Patents by Inventor Bill Inkman

Bill Inkman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Notebook computer docking station having floating connector interface structure
    Patent number: 5552959
    Abstract: A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. In response to manual insertion of the computer into the interior of the docking station a motorized travel structure drives the computer further into the docking station and forcibly interconnects pin type connectors carried by the computer and the docking station. The docking station connector is supported for translational movement by a specially designed floating connector interface structure which permits the docking station connector to translationally shift, in response to forcible engagement by the computer connector portion when there is a misalignment between the computer and docking station connectors, in order to precisely align the two connectors before they are telescopingly mated with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Penniman, Carmen Schlesener, Bill Inkman