Lock for notebook computer or other personal electronic device

• US 7,443,665 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• 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): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/454,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-681, 361/683, 361724-727, 257/727, 257/731, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 3123513-3519, 312215-221, 312/208.3, 312/208.4, 211/8, 211/9, 211/26.2
• 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 frame. The locking base frame 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 prevents removal of the notebook computer or other personal electronic device from the work surface. A security table top/work surface clamp includes a cable clamp having a fixed or adjustably sized generally C-shaped clamp body insertable over a table top or other flat work surface. The lower operating knob has a transverse hole or slot preventing loosening of the threaded bolt once the flexible cable is installed through the transverse hole or slot.

Claims

1. A locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device having a visual display portion attached to a keyboard base portion by a hinge, comprising:

a locking base secured to a working surface;

an elongated locking member attached at a first end to said locking base and having a second end extending through an opening in a member protruding completely through a hole in one part of said device;

a lock for securing said locking member to said protruding member;

said locking base being a clamp having wrapped over an edge of a work surface upon which said 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 away from said underside of said working surface;

wherein said clamp further includes a screw for tightening said clamp on said work surface, a knob covering a bottom portion of said screw, and a recess in said knob through which said locking member passes, blocking release of said screw from said working surface; and

said first end of said locking member having a ferrule blocking removal of said second end through said recess from said knob, whereby said locking member can only be removed from said knob by withdrawing said locking member with said second end passing out through said knob, so that said locking member must be removed before said clamp can be loosened.

2. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said protruding member comprises a rod with said opening being adjacent a distal end thereof.

3. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said protruding member is a rigid strip.

4. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said hole extends through a hinge area between a bezel edge of said display portion and said keyboard base portion, said hole extending through and exiting an edge of said bezel of said display.

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

6. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 having a ferrule on said second end of said locking member engaging a pin lock.

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

8. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 1 wherein said work surface is a non-movable structure in a vicinity of said device.

9. A locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device having a visual display portion attached to a keyboard base portion by a hinge, said visual display portion hingably separated from said keyboard base portion by the hinge, said visual display portion having a bezel frame holding a screen of said visual display, said keyboard base portion having a frame supporting keys therebetween, said locking assembly comprising:

a lock securing said notebook computer or other electronic device to a working surface;

an elongated locking member extending straight completely through a closed sided hole within said bezel frame of said display portion or said key supporting frame of said keyboard base portion, said closed-sided hole extending through and exiting an edge of said bezel frame of said display part of said visual display portion or said keyboard base portion of said device; and

,

a user operable lock locking said locking member in a locked position with said working surface.

10. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 9 further comprising said locking base being a clamp having wrapped over an edge of a work surface upon which said 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.

11. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 9 wherein said protruding member comprises a rod extending through said closed-sided through-hole in said bezel frame of said display portion.

12. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 9 wherein said protruding member is a rigid strip extending through said closed-sided through-hole in said bezel frame of said display portion.

13. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 12 wherein said closed-sided hole is a slot.

14. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 9 wherein said protruding member is a ferrule on an end of a locking cable, said ferrule engaging into a lock.

15. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 9 wherein said locking member is stored in, and retractable outward from, one end of said hinge in a direction co-linear with said hinge.

16. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 10 wherein said work surface is a non-movable structure in a vicinity of said device.

17. The locking assembly for a notebook computer or other personal electronic device as in claim 10, wherein said clamp further includes a screw for tightening said clamp on said work surface, a knob covering a bottom portion of said screw, and a recess in said knob through which said locking member passes, blocking release of said screw from said working surface;

and

said first end of said locking member having a ferrule blocking removal of said second end through said recess from said knob, whereby said locking member can only be removed from said knob by withdrawing said locking member with said second end passing out through said knob, so that said cable must be removed before said clamp can be loosened.