CA2404544A1 - Equipment lock down assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly for locking down a computer or other piece of equipment include a base for attachment to a fixed horizontal surface, a slide for mounting on a bottom side edge of a computer and for sliding into a track on the base, and a lock for locking the base and slide together. In use the assembly defines a closed casing with no visible screws or other removable fasteners. The assembly cannot readily be removed without damaging the computer.

Description

This invention relates to an assembly for locking down or securing a piece of equipment, and in particular a piece of electronic equipment on a floor or other fixed horizontal surface.
The assembly of the present invention was designed to lock down computers or stereo components. However, it will be appreciated that the assembly can be used to secure many other pieces of equipment in a fixed position.
Unfortunately, we live in a society whereby theft is a fact of life. Personal computers and stereos components are generally expensive, compact pieces of equipment which provide an all too tempting target for thieves. Such equipment can be quickly and easily removed from a home or office which makes it an attractive target for thieves.
Understandably, there are many patents for devices for securing and locking down electronic equipment such as stereos and computers. Examples of such devices are disclosed by Canadian Patent Applications Nos. 2,173,404, filed in the name of G. D. Champagne on April 3, 1996; 2,205,133, filed in the name of M.
R.
Stewart on May 13, 1997; 2,214,699, filed in the name of M.R. Stewart on September 4, 1997; 2,220,870, filed in the name of A. Lafleur et al on January 20, 1998; 2,234,072, filed in the name of D. K. Rittaler on April 6, 1998 and

2,291,365, filed in the name of D. Vezina et al on November 30, 1999, and US Patents Nos.
4,585,202, issued to P.M. Parsekian on April 29, 1986; 4,691,891, issued to R.
Dionne on September 8, 1987; 4,858,878, issued to M. M. Gassaway on August 22, 1989; 4,884,420, issued to A. M. Finkel et al on December 5, 1989; 5,013,000, issued to M.M. Gassaway on May 7, 1991; 5,052,651, issued to R. Guddee on October 1, 1991; 5,135,197, issued to D. W. Kelley on August 4, 1992;
6,138,483, issued to S.N. Galant on October 31, 2000; 6,166,910, issued to M.E. Ronberg et al on December 26, 2000 and 6,192,722, issued to S. N. Galant on February 27, 2001.
The devices described in the above-listed patents vary in terms of efficacy and complexity. In spite of the existence of such devices, a need still exists for simplicity. An object of the present invention is to meet this need by providing a relatively simple assembly, which is easy to mass produce and install.
Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly for locking down a piece of electronic equipment which makes it extremely difficult to remove a piece of equipment without destroying or severely damaging the equipment.
Accordingly, the invention relates to an assembly for locking down a piece of electronic equipment on a fixed horizontal surface comprising:
(a) a base including (i) a first baseplate for mounting on a fixed horizontal surface and for covering by a piece of electronic equipment, (ii) a track open at one side and one end extending upwardly from one side edge of said first baseplate;
(b) a slide slidable in said track for mounting on a bottom side edge of a piece of electronic equipment, so that when slid into said track, the slide closes said one side and one end of the track;
(c) double-faced tape on said one side of said slide for attaching the slide to a piece of electronic equipment; and (d) a lock for locking said slide in said track, whereby, when the baseplate is attached to a fixed horizontal surface and the slide is attached to a piece of electronic equipment and slid into said casing and locked therein, the result is a closed casing on the side of a piece of electronic equipment preventing easy removal of such piece of equipment from the surface.
The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic end view of the bottom end of a computer with two assemblies in accordance with the invention attached thereto;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the bottom end of a computer with an assembly in accordance with the invention attached thereto;
Figure 3 is an exploded, isometric view of two assemblies in accordance with the invention;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a base used in an assembly of Fig. 3;
Figure 5 is a side view of a slide used in an assembly of Fig. 3;
Figures 6 and 7 are schematic, isometric views of two assemblies during use;
Figure 8 is a schematic, exploded, isometric view of second and third embodiments of the invention;
Figure 9 is an exploded, isometric view of a portion of one end of a base and a baseplate used in the third embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is an isometric view of the elements of Fig. 9 in the assembled condition;
Figure 11 is a cross section taken generally along line II-II of Fig. 10; and

3 Figure 12 is an isometric view of the third embodiment of the invention in the assembled condition.
For the sake of simplicity, in the following description, reference is made to the use of the assembly of the present invention for locking down a computer.
As mentioned above, it will be appreciated that the assembly can be used for locking down other pieces of electronic equipment such as stereo components, DVD
players or televisions sets.
With reference to Figs. 1 to 7, the assembly of the present invention includes two basic elements, namely a base indicated generally at 1 for mounting on a fixed horizontal surtace (not shown), and a slide 2 for mounting on the side of a computer 3. Both elements are formed of sheet metal; i.e. steel.
The base 1 is generally L-shaped in cross section, and is defined by a baseplate 4 and a side wall 5. A plurality of holes 6 are provided in the baseplate 4 for receiving screws or bolts 7 (Figs. 6 and 7) for securing the base to a fixed horizontal surtace such as a floor or desk top. A generally V-shaped slot 8, which opens away from the side wall 5 in the baseplate 4, surrounds a tab 9 on three sides. A hole 10 in the tab 9 receives a screw or bolt 7 for securing the tab to the horizontal surtace on which the baseplate 4 is mounted. As described hereinafter in greater detail, if a lifting force is applied to the side wall edge of the baseplate 4, while the remainder of the base 1 may tilt, the tab 9 will remain in the horizontal position affixed to the horizontal surface. Flanges 12 and 13 extend inwardly (in the direction of the baseplate 4) from the top edge and one end of the side wall 5, respectively. Thus, one side of the baseplate 4, the side wall 5 and the flanges 12

4 and 13 define a rectangular track, which is open on one side and one end for receiving the slide 2.
A bracket 14 is welded to the center of the interior of the side wall 5. A tab on the bottom end of an L-shaped foot 16 of the bracket 14 extends into a hole 17 in the baseplate 4 for positioning the bracket 14 on the base 1. Slots 19 in a pair of wings 20 on the bracket 14 receive screws 21 (Fig. 4) for mounting a bolt lock 22 on the base 1. A key 23 (Fig. 3) can be inserted into the lock 22 via aligned holes 24 and 25 in the side wall 5 and the bracket 14, respectively. As described hereinafter in greater detail, the bases 1 and slides 2 are used in pairs and only one lock 22 is required. Accordingly, the hole 24 in the sidewall 5 of one of the bases is plugged with a plastic plug 26.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the slide 2 is defined by an elongated, rectangular body having a generally C-shaped cross section. The slide 2 includes a planar, rectangular side wall 27 carrying a strip 28 of double-faced tape on an inner surtace thereof. The adhesive on the tape must be sufficiently strong that the slide cannot be removed from a computer 3 without considerable force, i.e. a force considerably greater than that which can be generated by a person with a crowbar. A
suitable tape is available from 3M. The tape has product number 4952, and is identified as VHPmc double-faced tape. The tape will stick, inter alia, to powder epoxy paint on desks or filing cabinets. A flange 30 extends outwardly from the top edge of the side wall 27 along the length thereof. An opening 32 at the junction between the side wall 27 and the flange 30 receives the bolt 33 of the lock 22 when the slide 2 is slid into the track 1.

5 An inverted L-shaped flange 35 with beveled ends extends along the length of the bottom edge of the side wall 27. A generally inverted L-shaped slot 36 in the flange 35 is intended to receive the foot 16 of the bracket when the slide 2 is slid into the base 1. The leading edge 37 (in the direction of movement of the slide 2 into the base 1 ) of the slot 36 is inclined to facilitate sliding of the slide onto the foot 16. It will be appreciated that in order to move the slide 2 into the track in the base 1 from the open end 38 thereof, it is necessary to raise the slide 2 so that the top flange 30 is close to or slides on the bottom surface of the flange 12 of the base 1, so that the foot 16 of the bracket 14 is cleared by the bevelled leading end of the flange 35.
When the open bottom end of the slot 36 is over the foot 16, the slide 2 is dropped so that the foot 16 enters the slot 36. When the slide 2 is fully inserted into the track (Fig. 7), the foot 16 is in the hook defined by the horizontal arm of the slot 36, and the bolt 33 of the lock 22 is aligned with the opening 32 in the slide. By extending the bolt 33 into the opening 32, the slide 2 is locked in the base 1, and only limited vertical, but no horizontal movement of the slide is possible. Movement of the slide 2 into the track in the base 1 is limited by an end plate 40 on one end of the slide 2 and by the end wall 13 of the track.
As illustrated schematically in Figs. 6 and 7, two assemblies are used to lock down a piece of electronic equipment (in this case a computer 3). The slide 2 is easily positioned on one side of a computer 3 near the center thereof by aligning the bottom of the side wall 27 with the bottom edge of the computer 3.
A pair of bases are placed on the slides 2, and the assembly of bases 1, slides 2 and the computer 3 is placed on a fixed horizontal surface, e.g. the floor, a

6 desk or a table. The positions of the bases 1 are marked, the assembly is moved away from the location, the bases 1 are removed from the slides 2 and bolted or screwed to the surface, and finally the computer 3 with slides 2 attached is slid between the tracks on the bases 1 to attach the slides 2 of the bases. When the slides are locked in the bases 1, they cannot be removed therefrom without considerable effort which is likely to result in serious damage to the computer 3. If a crowbar is inserted beneath one base 1 on one side of the computer 3 and upward force is applied, the tab 10 will remain attached to the horizontal surface while the remainder of the base 1 and the slide 2 therein tilt toward the opposite assembly.
However, tilting is severely restricted by the computer 3 and the other assembly.
Thus, without destroying the computer housing, neither the lock down assemblies nor the computer can be removed from the chosen location.
Of course, when the computer is locked on a desk or table, it might be possible, by destroying the top of the piece of furniture to remove the computer and both lock down assemblies with a portion of the top of the piece of furniture.
All of this takes time, which is a luxury usually not afforded to thieves.
Referring to Fig. 8, in a second embodiment of the invention, the baseplate 4 of the base 1 includes a pair of slots 44 near the ends of the baseplates with tabs 45 in the slots (it will be appreciated that the baseplate 4 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 can also include two or more slots and tabs).
Holes 47 in the tabs 45 receive screws or bolts (not shown) for securing the track 1 to a horizontal surface. Each slide 2 includes a pair of feet 48 at the bottom of the

7 side wall 27 for insertion beneath a computer to facilitate positioning of the slide 2 on the computer side. In some models of computer, it is possible to remove a back plate or cover, and detach a frame carrying component from the housing of the computer to steal the essential elements of the apparatus. Holes (not shown) can be provided in the feet 48 for receiving screws which connect the frame in a computer housing to the lock down assembly.
A third embodiment includes an optional baseplate 50 with a strip 51 (Fig. 11 ) of double-faced tape on a bottom surface thereof for securely connecting the baseplate to a fixed horizontal surface. One side edge 53 of the baseplate 50 is beveled to make it more difficult to insert a crowbar or other tool beneath the plate.
A pair of rectangular loops 54 are provided on the top of the baseplate 50 for securing the base 1 thereto.
As best shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the loops 54 receive small fingers 55 on the free ends of the tabs 45. This assembly gives the user the option of connecting the base 1 directly to a fixed horizontal surface (second embodiment), or to a plate 50 mounted on the surface (third embodiment).
Thus, there has been described a relatively simple assembly for locking down a piece of electronic equipment which, in the use condition, defines a closed casing on a side of the equipment. The casing cannot readily be opened or removed with the piece of equipment without damaging the equipment.

8

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An assembly for locking down a piece of electronic equipment on a fixed horizontal surface comprising:

(a) a base including (i) a first baseplate for mounting on a fixed horizontal surface and for covering by a piece of electronic equipment, (ii) a track open at one side and one end extending upwardly from one side edge of said first baseplate;
(b) a slide slidable in said track for mounting on a bottom side edge of a piece of electronic equipment, so that when slid into said track, the slide closets said one side and one end of the track;
(c) double-faced tape on said one side of said slide for attaching the slide to a piece of electronic equipment; and (d) a lock for locking said slide in said track, whereby, when the baseplate is attached to a fixed horizontal surface and the slide is attached to a piece of electronic equipment and slid into said casing and locked therein, the result is a closed casing on the side of a piece of electronic equipment preventing easy removal of such piece of equipment from the surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first baseplate includes at least one slot defining a tab on said first baseplate for separate securement to a horizontal surface, whereby the tab will remain attached to a horizontal surface when the first baseplate is tilted.

3. The assembly of claim 2 including a second baseplate for releasably securing said first baseplate to a horizontal surface.

4. The assembly of claim 2 including double-faced tape on a bottom surface of said second baseplate for securing said second baseplate to a horizontal surface; and at least one loop on said second baseplate for receiving said tab to interconnect the first and second baseplates.

5. The assembly of claim 1 including a bracket on said track carrying said lock; and a hook on said slide for engaging said bracket when the slide is fully inserted into said track.

6. The assembly of claim 1, including at least one foot on a bottom edge of said slide for properly positioning the slide on a bottom side edge of a piece of equipment.