Portable computers lock

• US 6,244,082 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meir Avganim
• Original Assignee: Meir Avganim
• Inventors: Avganim, Meir
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US09/355,850
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 70/585.7, 70/18, 70/14
• US Class Current: 70/58
• 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: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A locking arrangement for securing portable computers and the like against theft including a cable (40) with a cable head (36) extended by a first stem portion (42), a collar portion (38) and a free end second stem portion (44) all in axial alignment. A prismatic lock body (10) includes a push-in, keyoperated locking device (24) having a releasable locking detent (26′). The body (14) has front (12), rear (18) and two side surfaces (14; 16). First, second and third bores (30; 32; 34) 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 (38). The locking detent (26′) is insertable behind the collar (38) and above the first stem portion (42) thus precluding the extraction of the cable head (36) when inserted into any of the bores. Also, the rear side surface of the lock body can be secured to a portion of the computer, e.g., by gluing. For securing originally slot equipped computers (122), the arrangement further includes a standard T-shaped spindle head (154), configured to fit into the slot (150) in one position and to prevent removal upon being rotated within the slot after stem (44) is also inserted into the slot.

Claims

1. An arrangement for securing an object, comprising:

A. a cable having a cable head, a first stem portion extending out from the cable head, a collar portion at the first stem portion spaced and away from the cable head, and a second stem portion extending out from the collar portion;

B. a prismatic lock body comprising;

(i) a locking detent, a push button operable by a user for setting the locking detent in a locking position,

(ii) front, rear and two side surfaces;

(iii) first, second and third bores formed respectively at the front and two side surfaces, the bores having respective axes in a common plane, and each bore having a cross-section slightly larger than a cross-section of the collar portion, so that the locking detent is insertable between the collar and the cable head and above the first stem portion upon operation of the push button for thus precluding extraction of the cable head from one of the bores when the cable head is inserted into the one bore and

(iv) a fourth bore formed at the rear surface of the lock body, the fourth bore being so placed that upon insertion of the cable head into the first bore, the collar portion becomes so located that the locking detent may set in the locking position between the cable head and the collar portion, and the second stem portion passes through the fourth bore and projects from the lock body to interact with a structure on the object to secure the lock body to the object.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer spread on the rear side surface of the lock body for securing the lock body to the object.

3. In combination, the arrangement of claim 1, and an object having a housing and the housing is provided with a slot, the arrangement further comprising:

C. (i) a T-shaped spindle head configured to fit into the slot in one position of the spindle head and to prevent removal of the spindle head from the slot upon the spindle head being rotated by less than 180°

from the one position;

(ii) a support plate for the spindle head;

(iii) means for fastening the support plate to the rear side surface of the lock body at a location so that the spindle head is extended off-centrally relative to the axis of the first bore,

(iv) a fifth bore formed in the support plate and corresponding in shape and size to align with the fourth bore. so that upon inserting the cable head into the first bore, the second stem portion passes through both of the fourth bore and the fifth bore in the support plate to project into the slot in the housing to prevent rotation of the spindle head therebehind and to prevent release of the lock body from the housing.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the support plate is releasably attachable to the lock body.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, further comprising screws for mounting the support plate to the rear surface of the lock body.

6. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the cable head, the collar and the first, second, third and fourth bores are cylindrical.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lock body is rectangular.

8. An arrangement for securing an object, wherein the object has a housing formed with a slot, the arrangement comprising:

(a) a cable having a cable head, a first stem portion extending out from the cable head, a collar portion at the first stem portion spaced away from the cable head, and a second stem portion extending out from the collar portion; and

(b) a prismatic lock body having front, top and rear surfaces, and further including;

(i) a first bore formed at the front surface extending in the direction of the rear surface and the first bore having a cross-section slightly larger than that of the collar portion;

(ii) a second bore, co-axial with the first bore, formed at the rear surface and having a cross-section slightly larger than that of the second stem portion, so that the cable head is insertable through the first bore to the extent that the second stem passes through and projects from the second bore at the rear surface;

(iii) a push-in locking device having a locking detent mounted to the top surface of the lock body, in the locking position of the device after insertion of the cable head into the first bore, the locking detent becomes located between the collar portion and the cable head to prevent extraction of the cable head from the first bore in the lock body; and

(iv) a T-shaped spindle head configured to fit into the slot in one position and to prevent removal of the spindle head from the slot upon the spindle head being rotated by less than 180°

from the one position, the T-shaped spindle head being mounted to the rear surface of the lock body at a location so that the spindle head extends off-centrally relative to the axis of the second bore, so that by the succession of inserting the spindle through the slot, rotating the lock body, inserting the second stem portion into the slot and locking the locking device, the object becomes secured to the cable.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the lock body is rectangular.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the cable head, the collar and the first and second bores are cylindrical.