Security hole fastening device

[0002] This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/128,049, filed Aug. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,173,591, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/048,874 filed Mar. 26, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,891, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/825,213 filed Mar. 27, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,739, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/680,184 filed Jul. 15, 1996 which is now abandoned, all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0003] The present invention relates to preventing theft of electronic equipment. More particularly, the present invention provides a device and method by which equipment is fastened to a locking mechanism.

[0004] There presently exists a number of devices and methods for preventing theft of equipment such as portable laptop computers and hand-held electronic devices. Typically, these methods include a fastening block which is either adhered to or screwed to an equipment's outer shell or casing. A wire cable or metal chain is then attached to the fastening block and the ends of the cable or chain are looped around a suitable immovable object and locked in place. This prevents the equipment from being removed by unauthorized persons. U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,507 of Jay S. Derman entitled “Wire Cable Locking Device” describes one such approach which is found to be successful.

[0005] In order to standardize the available methods of fastening securing devices to equipment, industry has incorporated security holes or slots in the outer shell of certain equipments. Conventional security slots are either rectangular or rounded in shape. A rounded hole that is circular permits a fastener to rotate in the hole 360 degrees, which could be advantageous for some equipment and easier to construct. Most security slots also incorporate the inside surface of the equipments' outer shell, to which a device could engage in a locking mode.

[0006] It is intended that the securing method utilize a fastener that can be inserted in the security slot provided in the equipment and thereby secure the equipment to a cable or padlock.

[0007] For the user's convenience, and for that of the equipment manufacturer, the fastener device should be able to stay attached to the equipment once it is inserted in the security hole, and not require an externally applied means such as a lock or cable to hold it in place. Loose fasteners may easily fall out of equipment security holes during attachment of a group of equipments to a cable, causing unnecessary bother. The same thing may occur when one or more equipments are removed from a securing cable for any reason, such as during a sale. It is, therefore, highly desirable to have a security hole fastener that will stay in place once inserted, and will take particular effort to be removed.

[0008] There are presently many known fasteners used for fastening to a piece of equipment, such as a door. Most of these fasteners use swivelling or pivoting arms that must be held in place by an external lock. These fasteners suffer from being susceptible to loosening and possibly falling out of the equipment security hole because of their size and construction. Further, none are adapted specifically for use with modern portable electronic equipment bearing standardized security slots.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and reliable fastening device to prevent theft of portable equipment. It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a design which economizes the materials used in construction of the device, but which provides a high threshold of security. An even further object is to provide a device that, once fastened to an equipment shell, may not be pulled out or loosened.

[0010] The present invention provides a device for fastening to an equipment subject to theft and provided with a security slot in its outer shell. One embodiment of the present invention provides two insert members having a channel-defining portion with an outer end and an inner end, and a hooked tang having a distal end, an attachment end, and a bend therebetween. The attachment end is coupled to and projects from the channel-defining portion proximate said inner end. The hooked tang is adapted for insertion into the security slot such that the distal end bears against an inside surface of the shell. Juxtaposing the insert members in a locking mode provides for the distal ends to extend oppositely to secure the device to the equipment shell, and defines a channel wherein an object inserted into the channel retains the insert members in the locking mode.

[0011] In a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided two insert members, each having a cylindrical portion, an outer end and an inner end. Each insert member has a hooked tang with a distal end, an attachment end coupled to and projecting from the cylindrical portion proximate said inner end, and a bend therebetween. The hooked tangs are adapted for insertion into the security slot such that their distal ends bear against an inside surface of the shell. By juxtaposing the inner ends of the insert members in a locking mode, the distal ends will extend oppositely to secure the device to the equipment shell.

[0012] In a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided two insert members as above, and a sleeve, sized to slidably fit around the channel-defining portion of the insert members when in the locking mode. Association of the sleeve around the channel-defining portion of the insert members maintains the members in the locking mode.

[0013] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the latter portions of the specification and attached drawings

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an assembled fastening device;

[0015] FIG. 2 is perspective view of an example equipment, particularly showing its shell defining a security slot;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of an equipment, showing the invention fastening device installed in a security slot and a cable attached passing through the fastening device;

[0017] FIG. 4ais a sectional, partial side view of the shell of an equipment taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3, particularly showing a first embodiment installed in a security slot with a cable attachment;

[0018] FIG. 4bis a sectional, partial side view of the shell of an equipment taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3, particularly showing a second embodiment installed in a security slot with a cable attachment;

[0019] FIG. 4cis a sectional, partial side view of the shell of an equipment taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3, particularly showing a third embodiment installed in a security slot with an object attachment;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one insert member;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sleeve which fits over two insert members; and

[0022] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating two or more equipments with security slots locked to a cable by the present invention.

[0023] Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of an assembled device according to the present invention. The device consists of two similar insert members 1 covered by a sleeve 3. Protruding out beneath both the insert members 1 and the sleeve 3 are hooked tangs 7 of the insert members 1.

[0024] Refer now to FIG. 2 which illustrates a typical computer equipment accessory 13, having a security slot 19 in its shell 17. Equipment 13 is shown as a computer peripheral device for example purposes only and should not limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other modifications, variations and alternatives. For example, it should be apparent that any equipment subject to theft, such as a portable computer, a desktop computer, printer, scanner, or keyboard or the like, may be provided with a security slot for use with the present invention. Furthermore, security slots may be found in any portable equipment, such as skis, bikes, stereo equipment, etc.

[0025] Security slot 19 is shown as rectangular. As will be discussed below, several alternative embodiments dictate that the shape of security slot 19 should have a length longer than its width. However, in the preferred embodiment and variants thereof, the security slot 19 may be any suitable shape and size. For example, the slot may be square, rounded, or even circular, and its size need only accommodate hooked tangs 7 or similar locking elements. Therefore, the slot shown for illustration purposes in FIG. 2 should not limit the scope of the claims herein.

[0026] When the tang of each insert member 1 is properly inserted into a security slot 19, the hooked portion of each tang will bear against the inside surface of the equipment shell 17 around the slot 19. Placing the sleeve 3 over the insert members 1 juxtaposes the members in a side-to-side manner, with the tang 7 hook portions pointed outwardly and oppositely as shown in FIG. 1. This produces an even grip on the inside surface of the equipment shell 17.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 3 is sized to slidably fit over the insert members 1 and hold them together. The sleeve 3 may also fit over the insert members 1 in a loose manner, whereby the sleeve merely inhibits the insert members from moving apart axially. The insert members 1 themselves define an aperture or channel to accommodate an object such as a cable or padlock device. The use of a cable is illustrated in FIG. 3 which is a partial view of a computer accessory equipment 13, showing a portion of an object 21, such as a cable, passed through the preferred embodiment of the fastening device having a sleeve 3 and two insert members 1.

[0028] Refer now to FIG. 4awhich is a partial cross-section view of an equipment shell 17 and the fastening device of the preferred embodiment inserted in a security slot taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3. As can be seen, the tangs 7 of the insert members 1 are inserted through the security slot in the equipment shell 17, with the distal hooked ends of the tangs 7 extending oppositely. The insert members 1 define a cylindrical channel wherein an object 21 such as cable may pass.

[0029] The underside of the bent part, or distal end, of each tang 7 now bears against the inside surface of the equipment shell 17, and is held in that position by the sleeve 3. The sleeve 3 may have a open, planar bottom edge, which may bear against or near the outside surface of the shell 17. Thus, the insert members 1 of the device are held tightly in a security slot and cannot accidentally loosen.

[0030] Placing a object 21 such as a cable or a padlock arm through a channel in the fastening device, defined by a cylindrical portion of the insert members 1, adds one more level of securing the fastening device to the equipment outer shell. Insertion of the object 21 makes it virtually impossible to remove or loosen the device from its fastened or locked position. To loosen the device, the insert members 1 can be carefully separated and removed from the security slot only after first removing the sleeve 3.

[0031] Refer now to FIG. 4bwhich is a partial cross-section view of an equipment shell 17 and the fastening device of a second embodiment inserted in a security slot taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3. Shown are the insert members 1 with tangs 7 inserted into and bearing against the inside surface of equipment shell 17, as described above. In the second embodiment, simply placing an object 21 such as a cable or padlock through the insert member's 1 channel secures the fastening device to the equipment outer shell 17. The cable or padlock used must be sufficiently large in diameter to inhibit too large an axial movement of the individual insert members 1, so as to prevent the tangs 7 from being removed from the shell 17.

[0032] FIG. 4cis a partial cross-section view of an equipment shell 17 and the fastening device of a third embodiment inserted in a security slot taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3. Shown are the insert members 1 with tangs 7 inserted into and bearing against the inside surface of equipment shell 17, as described above. When juxtaposed in a locking mode, the two insert members 1 have a channel-defining portion 16 which define a channel through which an object 21 may be passed to secure the insert members 1 in the locking mode. As long as the channel is sufficiently concave, and the object 21 is sufficiently sized to fit into the channel, the insert members 1 will not release from the locking mode.

[0033] Refer now to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show detail of an insert member 1 and a sleeve 3, respectively. Each insert member 1 may be made of metal or any rigid material that resists bending or breaking. Insert member 1 is formed in two basic portions, a cylindrical portion 2 and tang 7. The cylindrical portion 2 has an inner end 5 for mating to or adjoining a second insert member 1 in mirrored juxtaposition. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical portion defines substantially a cylindrical channel 14. In alternative embodiments, however, the channel may be multiangular. Further, the length of the channel may vary. The channel 14 has a diameter 12 to accommodate a cable or padlock.

[0034] The other portion of insert member 1 is a hooked tang 7. Tang 7 has an attachment end 8 where it is attached to an outer surface of the cylindrical portion 2 of the insert member 1, preferably proximate to inner end 5 of the cylindrical portion. Thus, when two insert members 1 are joined in juxtaposition, each members 1 hooked tang will preferably also be joined. The combined width of the two hooked tangs 7 should be substantially equal to the width of the security slot 19, with clearances.

[0035] When the hooked tangs 7 are inserted into the security slot, the cylindrical portion 2 prevents any other part of the insert members 1 from entering the slot. Tang 7 extends outwardly from cylindrical portion 2. The distance from attachment end 8 to a bend 9 may be substantially equal to the estimated depth of the equipment shell 17, as shown in FIG. 4. When the insert member is inserted into the slot, distal end 10 bears against the inside surface of shell 17. Distal end 10 extends from bend 9 at approximately 90 degrees from the plane of attachment end 8.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 6, a sleeve 3 is shown. The sleeve 3 has a length 32 sized to slidably cover both insert members 1 when juxtaposed in the locking mode. The sleeve is made of a single sheet of material, formed into a concave semicircle. Preferably, sleeve 3 is formed to an almost complete cylinder shape. The sleeve 3 has terminal edges 30, which are preferably planar to bear against the surface of the equipment outer shell when the sleeve 3 is slid over insert members 1.

[0037] Illustrated in FIG. 7 is one accepted application where the device of the present invention may be used together with a security slot in equipment to secure the equipment against theft. In the illustration, a computer accessory equipment 13 is secured to a cable 21 by having the cable 21 pass directly through a channel in the insert members 1 when their tangs are inserted in its security slot. An additional level of security is provided by sliding sleeve 3 over the insert members 1. This approach could be used where the several different equipments of a system are being secured together on one cable as would be the case in an office. The other equipment 13 has a padlock 23 arm going through the slots in its attached fastening device and the cable 21 passing through the padlock 23. This approach may be used wherever several equipments are located, yet desirable to be able to unlock and remove any one of the equipments separately.

[0038] As an example of how the equipment may be secured by a cable 21, the cable is shown having one end passed through a collar, looped around an immovable pole 25 with its end passing back through the collar and a clamp is locked on the end. The other end of the cable (not shown) would have a similar locked clamp attached to prevent pull through.

[0039] While the above is a full description of the specific embodiments, various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.