WO1998032939A1

WO1998032939A1 - Portable computers lock

Info

Publication number: WO1998032939A1
Application number: PCT/IL1998/000039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Meir Avganim
Original assignee: Meir Avganim
Priority date: 1997-01-28
Filing date: 1998-01-26
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Also published as: IL120090A; IL120090A0; TW342013U; AU5777898A; US6244082B1

Abstract

A locking arrangement for securing portable equipment against theft comprises a cable (40) having a head (36) with a stem (42), a collar (38) and a free end (44). The arrangement includes a lock body (10) having locking device (24) with a releasable detent (26'). First, second and third bores (30, 32, 34) are formed respectively at the front (12) and two side surfaces (14, 16). The bores have diameters slightly larger than the collar. The locking detent is insertable behind the collar and above the stem thus precluding extraction of the cable head. Means are provided for securing the rear surface (18) of the lock body to a portion of the equipment, e.g., by gluing. For securing originally slotted equipment (122), the arrangement further comprises a standard T-shaped spindle head (154), configured to fit into the slot (150) in one position and become precluded from retrieval upon being rotated within the slot after the stem has been inserted thereinto.

Description

PORTABLE COMPUTERS LOCK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to locking devices, particularly of the kind known as

lap-top or portable computers anti-theft locks.

Most models of portable computers are equipped by the manufacturers

with safety means, usually including a standardized dedicated slot in one of their walls. A variety of locking devices with extension steel cables have been

developed for the easy but safe attachment and the disengagement thereof to such slots, based on a T-shaped spindle and tumbler design -- see for

example US Patent No. 5,327,752 (To Myers et al.)

These however suffered numerous disadvantages, among others, the

need for a separate key, or memorizing a combination code; need for ancillary parts, in the absence of an existing slot; non-rotatability of the cable

(which causes a nuisance to the user); or complicated and expensive

structures.

The invention aims to overcome many of the deficiencies of the

conventional arrangements, and to provide a unified and compact locking arrangement equally applicable to both slotted and non-slotted structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus provides for a locking arrangement for securing portable computers and the like against theft, comprising a cable with a cable stem portion all in axial alignment. A prismatic lock body is provided

comprising a push-in, key-operated locking device having a releasable

locking detent. The body has front, rear and two side surfaces. First, second and third bores are formed respectively at the front and two side surfaces, in

a common plane, passing each other and being of a diameter slightly larger

than that of the collar portion. The locking detent is insertable behind the

collar and above the first stem portion thus precluding the extraction of the

cable head when inserted into any of the bores. Further provided are means

for securing the rear side surface of the lock body to a portion of the computer, e.g., by gluing.

For securing the originally slot equipped computers, the arrangement

further comprises a standard T-shaped spindle head, configured to fit into

the slot in one position and become precluded from retrieval upon being

rotated within the slot. A support plate for the spindle head is provided,

attachable to the rear wall of the lock body. The spindle head extends off- centrally relative to the axis of the first bore. A fourth bore is coaxially formed

at the rear surface and at the support plate so that upon insertion of the cable

head into the first bore, the collar portion becomes so located as to be

arrested by the locking detent, and the second stem passes the forth bore

and projects into the slot to prevent the rotation of the spindle head

therebehind and the release of the lock body from the computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and additional features and advantages will be apprehended from

the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by

way of example only, wherein —

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock-body member featuring the

teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a cable head for use is the securement of the lock body

of Fig. 1 according to one application;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the body member of Fig. 1 with

the cable-head of Fig. 2 locked therein;

Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the lock-body of Fig. 1 , illustrating

the mounting of a slot engaging spindle;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the locking arrangement coupled to a slotted

wall portion; and

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line VI - VI of Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in Fig. 1 the lock body generally denoted 10 is solid, having a

reasons to be explained further below). Thus, the lock body 10 comprises

front prismatic shape - in this embodiment of a rectangular cross-section (for

surface 12, first and second side surfaces 14 and 16, rear surface 18 (Fig. 4) and top surface 20. The body 10 is affixed by gluing or otherwise at a

convenient location on wall 22 of the portable computer, bearing in mind that

the computer is not provided with an arresting slot, as will be described later

on.

As better seen in Fig. 3, a standard push-in lock 24 with push button 26 is

fixed into the body 10 and secured in the usual manner, as by a pin 28.

As further relevant to the instant embodiment of the invention there are provided in the solid lock body 10 a first bore 30, a second bore 32 and a

third bore 34. The axes of the three bores lie in a common plane. The bores

are of equal diameters, slightly larger than the diameter of cable head 36

(and collar 38).

Computer arresting cable 40 is affixed to the cable head 36, which is

extended by a first stem 42, collar 38, and a second stem 44.

As clearly depict in Fig. 3, the arresting of the computer wall 22 to the

cable 40 is accomplished by inserting the cable head and collar into either of

bores 32 or 34, till the stem 42 becomes located underside the push-in lock

24. When the lock is operated, detent 26' projects downwards between the

cable head 36 and the collar 38, thereby avoiding the retrieval the cable head

36 from the bore 32 (or 34).

Should the computer wall 122 (see Figs. 5 and 6) be originally equipped

with a standard locking slot 150, the arrangement of Fig. 4 will be utilized. Hence, lock body 10 is supplied to the customers in a kit form with a T-

shaped spindle locking member denoted 152 which comprises an elongated

double key-shaped head 154 mounted to stem 156 which is integrally or

separately formed with support plate 158. The support plate 158 is mountable to the rear wall 18 of the body 10 by a pair of screws 160a adapted to be

threaded into tapped bores 160b.

The rear surface 18 is further provided with a throughgoing bore 162, of a

diameter slightly larger than that of the second stem 44. Upon mounting, the bore 162 becomes aligned with a similar bore 164 made in the support plate

158. As better seen in Fig. 6 the location of the spindle 156 is off-centered

relative to the support plate bore 164.

The mounting of the lock body 10 on the slotted computer wall 122 is

such that the spindle head 154 is first inserted into the slot 150 when the

body 10 is turned 90° in one or other direction. After repositioning the lock body 10 in vertical direction, the spindle head 154 becomes located behind

the slot 150 and arrested therein in the conventional manner. Final

securement of the lock body 10 is now completed by inserting the cable head

36 into the front side bore 30 so that the second stem 44 passes through the

bores 162 and 164, and projects into the slot 150, while the collar 38 is

trapped by the locking detent 26' of the push-in lock 24 in the same manner

as described above with respect to the first usage procedure. Thus, the cable

head completes the double functioning of avoiding the rotation of the body lock 10 for releasing same from the protected article, as well as to secure the

cable 40 against retrieval thereof.

It will be now evident that, as an article of manufacture, the combination

or set comprising the headed cable, lock body, and mountable spindle

successfully fulfill the double function of securing computers in both cases,

namely equipped or not-equipped with the standardized designated locking slot.

It will be further understood that the length of the stem 44 is so designed as to project from the back of the body lock and into the slot 150 only for the

second mode of use, whereas it is non-functional in the first usage mode.

This is the reason for choosing the rectangular prismatic shape of the lock

body 10. However other suitable geometrical shapes may of course be

selected.

The computer arresting arrangement thus provided is extremely simple and easy to use as compared to parallel known devices, besides being

universal in the sense that it fits both possibilities as above described

Various changes and modifications will be readily appreciated.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An arrangement for securing portable computers and the like against

theft comprising:

A. a cable with a cable head extended by a first stem portion, a collar

portion and second stem portion, all in axial alignment, and

B. a prismatic lock body comprising

(I) a push-in, key-operated locking device having a releasable locking detent;

(ii) front, rear and two side surfaces;

(iii) first, second and third bores formed respectively at said front and

two side surfaces in a common plane, and being of a cross-section

slightly larger than that of said collar portion, so that the locking detent is insertable behind the collar and above the first stem portion

thus precluding the extraction of the cable head when inserted into

any of said bores; and

C. means for securing said rear side surface of the lock body to an

external wall portion of the computer housing.

2. The arrangement of Claim 1 wherein said securing means consist of

an adhesive layer spread on the rear side surface.

3. The arrangement of Claim 1 wherein the said computer housing is

provided with a standardized dedicated slot, the arrangement further comprising

D. (i) a standard T-shaped spindle head configured to fit into the slot in

one position and become precluded from retrieval upon being rotated

by less than 180┬░;

(ii) a support plate for the spindle head,

(iii) means for fastening the support plate to the rear side surface of

the lock body so that the spindle head extended off-central ly relative to the axis of said first bore,

(vi) a fourth bore coaxially formed at the rear surface and at the said base plate so that upon insertion of the cable head into the first bore

the collar portion becomes so located as to be arrested by the locking

detent, and the said second stem passes the fourth bore and projects

into the said slot to prevent the rotation of the spindle head therebehind and the release of the lock body from the computer wall.

4. The arrangement of Claim 3 wherein the support plate is releasably

attachable to the lock body.

5. The arrangement of Claim 4 wherein the support plate is mountable to

the said rear surface by screws.

6. The arrangement of Claim 1 wherein the lock body is rectangular.

7. The arrangement of Claim 3 wherein the cable head, collar and said

bores are cylindrical.