Abstract:
A computer cover retention bar (or lock bar) is provided that is functionally integrated with a padlock and/or Kensington lock setup in such a way that full closure via the padlock and/or Kensington lock will ensure that the retention bar, itself provided with detents or hooks that themselves act to keep the cover fully closed with respect to a chassis or body of the desktop or workstation, cannot be moved. This then ensures that the locking action of a padlock or Kensington lock goes a measure beyond the norm, in that a cover can indeed remain fully closed without, e.g., affording unauthorized individuals from prying open the cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to locking and covering arrangements for computer desktops and workstations and the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Computer workstations and desktops often contain highly sensitive components and data that often need to be kept secure from unauthorized personnel or users. Thus, the workstations and desktops often include access covers with locking mechanisms to inhibit or prevent unauthorized access. 
         [0003]    In many conventional arrangements, a padlock or laptop-type lock (often known as a “Kensington lock”) is used without the benefit of an added secondary or “backup” lock. However, even in those cases where a secondary or backup lock is included a rather cumbersome arrangement may be afforded. For instance a padlock provision may be afforded to the access cover while a key lock is also provided in the cover. The key lock is helpful because the padlock arrangement does not readily prevent a user from opening the cover sufficiently to still gain access to the computer components inside the cover. However, this dual arrangement can often be inconvenient to manage, and leaves tremendous room for improvement. 
         [0004]    Other problems have long been noted with desktop or workstation access covers, in that the removal of a cover is normally accomplished solely through cumbersome and awkward physical movements and manipulations. Another compelling need has thus been recognized in connection with being able to remove a cover more quickly and efficiently, with minimized physical manipulation on the part of the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is broadly contemplated herein the provision of a computer cover retention bar (or lock bar) that is functionally integrated with a padlock and/or Kensington lock setup in such a way that full closure via the padlock and/or Kensington lock will ensure that the retention bar, itself provided with detents or hooks that themselves act to keep the cover fully closed with respect to a chassis or body of the desktop or workstation, cannot be moved. This then ensures that the locking action of a padlock or Kensington lock goes a measure beyond the norm, in that a cover can indeed remain fully closed without, e.g., affording unauthorized individuals from prying open the cover. 
         [0006]    In summary, one aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising: a main memory; a system processor; a chassis; a cover which is displaceable with respect to said chassis; said chassis and cover combining to substantially encase said main memory and system processor; a decoupling arrangement which selectively decouples said cover with respect to said chassis; a linkage displaceably mounted with respect to said cover; said linkage comprising a receipt medium to receive a portion of an external locking device to hold said cover towards said chassis; said linkage being displaceable between a first position, wherein said receipt medium is positioned to receive a portion of an external locking device, and a second position, wherein said receipt medium is not positioned to receive a portion of an external locking device; said linkage and said decoupling arrangement being operatively connected such that: in said first position of said linkage, said decoupling arrangement couples said cover to said chassis; and in said second position of said linkage, said decoupling arrangement decouples said cover from said chassis. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, an additional aspect of the invention provides a method of removing a computer cover, said method comprising: providing a chassis; providing a cover which is displaceable with respect to the chassis; providing a linkage displaceably mounted with respect to the cover; coupling the cover with respect to the chassis; receiving, at the linkage, a portion of an external locking device to hold the cover towards the chassis, wherein the linkage acts to keep the covered coupled with respect to the chassis; removing the portion of the external locking device from the linkage; and decoupling the cover with respect to the chassis and thereby displace the linkage from a first position, wherein the linkage is positioned to receive a portion of an external locking device, to a second position, wherein the linkage is not positioned to receive a portion of an external locking device. 
         [0008]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a computer system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective front elevational view of a desktop central processing unit (CPU). 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts the CPU of  FIG. 2  with a cover removed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts a cover from CPU of  FIG. 2 , with lock mechanism parts. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates, in perspective view, a lock bar. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6 and 7  provide a perspective view of a latch mechanism and lock bar. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of a latch mechanism in isolation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  provides a perspective rear elevational view of a desktop CPU. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  provides a perspective view of a cover with a lock bar and rotating linkage. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  provides another perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 10  (but with a latch mechanism cover removed). 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  provides a close-up perspective view of the rotating linkage from  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
         [0021]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention, as represented in  FIGS. 1  through #, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
         [0022]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of different manners of locking and unlocking a computer cover, and of detaching a computer cover from a body or chassis to remove the cover. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0024]    The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals or other labels throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the invention as claimed herein. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a computer system  12 . The illustrative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  may be a notebook computer system, such as one of the ThinkPad® series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C., however, as will become apparent from the following description, the present invention is applicable to any data processing system, including a desktop or workstation computer. Notebook computers may alternatively be referred to as “notebooks”, “laptops”, “laptop computers” or “mobile computers” herein, and these terms should be understood as being essentially interchangeable with one another. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , computer system  12  includes at least one system processor  42 , which is coupled to a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  40  and a system memory  46  by a processor bus  44 . System processor  42 , which may comprise one of the AMD™ line of processors produced by AMD Corporation or a processor produced by Intel Corporation, is a general-purpose processor that executes boot code  41  stored within ROM  40  at power-on and thereafter processes data under the control of operating system and application software stored in system memory  46 . System processor  42  is coupled via processor bus  44  and host bridge  48  to Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus  50 . 
         [0027]    PCI local bus  50  supports the attachment of a number of devices, including adapters and bridges. Among these devices is network adapter  66 , which interfaces computer system  12  to a LAN, and graphics adapter  68 , which interfaces computer system  12  to display  69 . Communication on PCI local bus  50  is governed by local PCI controller  52 , which is in turn coupled to non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM)  56  via memory bus  54 . Local PCI controller  52  can be coupled to additional buses and devices via a second host bridge  60 . 
         [0028]    Computer system  12  further includes Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus  62 , which is coupled to PCI local bus  50  by ISA bridge  64 . Coupled to ISA bus  62  is an input/output (I/O) controller  70 , which controls communication between computer system  12  and attached peripheral devices such as a keyboard and mouse. In addition, I/O controller  70  supports external communication by computer system  12  via serial and parallel ports. A disk controller  72  is in communication with a disk drive  200 . Of course, it should be appreciated that the system  12  may be built with different chip sets and a different bus structure, as well as with any other suitable substitute components, while providing comparable or analogous functions to those discussed above. 
         [0029]    As further shown schematically in  FIG. 1 , system  12  may be encased in a system chassis and cover (jointly indicated at  152 / 154 ), the composition and functioning of which will be better understood from further discussion herebelow. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective front elevational view of a desktop central processing unit (CPU)  250  in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a cover  254 , which more or less extends over a single planar surface of CPU  250 , is integrated with a body or chassis  252 . As is known, the cover  254  may be hingedly engaged with chassis  252  in such a way that it can pivot with respect to chassis  252 ; however, the hinged connection may be of a detachable variety whereby translational movement of the cover  254  with respect to the chassis  252  would disengage the former from the latter. Such hinged connections are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the computer arts and will not be further detailed herein. 
         [0031]    Further shown in  FIG. 2  is a latch mechanism  256  which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, facilitates removal of the cover  254  from chassis  252 . This will be described in greater detail herebelow. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  depicts CPU  250  of  FIG. 2  with the cover ( 254 ) removed. As shown, chassis  252  may be provided with slots  258  configured to receive hooks or detents of a lock bar (to be described further herebelow). 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts cover  254  semi-transparently (for the purposes of clearer illustration) along with other components. As shown, latch mechanism  256  as a whole may preferably be recessed with respect to the outer surface of cover  254 . Preferably, a decorative handle portion  262  will be stationary with respective to cover  254  and will essentially serve as a mounting support for a release handle  260  (which alternatively may be termed a “handle”, “release latch” or a “latch”). Handle  260  is preferably mounted to displace vertically (with respect to the drawing) in a manner to displace a lock bar  264 , via an interaction of cam surfaces to be better understood herebelow. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a key lock  261  that is recessed in decorative handle portion  262 . This may preferably be a standard, rotatable key lock; conventionally, such key locks have been employed to selectively decouple a cover from a chassis. However, as will be appreciated further below, key lock  261  preferably assumes here an expanded function. 
         [0034]    Lock bar  264 , for its part, is shown in isolation in  FIG. 5 . As shown, lock bar  264  preferably includes hooks or detents  266  that engage with slots  258  of the chassis  252  (see  FIG. 3 ). Also shown in  FIG. 5  is a cam surface  268  which enables the lock bar  264  to be displaced translationally, in a direction parallel to its longitudinal (i.e., longest) dimension. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6 and 7  provide a perspective view of latch mechanism components and lock bar  264 ; both drawings will now be referenced jointly. As shown, latch or handle  260  is slidably mounted in a mounting plate  276  that essentially constitutes the rearward side of the decorative handle  262  (see  FIG. 4 ). Mounting plate  276  preferably includes flanges and ribs configured for guiding the sliding movement of latch  260 ; two such ribs are indicated at  276   a,  and these immediately and snugly flank a central portion of latch  260 . Preferably, latch  260  includes a cam surface (not shown here) configured for contacting and interacting with cam surface  268  of lock bar  264  as latch  260  is displaced towards lock bar  264 . More particularly, as latch  260  is displaced in the direction of the arrow pointing downward and to the right in  FIG. 6 , the aforementioned interaction of cam surfaces will ensure that lock bar  264  is displaced towards the left in  FIG. 6  (as indicated by a second arrow). Accordingly, this will release hooks/detents  266  from chassis slots (e.g., slots  258  shown in  FIG. 3 ) such that the cover will now be able to be removed from the chassis. 
         [0036]    It will be appreciated that this is accomplished by way of a quick and easy physical manipulation on the part of the user, whereby the user need only pull on the release latch  260  and then, essentially employing the same gripping action, remove the cover away from the chassis. This is in stark contrast to conventional arrangements where, e.g., once a cover is unlocked from a chassis via a key lock, a more cumbersome and inconvenient physical manipulation needs to be undertaken to separate the cover from the chassis; here, by virtue of the release latch  260  which can be pulled by a user&#39;s fingers while they are inserted into a recess in the cover (see especially the decorative handle  262  in  FIG. 4 , which includes a large recessed portion with respect to cover  254 ), it becomes much easier to physically support the cover with one&#39;s fingers or hand, and removing the cover from the chassis can even be accomplished solely with one hand. 
         [0037]    As further shown, key lock  261  may preferably be provided with an extension  261   a  that is fixed with respect to a remainder of key lock  261 . To lock the cover with respect to the chassis, as shown in  FIG. 7 , if a key is inserted in key lock  261  to then rotate key lock  261 , e.g., about 90 degrees (here, in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow), extension  261   a  will preferably travel with it. Latch  260 , for its part, will preferably be provided with its own extension  260   a  that presents a surface which, when latch  260  is displaced towards lock bar  264 , will come into contact with extension  261   a  of key lock  261 , thereby preventing further displacement of latch  260  towards lock bar  264 . Thus, inasmuch as  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict an “unlocked” configuration, where latch  260  is free to slidingly displace to move lock bar  264 , the aforementioned action of turning key lock  261 , e.g., 90 degrees will have the effect of preventing interaction of latch  260  with lock bar  264 , thus keeping the cover “locked” with respect to the chassis. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  also shows the aforementioned ribs  276   a;  it should be appreciated that these will preferably ensure that as key lock  261  and extension  261   a  undergo rotational displacement, latch  260  itself will not be displaced out of parallel to its usual direction of travel. 
         [0039]    As also shown, a pair of springs  280  preferably are connected between latch  260  and mounting bracket  276  such that latch  260  will be biased back towards a rest position once it has been displaced towards lock bar  264 . Further, a return spring  274  is preferably connected between lock bar  264  and a portion of the cover such that, after lock bar  264  has been translated to decouple hooks/detents  266  from chassis slots, the lock bar will be urged back towards a rest position of its own. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of a latch mechanism  256  in isolation. In addition to showing the key lock  261  as well as the latch  260  slidingly mounted with respect to decorative handle  262  (and, by extension, the mounting bracket  276  as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ),  FIG. 8  also shows a cam surface  178  which is configured to interact with the cam surface  268  of lock bar  264  (see  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 ). Preferably, cam surfaces  268  and  278  may be configured in any suitable manner to ensure that sliding displacement of latch  260  easily converts to a translational motion of lock bar  264  sufficient for decoupling detents/hooks  266  from chassis slots  258  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  provides a perspective rear elevational view of desktop CPU  250 . Cover  254 , chassis  252  and latch mechanism  256  are once again depicted; however, also shown is a padlock hasp  280  and laptop lock slot  282  whose makeup and functioning will be discussed in more detail herebelow. Generally, as well known, a padlock hasp serves to secure a cover to a chassis at best superficially, in that a padlock inserted through the hasp does not necessarily prevent an unauthorized individual from prying or peeling a cover away from a chassis (absent other locking or securing arrangements). Accordingly, it is known to accompany a padlock hasp locking arrangement with a key locking arrangement. However, these two separate systems can be cumbersome to handle in conventional settings. 
         [0042]    On the other hand, a laptop lock or Kensington lock acts in such a way that a locking cylinder that is integral with a cable (neither of which are shown here) has an extension for insertion into a slot such as that indicated at  282 . This extension, as well known, then can serve to secure the cover to the chassis; further, the cable can be looped around a stationary object to ensure that the CPU as a whole cannot easily be removed. But, as with conventional padlock arrangements (as just discussed), the mere provision of a laptop/Kensington lock does not on its own preclude an unauthorized individual for prying a portion of a cover away from a chassis. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  provides a perspective view of a cover with a lock bar and rotating linkage, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown a latch mechanism may be covered with its own cover  256   a  and may interact with a lock bar in a similar manner as discussed hereabove, or may interact with it in another way. Indicated at  284  is a rotating linkage disposed adjacent the slot  282  and is preferably integral with a padlock hasp  280  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  provides another perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 10 , but with the latch mechanism cover  256   a  removed, while  FIG. 12  provides a close-up perspective view of the rotating linkage from  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Again, it should be understood that latch mechanism  256  could have similar components as discussed heretofore with regard to  FIGS. 2-8 , or potentially could include other components.  FIGS. 10-12  will now be referred to jointly. 
         [0045]    Preferably, rotating linkage  284  is a separate component from lock bar  264 . Linkage  284 , as shown, preferably includes a padlock hasp  280  directly integrated therewith, and also preferably includes a flange  282   a  that presents an aperture that aligns with slot  282 . The linkage is preferably rotated about a pivot point (such as a shoulder screw)  296  and, preferably, is biased via a torsion spring  286  towards a “rest” position as depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         [0046]    Preferably, when linkage  284  is free to rotate (i.e., it is not held in the rest position via a padlock through hasp  280  and/or via a laptop/Kensington lock as inserted through slot  282  and flange  282   a ), a translational movement of lock bar  264 , in a direction generally towards the left of  FIG. 11 , will cause linkage  284  to rotate in a clockwise direction with respect to  FIG. 11 . Essentially, this freedom of rotational movement of linkage  284  will ensure that lock bar  264  can even translate to begin with. 
         [0047]    As such, it should now be appreciated that if, indeed, a padlock is disposed through hasp  280  and/or if a laptop/Kensington lock is inserted in slot  282  and flange  282   a,  linkage  284  will be rotationally held in place and will prevent translational movement of lock bar  264 . Accordingly, this functional cooperation of linkage  284  and lock bar  264  ensures that an engaged padlock or laptop/Kensington lock, by its own merit, will prevent an unauthorized user from even being able to pry away a cover from a chassis, as detents/hooks  266  of lock bar  264  will not be able to be disengaged from chassis slots. 
         [0048]    Also shown in  FIG. 11  are extensions  288  and  290  (provided here as illustrative and non-restrictive examples) which can help limit and/or guide the rotational displacement of linkage  284 . 
         [0049]    It should be appreciated that, with regard to the arrangements shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 10-12 , the makeup and functioning of latch mechanism  256  can be regarded as “generic”, i.e., it need not necessarily be similar to the makeup and functioning of a latch mechanism as shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 2-9 . Accordingly, a primary focus of the arrangements shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 10-12 , i.e., essentially the manner via which a padlock and/or laptop/Kensington lock can serve to immobilize a lock bar such that, merely by virtue of the use of a padlock and/or laptop/Kensington lock, a much greater degree of physical securement of a cover with respect to a chassis takes place. By making these two locking/securing arrangements interdependent (i.e., an “external” system including a padlock and/or laptop/Kensington lock and an “internal” system involving a lock bar), cumbersome physical manipulations involving two separate and independent systems are fully obviated. 
         [0050]    It should further be understood and appreciated that the padlock hasp  280  and laptop/Kensington lock slot  282  (and flange  282   a ) are shown here as being together merely for illustrative purposes. It is conceivable, of course, to provide solely a padlock arrangement for “external” locking, or solely a laptop/Kensington lock for the purpose; they need not necessarily be provided together. 
         [0051]    By way of additional background to better understand the functioning of one or more of the embodiments of the present invention as broadly contemplated herein, a slot for use with a laptop lock or “Kensington lock” (which slot is often termed a “Kensington Security Slot” or a “K-Slot”) is normally embodied by a small, metal-reinforced hole found on a very wide variety of small or portable computer and electronics equipment, such as laptops, computer monitors, desktop computers, gaming consoles, and video projectors. It is used for attaching a lock-and-cable apparatus such as those manufactured by Kensington Computer Products Group (Redwood Shores, Calif.), and as briefly discussed hereabove. The lock is generally secured in place with a key or other mechanical securing device, and is fixed with respect to (typically) rubberized metal cable that has a loop at its end for securement to a permanent object. 
         [0052]    If not otherwise stated herein, it is to be assumed that all patents, patent applications, patent publications and other publications (including web-based publications) mentioned and cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
         [0053]    Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.