Lock with a fastening cable

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a lock and, more particularly, to a lock with a fastening cable for use in securing computer equipment such as a notebook computer, a scanner, a printer and other suitably adapted object.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,171 to Donald W. Kelley, filed on Aug. 11, 1998, entitled “Scissor Lock with A Removable Cable Adapter”.

[0006] Many different locking apparatuses have been developed to secure computer equipment. One such locking apparatus is the “Scissor Lock with A Removable Cable Adapter” which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,171 to Donald W. Kelley. The “Scissor Lock with A Removable Cable Adapter” comprises a key operated scissor lock structure to operate two scissor arms. Each of the two scissor arms has a pivotal hole defined therein and aligned with each other. These two scissor arms each has an engagement end extending through a sleeve of the locking unit to engage in a computer or other suitable object. The engagement ends of the two scissor arms are hook-like structures each extending out from the scissor arms and being opposite to the other. The pivot assembly includes two clamps each having a through hole defined therein and a pin. The two clamps abut each other to form a housing into which the scissor arms are mounted by means of the pin.

[0007] Even though the locking unit can secure computer equipment or other suitable object, it has several disadvantages as follow.

[0008] 1. The scissor arms are received and mounted in the housing of the pivot assembly, each of them has a hole to allow the pin to pass through. The scissor arms, the clamps and the pin are all small parts. It is hard for a worker to assembly these parts.

[0009] 2. There is a certain distance between the engagement ends of the scissor arms and the sleeve of the locking unit, but the thickness of the casing of a computer varies. This locking unit will be useless when the thickness of the casing of a computer is bigger than the distance between the engagement ends of the scissor arms and the sleeve of the locking unit.

[0010] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional scissor lock.

[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a lock with a fastening cable is provided. The lock is used to secure business equipment such as printers, notebook computers or other suitable objects. The lock comprises a locking unit with a cable attached thereto, a key operated lock received in the locking unit and a latch which is operated by the key operated lock and received in a casing. The latch includes a transmission block and a couple of locking plates. Each of the locking plates has an engagement hook extending out and passing through the casing to engage in a locking hole of the equipment. The lock is fastened to another object by the cable after engaging to the equipment.

[0012] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock with a fastening cable in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the lock with a fastening cable in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lock with a fastening cable in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of second embodiment of a lock with a fastening cable in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship of the stubs to the brackets when the present invention is locked;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship of the stubs to the brackets when present invention is unlocked;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side plan view in partial section of the lock with a fastening cable before locking;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a side plan view in partial section of the lock with a fastening cable during locking;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a side plan view in partial section of the lock with a fastening cable finish locking; and

[0022] FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the lock with a fastening cable as shown in FIG. 1 in use.

[0023] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-2, a lock with a fastening cable in accordance with the present invention comprises a locking unit (10), a key operated lock (20), a latch (30) operated by the key operated lock (20) and a casing (40) covering all the parts.

[0024] The locking unit (10) includes a lock casing (11) and a cable adapter (12). The lock casing (11) has a passage (111) defined therein and a locking hole (112) communicating with the passage (111). The lock casing (11) further includes a annular groove (114) between the locking hole (112) and the small end and at least two threaded holes (115) defined in the face of the large end. The cable adapter (12) has a cable (101) attached thereto and at least one pinhole (122) aligning with the groove (114). The cable adapter (12) is mounted on the locking unit (10) by means of a pin (121) extending through each pinhole (122) and into the groove (114) of the locking unit (10).

[0025] The key operated lock (20) has an eccentric shaft (21) extending therefrom and a blind hole (22) defined therein and aligning with the locking hole (112) in the lock casing (11). The key operated lock (20) is received in the passage (111) of the locking casing (11) and held in place by a lock pin (113) penetrating the locking hole (112) and partially received in the blind hole (22). An eccentric recess (231) corresponding to the eccentric shaft (21) is defined in one side of a circular transmission block (23) and two stubs (232) extend from the opposite side. The two stubs (232) are defined on opposite ends of a diameter of the end face of the transmission block (23). The eccentric recess (231) in the transmission block (23) receives the eccentric shaft (21) extending from the lock (20).

[0026] The latch (30) includes a first locking plate (31) and a second locking plate (32) abutting each other. A first bracket (311) is defined on the first end of the first locking plate (31), and a first engagement hook (312) is defined on the second end. A second bracket (321) is defined on the first end of the second locking plate (32) and a second engagement hook (322) is defined on the second end. The first and second brackets (311; 321) respectively extend out from the first and second locking plates (31; 32) opposite to each other. Each of the first and second brackets (311; 321) has a recess defined therein to respectively receive one of the two stubs (232). The first and second engagement hooks (312; 322) respectively extend from the first and second locking plate (31; 32) opposite to each other. The first engagement hook (312) and the first locking plate (31) are on the same plane. The second engagement hook (322) and the second locking plate (32) are on the same plane. The latch (30) further includes a positioning plate (33) and a spring (34). One side of the positioning plate (33) has a recess (331) to allow the first and second brackets (311; 321) to move therein. At least two through holes (333) are defined in the positioning plate (33) and align with the threaded holes (115) in the end face of the lock casing (11). A slot (332) is formed at the center of the positioning plate (33) to allow the first and second locking plates (31; 32) to penetrate. One end of the spring (34) abuts the side of the positioning plate (33) opposite to the recess (331) and fits around the portion of the first and second locking plates (31; 32) that extend through the positioning plate (33).

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the casing (40) includes a cavity (41) defined therein to receive the locking unit (10) and latch (30). An inner flange (43) extends in from the casing (40) to form an opening (42) near the center of the casing (40). The inner flange (43) has at least two countersunk holes (44) defined therein to allow a bolt to extend therethrough. A flange (45) is formed around the outer end of the opening to abut and retain the end of the spring (34).

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a locking unit (50) having a passage (51) defined therein to receive a key operated lock therein and a hook portion (52) to allow a cable (101) to be attached thereto.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the two stubs (232) respectively push the first locking plate (31) up and the second locking plate (32) down to extend the hooks (312, 322) and lock the device when the key operated lock (20) is turned clockwise.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the two stubs (232) respectively push the first locking plate (31) down and the second locking plate (32) up to retract the hooks (312, 322) and release the device when the key operated lock (20) is turned counter clockwise.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 7, the key operated lock (20) is turned counterclockwise to retract the two engagement hooks (312; 322) so the engagement hooks (312; 322) easily extend through a locking hole (70) in a computer or other suitable object.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, the casing (40) contacts the computer around the locking hole and compresses the spring (34) so that the first and second engagement hooks (312; 322) extend and pass through the locking hole (70) in the computer or other suitable object,.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 9, the key operated lock (20) is turned clockwise to extend the two engagement hooks (312; 322) wider than the diameter of the locking hole (70) to engage the inside of the locking hole (70) when the casing (40) is released. Then the two engagement hooks (312; 322) and the casing (40) securely abut the locking hole (70) due to the resilient force of the spring (34).

[0034] Referring to FIG. 10, the cable (101) of the locking unit (10) is attached to another object such as a table or a chair, and the lock in accordance with the present invention is locked to a computer or other suitable object.

[0035] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.