Locks – Special application – For portable articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-10-02
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For portable articles
C070S018000, C070S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295847
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Theft of portable objects is an eternal concern. Various locking devices exist to combat the problem of theft of portable objects. The assignees of the present invention, Acco Brands, Inc., has developed proprietary security slots, which are found on many portable electronic devices such as laptop computers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,327,752 and 5,381,685, for example, also assigned to Acco Brands, Inc., describe a line of cable-attaching locking devices designed for interfacing with portable equipment provided with a security slot like that mentioned above. In one example of a locking device, a locking mechanism attaches a cable to a portable electronic device, whereby the cable may be attached to an object other than the portable electronic device to inhibit its theft.
Not all portable objects are designed to include a security slot. However, there is a need for a system by which a cable is used to secure an object lacking a security slot. Further, such a system should be adapted for use with cable lock devices currently available in the market, such as those described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an interface adapted for use with a cable locking device, to secure an end of a cable to another portion of the cable in a loop. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a security system that takes advantage of cable locking devices available in the market in order to secure a portable object through use of a passage through which a cable may be placed.
In one aspect of the invention, a cable self-coupling device includes a slot portion provided with a slot for coupling with the locking member, and a first cable portion that extends from a side of the slot portion and includes a first opening through which the cable is passed. In another aspect of the invention, the cable self-coupling device includes a second cable portion that also includes an opening through which the cable is passed. The second cable portion extends from an opposite side of the slot portion as the first cable portion.
In another aspect of the invention, a system for maintaining a cable in a loop is provided. The system includes a locking device coupled to a first end of the cable, where the locking device includes a locking member being movable from an unlock position to a lock position. The system further includes a coupling device having a slot portion and a cable portion. The slot portion is provided with a slot for receiving the locking member in the unlock position and for coupling with the locking member in the lock position. The cable portion extends from a side of the slot portion, and includes a first opening through which a second end of the cable is passed to provide a loop in the cable between the first end and the second end.
In yet another aspect of the invention a method of securing an object having a passage is provided. The method includes providing a coupling device to an intermediate portion of a cable, the coupling device including a slot portion provided with a slot and at least one cable portion that extends from a side of the slot portion, the at least one cable portion including a hole corresponding to a diameter of said cable for receiving the intermediate portion of the cable. The method further includes passing an end of the cable through said passage, wherein the cable end includes a locking member, looping the end of the cable toward the coupling device, and engaging the locking member to the slot of the slot portion of the coupling device to secure the object with the cable.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a cable in a security loop is provided. The method includes providing a locking device at one end of the cable, and passing the locking device through a cable portion of a coupling device so that a portion of the cable also passes through the cable portion. The method further includes forming the passed portion of the cable into a loop so that the locking device is directed back toward the coupling device, and engaging the locking device to a slot portion of the coupling device, where the slot portion includes a slot for receiving a locking member provided on the locking device.
In still yet another aspect of the invention, a device for coupling a cable to a locking device provided at an end of the cable, where the locking device includes a locking member, is provided. The device includes a cable attachment portion having an opening through which the cable is passed, and a locking member attachment portion that extends from the cable attachment portion. The locking member attachment portion includes a slot adapted for receiving the locking member.
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4733840 (1988-03-01), D'Amore
patent: 5076079 (1991-12-01), Monoson et al.
patent: 5351507 (1994-10-01), Derman
patent: 5398530 (1995-03-01), Derman
patent: 5579657 (1996-12-01), Makous
patent: 5875657 (1999-03-01), Kelley
patent: 5937678 (1999-08-01), Kuo
patent: 5974840 (1999-11-01), Kao
patent: 6000251 (1999-12-01), Murray, Jr. et al.
patent: 6003348 (1999-12-01), McCrea
patent: 6006555 (1999-12-01), Shu-Fen
ACCO Brands Inc.
Barrett Suzanne Dino
McGutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, LLP
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