Abstract:
A locking mechanism for a personal computer is installed over a screw that is used to secure a moveable panel of the computer&#39;s chassis in a closed position. When installed, the locking mechanism prevents access to the screw, thereby preventing an unauthorized person from opening the panel of the chassis and having access to the contents therein. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a lock base for receiving the screw and a lock head for being positioned over the lock base to cover and prevent access to the screw.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the right of priority based on Taiwan application serial no. 092200152, filed on Jan. 6, 2003, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to locking systems for securing personal computers.  
           [0004]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0005]    Locks have a long history of application in securing personal property against theft and other unauthorized use. Reflecting their diverse applications, locks of varying styles have been designed for various applications. One such application is to secure personal computers and the components and information stored within them from theft and vandalism.  
           [0006]    Existing locks for personal computers are generally designed to safeguard the valuable item as a whole, instead of the components inside. But the internal components of a computer are often far more valuable than the computer chassis, and because of their relative size, the internal components may be more likely to be stripped from a computer and stolen rather than the entire computer stolen. For example, personal computers often have a removable panel fixed in a closed position by screws, allowing maintenance and servicing of the computer inside. By simply removing these screws, a thief can gain access to the inside of the computer and take valuable components from it—even if the motherboard were fastened to a chassis that is securely locked to a stationary object, such as a desk. The owner can sustain a huge loss in assets due to this oversight. Accordingly, locks designed to safeguard the computer as a whole, instead of the components inside the computer, are insufficient to protect the valuable property of computer owners.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, the invention provides a way to secure the internal components of computer equipment, for example, by preventing the opening of a computer chassis. To prevent access to inside a computer, a locking mechanism is installed over a screw that is used to secure a moveable panel of the computer chassis in a closed position. When installed, the locking mechanism prevents access to the screw, thereby preventing an unauthorized person from opening the panel of the chassis and having access to the contents therein. An authorized user, however, can open the chassis by unlocking the locking mechanism and removing it from the screw.  
           [0008]    In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is used to lock a personal computer that has a movable panel secured by a screw that allows access to inside the computer. The locking mechanism includes a lock base and a lock head. The lock base includes a rear panel with a opening for accommodating the screw and two opposing wing panels each with an opening, the lock base configured to receive the screw through the opening of the rear panel when the screw is secured to the panel of the personal computer. Configured to attach to the lock base, the lock head includes a latch that is moveable between a closed position and an open position. When the screw is secured to the panel of the personal computer through the lock base and the latch of the lock head is in the open position, the lock head can be positioned over the lock base to cover and prevent access to the screw. Once positioned in this way, the latch of the lock head can be moved into the closed position to prevent the lock head from being removed from the lock base, thereby preventing access to the screw and the computer from being opened. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portion of a locking mechanism for a computer chassis, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a view of a potion of a locking mechanism for a computer chassis, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a view of a lock head for securing a computer chassis, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a view of a locking mechanism installed on a computer chassis, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a disassembled and an assembled view, respectively, of part of a locking mechanism for a computer chassis in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The locking mechanism is for securing a computer chassis having a cover or panel  4 , which a user can open to gain access to any components inside the computer. In one embodiment, the panel  4  is the rear panel of a computer chassis. The panel  4  includes a screw hole  41 , through which a screw  2  is attached to the computer chassis to secure the panel  4  in a closed position, denying access to the insides of the computer. To open the panel  4  and gain access to any components inside the computer, therefore, a user must first remove the one or more screws  2  from the hole  41 .  
         [0014]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a locking mechanism comprises a lock base  1 , a screw  2 , and a lock head  3 . Although the lock base  1  can take many forms, in one design the lock base  1  includes two wing panels  11 , an upper panel  12 , a bottom panel  13 , and a rear panel  14 . The two wing panels  11  each have a hole  111  for accommodating a latch. The upper panel  12  and the bottom panel  13  may be shorter (i.e., extend from the rear panel  14  a shorter distance) than the wing panels  11  and do not reach the holes  111  in the wing panels  11 . The rear panel  14  of the lock base  1  has an opening  141 , preferably not tapped for a screw, through which the screw  2  can be passed to reach the screw hole  41  in the panel  4 .  
         [0015]    The wing panels  11 , the upper panel  12 , the bottom panel  13 , and the rear panel  14  form a chamber  15  for holding the screw head  22  of the screw  2 . In one embodiment, these parts of the lock base  1  form a chamber  15  that is closed from the side, thereby preventing access to the screw head  22 —and thus turning of the screw  2 —from the side. The lock base  1  can be formed, for example, by folding a metal sheet as a whole, or by die-casting.  
         [0016]    For convenience of use, the lock base  1  can be attached to the panel  4  over the hole  41 , for example, by soldering, welding, or a suitable adhesive. In this way, the lock base  1  stays in place during installation and removal of the lock. In an alternative embodiment, the lock base  1  is not attached to any panel or any computer chassis. This allows the lock base  1  to be used with a number of different types of computer equipment, so the locking mechanism described herein can be compatible with existing computer equipment not specifically designed therefor.  
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the screw  2  comprises a screw head  22  and a threaded bolt  21  and is made from metal. As described above, the bolt  21  is smaller than the opening  141  in the lock base rear panel  14  so that it can be passed through the opening  141 , and the screw head  22  is larger than the opening  141  so the screw  2  will secure the lock base  1  in place. The screw  2  is designed to screw into the hole  41  of the panel  4  to lock the panel  4  in a closed position, thereby denying access to the inside of the computer. A slot, cross, hexagon, or other suitable socket  221  is grooved on top of the screw head  22  to facilitate turning and installation of the screw  2  using a tool, such as a screwdriver. The screw  2  may also include a washer  23  to keep the screw  2  in place when installed.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows a lock head  3  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The lock head  3  is designed to attach to the lock base  1  to prevent access to the screw  2  and thus opening of the panel  4 . In one embodiment, the lock head  3  comprises knob-shaped body that has a slot  31  formed therein, a movable latch  36 , and a key hole  35 . The movable latch  36  is activated through application of a matching key  34  in the key hole  35 . The slot  31  is wider than the distance between the two wing panels  11  of the lock base  1  to allow the lock head  3  to fit over the lock base  1 . The lock head further comprises a baffle plate  32  sized to match the chamber  15  of the lock base  1  and cover the screw head  22  when installed. Accordingly, in combination with the lock base  1 , this baffle plate  32  covers the chamber  15  and prevents any access to the screw  2 . Two gaps  32  between the baffle plate  32  and the inner wall of the slot  31  allow the two wing panels to be located in the gaps  32  when the locking mechanism is installed. FIG. 4 shows the lock head  3  installed on the lock base  1  to prevent access to the screw  2  and prevent opening of the panel  2 . In one embodiment, the lock head  3  includes a locking cable  37  for fixing the entire device, for example, to a desk or other stationary object.  
         [0019]    To install the locking mechanism, the opening  141  of the lock base  1  is aligned with the screw hole  41  of the panel  4 . The bolt  21  of the screw  2  is then passed through the through the opening  141  in the lock base  1  and screwed into the screw hole  41  of the panel  4 . These steps are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The screw  2  can be screwed into the hole  41  using a screwdriver turning the socket  221 . In this way, the lock base  1  is attached to the panel  4 , which is fixed in the closed position. When installed as described above, the screw head  22  is located in the chamber  15 , as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0020]    To prevent access to and removal of the screw  2 , the lock head  3  is then installed over the lock base  1  and screw head  22 . Before installation, the latch  32  is placed in an open position to allow the lock head  3  to be placed over the lock plate  1 . To open or close the latch  36 , a key  34  is inserted into the key hole  35  and turned. When the lock head  3  is mounted on the lock base  1 , the wing panels  11  slide in the gaps  33 , and the baffle plate  32  block the front opening of the chamber  15 . To secure the lock head  3  in this position, the latch  36  is activated so that it passes through the holes  111  in the wing panels  11 . In this way, the lock head  3  cannot be removed from the lock base  1 . When the latch  36  in the lock head  3  is positioned through the holes  111  in the wing panels  11 , it is impossible to remover the screw  2  from the screw hole  41  until the lock head  3  is again removed. For example, the baffle plate  32  and lock base  1  together prevent access to the screw  2 , even by using a tool such as a screwdriver or by turning the lock base  1 . This effectively prevents thieves from opening the computer chassis and taking the components therein.  
         [0021]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.