GB2320517A - Secure housing for computer equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A secure housing for computer equipment comprises a tray 10 with a backing plate (13, Fig 3) and means of attachment (36,37,38) to a secure surface (40), a lid 12, and an aperture 102 allowing access to the computer. To secure the computer further, a metal panel 108 is inserted in slot 106 to close the aperture 102. A lock 43 with a double ended hasp 42 can be used to lock the lid 12 to the tray 10 and the panel 108 in the aperture 102. Alternatively the panel 108 can be replaced by a cassette comprising channel sections with bars between to allow limited access to the computer (not shown).

Description

SECURE HOUSING This invention relates to a secure housing primarily for personal computer equipment but also for other equipment which must be accessible when in use but which is attractive to thieves, for example video recorders or hi-fi equipment.

The problem of the theft of personal computers from workplaces, or the theft of valuable components such as memory chips from within such equipment is a growing problem. It is impractable to disconnect such equipment and lock it away at the end of each working day, and it has been proposed eg. in GB-A 2290347 and GB-A 2297582 to provide a casing or cage around the equipment, the casing or cage being securcd to a desk or other fixed structure.

These prior art devices however have the disadvantage that the end faces of the casing must be left largely open to give access to the front of the computer whereat the floppy disc and CD ROM ports are located, so that it can be operated. The front of the computer thus is vulnerable, and the skilled thief can break int" it through this face to remove memory chips or other valuable ICs from within.

A measure of protection is obtainable by providing only a small aperture or apertures in the front of the casing or cage, positioned to match the disc slot and CD ROM tray if fitted. However because the location of these features varies from one make of computer to another, a different casing is required for each model. This is expensive and requires a vendor to hold a large stock of different patterns of casing, some of which may become obsolete, leading to further expense due to stock write-offs.

The present invention, at least in its preferred embodiment, seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a secure housing for computer equipment or the like comprising a receptacle to receive the equipment, the receptacle forming part of or being capable of attachment to fixed structure, a side of the receptacle consisting at least partially of an aperture through which operating or control features of the equipment may be accessed, a moveable panel for closing the aperture when the equipment is not in use, and means selectively operable for locking the panel in its aperture closing position.

The panel may be removable and may be positioned by a locating structure adjacent at least one edge of the aperture.

In another aspect the invention provides a secure housing for computer equipment or the like comprising a receptacle to receive the equipment, the receptacle forming part of or being capable of attachment to fixed structure, a side of the receptacle consisting at least partially of an aperture through which operating or control features of the equipment may be accessed and a removable panel for closing the aperture or for defining a smaller opening therein, the panel being positioned by locating structure adjacent at least one edge of the aperture, and locking means selectively operable for securing the panel in the locating structure.

The panel may comprise at least one adjustable element whereby one or more of the location size or shape of the opening is configurable to match the operating or control feature.

Thus the panel may have the features of our co-pending application 9621952.2, the text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The location structure may be configured for the panel to be slidably received therein.

The location structure may include a slot into which the panel is introduced.

The receptacle may comprise a first portion including means for securing it to the fixed structure and a second portion configured to be securely fastened and locked to the first portion after installation of the equipment in the receptacle, the securing means then being inaccessible.

The second portion may be hingedly connected to the first portion.

The locking means may comprise a lock which also locks the second portion to the first portion and is disposed adjacent the slot, the panel having a portion which covers and protects the lock.

The locking means may be disposed on one of the first and second portions and having a hasp adapted to pass through an aperture in the panel.

The invention will now be described merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 and 2 show respectively the lid and tray parts of a housing according to the invention FIGURE 3 shows part of the structure of figure 2 FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the structure of figure 1 FIGURE SA and SB show the lid and tray of figures 1 and 2 whenosed - FIGURE 6 and 7 show further parts of the housing, and FIGURE 8 is another view of the lid and tray when closed.

Referring to Figure 1 and 2, the principal portions of the secure housing are a traylike first or lower portion 10, a second or upper portion or lid 12, and a backing plate 13 each fabricated from sheet steel.

The trays 10 comprises a base 14 and upstanding sides 16, 18 with two strong impact rcsistant channel-sections bar 20, 21 extending between the top edges of the sides.

The front 22 is open so that a desk-top personal computer can be slid into the housing underneath the bars 20, 21. The rear 24 of the tray is of reduced height, and has at its top edge a hinge 25 (fig 5), to one leaf of which the rear of the lid 12 is connected.

Apertures 33 in the rear of the tray permit the passage of power and data cables.

The tray 10 has holes 34 at each corner of its base 14 and the backing plate 13 has corresponding holes 35. Each hole 34, 35 is dished or counterbored to receive the head 36 or spigot 38 of a respective retaining plug (Figure 3). The head 36 projects into a prepared bore 39 in a desk top or other work surface 40 upon which the computer is used. The backing plate 13 is disposed beneath the work surface 40 in registration with the tray 10 so that each spigot 38 passes through its hole 35 into the bore 39. The plugs 36 and spigots 38 are secured together by socket screws 37. The tray 10 thus is securely fastened through the work surface to the backing plate 13.

When the computer is placed in the tray the screws 37 are concealed by it and cannot be undone, and the backing plate 13 prevents the whole assembly being jemmied (levered) off the work surface by brute force.

The lid 12 is box-shaped with an open lower surface 26 and an open front 28. The rear surface 30 of the lid 12 is perforated to provide ventilation for the computer, a few of the ventilation holes being indicated at 32. The lid 12 is dimensioned so that it fits closely over the tray 10, the rear surface being of reduced depth to provide an edge 31 which is connected to the other leaf of the hinge 25.

Referring also to figure 4, the lid 12 has its front 28 defined by a frame 100 forming an aperture 102 through which the front of the computer with its controls, disc drive and CD ROM slots may be accessed. The frame is attached to the flanged edge 103 of lid 12 via spacer strips 104, (the whole being spot-welded together) so as to define a slot 106, figure 1.

When the computer has been installed in the tray 10 the lid 12 is closed (fig 5A) the top front edge and the bar 21 of the tray being set back to allow the necessary arcuate movement of the lid about the hinge 25.

The lid is provided in its top surface 41 with a key-operated barrel lock 43, the lock having a hasp 42 which when the lock is turned to its locked position is rotated so as to engage the underside of the bar 21. Removal of the lid 12 thus is prevented.

As so far described, the front of the lid 12 is open, the aperture 102 thereof permitting access to the computer. When it is required to secure the computer against theft or damage, a panel 108 (fig SB and fig 6) of sheet metal is inserted in the slot 106 to close it off. The panel 108 is folded at the top to provide a flange 110 to locate the panel vertically in the slot so that a slot 112 in the panel 108 is aligned with the hasp 42 of the lock 43. The hasp 42 is double-ended so that when the lock is turned to its secure position the hasp 42 as well as passing beneath the bar 21 also passes through the slot 112 and into a further slot 114 in the top edge of the frame 100. The flanged edge 103 is relieved at 116 to permit the passage of the hasp. Thus the panel is securely fastened in the slot 106 and cannot be removed without the lock 43 being released.

The frame 100, the spacers 104 and the flanged edge 103 together form locating structure for the panel 108. Also part of this locating structure is an upstand 118 at the front lower edge of the tray 10, which prevents the panel 108 being forced backwards against the computer.

As shown in figure 6, the flange 110 of the panel 108 has a cut-out 120 to permit access to the lock. To protect the lock against physical attack the cut-out 120 may be replaced by pressing a domed recess 122 (fig 7) into the flange to accommodate the lock. The recess 122 need only be provided with a small hole 124 to permit the passage of the key. Of course the lock may be replaced by a completely concealed ultrasonic or radio operated equivalent, if further protection is required.

In figure SA access to the computer is achieved by releasing the lock 42 and removing the panel. The lid 12 can be opened and the computer removed. If it is required to prevent this whilst still permitting access to the computer then the lock 43 may be refastened after removing the panel 108 (figure 8).

In high-risk environments when the front of the computer requires protection even when in use, the invention may be modified so that the slot 106 is made wide enough to accommodate a cassette structure such as that referenced 49 in our copending application 9621952.2, the rod and bars thereof being arranged to suit the particular computer in use. The hasp 42 is made long enough to pass through the top member 54 cassette, which is provided with a slot equivalent to slot 114 for the purpose.

When it is required to secure the computer at the end of the working day the cassette 49 is removed and the panel 108 inserted. It may be found advantageous to make the panel a box structure to as fully to occupy the wider slot 106.

As with the structure of application 9621952.2, the secure housing may be turned sideways to accommodate a tower style PC. Other modifications contemplated in that application may be applied to this invention, mutatis mutandis.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) andSor shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

Claims (11)

1. A secure housing for computer equipment or the like comprising a receptacle to receive the equipment, the receptacle forming part of or being capable of attachment to fixed structure, a side of the receptacle consisting at least partially of an aperture through which operating or control features of the equipment may be accessed, a moveable panel for closing the aperture when the equipment is not in use, and means selectively operable for locking the panel in its aperture closing position.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the panel is removable and is positioned by a locating structure adjacent at least one edge of the aperture.

3. A secure housing for computer equipment or the like comprising a receptacle to receive the equipment, the receptacle forming part of or being capable of attachment to fixed structure, a side of the receptacle consisting at least partially of an aperture through which operating or control features of the equipment may be accessed and a removable panel for closing the aperture or for defining a smaller opening therein,-the panel being positioned by locating structure adjacent at least one edge of the aperture, and locking means selectively operable for securing the panel in the locating structure.

4. A housing as claimed in claim 3 wherein the panel comprises at least one adjustable element whereby one or more of the location size or shape of the opening is configurable to match the operating or control features.

5. A housing as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the location structure is configured for the panel to be slidably received therein.

6. A housing as claimed in claim 5 wherein the location structure includes a slot into which the panel is introduced.

7. A housing as claimed in claim 3 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein the receptacle comprises a first portion including means for securing it to the fixed structure and a second portion configured to be securely fastened and locked to the first portion after installation of the equipment in the receptacle, the securing means then being inaccessible.

8. A housing as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second portion is hingedly connected to the first portion.

9. A housing as claimed in claims 6 and 7 wherein the locking means comprises a lock which also locks the second portion to the first portion and is disposed adjacent the slot, the panel having a portion which covers and protects the lock.

10. A housing as claimed in claim 6 and 7 wherein the locking means comprises a lock which also lock the second portion to the first portion and is disposed adjacent the slot, the locks being disposed on one of the first and second portions and having a hasp adapted to pass through an aperture in the panel.

11. A secure housing substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.