COMPUTER SECURITY LOCK FOR TRAPEZOIDAL SECURITY SLOT

• US 20140085788A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meir Avganim
• Original Assignee: Meir Avganim
• Inventors: Avganim, Meir
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0067 for portable computers, e.g. for locking the screen panel to the keyboard panel
• 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 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable

Abstract

A lock that is configured to be attached to electronic equipment requiring securing against theft and the lock comprising: a lock body; a locking element protruding from the lock body and having a forward distal section that is comparatively wider in cross-sectional size compared to a rear section thereof, the forward section being configured to be insertable into a cavity formed in the equipment, where the cavity is defined by an opening having a size and shape slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of the forward section of the locking element and an interior larger in cross-sectional size than the opening of the cavity; a slidable locking pin configured to slide alongside the locking element and into the cavity, after the locking element has been inserted into said cavity, to substantially fill a space of the cavity left unoccupied by the locking element; a sliding mechanism coupled to the locking pin and configured to slide the locking pin into and out of the cavity; and a locking mechanism to lock the locking mechanism within the lock body to prevent withdrawal of the locking element from the cavity.

Claims

1. A lock configured to be attached to electronic equipment requiring securing against theft, the lock comprising:

a lock body;

a locking element protruding from the lock body and having a forward distal section that is comparatively wider in cross-sectional size compared to a rear section thereof, said forward section being configured to be insertable into a cavity formed in said equipment, where said cavity is defined by an opening having a size and shape slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of said forward section of said locking element and an interior larger in cross-sectional size than said opening of said cavity;

a slidable locking pin configured to slide alongside the locking element and into said cavity, after said locking element has been inserted into said cavity, to substantially fill a space of said cavity left unoccupied by said locking element;

a sliding mechanism coupled to said locking pin and configured to slide said locking pin into and out of said cavity; and

a locking mechanism to lock said locking mechanism within said lock body to prevent withdrawal of the locking element from the cavity.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein said locking element has a pair of side walls that are angled relative to said rear section of said locking element to form said forward distal section.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein said locking pin has two lateral side walls, one of which abuts an adjacent side wall of the locking element and the other which faces an interior side wall of said cavity.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein said cavity has a three dimensional trapezoidal shape in cross-section.

5. The lock of claim 4, wherein said opening into said cavity and forward footprint of said forward distal section are rectangular in shape.

6. The lock of claim 1, wherein said lock comprises a mechanical structure for holding a cable attached to said lock body.

7. The lock of claim 5, wherein said lock body has width, length and thickness dimensions and the thickness dimension measures less than 7.9 mm.

8. The lock of claim 7, wherein said width dimension is less than 5 mm and said length dimension is less than 30 mm.

9. The lock of claim 8, wherein said locking element has a width dimension smaller than 4.75 mm and a thickness dimension less than 3.1 mm.

10. The lock of claim 2, wherein said side walls have an angle of about 70°

relative to said rear section of said locking element.

11. The lock of claim 1, in combination with a piece of equipment comprising said cavity and said cavity further including an entrance guideway to guide said locking element into said opening of said cavity.

12. The lock of claim 1, further comprising a locking element base in which a proximate end of said locking element is anchored, said locking element base having a circular circumferential edge which is rotatably held in a complementary circular groove formed in said lock body for allowing rotation of said locking element relative to said lock body, and further comprising an interior passage through which said locking pin is slidable.

13. The lock of claim 12, further comprising a holder for said sliding pin and said sliding pin having a proximal end which is held in said holder.

14. The lock of claim 13, further including a retaining pin which holds the proximal end of said locking pin in said holder in a manner which allows lateral movement of said proximal end of said locking pin in said holder.

15. The lock of claim 14, further including a coupling which mechanically couples said holder to said sliding mechanism.

16. The lock of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is operable by a flat key that is operable to cause said sliding pin to selectively assume a locked position or an unlocked position and which is configured to operate said lock mechanism into said locked position and unlocked position without requiring turning of said flat key.

17. The lock of claim 16, wherein said key has a facing side and an opposed rear side and wherein operating said sliding locking mechanism for moving and locking said locking pin in said locked position or unlocked position depends on the orientation of said facing side of said flat key in an interior key channel of said locking mechanism.

18. A portable electronic equipment requiring securing against theft, said equipment comprising:

a cavity which has an opening which is accessible from an exterior of said equipment wherein said cavity opening is rectangularly shaped and has a trapezoidal cross-section along one lateral dimension thereof and is defined by lateral side walls which are angled relative to said opening and an upper wall and a bottom wall which are parallel to one another.

19. The equipment of claim 18, wherein said cavity has a depth of at least 3.25 mm, a width at the opening of approximately 4.5 mm, and interior walls angled relative to a base at an angle of approximately 71°

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