connectors tend to be expensive items to purchase separately, but are typically provided on connector cables that are supplied with the mobile devices. Thus a user can fit the docking station with a suitable connector simply by attaching the connector cable supplied with the mobile device to the arm. There may be circumstances in which the user may then need to obtain a further connecting cable, but since these are mass produced items this would still be less costly that pre-fitting the arm with the connector. Furthermore, the same arm could be used to accommodate a variety of different types of connector, so that the docking station can be used with a varied range of different mobile devices.

In this case, the arm head preferably has a channel for receiving the cable and holding means, such as a recess, for holding the connector in position, the arm also having releasable clamping means retaining the cable in the head An example of a suitable clamping means would be a grub screw.

Preferably, the arm is pivotally mounted on the docking station via a releasable fastener, such as a screw, nut/bolt arrangement or an arrangement of bosses, accessible to a user of the docking station. Thus, each arm can be a user replaceable item According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a docking station for at least one mobile, electronic data processing device, the docking station comprising entrance means through which, in use, a mobile device is inserted into the docking station and a locking mechanism comprising abutment means moveable between a to closed position, in which the abutment means at least partially occludes the entrance means so as to prevent the removal of a mobile device from the docking station and an open position, in which the abutment means is positioned sufficiently clear of the opening means to allow such removal Is The locking mechanism prevents inadvertent or unauthorised removal of a mobile device therein Consequently, the docking station may be used in situations in which numerous different people may have access to the docking station Preferably, the abutment means comprises a bar mounted adjacent to the entrance means and connected to a drive means via a linkage, wherein the drive means is operable to move the bar from a closed position, in which the bar extends across the entrance means to an open position in which the bar extends substantially parallel to the entrance means.

The drive means may be manually actuated, but preferably incorporates a motor, solenoid or other type of automated drive.

Preferably, the linkage comprises a pivot on which the bar is mounted, and which in use is moved linearly by the drive means, and guide means for causing the bar to rotate about the pivot during the linear movement. This means that, when in its open position, the bar can be situated closely adjacent the opening means. However, movement of the bar into its open position causes the distal end of the bar to travel along a smaller path than would be the case with a bar which undergoes pure pivotal motion, about a fixed pivot point relative to the station. This enables the locking mechanism to be of a relatively compact construction, when the bar is in its open position.

The drive means preferably comprises a linear actuator.

Conveniently, the linear actuator comprises a screw threaded shaft and a screw follower for engaging the shaft so that rotation of the latter causes linear movement of the follower, the drive further comprising a motor for rotating the shaft. Preferably, io the guide means comprises a protuberance attached to or formed on a portion of the station other than a bar and a guideway on the bar, the protuberance engaging the guideway.

Preferably, the protuberance comprises a pin and the guideway comprises a guide track.

The docking station may to advantage be arranged to accept multiple mobile devices, the entrance means comprising multiple entrance openings, each for a respective mobile device, the locking mechanism being one of multiple such locking mechanisms, each for a respective entrance opening.

The docking station in accordance with the second aspect of the invention may additionally have the features of the docking station in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a docking station for at least one electronic data processing device, the docking station comprising at least one receptacle for receiving a mobile device, the receptacle having a distal end at which there is provided a backstop for limiting the distance by which the mobile device can be inserted, the position of the backstop being adjustable so as to enable said distance to be correspondingly adjusted.

This enables the docking station to be used with mobile devices of differing sizes, at least in the direction of insertion Typically, for example, a mobile device would be a phone or tablet which can be held in portrait or landscape orientation, and which would be inserted into the docking station in the direction of the longer of those dimensions (height if considered in a portrait orientation, width if considered when in landscape orientation). The backstop may to advantage comprise a finger.

Preferably, the backstop is adjustable by means of a linear actuator having a screw threaded shaft and a screw follower.

io The docking station may be configured to receive multiple mobile devices, the receptacle and finger being one of a plurality of such receptacles and fingers, each for engaging a respective mobile device, the fingers being mounted on a common support which is user adjustable to enable the positions of the fingers to be adjusted in unison.

Preferably, the docking station in accordance with the third aspect of the invention also has the features of a docking station in accordance with the first and/or second aspects of the invention According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a docking station for at least one mobile, electronic, data processing device, the docking station comprising a receptacle for removably receiving a mobile device, the receptacle defining a channel into which the mobile device is inserted, wherein the receptacle includes engagement means for engaging the mobile device into the channel, the engagement means being moveable so as to enable mobile devices of any of a range of possible thicknesses to be received and located in the channel.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises at least one engagement member which is resiliently biased into a position in which, with no mobile device inserted, the engagement member extends into the channel, wherein the insertion of a mobile device causes the mobile device to engage the engagement member, moving the latter against the biasing force or the engagement member.

Preferably, the engagement member is one of a pair of such members, both located on the same side of the channel, at different positions therealong.

Preferably, said pair of engagement members is one of two such pairs of engagement members, each said pair being situated at a respective side of the receptacle.

The resilience for creating the biasing force may be achieved by forming the engagement member from a resilient material.

Preferably, however, the engagement member is resiliently mounted on the station.

To that end, the engagement member may to advantage be carried by a paddle resiliently mounted on the station is Preferably, the paddle is integrally formed with the receptacle Preferably, the base of the channel includes a guide roller.

Preferably, the guide roller is tapered from its ends to a minimum diameter at its axial centre.

This helps to centre the mobile device relative to the guide roller as the mobile device is inserted into the channel.

Preferably, the engagement means also includes an upper resiliently mounted engagement member for engaging a mobile device, when in the channel, from above.

Thus, the engagement means can provide location of a variety of widths/heights and thicknesses of mobile device along at least two axes Preferably, the docking station is configured to accept multiple mobile electronic data devices simultaneously, the docking station thus having multiple receptacles, each a respective mobile device, and associated multiple engagement means.

A docking station in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention may additionally have the features of a docking station in accordance with any of the first, second and/or third aspects of the invention

Brief description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view from the front of a docking station in accordance with the invention, with certain components removed for the sake of clarity, Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the docking station from behind; Figure 3 is an exploded isometric view of a receptacle, in this case a cage, in which a mobile device is received and retained in the docking station; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respective isometric, side elevation and rear end elevat onal views of the cage; Figure 7 is an isometric view, from the front, of part of a front sub-assembly of the docking station, showing a number of entrance openings for mobile devices and an example of a locking mechanism, Figure 8 is a partially exploded isometric view of part of a front sub-assembly from behind; Figure 9 is a view, corresponding to Figure 8, but in unexploded form; Figure 10 is a corresponding view to Figure 9, but showing the locking mechanism in its locked configuration; Figure 11 is a corresponding view to Figure 9, but shows a plurality of locking mechanisms, one for each respective entrance opening and a printed circuit board of the locking mechanism, Figure 12 is an isometric view from the front, showing the relative positions of a number of the locking mechanisms, one of the cages, and an associated connector arm when in its closed position, the locking mechanisms being shown in their opening condition; to Figure 13 is a corresponding view to Figure 12, showing the locking mechanisms when in their closed position; Figure 14 shows the components shown in Figures 12 and 13 from a slightly different angle, the cable connector that was mounted in the arm in the previous two Figures us having been omitted, and the locking mechanisms being shown in their open condition; Figure 15 corresponds to Figures 14, and shows the arm when in its open condition, and with a cable connector mounted therein; Figures 16 and 17 are isometric views from different angles of an arm, with a cable connector mounted therein; Figures 18 and 19 are corresponding views of the arm with an alternative cable connector, Figure 20 is an isometric view of part of the docking station, taken from the front, with its face plate removed, and showing a plurality of connection arms in their closed conditions, and the locking mechanisms in their open condition; Figure 21 is a corresponding view to Figure 20, in which the cable connectors have been omitted from all but one of the arms, and the one arm with the cable connector is shown with the USB plug of the connector inserted into a corresponding socket in the station, Figure 22 is a corresponding view to Figure 20, showing the locking mechanisms in their closed condition; Figure 23 is a corresponding view to Figure 20, but with the face plate in position: Figure 24 corresponds to Figure 23, and shows the locking mechanisms in their closed io condition; Figures 25 and 26 are isometric views of part of the docking station from the front, but showing a single connection arm in its closed position, and the way in which the connector cable passes from the arm to the USB socket on the station; and Figures 27-30 are a sequence of drawings showing the steps of introducing a mobile device into the docking station and closing the connection arm Supplementary sheet t is a collection of sectional and elevational views of the docking station and Supplementary sheet 2 is a similar collection, but also showing a phone in place.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1, a docking station in accordance with the invention comprises a housing 1 having a front face plate 2 in which are formed 16 entrance openings 3-17 for receiving 16 mobile, electronic data processing devices in the form of smartphones. One such smartphone 18 is shown, having been inserted into the docking station through the opening 3 with its connection port outermost. A connection arm 20 is shown in its closed position in which the cable connector supplied with the phone 18 (part of which is visible at 22) is connected at one end of the phone port and at the other end to a USB socket situated behind a security plate 24 running along the lower portion of the front face 2. The plate 24 is held in position by a locking mechanism, the keyhole for which is shown at 26.

The USB port is, in turn, connected to a control computer (not shown) which controls the charging and data transfer to be performed on the phone 18, and any other phone docked in the station. Behind each of the openings at 3-17 there is provided a respective receptacle 27-40 for receiving and retaining a respective phone. The receptacles are identical, and only the receptacle 27, which in Figure I_ is shown accommodating the phone 18, will be described, with reference to Figures 3-6.

The receptacle 27 comprises a generally cuboid cage formed from a suitably resilient plastics material. The cage is formed from two initially separate cheek components 42 and 44 which are a suitably flexible plastics material. The cheek portion 42 includes male pawl members 46 and 48, each of which engages a corresponding us aperture 50 and 52 on the portion 44. A similar arrangement of pawls and apertures are provided along the lower edges of the cheek portions 42 and 44, although only the pawl 54 of this arrangement is visible (Figure 3). The pawls and apertures enable the two cheek portions 42 and 44 to be snap fitted together. As can be seen from Figure 6, the two cheek portions 42 and 44 define a rear aperture 56 at what is the distal end of the cage, when the latter is in position in the station. The cheek portions are spaced from each other to define a channel 57 into the cage.

The cheek portion 42 is integrally formed with a pair of paddles 58 and 60 which, due to the inherent resilience of the material constituting the cage are resiliently pivotable about vertical axes defined by the lines 62 and 64 where the paddles 58 and 60 meet the rest of the portion 42. The paddles 58 and 60 carry corresponding rollers 66 and 68. A similar arrangement of paddles 70 and 72 and associated rollers (not shown) is provided on the cheek portion 44. The paddles can pivot through an angle which gives the rollers a range of movement of 4mm.

The top of the cheek portion 42 has an integral upper spring member 74 which is in the shape of a shallow J, the lower point 76, in use, bears against a phone in the cage. The lowest point of the J can move through a vertical range of 16mm.

In addition, a lower guide roller 78 is rotatably mounted on a pin 80 on the cheek portion 42 and on an aligned pin (not shown) in the portion 44. Thus, as can be seen from Figure 3, the roller 78 is tapered from its ends to its centre, so that the centre is the portion of the roller having the minimum diameter. A further identical roller (79 in the supplementary sheets) is provided further along the cage.

Two tongues 82 and 84 extend forwardly from the front of the cheek portions 42 and 44 and are provided with forward recesses 86 and 88, each of which constitutes half io of a respective slot for locating the base of the arm 20. When a mobile phone is inserted into the cage, it pushes against the rollers, causing the paddles 58,60,70,72 to flex away from the interior of the cage and thus to exert a resilient biasing force on the phone to help keep it substantially as centred between the two cheek portions. Similarly, the upper spring member 74 urges the phone downwards against the roller 78.

The cage can thus accommodate mobile phones having a range of thicknesses and heights (i.e. the dimension of the phone that extends vertically when in the cage).

The extent to which the phone can be inserted into the cage is limited by an adjustable backstop arrangement generally referenced 90 in Figure 2. The arrangement comprises a common support strip 92 which is formed integrally with a series of parallel fingers, such as the finger 94, which extend from the strip 92 in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the phones, and through the rear apertures in the cages. Thus the finger 94 extends into the aperture 56. A cylindrical rail 96 is attached to the strip 92 and extends, in a direction parallel to said insertion direction, to a support bar 98. An identical rail is provided at the opposite end of the strip 92. The strip 92 is also connected to a T-shaped connector 100 attached to a linear actuator 102 having a screw threaded shaft 104 connected to a hand wheel 106 at the rear of the station. The shaft 104 cooperates with a screw follower 108 on the connector 100 so that rotation of the hand wheel 106 moves the screw follower along the shaft 104 and correspondingly moves the connector 100 so as to adjust the distance by which the fingers extend into the cages.

Each finger limits the distance by which a phone can be inserted into a respective cage, and the backstop arrangement thus enables the docking station to be used with phones having a variety of different dimensions in the direction of insertion In the present example, that dimension will normally correspond to the height of the phone when it is used in portrait orientation.

The front of each of the receptacles 27-40 faces a respective locking mechanism interposed between the front of the receptacle and the respective entrance opening 3-17.

As the locking mechanisms are identical, only the mechanism associated with the receptacle 27 and opening 3 will be described, with reference to Figures 7-11. The locking mechanism comprises a bar 110 pivotably mounted at one end 112 on a screw follower 114 of a linear actuator.

The linear actuator further comprises a screw threaded shaft 116 the upper end of which is coupled to a drive motor 118 for rotating the shaft 116 about its axis. The end of the screw follower 114 opposite the pivot 112 is attached to a rod 120 which is a sliding fit within an aperture 122 in a printed circuit board 124 carrying control electronics for the locking mechanism. The rod 122 interacts with the PCB 124 to prevent the rotation of the shaft 116 from causing a corresponding rotation of the bar 110, i.e, a rotation about the axis of the rod 116.

Figure 8 is a partially exploded view in which the components 110,112,114,116,118 and 120 have been moved back from the front face 2 to reveal a guide pin 126 which, in use, engages in a guideway comprising a blind linear guide track 128 in the front of the bar 110 In Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12 the bar 110 is shown in its open position in which it extends vertically. If the bar is to be moved into its closed position, in which it extends horizontally, the motor 118 rotates the shaft 116 causing the follower 114 to move upwards along the shaft. As this happens, the end of the bar 112 moves upwards, and the pin 126 operates with the track U8 to cause the bar at the same time to pivot about its end 112 until it reaches the closed position shown in Figure 10.

It will be appreciated that the bar is moved back into its open position by rotating the shaft 116 in the opposite sense. As this happens, the pivot point for the bar 116, i.e. at the end 112 will drop so that, when the bar is in the vertical position its top is at a lower level than would be the case if the bar were simply pivoted. It will also be understood that the bar undergoes a compound translational and rotational movement as it moves between its open and closed positions.

Figures 12-15 show the position of the locking mechanism relative to the cage 27 and arm 20. Figures 12 and 13 respectively show the locking mechanisms in their open and closed conditions. In both Figures, the arm 20 includes a cable connector, as described in more detail below, such as would be provided with the mobile device to us be docked in the cage 27.

Figures 14 and 15 show the relative positions of the locking mechanisms, arm 20 and cage 27 from a lower angle, and when a mobile device comprising a smartphone 130 is retained in the cage 127. In Figure 14, the arm 20 is shown in its upright, closed condition, but without a cable connector. Figure 15 shows the arm with a cable connector, which terminates in male connector 132 when the arm is in its lower position, in which the smartphone 130 may be inserted into or removed from the cage 27. The arm 20 can be raised so as to insert the connector 132 into an end connector 134 on the smartphone, to provide connection to the external computer and charger for data transfer and charging operations.

In each of Figures 12-15, the locking mechanisms are all shown in the same condition, either open or closed. It will be appreciated, however, that each individual locking mechanism can be opened or closed independently of the other locking mechanisms. Consequently, if a user presents their RF ID tag to a reader connected to the control computer, then the only locking mechanism that is moved from the closed to the open position is the one in front of the smartphone to be used by that particular person. Identifying the locking mechanism to be opened could be achieved simply by arranging the computer to store in its memory the identity of the locking mechanism which was opened when the same user last presented their RF ID in order to allow them to insert their smartphone into the docking station. The locking mechanism for the cage selected for the insertion of the smartphone could have been pre-allocated to the same user permanently, or to be determined as the next available empty cage.

The arm 20 will now be described in more detail, with reference to Figures 16, 17, 16a, 17a, 18 and 19.

io The arm 20 comprises a base at the lower end of which are mounted to opposed coaxial bosses 138 and 140. The bosses are rotatably mounted, about the same axis, on the base and, in use, are held captive in corresponding sockets defined between the cage 27 and the rear of the front face 2 so that the arm 20 is mounted on the docking station for rotational movement about the axis defined by the bosses 138 and 140 The arm 20 also has a head 42 connected to the base 136 via an intermediate portion 144 having two pairs of strips 146, 148, 150 and 152, arranged in two aligned, spaced apart v-sh aped configurations.

The arm 20 is formed from a suitably resilient plastics material so that the intermediate portion 144 provides a resiliently flexible connection between the head 142 and the base 136. This allows the user to vary the distance of the head 142 from the rotational axis as the arm is swung between its raised and lowered positions so as to ensure that the male connector 132 can be linearly inserted into and removed from the female connector in the phone. Figure 17 shows the arm when the head 142 has been pushed, against the resilient biasing force exerted by the intermediate portion 144, towards the base 136.

The head 142 includes a cavity which accommodates the body portion 154 which is held in position by means of a grub screw 156. Figure 16a and 17a show the arm 20 without the cable connector in place, and Figure 16a is partially exploded to show the shaft of the grub screw 156. Since the cable connector can be removed, it is possible easily to adapt the docking station for use with devices having different connectors by installing the cable connectors for those devices in the arms. By way of example, Figures 18 and 19 show the arm with a different type of cable connector 158 (i.e. a connector having a different male pawl connector portion 160).

Figures 20-24 are front views of part of the docking station, showing how the arm 20 is one of a plurality of arms, each for a respective docking location. In Figure 20, the front face 2 has been omitted from the view, although it would be needed to be in place in order to help to retain the arms. The locking mechanisms are shown in their open position, all of the arms are raised and shown with cable connectors, although the ends of the connectors that have USB plugs have been omitted. As can be seen io from the Figures, each arm is positioned above a respective USB port, such as the port 162. Figure 21 is a similar view to Figure 20, but shows the smartphone 130 in position in the cage 27 so that the connector 132 at the head of the arm 120 is inserted into the connector 134 on the phone. The cable connectors for the other arms are omitted, but the cable connector 22 installed in the arm 20 is shown with its USB plug IS 164 inserted into the socket 162.

Figure 22 is a similar view to Figure 20, but shows the locking mechanisms in their closed condition, with the associated bars of the locking mechanism extending horizontally across the entrances to the corresponding cages.

Figure 23 is a view that corresponds to Figure 20, and shows the docking station when the front face 2 is in place. As can be seen, the face 2 conceals the vertically disposed bars of the open locking mechanisms.

Figure 24 is a similar view to Figure 23, but shows the locking mechanisms in their closed positions, so that their bars extend horizontally.

Figure 25 shows part of the front of the docking station, with the face 2 in place, from a slightly different angle In Figure 25, the only arm shown is the arm 20 It can be seen from the locations for the other arm that the face 2 has a recess opposite the recess on the front of the corresponding cage (for example the recess 86 of 88 on the cage 27) so as to define a socket in which a respective one of the bosses for mounting an arm is held captive. Such a socket is shown and an identical socket is provided for retaining the opposite boss to the arm. For the docking location adjacent the arm 20, that other socket is shown at 168 in Figure 26.

Figures 25 and 26 also show how the cable of the cable connector 22 passes through an aperture 70 to reach the USB port 162.

The sequence of steps for insertion of a mobile phone into the docking location associated with the cage 27 and arm 20 is shown in the Figures 27-30, and should be self-explanatory. Initially, the arm 20 is moved into a lowered, open position (Figure 27), the phone 130 is then inserted into the respective entrance opening 3 (Figures 28 and 29) with its connector 134 at its proximal end relative to the direction of insertion The arm 20 is then raised as previously described so as to connect the male connector 132 carried by the arm 20 into the phone connector H4, and the locking mechanism for that location is then moved into its closed condition so that the phone 130 cannot us be removed until the locking mechanism is subsequently opened.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A docking station for at least one mobile, electronic, data processing device, having a connection port for charging and/or data transfer, the docking station comprising at least one receptacle for removably receiving and retaining a mobile device with its connection port in a position accessible from the outside of the receptacle, at least one connection arm, which, in use, carries a respective connector releasably connectable to the port of the mobile device, the arm being moveable between a closed condition in which, in use, the io connector is connected to the port, and an open position in which the port and the connector are not connected and in which the arm is so positioned as to allow the device to be removed from the receptacle.
2. A docking station according to claim 1, in which the docking station is for use with multiple mobile devices, each having a respective connection port, the receptacle being one of multiple such receptacles, each for a respective mobile device, and the connection arm being one of a plurality of such connection arms, each for connection to a respective mobile device.
3. A docking station according to claim 2, in which the docking station includes entrance means, through which mobile devices are inserted into the receptacles with their ports exposed so as to be accessible from the other side of the entrance means from the receptacles, the arms being mounted on the docking station in the region of the entrance means.
4. A docking station according to claim 3, in which the docking station has a front face, in which the entrance means is formed.
5. 5. A docking station according to claim 3 and claim 4, in which the entrance means comprises multiple entrance openings in the front of the station, each opening being aligned with a respective receptacle.A docking station according to claim 5, in which the arms are mounted on the other side of the openings from the receptacles.A docking station according to any of the preceding claims, in which each arm has a base pivotally mounted on the docking station, a head for carrying the connector, and a flexible intermediate portion through which the head is mounted on the base 8. A docking station according to claim 7, in which the intermediate portion io comprises a flexible elongate connecting strip.A docking station according to claim 8, in which the strip is one of at least two such strips arranged in a V-shaped configuration.Is 10. A docking station according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which, the intermediate portion is integrally formed with the base and the head 11. A docking station according to any of the preceding claims in which the arm is configured to receive cables terminated at one end by said connector.12. A docking station according to claim 11, in which the arm head has holding means, such as a recess, for holding the connector in position, the arm also having releasable clamping means retaining the cable in the head.13. A docking station according to any of the preceding claims, in which the arm is releasably mounted on the docking station.14. A docking station according to any of the preceding claims, in which the docking station includes entrance means through which, in use, a mobile device is inserted into the docking station and a locking mechanism comprising abutment means moveable between a closed position, in which the abutment means at least partially occludes the entrance means so as to prevent the removal of a mobile device from the docking station and an open position, in which the abutment means is positioned sufficiently clear of the opening means to allow such removal.A docking station according to claim 14, in which the abutment means comprises a bar mounted adjacent to the entrance means and connected to a drive means via a linkage, wherein the drive means is operable to move the bar from a closed position, in which the bar extends across the entrance means to an open position in which the bar extends substantially parallel to the entrance means. 16. 18. 19. 20. 21.A docking station according to claim 15, in which the linkage comprises a pivot on which the bar is mounted, and which in use is moved linearly by the drive means, and guide means for causing the bar to rotate about the pivot during the linear movement.A docking station according to claim 15, in which the drive means comprises a linear actuator.A docking station according to claim 17, in which the linear actuator comprises a screw threaded shaft and a screw follower for engaging the shaft so that rotation of the latter causes linear movement of the follower, the drive further comprising a motor for rotating a shaft.A docking station according to claim 16, in which the guide means comprises a protuberance attached to or formed on a portion of the station other than a bar and a guideway on the bar, the protuberance engaging the guideway.A docking station according to claim 19, in which the protuberance comprises a pin and the guideway comprises a guide track A docking mechanism according to any of claims 14 to 20, in which the docking station is arranged to accept multiple mobile devices, the entrance means comprising multiple entrance openings, each for a respective mobile device, the locking mechanism being one of multiple such docking mechanisms, each for a respective entrance opening.22 A docking station according to any of the preceding claims, in which the receptacle has a distal end at which there is provided a backstop for limiting the distance by which the mobile device can be inserted, the position of the backstop being adjustable so as to enable said distance to be correspondingly adj usted.it) 23. A docking station according to claim 22, in which the backstop comprises a finger.24. A docking station according to claim 22 or claim 23, in which the backstop is adjustable by means of a linear actuator having a screw threaded shaft and a screw follower.A docking station according any of claims 22 to 24, in which the docking station is configured to receive multiple mobile devices, the receptacle and finger being one of a plurality of such receptacles and fingers, each for engaging a respective mobile device, the fingers being mounted on a common support which is user adjustable to enable the position of the fingers to be adjusted in unison.26. A docking station according to any of the preceding claims, in which the receptacle includes engagement means for engaging the mobile device in the receptacle, the engagement means being moveable so as to enable mobile devices of any of a range of possible thicknesses to be received and located in the receptacle.27. A docking station according to claim 26, in which the engagement means comprises at least one engagement member which is resiliently biased into a position in which, with no mobile device inserted, the engagement member extends into a space in the receptacle to be occupied by the mobile device, wherein the insertion of a mobile device causes the mobile device to engage the engagement member, moving the latter against the biasing force on the engagement member.28. A docking station according to claim 27, in which the engagement member is one of a pair of such members, both located on the same side of the receptacle, at different positions therealong.29. A docking station according to claim 28, in which said pair of engagement io members is one of two such pairs of engagement members, each said pair being situated at a respective side of the receptacle.30. A docking station according to any of claims 27 to 29, in which the engagement member is resiliently mounted on the station.31 A docking station according to claim 30, in which to that end, the engagement member is carried by a paddle resiliently mounted on the receptacle 32. A docking station according to claim 31, in which the paddle is integrally formed with the receptacle.33. A docking station according to any of claims 26 to 32, in which the receptacle defines a channel for receiving the mobile device, and the base of that channel includes a guide roller.34. A docking station according to claim 33, in which the guide roller is tapered from its ends to a minimum diameter at its axial centre.35. A docking station according to claim 33 or claim 34, in which the engagement means also includes an upper resiliently mounted engagement member for engaging a mobile device, when in the channel, from above.