Patent Application
20100320884
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-144408, filed Jun. 17, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus comprising an anchor plate to which an anti-theft tethering device called a Kensington Lock or security cable may be attached.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable electronic apparatus such as a portable computer comprises a slot for a security lock. The slot is designed to allow an anti-theft tethering device called a Kensington Lock or security cable to be attached. The slot is provided in a peripheral wall of a housing that forms an outer shell of the electronic apparatus.
The tethering device comprises a stiff wire and a lock cylinder secured to one end of the wire. The lock cylinder includes a hook that can be inserted into the slot in the housing. The hook is rotatable to a locked position orthogonal the slot, using a key, and this rotation allows the hook to engage in the peripheral wall of the housing.
Accordingly, by inserting the hook of the lock cylinder into the slot of the housing and rotating the hook to the locked position after looping the wire around an office desk, for example, the electronic apparatus can be tethered to the desk with the wire. This prevents the apparatus from being relocated or removed, and guards against its theft.
In order to increase the portability and appeal of products, slimness of the housings of recent electronic apparatuses has become an important feature. On an electronic apparatus having a slim, compact housing it is difficult to find a space where the hook of a lock cylinder can be engaged with the housing, and the user may have difficulty attaching a tethering device.
To remedy this problem, an electronic apparatus disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-56857 discloses a sliding plate between the upper surface of a housing and a plurality of key tops. The sliding plate includes a plurality of operation prevention portions corresponding to the key tops. The sliding plate is slidable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the operation prevention portions of the sliding plate fit into the space at the back of the key tops. In the second position, the operation prevention portions of the sliding plate are located below the edges of the key tops.
In the state in which the sliding plate has been slid to the second position, one end of the sliding plate protrudes from the side of the housing. A through-hole is formed in the protruding end of the sliding plate. The through-hole is designed to accommodate the shackle of a padlock, and is contiguous with a side surface of the housing. The padlock includes a chain or wire for attachment to a fixture such as a desk.
Accordingly, by sliding the sliding plate from the first to the second position and withdrawing the end of the sliding plate in which the through-hole is formed from the housing, the padlock can be attached to the sliding plate. It is thus possible to satisfactorily attach the padlock to the housing even if the housing is formed to be as thin as possible.
According to the above-described document, when the sliding plate to which the padlock is attached is slid from the second to the first position, the padlock is made to contact the side surface of the housing. This prevents the sliding plate from sliding to the first position. Thereby, the operation prevention portions of the sliding plate remain under the edges of the key tops, and the edges of the key tops abut the operation prevention portions even if one tries to press down the key tops. Accordingly, the keyboard is locked in an inoperative state.
According to the electronic apparatus disclosed in the above-described document, sliding of the sliding plate is limited by making the padlock contact the side surface of the housing. With this configuration, however, the side surface of the housing, which the padlock contacts, is susceptible to damage.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a sidewall in which an opening is provided, and an anchor plate supported by the housing. The anchor plate is slidable between a first position in which the anchor plate is accommodated within the housing and a second position in which the anchor plate projects from the housing through the opening. An aperture to which an anti-theft tethering device may be attached is provided in a portion included in the anchor plate and exposed outside the housing when the anchor plate is slid to the second position. The anchor plate is held in the second position by a stop mechanism when the anchor plate is slid at least to the second position.
The computer main body 2 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 has the shape of a flat box including a bottom wall 4a, an upper wall 4b, a left sidewall 4c, a right sidewall 4d, a front wall 4e, and a rear wall 4f. The left sidewall 4c, the right sidewall 4d, the front wall 4e, and the rear wall 4f form a continuous peripheral wall for the housing 4. As shown in
The housing 4 comprises a first housing element 6 and a second housing element 7. The first housing element 6 includes the bottom wall 4a, the left sidewall 4c, the right sidewall 4d, the front wall 4e, and the rear wall 4f. The second housing element 7 includes the upper wall 4b. The first housing element 6 and the second housing element 7 are joined together by means of a plurality of screws (not shown).
As shown in
The display module 3 is supported to a rear end of the computer main body 2 via a hinge (not shown). Thereby, the display module 3 is rotatable between a closed and an open position. In the closed position, the display module 3 lies on the computer main body 2, so as to cover the keyboard 5. In the open position, the display module 3 is raised from the rear end of the computer main body 2 so as to expose the keyboard 5 and the screen 11a.
As shown in
The anchor plate 12 includes a first slot 15a and a second slot 15b. The first and second slots 15a, 15b are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along the side edges 13a, 13b of the anchor plate 12.
The anchor plate 12 is integrally incorporated into the right side portion of the rear end of the first housing element 6.
An opening 18 is provided on the right sidewall 4d. The opening 18 takes the form of a slot extending along the right sidewall 4d, and is positioned between the guides 16a, 16b. The opening 18 is open downward from the right side of the housing 4 along the curve of the right sidewall 4d.
The support rails 17a, 17b are raised from the inner surface of the bottom wall 4a between the guides 16a, 16b. The support rails 17a, 17b extend along the lateral direction of the housing 4 and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals.
Further, a guide post 19 and a boss 20 are formed on the inner surface of the bottom wall 4a. The guide post 19 is raised from the bottom wall 4a between the support rails 17a, 17b. The boss 20 is adjacent to the guide post 19 between the support rails 17a, 17b. The boss 20 projects upward from the bottom wall 4a and is open toward below the first housing element 6.
The anchor plate 12 is slidably mounted on the support rails 17a, 17b between the guides 16a, 16b. Thereby, the side edges 13a, 13b of the anchor plate 12 slidably contact the guides 16a, 16b, and the guide post 19 slidably engages with the first slot 15a of the anchor plate 12.
As shown in
Further, the protruding portion 23 matches the boss 20 on the bottom wall 4a. A screw 24 is inserted into the boss 20. The screw 24 is driven into the protruding portion 23 from below the first housing element 6, and joins the holding plate 22 to the first housing element 6.
Thereby, the anchor plate 12 is slidably supported by the housing 4 along the width of the housing 4, being guided by the portion accommodating the first slot 15a and the guide post 19 and the portion accommodating the second slot 15b and the protruding portion 23. More specifically, the anchor plate 12 is slidable between a first position, in which the anchor plate 12 is accommodated within the housing 4, and a second position, in which the anchor plate 12 projects from the housing 4 through the opening 18.
When the anchor plate 12 is slid to the first position, the complementary end edge 13d of the anchor plate 12 is positioned in the opening 18. When the anchor plate 12 is slid to the second position, the region included in the anchor plate 12 and extending from the complementary end edge 13d of the anchor plate 12 to the intermediate portion of the anchor plate 12 projects from the housing 4 through the opening 18.
As shown in
Further, a stop mechanism 27 is provided on the bottom wall 4a of the first housing element 6. The stop mechanism 27 is designed to hold the anchor plate 12 in the first position and the second position in cooperation with the first and second notch portions 26a, 26b.
As shown in
The guide groove 31 faces one of the side edges 13a of the anchor plate 12 via a continuous opening 32 made in one of the guides 16a. The continuous opening 32 matches the first notch portion 26a of the anchor plate 12 when the anchor plate 12 is slid to the first position. Similarly, the continuous opening 32 matches the second notch portion 26b of the anchor plate 12 when the anchor plate 12 is slid to the second position.
The slider 28 engages with the guide groove 31 of the slide guide 30, and is supported by the first housing element 6, such that the slider 28 can reciprocate orthogonally to the sliding direction of the anchor plate 12. The slider 28 includes an engaging portion 34, which engages with the first notch portion 26a and the second notch portion 26b of the anchor plate 12. The engaging portion 34 is designed to proceed between the guides 16a, 16b via the continuous opening 32, and recede from between the guides 16a, 16b.
As shown in
When the anchor plate 12 is slid to the first position, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 elastically engages with the first notch portion 26a of the anchor plate 12. This engagement allows the anchor plate 12 to be held in the first position. Similarly, when the anchor plate 12 is slid to the second position, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 elastically engages with the second notch portion 26b of the anchor plate 12. This engagement allows the anchor plate 12 to be held in the second position.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The aperture 41 is designed to allow, for example, an anti-theft tethering device 42 called a Kensington Lock or security cable to be attached. As best illustrated in
The lock cylinder 44 includes a T-shaped hook 45 that can be inserted into the aperture 41. The hook 45 is rotatable through 90 degrees between an unlocked and a locked position by turning a key 46 inserted into the lock cylinder 44.
Next, the procedure of attaching the tethering device 42 to the portable computer 1 will be described.
Before the tethering device 42 is attached to the portable computer 1, the anchor plate 12 is slid to the first position and accommodated within the housing 4. In the first position, as shown in
To slide the anchor plate 12 from the first to the second position, the portion of the aperture 41 exposed outside the opening 18 is caught with a finger or the tip of a tool such as a screwdriver, and the anchor plate 12 is withdrawn from the opening 18.
In this case, the edge portion 38 of the first notch portion 26a abuts the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28, and a resistance is temporarily produced to prevent the anchor plate 12 from being withdrawn. The edge portion 38, however, is inclined toward the second notch portion 26b, which is positioned on the opposite side to the direction in which the anchor plate 12 is withdrawn. Accordingly, if the anchor plate 12 is strongly pulled when the edge portion 38 abuts the engaging portion 34, the engaging portion 34 is disengaged from the first notch portion 26a, against the urging force of the compression coil spring 29, according to the inclination of the edge portion 38.
Thereby, engagement of the engaging portion 34 with the first notch portion 26a is automatically released, following the withdrawing operation of the anchor plate 12. Thereby, the anchor plate 12 can be easily slid from the first position toward the second position.
As shown in
When the anchor plate 12 is slid to the second position, the end portion of the anchor plate 12 including the aperture 41 projects from the side of the housing 4. Accordingly, the hook 45 of the tethering device 42 can be inserted into the aperture 41 from above the anchor plate 12.
When the hook 45 is rotated from the unlocked to the locked position after being inserted into the aperture 41, the hook 45 is orthogonal to the aperture 41 and is engaged with the anchor plate 12. Thereby, the lock cylinder 44 is attached to the anchor plate 12.
Accordingly, by wrapping the cable 43 around a fixture such as a desk, and then engaging the hook 45 of the lock cylinder 44 with the anchor plate 12 according to the above-described procedure, the portable computer 1 can be tethered to the fixture. In this way, the computer 1 is prevented from being relocated or removed, and theft of the portable computer 1 can be prevented.
As shown in
On the other hand, when the hook 45 is rotated from the locked to the unlocked position, the tethering device 42 can be detached from the anchor plate 12. When the tethering device 42 is detached from the anchor plate 12, the anchor plate 12 is pushed toward the first position from the second position, such that the anchor plate 12 does not interfere.
In this case, since the edge portion 39 of the second notch portion 26b abuts the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28, as shown in
Accordingly, by strongly depressing the anchor plate 12 when the edge portion 39 abuts the engaging portion 34, the engaging portion 34 is disengaged from the second notch portion 26b against the urging force of the pressure coil spring 29, according to the inclination of the edge portion 39. Thereby, following the depressing operation of the anchor plate 12, engagement of the engaging portion 34 with the second notch portion 26b is automatically released. Thereby, the anchor plate 12 can be easily slid to the first position from the second position.
When the anchor plate 12 reaches the first position, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 engages with the first notch portion 26a. This engagement allows the anchor plate 12 to be held in the first position and accommodated within the housing 4.
According to the above-described configuration, by withdrawing the end portion of the anchor plate 12 including the aperture 41 from the housing 4, the tethering device 42 can be connected to the aperture 41. Accordingly, even if the portable computer 1 has a thickness less than the outer diameter of the lock cylinder 44, the lock cylinder 44 can be reasonably connected to the housing 4.
Further, by sliding the anchor plate 12 to the first position when the anchor plate 12 is not used, the anchor plate 12 can be accommodated within the housing 4. Thereby, the anchor plate 12 does not interfere and the appearance of the portable computer 1 is improved.
Moreover, when the anchor plate 12 is slid to the second position, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 engages with the second notch portion 26b of the anchor plate 12, and the anchor plate 12 is held in the second position. In addition, since the gap g exists between the lock cylinder 44 connected to the anchor plate 12 and the housing 4, constant positional relationship between the lock cylinder 44 and the housing 4 is maintained.
Accordingly, the lock cylinder 44 and the sidewall 4d of the housing 4 do not contact each other, and the housing 4 is prevented from being damaged. Accordingly, the appearance of the portable computer 1 can be preserved.
According to the embodiment, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 engages with the first notch portion 26a of the anchor plate 12, and thereby the anchor plate 12 is held in the first position. Accordingly, while the portable computer 1 is being carried, the anchor plate 12 is prevented from projecting from the housing 4 and is thus protected against damage.
Furthermore, the engaging portion 34 of the slider 28 slidably interposes the side edge 13a of the anchor plate 12, in which the first and second notch portions 26a, 26b are formed. Thereby, constant positional relationship between the engaging portion 34 and the anchor plate 12 can always be maintained. Accordingly, engagement of the engaging portion 34 with the first notch portion 26a and engagement of the engaging portion 34 with the second notch portion 26b can be accurately performed.
The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be embodied with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.
For example, the first notch portion for holding the anchor plate in the first position may be omitted, and a magnet may be provided within the housing, instead of the first notch portion. The magnet adsorbs the anchor plate when the anchor plate is slid to the first position, and holds the anchor plate in the first position.
The anchor plate may be designed to project from the front or back of the housing, as well as from the side of the housing.
Furthermore, the anchor plate is not limited to the structure of being slid between the first position and the second position, and may be rotatably supported by the housing between the first position and the second position, for example.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been descried, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-144408 | Jun 2009 | JP | national |
