Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PDA LOCK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus arid method for inhibiting the
theft of small and portable electronic devices.
Advancements in the state of the art of electronic devices have led to
smaller yet more powerful devices. For example, computers have evolved from
very
large machines to relatively small, portable, or even hand-held machines. The
use of
many different types of so-called "lap-top" computers and the smaller hand-
held
"personal digital assistants" (PDAs) has proliferated within personal,
educational and
business environments. However, an undesirable side effect of ever-shrinking
electronic
devices is their easy access and asportation by others, especially thieves.
One problem is that no viable physical security device exists for some
modern portable electronic devices. Compounding the problem is that some
portable
electronic devices are neither designed for attaching an object to it such as
a security
device for locking to another article, nor provided with a dedicated security
slot, such as
those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,381,685, assigned to Kensington
Technology Group,
a Division of ACCO Brands, and the assignee of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a locking method and apparatus for
securing to an appropriate cavity defined in an outer shell of a portable
electronic device.
In a preferred embodiment, the cavity is a stylus-holding cavity provided in
an outer shell
of a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, and adjacent to an exterior wall
of the PDA
device. In alternative embodiments, the~present invention may be used to
attach to any
portable device having an outer shell that defines a similar, generally
elongated cavity
proximate an exterior wall.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a locking
apparatus comprises a cavity engagement mechanism having an insert portion for
occupying the cavity, and a clamping mechanism coupled to the cavity
engagement
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mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a wedge that compresses against the
exterior wall and a clamping member that applies a clamping force to the wedge
in a
direction relative to the insert portion when the insert portion occupies the
cavity, to
thereby maintain the insert portion within the cavity to secure the apparatus
to the
portable electronic device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a locking
apparatus further includes a locking member connected to the wedge. The
locking
member translates the wedge from an unlocked position to a locked position
where the
clamping surface applies the compressive force to the exterior wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the wedge
includes a clamping surface that applies a frictional resistance to the
exterior wall against
a pulling force on the cavity engagement mechanism in a direction that is
generally away
from the cavity.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a locking
1 S apparatus includes a cavity engagement mechanism having an insert portion
adapted to
occupy the cavity; and a cavity engagement member coupled to the insert
portion. The
cavity engagement member includes an engagement portion that translates from
an
unlocked position where the insert portion is removable from the cavity, to a
locked
position to interact with the interior of the cavity to secure insert portion
within the cavity
and the apparatus to the electronic device.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method
for securing a locking apparatus to a portable electronic device comprises the
steps of
inserting, into the cavity, an insert portion of a cavity engagement
mechanism, and
compressing, to the exterior wall in a direction relative to the insert
portion, a wedge
coupled with the cavity engagement mechanism, to inhibit removal of the insert
portion
from the cavity.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, a
method for securing a locking apparatus to a portable electronic device
comprises the
steps of inserting, into the cavity, an insert portion of a cavity engagement
mechanism,
and associating, with the interior of the cavity, an engagement portion of a
cavity
engagement member coupled to the insert portion to secure the apparatus to the
electronic
device. The method may further comprise the step of attaching a cable to the
cavity
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engagement mechanism. The cable may be secured to an object other than the
portable
electronic device to thereby secure the portable electronic device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating all their features,
will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and
nonobvious
locking apparatus of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings, which
are
included for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following
figures,
with like numerals indicating like parts:
' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present
invention in association with a portable electronic device;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus of a first
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus of a second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus of a third
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the locking apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
A first preferred embodiment 10 of the locking apparatus of the present
invention is illustrated generally by way of reference to Fig. 1. A portable
electronic
device 16, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, has an outer
shell 20 which
is equipped with a cavity 18 that, in some cases, holds a small pen-shaped
writing stylus
used with conventional PDA devices such as the Palm PilotTM line of computers
manufactured by 3COM Corporation. The cavity is located adjacent to an
exterior wall
21 of the outer shell 20. Locking apparatus 10 includes a cavity engagement
mechanism
12 that is designed to associate with the cavity 18 in the portable electronic
device 16.
1 S The cavity engagement mechanism 12 is insertable into the cavity 18, and a
clamping
mechanism 15 applies a compressive force to the exterior wall 21, to secure
the cavity
engagement mechanism 12 within cavity 18, and the locking apparatus 10 to the
portable
electronic device 16.
Referring now to Fig. 2, a locking apparatus 10 of the first embodiment of
the present invention is shown in greater detail. The locking apparatus 10
includes a
cavity engagement mechanism 12 with an insert portion 22 that is sized and
shaped to
occupy the cavity, and may correspond to the writing stylus that might
normally occupy
the cavity. Cavity engagement mechanism 12 may be a metal rod or a thick wire
having
an elongated shape. A cavity engagement member 23 of the cavity engagement
mechanism 12 is configured to associate with the interior surface of the
cavity when the
insert portion 22 occupies the cavity. Cavity engagement mechanism 12 is shown
in Fig.
2 as a U-shaped rod having the insert portion 22 as a first arm of the "U" and
a second
arm 39 angled toward the first arm. Preferably, the first arrr~ and second arm
are
substantially straight and connected by a straight bridge.
A clamping mechanism 1 S is coupled to the cavity engagement
mechanism 12 and includes a wedge 25 and a clamping member 24. The wedge 25
includes a clamping surface 26 that may be constructed of a high-friction
material
suitable for resilient application to a metal or plastic outer shell of a
portable electronic
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device. When the insert portion 22 of the cavity engagement mechanism occupies
the
cavity, the wedge is compressible against the exterior wall. The clamping
surface 26
applies a frictional resistance to the exterior wall against a pulling force
that is generally
in a direction away from the cavity, such as when a person attempts to remove
the cavity
engagement mechanism from the cavity, for example.
The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2 further includes a lock
30 that may be key actuated, or other similar locking mechanism, that is
coupled to a
threaded rod 32. A threaded nut 34 is coupled with threaded rod 32 and
associated with
the clamping mechanism 15. A biasing mechanism 29, such as a spring, resides
on the
, second arm 39 and is coupled to the clamping mechanism 15. A housing 36
includes a
cable attachment mechanism 31 for attaching a cable 14, and a stylus storage
hole 38 for
storing a stylus that may be displaced by the locking apparatus in use. An
inside edge 37
of the housing 36 is preferably sized to abut, or nearly abut, the exterior
wall of the
portable electronic device to inhibit lateral movement of the locking
apparatus 10.
In operation, the insert portion 22 of the cavity engagement mechanism 12
is inserted into a cavity, which is not shown in Fig. 2 for ease of
illustration. The cavity
engagement member 23 associates with the interior surface of the cavity.
Operation of
the lock 30 moves the threaded rod 32. The threaded nut 34 is moved by the
threaded rod
32 to ultimately translate the wedge 25 of the clamping mechanism 15 from an
unlocked
position, where the clamping surface 26 is spaced apart from the exterior
wall, to a locked
position, where the clamping surface 26 is compressed against the exterior
wall. In the
unlocked position, the insert portion 22 of the cavity engagement mechanism 12
is easily
insertable and removable from the cavity. In the locked position, the insert
portion 22 is
secured within the cavity via the cavity engagement member 23.
An increased clamping force may be provided by the clamping surface 26.
If the cavity engagement mechanism 12 is biased away from the cavity by either
someone
pulling the cavity engagement mechanism or the housing 36, the angle of the
second arm
39 causes the wedge 25 to slide inwardly, increasing the compressive force
against the
exterior wall. When the lock is operated in reverse, the biasing mechanism 29
provides a
pulling force allowing the clamping mechanism 15 to be easily moved back to
the
unlocked position. By attaching a cable to cable attachment mechanism 3I, the
locking
apparatus may be locked to an object other than the portable electronic
device, which also
is not shown, but should be readily understood.
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With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown another embodiment 200 of the
present invention having the cable attachment mechanism 12, insert portion 22,
and
cavity engagement mechanism 23, as described herein above. A lock 30 is
coupled to a
threaded rod 32, which is in turn operably coupled to a connector 41, such as
a ball nut, or
similar connecting mechanism. The clamping mechanism 15 is pivotally coupled
onto
the second arm 39. In the specific embodiment shown, the wedge is an eccentric
cam 40
having the clamping surface 26 on its inside peripheral edge. Other features,
such as the
housing and the biasing mechanism described above, are not shown here for
simplicity of
description, but may readily be included with each embodiment of the present
invention.
~ The locking apparatus 200 in Fig. 3 operates as follows: upon insertion of
the insert portion 22, the lock 30 translates the clamping mechanism from an
unlocked
position to a locked position by pivoting a major part of the eccentric cam 40
in a
direction relative to the insert portion 22 where the clamping surface 26
compresses
against the exterior wall. If the cavity engagement member 12 is biased away
from the
cavity by a pulling force, the second arm 39 forces the cam 40 to pivot
further, the shape
of which increases the compressive force by the clamping surface 26. To unlock
the
apparatus, the cam 40 must be pivoted back away from the insert portion 22.
It should be understood that the lock 30 may translate the clamping
mechanism to a locked position from any angle. It should be further understood
that the
cavity engagement mechanism need not be a pinched-"U" shape, but may be any
shape
generally conforming to the operation of the locking apparatus as herein
described, such
as will be demonstrated with reference to Fig. 4.
Shown in Fig. 4 is a third embodiment 300 of the present invention.
having the cable attachment mechanism 12, insert portion 22, and cavity
engagement
mechanism 23, as generally described herein above. In the embodiment 300
shown, the
second arm 39 of the cavity engagement mechanism is substantially parallel
with the
insert portion 22. A screw drive 44 is coupled to a threaded rod 15 that is
substantially
perpendicular to the insert portion 22, to which is coupled a wedge 25. A lock
30
actuates a pin 42 that is adapted to engage a receptacle 43 in the threaded
rod 1 S.
In use, the threaded rod 15 translates the wedge 25 from an unlocked
position to a locked position. In the locked position, the wedge 25 compresses
against the
exterior wall of the device in a direction relative to the insert portion 22,
and the clamping
surface 26 applies a frictional resistance to the exterior wall against a
pulling force on the
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cavity engagement mechanism away from the cavity. At a predetermined position
of the
threaded rod 15, the pin 42, either automatically or by operation of the lock
30, engages
the receptacle 43 to secure it into place. To unlock the apparatus 300, the
lock removes
the pin 42 from the receptacle 43, allowing the wedge 25 to be withdrawn from
the
exterior wall.
Figures 5 through 14 show various alternative embodiments of a locking
apparatus having different types of a cavity engagement member 22 of an insert
portion
12 according to the present invention. The cavity engagement member 22
includes a
cavity engagement portion that translates from an unlocked position where the
insert
portion 12 is removable from the cavity, to a locked position to associate
with the interior
of the cavity to secure the apparatus to the electronic device.
Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment 50 where the cavity engagement member
22 includes a compressible elastomer S 1. In use, the elastomer S 1 is
elongated in the
unlocked position. When the insert portion 12 occupies the cavity, elastomer
51 contracts
to widen, and engages the interior surface of the cavity, thereby securing the
apparatus to
the portable electronic device.
In the embodiment of a locking apparatus 60 shown in Fig. 6, the cavity
engagement member 22 is shown including an expanding stylus 61 having first
and
second legs 62 and 63, respectively. In the unlocked position, legs 62 and 63
are in
juxtaposition. In the locked position, the legs diverge to expand apart and
engage the
interior surface of the cavity.
Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a locking apparatus 70 of the invention.
The cavity engagement member 22 includes a hinged stylus 71 having a
stationary leg 72
and a hinged leg 73. In the locked position, the hinged leg 73 diverges from
an unlocked
position where it is juxtaposed relative to the stationary leg 72 to engage
the interior of
the cavity.
Fig. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of a locking apparatus 80
according to the present invention. In the locking apparatus 80, the cavity
engagement
member 22 includes an offsetting cam stylus 81 that includes a stationary
portion 82 and
a cam portion 83. In the unlocked position, the cam portion 83 is aligned with
the
stationary portion 82. When translated to the locked position, the cam portion
83 is
misaligned with the stationary portion 82, as shown in Fig. 8. By being
misaligned, the
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cam portion 83 engages the interior of the cavity and secures the cavity
engagement
member 22 into place.
Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a locking apparatus 90, in which
the cavity engagement member 22 includes a barbed stylus 91 having at least
one
retractable barb 92 that is extendible outwards from, and retractable inwards
to, the stylus
91. Extending the barb 92 outwards engages the interior of the cavity.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the cavity engagement member 22
includes a diagonally offsetting cam 101 that offsets from a stationary
portion 102 at an
angle in the locked position.
Fig. 11 shows a first leg 111 and a second leg 112 of a cavity engagement
member 22 that are juxtaposed in an unlocked position, and thus being shaped
generally
as a stylus. In a locked position, the first and second legs are axially
offset from each
other to widen an aspect of their cross sectional dimension, thereby engaging
the inner
surface of the cavity.
Fig. 12 shows another embodiment of a locking apparatus 90. The cavity
engagement member 22 coupled to the insert portion 12 includes a spring-loaded
ball 122
that is held substantially inside a distal portion 121 of the cavity
engagement member. A
biasing spring 123 controls recession and extension of the ball 122 into and
partially out
of the distal portion 121. When the insert portion 12 is inserted into the
cavity, the ball
20. recedes into the distal portion 121 of the cavity engagement member 22,
allowing full
insertion. Once inserted, the spring 123 forces the ball 122 to extend
partially outside the
distal end 121. The ball 122 engages the inner surface of the cavity, and may
be sized
and adapted to engage a groove or recess within the cavity.
Figs. 13 and 14 show further embodiments of the cavity engagement
member 22. In Fig. 13, there is shown a cavity engagement member 22 that has a
rod
132 within it. The rod 132 translates in a direction shown, and includes at a
distal end an
expansion wedge I31. When the rod 132 is translated toward the lower part of
the insert
portion 12, the wedge expands a first leg 133 and a second leg 134 apart, to
engage the
inner surface of the cavity.
In Fig. 14 a rotating portion 141 is coupled to a stationary portion 142 of
the cavity engagement member 22. The rotating portion rotates about a plane of
rotation
146. The rotation portion has a first attachment member 143, and the
stationary portion
has a second attachment member 144. An expanding helix member 145 is attached
to
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both attachment members, and winds around the cavity engagement portion. In
use, the
rotating portion 141 is rotated in a direction to expand the expanding helix
member 145,
which thereby engages the inner surface of the cavity.
The above-described arrangements of apparatus and methods are merely
S illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many
other embodiments
and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the
invention as defined in the claims.
