Supports – With anti-theft or anti-tamper means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-02-27
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
With anti-theft or anti-tamper means
C248S205300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193207
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to security devices attached to portable devices, especially portable electronic devices such as personal computers and associated hardware.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computers and associated peripheral equipment such as scanners, printers, document readers, etc., are sufficiently portable so that a person can carry them. Because these portable items are also valuable, as well as portable, they may be easily stolen. A number of security devices have thus been created to inhibit theft of not only the computers, but variety of portable devices which are valuable yet may be carried off by a single person. One common way of inhibiting this theft is to physically connect the portable device to a non-portable object which is too difficult for one or two persons to easily remove, thus frustrating the theft by making it too difficult to remove the connected portable and non-portable objects, or by making it too difficult to sever the physical connection between the portable device and the non-portable object.
Some of these security devices include flat, metal plates that have an adhesive on one side to adhere the plate to the side of a computer so that the plate cannot be removed without breaking the housing of the computer or other device. A threaded recess in the plate is used to attach a locking device, such as a cable, that is in turn connected to a large, non-portable structure. To remove the device requires severing the cable, or moving the large structure to which the locking device is connected, or breaking the locking device off the portable device. Each of these impedes theft.
While these security devices work well when properly installed, the rigid plates limit their use. The rigid plates make it difficult to attach the plates to a non-flat surface. An improper attachment of these rigid plates to a non-flat surface makes it easier to remove the plate so that the security device can be uncoupled from the portable device and the device stolen. There is thus a need for a security device suitable for use with not only devices having flat surfaces, but for use with devices where there is no flat surface located.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flexible mounting pad is provided with a flat surface. Embedded in the mounting pad, preferably near the flat surface, is an enlarged head, preferably comprising a flat metal plate. A connector can extend from this embedded head to an exterior surface of the mounting pad, with the connector being adapted for connection to a security cable or other security device, which limits the movement of the mounting pad and thus limits movement of the device to which the mounting pad is attached. Preferably, the connector has a head forming a thin disk, about 1 -inch in diameter. A threaded recess can be formed in the head so that a fastener can be removably connected to the head. A weld nut works well.
A conformal security device is thus provided for a portable object. The security device preferably has a flexible, elastomeric mounting pad with a bottom surface, an opposing top surface, and sides defining a periphery of the mounting pad. A base is embedded in the mounting pad and an opening formed in the mounting pad extending from the base to one of the top or sides. Advantageously there is an adhesive on the bottom surface of the mounting pad. Preferably, the base comprises a flat piece of metal with a thicker boss containing a recess, and a fastener is inserted into and engages the recess. A connector is connected to the base and extends through the opening, so the connector can be connected to an object that is not portable.
In one embodiment, the connector comprises a tube having a first opening in a wall of the tube, the opening being large enough to pass a head of a fastener, and a second, smaller opening extending through the wall of the tube opposite the first opening. The fastener extends through the opening to engage the recess, the fastener head not passing through the second opening and instead abutting the wall opposite the first opening. A security cable passes through the tube and blocks access to the fastener head.
One important advantage of this invention is that the portable device can have a non-flat exterior surface on which the bottom of the mounting pad is placed, with the mounting pad being flexible enough to conform to the exterior surface of the electronic device, and with the adhesive interposed between the bottom of the mounting pad and the surface to fasten the mounting pad to the exterior surface.
In a further embodiment, the mounting pad comprises a plurality of strands embedded in the mounting pad. The strands can be fastened to a connector configured to be connected to an object that is not portable, or alternatively, the strands can be connected to a security cable of sufficient length to be connected to an object that is not portable.
There is thus advantageously provided a flexible mounting pad having base means inside the mounting pad for preventing removal of said base means from the mounting pad and connector means adapted for connecting the mounting pad to an object outside the mounting pad. The connector means preferably comprises a connector having an enlarged head embedded in the mounting pad and having a connecting portion extending from the mounting pad. Adhesive means on the bottom surface connect the mounting pad to another surface which can be non-flat. Preferably the security device further comprises security restraining means connected to said means inside the mounting pad, the security restraining means being connected to an object that is not portable.
There is further provided means for fastening a first surface of a flexible mounting pad to a surface of the portable device that may be combined with means for securing a connector to a base that is located inside the flexible mounting pad in a way that inhibits removal of the base from the mounting pad. For securement, means are provided for fastening the connector to an non-portable object to limit motion between the portable device and the non-portable object. The securing means preferably comprises a threaded fastener threadingly engaging the base. The base can comprise a solid part, or can comprise a plurality of strands embedded in the mounting pad.
The invention further comprises a method for securing a portable device, and includes the steps of fastening a first surface of a flexible mounting pad to a surface of the portable device by an adhesive, securing a connector to the mounting pad by fastening the connector to a base that is located inside the flexible mounting pad in a way that inhibits removal of the base from the mounting pad, and limiting motion between the portable device and a non-portable object by fastening the connector to the non-portable object. The limiting step can comprise the step of fastening a security cable to a distal end of the connector, and preferably comprises the step of fastening a threaded fastener to the base. Advantageously, the limiting step comprises the step of fastening a security cable to the non-portable object and the mounting pad. If the base comprises a sheet embedded in the mounting pad, then preferably the limiting step comprises the step of extending a connector from the sheet to an exterior of the mounting pad and adapting a distal end of the connector to be connected to the non-portable object.
In an alternative embodiment of the method, the base comprises a plurality of strands embedded in the mounting pad that converge to form a single connection, preferably within the mounting pad, and the motion limiting step comprises the step of extending the strands outside of the mounting pad and securing them to an non-portable object. Alternatively, the base can comprise a sheet embedded in the mounting pad and the securing step comprises the step of forming an engagement with the sheet.
The result of the method and apparatus is a resilient member conforming to the surface of the portable device, and adhered to
Business Machine Security, Inc.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
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