Patent Publication Number: US-2023133788-A1

Title: Universal security lock for portable electronic devices

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a security lock, especially to a security lock that is configured to secure portable electronic devices. 
     2. Description of the Prior Arts 
     A portable device, such as a laptop, often has a security slot formed in its case such that a specialized security lock can be used for securing the portable device to a permanent object, such as a table or a display case. The security lock prevents the portable device from theft when displayed in showrooms or when temporarily left unattended in public areas such as a library. 
     The security slot is a hole formed through an exterior wall of the case of the portable device. An end of the security lock is fastened to the permanent object. An expandable gripper is mounted on another end of the security lock. The expandable gripper is configured to be mounted through the security slot and then expanded inside the case such that the gripper is engaged in the security slot to prevent the gripper from being pulled out. As a result, the portable device can be fastened to the permanent object using the security lock. 
     The security slot has a variety of specifications, and each of the specifications features a unique opening width; meanwhile, thickness of the exterior wall of the case varies from one portable device to another portable device. However, the expandable gripper of the conventional security lock can only be expanded to a specific opened position; that is, the expandable gripper can only expand to a specific width. As a result, each security lock is compatible only with a specific type of security slot, which causes inconvenience to a user and increases cost. For example, each time the user purchases a new laptop with a different security slot, a new security lock has to be prepared. When laptops of different security slots are displayed in the showroom, security locks of different specifications have to be prepared, which is troublesome and costly. 
     To be more specific, there are three major security slot systems, which are Kensington Slot™, Noble Wedge Slot™, and Kensington Nano Slot™. The Kensington Slot™ has standard rectangular slots, and has introduced oblong slots recently. The Noble Wedge Slot™ has wedge holes, and has introduced 3 mm by 5 mm rectangular hole recently for DELL™ laptops as well as other laptops. As a result, there are totally six different kinds of security slots from the three major systems. 
     Moreover, among security slots of the same kind, the security slot in one laptop may differ from the security slot in another laptop when said two laptops are of different brands. For example, thickness of a metal plate where the security slot is formed may vary, thickness of the laptop case may vary, and assembly position of said metal plate on the laptop case may vary. As a result, one security lock cannot be employed universally for different kinds of security slots. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a universal security lock for portable electronic devices to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide a universal security lock for portable electronic devices that is compatible to different types of security slots for ease of use and cost reduction. 
     The universal security lock for the portable electronic devices has a lock case, a lock core, a displacement absorber, an expanding rod, and two gripping fingers. The lock case has a passage formed therein. The passage forms a front opening and a rear opening. The front opening and the rear opening are each disposed on a respective one of two opposite ends of the lock case. The lock core, the displacement absorber, the expanding rod, and the two gripping fingers are disposed in the passage of the lock case and arranged in a direction from the rear opening to the front opening. The lock core is mounted to the rear opening and has an operating part movably mounted through the rear opening. The operating part is movable inwardly into the passage to an engaged position. The expanding rod is slidably disposed in the passage. An end, which is toward the front opening, of the expanding rod is defined as an abutting end. The displacement absorber drives the operating part and the expanding rod such that the operating part and the expanding rod tend to move away from each other. Each of the gripping fingers has an inner end, an outer end, an inner surface, an outer surface and an electronic-device-engaging portion. The inner end is located in the passage and is pivotal relative to the lock case. Each of the two inner ends of the two gripping fingers is disposed on a respective one of two opposite sides of the expanding rod. The outer end protrudes from the lock case. The inner surface faces toward another one of the gripping fingers. The outer surface is opposite to the inner surface. The electronic-device-engaging portion protrudes from the outer surface and disposed on the outer end. When the expanding rod is moved toward the front opening, the abutting end of the expanding rod abuts against the two inner surfaces of the two gripping fingers and drives the two electronic-device-engaging portions to move away from each other gradually. When the operating part of the lock core is in the engaged position, the operating part pushes the displacement absorber, making the displacement absorber push the expanding rod toward the front opening such that the two electronic-device-engaging portions of the two gripping fingers are driven to move away from each other. 
     The displacement absorber has a spring or two magnets that repel each other. To engage the universal security lock with an electronic device, first pivot the two gripping fingers toward each other such that the two electronic-device-engaging portions of the two gripping fingers are closely adjacent to each other. Then, insert the two electronic-device-engaging portions into a security slot of the electronic device, and then press the operating part of the lock core to move the operating part to the engaged position. In the engaged position, the operating part drives the expanding rod via the displacement absorber to move the two electronic-device-engaging portions away from each other to prevent the two gripping fingers from being pulled out from the security slot. 
     To disengage the universal security lock from the electronic device, operate the lock core to move the operating part away from the engaged position to reduce driving force of the displacement absorber. As a result, the two electronic-device-engaging portions are able to move toward each other, allowing the two gripping fingers to be pulled out from the security slot. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that the operating part of the lock core drives the expanding rod via the displacement absorber, and movement of the expanding rod gradually expands the two electronic-device-engaging portions; that is, the two electronic-device-engaging portions are moved away gradually by the movement of the expanding rod. As a result, when the operating part is moved to the engaged position, the displacement absorber continuously pushes the expanding rod toward the front opening and forces the two electronic-device-engaging portions to expand until the two gripping fingers are stopped by width of the security slot. Therefore, the present invention is compatible with security slots of different widths and can be adjusted in a stepless manner. 
     In other words, when the operating part is moved to the same engaged position, the two gripping fingers can be expanded to multiple different expanded positions, unlike conventional security lock that can only be expanded to a single expanded position. As a result, the present invention is compatible with security slots of different widths. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are longitudinal sectional views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing an operating part of a lock core moved from a disengaged position to an engaged position; 
         FIG.  5    is an operational cross sectional view of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing that when the operating part is in the disengaged position, two gripping fingers are not expanded by an expanding rod yet, and the expanding rod is driven to move away from a front opening by a returning resilient element; 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged operational cross sectional view of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing that when the operating part is in the engaged position, the two gripping fingers are expanded by the expanding rod and engage in a security slot; 
         FIGS.  7    to  FIG.  9    are operational cross sectional views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing that when the operating part is in the same engaged position, two electronic-device-engaging portions of the two gripping fingers can be moved to different expanded positions to engage in security slots of different widths; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIGS.  11  and  12    are schematic longitudinal sectional views of a third embodiment of a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention, showing an operating part moving from a disengaged position to an engaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3  and  6   , a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention is configured to engage with a security slot  91  of a portable electronic device. The universal security lock comprises a lock case  10 , a lock core  20 , a displacement absorber  30 , an expanding rod  40 , and two gripping fingers  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the universal security lock further comprises a returning resilient element  60 . 
     The lock case  10  has a passage  11  (as shown in  FIG.  3   ) formed therein. The passage  11  forms a front opening  101  and a rear opening  102 . The front opening  101  and the rear opening  102  are each disposed on a respective one of two opposite ends of the lock case  10 . 
     The lock core  20 , the displacement absorber  30 , the expanding rod  40 , and the two gripping fingers  50  are disposed in the passage  11  of the lock case  10  and arranged in a direction from the rear opening  102  to the front opening  101 . To be precise, a lower seat  12  and an upper cover  13  are assembled together to form the lock case  10 , and the passage  11  is substantially formed by an elongated slot on the lower seat  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the passage  11  is bent; that is, the passage  11  has a front section  111  and a rear section  112 , and an extending direction of the front section  111  is nonparallel to an extending direction of the rear section  112 . An end of the front section  111  forms the front opening  101 . The expanding rod  40  and the two gripping fingers  50  are disposed in the front section  111 . An end of the rear section  112  forms the rear opening  102 , and the lock core  20  is disposed in the rear section  112 . An end of the displacement absorber  30  is disposed in the rear section  112 , and another end of the displacement absorber  30  is disposed in the front section  111 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  to  5   , the lock core  20  is mounted to the rear opening  102  and has an operating part  21  movably mounted through the rear opening  102 . The operating part  21  is movable inwardly into the passage to an engaged position (as shown in  FIG.  4   ). The lock core  20  is a conventional standard lock core, and is preferably a standard push lock; therefore, detailed description of the lock core  20  is omitted. 
     When the operating part  21  of the lock core  20  is in a disengaged position (as shown in  FIG.  3   ), a user may press the operating part  21  to make the operating part  21  move inwardly into the passage  11  to the engaged position. When the operating part  21  is moved to the engaged position, mechanism inside the lock core  20  automatically fixes the operating part  21  in the engaged position. A key (not shown in figures) has to be inserted into the lock core  20  to return the operating part  21  from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 
     The expanding rod  40  is slidably disposed in the passage  11 . An end, which is toward the front opening  101 , of the expanding rod  40  is defined as an abutting end  41 . A width of the abutting end  41  increases toward the rear opening  102 ; that is, the width of the abutting end  41  increases toward the displacement absorber  30 , but the abutting end  41  is not limited thereto. 
     The displacement absorber  30  drives the operating part  21  of the lock core  20  and the expanding rod  40  such that the operating part  21  and the expanding rod  40  tend to move away from each other. As a result, when the operating part  21  is in the engaged position, the displacement absorber  30  is capable of absorbing displacement of the expanding rod  40  relative to the operating part  21  such that the expanding rod  40  is constantly pushed toward the front opening  101 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the displacement absorber  30  has a resilient element  31 ; when the operating part  21  of the lock core  20  is in the engaged position, resiliency of the resilient element  31  drives the expanding rod  40  to move away from the operating part  21 . To be precise, two opposite ends of the resilient element  31  abut against the operating part  21  and the expanding rod  40  respectively, and the resilient element  31  is preferably a compression spring. 
     The displacement absorber  30  is not limited to driving the expanding rod  40  using resiliency of the resilient element  31 . For example, in the second embodiment of the universal security lock, the resilient element  31  is replaced by two magnetic elements that repel each other. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , each of the gripping fingers  50  has an inner end  51 , an outer end  52 , an inner surface  53 , an outer surface  54 , and an electronic-device-engaging portion  55 . 
     The inner end  51  is located in the passage  11  and is pivotal relative to the lock case  10 . The two inner ends  51  of the two gripping fingers  50  are each disposed on a respective one of two opposite sides of the expanding rod  40 . The outer end  52  protrudes from the lock case  10  via the front opening  101 . 
     The inner surface  53  is defined as a surface of the gripping finger  50  that faces toward another gripping finger  50 . The outer surface  54  is opposite to the inner surface  53 . The electronic-device-engaging portion  55  protrudes from the outer surface  54  and is disposed on the outer end  52 . 
     The gripping fingers  50  are configured to be mounted through the security slot  91  of the portable electronic device, and then the electronic-device-engaging portions  55  abut against an inner surface of the portable electronic device to prevent the gripping fingers  50  from being pulled out from the security slot  91  (as shown in  FIG.  6   ). 
     For ease of understanding, the two gripping fingers  50  are respectively defined as a first gripping finger  501  and a second gripping finger  502  (as shown in  FIG.  6   ). The inner surface  53  of the first gripping finger  501  has an opening protrusion  56  protruding thereon. The opening protrusion  56  is disposed closer to the outer end  52  of the first gripping finger  501  than the inner end  51  of the first gripping finger  501  is. 
     The inner surface  53  of the second gripping finger  502  has a closing recess  57  formed therein. When the first gripping finger  501  and the second gripping finger  502  pivot toward each other, the opening protrusion  56  of the first gripping finger  501  is movable into the closing recess  57  of the second gripping finger  502 . The closing recess  57  increases a range of an angle at which the two gripping fingers  50  are pivotal toward each other by accommodating the corresponding opening protrusion  56 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the two gripping fingers  50  are structurally identical, and only differ in position. That is, the inner surface  53  of the second gripping finger  502  also has an opening protrusion  56  formed thereon, and the inner surface  53  of the first gripping finger  501  has a closing recess  57  formed therein. The opening protrusion  56  of the second gripping finger  502  is movable into the closing recess  57  of the first gripping finger  501 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  to  9   , when the expanding rod  40  is moved toward the front opening  101 , the abutting end  41  of the expanding rod  40  abuts against the two inner surfaces  53  of the two gripping fingers  50  and drives the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  to move away from each other gradually; that is, an angle formed by the two gripping fingers  50  gradually increases as the expanding rod  40  moves toward the front opening  101  such that a distance between the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  gradually increases. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the returning resilient element  60  drives the expanding rod  40  to move away from the front opening  101 . When the operating part  21  is in the engaged position (as shown in  FIG.  4   ), restoring resilient force of the returning resilient element  60  exerted on the expanding rod  40  is smaller than force of the displacement absorber  30  exerted on the expanding rod  40  such that when the operating part  21  is in the engaged position, the returning resilient element  70  does prevent the displacement absorber  40  from driving the expanding rod  50  to move toward the front opening  101 . 
     When the operating part  21  is moved outwardly out of the passage  11  to the disengaged position (as shown in  FIG.  3   ), the force of the displacement absorber  30  exerted on the expanding rod  40  reduces rapidly such that the restoring resilient force of the returning resilient element  60  exerted on the expanding rod  40  is greater than that of the displacement absorber  30 . As a result, the expanding rod  40  is moved away from the front opening  101  such that the angle formed between the two gripping fingers  50  gradually decreases. 
     In summary, when the operating part  21  is away from the engaged position, the returning resilient element  60  makes the expanding rod  40  move away from the front opening  101  automatically such that the user can pull out the gripping fingers  50  from the security slot  91 . 
     How to use the present invention is elaborated as follows. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  to  6   , first set the operating part  21  of the lock core  20  in the disengaged position, and then press the operating part  21  to move the operating part  21  to the engaged position (as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6   ). In the engaged position, the operating part  21  pushes the displacement absorber  30 , making the displacement absorber  30  push the expanding rod  40  toward the front opening  101  such that the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  of the two gripping fingers  50  are driven away from each other. As a result, the present invention is capable of engaging with the security slot  91 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  to  9   , when the operating part  21  is moved to the engaged position, the displacement absorber  30  forces the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  to move away from each other via the expanding rod  40  until the gripping fingers  50  are limited by width of the security slot  91 . As a result, the present invention enables the distance between the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  to be adjusted in a stepless manner; that is, the two gripping fingers  50  are capable of engaging with security slots  91 ,  91 A (as shown in  FIG.  7   ),  91 B (as shown in  FIGS.  8   ), and  91 C (as shown in  FIG.  9   ) that differ in width given that the operating part  21  is in the same engaged position. 
     The abutting end  41  of the expanding rod  40  is capable of abutting against the opening protrusion  56  of the first gripping finger  501  to further increase the distance between two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  such that the gripping fingers  50  are capable of engaging with security slots  91  of greater widths. 
     To disengage the universal security lock from the security slot  91 , simply restore the operating part  21  to the disengaged position. 
     The advantage of the front section  111  being nonparallel to the rear section  112  is that when the universal security lock is used for securing a laptop (not shown in figures), the front section  111  conforms with the security slot  91  and is laid flat on a desk, while the rear section  112  is bent upward due to the angle between the rear section  112  and the front section  111 . As a result, the lock core  20  is more convenient to operate. 
     With reference to  FIG.  10   , a second embodiment of the universal security lock is substantially similar to the first embodiment mentioned above, but the difference is that the displacement absorber  30 A includes two magnetic elements  31 A, and the two magnetic elements  41 A repel each other. One of the magnetic elements  41 A is mounted on the operating part  21 A of the lock core  20 A, and the other magnetic element  31 A is mounted on the expanding rod  40 A. When the operating part  21 A is in the engaged position, repulsion between the two magnetic elements  31 A drives the expanding rod  40 A to move away from the operating part  21 A. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  11  and  12   , a third embodiment of the universal security lock is substantially similar to the first embodiment mentioned above, but the difference is that the displacement absorber  30 B includes a resilient element  31 B, a first angled block  32 B, and a second angled block  33 B such that when the front section  111 B and the rear section  112 B form a greater angle, the displacement absorber  30 B is still compatible. To be precise, the front section  111 B is substantially perpendicular to the rear section  112 B. 
     The first angled block  32 B is mounted in the rear section  112 B and is movable along the extending direction of the rear section  112 B. The first angled block  32 B has a first abutting surface  321 B which is preferably a flat surface tilted at an angle to the extending direction of the rear section  112 B. 
     The second angled block  33 B is mounted in the front section  111 B and is movable along the extending direction of the front section  111 B. The second angled block  33 B has a second abutting surface  331 B which is preferably a flat surface tilted at an angle to the extending direction of the front section  111 B. 
     The second abutting surface  331 B slidably abuts against the first abutting surface  321 B of the first angled block  32 B. When the first angled block  32 B is moved along the extending direction of the rear section  112 B toward the second angled block  33 B, the second angled block  33 B is driven by the first angled block  32 B to move toward the front opening  101 B. Therefore, movement of the operating part  21 B along the rear section  112 B is converted to movement of the second angled block  33 B along the front section  111 B, allowing the operating part  21 B to drive components disposed in the front section  111 B even when the front section  111 B and the rear section  112 B form a greater angle or are even perpendicular to each other. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the resilient element  31 B is disposed between the second angled block  33 B and the expanding rod  40 B, and drives the second angled block  33 B and the expanding rod  40 B to move away from each other, but the resilient element  31 B is not limited thereto. In another preferred embodiment, the resilient element  31 B is disposed between the first angled block  32 B and the operating part  21 B. 
     The resilient element  31 B can be replaced by the two magnetic elements  31 A. The two magnetic elements  31 A can be disposed on the second angled block  33 B and the expanding rod  40 B respectively; or, the two magnetic elements  31 A can be disposed on the first angled block  32 B and the expanding rod  40 B respectively; or the two magnetic elements  31 A can be disposed on the first abutting surface  321 B of the first angled block  32 B and the second abutting surface  331 B of the second angled block  33 B respectively. 
     To sum up, the operating part  21  of the lock core  20  drives the expanding rod  40  via the displacement absorber  30 , and movement of the expanding rod  40  gradually expands the two electronic-device-engaging portions  50 . As a result, when the operating part  21  is moved to the engaged position, the displacement absorber  30  continuously pushes the expanding rod  40  toward the front opening  101  and forces the two electronic-device-engaging portions  55  to expand until the two gripping fingers  50  are stopped by width of the security slot  91 . Therefore, the present invention is compatible with security slots  91  of different widths. 
     In other words, when the operating part  21  is moved to the same engaged position, the two gripping fingers  50  can be expanded to multiple different expanded positions, unlike conventional security lock that can only be expanded to a single expanded position. As a result, the present invention is compatible with security slots  91  of different widths. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.