Lock for notebook computer or other personal electronic device

• US 20060176661A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Think Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.550
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A notebook/laptop computer or other personal electronic device locking assembly includes a locking base secured to a working surface. The locking base locks the notebook computer or other personal electronic device securely in place to a work surface such as a desk top or table top. The lock is adapted to engage the notebook computer or other personal electronic device screen in the open position, leaving a front surface of the screen viewable. The lock includes a locking member which prevents removal of the notebook computer or other personal electronic device from the work surface.

Claims

1. A locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device, comprising:

a locking base secured to a working surface, said locking base locking a personal electronic device;

a movable locking member movable from an open, unlocked position to a locking position protruding through the housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom; and

, a user operable lock locking said locking member in a locked position with said locking base.

2. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 further comprising said locking base being a clamp having a distal end wrapping over an edge of a work surface upon which said notebook computer or other personal electronic device is used;

said clamp further including a locking pin movable upward into a locking position against an underside of said work surface;

said locking pin locked in place by a further lock preventing removal of said locking pin away form said underside of said working surface.

3. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said movable locking member is a rod inserted through a hole in said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

4. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said movable locking member is a rod inserted through a hole in said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

5. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said movable locking member is a rigid strip inserted through a slot in said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

6. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said movable locking member is a flexible strip inserted through a slot in said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

7. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said movable locking member is a flexible strip inserted in a hinge gap between a display screen and said keyboard portion of said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

8. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said notebook computer or other personal electronic device is provided with a security hole through a hinge area between a bezel edge of a display and a base, extending through and exiting an edge of said bezel of said display.

9. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said locking member protrudes diagonally through a corner of said base.

10. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said locking member is inserted through a security hole of said lock, and a ferrule on an end of a secure cable is then inserted through a transverse hole of said rod, and is locked by a pin lock compatible with a groove feature at its respective distal end.

11. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said locking member is captive within a transverse hole in said device.

12. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said locking member is stored in, and retractable outward from, one end of a hinge of the device in a direction co-linear with said hinge.

13. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said locking member penetrates through an opening in said device from a top thereof, through a base of said device and further through a further opening in a work surface for said device, said locking member having a transverse hole which emerges beneath said work surface, and a pin with a groove near its distal end is then inserted through said transverse hole of said locking member and is locked by a pin lock.

14. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 2 wherein said clamp is attachable to a non-movable structure in the vicinity of the notebook computer or other personal electronic device.

15. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 2, wherein said clamp further includes a locking member captured by a clamp locking member extending through a clearance hole in a short container, said short container having a large axial hole at the distal end accommodating said locking member, a tightening tool compatible with said locking member being entered from said distal hole of said short container to tighten or loosen said clamp while also capturing said short container;

said cable having a small end ferrule with a transverse hole on one end and a ferrule with a larger end attached to a distal end of said cable;

a transverse hole being provided in a lower portion of said short container accepting said ferrule and said cable, but being sized to prevent access to a larger end of said distal ferrule;

said clamp being attached to the notebook computer or other personal electronic device work surface;

said cable being threaded through said transverse hole in said short container;

said distal end of said locking bar being passed through said cable ferrule with said transverse hole prior to locking said locking bar to said locking base;

said cable being threaded through said transverse hole in said short tube denying access to the said clamp locking member head;

wherein said cable must be removed before said clamp can be loosened.

16. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 2 wherein said clamp further includes a hollow knob including a captive clamp locking member emerging from a clearance hole in an end cap;

said clamp locking member having a head;

a recess with a configuration matching said locking member head being formed into an inside surface of said end cap such that a slight pull on the knob against a captive locking member head away from said clamp seats said locking member head into said recess with a slight turn;

wherein said end cap is a socket wrench used to either tighten or loosen said clamp;

wherein further an offset transverse hole is prevented from accepting said cable by said locking member head if said locking member head is seated in said wrench recess;

wherein further, pushing up on the end of the knob toward said clamp, clearance for said cable to enter through said transverse hole adjacent to said locking member and between said head and said end cap is formed,

said locking member head being spaced apart from the end cap socket wrench recess as long as the cable is present, device secured to the notebook computer or other personal electronic device work surface via a cable and clamp;