Computer security device

Details Computer security device Computer security device

2000-08-04

2003-03-25

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Locks

Special application

For portable articles

C070S018000, C070S049000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06536244

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for inhibiting the theft of small but expensive pieces such as a computer or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional computer security device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,685 entitled “Computer Physical Security Device” as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. The device comprises a nose-piece
1
, a hollow shell
2
, a spindle
3
, and a cylindrical collar
4
.
Collar
4
is put on shell
2
which is in turn inserted into nose-piece
1
. As such, collar
4
is secured between nose-piece
1
and plate
201
. There is an aperture (not shown) provided through the aperture plate
201
. Spindle
3
is permitted to rotate a limited range with respect to shell
2
. Spindle has an aperture (not shown) on the aft surface for key (not shown) to insert through for rotating spindle
3
. A shaft
301
is projected on front end of spindle
3
. A crossmember
302
is provided at the free end of shaft
301
. An abutment mechanism
303
is put on shaft
301
. Abutment mechanism
303
comprises a pair of pins
304
with shaft
301
inserted therebetween. Ends of pins
304
are extended outwardly through nose-piece
1
. A cable
401
is dead-ended into a tab of collar
4
. Thus forms the computer security device.
In an unlocked position, pins
304
and crossmember
302
are aligned in engagement, while in a locked position, pins
304
and crossmember
302
are misaligned in engagement as best illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. In use, cable
401
is wrapped around a relatively immovable object (not shown) such as the cross bar spanning two legs of a desk. Then insert a key engaging lock mechanism into keyhole to rotate spindle
3
to make the security device in an unlocked position. Next, insert the aligned shaft
301
and pins
304
into slot
901
of an exterior wall
9
of the piece of equipment (e.g., computer keyboard) to be protected until the crossmember
302
fully passes over the slot
901
to be located inside the exterior wall
9
of the piece of equipment. Then rotate key
5
to cause spindle
3
together with shaft
301
and crossmember
302
to rotate 90° for engaging crossmember
302
with the exterior wall
9
. By utilizing this, the security device is extremely difficult to disengage by anyone not having the appropriate key
5
. As a result, the purpose of inhibiting the theft of the piece of equipment is achieved.
However, the previous design suffered from disadvantages. That is, it is required for an operator to use one hand to hold the nose-piece
1
and the other hand to insert a key into keyhole to rotate spindle
3
for locking/unlocking the security device. This is quite inconvenient. Also, the special key can be lost of misplaced. As a result, a recognized need still exists for an improved computer security device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device wherein a spindle is engaged with a lock pin and the spindle is engaged with an abutment plate such that a locking/unlocking of the security device is effected by simply using one hand to rotate the spindle to cause the lock pin to rotate together. This device can inhibit the theft of small but expensive pieces such as a computer or the like.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5381685 (1995-01-01), Carl et al.
patent: 5913907 (1999-06-01), Lee
patent: 6006557 (1999-12-01), Carl et al.
patent: 6155088 (2000-12-01), Murray, Jr. et al.
patent: 6170304 (2001-01-01), Ohta
patent: 6199413 (2001-03-01), McDaid et al.
patent: 6257029 (2001-07-01), Liao

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