Patent Publication Number: US-6212921-B1

Title: Locking device for portable computers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to security of portable computers. Specifically, this invention relates to locking device for computers, which may be permanently secured to a permanent structure such as a desk, a computer credenza, an articulating arm or other types of permanent structures. The computer may be installed or removed from the locking device at the discretion of those having access to the security features of the locking device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Portable computers, particular the class of portable computers referred to as notebook computers, have the advantage of being compact and light weight and therefore easily transportable. However, the disadvantage of these relative small computers is that they may be subject to unauthorized removal or acquisition. 
     In the prior art, locking devices for computers, including portable computers, served to provide security for the devices in the absence of the computer owner or other authorized persons. However, the prior art devices were often cumbersome from the perspective of ease of installation and removal of the computer from the locking device. Also, the prior art locking devices did not have the flexibility to adjust to portable computers of different dimensions. 
     One such prior art computer security device which is indicative of the limitations noted above is U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,199 (Derman). Derman discloses a clamp locking device for personal computers. The Derman device is essentially a large base frame with threaded rods which grip a desk top personal computer chassis from several sides. Installation and removal of the personal computer from the Derman device requires partial disassembly of the device, the use of a wrench to tighten or untighten the threaded rods, and manipulation of sliding bars to allow or prohibit access to the threaded rods. The Derman device is restrictive in that it is designed to fit a personal computer chassis with a specific footprint, i.e. dimensions. 
     Another computer security device can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,651 (Guddee). The Guddee device is even more complicated that the Derman device in that installation and removal of the personal computer requires the virtual dismantling of the fastener. The fastener is a complex assortment of frame, locking bars, rails, connecting pins, rods and posts, bolts and other numerous components. Furthermore, the Guddee device, similar to the Derman device is designed to fit a standard personal computer chassis and therefore lacks the flexibility to accommodate portable devices of different dimensions. 
     Still another type of locking device for computers is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,610 (Sanders). The Sanders device is characterized by a plate assembly which is inserted into the floppy disk drive of the computer. A standard padlock and cable combination secures the plate assembly, and thus the computer, to a permanent object such as a table or desk. The disadvantage of this approach is that no security is provided with respect to access of the computer including keyboard, hard drive, modem, display, RAM, etc. Furthermore, the security of the Sanders device is easily defeatable by means of nothing more than wire clippers for snipping the cable. 
     Therefore, a solution to the limitations imposed by the prior art devices was needed to provide a portable computer security device with convenient installation and removal, the capability of accommodating more than one size portable computer and means for limiting access to the operation of the computer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking device for portable computers which prevents unauthorized removal of the portable computer from a permanent structure or a work area. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking device for portable computers which prevents unauthorized access of the portable computer by individuals. 
     It is another object of the present invention to secure the locking device to a permanent structure such as a desk, computer credenza or computer work station having an articulating arm. 
     It is another object of the present invention that the locking device be adjustable to provide security of portable computers having a plurality of different outside dimensions. 
     It is still another object of the present invention that the locking device facilitate rapid installation and removal of the portable computer. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a locking device for portable computers comprises a base tray, a removable locking member coupled to the base tray and an adjustable security member coupled to the removable locking member. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a locking device for portable computers comprises a base tray comprising a top and bottom surface; a removable locking member coupled to the base tray, the removable locking member comprising a locking mechanism and a horizontal section coupled to the locking mechanism that is parallel to the top surface of the base tray; and an adjustable security member coupled to the removable locking member, the adjustable security member comprising a horizontal retainer section that is parallel to both the top surface of the base tray and the horizontal section of the removable locking member wherein the horizontal retainer section of the adjustable security member is situated in between the base tray and the horizontal section of the removable locking member. 
     In another embodiment a method for securing a portable computer to a locking device comprises the steps of providing a base tray comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one side wall and at least one rear wall; coupling the bottom surface of the base tray to a permanent structure; placing the portable computer on the top surface of the base tray; providing a combined assembly comprising: an adjustable security member and a removable locking member coupled to the adjustable security member; setting an adjustment height for the adjustable security member; coupling a rear section of the combined assembly to the at least one rear wall of the base tray; coupling a front section of the combined assembly to the base tray; and locking the front section of the combined assembly to the base tray. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the combined assembly of the removable locking member and adjustable security member detached from the base tray. This is a typical configuration prior to securing the portable computer to the device. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a portable computer seated on the base tray of the locking device and the combined assembly of the removable locking member and adjustable security member secured and locked to the base tray thereby preventing unauthorized access or removal of the portable computer. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the present invention illustrating the interconnection of the three primary components, i.e. the base tray, the removable locking member and the adjustable security member. Also shown are the internal components of the locking mechanism which include the key operated lock and the locking arm. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of portions of the base tray, the removable locking member and the adjustable security member. This figure illustrates the rear interconnection between the adjustable security member and the removable locking member as well as the interconnection between the removable locking member and the base tray. 
     FIG. 5 is a across sectional view of forward portions of the interconnection between the removable locking member and the adjustable security member. Portions of the locking mechanism and the receiving chamber are also shown. 
     FIG. 6 is a top cross sectional view of the locking mechanism and the interconnection between the adjustable security member and the lock mechanism housing of the removable locking member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a locking device  1  for a notebook computer is illustrated comprising a base tray  10 , a removable locking member  20  and an adjustable security member  30 . FIG. 1 shows the combined assembly  5  of the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  detached from the base tray  10 . The adjustable security member  30  is couple to the removable locking member  20 . Thus, the adjustable security member  30  is decoupled from the base tray  10  upon detaching the combined assembly  5 . 
     The base tray  10  is comprised of a mounting plenum  11  for mounting the locking device  1  to a permanent structure (not shown) such as a computer desk, credenza or articulating arm. The mounting plenum  11  has a plurality of apertures  12  for facilitating the fastening of the locking device  1  to a permanent structure. 
     The mounting plenum  11  has top and bottom surfaces, the top surface being shown in FIG.  1 . The bottom surface (not shown) of the mounting plenum  11  makes contact with the permanent structure. Fasteners, such as screws, bolts, or the equivalent, inserted via the apertures  12 , serve to couple the locking device  1  to the permanent structure. The top surface of the mounting plenum  11  is the surface upon which the notebook computer  2  (shown in FIG. 2) is located. 
     The base tray  10  is further comprised of an extension plenum  13 . The extension plenum  13  has several functions. The extension plenum  13  has a plurality of apertures  17  for receiving the guide pins  21  of the removable locking member  20 . The extension plenum  13  also provides a receiving chamber  14  for a locking arm (not shown). Also, the extension plenum  13  extends beyond the keyboard edge of the notebook computer  2  as shown in FIG.  2  and thus can serve as a handrest for the computer operator. The extension plenum  13  is coupled to the mounting plenum  11  by means of a reinforcement channel  18 . 
     The base tray  10  is further comprised of two vertical side walls  15  (one side wall shown) and a vertical back wall  16 . The vertical side walls  15  preclude unauthorized removal of the portable computer when the locking device is in a secured state, with the combined assembly  5  of the removable locking member  20  and adjustable security member  30  in place, as shown in FIG.  2 . When the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  are detached so that the portable computer may be operated, the vertical side walls  15  serve as a retention structure which maintains the portable computer from inadvertently slipping sideways off the locking device  1 . Each of the vertical sidewalls  15  have at least one aperture  15   a  for accessing the portable computer components such as input/output (I/O) ports, power receptacles and switches. 
     The vertical back wall  16  has a locking aperture  16   a  which serves as a receptacle for the removable locking member  20 . The vertical back wall  16  also has at least one aperture  16   b , which similar to the sidewall apertures  15   a , permit the access of portable computer components such as input/output (I/O) ports, power receptacles and switches. The vertical back wall  16  also prevents the portable computer from inadvertently slipping off the rear of the locking device  1  when the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  are detached from the base tray  10  for computer operation. 
     The vertical side walls  15 , the vertical back wall  16  and the extension plenum  13  have a contiguous tubular shaped rail  19  on the exposed perimeter of these components. The tubular shaped rail  19  functions to cover any acute or sharp edges present in the unfinished portions of the vertical side walls  15 , the vertical back wall  16  and the extension plenum  13 . 
     The locking device  1  is also comprised of the removable locking member  20 . The removable locking member  20  is formed with a variety of angles to conform with the general shape of the portable computer and the security features of the locking device  1 . The rear section of the removable locking member  20  has a flange  22  for insertion into the locking aperture  16   a  when securing the personal computer. In the preferred embodiment the flange  22  is hook shaped as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The removable locking member  20  also has a rear vertical section with a plurality of apertures  23  for receiving the adjustable security member  30 . In the preferred embodiment, these apertures  23  are set in two columns of rectangular apertures. Each column has several apertures which are equally spaced. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the spacing of the between the columns of apertures  23  corresponds to the spacing between the flanges  31  of the adjustable security member  30 . 
     The front section of the removable locking member  20  includes the guide pins  21  and the lock mechanism housing  28 . The insertion of the guide pins  21  into the apertures  17  align the combined assembly  5  with the base tray  10  during installation. 
     The lock mechanism housing  28  has several functions. One of which is to protect the locking mechanism from tampering or unauthorized access. As shown in FIG. 1, the visible portion of the locking mechanism is the key operated lock  25 . The locking mechanism will be discussed in detail below. Another function of the lock mechanism housing  28  is to provide support for coupling the adjustable security member  30  to the removable locking member  20 . 
     The rear section of the removable locking member  20  is coupled to the front section by means of a horizontal section. When the removable locking member is coupled to the base tray  10 , the horizontal section is parallel to the top surface of the base tray  10 . 
     The adjustable security member  30  is an angled device that is connected to the removable locking member  20  in the following manner. The rear section of the adjustable security member  30  has a plurality of flanges  31  that are inserted into a group of the apertures  23  of the rear section of the removable security member  20 . The apertures  23  are spaced apart so that the height of the bottom surface of the horizontal retainer section of the adjustable security member  30 , i.e. the horizontal portion which connects the front and rear sections of the adjustable security member  30  and which also contacts or retains the portable computer, with respect to the top surface of the base tray  10  may be properly set to compensate for the height of the portable computer when the portable computer is in a closed and stowed position. 
     The front section of the adjustable security member  30  has a vertical section with a plurality of apertures  32  (shown in FIG.  5 ). The purpose of the apertures  32  is for fastening the adjustable security member  30  to the removable locking member  20 . In the preferred embodiment, there are two columns of equally spaced apertures  32  and the adjustable security member  30  is fastened by means of screws inserted into the apertures  32 , however, other types of fasteners may accomplish substantially the same result. 
     Similar to the removable locking member  20 , the rear section of the adjustable security member  30  is coupled to the front section by means of a horizontal retainer section. When the adjustable security member  30  is coupled to the removable locking member  20 , the horizontal retainer section is parallel to the top surface of the base tray  10  and to the horizontal section of the removable locking member  20 . The horizontal retainer section makes contact with the top surface of the portable computer (see FIG.  2 ). 
     For the adjustable security member  30  to be set to the proper height, the height of the personal computer must be either known, measured or estimated. The rear flanges of the adjustable security member  30  are inserted into the proper apertures  23 . Then the vertical front section of the adjustable security member  30  is fastened to the removable locking member  30  as described above. The height of the adjustable security member  30  may be adjusted by reversing and repeating this procedure until the proper setting is accomplished. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the locking device  1  with a typical portable computer  2  in the locked and secure position. The portable computer is placed on the top surface of the base tray  10 . The adjustable security member  30  has been properly adjusted to fit snugly over the top surface of the portable computer  2  when the combined assembly  5  of the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  is placed in position. The locking mechanism has been engaged to preclude unauthorized access or removal of the portable computer  2 . 
     FIG. 3, wherein like numerals correspond to like elements, is a cross sectional view of the locking device  1  which shows the interconnection of the three primary components, i.e. the base tray  10 , the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30 . Also shown are the internal components of the locking mechanism  24  which include the key operated lock  25  and the locking arm  26 . 
     The rear flanges  31  of the adjustable security member  30  are inserted into the proper apertures  23  of the removable locking member  20 . The vertical front section of the adjustable security member  30  is connected to the lock mechanism housing  28  portion of the removable locking member  20  by fasteners  33 . The proper height or clearance of the adjustable security member  30  with respect to the portable computer (not shown) is determined by the connection of the rear and front sections of the adjustable security member  30  to the removable locking member  20 . 
     The cushion material  37 , preferably comprised of polyurethane or other resilient material, is coupled to the lower surface of the horizontal retainer section of the adjustable security member  30  typically by means of an adhesive. The cushion material  37  provides a buffer between the adjustable security member  30  and the portable computer. A similar cushion material  27  is coupled to the lower horizontal surface of the removable locking member  20 . 
     The rear hook shaped flange  22  of the removable locking member  20  is inserted into the locking aperture  16   a  of the back wall  16  of the base tray  10 . The front section of the removable locking member  20  is secured to the extension plenum  13  of the base tray  10  by means of the locking mechanism  24 . 
     The locking mechanism  24  is comprised of a key operated lock  25  and a locking arm  26 . The locking arm  26  is coupled to the rear section of the key operated lock  25 . When the key  25   a  (FIG. 2) is inserted into the key operated lock  25 , rotation of the key  25   a  results in a rotating or swiveling movement of the locking arm  26 . The movement of the locking arm circumscribes an arc of approximately 90 degrees. The lock mechanism housing  28  protects against tampering of the locking mechanism  24 . 
     The key operated lock  25  is a two position lock. In one position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking arm is vertical and engages the extension plenum  13  at the receiving chamber  14 . This is the locked position for the device  1 . When in the locked position, a notch in the locking arm prevents the removal of the combined assembly  5  of the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  from the base tray  10 . 
     In a second position (not shown), the locking arm is rotated or swiveled to a horizontal position, i.e. 90 degrees from the locked position and parallel to the extension plenum  13 . This is the unlocked position for the device  1 . When in the unlocked position the locking arm  26  does not make contact with the base tray  10  or any of its components. In the unlocked position, the combined assembly  5  of the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  may be removed or detached from the base tray  10 . The key  25   a  may be removed from the key operated lock  25  only when the key operated lock  25  is in either the locked or unlocked positions. The key  25   a  may not be removed from the key operated lock  25  when the locking arm  26  is at some intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, wherein like numerals represent like elements, the rear view of sections of the base tray  10 , removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30  are shown. FIG. 4 illustrates the insertion of the adjustable security member flanges  31  into the apertures  23  of the rear section of the removable security member  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the apertures  23  are constructed as two columns of equally spaced apertures. The distance between the columns corresponds to the distance between the adjustable security member flanges  31 . The rear height of the adjustable security member  30  is determined by inserting the flanges  31  into the appropriate set of apertures  23 . 
     Also, illustrated in FIG. 4 is the interconnection between the removable locking member  20  and the rear wall  16  of the base tray  10 . FIG. 4 shows the flange  22  of the removable locking member  20  inserted into the locking aperture  16   a  of the rear wall  16  of the base tray  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, wherein like numerals represent like elements, the rear view of sections of the removable locking member  20 , the adjustable security member  30 , the locking mechanism  24  and the receiving chamber  17  are shown. FIG. 5 illustrates the locking mechanism  24 , including the key operated lock  25  and the locking arm  26  in the locked position, i.e. guide pins  21  seated in the extension plenum  11  and locking arm  26  within the receiving chamber  17  and engaging the extension plenum  11  via an aperture in the extension plenum  11 . The receiving chamber  17  prevents tampering of the locking mechanism  24  such as forced disengagement of the locking arm  26  from the extension plenum  11 . 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 5 is the interconnection between the removable locking member  20  and the adjustable security member  30 . The removable locking member  20  has a series of apertures  32 , on each side and equally spaced, for accepting a fastening device such as a screw or bolt  33 . The adjustable security member also has apertures with correspond with those of the removable locking member  20 . The positioning of the adjustable security member  30  with the removable locking member  20  is determined by fastening the adjustable security member  30  with a fastening device  33  to the appropriate series of apertures  32  of the removable locking member  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a top cross sectional view of the  14  removable locking member  20 , the adjustable security member  30  and the locking mechanism  24  is illustrated. The key operated lock  25  is coupled to the front section of the removable locking member  20 . The adjustable security member  30  is shown connected to the rear section of the lock mechanism housing  28 . The locking arm  26  is shown in the unlocked position, i.e. parallel to and disengaged from the extension plenum (not shown). 
     Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.