GB2300879A

GB2300879A - Security device

Info

Publication number: GB2300879A
Application number: GB9609673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Clive Broadbridge; Neil David Broadbridge; Clive Beardmore; Brian Thomas Birch
Original assignee: DALEN
Current assignee: DALEN
Priority date: 1995-05-13
Filing date: 1996-05-09
Publication date: 1996-11-20
Also published as: GB9509752D0; GB9609673D0

Abstract

A security device for a box-shaped article (17) such as a computer comprises a four-sided rectangular casing structure made up of four L-shaped casing parts (11, 12, 13, 14), each casing part being formed along its opposite longitudinal sides with respective channels, by way of which each leg of each L-shaped casing part slidably engages with a leg of another different casing part. In this arrangement, therefore, the length and height of the casing structure can be adjusted securely to receive different sizes of article, with the adjusted casing structure being locked by locking means (20, 21). Attempted removal of the article from the locked device by sliding it forwards or rearwards is resisted by engagement of a projection on the undersurface of the article against the front or rear channel of the base of the device, such resistance being against a force attempting to shear the projection from the article.

Description

SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a security or anti-theft device for box-shaped or generally box-shaped articles, particularly electrical items such as computers, video cassette recorders and televisions, and has as its object the provision of such a device in an effective and convenient form.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for a boxshaped or generally box-shaped article, the device comprising a casing structure including casing means adapted to be disposed, in use, at at least two opposite surfaces of the article, and releasable securing means for securing parts of the casing structure together, the arrangement, in use, being such that at least one surface of the article has a projection thereon such that when the article is within said secured casing structure, in use, attempted removal of the article therefrom in at least one direction normal to the direction faced by said at least one surface is resisted by engagement of the projection with the casing structure, such resistance being against a force attempting to shear the projection from the article.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the security device is provided as a kit of parts. Preferably the kit of parts includes said projection in the form of an element for adhesive securement to said one surface of the article.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an assembled security device of the invention, with an article protected by the device being shown in phantom, Figure 2 is a schematic, side sectional view through the device and similar article to that of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a part-sectional front view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a device of the invention, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary part-sectional front view of the Figure 4 device.

An anti-theft or security device 10 of the invention is primarily intended for use with desk-top computers, i.e. as opposed to tower systems where the computer is iocated on a floor, often adjacent to a wall. Not only is the invention concerned with preventing theft of the desk-top computer as a whole, but in at least one embodiment it also prevents removal from a protected computer of internal components thereof, such as printed circuit boards. In all embodiments, however, normal access to and operation of the computer is unhindered. The invention is not however limited to use with computers, and can be used to protect a variety of alternative box-shaped or generally box-shaped articles, normally electrical items, for example video cassette recorders and televisions.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the security device is formed as a casing structure made up of four basic casing parts. Each of the casing parts 11 to 14 respectively is of generally L-shape and is formed from metallic sheet. Along each of its opposite longitudinal sides a casing part is formed with a channel by bending material out of the plane of the sheet in any convenient operation.

The channel is formed by a first wall 15 bent inwardly at 900 to the plane of the sheet, and a second wall 16, extending inwardly from the first wall at 900 thereto so as to lie parallel to but spaced from the plane of the sheet.

As will be appreciated from the Figures, the casing parts are sized so as to allow them to interlock to form an adjustably sized, generally rectanguiar section casing or enclosure. A base of the enclosure is constituted by the longer side of L-shaped casing part 12 being slidingly fitted with the longer side of L-shaped casing part 11. The outer dimensions of the channels of part 12 are somewhat smaller than the internal dimensions of the channels of part 11 so that the channels of part 12 can be slidingly received in the channels of part 11 respectively, with the flat surface of the casing part 12 between the channels sliding over the equivalent surface of casing part 11.

Clearly the two parts can be adjustedly engaged so that their respective shorter sides are spaced apart by a distance substantially corresponding to the length of the article 1 7 to be protected by the security device. For each casing part its channel wall 15 has a series of regularly spaced countersunk holes 18 therein. Accordingly when the channels of part 12 are engaged in the channels of part 11 respectively, sliding adjustment brings respective holes in the two parts into alignment with the selected spacing between the respective shorter sides being effected. A small screw 1 8a is received in each pair of aligned holes, thereby to secure the two casing parts together in the required spacing, thereby defining the casing base.

The top of the casing structure is formed in the same way by interengaging the longer sides of the L-shaped casing parts 13 and 14, and securing them in the selected adjusted spacing, equal to the spacing selected for the base, by screws in respective pairs of aligned holes in the interengaged channels.

The sizes of the channels of parts 13 and 14 are such that the shorter side of part 13 can slide over the shorter side of the part 12, and the shorter side of part 14 can slide over the shorter side of part 11. In use, the article 17 is placed on the base with its lower surface received on the front and back interengaged channels, so that said surface is above the main flat surface defined between the channels. The side surfaces of the article are in juxtaposition to the channels of the shorter sides of Lshaped casing parts 11, 12, so that there is very little space for any implement to be inserted between the article and the casing sides. The article may project out the casing at least one end, as shown in Figure 1, and, for example, with a computer, this end could be the operative end where discs are inserted.Thus normal access and use of the computer is not affected by the security device.

The top of the casing formed by engaged casing parts 13 and 14 can be engaged with the base by sliding part 13 over part 12, and part 14 over part 11 as described above, so that the engaged surfaces 16 of the channels are brought into contact with the top surface of article 17, with the shorter sides of casing parts 13, 14 respectively in juxtaposition with the side surfaces of the article. Thus as shown in Figure 1, the article is tightly enclosed.

To prevent unauthorised removal of the article 1 7 from the device 10 it is necessary to prevent separation and/or removal of the casing top from the casing base, and also to prevent the article being removed by sliding it out through either of the open front and rear parts of the assembled casing.

The first requirement is met by providing any suitable means for releasably securing the top to the base of the casing. Since the article conceals the screws which hold the two casing parts together both for the base and the top, a single suitable securing means, such as a lock, between the top and base would suffice. However the illustrated embodiment shows two locking means.

For each of the casing parts 11, 12, the inside surface of the shorter side of the L-shaped part has a projection in the form of a nut 19 having a screw-threaded hole therein secured thereto. For each of the casing parts 13, 14, an elongate bolt 20 with a screw-thread matching that of the hole in the projection 19 extends normally downwards from a lock housing 21 fitted centrally in the longer side of the L-shaped part at a position adjacent the shorter side of the L-shape, so that when the top of the casing is to be engaged on the case, the bolt can be threadedly received in the hole in the nut 19. The bolt is fixed at said lock housing 21 against axial movement but is free to rotate, rotation being effected by means of a key which is specially shaped at its lower end operatively to engage with a complementarily specially shaped upper end of the bolt at said housing 21.

Accordingly the casing top is located over the article received on the casing base, and the bolts are alternately screwed in a little at a time to avoid excessive tilting of the top as it is drawn down onto the article.

When its channels tightly engage the top surface of the article, the top is in position and the screwing down is complete. Thus without the special key (or keys), removal of the top from the base of the casing is substantially prevented. A plate 12a is fitted under the longer side of part 12 to ensure that the casing base is level when placed on the flat surface.

The second requirement is met by securing one or more projections to one or more of the surfaces of the article engaged, in use, by the casing, i.e. the top, bottom or opposite sides.

As illustrated, a pair of spaced channel-like members (not shown) constitute the projections on the top surface of the article, with a further pair 22 on the lower surface.

The channel-like members are, in each pair, parallel to one another and also parallel to the sides of the casing structure. They are secured by their respective bases to the article, for example by adhesive, with their respective channel sides being disposed within the spaces defined between the opposite channels of the casing parts.

Instead of providing the projections on the upper and lower surfaces of the articles, they could be additionally, or alternatively, on one, or preferably both, side surfaces of the article. Clearly the requirement is to prevent sliding of the article out of the front or the rear of the locked casing structure by engagement of at least one projection on the article with the inside edge or surface (lip) of at least one channel.

Where a force might be applied to separate an adhesive bond, a strong adhesive is required if the force is applied normally between the two surfaces at which the bond is formed. However if the force would be applied parallel to the surfaces at the bond, i.e. it would be a shearing force, then the bond is much more difficult to break and the adhesive need not be as strong.

It will appreciated that in the present case any attempt to slide the article from the casing would involve a force attempting to shear the projection(s) from the article. Accordingly the device of the invention strongly resists such an attempt, where the article has one or more projection secured to it, by adhesive or other means, as described.

Instead of gluing, the projections could be welded to the article, or even secured by screwing.

Whilst a single projection on one only of the top, bottom and sides of the article would prevent sliding removal of the article from the locked casing structure, a problem is that many computers are formed with an outer body of two parts, for example one part defining the front, underside and opposite sides of the body, and the outer part defining the top and rear of the body, the two parts being secured together by screws often at the back of the body. If only a single projection is secured to the body, for example to said one part, it would be possible for someone to undo the screws connecting the body parts together and then slide out from the casing structure said other body part. This would allow access to the interior of the computer and thus to printed circuit boards and other interior components, which could be removed and stolen.

Accordingly articles with multi-part bodies are desirably provided with respective projections on all of said parts where removal is possible in a direction of sliding from the casing structure.

Where the above is not a problem, the number and position of projections may be varied, and the casing structure may also be varied.

Clearly the width of the security device should be such that the article to be protected always extends over at least those of the holes 18 with the screws 1 8a therein, so as to prevent separation of the casing assembly widthwise by removal of the screws 1 8a even with the structure locked.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the composite top of the casing of the first embodiment is replaced by two separate, unconnected casing parts 23 which slidingly engage with the shorter sides of the L-shaped casing parts 11, 12 respectively and include locking means identical with the bolt 20 described, this engaging in a threaded bore in nut 19 again identical with the described arrangement. The article is prevented from being removed from the casing structure by upwards lifting by respective projections (not shown) on opposite sides of the article engaging respective inner channels 24 across the widths of the parts 23. These projections which can be like channels 22, also engage the previously described channels at the front and rear sides of the casing to prevent sliding removal of the article from the front or rear of the casing structure.

In the embodiments described, the base of the casing structure would normally be secured to a worktop, such as a desk or table, by adhesive (double sided tape), nut and bolt fixings, or other means. However this is not essential, in that it may be considered that unauthorised removal of a complete computer locked in the security device would be detected by security personnel. Accordingly the function of the device could instead be the prevention of theft of interior components as previously described.

In a further embodiment, the base could be replaced by two separate, unconnected casing parts like parts 23, but formed with the projections 19 respectively for reception of the threaded bolts of parts 23 respectively. These parts would have channels across their respective widths as well as at their front and rear ends (as per Figure 1). The projections on the respective sides of the article would engage with said channels to prevent removal of the article in a sliding direction as described, and also now in a direction upwardly or downwardly, the latter being possible if the casing parts were suspended above a floor or other surface in some manner.Sideways movement of the article is of course prevented by the casing parts being disposed at respective opposite sides of the article, the forces here not involving the shear force applicable in the other four directions of possible removal referred to.

Instead of the or each projection on the article engaging against peripheral lips of the casing parts, it could merely engage, in each direction of attempted movement, against an inward projection on the inner surface of the casing part, such a projection being inward of the periphery of the casing part, not necessarily of full width or height thereon and not necessarily normal or parallel to the edges of the casing part, i.e. it could be at an angle on said inner surface. Although this would probably require a corresponding accurate positioning of the projection on the in use adjacent side of the article, it would mean that the projections on the inner surface of the casing part could be secured thereon by adhesive, and without the need to form peripheral lips, unless the casing structure included casing parts which adjustably slide together.

In one arrangement, the projection on the (or each) inner surface of the casing part could be continuous with a central recess, into which the (or each) projection on the article is received on assembly.

Claims

1. A security device for a box-shaped or generally box-shaped article, the device comprising a casing structure including casing means adapted to be disposed, in use, at at least two opposite surfaces of the article, and releasable securing means for securing parts of the casing structure together, the arrangement, in use, being such that at least one surface of the article has a projection thereon such that when the article is within said secured casing structure, in use, attempted removal of the article therefrom in at least one direction normal to the direction faced by said at least one surface is resisted by engagement of the projection with the casing structure, such resistance being against a force attempting to shear the projection from the article.

2. A security device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the casing means is provided with inwardly projecting means against which said projection on said at least one surface of the article engages, in use, upon said attempted removal of the article.

3. A security device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said projecting means is in the form of a wall along a side of said surface of the casing means.

4. A security device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the wall is part of a channel along said side of said surface of the casing means.

5. A security device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein respective channels are provided along opposite sides of said surface of the casing means to engage said projection, in use, in respective opposite directions of attempted removal.

6. A security device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said surface of the casing means is defined by two casing parts which are slidably interengaged by way of said channels, so as to allow adjustment to cater for different sizes of article.

7. A security device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the two casing parts are secured together in a selected adjusted state, in use, by fixing means passing through aligned holes in the channels of the two parts respectively.

8. A security device as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the two interengaged casing parts together define a base, the parts being of L-shape so as also to define respective opposite sides normal to the base.

9. A security device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein respective further casing parts are engaged with said sides normal to the base, each further casing part having channels along its respective opposite sides which are slidably engaged with the channels of the L-shaped casing parts respectively, thereby to allow height adjustment of each casing structure side.

10. A security device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the security means is provided at a further casing part and its associated side with which it is slidingly engaged.

11. A security device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein one of the further casing part and its associated side carries an externally screwthreaded first member, and the other carries a complementary internaily screw-threaded second member engaged by said first member, so that the further casing part and its associated side can be locked in a relatively adjusted relationship to provide a selected height for the casing structure.

12. A security device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the first member is a bolt carried by the further casing part and the second member is a nut secured to an inner surface of the side, rotation of the bolt being by means of a key.

13. A security device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein respective securing means are provided at both further casing parts and their associated sides.

14. A security device as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, wherein each further casing part is L-shaped with the respective ends of the further casing parts remote from the sides being slidably interengaged in the same manner as with the two casing parts, said interengaged parts of the further casing parts defining a top of the casing structure.

1 5. A security device as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, wherein each further casing part has a channel along its upper edge connecting and forming a continuation of the channels along the respective opposite sides of the further casing part, so that, in use, attempted removal of an article from the casing structure by upwards lifting is resisted by respective projections on opposite sides of the article engaging said continuation channels of the further casing parts respectively.

16. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing structure is formed of sheet metal.

17. A kit of parts for the assembly of a security device of any one of Claims 1 to 16, including said projection for securement to said article, in use.

18. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the projection is adapted to be adhesively secured to said article.