Method and apparatus for securing a device at a desired location

• US 8,191,851 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Artform International Limited (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Artform International Limited (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Crown, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMIREZ, RAMON O
• Application Number:
  US12/374,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20090173863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/571, 70/58, 70/18, 70/19, 248/551, 248/553, 248/316.4, 248/316.1, 248/309.1, 248/229.12, 248/229.22, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 248/553
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0091 the article being mounted on a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/02 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/411 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for securing an electrical device at a desired location. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a support surface on which an electronic device can be supported and a pair of opposed jaw members mounted with the housing, locatable with respect to each other, and arranged to be urged against respective sides of an electronic device to thereby clamp the electronic device at a desired location. At least one of the jaw members includes a region arranged to urge the electronic device against the support surface when the electronic device is clamped at the desired location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for securing an electrical device at a desired location, comprising:

a housing comprising a support surface on which an electrical device can be supported;

a pair of lockable, opposed jaw members mounted with said housing, locatable with respect to each other, and arranged to be urged against respective sides of said electrical device to thereby clamp said electrical device at a desired location; and

a locking device that sets the distance between the jaw members when clamped against the electrical device so as to prevent an unauthorized user from opening the jaw members and removing the electrical device from the desired location between the jaw members;

wherein at least one of said jaw members includes a region arranged to urge said electrical device against said support surface when said electrical device is clamped at said desired location.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a high friction element provided between said support surface and a back side of said electrical device.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

said high friction element comprises a layer of high friction material or one or more sucker members.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

said high friction element comprises an adhesive layer provided between said support surface and a back side of said electrical device.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a rigid plate member securable to a back side of said electrical device via an adhesive layer.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

said plate member comprises a locating member arranged to mate with a corresponding locating member on said support surface of the housing.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

said plate member locating member comprises an elongate wall member extending outwardly from a surface of the plate member and said corresponding locating member comprises a slit formed in the support surface of the housings.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

each jaw member is arranged to be locatable responsive to turning of a security screw in said housing by a user.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

each jaw member comprises an inwardly facing end region extending from an upwardly extending arm region, each end region being arranged to urge a surface of an electronic device clamped to the housing by the jaw members against the support surface.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

for each jaw member a respective resilient pad secured to the jaw member.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein each said pad has a configuration determined to match in shape with a selected electrical device.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

each jaw member comprises an elongate arm, an elongate arm of a first jaw member including a tongue region and an elongate arm of a remainder jaw member including a grooved region, the tongue and grooved regions being slidable with respect to each other when a distance between the jaw members is set.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

at least one of the jaw members includes a threaded region wherein a user wishing to set a distance between the jaws can turn a screw having a male threaded portion arranged to mate with the jaw member threaded regions.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a security cable having an end terminated with a termination cap or ring housed in said housing, an access point in said housing through which the cable passes being smaller than a corresponding dimension of said termination cap.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

said cap is located in the housing such that a pulling force exerted on the security cable will urge a portion of the cap against a portion of at least one of said jaw members.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said housing comprises a common socket arranged to receive a common plug, said housing providing an access point for at least one wire connected to said socket to exit the housing.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover for covering an access point in said housing providing access to a security screw.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

said cover comprises a cap arranged to cover an inlet in a lower portion of said housing.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

said cover comprises a back cover housing supporting a cam member and including a wall portion arranged to cover an access point to said security screw, said access point being located in a region of a lower portion of said housing.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical device comprises a mobile terminal.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said mobile terminal comprises a mobile phone.

22. A connector comprising a wire and at a first end thereof, a common plug and at a remainder end thereof a power connector for a respective electrical device for use with an apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

23. A method for securing an electrical device at a desired location, comprising the steps of:

securing a housing comprising a support surface and a pair of lockable, opposed jaw members at a predetermined location;

locating an electrical device on said support surface between said jaw members;

clamping sides of said electronic device between said jaw members;

simultaneously urging a back surface of the electrical device towards the support surface; and

locking the jaw members in place against the electrical device so as to prevent an unauthorized user from opening the jaw members and removing the electrical device from its location between the jaw members.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

providing a high friction element between a back side of said electrical device and said support surface.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

said step of providing a high friction element comprises providing a layer of high friction material or one or more sucker members.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

said step of providing a high friction element comprises providing a layer of adhesive between a back side of said electrical device and said support surface prior to clamping said electrical device between said jaw members.

27. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

prior to clamping said electrical device between said jaw members, securing a locating plate comprising a locating member to a back side of said electrical device; and

via said locating member and a mating locating member disposed at said support surface, locating the electrical device at a desired location on said support surface.

28. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing power to said electronic device when said electronic device is clamped to said housing.

29. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a pair of opposed jaws from a plurality of pairs of opposed jaws, responsive to a type of electronic device to be secured at a desired location being selected.

30. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

covering an access hole in said housing subsequent to a clamping operation to thereby prevent unauthorised removal of the electronic device.

31. The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein said electronic device comprises a mobile phone.

32. Apparatus for securing an electrical device at a desired location, comprising:

a housing comprising a support surface on which an electrical device can be supported;

a pair of lockable, opposed jaw members mounted with said housing, locatable with respect to each other, and arranged to be urged against respective sides of said electrical device to thereby clamp said electrical device at a desired location; and

locking means for setting the distance between the jaw members when clamped against the electrical device and preventing an unauthorized user from opening the jaw members and removing the electrical device from the desired location between the jaw members;

wherein at least one of said jaw members includes a region arranged to urge said electrical device against said support surface when said electrical device is clamped at said desired location.