Patent Publication Number: US-2015083885-A1

Title: Securing apparatus for portable electronic devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/014,691, filed on Jan. 26, 2011, titled “Securing Apparatus for Portable Electronic Devices,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/299,814, filed on Jan. 29, 2010, titled “Ratchet Dock,” the disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Several apparatuses have been developed to inhibit the theft of portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers. Some apparatuses are in the form of a lock and a cable securing a laptop computer at one end of the cable. The cable is attached to an immovable object at the other end. Some other apparatuses are in the form of mechanisms that secure a laptop computer using a retaining rod, or a clamp. Although such apparatuses can secure a laptop computer from theft, improvements can be made. For example, one, might try to separate the lock from the laptop computer. Although the laptop computer housing might be destroyed during this separation, a potential thief may be more intent on obtaining the data resident on the laptop computer than the computer itself. While a number of rigid securing apparatuses exist, such rigid designs do not allow for the movement of the laptop while it is secured. In some situations, for example, in a library or a store, there may be the need to allow users with different bodily dimensions (e.g., with different arm lengths) to use laptop computers The rigid designs of existing securing apparatuses can prevent different types of users from comfortably using such secured laptop computers, because they are fixed at a single position. 
     Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems, individually and collectively. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention include securing apparatuses, and methods of using securing apparatuses. 
     A first exemplary apparatus for securing an electronic device includes a main body capable of being disposed on a surface, and an arm coupled to the main body. The main body and the arm are shaped such that they can at least partially enclose the portable electronic device when the securing apparatus is locked. The securing apparatus is capable of being adjusted in at least three degrees of freedom when the portable electronic device is enclosed by and locked to the arm and the main body. 
     The apparatus may also include a base section capable of being disposed directly on the surface. The main body may be adjustably attached to the base section. 
     The adjustable attachment of the main body to the base section may include a pivotable attachment and/or a slidable attachment, such as a longitudinally and/or vertically slidable attachment. The adjustable attachment of the main body to the base section may be adjustable in at least three degrees of freedom, such as lateral movement, longitudinal movement, vertical movement, and/or rotational movement. 
     A second exemplary apparatus for securing an electronic device includes a main body with two ends. An arm is provided at one end of the main body, and has a hook attached thereto, shaped for the electronic device to be placed between the hook and the arm. An additional arm is slidably attached to the other end of the main body, and is capable of being slid by a user to several lateral positions relative to the main body. An additional hook is provided on the slidable arm, and is shaped for the electronic device to be placed between the hook and the arm. A locking system is further provided to lock and unlock the slidable arm to at least one of the lateral positions. 
     The first arm may also be slidable, and the apparatus may have an additional locking system to lock and unlock this arm. The apparatus may also have a base attached to the main body, for the electronic device to rest thereon. The apparatus may be capable of being permanently attached to a work surface. A cable may be attached to the apparatus, to be locked to an object. The main body may be adjustably attached to a base section, such as with a pivotable or slidable attachment, such as a longitudinally and/or vertically slidable attachment. The adjustable attachment may be adjustable in at least three degrees of freedom, such as lateral movement, longitudinal movement, vertical movement, and/or rotational movement. 
     An exemplary method of securing a portable electronic device to a securing apparatus is also provided. The securing apparatus includes a main body with a first end and a second end; a first arm, including a first hook, at the first end of the main body; a second arm, including a second hook, slidably disposed at the second end of the main body; and a locking system. The method includes placing a first portion of the electronic device between the first hook and the first arm; sliding the second arm with respect to the main body to a position at which a second portion of the electronic device is disposed between the second hook and the second arm; and locking the locking system to thereby secure the second arm to that position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary securing apparatus; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a method of use of an exemplary securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a main body of an exemplary securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a second arm and a locking system of an exemplary securing apparatus; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are schematic views of an exemplary ratchet latch in engagement with an exemplary toothed bar, in the locked state; 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  are schematic views of the ratchet latch and toothed bar of  FIG. 5 , in the unlocked state; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a dozer plate of an exemplary main body, and an exemplary base section; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating longitudinal travel of an exemplary dozer plate with respect to an exemplary collar assembly; 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  are schematic views illustrating pivotal travel of an exemplary collar assembly with respect to an exemplary base section; 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross section of an exemplary hook; and 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating the adjustability of an exemplary main body with respect to an exemplary base section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One exemplary embodiment of a securing apparatus for securing a portable electronic device includes a main body configured to be disposed on a surface, and an arm coupled to the main body. The main body and the arm are capable of at least partially enclosing the portable electronic device when the apparatus is in a locked configuration. The apparatus is capable of being adjusted in three or more degrees of freedom when the portable electronic device is enclosed by and locked to the arm and the main body. 
     The portable electronic device may be, for example, a laptop computer, a monitor, a personal digital assistant, an electronic book reader, or a tablet computer. 
     The main body and the arm may be of any suitable sizes and shapes for the portable electronic device to be secured thereto. For example, if the portable electronic device is a laptop computer, the main body may be generally elongate with a length approximately equal to the width of a laptop computer, such as between about 200 mm and about 500 mm. The arm may be of any suitable configuration to at least partially enclose the device, such as an arm that is laterally slidable with respect to the main body, with a hook on an end thereof. The hook may be shaped to enclose a portion of the electronic device therein. For example, the hook may protrude longitudinally outward from the arm by between about 5 mm and about 50 mm, and laterally inward toward the main body by at least about 5 mm to thereby enclose a portion of the edge of the screen of the laptop between the hook and the arm. 
     The main body may be configured to be disposed directly on the surface, or may be placed on the surface via an intervening element such as a base member. The degrees of freedom may include longitudinal, vertical, and pivotable movement. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the above-described components and functionalities are described in further detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Securement of a Portable Electronic Device 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a securing apparatus  100  according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention. A main body  110  of generally elongate shape has two arms: a first arm  120  and a second arm  130 , at its ends. The main body  110  and arms  120 ,  130  are shaped so that they can at least partially surround a portion of an electronic device (e.g. edges of a top, screen portion of a laptop computer) to thereby secure the electronic device. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each arm  120 ,  130  has a hook: a first hook  122 , and a second hook  132 , shaped in such a way that an electronic device can be placed between the hooks  122 ,  132  and the arms  120 ,  130 . The hooks  122 ,  132  and the arms  120 ,  130  thus at least partially surround at least a portion of the electronic device. Exemplary electronic devices are laptop computers, monitors, personal digital assistants, electronic book readers, and tablet computers, but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the arms  120 ,  130  is a ratchet arm. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second arm  130  is a ratchet arm, and is slidable with respect to the main body  110 . In operation, referring also to  FIG. 2 , the second arm  130  can be slid outwards (diagonally down and to the right in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) by a user, so that the distance between the ends  124 ,  134  of the hooks  122 ,  132  is larger than the width of the electronic device  200  to be secured. The electronic device  200  is then placed between the hooks  122 ,  132 , and slid back to abut the main body  110 . The device  200  is then slid up and to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2  so that a portion of the device  200  is positioned between the hook  122  and the first arm  120 . The second arm  130  is then manipulated to slide inwards with respect to the main body  110  (up and to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to decrease the distance between the hooks  122 ,  132 , until another portion of the device  200  is positioned between the hook  132  and the second arm  130 , to secure and at least partially enclose the electronic device  200  between the hooks  122 ,  132  and the arms  120 ,  130 . The second arm  130  is then locked to this position, such as by the insertion and turning of a key (not shown) in a key hole  182 , which engages a locking system  180  (not shown in  FIG. 1  or  2 ) in the interior of the second arm  130  to block it to its position, so that the securing apparatus is in a locked configuration. Any suitable type of locking system can be used. 
     The term “ratchet arm” as used herein may refer to embodiments such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 , in which a tooth  196  of a pivotable ratchet latch  190  engages with a toothed bar  111  of the main body  110 . Exploded perspective views of the main body  110  and second arm  130  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the engagement between the latch  190  and the toothed bar  111  as seen from below in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 5  shows the ratchet latch  190  in its locked configuration, and  FIG. 6  shows it in the unlocked configuration. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary locking system  180  in its locked configuration. A cam surface  186  of an actuator bar  184  is clear of the ratchet latch  190 , which is held against the toothed bar  111  ( FIG. 3 ) by a ratchet latch return spring (not shown). Referring also to  FIG. 5 , in this locked configuration, when the ratchet arm  130  is pressed inwards (up and to the left in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; to the right in  FIG. 5 ), the tooth  196  of the ratchet latch slides along the ramped teeth  111   a ,  111   b  of the toothed bar  111 , pivoting the latch  190  about a pivot point  194  against the ratchet latch return spring. In more detail, starting from its rest position of  FIG. 5A , the latch  190  is pushed right to the position of  FIG. 5B , during which time the tooth  196  slides up the ramped tooth  111   a , thus pivoting the latch  190  clockwise in  FIG. 5  about the pivot point  194  and out of engagement with the tooth  111   a . As it is pushed farther, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the tooth  196  comes entirely out of engagement with the tooth  111   a , and as it is pushed farther yet, as shown in  FIG. 5D , it is snapped back into engagement with the next tooth  111   b  by the ratchet latch return spring. In this way, the ratchet arm  130  can be ratcheted closed along the toothed bar  111 , but cannot be pulled open, because of the interference between the tooth  196  and the teeth  111   a ,  111   b  in the other direction (left in  FIG. 5 , down and to the right in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     To unlock the apparatus, referring to  FIG. 4 , a user inserts a key (not shown) in the keyhole  182 , and rotates it 180° clockwise, thus rotating the actuator bar  184  180° clockwise. The cam surface  186  of the actuator bar  184  engages a corresponding cam surface  192  of the ratchet latch  190 , pivoting the ratchet latch  190  counterclockwise in  FIG. 4  and out of engagement with the toothed bar  111 . Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the ratchet latch  190  is held in this outwardly pivoted configuration by the cam surface  186  for the duration of the time that the apparatus is unlocked, leaving the ratchet arm  130  free to slide in either direction (open or closed) with respect to the toothed bar  111  without engaging with the teeth  111   a ,  111   b . In some embodiments, when the apparatus is unlocked, a ratchet arm return spring  116  (see  FIG. 3 ) opens the ratchet arm  130  to its full extended position. 
     While one exemplary ratcheting system has been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto. For example and without limitation, the main body  110  may include one or more ratchet latches  190  and the arm  130  may include a toothed bar  111 , or both the main body  110  and the arm  130  may include toothed bars that engage with each other. Alternatively, the arm  130  may slide freely to any continuous position within the main body  110 , in any suitable manner. While the term “ratchet arm” is used throughout the specification for consistency, the claims should in no way be construed as being limited thereto. 
     Turning back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , operation of an exemplary apparatus will now be described in more detail. If the device  200  to be secured is a laptop computer, the computer is first opened (i.e. the top, screen portion, or “lid”  210  of the computer is hinged open from the bottom, keyboard portion  220 ). The second arm  130  is then unlocked and slid, such as by the reverse sequential order shown in  FIG. 6 , to a substantially open position, either manually or by the ratchet arm return spring  116 . A “substantially open position” refers to the second arm  130  being far enough down and to the right in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (left in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that the distance between the ends  124 ,  134  of the hooks  122 ,  132  is greater than the width of the laptop  200 . The back of the laptop lid  210  is positioned against the front of the main body  110  (the surface located the farthest down and to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and the laptop  200  is slid up and to the left until the left edge  212  of the lid  210  abuts the first arm  120 , thereby enclosing a small portion of the lid  210  between the first hook  122  and the first arm  120 . The second arm  130  is then closed (slid up and to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; to the right, in sequential order in  FIG. 6 ) until it abuts the other edge  214  of the lid  210 , enclosing another portion of the lid  210  between the second hook  132  and the second arm  130 . The second arm  130  is then locked to this position, such as by the locking system  180  described above. 
     Alternatively, the locking system  180  is locked before closing the second arm  130 , such as by placing the apparatus in the locked configuration shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and then ratcheting the arm  130  closed, such as by the sequential order of  FIG. 5 . In embodiments which include a ratchet arm return spring  116 , locking the ratchet arm  130  before closing it may assist in closing it against the return spring  116 , but it should be appreciated that the ratcheting locked configuration such as that shown in  FIG. 5  may also be used in embodiments which do not include a ratchet arm return spring  116 . 
     It will be appreciated that in the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 2B , as long as the laptop is prevented from being slid downward with respect to the main body  110  (by modes described later), that the laptop is secured to the main body and thus to the apparatus  100 . 
     The device  200  to be secured may also be a monitor. This is deemed particularly useful for monitors of the type that are integrated with a computer processor, motherboard, hard disk, etc, in a housing the size and shape of a traditional monitor, but may also be used with traditional monitors. The device  200  may also be a tablet computer, or other similarly shaped device, that does not include a bottom section  220 . To secure such a device, the second arm  130  is unlocked and slid to a substantially open position, so that the distance between the ends  124 ,  134  of the hooks  122 ,  132  is greater than the width of the device. The back of the device is positioned against the front of the main body  110  and the device is slid up and to the left in  FIG. 2  until it is operatively encased between the hook  122  and the first arm  120 . The second arm  130  is then closed until the other edge of the device is operatively encased between the second hook  132  and the second arm  130 . The second arm  130  is then locked to this position. Alternatively, the second arm  130  is first locked, then closed. It will be appreciated that in this configuration, shown in  FIG. 2B , if the device is prevented from being slid either upward or downward with respect to the main body  110  (by modes described later), that the device is secured to the main body, and thus to the securing apparatus  100 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , only one of the arms  130  is a ratchet arm, but it should be appreciated that both arms  120 ,  130  may be ratchet arms. In some such embodiments, electronic devices with a wider variety of sizes can be enclosed by the securing apparatus  100 . In some embodiments with two slidable ratchet arms  120 ,  130 , two locking systems  180  are provided: one to each arm  120 ,  130 , but other locking systems to secure a device between the arms  120 ,  130  are possible. 
     Securement of the Apparatus to a Location 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , methods of securing the apparatus  100  to a location, and methods of preventing the electronic device  200  from being slid vertically out of engagement with the main body  110 , will now be described. It should be understood from the foregoing that, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to secure a monitor, tablet computer, or other device without a bottom section  220 , the device needs to be prevented from being slid either upward or downward and out of engagement with the hooks  122 ,  132 . To secure a laptop, on the other hand, the laptop needs to be prevented only from being slid downward and out of engagement with the hooks. The structure of a laptop itself prevents it from being slid upward, as the lower section  220  of the laptop (the section including the keyboard, touchpad, etc) would interfere with the hooks  122 ,  132 . 
     In some embodiments, the main body  110  is connected to a base section  140  and/or a device base  150 . The base section  140  or device base  150  may be configured to be permanently attached to an object such as a desk or other work surface, such as with glue, wood screws, or any other suitable attachments. In some embodiments, the base section  140  or device base  150  has an attachment system, such as a cable  160 , attached thereto. The cable  160  may, at its distal end not shown in the drawings, be configured to be locked to an immovable object, such as a piece of furniture, in any suitable manner. The attachment system  160  may additionally or alternatively include, for example, a chain, a monofilament, an optic cable that initiates an alarm or other indication, or a proximity detecting system that issues an alarm or other indication if objects are separated beyond a pre-established distance. Other mechanisms to prevent theft of the apparatus  100  and associated electronic device are within the scope of the claims. For example and without limitation, the main body  110  itself may be configured to be secured to a surface, or have an attachment system  160  attached thereto. 
     In some embodiments, a single securing apparatus  100  is compatible with many contemplated uses. For example, the apparatus  100  may be sold in modular form, with the main body assembly  110  attached to the base section  140  as one module, and the device base  150  as another module, with associated screws or other attaching mechanisms provided separately. The cable  160  may also be provided separately. The end user can then assemble the apparatus  100  depending on the intended use. 
     For example, if the user wishes to secure a laptop computer, he or she can attach the base section  140  to the device base  150 , making sure the cable  160  is secured therebetween, and lock the distal end of the cable  160  to an immovable object. Thus, the laptop computer is blocked from being slid downward out of engagement with the arms  120 ,  130  by the device base  150 , and the apparatus  100  (and thus also the laptop) is kept at a location by the cable  160 . Alternatively, the user can discard the device base  150  and cable  160 , and affix the base section  140  directly to a work surface, such as a table or desk, with wood screws or the like. Thus, the laptop is blocked from being slid downward by the work surface, and the apparatus  100  (and thus also the laptop) is also affixed to its location on the work surface. 
     If the user wishes to secure a device that does not have a bottom section  220 , he or she can discard the device base  150  and cable  160 , and attach the base section  140  directly to a work surface. The device is thus blocked from being slid downward by the work surface, and the apparatus  100  is also affixed to its location on the work surface. To block the device from being slid upward and out of engagement with the main body  110 , the securing apparatus  100  may be mounted under a securely fixed shelf or the like. Other methods of blocking the device from being slid upwards are within the scope of the claims. For example and without limitation, the main body  110  may have a third, vertically extending, ratcheting or fixed arm (not shown), with another hook on the end thereof to block the device from being slid upwards. Alternatively, the device base may be capable of being attached upside down to the main body  110  to block the device at the top. 
     The above-described user-settable modular configurations are given for purposes of example only, and are not to be construed as exhaustive or restrictive. In some further embodiments, for example, the main body  110  may be directly attached to a surface or an object, fixedly or with a cable, and additional shelves and work surfaces may be provided in any desired quantity and configuration. Still further, additional blocking elements, such as more than one device base  150 , additional blocking plates, or ratcheting or fixed arms, may be provided integrally or modularly to the securing apparatus  100  to further secure the electronic device  200  from being slid out of engagement with the securing apparatus. Any method of blocking the electronic device  200  from being slid out of engagement with the main body is within the scope of the appended claims. Further, any method of securing the main body  110  to or near a location is within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Adjustability 
     In some embodiments, particularly, but not only, those which include a base section  140 , the apparatus  100  may be adjustable in one or more degrees of freedom, as will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 . The term “adjustability” as used herein refers to user-settable configurations of the apparatus  100 . For example, in some embodiments, the user can adjust the configuration, position, or orientation of the main body  110 , such as adjusting its position or orientation with respect to the base section  140 . These configurations can be selected by a user for a variety of reasons. One reason a user may wish to adjust the main body  110  would be to secure electronic devices of varying shapes or sizes (such as laptops with varying widths and/or varying thicknesses of the bottom section  220 ). Another reason would be to adjust the configuration, position, or orientation of the electronic device itself. For example, in some embodiments, the user can adjust the main body  110 , along with the electronic device  200 , with respect to the base section  140 , such as to pivot the device  200  so the screen portion  210  is visible from a variety of angles, or to move the device  200  closer or farther away from the user. In some embodiments the user may wish to tilt the screen portion  210  of the device  200  with respect to the bottom section  220 . 
     It should be readily appreciated that one aspect of this adjustability is effected by the slidable or ratcheting second arm  130 : portable electronic devices  200  with a variety of widths can be secured by the apparatus, thanks to the sliding engagement of the second arm  130  with respect to the main body  110 . Since this aspect of adjustability should be readily appreciated from the foregoing description, it will not be separately addressed under this heading. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the main body  110  has a dozer plate  112  at its underside. The dozer plate  112  defines a slot  114  which engages with a collar assembly  170  of the base section  140  (see also  FIG. 1 ). 
     This collar assembly  170  is partially housed in the base section  140  by a base cover  142  and a base plate  146 . Part of the collar assembly  170  protrudes up from the base section  140 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The base cover  142  also includes thereon a release lever  144 . 
     Longitudinal Adjustability 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 , in some embodiments, the slot  114  of the dozer plate  112  is engaged with a boss  175  of a collar top  171  of the collar assembly  170 . The upper surface  176  of the collar top  171  may have a diameter that is larger than the width of the slot  114  of the dozer plate  112 , so that the dozer plate  112 , and thus the main body  110 , is secured to the collar assembly  170 , and thus the base section  140 . 
     In some embodiments, this combination of slot  114  in dozer plate  112  along with collar assembly  170  allows the dozer plate  112  to move longitudinally (diagonally up and to the right, and down and to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 7 ) with respect to the collar assembly  170 . Specifically, referring also to  FIG. 8 , the dozer plate has a distance of travel l travel  defined by the length of the slot l slot  and the length of the boss l boss :l travel =l slot −l boss . 
     The dozer plate  112  may be fixedly attached to the main body  110 , and the collar assembly  170  may be attached in such a way that it is longitudinally stationary with respect to the base section  140 . Therefore, the main body  110  has a longitudinal distance of travel l travel  with respect to the base section  140 . Because an electronic device  200  can be operatively encased by the main body  110 , the electronic device  200  also has a longitudinal distance of travel l travel  with respect to the base section  140 . 
     This is particularly useful in applications where the base section  140  is fixed to a work surface, especially in public places where the electronic device  200  is used by a variety of users with varying arm lengths. 
     An exemplary value for l travel  is around 40 mm, but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     Vertical Adjustability 
     Referring still to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, if a user pushes the release lever  144 , the release lever  144  pushes downwards against a lever  173 , which is pivotably attached to a bracket  147  on the base plate  146 . The lever  173  pivots counterclockwise in  FIG. 7 , and pushes rightwards against a vertical lock  172 . The vertical lock  172  then pivots counterclockwise in  FIG. 7 , which disengages the grooves in the vertical lock  172  from a step  177  on the bottom of the lock nut  174 . The lock nut  174 , and indeed the whole collar assembly  170 , can now be raised or lowered until the user releases the release lever  144 . In some embodiments, a collar assembly return spring (not shown) raises the collar assembly  170 . Once the user releases the release lever  144 , a vertical lock return spring (not shown) returns the vertical lock  172  and the lever  173  to their home positions, where the vertical lock  172  re-engages with the step  177  on the bottom of the lock nut  174 . 
     In such an embodiment, the collar assembly  170  has a vertical travel h that is essentially equal to the distance between the topmost and bottommost grooves of the vertical lock  172 . The collar assembly  170  may be attached in such a way that it is vertically stationary with respect to the main body  110 , so the main body  110  has a vertical travel h with respect to the base section  140 . 
     An exemplary value for h is 10 mm, but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     Thus, portable electronic devices  200  with varying thicknesses of the bottom section  220  can be secured by the apparatus  100 . In uses in which a single user secures a single portable electronic device (such as in a home or office), the height of the main body  110  with respect to the base section  140  only needs to be adjusted once. If that user acquires a new electronic device  200  (or the apparatus  100  is assigned to a different user), then the height would be reset. This is considered especially useful in uses which include a device base  150  and cable  160 , as the electronic device  200  can be securely squeezed between the hooks  120 ,  130  on one side, and the device base  150  on the other, so that the combination of the apparatus  100  and device  200  can be moved freely to varying positions, while being rigidly secured to one another. 
     Pivotal Adjustability 
     Still referring to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments the lock nut  174  can be pivoted within the hole  143  of the base cover  142  through which the collar assembly  170  protrudes. The amount that the lock nut  174  can pivot is limited by a stopper  178  of the lock nut  174  in association with the shape of the hole  143 . Specifically, referring to  FIGS. 9A-9C , the amount Θ that the lock nut  174  can pivot is defined by the angle α that the stopper takes up in the lock nut, and the angle β of the groove in the hole  143 : Θ=β−α. The collar assembly  170  may be attached in such a way that it is pivotally stationary with respect to the main body  110 , so the main body  110 , and thus any electronic device  200  encased therein, has a pivotal travel Θ with respect to the base section  140 . 
     An exemplary value for Θ is 30°, but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     In some embodiments, pivotal adjustability can alternatively or in addition be effected by the dozer plate  112  being in pivotal engagement with respect to the collar assembly  170 , such as by the boss  175  of  FIGS. 7 and 8  being circular rather than having the illustrated shape. The dozer plate  112 , along with the main body  110  and the electronic device  200 , can thus pivot until the back of the electronic device  200  hits the base section  140 . In this instance, the angle of travel Θ depends on the longitudinal position of the main body assembly  110  and electronic device  200 : when the device  200  is slid all the way forward, there is more room for it to pivot without hitting the base section  140  than when it is slid all the way back. 
     Still further, the hole  143  can alternatively or additionally be circular, and the lock nut  174  may not include the stopper, so that Θ is not limited by the stopper, but only by the back of the device  200  hitting the base section  140 . 
     Screen Tilt 
     In some embodiments, the hooks  122  and  132  have cross-sectional shapes such as that shown in  FIG. 10 , with the elongated section on the right of  FIG. 10  facing the main body  110 . In uses in which the electronic device  200  to be secured is a laptop computer, this allows the screen portion  210  to be tilted to any desired angle. 
     Advantages 
     As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the inventive securing apparatus provides several advantages over the securing apparatuses of the prior art. Some exemplary embodiments of the inventive apparatus can secure a portable electronic device rigidly, and thus more securely than a traditional cable lock inserted into a slot in a housing of the electronic device. Some embodiments allow the electronic device to be adjusted in one, two, three, or more degrees of freedom (such as longitudinally, vertically, and pivotably), while still rigidly securing it. This is particularly useful for public settings such as stores, libraries, and internet cafes, where several different users with different heights, arm lengths, etc. use the same electronic device. 
     Any recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more” unless specifically indicated to the contrary. 
     The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Many variations of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents. 
     One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     All patents, patent applications, publications, and descriptions mentioned above are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. None is admitted to be prior art.