GB2325268A - Computer security - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises apparatus for use in securing a laptop computer in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a base plate 1 for securing to the rear of a vehicle seat 22 and a carrier 2 to which the laptop 26 is secured. The base plate 1 has runners 4 and 5 under which flanges 14 and 15 on the carrier 2 are slid into a fitted position and captively held to prevent direct removal of the carrier 2 from the plate. The plate and carrier also each have apertured lugs 10 and 16 which are locked together to secure the carrier in the fitted position on the plate. This arrangement is to prevent unwanted removal of the laptop from the vehicle.

Description

COMPUTER SECURITY The present invention relates to computer security and, more particularly, to apparatus for securing a laptop computer against easy theft from a vehicle.

Laptop computers are being increasingly used by, for example, the staff of the utilities industries such as the gas industry. These laptops are frequently carried in the staff vehicles, such as vans, and often temporarily left unattended in the vehicles. In recent years there has been an ever increasing number of vehicle break ins and laptops have been stolen from the vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for use in securing a laptop in a vehicle so that theft of the laptop is made more difficult.

Accordingly, the invention provides apparatus for use in securing a laptop computer in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a base member adapted or adaptable to facilitate securing it to a supporting structure; a carrier member adapted or adaptable to facilitate securing it to the underside of the base of the laptop, the base member and carrier member having co-operable means which enable the carrier member to be fitted to the base member and prevent the carrier member being pulled directly away from the base member; and said base member and carrier member having means for securing or for facilitating the securing of the carrier member in its fitted position on the base member.

It is particularly convenient if the vehicle in which the laptop computer is to be secured, has a seat having a back rest which is pivotally movable between a relatively upright or vertical back-supporting position and a relatively horizontal position whereat it may rest on the upper side of the seat portion proper of the seat. In such a case the rear of the back rest may provide the supporting structure to which the base member is to be secured or fixed. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement when the back rest is in the relatively horizontal position with the base member, the carrier member and the laptop secured and fitted in position the laptop can either be used in this in-situ position or can be removed together with the carrier member from the in-situ fitted position on the base member and placed elsewhere for use by the user who may be occupying an adjacent seat in the vehicle.

The base member may, for example, be in the form of a metal plate which has holes therethrough or can have holes drilled or otherwise formed therein to receive screws or rivets or the like for securing the base member to the supporting member.

The carrier member may comprise a plate portion which has holes therethrough or can have holes drilled or otherwise formed therein to receive screws or the like for securing the carrier member to the underside of the base of the laptop. Conveniently the carrier member comprises a tray-like container portion or recess in which the base of the laptop is a close or snug fit for locating the laptop in position relative to the carrier member.

The co-operable means may comprise: two spaced runners on the base member, which runners define gaps with the associated surface of the base member; and respective co-operating projections or flanges provided on the carrier member for sliding into the gaps so as to fit the carrier member in position on the base member thereby to prevent the carrier member being pulled directly away from the base member.

The carrier member may have a securing-facilitating means in the form of an apertured lug which is offered up so as to be adjacent to a corresponding securing -facilitating apertured lug provided on the base member, when the carrier member is fitted into position on the base member. Such two members may be secured in the fitted together position by passing a locking means, such as the hook of a padlock, through the apertures in the two adjacent lugs and locking the locking means.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 shows schematically the base member and carrier member of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view in schematic form showing the carrier member fitted and locked to the base member, and Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, and in addition showing (partly in broken lines) a laptop computer secured to the carrier member and (in broken lines) the rear of a pivotally mounted backrest of a vehicle seat to which the base member is secured.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the embodiment of apparatus shown comprises a base member 1 in the form of a metal plate and a carrier member 2 comprising a rectangular open-topped or tray-like container portion 3 for receiving and holding the base of a laptop computer.

The base member 1 is provided on its upper surface la with spaced apart runners 4,5 which define with the upper surface elongate gaps 6,7 beneath the runners. The runners comprise shaped metal strips which are welded to the base member at the regions 8 and 9. The front of the runner 4 as viewed in Figure 1 includes an upturned lug 10 which is provided with an aperture 11. In addition the base member 1 is provided with through holes 12 via which securing means such as screws or rivets can be used to secure the base member to a supporting structure.

Flanges 14 and 15 extend outwardly from and along opposite sides of the tray-like container portion 3 of the carrier member.

A lug 16 having an aperture 17 projects at the front of the container portion 3 beyond the left hand side of the container as viewed in Figure 1. The bottom 3a of the tray-like container portion 3 is provided with holes 18 to enable fastening means such as screws to secure the container portion to the base of a laptop computer.

The carrier member 2 can be positioned so that it is moved toward the base member 1 in the direction of the arrow B, with the dimensions of the two members being such that the flanges 14, 15 slide into the gaps 6,7 until the lug 16 abuts the lug 10 with the apertures 11,17 being brought into alignment and the two members 1,2 become fitted together and attain the relative positions shown in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 3 that once in the fitted position the carrier member 2 is prevented from being lifted directly off of the surface la of the base member 1 as the flanges 14,15 are in effect held captive by the runners 4,5. In addition, the relative dimensions are such that there is virtually no relative movement in directions perpendicular to the direction of arrow B and parallel to the plane of base member 1.

From Figure 2 it will be seen that the two members 1 and 2 can be secured in their fitted together positions by a padlock 20 whose hoop 21 passes through the aligned apertures 11 and 17.

It will be understood that in practice, before the two members 1 and 2 are fitted and secured together, the base member 1 is secured to a supporting structure and a laptop computer is secured to the bottom of the tray-like container portion 3 of the carrier member 2. This is illustrated schematically in Figure 3 where the base member 1 is shown secured via rivets 24 to the rear 23 of a back rest 22 of a vehicle seat. The backrest is pivotally movable about pivot point 25 and is shown pivoted to a substantially horizontal position. The backrest 22 can be pivotally moved in the direction of arrow x to a normal generally vertical position (not shown).

The base 27 of a laptop computer 26 is shown in Figure 3 closely fitting in the tray-like container portion 3 of the carrier member 2 and secured to the bottom 3a thereof by screws 28 which have been inserted through the holes 18 and screwed into the underside of the laptop base 29.

The laptop base 29 carries the 'keyboard' (not shown) and the hinged lid 30 of the laptop is shown in the closed position in solid lines and in the open position in dot-dash lines, with the outline of the display screen 31 in the lid being shown in broken lines.

It will be appreciated that by using the embodiment of apparatus described to fit the laptop in a vehicle as described, the laptop is made more secure against theft. In addition, when the laptop lid 30 is closed and the backrest is in the upright or relatively vertical position the laptop is less likely to be seen by a casual viewer from outside the vehicle, particularly if the securing apparatus is used on the backrest of one of the seats in a two seater vehicle, such as a van where there is boarding or fitments or the like close behind the seats.

Whilst a particular embodiment of apparatus of the invention has been described above, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lugs 10 and 16 may be replaced by cooperating means which engage and automatically lock the two members 1 and 2 together when they are fitted together. This would dispense with the use of a separate padlock. Also the members 1 and 2 need not be supplied with holes 12 and 18, but appropriate holes may be drilled or otherwise formed in the members as required and where desired. It will be appreciated that the apparatus parts may be supplied in kit form, optionally with a set of instructions advising the potential user on how to install (and use) the apparatus, for example in a vehicle. Also, optionally, such a kit may comprise fastening means for securing the base member to a supporting structure and a laptop to the carrier member.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for use in securing a laptop computer in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a base member adapted or adaptable to facilitate securing it to a supporting structure; a carrier member adapted or adaptable to facilitate securing it to the underside of the base of the laptop, the base member and carrier member having co operable means which enable the carrier member to be fitted to the base member and prevent the carrier member being pulled directly away from the base member; and said base member and carrier member having means for securing or for facilitating the securing of the carrier member in its fitted position on the base member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the base member is in the form of a metal plate having holes therein to receive fastening means for securing the base member to the supporting member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the carrier member comprises a plate portion which has holes therein to receive fastening means for securing the carrier member to the underside of the base of a laptop computer.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a tray-like container or recess for receiving the base of the laptop with which the apparatus is to be used.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the co-operable means comprises: two spaced runners on the base member, which runners define gaps with the associated surface of the base member; and respective co operating projections or flanges provided on the carrier member for sliding into the gaps so as to fit the carrier member in position on the base member thereby to prevent the carrier member being pulled directly away from the base member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the carrier member has a securing-facilitating means in the form of a lug with an aperture which is offered up to and aligned with a corresponding lug with an aperture provided on the base member when the carrier member is fitted into position on the base member.

7. Apparatus for use in securing a laptop computer in a vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.