Patent Publication Number: US-2023135591-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 expand 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 base, a lock core, and an engaging mechanism. The base has an inner space which extends along an imaginary extension line and 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 base. The lock core is mounted on the base and has an actuating block which is movably disposed in the inner space. The engaging mechanism is disposed in the inner space and has an operating part, a blocker, a displacement absorber, an expanding rod, and two gripping fingers. The operating part, the displacement absorber, the expanding rod, and the two gripping fingers are disposed along the extension line toward the front opening. The operating part is slidably mounted through the rear opening and is slidable toward the front opening to an engaged position. The blocker is mounted on the operating part and protrudes from a side, which faces toward the lock core, of the operating part. The expanding rod is slidably disposed in the inner space and is slidable along the extension line; an end, which is away from the rear 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 inner space and is pivotal relative to the base. Each of the two inner ends of the two gripping fingers are disposed on a respective one of two opposite sides of the expanding rod. The outer end protrudes from the base via the front opening. 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 is 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 is in the engaged position, the displacement absorber pushes 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 blocker is disposed in the inner space of the base and abuts against the actuating block of the lock core or an inner wall of the base to keep the operating part in the engaged position. 
     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 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 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   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a longitudinal sectional view of the universal security lock in 
         FIG.  1   , showing an operating part of an operating mechanism disposed in a disengaged position; 
         FIG.  4    is another longitudinal sectional view of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing the operating part moved to an engaged position, and an actuating block of a lock core rotated to a side, which is toward a rear opening, of a blocker to keep the operating part in the engaged position; 
         FIGS.  5  and  6    are operational cross sectional views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing the operating part moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position, and the operating part making two gripping fingers pivot away from each other; 
         FIGS.  7  and  8    are top views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing the actuating block of the lock core rotated around a center line of the lock core to a locked status; 
         FIG.  9    is another operational cross sectional view 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 a different expanded position to engage in a security slot of a different width;. 
         FIGS.  10    to  FIG.  12    are operational partial enlarged cross-sectional views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  1   , showing the two electronic-device-engaging portions can be moved to different expanded positions to engage in security slots of different widths; 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  14  and  15    are longitudinal sectional views of the universal security lock in  FIG.  13   , showing an actuating block being pressed to make the blocker retracted into an accommodating recess, and an operating part returned from an engaged position to a disengaged position automatically; and 
         FIGS.  16  and  17    are longitudinal sectional views of a third embodiment of a universal security lock for portable electronic devices in accordance with the present invention, showing different operating statuses of the universal security lock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , 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 base  10 , a lock core  20 , an operating mechanism  30 , a displacement absorber  40 , an expanding rod  50  and two gripping fingers  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the universal security lock further comprises a returning resilient element  70 . 
     The base  10  has an inner space  101  which extends along an imaginary extension line L and forms a front opening  102  and a rear opening  103 . The front opening  102  and the rear opening  103  are each disposed on a respective one of two opposite ends of the base  10 . 
     The operating mechanism  30 , the displacement absorber  40 , the expanding rod  50 , and the gripping fingers  60  are disposed along the extension line L toward the front opening  102 . In the preferred embodiment, the base  10  has a lower seat  11  and an upper cover  12 , and the inner space  101  is an elongated recess formed in a top surface of the lower seat  11 . Moreover, the base  10  further has a partition plate that is disposed between the lower seat  11  and the upper cover  12 . The partition plate has multiple through holes. The extension line L is preferably a straight line, but can be a bent line. 
     The lock core  20  is mounted on the base  10  and has an actuating block  21  which is movably disposed in the inner space  101 . The lock core  20  is a conventional standard lock core that is used in combination with a key or codes to lock or unlock a conventional lock; therefore, detailed description of the lock core  20  is omitted. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  7 , and  8   , after insertion of a key (not shown in figures) into the lock core  20 , the actuating block  21  can be rotated around a center line C of the lock core  20  to the rear opening  103  such that the rear opening  103  is partially covered by the actuating block  21 , and this condition is defined as a locked status (as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  8   ). When the actuating block  21  is rotated away from the rear opening  103  by the key, the condition of the lock core  20  is defined as an unlocked status (as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  7   ). 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  to  6   , the operating mechanism  30  is slidable relative to the base  10 , and has an operating part  31  and a blocker  32 . In the preferred embodiment, the operating mechanism  30  further has a blocker resilient element  33 . 
     The operating part  31  is slidably mounted through the rear opening  103 , and is slidable toward the front opening  102  to an engaged position (as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6   ) or slidable away from the front opening  102  to a disengaged position (as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   ). The blocker  32  is mounted on the operating part  31  and protrudes from a side, which faces toward the lock core  20 , of the operating part  31 . When the operating part  31  is in the engaged position, the blocker  32  is in the inner space  101 ; when the operating part  31  is in the disengaged position, the blocker  32  preferably protrudes from the base  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the operating part  31  has an accommodating recess  311  which opens toward the lock core  20 . The blocker  32  is elongated, and two opposite ends of the blocker  32  are respectively a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed toward the front opening  102 , pivotally mounted to the operating part  31 , and disposed in the accommodating recess  311 . The blocker resilient element  33  is a compression spring, and two ends of the blocker resilient element  33  abuts against the blocker  32  and a bottom of the accommodating recess  311  respectively such that the second end of the blocker  32  tends to protrude from the accommodating recess  311 ; that is, when the second end of the blocker protrudes from the accommodating recess  311 , the blocker  32  is tilted in a way that even when the lock core  20  is in the locked status, the operating part  31  can still be forced to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     The blocker resilient element  33  is not limited to a compression spring as long as it drives the second end of the blocker  32  to protrude from the accommodating recess  311 . Moreover, the blocker  32  is not limited to be pivotally mounted to the operating part  31 . For example, the blocker  32  may move along a straight line relative to the operating part  31 . 
     The displacement absorber  40  drives the operating part  31  of the operating mechanism  30  and the expanding rod  50  such that the operating part  31  and the expanding rod  50  tend to move away from each other. In the preferred embodiment, the displacement absorber  40  has a resilient element. To be precise, the displacement absorber  40  is a compression spring, and two opposite ends of the displacement absorber  40  abut against the operating part  31  and the expanding rod  50  respectively. 
     The displacement absorber  40  is not limited to a resilient element, and can further include other components as long as the displacement absorber  40  utilizes resiliency of the resilient element to drive the operating part  31  and expanding rod  50  to move away from each other. Moreover, the displacement absorber  40  may utilize repulsion between two magnetic elements to drive the operating part  31  and the expanding rod  50  such as in a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     The expanding rod  50  is slidably disposed in the inner space  101  and is slidable along the extension line L. An end, which is away from the rear opening  103 , of the expanding rod  50  is defined as an abutting end  51 . A width of the abutting end  51  increases toward the rear opening  103 , but not limited thereto. 
     Each of the gripping fingers  60  has an inner end  61 , an outer end  62 , an inner surface  63 , an outer surface  64  and an electronic-device-engaging portion  65 . The inner end  61  is located in the inner space  101  and is pivotal relative to the base  10 . Each of the two inner ends  61  of the two gripping fingers  60  is disposed on a respective one of two opposite sides of the expanding rod  50 . The outer end  62  protrudes from the base  10  via the front opening  102 . The inner surface  63  is defined as a surface of the gripping finger  60  that faces toward another gripping finger  60 . The outer surface  64  is opposite to the inner surface  63 . The electronic-device-engaging portion  65  protrudes from the outer surface  64  and is disposed on the outer end  62 . 
     The gripping fingers  60  are configured to be mounted through the security slot  91  of the portable electronic device, and then the electronic-device-engaging portions  65  abut against an inner surface of the portable electronic device to prevent the gripping fingers  60  from being pulled out from the security slot  91 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  12   , the two gripping fingers  60  are respectively defined as a first gripping finger  601  and a second gripping finger  602  for ease of understanding. The inner surface  63  of the first gripping finger  601  has an opening protrusion  66  protruding thereon. The opening protrusion  66  is disposed closer to the inner end  61  of the first gripping finger  601  than the outer end  62  of the first gripping finger  601  is. 
     The inner surface  63  of the second gripping finger  602  has a closing recess  67  formed therein. When the first gripping finger  601  and the second gripping finger  602  pivot toward each other, the opening protrusion  66  of the first gripping finger  601  is movable into the closing recess  67  of the second gripping finger  602 . The closing recess  67  increases a range of an angle at which the two gripping fingers  60  are pivotal toward each other by accommodating the corresponding opening protrusion  66 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the two gripping fingers  60  are structurally identical, and only differ in position. That is, the inner surface  63  of the second gripping finger  602  also has an opening protrusion  66  formed thereon, and the inner surface  63  of the first gripping finger  601  has a closing recess  67  formed therein. The opening protrusion  66  of the second gripping finger  602  is movable into the closing recess  67  of the first gripping finger  601 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  5  and  9  to  12   , when the expanding rod  50  is moved toward the front opening  102 , the abutting end  51  of the expanding rod  50  abuts against the two inner surfaces  63  of the two gripping fingers  60  and drives the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  to move away from each other gradually; that is, an angle formed by the two gripping fingers  60  gradually increases as the expanding rod  50  moves toward the front opening  102  such that a distance between the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  gradually increases. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the returning resilient element  70  drives the expanding rod  50  to move toward the rear opening  103 . When the operating part  31  is in the engaged position, restoring resilient force of the returning resilient element  70  exerted on the expanding rod  50  is smaller than force of the displacement absorber  40  exerted on the expanding rod  50  such that when the operating part  31  is moved away toward the front opening  102  to the disengaged position, the returning resilient element  70  does prevent the displacement absorber  40  from driving the expanding rod  50 . 
     When the operating part  31  is moved away toward the front opening  102  to the disengaged position, the force of the displacement absorber  40  exerted on the expanding rod  50  reduces rapidly such that the force of the returning resilient element  70  exerted on the expanding rod  50  is greater than that of the displacement absorber  40 . As a result, the expanding rod  50  is moved toward the rear opening  103  such that the angle formed between the two gripping fingers  60  gradually decreases. 
     In summary, when the operating part  31  is away from the engaged position, the returning resilient element  70  makes the expanding rod  50  move toward the rear opening  103  automatically such that the user can pull out the gripping fingers  60  from the security slot  91 . 
     How to use the present invention is elaborated as follows. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3 ,  5 , and  7   , first set the universal security lock at the unlocked status; that is, the actuating block  21  is rotated away from the rear opening  103 . In this status, the operating part  31  of the operating mechanism  30  is driven away from the expanding rod  50  to the disengaged position; in other words, the operating part  31  is driven toward the front opening  102  to the disengaged position. Pivot the two gripping fingers  60  toward each other such that the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  are closely adjacent to each other, and then mount the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  through the security slot  91 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  4 ,  6 , and  8   , then press the operating part  31  to move the operating part  31  to the engaged position. Now the blocker  32  is moved into the inner space  101  of the base  10  by the operating part  31 . 
     Then, set the lock core  20  at the locked status in which the actuating block  21  is moved to the rear opening  103  of the base  10  and partially covers the rear opening  103 . Now the actuating block  21  is disposed on a side, which is toward the rear opening  103 , of the blocker  32  to keep the operating part  31  in the engaged position. The operating part  31  pushes the expanding rod  50  toward the front opening  102  via the displacement absorber  40 , causing the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  of the two gripping fingers  60  to move away from each other such that the universal security lock is engaged with the security slot  91 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the blocker  32  can be retracted into the accommodating recess  311  of the operating part  31 , and therefore it is also possible to move the operating part  31  from the disengaged position to the engaged position even when the lock core  20  is at the locked status. In other words, the user may move the operating part  31  to the engaged position regardless of the status of the lock core  20 , making the universal security lock more convenient to use. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  and  9  to  12   , when the operating part  31  is moved to the engaged position, the displacement absorber  40  forces the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  to move away from each other via the expanding rod  50  until the gripping fingers  60  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  65  to be adjusted in a stepless manner; that is, the two gripping fingers  60  are capable of engaging with security locks  91 ,  91 A,  91 B, and  91 C that differ in width given that the operating part  31  is in the same engaged position. 
     To disengage the universal security lock from the security slot  91 , simply restore the lock core  20  to the unlocked status. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  10  and  12   , the abutting end  51  of the expanding rod  50  is capable of abutting against the opening protrusion  66  of the first gripping finger  601  to further increase the distance between two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  such that the gripping fingers  60  are capable of engaging with security slots  91  of greater widths. 
     The universal security lock for portable electronic devices in the first embodiment can also be deemed as follows. The electronic device has a base  10 , a lock core  20 , and an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism is disposed in the inner space  101  of the inner space base  10  and includes the operating part  31 , the blocker  32 , the displacement absorber  40 , the expanding rod  50 , and the two gripping fingers  60 . The operating part  31 , the displacement absorber  40 , the expanding rod  50 , and the two gripping fingers  60  are disposed along the extension line L toward the front opening  102 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  13  to  15   , a second embodiment of the universal security lock is substantially similar to the first embodiment mentioned above, but the difference is that the lock core  20 A is a combination lock, and function of the lock core  20 A is not to keep the operating part  31 A in the engaged position, but rather to release the operating part  31 A from the engaged position. 
     In the second embodiment, when the operating part  31 A is in the engaged position, the blocker  32 A protrudes from the accommodating recess  311 A and abuts against an inner wall of the base  10 A to keep the operating part  31 A in the engaged position. In other words, instead of using the lock core  20 A to keep the operating part  31 A in position, the base  10 A is used for keeping the operating part  31 A in the engaged position. 
     To disengage the universal security lock with the security slot  91 , the user has to input correct combination, and then press down the actuating block  21 A to make the blocker  32 A retracted into the accommodating recess  311 A, such that the operating part  31  automatically returns to the disengaged position (as shown in  FIG.  15   ). 
     Moreover, the displacement absorber  40 A in the second embodiment includes two magnetic elements  41 A. One of the magnetic elements  41 A is mounted on the operating part  31 A of the operating mechanism  30 A, and the other magnetic element  41 A is mounted on the expanding rod  50 A. The two magnetic elements  41 A repel each other such that the operating part  31 A and the expanding rod  50 A are driven to move away from each other. 
     The displacement absorber  40 A can further include other components as long as the displacement absorber  40 A utilizes repulsion between the two magnetic elements  41 A to drive the operating part  31 A and the expanding rod  50 A to move away from each other. 
       1  With reference to  FIGS.  16  and  17   , a third embodiment of the present invention is substantially similar to the first embodiment mentioned above, but the difference is that the lock core  20 B is movable upward and downward relative to the base  10 B, and the operating part  31 B is kept in the engaged position by the base  10 B. 
     The actuating block  21 A is rotatable around the center line of the lock core  20 B. To return the operating part  31 B to the disengaged position, rotate the actuating block  21 B to a position above the blocker  32 B and then press down the lock core  20 A (as shown in  FIG.  16   ). Then, the operating part  31 B automatically returns to the disengaged position as shown in  FIG.  17   . The actuating block  21 B in  FIG.  17    is moved away from the top of the blocker  32 B. 
     To sum up, the operating part  31  of the operating mechanism  30  drives the expanding rod  50  via the displacement absorber  40 , and movement of the expanding rod  50  gradually expands the two electronic-device-engaging portions  60 . As a result, when the operating part  31  is moved to the engaged position, the displacement absorber  40  continuously pushes the expanding rod  50  toward the front opening  102  and forces the two electronic-device-engaging portions  65  to expand until the two gripping fingers  60  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  31  is moved to the same engaged position, the two gripping fingers  60  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.