GB2176232A

GB2176232A - Security device to prevent access to a floppy disk drive

Info

Publication number: GB2176232A
Application number: GB08514377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Colin Lane; Sallahe Hassan; Keith William Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-07
Filing date: 1985-06-07
Publication date: 1986-12-17
Also published as: GB8514377D0

Abstract

A security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station, the device being securable to the drive station by means of a plate member (1) which can be fitted adjacent the entry to a floppy disk drive station, the member allowing access from one side to a door flap of the drive station and carrying means (3) from its opposite side for insertion into the drive station entry, these means being engageable by respective pins associated with the door flap of the drive station to hold the security device in place. A door (4) is hinged on the plate member (1), the door closing over the front side of the plate member to cover the access to the drive station door flap and a lock is provided to lock the door closed with respect to the plate member. The plate member can also be constructed to curve around the top and bottom of the drive station casing to prevent removal of the casing and thereby access to the interior. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station This invention relates to a security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station.

Computers such as personal computers are well known pieces of office equipment and usually include a systems unit, a keyboard and a monitor. Such computers often use as their storage medium for programs, data and the like floppy disks or various types and sizes.

Another popular storage medium are the socalled fixed disks which allow a large amount of data or programs to be stored but are a permanent part of the computer housed within the systems unit. It is also common for a computer fitted with a fixed disk to have at least one floppy disk drive in addition.

As is known, computers can contain commercially sensitive material representing a security risk for the data or programs involved.

This security risk is compounded by virtue of the fact that it is very easy to copy data from the fixed disk onto floppy disks which may then be removed from the premises. A further risk is that many of the components, circuit boards etc. within the systems unit are valuable but are easily removable.

One known form of security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station is in the form of a plate member which clamps to the front of a closed disk drive station thus preventing its door flap from being opened. The plate member is slightly larger than the size of the disk drive door flap and is profiled to enable it to fit snugly over the central slot of the disk drive station entry and locate flat against the door flap. A barrel lock is fitted through the device which, when operated, rotates a rectangular bar at the back of the device. The bar is horizontal (i.e. parallel with the drive station slot) when the device is unlocked but moves to the vertical as the lock is engaged.

Accordingly, the device is locked in place and prevents access to that floppy disk drive station. This device has certain disadvantages and, in particular, it can be removed by grabbing hold of it and giving it a sharp tug.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station, the device including a member having a front side and a rear side and being arranged to be placed with its rear side adjacent the entry to a floppy disk drive station, said member being constructed so as to allow access from its front side to a door flap of the floppy disk drive station when the device is placed as aforesaid and carrying two parts extending from its rear side for insertion into the entry to the floppy disk drive station, each said part being engageable by respective pins associated with said door flap when the door flap is closed to hold the device in place, and there being a door hinged on said member, which door can close over the front side of said member to cover said access to the door flap and a lock being provided to lock said hinged door closed with respect to said member.

Preferably, said member is in the form of a plate with a central aperture in it to allow said access to the disk drive door flap.

The lock may be key-operated and mounted on the member, the door of the device having a keyhole in it to facilitate access to the lock, and the lock locking the door closed with respect to the member.

Preferably, the member is also constructed so as to curve around the top and perhaps also the bottom of the systems unit casing thereby to prevent removal of the casing of the systems unit and so denying access to the interior. Such a construction also provides further stability to the security device to prevent it from being twisted off.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station, a door of the device being shown in its open position, Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the door in its closed position, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device, the door being omitted for clarity, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a computer systems unit with the present device placed in position over the entry to a floppy disk drive station.

Referring to the drawings, the security device includes a member in the form of a backing plate 1 having a front side 1A and a rear side 1B, the backing plate 1 being arranged to be placed with its rear side 1B adjacent the entry to a floppy disk drive station as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The backing plate 1 has an aperture 2 in it so as to allow access from its front side 1A to a door flap of the floppy disk drive station when the device is placed as aforesaid. Further, the rear side 1B of the backing plate carries two parts in the form of apertured tabs 3, one on each side of the aperture 2, for insertion into the entry to the floppy disk drive station. Each tab 3 is engageable by a respective bolt or pin which is carried on either side of the door flap of the drive station. In greater detail, the door flap of the systems unit with which the present device is intended to be used is of the type which is lifted to open access to the disk drive station and, when the flap is pulled out and lowered to close the access, the two pins drop down, normally serving to locate the floppy disk in position.It is these pins which drop through the holes in the tabs 3 when the device is placed in position. It will therefore be seen that, when the door flap is closed and the device is placed as aforesaid, the device is secured in position over the entry to the drive station.

To prevent unauthorised opening of the door flap and consequent removal of the device, a door 4 is provided which is hinged along one edge to the backing plate 1, the door 4 closing over the front side 1A of the backing plate to cover the aperture 2. A lock 5 is mounted on the plate 1 and a corresponding keyhole 6 is provided in the door 4 to allow access to the lock 5, the lock 5 being able to lock the door 4 closed with respect to the plate 1, a raised plate portion 1A with a side slot in it being secured on the rearside of the door 4 to receive the lock bolt.

It will be seen that, to remove the device, the lock 5 is unlocked, the door 4 is opened and the door flap of the disk drive station is opened, thereby withdrawing the pins from the tabs 3. The device can then be lifted away from the station.

To provide additional stability to the device when fitted and therefore to make it more difficult to force the device away from the casing, the top of the backing plate 1 has a bent around portion 1C which is arranged closely to engage around an upper lip of the systems unit (see Fig. 4). If desired, a similar sort of construction could be provided along the lower edge of the backing plate 1.

To provide additional security, a pre-programmed floppy disk could be inserted into the drive station prior to the fitting of the device, the sole function of the program of this floppy disk being to sound an alarm if the systems unit is switched on and to prevent any keyboard entry being recognised by the machine.

Claims

1. A security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station, the device including a member having a front side and a rear side and being arranged to be placed with its rear side adjacent the entry to a floppy disk drive station, said member being constructed so as to allow access from its front side to a door flap of the floppy disk drive station when the device is placed as aforesaid and carrying two parts extending from its rear side for insertion into the entry to the floppy disk drive station, each said part being engageable by respective pins associated with said door flap when the door flap is closed to hold the device in place, and there being a door hinged on said member, which door can close over the front side of said member to cover said access to the door flap and a lock being provided to lock said hinged door closed with respect to said member.

2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein said member is in the form of a plate with a central aperture in it to allow said access to the disk drive door flap.

3. A security device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said lock is key-operated and mounted on said member, the door of the device having a keyhole in it to facilitate access to the lock, the lock locking the door closed with respect to said member.

4. A security device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said member is constructed so as to be able to curve around the top of a systems unit casing with which the device is to be used, thereby to prevent removal of the casing of the systems unit and so denying access to the interior of the casing.

5. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said member is constructed so as to be able to curve around the bottom of a systems unit casing with which the device is to be used, thereby to prevent removal of the casing of the systems unit and so denying access to the interior of the casing.

6. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said two parts are spaced apertured tabs which can be engaged by said respective pins which are carried on either side of the door flap of the drive station.

7. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising a pre-programmed floppy disk which is insertable into the drive station prior to fitting of said member, said floppy disk acting to activate an alarm in the event of unauthorised use of the drive station when said member is fitted to it.

8. A security device to prevent unauthorised access to a computer floppy disk drive station, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.