Wireless enable/disable locking system

• US 20080266053A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Jonathan R., Doczy, Paul J., Tracy, Mark S., Griebenow, L. Joy
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A wireless enable/disable locking system comprises a locking element configured to physically cooperate with a switch, the switch for enabling/disabling a wireless communication capability of a device, to lock the wireless communication state of the switch to either enabled or disabled.

Claims

1. A wireless enable/disable locking system, comprising:

a locking element configured to physically cooperate with a switch, the switch for enabling/disabling a wireless communication capability of a device, to lock the wireless communication state of the switch to either enabled or disabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a biased locking mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to be biased into engagement with the switch.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured for slideable movement relative to the switch.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a forwardly-facing portion of the locking element is configured to engage a rearwardly-facing portion of the switch.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the locking element is configured to engage at least a portion of the switch to prevent movement of the switch in an actuating direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is movable away from biased engagement with the switch to enable actuation of the switch.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to visually indicate a locked position thereof relative to the switch.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to be depressed to physically cooperate with the switch to lock the wireless communication state.

10. A wireless enable/disable locking system, comprising:

actuatable means for enabling/disabling a wireless communication capability; and

slideable means for preventing actuation of the actuatable means to lock the wireless communication state of the actuatable means to either enabled or disabled.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for biasing the slideable means into engagement with the actuatable means.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a forwardly-facing portion of the slideable means is configured to engage a rearwardly-facing portion of the actuatable means.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the slideable means comprises means for engaging at least a portion of the actuatable means to prevent movement of the actuatable means in an actuating direction.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the slideable means is movable away from biased engagement with the actuatable means to enable actuation of the actuatable means.

15. A method for manufacturing a wireless enable/disable locking system, comprising:

providing a switch actuatable to enable/disable a wireless communication capability of a device; and

providing a locking element configured to physically cooperate with the switch to lock the wireless communication state of the switch to either enabled or disabled.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the locking element comprises providing a biased locking mechanism.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the locking element to be in biased engagement with the switch.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring a forwardly-facing portion of the locking element to engage a rearwardly-facing portion of the switch.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring at least a portion of the locking element to engage at least a portion of the switch to prevent movement of the switch in an actuating direction.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the locking element to be movable away from biased engagement with the switch to enable actuation of the switch.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the locking element to be depressable to engage the switch.

22. A wireless enable/disable locking system, comprising:

a switch actuatable for enabling/disabling a wireless communication capability of a device; and

a locking element configured to be positionable relative to the switch between a locked position and an unlocked position to lock and unlock, respectively, the actuatable state of the switch.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the locking element is configured to be biased to the locked position.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the locking element is configured to be depressed to be positioned in the locked position.

25. An electronic device, comprising:

a physically actuatable switch; and

a locking element disposed adjacent the switch and moveable into a locked position relative to the switch to prevent actuation of the switch.

26. A wireless enable/disable locking system, comprising:

a locking element movable from a first position to a second position, the locking element releasably securable in the second position and configured to lock a wireless communication state of an electronic device when disposed in the second position.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the locking element is configured to lock the wireless communication state of the electronic devices to a disabled state when disposed in the second position.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the locking element is slidably coupled to a housing of the electronic device.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the locking element engages with a housing of the electronic device when disposed in the second position.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the locking element is configured to be depressed to achieve the second position.