Typewriting machines – Means auxiliary to typewriting function – Frame – casing – or support for typewriter
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-21
2004-11-23
Nguyen, Anthony H. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Means auxiliary to typewriting function
Frame, casing, or support for typewriter
C400S693000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06821040
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secure housing for an electronic unit, in particular a franking machine. The secure housing has at least a first housing part and a second housing part, which is connected releasably to the first housing part via at least one connecting device.
Numerous electronic units or devices require their internals to be protected against unauthorized access in order, on the one hand, to protect the user against possible risk or else also to prevent fraudulent manipulation of the unit. This prevention of undetected fraudulent manipulation is particularly important precisely in franking machines which, ultimately, produce an imprint corresponding to a monetary value, namely the franking of a letter or the like.
In order to protect the mail carrier against relatively large losses which may result from fraudulent manipulation, for example of the postal registers of the franking machine, which contain the accounting information for the franking imprints produced by the franking machine, franking machines or the associated accounting module usually have/has a secure housing of the generic type. The secure housing prevents the unauthorized access to regions of the franking machine which need to be secured. It goes without saying here that, although a defrauder can gain access to these regions which need to be secured, there are nevertheless indications on the housing, or parts connected thereto, which indicate that an attempt has been made to gain access, with the result that there is evidence of an attempted deception at least after the fact.
In order to render the unauthorized opening, or even an attempt at unauthorized opening, of the secure housing detectable, it is known to use, for example, conventional wire seals by means of which at least one screw connecting the two housing parts is leaded in a known manner. The solution, however, has the disadvantage that the wire seals involve relatively high outlay and/or are unwieldy and, in some cases, may also be damaged accidentally, for example during changeover of the set-up location of the unit.
It has also become known, for example in the case of devices for recording heating costs, to use pin-like connecting elements for connecting the housing parts. The connecting elements have to be destroyed in order to release the connection between the two housing parts. These variants, in turn, have the disadvantage that, on account of the configuration of the connecting pins, they are usually only suitable for relatively small housings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a secure housing for an electronic device, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which, while being straightforward to produce, ensures that intentional manipulation is reliably detected.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a secure housing for an electronic unit, comprising:
a first housing part and a second housing part;
at least one connecting device for releasably connecting the first housing part with the second housing part;
at least one covering device configured to prevent the housing from being opened without being noticed, the covering device being disposed to block an access to the connecting device and being removable from the first or second housing part only with noticeable damage being caused.
The present invention is based on the technical teaching that a housing which is straightforward to produce and makes it possible for intentional manipulation to be reliably detected is obtained if, in order to prevent unknown opening of the housing, there is provided at least one covering device which is arranged on and/or in the first or second housing part, blocks the access to the connecting device and can only be removed from the first or second housing part with noticeable damage, for example at least partial destruction, being caused.
On the one hand, the covering device advantageously ensures that intentional manipulation of the housing is readily detectable. On the other hand, the covering device makes it possible for the connecting device to be configured in a conventional manner, with the result that no significant outlay has to be provided for this purpose, which, in turn, has an advantageous effect on the production outlay, in particular the production costs.
The covering device also has the advantage that it may be of relatively small and straightforward design, since all that it has to do is to block the access to the connecting device. This facilitates to a considerable extent the production both of the covering device and of the first and second housing parts.
The connecting device may be designed in a conventional manner, for example in the form of one or more screws, hooks, etc. via which the two housing parts are connected in a conventional manner. In the case of the screw, the covering device then needs merely, for example, cover the screw head, which is otherwise accessible for release purposes, and, accordingly, may be of very small, straightforward and compact configuration.
In the case of preferred variants of the housing according to the invention, it is provided that the connecting device comprises fastening means via which it is fastened releasably on the first housing part. It is thus advantageously possible to provide connecting devices in the case of which the connection between the first and second housing parts is possible, during the production of the unit, via a connecting mechanism which is more straightforward to join than that of the connection between the connecting device and the first housing part.
In the case of preferred variants of the housing according to the invention, it is provided that the connecting device is designed in the manner of a snap-in connection. In this case, a constituent part of the snap-in connection is then fastened on the first housing part via the fastening means. This connection may take place long before the rest of the unit is installed, with the result that, in order to complete the unit, following installation of the internals of the unit, all that is still required is for the second housing part to be placed in position and attached via the snap-in connection.
It goes without saying, however, that the constituent parts of the snap-in connection may each be fixedly connected to the associated housing part and the covering device then merely blocks the access by way of the first or second housing part to at least one of these constituent parts, via which, if appropriate using corresponding tools, the connection between the two housing parts can be released.
The covering device may be connected to the first housing part in any desired manner such that, upon removal from the first housing part or attempted removal therefrom, it is noticeably damaged, i.e. at least partially destroyed or impaired such that this is readily detectable at least to an experienced observer. For this purpose, the covering device may be integrally connected, e.g. welded, to the first housing part or connected thereto with a force fit, e.g. adhesively bonded thereto.
In the case of variants of the invention which are preferred because the noticeable destruction or damage is most easily ensured, the covering device is connected with a form fit to the first housing part. The covering device is further preferably connected to the first housing part via a snap-in connection which can only be released with at least partial destruction being caused. This variant has the advantage that, in addition, the connection to the first housing part can be produced particularly straightforwardly.
It is understood, in addition, that the above-mentioned types of connection between the covering device and the first housing part may also, of course, be combined with one another in any desired manner.
In the case of favorable developments of the housing according to the invention, the co
Ansell Iain
Cooper Adrian
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. KG
Greenberg Laurence A.
Mayback Gregory L.
Nguyen Anthony H.
Stemer Werner H.
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