Security device for a portable computer

• US 6,112,561 A
• Filed: 11/08/1996
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Carl, Stewart R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US08/744,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/18, 70/423, 70/424, 70/58
• US Class Current: 70/58
• 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: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a locking interface for the specially designed slot includes two legs pivotably coupled together about an articulation point. The two legs each have opposing flanges on a first end and handles on a second end. The two legs define a first and a second position, with the flanges and legs adapted for insertion and removal when in the first position. The flanges engage an inner surface of the wall when the legs are in the second position. The preferred embodiment includes a retainer that is coupled to the handles of the first and second legs that retain the legs in the second position when the flanges engage the inner surface. In the preferred embodiment, the handles define an aperture and an object extends through the aperture to hold the legs in the second position. The object may be any suitable object, including a cable or shackle of a lock.

Claims

1. A method of providing a locking interface to a security slot having preselected dimensions in a wall of a portable device, the wall having an inner surface, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a first and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said legs having opposing flanges extending within said plane of rotation on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, in a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot when in said first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with the inner surface in a second position;

inserting said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg in the security slot when in said first position;

placing said first leg and said second leg in said second position;

retaining said opposing handles of said first leg and said second leg in said second position with a retainer; and

coupling said retainer to an object other than to the portable device to inhibit theft of the portable device.

2. A method of providing a locking interface to a specially designed slot having preselected dimensions in a wall of a portable device, the wall having an inner surface, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a first and a second leg, pivotally coupled about an articulation point, each of said legs having opposing flanges on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, in a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot when in said first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with the inner surface in a second position;

inserting said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg in the slot when in said first position;

placing said first leg and said second leg in said second position;

retaining said opposing handles of said first leg and said second leg in said second position; and

coupling said legs to an object other than to the portable device to inhibit theft of the portable device.

3. An apparatus for inhibiting theft, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width, and said wall including an inner surface;

a cable; and

a locking apparatus, comprising;

a first leg and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, said legs each having a flange at a first end, with said flange of said first leg oppositely directed in relation to said flange of said second leg and extending within the plane of rotation, said legs each having a second end with said articulation point intermediate said first end and said second end, said legs together defining an unlocked position and a locked position wherein said first ends of said legs are adapted to be inserted into the security slot and removed from the security slot when in said unlocked position, and retained in the security slot when in said locked position, said second ends defining a closed aperture when in said unlocked position, and said second ends widening apart by a predetermined space to define an open aperture in said locked position, such that the cable passing through said open aperture when said legs are in said locked position inhibits articulation of said legs to said unlocked position; and

wherein coupling of the cable to said object and to a second object other than to said first object inhibits theft of the portable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said aperture is formed by said second ends having an arcuate shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in width.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the portable device is a portable laptop computer.

7. A method of attaching an object to a specially designed security slot of a portable device to inhibit theft of the portable device, comprising the steps of:

articulating, about a pin defining an articulation point, an attaching device to an unlocked position, said attaching device having a first leg and a second leg pivotally coupled to each other intermediate a first end and a second end of each leg wherein said legs rotate within a plane of rotation, said first ends including opposing flanges, said flanges extending in said plane of rotation and adapted to engage an inner surface of the portable device when said first end is inserted into the security slot and said attaching device is articulated into a locked position, wherein an aperture is formed in said second ends when said attaching device is in locked position such that an object passing through said aperture inhibits articulation to said unlocked position;

thereafter

inserting said first ends into the security slot of the portable device; and

thereafter

articulating said attaching device to said locked position to engage said flanges of said first end with said inner surface and to space apart said second ends, and thereafter

coupling a cable through said spaced second ends and to a second object other than to the portable device to inhibit theft of the portable device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said aperture is formed by said second ends having an arcuate shape.

9. A locking mechanism, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a security slot, said slot having dimensions of approximately 7 mm by 3 mm;

a locking apparatus, comprising;

a first member and a second member, pivotally coupled to each other about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said members having an engagement flange on a first end and handles on a second end, said first member and said second member relatively defining a first position and a second position, wherein said engagement flanges are insertable into the security slot when said members are rotated to said first position and wherein said engagement flanges extend beyond a perimeter of the security slot in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation defined by said pin when said members are rotated to said second position so that said members are retained within the security slot by said flanges; and

a retainer, coupled to said handle of said first member and to said handle of said second member for maintaining said members in said second position.

10. A locking interface comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width and wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in width, and said wall including an inner surface;

a first leg and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said legs having opposing flanges extending within said plane of rotation on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, said first leg and said second leg having a second position and a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot of said portable electronic device when in said first position, and said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with said inner surface when in said second position; and

a retainer, coupled to said opposing handle of said first leg and to said opposing handle of said second leg, adapted for retaining said first leg and said second leg in said second position.

11. A locking interface comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in width, and said wall including an inner surface;

a first and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said legs having opposing flanges extending within said plane of rotation on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, said first leg and said second leg having a second position and a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot of said portable electronic device when in said first position, and said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with the inner surface when in said second position; and

means, coupled to said opposing handle of said first leg and to said opposing handle of said second leg, adapted for retaining said first leg and said second leg in said second position.

12. A locking interface comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in width, and said wall including an inner surface; and

a first and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said legs having opposing flanges extending within said plane of rotation on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, said first leg and said second leg having a second position and a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot when in said first position, and said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with said inner surface when in said second position, said opposing handles of said first leg and said second leg defining an aperture, said aperture adapted for inhibiting said first leg and said second leg from moving from said second position to said first position only when an object extends through said aperture.

13. A system for inhibiting theft, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width, and said wall including an inner surface;

an attaching apparatus including;

a first leg and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate with a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, said legs each having a flange at a first end, with said flange of said first leg oppositely directed in relation to said flange of said second leg and extending within said plane of rotation, said legs each having a second end with said articulation point intermediate said first end and said second end, said legs together defining an unlocked position and a locked position wherein said first ends of said legs are adapted to be inserted into said security slot and removed from said security slot when in said unlocked position, and retained in said security slot when in said locked position, said second ends defining a closed aperture when in said unlocked position, and said second ends widening apart by a predetermined space to define an widened aperture in said locked position, such that an object passing through said widened aperture when said legs are in said locked position inhibits articulation of said legs to said unlocked position; and

a cable passing through said widened aperture for attaching to an object other than said portable electronic device.

14. A system for inhibiting theft, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in width, and said wall including an inner surface;

an attaching apparatus including;

a first leg and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate with a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, said legs each having a flange at a first end, with said flange of said first leg oppositely directed in relation to said flange of said second leg and extending within said plane of rotation, said legs each having a second end with said articulation point intermediate said first end and said second end, said legs together defining an unlocked position and a locked position wherein said first ends of said legs are adapted to be inserted into said security slot and removed from said security slot when in said unlocked position, and retained in said security slot when in said locked position, said second ends defining a closed aperture when in said unlocked position, and said second ends widening apart by a predetermined space to define an widened aperture in said locked position, such that an object passing through said widened aperture when said legs are in said locked position inhibits articulation of said legs to said unlocked position; and

a first object passing through said widened aperture for attaching to a second object other than said portable electronic device.

15. An attachment apparatus for inhibiting theft of a portable device, comprising:

means for pivotally engaging a specially designed security slot of a portable device, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width and wherein said security slot is approximately 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width; and

means, coupled to said engaging means, for securing said engaging means to an object other than said specially designed security slot.

16. A locking interface comprising:

a portable electronic device having a wall defining a security slot, said security slot having a predetermined shape and said shape further having at least one section wherein the section'"'"'s length is greater than its width, and said wall including an inner surface;

a first leg and a second leg, pivotally coupled to rotate within a plane of rotation about an articulation point defined by a pin, each of said legs having opposing flanges extending within said plane of rotation on a first end and opposing handles on a second end, said first leg and said second leg having a second position and a first position, said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for concurrent insertion and removal from the slot of said portable electronic device when in said first position, and said opposing flanges of said first leg and said second leg adapted for engagement with said inner surface when in said second position; and

a retainer, coupled to said opposing handle of said first leg and to said opposing handle of said second leg, adapted for retaining said first leg and said second leg in said second position;

wherein said opposing handles define an aperture and wherein said retainer is a cable passing through said aperture.