Security lock having a hook assembly engageable with a slot

Abstract

A security lock includes a housing, a pair of intersecting and pivotally interconnected locking arms that respectively have hooks extending outwardly of the housing and heads extending into the housing; and a key-operated lock disposed inside the housing and has a lock shell, and a rotatable core. The core has a tail projecting therefrom to extend between the heads, and includes two opposite first sides and two opposite second sides. A cross-section of the tail that is transverse to the first and second sides has a long distance between the first sides, and a short distance between the second sides. The hooks may be changed in position to engage or disengage a slot formed in an article by merely turning the core using a key.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional security lock;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional security lock;

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 2 but showing that hooks of the conventional security lock engage a slot in a computer;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a security lock embodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 but showing that hooks of the security lock of FIG. 4 engage a slot in a computer; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a tail projecting from a core of the security lock of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a security lock (A) embodying the present invention is useful for locking a computer 3 having a slot 31. The computer 3 may be a laptop computer or a notebook computer. The security lock (A) may also be used to lock a central processing unit, a computer display, a printer, a scanner, a projector, etc. The security lock (A) includes a housing 4, a hook assembly 5, a key-operated lock 6, and a cable 7.

The housing 4 has a tubular wall 41 of substantially elliptical cross-section, a bottom wall 411, a sleeve 42 disposed around the tubular wall 41, and a cap 44. The bottom wall 411 has a through hole 410. The tubular wall 41 has a top rim 412 protruding outwardly therefrom, and two opposite retention holes 414 formed therein. A pair of spaced-apart lugs 422 project from the outer periphery of the sleeve 42.

The cap 44 is disposed over the bottom wall 411 and engages the outer periphery of the bottom wall 411 through inter engagement of annular grooves 413 formed in the bottom wall 411 and annular protrusions 441 formed on the cap 44. A limiting ring 43 is fitted in another annular groove 413 formed in the tubular wall 41 and pushes the sleeve 42 against the top rim 412. An opening 440 is provided in a bottom end of the cap 44 to expose the through hole 410 in the bottom wall 411.

The hook assembly 5 includes a pair of locking arms 51 that are pivoted to the bottom wall 411 within the through hole 410, and that intersect each other, and that are interconnected pivotally like intersecting blades of a pair of scissors. The locking arms 51 have respective hooks 512 projecting outwardly of the through hole 410, and further have respective heads 511 extending into the tubular wall 41. The heads 511 are biased respectively by springs 52 to move toward each other so that the hooks 512 are normally moved toward each other and overlap. The springs 52 are connected to respective retainers that are fitted in the retention holes 414, respectively.

The cable 7 has a headed end 71 extending between and pivoted to the lugs 422 of the sleeve 42 by means of a pivot pin 82.

The key-operated lock 6 is a conventional cylinder lock which has a lock shell 61 and a core 62 that is rotatable relative to the lock shell 61 and that can be locked against rotation in a conventional manner using tumblers (not shown). The lock shell 61 is fitted inside the tubular wall 41 and is retained therein in a conventional manner by using a retaining pin 81.

According to the present invention, the core 62 has a tail 621 projecting therefrom and extending between the heads 511 of the locking arms 51. As shown in FIG. 6, the tail 621 has two opposite first sides 6211, and two opposite second sides 6212. The cross-section of the tail 621 that is transverse to the first and second sides 6211, 6212 has a long distance (a) between the first sides 6211, and a short distance (b) between the second sides 6212. The short distance (b) is shorter than the long distance (a).

While the cross-section of the tail 621 is rectangular in this embodiment, it may be elliptical or have any other shape that has a long distance between one pair of opposite sides or ends and a short distance between the other pair of opposite sides or ends.

In use, the hooks 512 of the locking arms 51 are inserted into a slot 31 in a computer 3, and a key 9 is inserted into the core 62 and is turned to rotate the core 62 relative to the lock shell 61 so that the key-operated lock 6 is placed in a locking or unlocking position.

When the key-operated lock 6 is in an unlocking position, the second sides 6212 of the tail 621 face the respective heads 511 of the locking arms 51. As the heads 511 has a spacing therebetween that is longer than the short distance (b), the second sides 6212 of the tail 621 do not contact the heads 511 so that the heads 511 are not pushed by the tail 621. Therefore, the hooks 512 overlap and are not moved away from each other. As a result, the hooks 512 do not engage the slot 31 in the computer 3.

When the key-operated lock 6 is to be placed in a locking position, the key 9 may be turned to rotate the core 62 by an angle of 90 degrees so that the first sides 6211 of the tail 621 face the respective heads 511. As the long distance (a) between the first sides 6211 is longer than the spacing between the heads 511, the first sides 6211 contact and push the respective heads 511 so that the heads 511 are moved away from each other against the actions of the springs 52. Thus, the hooks 512 are moved away from each other and are stretched outward, thereby engaging the slot 31 in the computer 3.

As described above, the key 9 is used to rotate the core 62 to place the key-operated lock 6 either in a locking or unlocking position. The key-operated lock 6 may be shifted between locking and unlocking positions by turning the key 9 to rotate the core 62 by an angle of 90 degrees. In other words, the computer 3 that has been unlocked or locked may be re-locked or re-unlocked by merely turning the key 9 counterclockwise or clockwise by 90 degrees. The key 9 need not be removed from the core 62 to re-lock or re-unlock the computer 3. In addition, the key-operated lock 6 is not provided with any axially slidable locking shaft that is extendable out of the housing 4, the security lock (A) has an improved outer appearance and takes up less space compared to the conventional security lock 1 shown in FIGS. 1-3.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A security lock comprising: a housing having a bottom wall, and a tubular wall extending upward from said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a through hole;a pair of intersecting locking arms that are pivoted to each other and that are pivoted to said bottom wall within said through hole, said locking arms respectively having hooks extending outwardly of said through hole and having heads extending into an interior of said tubular wall; anda key-operated lock disposed inside said tubular wall and having a lock shell and a core rotatable relative to said lock shell, said core having a tail projecting therefrom and extending between said heads, said tail including two opposite first sides, and two opposite second sides connected between said first sides, said tail being rotatable to permit said first sides to respectively face said heads, or to permit said second sides to respectively face said heads, said first sides having a long distance therebetween that is large enough to push said heads to move away from each other, said second sides having a short distance therebetween that is short enough to prevent said second sides from contacting said head.

2. The security lock of claim 1, wherein said tail has a rectangular cross section.

3. The security lock of claim 1, wherein said heads have a spacing therebetween when said heads are not pushed by said tail, said short distance being shorter than said spacing, said long distance being longer than said spacing.