GB2302362A - A releasable security anchorage - Google Patents

Abstract

A security fixture, which may be attached either to a substantially immovable object, for example a wall or a desk, or to an item to be protected against theft, for example a personal computer, includes at least one screw threaded clamping means 49 and 50, at least one outer clamping piece 48, an optional shielding piece 51 and 52 freely rotatable on the outermost parts of each screw threaded clamping means, at least one inner clamping piece for securing to the substantially immovable object 47 and a combined lockable access blocking and seecurity cable or the like attachment means 53.

Description

SECURITY FIXTURE This invention relates to security fixtures which accept security chains or cables or the like. The security fixture may be attached either to an item being protected against theft, for example a personal computer, or to an immovable or difficult to move object, for example the wall or floor of a building or the wall of a desk.

This patent application claims priority from UK patent application 9512023.4 of 14th June 1995 and also includes additional material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,228.319 to Holley et al. (1993) discloses in its Figs. 2A-2C a specially prepared bracket member which fits into a vacant expansion card slot. However, column 1 lines 43-46 of the specification reveal that this is not the preferred embodiment of the invention as it is possible to remove the security fixture by first removing the lid of the personal computer system unit and then by removing the screw which holds the security fixture in place. Therefore a system unit lid lock is required to make this embodiment effective.

Fig.4 of Holley et al. shows the preferred embodiment.

However. this fixture is of relatively complicated design and therefore relatively difficult to manufacture.

U.S. rat. No. 5.40.809 to Igeimund (1995) shows in its Fig. 1 a fixture which includes as part of its construction a piece generally sized to conform with an expansion slot cover plate of Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) or Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA). However. column 5 lines 2-6 of the specification reveal that this part of the fixture is specially prepared from a heavy gauge material, preferably No.1010 cold rolled steel. which is significantly stronger than standard cover plate blanks. The Igelmund invention also suffers from the same objection as the invention shown in Figs 2A-2C of Holley et awl.. namely that the fixture can be removed by first removing the lid of the system unit and then removing the fixture retaining screw.

A personal computer security fixture which bolts into a vacant expansion slot is marketed in the UK by SafemarkTM as the LokpostTM PC Slot Fitting. This fixture may also be removed by first removing the system unit lid and then by loosening the interna retaining nut.

According to the present invention there is provided a security fixture which attaches either to an item to be protected from theft or to an immovable or difficult to move object. An advantage of the invention is that it provides a robust and versatile attachment point for a security chain or cable or the like An additional advantage is that the csmponent parts are either readily available at reasonable cost or are relatively simple to manufacture. An additional advantage is that the fixture may be placed out of sight so as not to detract from an otherwise tidy environment.

The security fixture comprises. at least one screw threaded clamping means each of which comprises at least two screw threaded mating parts for example a nut and bolt and if accessible the innermost screw threaded mating part being rotationally fixed either by mechanical engagement or welding or the like. at least one outer clamping piece of robust material preferably steel each of which has an accepting hole for and is clamped by said screw threaded clamping means up against said item being protected against theft or said immovable or difficult to move object and which outer clamping piece includes at least two other separated but aligned accepting holes for the long shackle of a padlock or similarly shaped robust lockable item such that when locked in place said long shackle or the like passes in close proximity to the outermost part of said screw threaded clamping means or if present in close proximity to the outer end of the shielding piece described below. optionally and preferably a shielding piece of robust material preferably steel and hollow and substantially cylindrical which closely fits over but freely rotates around the outermost parts of said screw threaded clamping means and also substantially fills the gap between the main outermost face of said outer clamping piece where said screw threaded clamping piece emerges and the shackle of said padlock or the like when said shackle or the like is locked in position passing through both of said shackle or the like accepting holes. at least one inner clamping piece of robust material which comprises at least the wall of an item being protected from theft or the wail of an immovable or difficult to move object and where necessary additional inner clamping pieces. a lockable combined access blocking and security cable or the like attachment means with a robust lockable part preferably of hardened steel which passes through and is long enough to comfortably lock in position passing through and beyond the ends cf both said separated aligned accepting holes in said outer clamping piece for example a padlock with a long shackle.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way cf example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : Figure 1 shows a cut-away perspective drawing of an embodiment of the invention installed n a vacant ISA or EISA personal computer expansion card slot.

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective drawing of the fixture components of Figure 1. apart from the padlock, and also a < .,t-away perspective drawing of a vacant expansion slot ocated in the wall of the system unit of a personal computer.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective drawing of the fixture components. apart from the padlock or the like. of another embodiment as well as a vacant expansion card slot.

Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective drawing of the component parts of another embodiment of the invention, apart from the padlock or the like. and a cut-away section of the robust wall of an item to be protected against theft.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the invention attached to a cut-away section of an immovable object for example a masonry wall or floor of a building.

Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective drawing of the component parts of the fixture of Figure 5, apart from the padlock or the like, and also a cut-away perspective drawing of part of the wall of a building.

Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective drawing of the component parts. apart from the padlock or the like. of another embodiment which may be attached for example to a thinner wall than a masonry wall and also a cut-away perspective drawing of said thinner wall.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises an inner clamping piece 1 made from a robust material preferably steel and substantially the same dimensions as an ISA or EISA expansion slot cover plate. a robust outer clamping piece 2 preferably steel and substantially the same width as clamping piece 1, a clamping bolt 3, a clamping nut 4, a robust hollow substantially cylindrical shielding piece 5 preferably steel which is a close fit over but freely rotates around nut 4, a padlock 6 the long shackle 7 of which prevents the removal of said shielding piece when said padlock is locked in position in close proximity to the outer end of said shielding piece.

The wall 8 of the system unit has an expansion slot cut in it with edges 9. Screw 10 is a standard expansion slot cover plate retaining screw.

figure 2 shows shackle accepting holes 11 through which said shackle passes. Bolt 3 is a cup square bolt also known as a mushroom head square neck bolt or a coach bolt or a carriage bolt. A sauare hole 12 is shown in the main surface of inner clamping piece 1. This hole engages with the square neck 13 of clamping bolt 3. Other engaging hole and neck shapes could be used. A square hoe 14 is shown in outer clamping piece 2.

Other hole shapes could be used. The threaded portion 15 of clamping bolt 3 passes through holes 12 and 14 and then through spacer 15 and optional spacer 17 and mates with nut A A cut-away perspective drawing of the system unit wall 8 ai3acer,t to the vacant expansion slot is also shown, as are ne edges 9 of said expansion slot. Standard features associated with ISA or EISA expansion slot cover plates are shown in screw 10. screw accepting slot 18. and cover plate lower tab portion 19 which engages with an accepting slot in the system unit wall structure.

The fixture is attached by removing the system unit lid of a personal computer and inserting inner clamping piece in a vacant expansion slot and then by clamping slot 18 under screw 10 inserted in its accepting threaded hole. The thread 15 of bolt 3 is inserted through square hole 12. Square neck 13 engages with square hole 12 and also protudes outwards and above the plane of the outer surface of wall 8. Square hole 14 in outer clamping piece 2 is passed over thread 15 and engages with protruding square neck 13. However, square neck 13 does not protrude above the plane of the outer surface around hole 14. Spacers 16 and optionally 17 are passed over thread 15 and nut 4 is applied to thread 13 and tightened by means of a socket or box spanner to clamp pieces 1 and 2 together and up against wall 8 adjacent to slot 9.The upper and lower parts of piece 2 allow insufficient space for an open ended spanner and hinder the use of a ring spanner. The system unit lid is replaced. Shielding piece 5 is then placed over nut 4 optional washer 17 and washer 16 and although a close fit rotates freely around these. The shackle of a padlock is then passed through holes 11 and locked. The shackle may also or example pass through a loop on the end of a security cable. the other end being attached for example to an immovable object. The length of piece 5 is such that when it is pushed up against the outer surface around hole 14 and said shackle is locked in position there is only a relatively small gap between the outer end of piece 5 and said shackle. Spacers 16 and optionally 17 act to position nut 4 in a more secure position towards the centre of piece 5.This positioning also provives adequate support for shielding piece 5 when the padlock shackle is removed.

601t 3 could conveniently be an AtlasTM (UK) M8x20 cup square bolt. The square neck of this bolt is approximately 4 mm long in the direction of the length of the bolt. Inner clamping piece 1 could be made from 1 mm thick steel plate. Wall 8 is typically lmm thick. Clamping piece 2 could be formed from a substantial? rectangular piece of steel plate about 90 mm long and about 20 mm wide and about 3 mm thick. The combined thickness of piece 1 and wall 8 and piece 2 of 5 mm is sufficient to prevent the 4mm long neck 13 of bolt 3 from protruding through the outer surface of piece 2. The thread on this bot is such that when the hex nut is fully tightened there is a gap between its inner face and the flat underside of the cup head of about 5 mm.This may not be a sufficiently small gap to clamp piece 1 and wall 8 and piece 2 firmly together and is an additional reason for spacer 16 and optionally 17. However. by making piece 2 from 3.5 mm steel plate.. or alternatively by using thin spacers between the head of bolt 3 and the inner face of inner piece 1. the requirement for spacer 16 would be removed. In either case two hex nuts could be used on bolt 3 with the second nut applied acting as a lock nut for the first. Two nuts also provide sufficient support for shielding piece 5 when said shackle is removed. The length of piece 5 is chosen such that when the fixture is clamped up and piece 5 is in place with its inner end up against the main outer surface of piece 2, thread 15 is not protruding from the outer end of piece 5.

Padlock shackle accepting holes 11 could for example be 5.5 mm diameter and are positioned such that when locked in position said shackle passes for example about 0.5 mm from the end of piece 5.If clamping piece 2 is 3.5 mm thick and shielding piece 5 is 16 mm long, the end of screw thread 15 will end 1.5 mm inside the outer end of piece 5. If two 6 mm thick hex nuts are used the outer face of the outer nut will be 4 mm inside the outer end of piece 5. Shielding piece 5 could for example be produced from 20 mm outside diameter 2mm wall thickness steel tube.

A long shackle padlock is used. for example a 30 mm body and 4G mm shackle padlock. for example a YaleTM (UK) P73LS model.

Other robust items could also be used to pass in close proximity to the outer end of piece 5 or the outer end of screw thread 15. for example a 5 mm diameter cylindrical rivet about 40 mm long with a head diameter greater than 5.5 mm and with a hole which accepts the shackle of a small padlock drilled near the end of the rivet opposite the head.

The rivet would preferably be made of steel and hardened. A 5 mm diameter steel wire security cable could also be used.

The security fixture could be used without a shielding piece 5. In this case one would ensure that the end of screw thread 15 is close to said shackle passing through the shackle accepting holes in outer piece 2 when the fixture is clamped up. It would not be possible to loosen the clamping nut with any conventional type of spanner. It could however be loosened for example by means of a hammer and chisel. How serious a security compromise this represents depends on whether the potential thief has the appropriate tools and how much time is available.

The security fixture could also be used with square holes 12 and 14 replaced with round holes. In this case the screw thread of a normal bolt could be passed outwardly through now round hole 12 and and the head of this bolt preferably rotationally fixed up against the inner surface of clamping piece 1 by welding or soldering or the like. The fixture would be assembled as before with now round hole passing over the thread of the bolt. However, providing sufficient leverage was applied, it would be possible to loosen the fixture by rotating the whole of the outer part of the fixture. How serious a security compromise this represents again depends on what tools the potential thief has and how much time is available.

UK patent application 9512023.4 suggested the possibility of including contours or the like on the inner and outer clamping pieces. or even the inclusion of additional pieces to assist in centralising the security fixture in the expansion slot.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention where an additional intermediate piece may be used to prevent the rotation of an outer clamping piece which contains a round clamping bolt accepting hole. A, cut-away for illustration purposes, inner clamping piece 20 has a round hole 21 through which passes bolt 22, for example a M8x20 hex bolt, with threaded shaft 23 pointing outwards. Bolt 22 is preferably attached by welding or the like to piece 20. An alternative would be to weld a nut to the innermost surface of piece 20 and to use a clamping bolt which inwardly engages with this nut from outside said outer clamping piece. Item 24 is a standard expansion slot and item 25 a standard cover plate retaining screw.Robust, preferably steel intermediate piece 26 has a round central hole 27. for example 8 mm diameter, through which threaded shaft 23 passes, and is about 12 mm wide and therefore fits into the 13 mm wide expansion slot.

and is about 0.9 mm thick which is less than the 1 mm thickness of the system unit wall adjacent to the expansion slot. Intermediate piece 26 could be prepared from a substantially rectangular piece of sheet steel a little longer than 90 mm and 12 mm wide and 0.9 mm thick. The top and bottom parts of outer clamping piece 28 fit between the top and bottom parts of intermediate piece 26. Round central hole 29 lines up with round central hole 27 and passes over threaded shaft 23. Nuts 30 and 31 screw onto threaded shaft 23 and clamp the security fixture into and up against the expansion slot. Shielding piece 32 is a close fit but rotates freely when placed over nuts 30 and 31.The dimensions of pieces 26 and 28 are such that when clamped in position holes 33 line up with holes 34 and the long shackle of a padlock passes through holes 33 and 34 and when locked prevents the removal of shielding piece 32. Any attept to rotate outer piece 28 causes intermediate piece 26 to mechanically engage with the sides of the expansion slot and thereby prevents rotation of piece 28. Alternative means of preventing rotation of outer piece 28 include forming a profile on its inner surface. said profiie protruding less than 1 mm into the expansion slot and mechanically engaging with it to prevent rotation.It would also be possible to prevent rotation of clamp nag piece 28 by forming inwardly protruding tabs in lt so that any attempt to rotate it cause the tabs to mechanically engage with the edges of the expansion slot.

rigure 4 shows an embodiment where the wall of an item to be protected against theft is used as the internal clamping piece. Square hole 5 is either already present or is specially formed in a robust part of the wall 36. Outer clamping piece 37 has a square central hole 38. The threaded shaft 39 of cup square bolt 40 passes outwardly through square holes 35 and 38. The thickness of wall 36 and outer clamping piece 37 are such that the square neck 41 of bolt 40 passes substantially into but not through square hole 38.

Spacer 42 passes over threaded shaft 39 and covers any unthreaded portion near square neck 41. Nut 43 screws onto threaded shaft 39 and clamps the security fixture up against wall 36. Spacer 44 is optional. Shielding piece 45 passes over the nut and spacer and up against the outer face of piece 37. The long shackle of a padlock is locked through holes 46 and prevents the removal of shielding piece 45 and also provides an attachment point for a security chain or cable or the like. In this embodiment the clamping nut is totally surrounded by spacers and the shielding piece.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention attached to a cut-away portion 47 of an immovable object such as a masonry wall. Outer clamping piece 48 is made of a robust material preferably steel and is held in place by either stud type or bolt type masonry expansion bolts 49 and 50, for example RawlboltsTM (UK). Two bolts may be used to overcome loosening of the fixture by rotation of the outer clamping piece, however one bolt could be used and still provide a reasonable level Qf security.Robust preferably steel shielding cylinders 51 and 52 are a close but freely rotating fit over the nuts or heads of said masonry bolts and of such a length that they occupy substantially the entire length between the main outer face of clamping piece 48 and long shackle 53 when it is in position passing through aligned holes in the upper and lower parts of clamping piece 48. Shackle 53 and shielding cylinders 51 and 52 protect said clamping nuts or bolts from unauthorised interference. Padlock 54 may be unlocked by key 55 and items to be secured may be attached to the fixture by means of security chain or cable or the like.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective drawing of the component parts of Figure 5 apart from the padlock. A cut-away portion 56 of a masonry wall with holes 57 and 58 drilled in it to accept, in this case stud type. masonry bolts 59 and 60. A corner of outer clamping piece 61 is cut away to reveal mounting holes 62 and 63. Masonry bolts 59 and 60 are inserted into holes 57 and 58 and mounting holes 62 and 63 are pushed over protruding stud threads 64 and 65. Nuts 66 and 67 are screwed onto the stud threads protruding through holes 62 and 63 and piece 61 is clamped up against wall 56.

Nuts 68 and 69 are then screwed on to lock up against nuts 66 and 67. Nut shielding cylinders 70 and 71 are then passed over said nuts and rotate freely around them. A long padlock shackle is then passed through vertically aligned shackle accepting holes 72 and locked in place. The shackle provides a lockable attachment point for security chains or cables or the like.

Figure 7 shows the component parts. apart from a padlock or the like, of an embodiment which is attached to a robust wall thinner than a masonry wall, for example the side wall of a desk or a well secured partition wall. The threaded shafts 73 and 74 of cup square bolts 75 and 76 pass through square holes 77 and 78 in inner clamping piece 79. Square necks 80 and 81 mechanically engage with square holes 77 and 78. Holes 82 and 83 in desk wall 84 are of large enough diameter to accept any protrusion of square necks 80 and 81 through the outermost surface of inner piece 79. The corner of outer clamping piece 85 is cut away for illustration to reveal both clamping holes 86 and 87. Nuts 88 and 89 clamp inner piece 79 and outer piece 85 together and up against desk wall 84.Nuts 90 and 91 act as lock nuts and provide support for shielding cylinders 92 and 93 which pass over said nuts and rotate freely around them. The long shackle of a padlock is passed through vertically aligned shackle accepting holes 94 and is locked in place. Said padlock shackle and shielding cylinders 92 and 93 protect said clamping nuts from unauthorised attention and said shackle also provides an attachment point for a security cable or the like.

In all of the embodiments the use of a shielding piece or pieces is preferred in order to maximise the level of security. The shielding piece defends the outer parts of the screw threaded clamping means against loosening by a hammer and chisel or the like. However. the security fixture still functions at a lower level of security if there is no shielding piece. The fixture may be designed in such a way that the padlock shackle or the like denies access to all common spanners apart from open ended spanners. However the fixture may be designed in such a way that there is only just sufficient ciearance around the outer part of the screw threaded clamping means to accept a sbstantiaily standard socket or box spanner. and thereby restrict the access for an open ended spanner. This is particularly the case for single screw threaded clamping means versions. The design of the expansion slot security fixture is determined by the size of the expansion slot and results in there being insufficient space for an open ended spanner to be inserted from the side of the fixture. The possible use of a hammer and chisel to loosen an unshielded nut or bolt remains. However. the use of two nuts in a locking nut mode as the outer part of the screw threaded clamping means makes chisel loosening more difficult and also makes it more difficult to loosen the nuts by attempting to rotate the outer clamping piece.

Claims (3)

1. A security fixture which firmly attaches to an item to be protected against theft, for example a personal computer, or to an immovable or difficult to move object, for example a wall or a desk, said fixture lockably and reversibly allowing the attachment of a security cable or the like, said fixture comprising.

at least one screw threaded clamping means each of which comprises at least two screw threaded mating parts for example a nut and bolt and if accessible the innermost screw threaded mating part being rctationally fixed either by mechanical engagement or welding or the like, at least one outer clamping piece of robust material preferably steel each of which has an accepting hole for and is clamped by said screw threaded clamping means up against said item being protected against theft or said immovable or difficult to move object and which outer clamping piece includes at least two other separated but aligned accepting holes for the long shackle of a padlock or similarly shaped robust lockable item such that when locked in place said long shackle or the like passes in close proximity to the outermost part of said screw threaded clamping means or if present in close proximity to the outer end of the shielding piece described below.

optionally and preferably a shielding piece of robust material preferably steel and hollow and substantially cylindrical which closely fits over but freely rotates around the outermost parts of said screw threaded clamping means and also substantially fills the gap between the main outermost face of said outer clamping piece where said screw threaded clamping piece emerges and the shackle of said padlock or the like when said shackle or the like is locked in position passing through both of said shackle or the like accepting holes at least one inner clamping piece of robust material which comprises at least the wall of an item being protected from theft or the wall of an immovable or difficult to move object dI0d where necessary additional inner clamping pieces, a lockable combined access blocking and security cable or the like attachment means with a robust lockable part preferably o.~ hardened steel which passes through and is long enough to comfortaoi; lock in position passing through and beyond the en of both said separated aligned accepting holes in said out clamping piece for example a padiock with a long shackle.

2. A security fixture as claimed in claim 1 which attaches to a vacant ISA or EISA expansion slot in a personal computer where, said screw threaded clamping means is a M8x20 cup square bolt with two hex nuts, said outer clamping piece is formed from a rectangular piece of steel plate about 90mm long and about 20mm wide and about 3.5mm thick, shaped into a square C shape with horizontal top and bottom edges about 30mm long and vertical edge also about 30mm long and width at right angles to the plane of the C of about 20mm, having an approximately 8mm square hole in the centre of the vertical surface and square to the 30mm edge and a 5.5mm round hole in each horizontal surface with the centres of all three holes in the same vertical plane, said optional shielding piece a 16mm long 20mm outside diameter 2 mm wall thickness steel hollow cylinder, said inner clamping piece substantially the same as a standard ISA or EISA expansion slot cover plate with its clamping screw, and having an approximately 8mm square hole square to its long edge and centred on the centre line parallel to that edge, said lockable combined access blocking and security cable or the like attachment means being a padlock with 30mm body and 40mm long 5mm diameter shackle, said round holes being positioned such that when said security fixture is assembled the padlock shackle passes close to the outer end of said shielding piece.

3. A security fixture substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Figures 1 to 7.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 2. A security fixture as claimed in claim 1 which attaches to a vacant ISA or EISA expansion slot in 9 persona: comouter where.

said screw threaded clamping means optional a M8x20 cup square bolt with two optionally one hex nuts ano optional spacers. which spacers fit on the bolt between the cup head and hex nut. either round the square neck and wit an outside diameter preferably less than 21mm and optional thickness. or round the bolt shaft and with an outside diameter preferably less than 16mm optionally less than 15mm and optional thickness, said outer clamping piece optionally formed from substantially rectangular piece of steel plate about 90mm long and about 20mm wide and about 3.5mm thick. shaped into a square C shape with horizontal top and bottom edges about 30mm long and vertical edge also about 30mm long an width at right angles to the plane of the z of about 20mm. having an approximately 8mm square hole in the centre of the vertical surface and square to the 30mm edge ano an approximatey 5.5mm round hole in each ho@@zontal surface with the centres of all three holes substantially n the same vertical plane.

said optional shielding piece optionally a 16mm long 20mm outside diameter 2 mm wall thickness steel tube. more preferably made from steel tube of inside diameter of approximately 15mm and optional wall thickness and length.

said inner clamping piece substantially similar to a standard ISA or EISA expansion slot cover plate and optionally including its standard clamping sc@ew, and having an approxima@ely 8mm square hole which is square to the long edge a sa w cover plate and cent red on the centre line parallel to that edge.

said lockable combined access blocking and security cable or the 1-ke attachment means being for example at lock with a 30mm body and a 40mm shackle of 5mm d@ameter said round hole in each said horizontal surface being positioned such that when said security fixture is assembled ith said shielding piece pushed against the outermost vertical surface of said outer clamping plece and said padlock shackle is passed through both of said round holes and locked in position. there is only a small gap between the outer end of said sh@e@ding piece and the Inner edge of said locked shackle