Lock for notebook computer or other personal electronic device

• US 7,324,333 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Think Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lea-Edmonds; Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/359,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20060176661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 211/8, 211/9, 211/26.2, 257/727, 257/731, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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;

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

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 from said underside of said working surface,

wherein said clamp further includes a clamp locking member extending through a clearance hole in a short container,

a cable being threaded through a transverse hole in said short container, said cable preventing movement of said clamp locking member away from a clamp locking position;

said cable having a large distal end being sized to being held up and prevented from movement through said transverse hole of said short container;

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

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

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

2. 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;

a user operable lock locking said locking member in a locked position with said locking base; and

,

wherein said movable locking member is a flexible strip inserted through a slot in said housing of the personal electronic device and exiting therefrom.

3. 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;

a user operable lock locking said locking member in a locked position with said locking base; and

,

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.

4. 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;

a user operable lock locking said locking member in a locked position with said locking base; and

,

wherein said locking member protrudes diagonally through said computer.

5. 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; and

,

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 α

rod, and is locked by a pin lock compatible with a groove feature at its respective distal end.

6. 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; and

,

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.

7. 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; and

,

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 looked by a lock.

8. 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;

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 from said underside of said working surface,

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;

a 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 container denying access to the said clamp locking member head;

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

9. 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;

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 from said underside of said working surface,

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;

a 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;

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.