Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2001-06-12
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C312S223100, C248S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246572
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to computer security systems, and in particular, to a locking mechanism which may selectively secure the cover and access to at least one computer drive mechanism utilizing a bezel wall, or release the cover and allow access to the computer drive mechanism.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A computer comprises an electronic housing which includes a chassis in which internal components and external components are secured. Internal components include, but are not limited to, microprocessors, co-processors, circuit boards, and power supplies. The external components include, but are not limited to, data drives and the media in the data drives such as CD-ROM and disks. Commonly, the chassis and the associated internal and external components are enclosed by a bezel and a cover. The bezel is connected to the chassis about the data drives to provide access for insertion and ejection of media. The cover is commonly connected to the chassis by conventional screws so as to enclose and protect the electronic components from dust and other undesirable material.
While the electronic housing provides protection from environmental dangers, such as, dust, and spilled fluids, it does little to limit access to the internal components of the computer by unauthorized individuals and provides no limitation on access to the data drives. Due to the problems of data theft, data destruction, and the introduction of computer viruses among other unauthorized uses of computers it is desirable to limit access to the internal components as well as the external drives and media in the data drives.
Heretofore it has been well known to lock the cover to the chassis to limit unauthorized access to the internal components of the computer. One common method is to provided a rotatable key actuated lock interconnected between the cover and the chassis. Another common method is to have one tab extending to the exterior of the housing from the chassis aligned with a second tab connected to the cover which may be interlocked with the first tab via a padlock. Although these means do limit access to the internal components of the computer, they do not limit the insertion or removal of media from the external data drives.
Other devices have been provided to prevent the removal of removable drives, disks from data drives, memo cards and the like. Several of these prior art locking devices completely prohibit use of the computer as opposed to merely limiting access to the drive slots. It is common for these prior art locking devices to be separate from the computer assembly resulting in the loss of the locking device and thus negating any security measures. Additionally, these attachable locking devices are bulky and cumbersome resulting in the failure to be utilized.
It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a locking device utilizing a bezel wall which is capable of locking the computer cover, locking the computer cover and utilizing a bezel wall to prevent access to a computer drive mechanism, and releasing the cover and allowing access to the computer drive mechanisms. It would be a further benefit to have a locking device utilizing a bezel wall which is compact and low profile. It would be a still further benefit to have a locking device utilizing a bezel wall which allows operation of the computer while preventing the removal or insertion of media in the data drives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a computer locking device utilizing a bezel wall which is movable between locking positions, in which the computer cover may be locked to the chassis, in which the cover my be locked to the chassis and wherein external access to at least one data drive is limited, and a position in which the cover is not locked to the chassis and where external access to the data drive(s) is permitted.
It is a further object of this invention to utilize a bezel wall for limiting external access to a data drive.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a compact and low profile locking assembly.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a locking assembly which may lock various components of a computer while still allowing operation of the computer hard drive.
Accordingly, a computer cover and data drive locking system of the type for selectively locking the computer cover to the chassis, locking the cover and external access to at least one data drive, and unlocking the cover from the chassis and allowing access to the data drives is provided. The locking system includes an actuatable lock connected to a computer chassis having a cam connected thereto, a bezel surrounding at least a portion of a first data drive mechanism, the bezel having a movable wall, a cover, and a cam follower movably connected to the chassis so as to be in functional connection with the cam, the cam follower having a first end connected to the movable wall and a second end connectable to the cover; wherein the lock is movable between a position interconnecting the cover to the chassis via the cam follower second end, a position interconnecting the cover and the chassis and disposing the movable wall into a position preventing access to the first data drive, and a position where the cam follower second end is disconnected from the cover and the movable wall is disposed away from the access to the first data drive.
The locking assembly includes a linking arm connected between the first end of the cam follower and the movable bezel wall. A tensioning member, such as a spring, is connected between the linking arm and the chassis to urge the arm and connected bezel wall into a position in which external access to the first data drive mechanism is not blocked. The first cam follower end may have a slot formed in which an end of the linking arm is disposed in connecting to the cam follower. The slot allows the linking arm to slip in relation to the cam follower as the cam follower moves between the cover-only locked position and the fully unlocked position.
The second end of the cam follower is adapted for securing the cover to the computer chassis via the cam follower. The cam follower has a lip or locking surface extending therefrom which extends across a surface of a protrusion extending from the interior of the cover when the locking apparatus is in a cover locking position. The interlocking or engaging surfaces of the cam follower and the cover may take many configurations. Another embodiment would include a locking surface such as a pin extending from the second cam follower end engageable with a cylinder formed by the protrusion of the cover.
The locking system may lock both the cover to the chassis and limit external access to at least one data drive. As shown in more detail in the description below the locking system may limit access to two or more data drive systems.
In a common desk top or tower computer configuration, the computer includes at least a CD-ROM drive and a floppy disk drive. Both data drives and the cover can be secured. For example the second end of the cam follower may have a locking member or tab connected thereto which moves with the cam follower. When the locking apparatus is in the fully locked position the second end of the cam follower is position so that the locking member is position in a position obstructing and limiting access to the floppy drive. When the locking apparatus is in the fully unlocked or cover-only locked position the locking tab is moved to a position so has not to obstruct access to a data drive.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4918952 (1990-04-01), Lakoski et al.
patent: 5146769 (1992-09-01), Smith
patent: 5305621 (1994-04-01), Broadwater
patent: 5446618 (1995-08-01), Tetsuya
Myers Robert Andrew
Thomas Jeff David
Duong Hung Van
Flynn John D
International Business Machines - Corporation
Picard Leo P.
Winstead, Sechrest & Minick, LLP
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