Lock for portable music player or other personal electronic device

• US 7,499,270 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• 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:
  US11/454,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/679, 361/684, 361/686, 206/320, 224/930, 70/571, 211/8, 211/9, 312/223.2, 257/727
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 portable music player or other personal electronic device locking assembly includes a locking base frame. The locking base frame locks the portable music player 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 portable music player or other personal electronic device screen in the open position, leaving a front surface of the screen viewable. The lock prevents removal of the portable music player 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 device for a music playback device comprising:

a frame encircling the music playback device;

a clamp attachable to a table top; and

,

a rod securing said frame to said clamp with a pin lock;

said clamp having a groove in an upright section of its respective frame, said groove receiving a tab from a bottom end of said frame;

said tab in said clamp groove;

said rod insertable through respective holes in extensions on respective sides of said frame and through an offset hole in a locking knob of said clamp;

said music playback device being secured by said locking device and said clamp knob being prevented from loosening said clamp from said tabletop.

2. A security frame system for and in combination with a portable hand held electronic device comprising:

a housing for accommodating said electronic device, said housing having a side opening for insertion of said electronic device, said housing having a wall opening for providing access to operating features of said electronic device while in said housing;

loop extensions from said housing on opposite sides of said opening to accommodate a padlock to prevent unauthorized removal of said electronic device from said housing;

a cable having a ferrule at one end having an opening for engaging said padlock;

a clamp for attachment to a table top;

said clamp having means for being engaged with an opposite end of said cable preventing removal of said clamp from said table top while said ferrule of said cable is engaged with said padlock, thereby providing security against theft of said electronic device.

3. The security frame system of claim 2 in which said clamp comprises:

a C-shaped frame for straddling an edge of said table top having a lower jaw under said table top and an upper jaw above said table top;

a threaded opening in said lower jaw to accommodate a fastener to press a distal end of said fastener against an underside of said table to force said upper jaw against a surface of said table top;

a proximate end of said fastener having a smooth rounded head and a square under-head shank;

a knob on said fastener under said lower jaw, said knob having a blind hole to receive said proximate end of said fastener, said blind hole having an opening allowing said fastener to exit said knob and pass through said threaded opening of said lower jaw; and

said knob having a locking hole extending through said blind hole below said rounded head of said fastener when said fastener is completely threaded through said lower jaw;

said cable passing through said locking hole to prevent said fastener from being removed from said table top, the opposite end of said cable having a cable stop whose diameter is too large to pass through said locking hole, said ferrule having a smaller diameter able to pass through said locking hole after removal from said padlock, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of said housing and/or electronic device when said padlock is in place.

4. The security frame system of claim 3 in which the blind hole fastener opening is square to accommodate the square shank of said fastener.

5. The security frame system of claim 4 in which said knob is spherical.

6. The security frame system of claim 5 in which said upper jaw has a resilient pad to prevent marring a finish on said table top.

7. The security frame system of claim 3 having a security box on said fastener between said knob and said lower jaw to block exposure to bolt cutters.

8. The security frame system of claim 7 in which said security box is four sided with a clearance hole for said fastener.

9. A security frame system for and in combination with a portable hand held electronic device comprising:

a integral one piece housing for accommodating said electronic device, said integral housing having a side opening for insertion of said electronic device, said integral housing having a wall opening for providing access to operating features of said electronic device while in said housing;

loop extensions from said integral one piece housing on opposite sides of said side opening to accommodate a padlock to prevent unauthorized removal of said electronic device from said integral housing;

said loop extensions of said integral one piece housing including a pair of grasping tabs having lugs extending across said portable hand held electronic device, forming a partial band loop partially encircling said portable hand held electronic device;

a cable having a ferrule at one end having an opening for engaging said padlock.

10. A security frame system for and in combination with a portable hand held electronic device comprising:

a housing for accommodating said electronic device, said housing having a side opening for insertion of said electronic device, said housing having a wall opening for providing access to operating features of said electronic device while in said housing;

loop extensions from said housing on opposite sides of said opening to accommodate a padlock to prevent unauthorized removal of said electronic device from said housing;

a cable having a ferrule at one end having an opening for engaging said padlock,

a clamp for attachment to a table top;

said clamp having means for being engaged with an opposite end of said cable preventing removal of said clamp from said table top while said ferrule of said cable is engaged with said padlock, thereby providing security against theft of said electronic device.

11. The security frame system of claim 10 in which said clamp comprises:

a C-shaped frame for straddling an edge of said table top having a lower jaw under said table top and an upper jaw above said table top;

a threaded opening in said lower jaw to accommodate a fastener to press a distal end of said fastener against an underside of said table to force said upper jaw against a surface of said table top;

a proximate end of said fastener having a smooth rounded head and a square under-head shank;

a knob on said fastener under said lower jaw, said knob having a blind hole to receive said proximate end of said fastener, said blind hole having an opening allowing said fastener to exit said knob and pass through said threaded opening of said lower jaw; and

said knob having a locking hole extending through said blind hole below said rounded head of said fastener when said fastener is completely threaded through said lower jaw;

said cable passing through said locking hole to prevent said fastener from being removed from said table top, the opposite end of said cable having a cable stop whose diameter is too large to pass through said locking hole, said ferrule having a smaller diameter able to pass through said locking hole after removal from said padlock, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of said housing and/or electronic device when said padlock is in place.

12. The security frame system of claim 10 in which the blind hole fastener opening is square to accommodate the square shank of said fastener.

13. The security frame system of claim 11 in which said knob is spherical.

14. The security frame system of claim 13 in which said upper jaw has a resilient pad to prevent marring a finish on said table top.

15. The security frame system of claim 14 having a security box on said fastener between said knob and said lower jaw to block exposure to bolt cutters.

16. The security frame system of claim 15 in which said security box is four sided with a clearance hole for said fastener.

17. A locking device for a music playback devices comprising:

a frame encircling the music playback device;

a clamp attachable to a table top; and

,

a rod securing said frame to said clamp with a pin lock;

said clamp having a groove in an upright section of its respective frame, said groove receiving a tab from a bottom end of said frame;

said tab in said clamp groove;

said rod insertable through respective holes in extensions on respective sides of said frame and through an offset hole in a locking knob of said clamp;

said music playback device being secured by said locking device and said clamp knob being prevented from loosening said clamp from said tabletop.

18. A locking device for a music/video playback devices comprising:

a frame encircling the music/video playback device;

said frame having an open side along an edge to permit the playback device to be inserted therein;

said frame having a band loop near a top of said frame, said frame further having a hook engaging a front of the music/video playback device;

the playback device being secured within said frame by engaging a hasp of a lock within a hole on an extension of an edge of said band loop of said frame;

the hasp providing an interference preventing the withdrawal of the music/video device from said frame.

19. The locking device as claim 18 wherein said extension is a side extension of a top edge of said band loop of said frame.

20. The locking device as claim 18 wherein said extension is a side extension of a side edge of said band loop of said frame.

21. A locking device for a music/video playback devices comprising:

a frame encircling the music/video playback device;

said frame having a band loop near a top of said frame sized to permit the music/video playback device to be inserted through it to a distal hook at an opposite edge of said frame, said hook engaging a front of the music/video playback device near a center of a top edge of the screen of the top edge of the music/video playback device, whereby said insertion opening in said frame is as wide as a shorter dimension of said playback device,

said top band loop having a short central extension on a front side thereof with a hole to accept a hasp of a lock, said hasp preventing the withdrawal of the device from said frame.

22. The music/video playback device as in claim 21 wherein said hasp also engages a belt loop, thereby securing the device to a belt loop or backpack ring which is also engaged with said lock hasp.

23. The music/video playback device as in claim 21 wherein said hasp also engages a backpack ring, thereby securing the device to the backpack ring which is also engaged with said lock hasp.

24. A locking device for a music/video playback devices comprising:

an integral one piece frame encircling the music/video playback device;

said an integral one piece frame capturing the music/video playback device at only two diagonal opposite corners thereof;

said an integral one piece frame being a flat bar which is positioned in contact with a back side of the music/video playback device;

said an integral one piece frame extending only diagonally from a top corner of said music/video playback device to a bottom opposite corner of said music/video playback device;

each end of said an integral one piece frame having a recess pocket engaging the playback device at an opposite corner of the screen of the music/video playback device with a small portion thereof extending over a screen frame of the face of the music/video playback device.

25. The music/video playback device as in claim 24 wherein each said diagonally opposite recess pocket is a three-sided rectangular recess pocket permitting opposite corners of the playback device to nestle within the frame formed by said diagonal bar resting against the back side of the music/video playback device.

26. The music/video playback device as in claim 24 wherein respective sides of one of said recess pockets are higher than a predetermined thickness of the playback device, said recess pocket having two orthogonal holes placed above said device thickness, wherein further the music/video playback device is secured within said frame having said diagonal bar when the hasp of a lock is passed through said two orthogonal holes thereby preventing the bottom corner of the music/video device from being lifted up away from said frame having said diagonal bar.

27. A frame system for securing a portable hand held electronic device to a garment/backpack comprising:

an integral one piece housing for accommodating said electronic device, said housing having a side opening between a pair of side walls for insertion of said electronic device and a wall opening in said housing for providing access to operating features of said electronic device while in said housing attached to said garment/backpack;

said integral one piece housing having a band loop near a top of said housing, said housing further having a hook engaging a front of the music/video playback device;

said band loop having an extension with a padlock hole;

a padlock secured to said housing through said padlock hole blocking removal of said electronic device from said housing; and

said padlock also secured to a loop portion of said garment/backpack, said padlock requiring the use of a key to release said padlock from said garment/backpack and/or said side wall extension.

28. The frame system of claim 27 in which said side walls have portions which overlap edges of said electronic device to secure said electronic device within said housing.

29. A frame system for securing a portable hand held electronic device to a garment/backpack comprising:

a housing for accommodating said electronic device, said housing having a back side, a pair of guide walls along opposite side edges of said back side, and a band loop mounted on a front edge of said housing shaped to permit said electronic device to slide through said loop along said back side between said guide walls;

an L-shaped hook mounted on a rear edge of said back side to receive a leading edge of said electronic device, said hook preventing lifting of said electronic device from said back side;

said band loop having a padlock opening for a padlock, said padlock when engaged with said padlock opening preventing removal of said electronic device through said band loop; and

said padlock also secured to a loop portion of said garment/backpack, said padlock requiring the use of a key to release said padlock from said garment/backpack and/or said band loop.

30. The frame system of claim 29 in which said band loop has a forward extending portion in which said padlock opening is located.

31. A sleeve frame for theft-proof retention of a personal entertainment device, comprising:

a frame plate having a hollow central portion, said frame plate extending between opposite top and bottom ends, said frame plate extending laterally between an opposite pair of short, sidewalls projecting perpendicularly from said frame plate; and

wherein

said sidewalls respectively have opposite top and bottom ends; and

wherein

said sidewalls respectively have grasping tabs comprised of an enlarged segment of said top end of each respective sidewall; and

wherein

said grasping tabs respectively have an inwardly projecting retaining lug extending from said respective grasping tabs; and

wherein

said bottom end of said frame plate has a grasping tab extending perpendicularly therefrom; and

said frame plate grasping tab further having an inwardly projecting retaining lug extending therefrom; and

wherein

at least one of said sidewalls has an upward extension thereof, said at least one extension comprising at least one locking tab, having an aperture for receiving a padlock hasp therethrough.

32. An integral sleeve frame for theft-proof retention of a personal entertainment device, comprising:

a base plate having top and bottom ends, said base plate comprising short sidewalls extending perpendicular therefrom;

wherein said integral sleeve frame has a band loop with at least one securing stop, for stopping a personal entertainment device being inserted therein; and

wherein said integral sleeve frame has at least one apertured tab for receiving a padlock hasp;

said integral sleeve frame having an aperture for inserting or alternately removing the personal device.