LAPTOP SECURITY DEVICE

• US 20040177658A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alphaquest LLC
• Original Assignee: Alphaquest LLC
• Inventors: Mitchell, Terry L.
• Application Number:
  US10/707,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177658A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A lockable enclosure for securing a laptop computer against unauthorized removal comprises a housing having a spring-assisted pivotable cover which automatically locks when closed. The housing accommodates a docking station, and is provided with apertures for routing wiring and cables from the computer to exterior power, data, and communication ports. One embodiment of the lockable enclosure is adapted to be integrally mounted to a worksurface such as for integrated use with a portable laptop computer worktable. Another embodiment of the lockable enclosure is adapted for mounting to the rear of a workspace surface and comprises a movable laptop computer support pan for extending the laptop computer to the front of the workspace surface.

Claims

1. A security device for attachment to a work area for securing an item therein comprising:

a base configured to be securely mounted to the work area;

a cover mounted to the base to define a secure chamber in cooperation with at least one of the base and the work area, wherein the cover is mounted for movement with respect to at least one of the base and the work area between an open position for providing access to the secure chamber and a closed position for preventing access to the secure chamber; and

a lock cooperating with the cover and at least one of the base and the work area for selectively locking the cover in the closed position, thereby preventing access to the secure chamber;

whereby a computing device can be placed within the secure chamber when the cover is in the open position, and the computing device can be stored within the secure chamber when the cover is moved to the closed position and locked.

2. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the work area is a work surface.

3. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the work area is a table.

4. The security device according to claim 1, and further comprising a pan mounted to the base whereby the pan defines a bottom surface of the secure chamber.

5. The security device according to claim 4, wherein the pan is fixedly attached to the base.

6. The security device according to claim 4, wherein the pan is mounted to the base for movement between a retracted position adjacent the base and an extended position away from the base.

7. The security device according to claim 6, wherein the extended position provides a convenient working position for a computing device sitting thereon.

8. The security device according to claim 6, and further comprising a linkage mechanism mounted between the base and the pan for movement between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position wherein, when the linkage mechanism is positioned in the collapsed position, the pan is located in the retracted position, and when the linkage mechanism is positioned in the uncollapsed position, the pan is located in the extended position.

9. The security device according to claim 8, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a pair of interconnected linkage arms forming a scissors-type mechanism.

10. The security device according to claim 4, wherein the base further comprises a recess for routing wires from the pan to the exterior of the base.

11. The security device according to claim 4, and further comprising a wire management system for routing wires between a computing device positioned on the pan and the base.

12. The security device according to claim 11, wherein the wire management system comprises a series of spaced protrusions on the link mechanism.

13. The security device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the pan.

14. The security device according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the lock located on the pan can be used as a handle to move the pan between the retracted and the extended positions.

15. The security device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the work area.

16. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a recess for routing wires from the secure chamber to the exterior of the base.

17. The security device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the cover and a portion of the lock is located on the base.

18. The security device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the cover and a portion of the lock is located on the work area.

19. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted to an upper surface of the work area.

20. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted to an underside of the work area.

21. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted to an outer surface of the work area.

22. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted to the work area by a secure bracket.

23. The security device according to claim 22, wherein the secure bracket can be detached from the work area when the cover is unlocked, but the secure bracket is prevented from detachment when the cover is locked.

24. The security device according to claim 22, wherein the secure bracket cannot be accessed when the cover is locked.

25. The security device according to claim 1, and further comprising a hand rest adapted to be mounted to at least one of the base and the work area.

26. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is mounted to the base by a hinge assembly.

27. The security device according to claim 26, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to maintain the cover in the open position and avoid inadvertent closings thereof.

28. The security device according to claim 26, wherein the hinge assembly laterally moves a rear wall of the cover forwardly during movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position.

29. The security device according to claim 28, wherein the forward movement of the rear wall of the cover exposes the recess at the rear portion of the base for access to wires contained therein.

30. The security device according to claim 28, wherein the forward movement of the rear wall of the cover prevents the rear wall of the cover from extending rearwardly beyond a rear wall of the base, allowing the rear wall of the base to be flush-mounted against a vertical surface.

31. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a recess at a rear portion thereof for routing wires from within the secure chamber to the exterior of the security device.

32. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the item is a computing device.

33. The security device according to claim 32, wherein the computing device is a laptop computer.

34. The security device according to claim 33, wherein, when the laptop computer is placed in the secure chamber, the movement of the cover from the open position to the closed portion can close the laptop.

35. A security device for attachment to a horizontal work surface for securing a computing device therein comprising:

a base configured to be securely mounted to the work surface;

a cover mounted to the base to define a secure chamber in cooperation with at least one of the base and the work surface, wherein the cover is mounted for movement with respect to the base between an open position for providing access to the secure chamber and a closed position for preventing access to the secure chamber; and

a lock cooperating with the cover and at least one of the base and the work surface for selectively locking the cover in the closed position, thereby preventing access to the secure chamber;

whereby a computing device can be placed within the secure chamber when the cover is in the open position, and the computing device can be stored within the secure chamber when the cover is moved to the closed position and locked.

36. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the work surface is a desk.

37. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the work surface is a table.

38. The security device according to claim 35, and further comprising a pan mounted to the base, whereby the pan defines a bottom surface of the secure chamber.

39. The security device according to claim 38, wherein the pan is fixedly attached to the base.

40. The security device according to claim 38, wherein the pan is mounted to the base for movement between a retracted position adjacent the base and an extended position away from the base.

41. The security device according to claim 40, wherein the extended position provides a convenient working position for a computing device sitting thereon.

42. The security device according to claim 40, and further comprising a linkage mechanism mounted between the base and the pan for movement between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position wherein, when the linkage mechanism is positioned in the collapsed position, the pan is located in the retracted position, and when the linkage mechanism is positioned in the uncollapsed position, the pan is located in the extended position.

43. The security device according to claim 42, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a pair of interconnected linkage arms forming a scissors-type mechanism.

44. The security device according to claim 38, wherein the base further comprises a recess for routing wires from the pan to the exterior of the base.

45. The security device according to claim 38, and further comprising a wire management system for routing wires between a computing device positioned on the pan and the base.

46. The security device according to claim 45, wherein the wire management system comprises a series of spaced protrusions on the link mechanism.

47. The security device according to claim 35, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the pan.

48. The security device according to claim 47, wherein the portion of the lock located on the pan can be used as a handle to move the pan between the retracted and the extended positions.

49. The security device according to claim 35, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the work area.

50. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base further comprises a recess for routing wires from the secure chamber to the exterior of the base.

51. The security device according to claim 35, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the cover and a portion of the lock is located on the base.

52. The security device according to claim 35, wherein a portion of the lock is located on the cover and a portion of the lock is located on the work area.

53. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base is mounted to an upper surface of the work area.

54. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base is mounted to an underside of the work area.

55. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base is mounted to an outer surface of the work area.

56. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base is mounted to the work area by a secure bracket.

57. The security device according to claim 56, wherein the secure bracket can be detached from the work area when the cover is unlocked, but the secure bracket is prevented from detachment when the cover is locked.

58. The security device according to claim 56, wherein the secure bracket cannot be accessed when the cover is locked.

59. The security device according to claim 35, and further comprising a hand rest adapted to be mounted to at least one of the base and the work area.

60. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the cover is mounted to the base by a hinge assembly.

61. The security device according to claim 60, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to maintain the cover in the open position and avoid inadvertent closings thereof.

62. The security device according to claim 60, wherein the hinge assembly laterally moves a rear wall of the cover forwardly during movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position.

63. The security device according to claim 62, wherein the forward movement of the rear wall of the cover exposes the recess at the rear portion of the base for access to wires contained therein.

64. The security device according to claim 62, wherein the forward movement of the rear wall of the cover prevents the rear wall of the cover from extending rearwardly beyond a rear wall of the base, allowing the rear wall of the base to be flush-mounted against a vertical surface.

65. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the base includes a recess at a rear portion thereof for routing wires from within the secure chamber to the exterior of the security device.

66. The security device according to claim 35, wherein the item is a computing device.

67. The security device according to claim 66, wherein the computing device is a laptop computer.

68. The security device according to claim 67, wherein, when the laptop computer is placed in the secure chamber, the movement of the cover from the open position to the closed portion can close the laptop.