Abstract:
For use in arresting a portable object such as flat laptop computers ( 10 ) having a housing with an underside housing cover ( 13 ) by a cable ( 46 ) adapted to be tied to an immovable object ( 45 ), the cable being provided with a key-operated locking device ( 44 ) comprising a tip ( 43 ) insertable into a dedicated slot ( 22 A) associated with the portable object and turned by the key ( 41 ) by an angle less than 180 thereby preventing the withdrawal of the tip from the dedicated slot, an auxiliary base-plate ( 20 ) configured to fit against the underside housing cover ( 13 ) and comprising at-least one dependent wall portion ( 22 C) formed with the dedicated slot ( 22 A), and means ( 11 ′) for securing the base-plate to the underside housing cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to security devices, and specifically to lockable devices of the type comprising a lock-body arrestable against a dedicated slot formed in a side-wall of the protected object, such as a portable computer, and a cable connected at one end to the lock-body whereas the other end is adapted to be tied to an immovable object such as a table leg. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Locks of the type above referred to are widely used. The most popular models are known in commerce as “KENSINGTON” locks (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,100,403, 7,111,479, and many others). 
         [0003]    Rapid advances in technology continuously contribute to development of smaller computers, including smaller portable computers such as laptops and notebooks. As external dimensions are reduced in the portable computers, so is generally an area of a side-wall of the computer in which is formed the dedicated slot adapted to accommodate the lock-body. In some cases, the area is reduced to such an extent that the dedicated slot cannot be formed in the side-wall. Such is the case, for example, with the Apple MacBook Air portable computer. Consequently, the locking technique of the type above referred to is not pacticable. Computers of this type shall be herein referred to as “Flat Computers”. 
         [0004]    It is therefore the prime object of the invention to offer a solution to this problem. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel locking arrangement that will eliminate the need for a dedicated slot to be formed on a side wall of the protected object. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of arresting a portable object having a housing with an underside housing cover by a cable adapted to be tied to an immovable object. The cable is provided with a key-operated locking device comprising a tip insertible into a dedicated slot associated with the portable object and turned by the key by an angle less than 180° thereby preventing the withdrawal of the tip from the dedicated slot. The method comprises the steps of providing an auxiliary base-plates formed with at-least one dependent wall portion comprising said dedicated slot; attaching the auxiliary base-plate to the underside housing cover of the portable object; and arresting the auxiliary base-plate to an immovable object by said locking device. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, the auxiliary base-plate is configured to fit against the underside housing cover and comprising at-least one dependent wall portion formed with said dedicated slot, and means for securing the base-plate to the underside housing cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and additional constructional features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood in the light of the following description of several preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein— 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front-side view of a typical flat computer housing; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view II-II of the computer housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic first side view of an auxiliary base-plate designed according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic second side view of the base-plate of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of the base-plate opposite to that of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic top view of the base-plate of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view taken along line VII-VII of  FIG. 6  including a cross-sectional view of a first lock-body, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a position prior to mounting the first lock-body to the base-plate; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a different view of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates the locking position of the first lock-body in the base-plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view taken along line XI-XI of  FIG. 6  including a cross-sectional view of a second lock-body, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a position prior to mounting the second lock-body to the base-plate; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows the second lock-body mounted on the base-plate prior to locking; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates the locking position of the second lock-body to the base-plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portable object which may be, for example, a flat computer housing generally designated  10 , is shown in a front view and a cross-sectional view II-II, respectively. Cross-sectional view II-II cuts through three screw holes  12  positioned on an underside housing cover  13  of flat computer  10 , in each screw hole inserted a screw  11 . On an opposing side of underside housing cover  13  are additional three screw holes  12  and inserted screws  11 . Screws  11  may be used soley to secure underside housing cover  13  of computer  10 , and/or to secure parts and components (not shown) inside the computer. Optionally, screw holes  12  and screws  11  may be used to attach an object or a device to underside  13 . Optionally, the quantity and/or location of screws holes  12  and screws  11  on underside  13  may differ from one model of flat computer to another. 
         [0024]    In  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , an auxiliary base-plate  20  for securing computer  10  to an immovable object (not shown) is shown in a front view, left side view, right side view, and top view, respectively. Base-plate  20  is configured in various respect to fit the underside housing cover  13 . Hence, it may include a plurality of utility openings adapted to allow access to compartments, openings, and connectors of computer  10 ; it may include ventilation openings  32  which may align with ventilation openings in computer  10 ; it may include a port connector opening  29 A through which devices and accessories may be connected to computer  10 ; Additionally or alternatively, it may include a power connector opening  29 B through which a power cord may be inserted and connected to computer  10 ; it may further comprise recesses such as, for example recess  24 , for facilitating user access while opening the computer; and it may include one or more holes  27  through which screws may be inserted for attaching the auxiliary base-plate  20  to underside  13  of computer  10 . 
         [0025]    Attachment of the base-plate  20  to underside housing cover  13  is typically done by first placing the flat computer  10  in right-side-down position (underside  13  is facing upwards) which allows for removing screws  11  from screw holes  12 . Following removal of screws  11 , base-plate  20  is onto underside  13  such that the one or more holes  27  thereof are aligned with screw holes  12  on the underside housing cover  13 . Additionally, utility openings such as, for example port connector opening  29 A, power connector opening  29 B, and ventilation openings  32 , are properly positioned relative to underside  13 . Once aligned, replacement (longer), screws  11 ′ are inserted through holes  27  into screw holes  12 , and tightened. Following attachment of base-plate  20  to underside  13 , computer  10 , together with the attached plate, may be placed in a right-is side up position (underside  13  is facing downwards) and set to rest on a flat surface on supports  23  included in the base-plate. 
         [0026]    Base-plate  20  further comprises a first dedicated slot  22 A which may be formed in a dependent wall  22 C of a first lock chamber  22 . First lock chamber  22 , which may be integrally formed as a part of auxiliary base-plate  20 , comprises a housing with an internal cavity (designated  22 B in  FIG. 7 ) to allow for a lock tip (designated  43  in  FIG. 7  below) to be inserted through first dedicated slot  22 A in a locking operation. Optionally, first lock chamber  22  may be separately attached to plate  20  by fastening means such as, for example, a screw, a bolt, or the like. First dedicated slot  22 A, which may be triangular as shown, may optionally have other shapes compatible with the shape of the lock tip (see below). 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , first dedicated slot  22 A is adapted to become selectively locked against, and unlocked from, a first lock-body  40 . First lock-body  40  comprises a housing  44 , for example a cylindrical housing, accommodating a locking mechanism which may be of the push-button type, operable by key  41 . Affixed to housing  44  is one end of a security cable  46 , for example a metal cable, including a looped end  46 A by which the cable may be tied around a fixed object such as a table leg  45 . 
         [0028]    As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , locking of first lock-body  40  to depended wall  22 C of first lock chamber  22 , and thereby to the back-plate  20 , is achieved by inserting a pair of triangular overlapping lock tips  42  and  43  that fit respectively into and through first dedicated slot  22 A. The tip  42  is fixed to lock body  44 . A mechanism in housing  44 , operated by key  41 , is adapted to rotate tip  43  in either direction, for example by 60°, to complete the locking operation as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0029]    Auxiliary lock-plate  20  may additionally comprise, say, for extra safety, a second dedicated slot  21 A which may be formed in a dependent wall  21 C of a second lock chamber  21 . Second lock chamber  21 , which may be integrally formed as a part of the plate, comprises a housing with an internal cavity (designated  21 B in  FIG. 11 ) to allow for a lock tip  52  to be inserted through second dedicated slot  21 A in a locking operation. Optionally, second lock chamber  21  may be separately attached to lock-plate  20  by fastening means such as, for example, a screw, a bolt, or the like. Second dedicated slot  21 A, which may be of an oblong rectangular shape as shown, may optionally have other shapes compatible with the shape of the lock tip. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , second dedicated slot  21 A is adapted to become selectively locked against, and unlocked from, a second lock-body  50 . Second lock-body  50  comprises a housing  54 , for example a cylindrical housing, accommodating a locking mechanism which may be of the push-button type, operable by a key  51 . Affixed to housing  54  is one end of a security cable  56 , for example a metal cable, including a looped end  56 A by which it can be tied around table leg  45 . 
         [0031]    As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , locking of second lock-body  50  to dependent wall  21 C of second lock chamber  21 , and thereby to back-plate  20 , is achieved by inserting a lock tip  52  that fits into and through second dedicated slot  21 A. A mechanism in housing  54 , operated by key  51 , is adapted to rotate tip  52  in either direction, for example by 90°, to complete the locking operation as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0032]    Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and modifications can effectuated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in and by the appendent claims.