Abstract:
A locking device for a compact computer or a small computer, in particular, a personal data accessory or a palm data accessory (hereinafter referred to as PDA), is presented. The invention also includes a blocking device which is connected with the locking mechanism and is convertible between an unlocking position and a locking position, the blocking device is adapted to be locked and secured by the locking mechanism. The blocking device is adapted to be set to the locking position and resist against the incline surface of the stand so as to lock and secure the PDA with the stand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is related to a locking apparatus for a compact computer or a small computer, in particular, a personal data accessory or a palm data accessory which is referred as PDA hereinafter. The locking apparatus is used to secure the PDA on a stand that is further connected by an electrical cable with a power supply of a desktop computer or other devices. When the PDA is placed on the stand, the PDA can be charged or electronic files can be transferred between the PDA and the desktop computer through the stand. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As the fast development of the computer industry, small, compact and portable computers have become common lately. Currently, the small-sized portable PDA is very popular in the market. Generally, the PDA is utilized along with a stand, which can be connected with a desktop computer or other appropriate devices by an electrical cable. Compatible connectors are provided on both the PDA and the stand so that the PDA can be charged or electronic files can be transferred when the PDA is placed on the stand. 
     However, due to the small size and portability of the PDA, consumers usually worry a lot about whether the PDA will be stolen by other people when it is placed on the stand for charging or file transfer if he/her cannot be around all the time. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to provide a device which can properly secure the PDA with the stand to minimize the chances of stolen for the PDA. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simple locking apparatus to secure the PDA on the stand. Generally, a longitudinal extended groove is provided on both sides of the PDA, the upper end of the groove is an opening, the lower end of the groove is tapered into a closed end. The stand has a slightly upward inclined surface in the front bottom side. The locking apparatus of the invention comprises a locking mechanism; at least a protrusion which is connected with the locking mechanism and can be inserted into the groove of the PDA; and a blocking device which is connected with the locking mechanism and can be converted between an unlocking position and a locking position, or can be locked and secured by the locking mechanism. After the insertion of the projection into the groove, the blocking device can be set to the locking position to resist against the inclined surface of the stand and locked by the locking mechanism. The PDA can thus be locked and secured with the stand and will not be taken easily. 
     Similar manners but different detailed construction can be applied to achieve the above object. The primary concept of this invention in brief, is to provide an apparatus with one end being inserted and stuck in the groove of the PDA, while the other end of the apparatus is resisted against the stand, then the apparatus is locked and secured by a locking mechanism. Various devices currently available can be use as the locking mechanism for this invention as long as it can be used to lock the blocking device. For example, the locking devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,866,959 and 5,193,367 which are incorporated herein by reference. Therefore, the specific construction of the locking mechanism-illustrated in the detailed description of this invention is for exemplary purposes and should not be used as the basis for constraining the scope o this invention. 
    
    
     The structures and characteristics of this invention can be realized by referring to the appended drawings and explanations of the preferred embodiments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of placing the PDA on the stand; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has not been pressed down; 
     FIG. 3 is the top plan view of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed down; 
     FIG. 5 is the top plan view of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the locking apparatus of the first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 7 to  9  are the plan views showing the internal structures of the locking apparatus of the first preferred embodiment of the invention which illustrate the locking apparatus in unlocking condition, altering condition and locking condition respectively; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the placement of the locking apparatus of the first preferred embodiment of the invention over the PDA, wherein the button of the apparatus has not been pressed; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the first preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the button of the apparatus has been pressed; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has not been pressed down; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed down; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the second preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed; 
     FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the block of the locking apparatus is in an unlocking position; 
     FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the block of the locking apparatus is in a locking position; 
     FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the third preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the block of the locking apparatus is in the unlocking position; 
     FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the third preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the block of the locking apparatus is in the locking position; 
     FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the bottom side of the housing of the locking apparatus is facing downward; 
     FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the bottom side of the housing of the locking apparatus is pivotally rotated to face rearward; 
     FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the housing of the locking apparatus is pivotally rotated to face rearward; 
     FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in an unlocking position; 
     FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fifth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in a locking position; 
     FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the fifth preferred embodiment of the invention with, the PDA and the stand, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in the unlocking position; 
     FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the fifth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in the locking position; 
     FIG. 30 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the free end portion and the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in an unlocking position; 
     FIG. 31 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the free end portion and the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in a locking position; 
     FIG. 32 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in the unlocking position; 
     FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in the locking position; 
     FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the free end portion and the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in an unlocking position; 
     FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the free end portion and the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in a locking position; 
     FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the locking mechanism and the portion connected with the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus are in an extended condition; 
     FIG. 37 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand, wherein the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus is in the locking position; 
     FIG. 38 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein one insertion rod is separated from the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 39 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the eighth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the insertion is connected with the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 40 is a fractional cross-section view of the eighth preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the structure of the locking mechanism of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 41 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the eighth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand; 
     FIG. 42 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein one insertion rod is separated from the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 43 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the ninth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the insertion rod is connected with the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 44 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the ninth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand; 
     FIG. 45 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a tenth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the insertion rod assembly is separated from the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 46 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the tenth preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the insertion rod assembly is connected with the housing of the locking apparatus; 
     FIG. 47 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connection of the locking apparatus of the tenth preferred embodiment of the invention with the PDA and the stand; 
     FIG. 48 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the PDA has not been placed on the stand and the button of the locking apparatus has not been pressed down; 
     FIG. 49 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the PDA has not been placed on the stand but the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed down; 
     FIG. 50 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the PDA has been placed on the stand and the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed down; 
     FIG. 51 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the PDA is placed on the stand and the button of the locking apparatus is released; 
     FIG. 52 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 53 is a plan view of the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the internal structures of the locking apparatus, wherein the button of the locking apparatus has been pressed down; 
     FIG. 54 is a plan view of the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the internal structures of the locking apparatus, wherein the button is released; 
     FIG. 55 is a schematic perspective view illustrating fractional structures of the locking apparatus of the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 56 is a schematic perspective view illustrating fractional structures of the locking apparatus of the eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 57 is a plan view of a twelfth preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the internal structures of the locking apparatus, wherein the button has not been pressed down; and 
     FIG. 58 is a plan view of the twelfth preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the internal structures of the locking apparatus, wherein the button has been pressed down. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related to an apparatus for locking or securing a compact computer, in particular, a PDA, on a stand. Generally, as shown in FIG. 1, the PDA  10  currently available on the market is in the form of a flat rectangular parallelepiped with a slightly arcuate bottom edge. Each of the both sides of the PDA  10  is provided with a longitudinal extended groove  12 . The groove  12  is an elongated channel with the side opening smaller than the inner space thereof. The groove  12  has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end is an opening  14 , and the lower end is tapered into a closed end  16 . When the PDA  10  is to be charged or transferred with computer files, it is placed on the stand  20 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The stand  20  has a slightly upward inclined surface  22  in the front bottom side thereof. According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to  5 , the locking apparatus  30  for the compact computer comprises a housing  32  with a locking mechanism  34  installed therein. Each of the both sides of the housing  32  is provided with a protrusion which can be inserted into and slide within the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . In the first preferred embodiment, the protrusion is a protruding post  36  with a tapered free end. The slit opening at the side of the groove  12  is smaller than the largest width of the protruding post  36 . Therefore, after the protruding post  36  being inserted into the groove  12  through the opening  14 , it cannot be traverse removed. A blocking device, including a button  38  and two blocks, is provided on the housing  32 . The blocking device is connected with the locking mechanism  34  and can be converted between an unlocking position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and a locking position (as shown in FIGS.  4  and  5 ), or can be locked and secured by the locking mechanism  34 . 
     The detailed construction of the locking mechanism  34  and the relationship with the button  38  and the blocks  40  can be seen from the exploded view of FIG. 6 as well as FIGS. 7 to  9 . Various manners or structures can be applied for the locking mechanism  34  to achieve the identical function and the detailed construction of the locking mechanism  34  is not the major technical feature of this invention. Accordingly, detailed construction of the locking mechanism  34  and the relationship between the elements thereof are not provided herein. In the first preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism  34  is a combination lock. When the button  38  is not locked by the locking mechanism  34 , the button  38  can be freely converted between a protruded position (as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3) and a compressed position (as illustrated in FIGS.  4  and  5 ). For locking and securing the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the button  38  is first set at the protruded position, the protruding post  36  is aimed with the opening  14  and then inserted into the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . The protruding post  36  is slid along the groove  12  to the closed end  16  thereof, as shown in FIG.  10 . The button  38  can be pressed down so that the two blocks  40  are projected to the bottom side of the stand  20 , as illustrated in FIG.  11 . The locking mechanism  34  can be adjusted subsequently so as to lock and secure the button  38  and the blocks  40 . Since the blocks  40  are resisted against the inclined surface  22  in the front bottom side of the stand  20 , the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     In the above preferred embodiment, various modification can be utilized for the housing  32  and the locking mechanism  34 . As can be seen in the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 to  16 , although a different kind of locking mechanism  42  is used and there is only one block  40 , the object of the invention can still be achieved. 
     FIGS. 17 to  20  illustrate a third preferred embodiment of the invention which includes a locking mechanism  44 . Detailed description of the internal structures f the locking mechanism  44  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,367 which is incorporated herein by reference. A protruding post  46  is mounted close to a corner at the upper side of the locking mechanism  44 , and a blocking device, such as a block  48 , is mounted at the lower side of the locking mechanism  44 . The block  48  is pivotally connected with the locking mechanism  44  and can be switched between an unlocking position (FIG. 17) and a locking position (FIG.  18 ). To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the block  48  is first set at the unlocking position as shown in FIG. 17, the protruding post  46  is aimed with the opening  14  and then inserted into the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . The protruding post  46  is slid along the groove  12  to the closed end  16  thereof, as shown in FIG.  19 . The block  48  an be rotated to the locking position so that it is resisted against the inclined surface  22  in the front bottom side of the stand  20 , as illustrated in FIG.  20 . The locking mechanism  44  can be adjusted subsequently so as to lock block  48 . Since the protruding post  46  is locked within the groove  12  and the block  48  is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20 , the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 21 to  25  is a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, which comprises a housing  50  generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In this preferred embodiment, the housing  50  is served as the blocking device which includes a bottom surface  52  and a rear surface  54 , as shown in FIG.  22 . The traverse distances of the bottom surface  52  and the rear surface  54  are approximately the same but the longitudinal distance of the rear surface  54  is larger than that of the bottom surface  52 . Similar to the previous embodiments, a locking mechanism  56  is provided within the housing  50 . Each of the two sides of the housing  50  is provided with an arm  58  which can be pivotally rotated, or locked with respect to the housing  50  by the locking mechanism  56 . A protruding post  60  is mounted on each of the arms  58 , as can be seen in FIGS. 21 and 23. To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the bottom surface  52  of the housing  50  is set to facing downward as shown in FIG. 22, the protruding post  60  is aimed with the opening  14  and then inserted into the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . The protruding post  60  is slid along the groove  12  to the closed end  16  thereof. As shown in FIG. 25, the housing  50  is then rotated downward and rearward for about ninety degrees so that the rear surface  54  of the housing  50  is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20 . The locking mechanism  56  can be adjusted subsequently so as to lock the two arms  58  with respect to the housing  50 . Since the protruding posts  60  are locked within the groove  12  and the rear surface  54  of the housing  50  is resisted against the inclined surface  22  in the front bottom side of the stand  20  and cannot be pivotally rotated with respect to the two arms  58 , the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 26 to  29  illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention which also comprises a locking mechanism  62 . A protruding wedge  64  is mounted close to a corner at the upper side of the locking mechanism  62 , and a blocking device, such as a rod, is mounted at the lower side of the locking mechanism  62 . The rod includes a main body  68  and a free end portion  66  connected therewith at a certain angle, and another protruding wedge  70  is provided on the free end portion  66  of the rod. In this preferred embodiment, the width of the protruding wedges  64  and  70  is smaller than the width of the slit opening at the side of the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . Accordingly, the wedges  64  and  70  can be horizontally moved into or out of the groove  12 . The main body  68  of the rod is pivotally connected with the locking mechanism  62  which thereby can be rotated with respect to the main body  68 . To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the protruding wedge  70  on the free end portion  66  is first inserted into the groove  12  on one side of the PDA  10 , as can be seen in FIG.  28 . The locking mechanism  62  is then rotated so that the protruding wedge  64  thereon is inserted into the groove  12  on the other side of the PDA  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  29 . As a result, the main body  68  of the rod is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20 . The locking mechanism  62  can be adjusted subsequently so that the locking mechanism  62  is locked and cannot be rotated with respect to the main body  68  of the rod. Thus, the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 30 to  33  illustrate a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention. The difference between the sixth and the fifth embodiments resides in that a pivotal joint  72  is provided between the free end portion  66  and the main body  68  such that the free end portion  66  can be pivotally rotated with respect to the main body  68  as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31. Another difference is that the protruding wedge  70  of the fifth embodiment is replaced with a protruding post  74  which has a tapered end in the sixth embodiment, and the maximum diameter of the protruding post  74  is larger than the slit opening at the side of the groove  12  and thus the protruding post  74  cannot be traverse moved out when inserted into the groove  12 . The operation procedures of the sixth preferred embodiment are very similar to those of the fifth preferred embodiment as described above. 
     FIGS. 34 to  37  are related to a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention which also comprises a locking mechanism  76 . Detailed description of the internal structures of the locking mechanism  76  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,959. This embodiment also includes a blocking device such as a rod having two pivotal joints  78  separating the rod into a free end portion  80 , a main body  82 , and a connecting part  84  connected with the locking mechanism  76 . The free end portion  80  and the connecting part  84  can be pivotally rotated with respect to the main body  82  by the two pivotal joints  78 . A protruding post  86  is provided on the locking mechanism  76  and another protruding post  88  is provided on the free end portion  80 . Both the protruding posts  86  and  88  have a tapered free end to be inserted into the closed end  16  of the grooves  12  of the PDA  10 . For this preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism  76  can be telescopically moved with respect to the connecting part  84  between an unlocking position (FIG. 36) and a locking position (FIG.  35 ). To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the protruding post  88  on the free end portion  80  is first inserted into the groove  12  on one side of the PDA  10  and is slid along the groove  12  to the closed end  16 . The main body  82  and the connecting part  84  of the rod as well as the locking mechanism  76  are then pivotally rotated so that the protruding post  86  on the locking mechanism  76  is inserted into the groove  12  on the other side of the PDA  10 . The locking mechanism  76  is next pressed down to the locking position so that the tapered free end of the protruding post  86  is inserted into the closed end  16  of the groove  12 , as illustrated in FIG.  37 . Consequently, the main body  82  of the rod is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20 . The locking mechanism  76  can be adjusted subsequently so that the locking mechanism  76  is locked and cannot be moved or rotated with respect to the main body  82  of the rod. Thus, the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 38 to  41  illustrate an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a housing  90  which is served as the blocking device of the invention. The housing  90  having a surface  92 , as can be seen in FIGS. 38 and 39, which is formed to compatibly meet with the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20  as illustrated in FIG.  41 . The housing  90  has insertion holes  94 , a locking mechanism  96 , and a button  98 , as shown in FIG.  38 . The locking mechanism  96  and the button  98  are connected with a latching member  100 , as shown in the fractional cross-section view of FIG.  40 . The latching member  100  can thus be controlled between an unlocking position and a locking position by the locking mechanism  96  and the button  98 . The preferred embodiment further comprises two insertion rods  102  and  104  having a protrusion thereon respectively, such as a protruding wedge  106  and a protruding post  108  illustrated in FIGS. 38 to  40 . The protruding wedge  106  and protruding post  108  can be inserted into the grooves  12  of the PDA  10 . For this preferred embodiment, the insertion rod  102  with the protruding wedge  106  is fixed on the housing  90 , while the other insertion rod  104  with the protruding post  108  can be separated from the housing  90 . The protruding post  108  has a tapered free end. The insertion rod  104  has a depression  110 , as shown in FIG.  40 . Therefore, after the insertion rod  104  being inserted into the insertion hole  94  of the housing  90 , the latching member  100  can be stuck into the depression  110  to lock the insertion rod  104 . To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the housing  90  and the insertion rod  102  fixed thereon are moved to the PDA  10  and the stand  20  so that the surface  92  of the housing  90  is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20  and the protruding wedge  106  is inserted into the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . The protruding post  108  of the insertion rod  104  is thereby inserted into the groove  12  at the other side of the PDA  10  and is slid along the groove  12  such that the tapered free end of the protruding post  108  is inserted into the closed end  16  of the groove  12 , as shown in FIG.  41 . The locking mechanism  96  and/or the button  98  can be adjusted subsequently so that the latching member  100  is inserted into the depression  110  of the insertion rod  104  which is thereby locked. The PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 42 to  44  illustrate a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention. The difference between the eighth and the ninth embodiments resides in that two insertion holes  94  are provided on the housing  90 , as can be seen in FIG. 42, and the two insertion rods  102  and  104  are combined by a connecting part  112  to form an insertion assembly  114 . Each of the insertion rods  102  and  104  is provided with a protruding post  108  having a tapered free end to be inserted into and slid within the groove  12  of the PDA  10 . At least one of the two insertion rods  102  and  104  includes a depression  110 . To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the housing  90  is moved to the stand  20  so that the surface  92  of the housing  90  is resisted against the inclined surface  22  of the stand  20 . The two protruding posts  108  of the insertion assembly  114  are thereby inserted into the grooves  12  of the PDA  10  and are slid along the grooves  12  such that the tapered free ends of the protruding posts  108  are inserted into the closed ends  16  of the grooves  12 , as shown in FIG.  44 . The locking mechanism  96  and/or the button  98  can be adjusted subsequently so that the latching member  100 , such as that disclosed in the eighth preferred embodiment of FIG. 40, is inserted into the depression  110  of the insertion rod  102  and/or  104  and the insertion assembly  114  is thereby locked. The PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 45 to  47  illustrate a tenth preferred embodiment of the invention in which an insertion assembly  116  generally in a upside-down U-shape is provided. The insertion assembly  116  has two free ends  118  and  120 , at least one of the two free ends (such as the free end  118  shown in FIG. 45) includes a depression  110 . The two free ends  118  and  120  of the insertion assembly  116  are separated from each other for a distance of approximately the width of the PDA  10 . Each of the free ends  118  and  120  is provided with a protruding post  108  having a tapered free end. To lock and secure the PDA  10  with the stand  20 , the two protruding posts  108  are inserted into the grooves  12  of the PDA  10  such that the tapered free ends thereof are inserted into the closed ends  16  of the grooves  12 . The free ends  118  and  120  of the insertion assembly  116  are also inserted into the insertion holes  94  of the housing  90 . The latching member  100  is inserted into the depression  110  of the insertion assembly  116  which is thereby locked. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 48 to  56  is an eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a base  122  which can be mounted with the stand  20 . The base  122  is used to connect the locking apparatus of the invention with the stand  20  and thus, the base  122  is served as the blocking device in this preferred embodiment. Alternatively, the base  122  and the stand  20  can be integrally formed (not shown in the figures). A locking mechanism  124 , with the detailed construction shown in FIG. 52, is mounted on the base  122 . Each of the two sides of the locking mechanism  124  is further connected with a spring  126 , a pivotal plate  128 , an arm  130 , and a button  132 . The arm  130  has a protruding wedge  134  to be inserted into the groove  12  of the PDA  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  51 . The locking mechanism  124  includes several number wheels  136  having inner sleeves  138  which can be driven by the number wheels  136  therein. As can be seen in FIGS. 52,  55  and  56 , the inner sleeves  138  are connected with a drag plate  140  that can be driven and moved by the inner sleeves  138 . When the drag plate  140  is at a horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG. 55, the buttons  132  can be pressed down such that the pivotal plates  128  are rotated so as to push the arms  130  outwardly, as shown in FIG.  53 . At this time, the PDA  10  can be placed on the stand  20 . When the buttons  132  are released, the resilient force of the springs  126  will impel the buttons  132  to the position prior to being pressed down such that the pivotal plates  128  are rotated reversely and the arms  130  are moved inwardly, as shown in FIG.  54 . Accordingly, the protruding wedges  134  of the arms  130  are traverse moved and inserted into the grooves  12  of the PDA  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  51 . When the number wheels  136  of the locking mechanism  124  are rotated, the inner sleeves  138  are consequently rotated to drive the drag plate  140  downwardly to a position shown in FIG. 56, the buttons  132 , thus, cannot be pressed down because the hindrance of the drag plate  140 . Accordingly, the arms  130  cannot be open outwardly. Since the protruding wedges  134  of the arms  130  are inserted and stuck within the grooves  12  of the PDA  10 , the PDA  10  and the stand  20  are thus locked and secured together. 
     FIGS. 57 and 58 illustrate a twelfth preferred embodiment of the invention. The difference between the twelfth and the eleventh embodiments resides in the opening measures of the arms  130 . In this preferred embodiment, the arms  130  are pivotally connected with the base  122  at positions  142  and are linked with the buttons  132  by pins  144  which are located within arcuate channels  146  of the arms  130 . Therefore, when the buttons  132  are pressed down, the pins  144  can only follow the arcuate channels  146  so that the arms  130  are pivotally rotated outwardly with respect to positions  142 , as shown in FIG.  58 . 
     This invention is related to a novel device that makes a breakthrough to conventional art. Aforementioned explanations, however, are directed to the description of preferred embodiments according to this invention. Various changes and implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical concept of this invention. Since this invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiments, changes to certain features of the preferred embodiments without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 PDA 
               
               
                 12 
                 grooves 
               
               
                 20 
                 stand 
               
               
                 22 
                 inclined surface of stand 
               
               
                 30 
                 locking apparatus 
               
               
                 32 
                 housing 
               
               
                 34 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 36 
                 protruding posts 
               
               
                 38 
                 button 
               
               
                 40 
                 blocks 
               
               
                 42 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 44 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 46 
                 protruding posts 
               
               
                 48 
                 block 
               
               
                 50 
                 housing 
               
               
                 52 
                 bottom surface 
               
               
                 54 
                 rear surface 
               
               
                 56 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 58 
                 arms 
               
               
                 60 
                 protruding posts 
               
               
                 62 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 64 
                 protruding wedge 
               
               
                 66 
                 free end portion 
               
               
                 68 
                 main body 
               
               
                 70 
                 protruding wedge 
               
               
                 72 
                 pivotal joint 
               
               
                 74 
                 protruding post 
               
               
                 76 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 78 
                 pivotal joints 
               
               
                 80 
                 free and portion 
               
               
                 82 
                 main body 
               
               
                 84 
                 connecting part 
               
               
                 86 
                 protruding post 
               
               
                 88 
                 protruding post 
               
               
                 90 
                 housing 
               
               
                 92 
                 surface of housing 
               
               
                 94 
                 insertion hole 
               
               
                 96 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 98 
                 button 
               
               
                 100 
                 latching member 
               
               
                 102 
                 insertion rod 
               
               
                 104 
                 insertion rod 
               
               
                 106 
                 protruding wedge 
               
               
                 108 
                 protruding post 
               
               
                 110 
                 depression 
               
               
                 112 
                 connecting part 
               
               
                 114 
                 insertion assembly 
               
               
                 116 
                 insertion assembly 
               
               
                 118 
                 free end 
               
               
                 120 
                 free end 
               
               
                 122 
                 base 
               
               
                 124 
                 locking mechanism 
               
               
                 126 
                 springs 
               
               
                 128 
                 pivotal plates 
               
               
                 130 
                 arms 
               
               
                 132 
                 buttons 
               
               
                 134 
                 protruding wedges 
               
               
                 136 
                 number wheels 
               
               
                 138 
                 inner sleeves 
               
               
                 140 
                 drag plate 
               
               
                 142 
                 position where arm is pivotally 
               
               
                   
                 connected with the base 
               
               
                 144 
                 pins 
               
               
                 146 
                 arcuate channels