1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock, and more particularly to a laptop computer lock having a tapered extension extending out to allow a securing device to lock the laptop computer without tilting the laptop computer.
2. Description of Related Art
As the fast growth of modern technology, electronic devices are becoming more compact than ever. Due to its portability, users all over the world love using these light weight and compact electronic devices. One of them which are mostly seen globally is the laptop computer. Users may use the laptop computer anywhere and anytime without limitation of any kind. Because of the portability of laptop computers, stealing events are frequently heard from friends. In order to prevent unauthorized personnel from stealing the laptop computer away, securing devices are invented and introduced to the public. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,562 issued to Murray Jr. et. al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,029 issued to Liao concern securing devices for laptop computers.
Nowadays, the securing device is able to be connected to a built-in hole (approximately 3×7 cm) in a side face of the laptop computer so as to lock the laptop computer as required. However, when the conventional securing device is employed, there is a drawback that suffers the user.
With reference to
Still, if the through hole (1a) is vertical to the surface applied to support the laptop computer (A) and the radius of the cable's curvature is larger than the distance (S1), the laptop computer (A) is tilted with respect to the surface to support the laptop computer (A). If the securing block (12) has a length larger than the distance (S1), the laptop computer (A) is tilted as well. Still again, only if the radius of the cable's curvature is smaller than the distance (S1) or the cable (11) is replaced with a much smaller padlock, the problem of tilting the laptop computer (A) exists. However, using a much smaller padlock or a thinner cable than required seems not adequate to secure the laptop computer (A).
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved laptop computer to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved laptop computer lock having a tapered extension extending out of the lock to define a space between a side face of the lock to receive therein a securing device so that after the securing device is attached to the lock, the laptop computer will not be tilted by the securing device.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved laptop computer lock having a primary body and a secondary body slidably connected to the primary body. The primary body has a first through hole and the secondary body has a second through hole selectively aligned with the first through hole so that the securing device is able to extend through the aligned first through hole and the second through hole to secure the laptop computer.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The primary body (20) includes a top casing (20a) and a bottom casing (20b) securely connected to the top casing (20a) to form the primary body (20). The top casing (20a) has a passage (21), a cushion (22) attached to a side face defining the passage (21) and a tapered extension (23) extending out from the primary body (20a). The tapered extension (23) has a first through hole (231) defined through the extension (23).
The secondary body (30) has a linkage (31) integrally formed with the secondary body (30) and extending out from the secondary body (30) and a ledge (32) extending out from the secondary body (30) in a direction opposite to the direction of the linkage (31). The ledge (32) has a second through hole (321) defined through the ledge (32) to selectively aligned with the first through hole (231) of the primary body (20). A slot (322) is defined through the ledge (32) to communicate with the second through hole (321) so as to receive therein the tapered extension (23) when required.
The retaining device (40) includes a fixed block (41) and a leverage (42). The fixed body (41) is securely sandwiched between the top casing (20a) and the bottom casing (20b) and has a first pin hole (411) laterally defined through the fixed block (41) to allow a pin (50) to extend through the first pin hole (411), two securing legs (412) extending from the fixed block (41) and out of the top casing (20a) from the passage (21) and a cutout (413) defined to communicate with the first pin hole (411). The leverage (42) has a second pin hole (421) defined in a mediate portion thereof to align with the first pin hole (411), a hook (422) formed on one distal end thereof and a seat (423) formed on the other distal end of the leverage (42) to correspond to a spring (60).
With reference to FIG. 5 and still taking
Then the secondary body (30) is assembled with the primary body (20) with the retaining device (40) received in the primary body (20). The tapered extension (23) extends into the slot (322) to align the first through hole (231) to the second through hole (321). Meanwhile, the linkage (31) is on the bottom of the leverage (42). When the foregoing assembly is finished, the lock of the present invention is formed. It is to be noted that the hook (422) and the securing legs (412) extend out of the lock to be ready to extend into a built-in port (71) in a back surface of a computer (70), as shown in FIG. 6A.
When the user is ready to leave the computer unattended for a short while, the user is able to slide the secondary body (30) to misalign the first through hole (231) and the second through hole (321). Because the slide of the secondary body (30), the leverage (42) pivots by the urging force of the spring (60) so that the hook (422) is aligned with the securing legs (412). After the user inserts the aligned securing legs (412) and the hook (422) into the port (71), the user slides the secondary body (30) back relative to the primary body (20) to re-align the first through hole (231) and the second through hole (321). Meanwhile, the hook (422) leaves the securing legs (412) due to the pivotal movement of the leverage (42) due to the linkage (31) being on the bottom of the leverage (42) again.
With reference to
With reference to FIG. 7 and taking
With reference to
With reference to
Other embodiments may be made possible after reading the specification of this application. However, there are numerous kinds of combination between the primary body (20) and the secondary body (30). Other means including rotating the secondary body (30) relative to the primary body (20) to accomplish the purpose of aligning the first through hole (231) with the second through hole (321) should be included in the domain of this application.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3722239 | Mestre | Mar 1973 | A |
5875657 | Kelley | Mar 1999 | A |
6257029 | Liao | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6305199 | Igelmund | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6321579 | Reyes | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6418759 | Zeren et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6463770 | Lee | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6513350 | Hurd et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6619081 | Yu | Sep 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040168486 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |