Supports – With anti-theft or anti-tamper means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-07-10
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports
With anti-theft or anti-tamper means
C248S553000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257542
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a theft prevention clamp for preventing the theft of an article from a support, such as a computer or piece of equipment from a desk surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Laptop and personal computers (both desktop CPUs and towers), and other equipment (such as printers, scanners, fax machines, TVs, VCRs, medical and other equipment) are frequently stolen when briefly left unattended, especially in public places, such as an office or a library. There is a need for a means to temporarily or permanently secure such devices, without risk of damage to the equipment, or a desk, table, shelf or other furniture to which it is attached, being increased by the means used to secure it. This need is not met in the prior art by a means equivalent to the present invention, which is a device by which an article may be conveniently clamped to a support.
The related art is represented by the following patents of interest.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 334,921, issued on Apr. 23, 1993 to Michael Basara et al., shows an ornamental design for a desktop computer system support device with integrated cable management. Basara et al. do not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,079, issued on Dec. 31, 1991 to David B. Monoson et al., describes an anti-theft device for computers. Monoson et al. do not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,197, issued on Aug. 4, 1992 to Donald W. Kelly et al., describes a base and cover member for releasably securing equipment to a horizontal or vertical surface. Kelly et al. do not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,658, issued on Jul. 20, 1993 to Donald W. Kelly, describes an equipment security apparatus for removably locking equipment to a surface. Kelly does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,074, issued on Jan. 21, 1997 to Robert G. Munro, describes a desktop security locking station for a laptop computer or similarly sized computer peripheral. Munro does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,194, issued on Mar. 10, 1998 to Kenneth P. Glynn, describes a computer component securing device which has a main housing having a storage portion and a pair of table securing portions, a positioning means, a locking means, and a table securing means. Glynn does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,009, issued on Mar. 24, 1998 to Mark J. Westfield, describes a carrying case with a roll-up theft prevention clamp. Westfield does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
Great Britain Patent document 2,134,587, published on Aug. 15, 1984, describes a security device for securing an article to a support. Great Britain '587 does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
Great Britain Patent document 2,153,002, published on Aug. 14, 1985, describes a mount for an easily portable article that can cheaply and effectively prevent or deter theft of such an article. Great Britain '002 does not suggest a theft prevention clamp according to the claimed invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a theft prevention clamp for preventing the theft of an article from a support. The theft prevention clamp is designed to removably fasten the article to support, such as a desk top, a desk leg, a table top, a table leg, or any other similarly shaped object. A first type of theft prevention clamp has three rigid portions including two rigid portions interconnected by a third rigid portion. Preferably, the three rigid portions are formed from material such as plastic, firm rubber, metal, or the like.
The theft prevention clamp may be rigidly configured in the form of one unitary member, wherein two rigid portions are parallel to one another and are interconnected by a perpendicularly oriented third rigid portion. The theft prevention clamp may also be configured in the form of three rigid portions interconnected by elements which bias the three rigid portions in a substantially flat orientation. Such elements may be well known springs or hinges or the like. Preferably, the lower rigid portion additionally includes at least one passage hole to enable a user to pass a security cable through the hole, thereby enabling the user to protectively secure an article to the theft prevention clamp. The upper rigid portion may additionally include a threaded passage hole to enable the user to utilize the article in an upright position via a threaded support means when the clamp is not being employed to secure an article to a support.
The first type of theft prevention clamp preferably includes a plurality of fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article to be protected and for securely fastening the clamp to the support. The fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article may include a plurality of threaded elements, such as short screws, bolts, or the like, for securing the clamp directly to the article to be protected. The fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article may alternatively include a plurality of threaded elements, such as short screws, bolts, or the like, and an equal plurality of threaded receivers or pads. The threaded elements are used to secure the threaded receivers or pads to the clamp. When the receivers or pads are secured to the clamp, fastening material, such as epoxy glue or the like, is poured onto the top of each threaded receiver or pad. These threaded receivers or pads are then secured to the article to be protected. Such fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article may be eliminated by merely applying fastening material, such as epoxy glue or the like, directly to the top of the clamp and then securing the clamp to the article to be protected. The fastening elements for securely fastening the clamp to the support include threaded bolt means, threaded nut means, and sleeve means. Each threaded bolt means has a head which is configured to fit within the sleeve means with a minimum amount of passageway between the threaded bolt means and the sleeve means. The head of the threaded bolt means includes a particular securement means indentation for cooperation with an appropriately configured releasing tool or key element.
A second type of the theft prevention clamp is substantially the same as the first type of theft prevention clamp described above, but additionally includes a fourth rigid portion which is intended to be mounted in or on the article to be protected. The second type of theft prevention clamp includes a plurality of fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article to be protected and for securely fastening the clamp to the support. The fastening elements for fastening the clamp to the article include a plurality of threaded elements, such as screws, bolts, or the like. These fastening elements fasten the clamp to the article to be protected by passing them through holes in the upper rigid portion of the clamp and threading them through threaded holes in the fourth rigid portion. The fastening elements for securely fastening the clamp to the support include threaded bolt means, threaded nut means, and sleeve means. Each threaded bolt means has a head which is configured to fit within the sleeve means with a minimum amount of passageway between the threaded bolt means and the sleeve means. The head of the threaded bolt means includes a particular securement means indentation for cooperation with an appropriately configured releasing tool or key element.
A third type of the theft prevention clamp includes three rigid portions configured in the same manner as described above. The third type of theft
Westfield Lawrence P.
Westfield Mark J.
Cohen Curtis A.
Litman Richard C.
Stodola Daniel P.
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