GB2404416A

GB2404416A - Securing device having bypass interface

Info

Publication number: GB2404416A
Application number: GB0317768A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Renny Tse-Haw Ling
Original assignee: Sinox Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sinox Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-30
Filing date: 2003-07-30
Publication date: 2005-02-02
Also published as: GB0317768D0; DE20311906U1

Abstract

A device to secure an electronic device 1 such as a laptop computer against theft comprises an element 20 which attaches to a connector port 10 of the device and has a bypass interface 29 which replicates the port to allow the port to be used while the device is attached. A locking member 30 locates over a fastener 24 of the element 20 so as to prevent release of the element 20 and to attach a security cable 40 to the device. The cable 40 attaches attaches to a fixed mounting. The locking member is shown as a permutation lock but key-operated and padlock-fastening arrangements are disclosed.

Description

240441 6 Securing Device Having Bypass Interface

Field of Invention

This invention is related to a securing device having a bypass interface, particularly one to be connected to a connector provided on an electronic device and having at least one to-be-engaged means at an outer side thereof.

Background of Invention

Due to the reduced sizes of electronic devices, users of notebook computers, laptop computers, or other compact electronic devices, frequently worry about possible theft of their electronic devices.

The current computer, either a desktop computer or a laptop computer 1, as shown in Fig. 1, has a plurality of connectors l O thereon for connecting with various peripheral accessories.

It is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,212,922 a lock for locking electronic devices. However, the lock eradicates the original functions provided once the connector locks it. Hence, a device that is locked to a connector furnished by the computer, such as a Line Printer Terminal (LPT) port, a parallel port, or a serial port usually connected to a mouse, to prevent the computer from being stolen while providing a bypass interface at the same time, is needed.

Sunnary of Invention It is thus a primary object of this invention is to provide a securing device having a bypass interface meeting the above need, the securing device being connected to a connector provided on an electronic device and having at least one to-be-engaged means at an outer side thereof.

The securing device comprises: a bypass, to be electrically connected to the connector and having a bypass interface; a fastener engaging the tobe-engaged means after the bypass is connected to the connector to prevent separation of the bypass from the connector; a lock mechanism, detachably locked to the bypass for preventing separation of the fastener from the to-be-engaged means; and a connecting member, for securing the combined lock mechanism and bypass to a fixture.

Based on such disclosures, the lock mechanism may control the connection between the bypass and the connector once the fastener is engaged to the to-be-engaged means. According to an embodiment of this invention, the lock mechanism may prevent separation of the fastener from the to-beengaged means such that the fastener cannot be disengaged from the to-beengaged means. As such, the electronic device having the connector is locked in place once the connecting member is securing device is secured to a fixture. Under such a locking condition, the connector connected to the bypass may still be connected to other peripheral accessories or transmission lines.

The structures and characteristics of this invention can be realized by referring to the appended drawings and explanations of the preferred embodiments.

Brief Descriptions of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the rear of a laptop computer; Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view showing a preferred embodiment according to this invention; Fig. 3 is an assembled view showing the preferred embodiment of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 in which the lock mechanism is under the unlocked state; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 in which the lock mechanism is under the locked state; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing yet another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing this invention being applied to another connector type; Fig. 8 illustrates the embodiment of Fig. 7 under the locked state; Fig. 9 illustrates the embodiment of Fig. 3 being secured to a fixture; Fig. lO is an exploded perspective view showing yet another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 11 is an exploded, perspective view showing the embodiment of Fig. 10 under the unlocked state; Fig. 12 is a cross- sectional view showing the embodiment of Fig. 10 in which the lock mechanism is under the unlocked state; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of Fig. 10 in which the lock mechanism is under the locked state; Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing yet another preferred embodiment of this I invention; S Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of Fig. 14 under the unblocked state; Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of Fig. 14 in which the lock mechanism is under the unlocked state; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of Fig. 14 in which the lock mechanism is under the locked state; Fig. 18 is cross-sectional view showing yet another preferred embodiment of this invention in which the lock mechanism is under the locked state; and Fig. 19 is a cross- sectional view taken along lines 19-19 of Fig. 18.

Detailed Description of Invention

This invention discloses a securing device 2 having a bypass interface, to be connected to a connector provided on an electronic device and having at least one to-be-engaged means 12 at an outer side thereof. The electronic device may include, but is not limited to, a desktop computer or a laptop computer 1 as show in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view showing a preferred embodiment according to this invention. Fig. 3 is an assembled view of the same embodiment. The securing device 2 includes: a bypass 20, to be electrically connected to the connector 10 provided on an electronic device I and having a bypass interface 29 that is electrically connected to the bypass 20 by means of a transmission line 27; at least a fastener 24 for engaging the to-be-engaged means 12 after the bypass 20 is connected to the connector 10; a lock mechanism 30, detachably locked to the bypass 20 for preventing separation of the fastener 24 from the to-beengaged means 12; and a connecting member 40, for securing the combined lock mechanism 30 and bypass 20 to a fixture (see Fig. 9).

Preferably, the securing device 2 includes at least one fastener 24. The embodiment for the securing device 2 in Fig. 2 includes two fasteners 24 provided on the opposing sides of the bypass 20 thereof. The embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is a securing device adapted to a conventional COM port. Hence, to accommodate the to-be-engaged means 12 of the conventional COM port, which generally includes two standard screw holes, the fasteners 24 are two bolts that may be threaded to the screw holes, and the bypass 29 preferably consists of interface specifications that are compatible to a COM port connector.

With reference to Fig. 4, the lock mechanism 30 includes a housing 31 having an indent 32 for receiving and covering the fastener 24. Persons skilled in the art certainly may design the indent 32 according to the actual needs to cover part of the bypass 20. In [act, it is unnecessary for the housing 31 to cover the fastener 24 completely so long as the housing is capable of preventing separation of the fastener 24 from the to-be-engaged means 24.

According to this invention, the fastener 24 includes a recess 26 and the lock mechanism 30 includes a latch 34 to be inserted in the recess 26. In the current preferred embodiment, the latch 34 is a ball and the recess 26 is a semi-spherical corresponding recess. Of course, the; latch 34 and the recess 26 can be provided to the lock mechanism 30 and the fastener 24, respectively, or adapt other appropriate shapes, but should not be constrained to those illustrated in the preferred embodiments. Furthermore, the recess 26 for mating with the latch 34 may be provided on the bypass 26 and the latch 34 is provided to allow mating with the recess 26. I Such modifications are those that may be easily made by person skilled in the art.

The lock mechanism can be selected from, but is not limited to, any type of lock, such as the combination lock shown in Figs. 2 to 5, an electronic lock, a key lock 35, drawing type lock 30', rotary 30" as shown in Figs. 6, 10, 14 and 18, as long as the lock mechanism can be used to lock the housing 31 to the bypass 20. The detailed constructions of the combination lock, key lock, drawing type lock and rotary lock as shown in Figs. 3-18 are known to persons in this field and thus are not described in details hereinafter.

The locking relationships between the lock mechanism 30 and the fasteners 24 in this preferred embodiment may be referred to the cross-sectional views of Figs. 4 and 5. In this embodiment, when the lock mechanism 30 is under an unlocked state, a controller 38 thereof is free from the influence of a spring 37 such that the controller 28 does not urge against or limit movement of the latch 34, as shown in Fig. 4. On the contrary, when the lock mechanism 30 is under the locked state, the latch 34 is wedged in the recess 26 such that the controller 38, as shown in Fig. 5,1imits the vertical movement of the latch 34.

To use the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the bypass 20 is first connected to the connector 10.

The fasteners 24 are then threaded into the to-be-engaged means 12 of the connector 10. The indent 32 of the lock mechanism 30 then covers one of the fasteners 24 having the recess 26.

After the lock mechanism 30 comes in place, the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the locked state as shown in Fig. 5, so as to lock the latch 34 in the recess 26 and to prevent the latch 34 from moving out of the recess 26, thereby locking the lock mechanism to the bypass 20. After the lock mechanism 30 is locked to the bypass 20, because the fastener 24 of the bypass 20 is covered by the housing 31, the lock mechanism 30 cannot be separated from the bypass 20 unless the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state, thereby preventing access to the fastener 24 and preventing separation of the fastener 24 from the connector 10.

According to the disclosures of this invention, the connecting member 40 may be a cable, a steel cable, or chain connected to the bypass 20 or the lock mechanism 30, which can hardly be damaged. An end of the connecting member 40 may forth a loop 42 at one end thereof to be wrapped to a fixture, such as a leg 70 of a table illustrated in Fig. 9, such that the computer 1 can be locked to the fixture 70 and cannot be removed. At the same time, the connector 10 can still be electrically accessed by way of the bypass 29 so as to retain the original function of the connector 10.

Fig. 7 illustrates a parallel port that may also be adapted to the securing device of this invention. In this embodiment, the to-be-engaged means includes two resilient hoops 12' and the fasteners include slots 24' to be engaged with the resilient hoops 12', which are the standards of a parallel port connector. In use, the bypass 20 having the slots 24' are inserted into the parallel port connector. The resilient hoops 12' provided on the opposing sides of the parallel port connector are then revolved from the locations shown by phantom lines of Fig. 7 along the direction shown by the arrow A, for retaining onto the slots 24' of the bypass 20.

In this embodiment, a lock mechanism 30 similar to that shown in Fig. 3 is adopted.

However, the recess 26' for mating with the latch (not shown in Figs. 7 and 8) of the lock mechanism 30 is provided on a post 21 projecting from the bypass 20, such that when the latch of the lock mechanism 30 is under the locked state, the latch is wedged in the recess 26' to limit the vertical movement of the latch. The lock mechanism 30 is further provided with a stopper 39 that adapts to cover where the hoops 12' engage the slots 24' after the lock mechanism 30 is locked to the bypass 20 so as to prevent separation of the two.

In using the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the bypass 20 is first connected to the connector 10.

The hoops 12' are then engaged to the slots 24'. At this time, the indent 32 of the lock mechanism 30 covers the post 21 of the bypass 20 having the recess 26'. After the lock mechanism 30 comes into place, the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the locked state, such that the latch similar to that, 34, in Fig. 2 is locked in the recess 26' to prevent the latch from moving out of the recess 26', thereby locking the lock mechanism 30 to the bypass 20. when the lock mechanism 30 is locked to the bypass, because the slots 24 of the bypass 20 are covered by the stopper 39 projecting from the lock mechanism 30, the housing 31 cannot be separated from the bypass 20 unless the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state, thereby locking the bypass 20 to the connector 10 provided on the computer 1, as shown in Fig. 9.

At this time, the user may wrap a loop 42 formed at an end of the connecting member 40 to a fixture 70, such as a leg of a table shown in Fig. 9, whereby the computer 1 is locked to the fixture 70 and cannot be removed. At the same time, the connector lo can still be electrically accessed by way of the bypass 29 so as to retain the original function of the connector 10.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate this invention embodying another type of the lock mechanism. The differences between this embodiment and that in Fig. 2 reside in that, the lock mechanism is this errbodiment includes a drawing type lock 30' and a padlock 41 having the connecting member 40. The drawing type lock 30' includes a housing 31. The housing 31 includes a controller 38 that moves in relation to the housing 31 and Corned with a first locking aperture 381. An indent 32 is formed between the housing 31 and the controller 38 for receiving and covering the fastener 24. The housing 31 is further formed with a second locking aperture 301 corresponding to the first locking aperture 381.

The fastener 24 is formed with a recess 26. The lock mechanism 30 includes a latch 34 to be inserted into the recess 26. In this embodiment, the latch is a ball and the recess 26 is a semi-spherical corresponding recess.

As shown in Fig. 12, when the lock mechanism 30 is under the unlocked state, the controller 38 does not urge against the latch 34 allowing vertical movement of the latch 34 in the lock mechanism 30. On the contrary, when the controller 38 is pushed, rendering the lock mechanism 30 to assume the locked state, the latch 34 is wedged in the recess 26 such that the vertical movement of the latch 34 is limited by the controller 38, as shown in Fig. 13. At this time, the padlock 41 passes through the locking apertures 301 and 381 to prevent separation of the housing 31 from the bypass 20, thereby locking the bypass 20 to the connector 1 provided on the computer 1, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13.

The user may then wrap a loop 42 formed at an end of the connecting member 40 to a fixture 70, such as a leg of a table shown in Fig. 9, whereby the computer 1 is locked to the fixture 70 and cannot be removed. At the same time, the connector 10 can still be electrically accessed by way of the bypass 29 so as to retain the original function of the connector 10.

Fig. 14 illustrates this invention embodying another type of the drawing type lock. The differences between this embodiment and that in Fig. 2 reside in that, the lock mechanism in this embodiment includes a drawing type lock 30' and a padlock 41 having the connecting member 40. The drawing type lock 30' includes a housing 31.

The differences between this embodiment and that in Fig. 10 reside in that, the housing 3 l per se is a controller formed with a first locking aperture 301. An indent 32 is formed in the housing 31 for receiving and covering the fastener 24. The bypass 20 is extended with a flange 201 thereon. The flange 201 is formed with a second locking aperture 202 corresponding to the first locking aperture 301. The housing 31 is movable in relation to the flange 201. When the lock mechanism 30 is under the unlocked state, the housing 31 may be separated from the fastener 24 and the flange 201, as shown in Figs. 14 and 16. On the other hand, when the housing 31, is pushed rendering the lock mechanism to assume the locked state, the housing 31 covers the fastener 24 and the flange 201, as shown in Pig. 17. At this time, the padlock 41 passes through the locking apertures 301 and 201 to prevent separation of the housing 31 from the bypass 20, thereby locking the bypass 20 to the connector 1 provided on the computer 1, as shown in Figs. 15 and 17.

Fig. 18 illustrates this invention embodying another type of the lock mechanism. The differences between this embodiment and those in Figs. 2, 8, 10 and 14 reside in that, the lock mechanism in this embodiment includes a rotary lock 30" and a padlock 41 having the connecting member 41 shown in Figs. 10 and 14. The rotary lock 30" includes a housing 31.

The housing 31 includes a controller 38 that rotates in relation to the housing 31 and formed with a first locking aperture 381. An indent 32 is formed between the housing 31 and the controller 38 for receiving and covering the fastener 24. The housing 31 is further formed with a second locking aperture 301 corresponding to the first locking aperture 381.

The fastener 24 is fonned with a recess 26. The lock mechanism 30 includes a latch 34 to be inserted into the recess 26. In this embodiment, the latch is a ball and the recess 26 is a semi-spherical corresponding recess.

As shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 19, when the lock mechanism 30 is under the unlocked state, the latch 34 adapts to fall into a hole 382 in the controller 38 such that the controller 38 does not urge against the latch 34 allowing vertical movement of the latch 34 in the lock mechanism 30. On the contrary, when the controller 38 is rotated 90 degrees, causing the latch 34 to leave the hole 382, the latch 34 is wedged in the recess 26 such that the vertical movement of the latch 34 is limited by the controller 38, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. At this time, the padlock 41 passes through the locking apertures 301 and 381 to prevent separation of the housing 31 from the bypass 20, thereby locking the bypass 20 to the connector I provided on the computer 1, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13.

This invention is related to a novel creation that makes a breakthrough in the art.

Aforementioned explanations, however, are directed to the description of preferred embodiments according to this invention. Various changes and implementations can be made by persons l skilled in the art without departing from the technical concept of this invention. Since this invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiments, changes to certain features of the preferred embodiments without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

Nomenclature Listing 1 notebook computer2 securing device connector12 to-be-engaged means 12' hoops20 bypass 21 post24 fastener 24' sots26, 26' recess 27 transmissionline29 bypass interface lock mechanism30' drawing typelock 30" rotary lock31 housing 32 indent34 latch keylock37 spring 38 controller39 stopper connecting member41 padlock 42 loop70 fixture 301,381,382 locking aperture201 flange 382 hole

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A securing device having a bypass interface,

particularly one to be connected to a connector provided on an electronic device and having at least one to-be-engaged means at an outer side thereof, the securing device comprising: a bypass, to be electrically collected to the connector and having a bypass interface; at least one fastener engaging the to-be-engaged means after the bypass is connected to the connector to prevent separation of the bypass from the connector; a lock mechanism, detachably locked to the bypass for preventing separation of the fastener from the to-be-engaged means; and a connecting member, for securing the combined lock mechanism and bypass to a fixture.
2. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the to-be-engaged means includes a screw hole and the fastener includes a bolt to be threaded to the screw hole.
3. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 2, wherein the lock mechanism includes a housing formed with an indent for covering the bolt.
4. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 3, wherein one of the bolt and the lock mechanism is fonned with a recess, and the other of the bolt and the lock mechanism includes a latch adapted to wedge into the recess when the lock mechanism is locked to the bypass.
5. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 2, wherein the one of the bypass and the lock mechanism is formed with a recess, and the other of the bypass and the lock mechanism includes a latch adapted to wedge into the recess when the lock mechanism is locked to the bypass.
6. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 3, wherein the housing is formed with a first locking aperture, the bypass is extended with a flange having a second locking aperture con esponding to the first locking aperture, whereby when the lock mechanism is locked to the bypass, the two locking apertures allow a padlock to pass through thereby preventing separation of the housing from the flange.
7. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the to-be-engaged means includes a hoop, and the fastener includes a slot to be engaged with the hoop.
8. The sectoring device having a bypass interface according to Claim 7, wherein the lock mechanism includes a housing and a stopper projecting from the housing, whereby when the lock mechanism is locked to the bypass, the stopper adapts to prevent separation of the hoop from the slot.
9. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 8, wherein the bypass is formed with a recess, and the lock mechanism includes a latch adapted to wedge into the recess when the lock mechanism is locked to the bypass.
l O. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 9, wherein the recess is formed on a post projecting from the bypass.
11. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim l, wherein the bypass and the connector consist of compatible transmission interface

specifications.
12. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the bypass includes a mating connector of the connector.
13. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is a combination lock.
14. The secuting device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is a key lock.
15. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism includes a drawing type lock and a padlock to be locked to the drawing type lock.
16. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism includes a rotary lock and a padlock to be locked to the drawing type lock.
17. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting member having an end connected to the fixture and another connected to the bypass.
18. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 17, wherein the end of the connecting member connected to the fixture is formed with a loop for securing the electronic device having the connector to the fixture.
19. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a cable.
20. The securing device having a bypass interface according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a steel cable.