Computer for use with a port replicator

Claim 2

A computer comprising: a computer housing; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types; a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the computer housing and electrically coupled to said plurality of peripheral ports; and a first common electrical connector carried by the computer housing and electrically coupled to said plurality of electrical connectors, the first common electrical connector adapted to be removably attached and electrically coupled to a second common electrical connector external to said computer housing.

Claim 3

The computer of claim 1, wherein said electrical connectors are carried by said computer housing in a single plane and adapted to be covered by an external housing.

Claim 4

The computer of claim 1, further comprising latch means for latching an external housing to said computer housing.

Claim 7

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of peripheral ports of various different types include a keyboard port, a mouse port and a video port.

Claim 8

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 4, further including means for preventing connection of said mating connectors for said peripheral devices, to said plurality of first individual electrical connectors when said second common electrical connector is mated with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 9

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said preventing means includes means for physically blocking said first individual electrical connectors when said second common electrical connector is mated with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 10

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 4, further including means for securing the port replicator housing to said computer housing.

Claim 11

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 4, wherein said securing means includes attachable and detachable clips mounted on said port replicator housing, adapted to engage said computer housing.

Claim 12

The system for connecting multiple peripheral devices to a computer as recited in claim 4, further including bus signal lines included within said first common electrical connector and said second common electrical connector.

Claim 13

A computer system comprising: a computer having a housing; a port replicator housing removably attachable to a said housing; a plurality of first individual electrical connectors of various different types, carried by the computer housing; a plurality of second individual electrical connectors of various different types, carried by the port replicator housing; a first common electrical connector carried by the computer housing, electrically coupled said first plurality of individual electrical connectors; and a second common electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing, electrically coupled said second plurality of individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 14

A computer system comprising: a computer having a housing; a port replicator housing removably attachable to a said housing; a plurality of first individual electrical connectors of various different types, carried by the computer housing; a plurality of second individual electrical connectors of various different types, carried by the port replicator housing; a first common electrical connector carried by the computer housing, electrically coupled said first plurality of individual electrical connectors; and a second common electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing, electrically coupled said second plurality of individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 15

A computer system having a plurality of peripheral ports, each peripheral port electrically coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral ports and to a first common electrical connector said computer adapted to be coupled to a predetermined port replicator, the computer comprising: a housing removably attachable to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, carried by the housing each peripheral port coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral device; and a computer port carried by the housing, said computer port electrically coupled to a second common electrical connector coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with the first common electrical connector carried by the computer to enable external peripheral devices coupled to the individual electrical connectors to communicate with the computer.

Claim 16

A computer system having a plurality of peripheral ports, each peripheral port electrically coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral ports and to a first common electrical connector said computer adapted to be coupled to a predetermined port replicator, the computer comprising: a housing removably attachable to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, carried by the housing each peripheral port coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral device; and a computer port carried by the housing, said computer port electrically coupled to a second common electrical connector coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with the first common electrical connector carried by the computer to enable external peripheral devices coupled to the individual electrical connectors to communicate with the computer.

Claim 17

A computer system adapted to simplify the connection of multiple peripheral devices to the computer system comprising: a computer housing; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types; a first common electrical connector carried by the computer housing, electrically coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors; a port replicator having a housing, removably attachable to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, each peripheral port electrically coupled to an individual electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing; and a computer port carried by the port replicator housing, electrically coupled to a second common electrical connector and electrically coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors, said second common electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing and adapted to releasably mate with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 18

A computer system adapted to simplify the connection of multiple peripheral devices to the computer system comprising: a computer housing; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types; a first common electrical connector carried by the computer housing, electrically coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors; a port replicator having a housing, removably attachable to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, each peripheral port electrically coupled to an individual electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing; and a computer port carried by the port replicator housing, electrically coupled to a second common electrical connector and electrically coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors, said second common electrical connector carried by the port replicator housing and adapted to releasably mate with said first common electrical connector.

Claim 19

The computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein said various different types of peripheral ports include a keyboard port, a mouse port, and a video port.

Claim 20

A computer comprising: a computer housing; a plurality of electrical connectors of various types carried by said computer housing, each one of said electrical connectors being individually addressable by the computer as unique ports of the computer; and means for electrically coupling a predetermined one of said electrical connectors to the others of said plurality of electrical connectors to electrically interconnect each of the various types of electrical connectors carried by said computer housing at said predetermined one of said electrical connectors facilitating replication of other of said plurality of electrical connectors from said predetermined one of said electrical connectors.

Claim 21

A computer comprising: a computer housing; a plurality of electrical connectors of various types carried by said computer housing, each one of said electrical connectors being individually addressable by the computer as unique ports of the computer; and means for electrically coupling a predetermined one of said electrical connectors to the others of said plurality of electrical connectors to electrically interconnect each of the various types of electrical connectors carried by said computer housing at said predetermined one of said electrical connectors facilitating replication of other of said plurality of electrical connectors from said predetermined one of said electrical connectors.

Claim 22

A computer as recited in claim 15, wherein said computer comprises a bus for communication with said ports and wherein said means for electrically coupling comprises coupling said bus to said predetermined one of said electrical connectors facilitating replication of other of said plurality of electrical connectors from said bus.

Claim 23

A kit for simplifying the connection a computer to multiple peripheral devices comprising: a computer housing for the computer; a plurality of electrical connectors of various types carried by said computer housing, each one of said electrical connectors being individually addressable by the computer as unique ports of the computer; means for electrically coupling a predetermined one of said electrical connectors to the others of said plurality of electrical connectors to electrically interconnect each of the various types of electrical connectors carried by said computer housing at said predetermined one of said electrical connectors facilitating replication of other of said plurality of electrical connectors from said predetermined one of said electrical connectors; a port replicator housing removably attachable to the computer housing for connecting multiple peripheral devices to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, carried by the port replicator housing each peripheral port coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral device; and a computer port carried by the port replicator housing, said computer port electrically coupled to a common electrical connector coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with said predetermined one of said electrical connectors carried by said computer housing to enable external peripheral devices coupled to the individual electrical connectors to communicate with the computer.

Claim 24

A kit for simplifying the connection a computer to multiple peripheral devices comprising: a computer housing for the computer; a plurality of electrical connectors of various types carried by said computer housing, each one of said electrical connectors being individually addressable by the computer as unique ports of the computer; means for electrically coupling a predetermined one of said electrical connectors to the others of said plurality of electrical connectors to electrically interconnect each of the various types of electrical connectors carried by said computer housing at said predetermined one of said electrical connectors facilitating replication of other of said plurality of electrical connectors from said predetermined one of said electrical connectors; a port replicator housing removably attachable to the computer housing for connecting multiple peripheral devices to the computer; a plurality of peripheral ports of various different types, carried by the port replicator housing each peripheral port coupled to an individual electrical connector for connection to an external peripheral device; and a computer port carried by the port replicator housing, said computer port electrically coupled to a common electrical connector coupled to each of said individual electrical connectors and adapted to releasably mate with said predetermined one of said electrical connectors carried by said computer housing to enable external peripheral devices coupled to the individual electrical connectors to communicate with the computer.

Claim 25

The computer system recited in claim 17, wherein said plurality of peripheral ports are coupled to individual electrical connectors carried by said computer housing.