Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Attorney docket no. V80270CA
Adjustable Security Enclosure
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to adjustable security enclosures, and in
particular, to security enclosures that are adjustable to enclose portable
electronic equipment such as projectors, that are of different sizes and
dimensions.
Background of the Invention
Portable electronic equipment such as projectors are prone to theft.
Replacing stolen equipment can be expensive and distracting. Electronic
equipment theft is particularly problematic for organizations that must expose
their equipment to the public. For example, schools and conference centres
have meeting rooms that are equipped with presentation equipment, such as
computers, and video l data projectors. Projectors can be portable units
placed
on top of a table and removed after each use. Projectors that are placed on
tables can be removed from the room after each use; however, transporting and
setting up the projector in the room each time it is to be used tends to be
time
consuming and is undesirable when the room is frequently used for
presentations. Since such projectors are not secured, care must be taken to
guard the projector to ensure it is not stolen. Or, projectors can be mounted
in a
substantially permanent location, such as from a threaded drop pipe extending
downwards from the room's ceiling.
Ceiling mounted projectors are desirable as they free up desk space, and
are mounted out of the way of people in the room. Projector manufacturers
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
typically provide optional ceiling mounting plates for their projectors; the
mounting plates typically include a threaded portion that mates with the
threaded
portion of the drop pipe, and fasteners for securing the mounting plate to
screw
holes in the data projector itself. Optionally, an adjustment bracket can be
coupled between the mounting plate and the drop pipe, to enable the projector
to
be tilted so that the projected image is centred on a screen.
Such ceiling mounting hardware is not particularly secure - a thief can-
simply remove the fasteners that attach the adjustment bracket to the mounting
plate, or remove the fasteners in the adjustment bracket itself, or remove the
fasteners which attach the mounting plate to the projector. Various prior art
solutions have been proposed to prevent removal of the mounting plate
adjustment bracket from the projector or drop pipe. For example, Chief
Manufacturing Inc. advertises for sale a projector security device under the
brand
name "PG-1 Projector Guard" - this device is a cage that encloses a projector
and its ceiling mounting hardware. Disadvantageously, the cage is not
adjustable in size to accommodate projectors of different sizes; use of the
cage
to enclose smaller projectors tend to be aesthetically unpleasing. More
problematic is that the device is simply an enclosure that uses the
projector's
existing mounting hardware. Furthermore, the cage must be completely
removed from the projector to allow access to the projector for regular
maintenance, which is time consuming.
Peerless industries, Inc. is another company that advertises for sale a
projector security device, under the brand name Armor Lock Box; unlike the
Chief device, the Peerless security device is a combined enclosure and mount,
for enclosing a projector and mounting it to a ceiling drop pipe. However,
like the
Chief device, the Peerless device includes a cage that is not adjustable to
accommodate projectors of different sizes. This security device is also
problematic as it must be completely removed to allow access to the projector
for
regular maintenance.
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Summary Of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for
securing portable electronic devices such as projectors. In particular, it is
an
object to provide an adjustable apparatus for securing projectors of different
sizes to a ceiling mounted drop pipe.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus
for securing an audio video device such as a projector. This apparatus is
mountable to a ceiling drop pipe and comprises a cage for housing the device
and a connector assembly for connecting the cage to a fixture such as a
ceiling
mounted drop pipe. The cage has a plurality of interconnected members that
together define an enclosure for housing a projector and impeding removal of
the
projector from the cage. At least some of the members are connected together
by at least one member fastener that can be unfastened from inside the cage,
such that the position of at least some of the members can be adjusted
relative to
other members so that the size of the enclosure can be adjusted to fit the
projector snugly therein, thereby impeding access to the fastener. When
securing projectors, the connector assembly is connectable to a ceiling drop
pipe, and has a cage mounting portion mounted to at least one of the members
by at least one removable connector assembly fastener that can be unfastened
from inside the cage.
Two of the members can be top plates connected to each other by at least
one of the member fasteners, and laterally adjustable relative to each other
such
that the width of the cage can be adjusted. In such case, the cage mounting
portion of the connector assembly can be mounted to one of the top plates.
Also,
some of the members can be top plate members that extend downwardly from
the top plates; in such case, some of the members can be vertically extending
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members that extend generally vertically and are adjustably connected to the
top
plate members by at least one of the member fasteners such that the height of
the cage can be adjusted. Furthermore, some of the member's can be lateral
support members for supporting a projector and which extend laterally from the
vertically-extending members and are adjustably connected to each other by at
least one of the member fasteners such that the width of the cage can be
adjusted, for example, to match the width of the top plates.
Some of the members can form a lock bar assembly that comprises a top
track securably fastened to at least one of the top plates and a pair of L-
shaped
wings having a downwardly-extending portion for impeding removal of the
projector from the cage, and a laterally-extending portion connected to the
top
track by at least one of the member fasteners such that the depth of the cage
can
be adjusted.
When so configured, the size of the cage can be adjusted laterally in width
and depth and vertically in height, so that the projector or other audio-video
device is fit snugly inside the cage. As the member fasteners are all
installed in a
manner that they can be only unfastened from inside the cage, and the snug fit
of
the projector inside the cage impedes access to the fasteners, thereby making
it
difficult for a person to adjust the size of the cage in order to remove the
projector.
The top track can be removably mounted to the at least one of the top
plates by a lock. In such case, removal of the top track from the rest of the
cage
enables installation and removal of the projector from the cage. That is, when
top track is removed, the wings no longer impede removal of the projector.
Once
the projector is removed, a person can access the member and connector
assembly fasteners inside the cage to adjust the size of the cage (e.g. to
accommodate a different sized projector) and/or remove the cage from the drop
pipe.
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The drop pipe is typically threaded and in such case, the connector
assembly has a threaded portion for connecting to the drop pipe. The connector
assembly can be a ball and collar assembly which comprises a ball having the
threaded portion in a recess of the ball, and a collar having the cage
mounting
portion at a base of the collar, a cavity for receiving the ball, and a drop
pipe
opening large enough to pass the drop pipe therethrough to fasten to the
threaded portion. The base of the collar can have a rim that defines an
opening
large enough to pass the ball therethrough; in such case, the cage mounting
portion is located at the rim.
Alternatively, the connector assembly can comprise a flange mounting
assembly with a hollow cylinder having the threaded portion on an inside
surface
of the cylinder, and a disc portion extending from a base of the cylinder and
having the cage mounting portion; the threaded portion of the hollow cylinder
mates with the threaded portion of the drop pipe, thereby securing the
apparatus
to the drop pipe. This connector assembly can further include a stopper
assembly mounted to the cage and comprising a compressible cylinder that is
slidable through the mounting assembly cylinder and into the drop pipe when
uncompressed, and that can be expanded laterally inside the drop pipe when
compressed, thereby impeding efforts to unscrew the apparatus from the drop
pipe. For drop pipes that are right hand threaded, the threaded portion is
right
hand threaded. The connector assembly can further comprise a left hand
threaded bolt extending through the compressible cylinder and a left hand
threaded nut threadable onto the bolt to control the compression of the
cylinder.
This arrangement impedes efforts to unscrew the connector assembly from the
drop pipe, as the rotation of the connector assembly (in the right handed
thread
direction) will cause the left handed nut and bolt to further compress the
compressible cylinder, thereby further securing the apparatus to the drop
pipe.
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation view of an audio-~rideo equipment
security enclosure having a rubber stopper connector assembly;
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the security enclosure of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the security enclosure of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the securiity enclosure of
Figure 1, with a portion of the connector assembly omitted to better show a
rubber stopper portion of the connector assembly;
Figure 5 is a schematic front elevation view of the security enclosure
having a bail and collar connector assembly;
Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation view of the security enclosure of
Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the security enclosure of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the security enclosure of
Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a schematic exploded view of the rubber stopper connector;
Figure 10(a) is a plan view of a ball of the ball and collar connector, and
Figure 10(b) is a sectioned side elevation views of the ball at section line
A; and,
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Figure 11 (a) is a plan view of a collar of the ball and collar connector, and
Figure 11 (b) is a sectioned side elevation views of the collar at section
line B with
the ball shown in outline and inserted inside the collar.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
Directional terms such as "top", "bottom", and "upwards" are used in the
following description for the purpose of providing relative reference only,
and are
not intended to suggest any limitations on how any apparatus is to be
positioned
during use, or to be mounted in an assembly.
According to one embodiment of the invention and referring to Figures 1 to
4, a security enclosure 10 for a video projector (not shown) is securely
mountable
to a drop pipe (not shown) that extends downwards from a ceiling. The security
enclosure 10 can be adjusted to house projectors of various sizes, and is
engineered to resist removal of a projector housed therein, as well as to
resist
removal of the security enclosure 10 from the drop pipe. Such projectors
include
data projectors and home entertainment audio-video projectors.
Components
The security enclosure 10 generally comprises a cage assembly for
housing the projector and a connector assembly for connecting the cage
assembly to the drop pipe. Trre cage assembly has a plurality of
interconnected
members connected together by a plurality of fasteners. They fasteners are
inserted into fastener openings provided in spaced intervals along each of the
members, thereby enabling the size and shape of the cage assembly to be
adjusted to accommodate projectors of different sizes and shapes. One
particularly suitable type of fastener is a self clinching flush head PEM stud
manufactured by PennEngineering Fastening Technologies. These threaded
V80270CA\VAI~I_LAW1149843\1
CA 02472679 2004-06-29
fasteners have a self clinching flush-head design that makes rernoval of the
stud
from the member particularly difficult. Suitable fastener openings are
provided in
each of the members for receiving the PEM stud; a nut can be mated to a PEM
stud to fasten two members together. While PEM studs are particularly suitable
for use in this embodiment of the invention, other fasteners may be
substituted
within the scope of the invention, e.g. conventional nut and bolt fasteners.
The members include an outer top plate 12 and an inner top plate 14
slidable relative to the outer top plate 12 in a longitudinal direction. For
convenient reference, the edges of the outer and inner top plate 12, 14 that
face
each other are herein referred to as the "inner edges" and the edges opposite
of
said inner edges are herein referred to as the "outer edges". Also, the
dimension
extending between the inner and outer edges is herein referred to as the
longitudinal or lengthwise dimension.
A connector assembly opening 13 (shown in dashed fine in Figure 3) has
a stopper bolt diameter and extends through the centre of the outer top plate
12.
Two pairs of longitudinally-spaced fastener openings 15 (as seen in Figure 4)
each having a PEM stud diameter are located on either side of the connector
assembly opening 13 and also extend through the outer top plate 12.
Corresponding openings (not shown) are provided for the inner top plate 14,
namely, two outer rows of longitudinally-spaced fastener openings
corresponding
to the position of the fastener openings 15, and a centre row of
longitudinally
spaced openings located in between the outer rows of fastener openings and
corresponding to the location of the connector assembly opening 13. A 3/8"
stopper bolt (not shown) is insertable through one of the centre row openings
of
the inner top plate 14, and through the connector assembly opening 13. Also,
'/4"
top ring PEM studs are insertable through the four fastener openings 15 of the
outer top plate 12 and through corresponding outer row openings of the inner
top
plate 14. Conventional nuts can be removably fastened to the bolt portion of
the
PEM stud.
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
At each side edge of the outer top plate 12 are a pair of parallel,
longitudinally-extending channels 17 that slidably receive the inner top plate
14.
A fastener opening 19 is located at each comer of the inner end of the outer
top
plate 12. Two longitudinally extending rows of spaced fastener openings 21 in
the inner top plate 14 correspond to the location of the fastener openings 19
of
the outer top plate 12. Each fastener opening 19 in the outer top plate 12 can
be
aligned with one of the fastener openings 21 of the inner top plate 14 to
receive a
PEM stud (not shown) therethrough. PEM studs are securely attached to the
outer top plate 12 by insertion through fastener opening 19 during assembly.
These PEM studs can then threaded through appropriate fastener openings 21 of
the inner top plate 14 and nuts can be fastened to the PEM studs to secure the
inner and outer top plates 12, 14 together.
A lock tab 24 with an aperture therethrough extends upwards from the
outer top plate 12.
A pair of vertically extending channels 23 extend downwardly from the
outer corners of the outer top plate 12. Similarly, a pair of vertically
extending
members 25 extend downwardly from the outer corners of the inner top plate 14.
A single fastener opening (not shown) is provided for each vertically
extending
channel 23, and a row of spaced fastener openings 27 extend along each
vertically extending member 25. A suitable spacing can be %2 ". A pair of L-
shaped inner support brackets 16 each have a vertical portion and a horizontal
portion extending perpendicularly from the base of the vertical portion. The
vertical portions are vertically slidable inside each respective outer top
plate
channel 23 and are positioned so that the respective horizontal portions of
the
inner support brackets 16 extend inwards. A row of spaced fastener openings 29
extend along the vertical and horizontal portions of each inner support
bracket 16
("vertical fastener opening" 29 and "horizontal fastener opening" 29); a
suitable
spacing can be'/ °. PEM studs are securely attached to the vertically
extending
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
channels 23 by insertion through the channels' fastener openings during
assembly. These PEM studs can then threaded through appropriate vertical
fastener openings 29 of the inner support brackets 16 and nuts can be fastened
to the PEM studs to secure the inner support brackets 16 and the vertically
extending channels 23 together.
Similarly, a pair of L-shaped outer support brackets 18 each have a
vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending perpendicularly from the
base
of the vertical portion. The vertical portions are channel shaped and are thus
vertically slidable over each respective vertically-extending top plate member
25
and are positioned so that that the horizontal portions extend inwards. The
horizontal portion of each outer support bracket 18 are channel shaped and
thus
horizontally slidable over a corresponding horizontal portion of the inner
support
bracket 16. A fastener opening 31 is provided in each of the vertical and the
horizontal portions of the outer support bracket 18 ("vertical fastener
opening 31
and horizontal fastener opening 31 ); PEM studs extend through the vertical
fastener opening 31 and through one of the fastener openings 27 in the
vertically
extending members 25 thereby securing the outer support bracket 18 to the
inner
top plate 14. PEM studs are securely attached to the vertically extending top
plte
member 25 by insertion through the channels' fastener openings 27 during
assembly. These PEM studs can then threaded through appropriate vertical
fastener openings 31 of the outer support brackets 18 and nuts can be fastened
to the PEM studs to secure the outer support brackets 16 and the vertically
extending members 25 together.
Another PEM stud extends through the horizontal fastener opening 31 and
can be threaded through one ~of the openings 29 in the horizontal portion of
the
inner support brackets 16 to secure the brackets 16, 18 together. Nuts are
fastened to the PEM studs to secure the members together; the nuts are located
on the inside of the inner top plate 14 and Inside the brackets 16, 18.
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
When the security enclosure 10 is adjusted to fit snugly around a data
projector, it becomes difficult to remove the nuts from the PEM studs, as the
projector is in close proximity to the studs and nuts, thereby making the
studs
and nuts difficult to access. To access the nuts, one must first unlock the
cage
and remove the data projector. Thus, the projector protects the fasteners of
the
cage.
A top track 20 is a channel that is positioned transversely across the outer
top plate 12. A pair of L-shaped top-track wings 22 each have a horizontal
portion that is slidably mounted through each end of the top track 20 and have
a
vertical portion that extends downwards over each side of the outer top plate
12.
Each wing 22 also has a row of spaced fastener openings (not shown) along its
horizontal portion; a suitable bolt spacing can be %Z". A fastener opening 33
is
provided at each end of the top track 20 through which a PEM stud is securely
1 S mounted; the PEM stud can be threaded through the fastener openings in the
wings 22 and fastened with nuts to secure the parts 20, 22 together. A lock
tab
opening is provided through the center of the top track 20 that is configured
to
receive the lock tab 24. This enables the top track 20 to be securely
positioned
over the outer top plate 12 and secured in place with a padlock threaded
through
the aperture in the lock tab 24.
Preferably, all of the above parts 12, 14, 16, 18, 22 are made of 12 gauge
cold rolled steel, except the top track 20 which is made of 3/16" cold rolled
steel.
However, other suitable materials may be used as is known in the art.
The connector assembly comprises a rubber stopper assembly 26 and a
mounting flange assembly 28 that together operate to securely connect the cage
assembly to a suitable drop pipe extending downwardly from a ceiling. The
mounting flange assembly 28 includes a top disc 30 which is a circular plate
having a central opening (not shown) that is large enough to pass the drop
pipe
and the rubber stopper assembly 26 therethrough, and four fastener openings 35
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
for securely receiving '/-20 x 3/" PEM studs that are spaced around the
central
opening in a location and that correspond to the fastener openings 15 of the
outer top plate 12. The mounting flange assembly 28 also includes a mounting
flange 32 comprising a disc-shaped base and a right hand, inside-threaded
cylinder extending upwards from the base. A central opening (not shown)
extends through the flange 32 and corresponds to the central opening of the
top
disc 30; four fastener openings (not shown) extend through the base and
correspond to the four fastener openings 35 of the top disc 30. The diameter
of
the threaded cylinder and the thread pattern is selected to match the diameter
and thread pattern of the drop pipe. PEM studs (not shown) extending from the
top disc 30 can be threaded through corresponding fastener openings in the
mounting flange 32, outer top plate 12, and inner top plate 14. These studs
can
be fastened with respective nuts to secure the four components 30, 32, 12, 14
together; the nuts are fastened to the studs on the underside of the inner top
plate 14.
Referring to Figure 9, the rubber stopper assembly 26 includes a left hand
threaded mounting bolt 40 having a disc shaped head 41 at a top end thereof, a
hollow compressible rubber cylinder 42, a first washer 44, a first left hand
threaded nut 46, a second washer (not shown) and a second left hand threaded
nut (not shown). The bolt 40 has a diameter that corresponds to the central
opening 13 in the top plate 12; such a suitable bolt 40 is a conventional
5/16x1-
1/2" fender-washer welded to a 2.5" section of a conventional 3I8' left hand
threaded redi-rod. A suitable cylinder 42 has a uncompressed diameter that
will
fit inside a hollow drop pipe; for a 1.5" drop pipe, a suitable cylinder is a
1-
9/16'OD x 1.75" x 318' ID F 600 MF type rubber cylinder. A suitable washer for
the first washer 44 can be a conventional 1-112 x 318" fender washer, and for
the
second washer a conventional 3/8 flat washer. A suitable nut for the first and
second nuts can be a conventional left hand threaded 318" nut. The assembly 26
is assembled by threading the cylinder 42, first washer 44, and then the first
nut
46 over the bolt 40. The first nut 46 is used to compress the first washer 44
V80270CA\VAN LAW1149843\1 12
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
against the cylinder 42. Enough of the threaded bolt 40 protrudes past the
first
washer 44 and nut 46 to enable the bolt to extend through the top plates 12,
14
(the nut 46 is larger than the central opening 13 of the top plate 12) and
mate
with the second washer and nut on the underside of the top plates 12, 14.
Assembly
The following description explains how to assemble the enclosure 10,
house a projector within the enclosure 10, and how to mount the enclosure 10
and projector to a ceiling mounted drop pipe:
Determining Enclosure INidfh Setfing
(a) Select one outside bracket 18 and one inside bracket 16.
(b) Thread PEM stud extending through the horizontal fastener opening 31
of the outside bracket 18 through the last horizontal fastener opening
29 of the inside bracket 16, forming a first "U" shaped bracket
assembly 16, 18 at its widest setting. (note: if PEM studs are not pre-
installed on the outside bracket 18 or on ether members, any suitable
off the shelf fasteners can be substituted wherever PEM studs are
used)
(c) Pass the first bracket assembly 16, 18 over a projector that is to be
housed in the enclosure 10.
(d) If the projector passes through the first bracket assembly 16, 18,
reduce the width of the first bracket assennbly 18, 18 by one fastener
opening and repeat step (c).
(e) Repeat step (d) until the first bracket assembly 16, 18 fits snugly
around the projector.
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
(f) Fasten nut to PEM stud with the nut ors the inside of the bracket
assembly 16, 18.
(g) Assemble the other two brackets 16, 18 to form a second bracket
assembly 16, 18 and the outer and inner top plates 12, 14 to form a top
plate assembly 12, 14, both assemblies 12, 14, 16, 18 having the
same width setting as the first bracket assembly 16, 18.
Determining Enclosure Height Sefting
(a} Couple the first bracket assembly 16, 18 to the top plate assembly 12,
14 by threading PEM studs extending from the fastener openings in
vertical members 23 to the last vertical fastener openings 29 in the
inner brackets 16, and by threading PEM studs extending from the
fastener openings 31 in outer bracket 18 to the last fastener openings
27 in the vertical channel 25, thereby defining a rectangular projector
opening at its tallest setting.
(b) Pass the projector through the projector opening; if the projector
passes through, reduce the height of thE: projector opening by one
fastener opening, and try again.
(c) Repeat step (b) until the data projector fits snugly within the projector
opening.
(d) Couple the second bracket assembly 16, 18 to the top plate assembly
12, 14 and secure both bracket assemblies 16, 18 to the top plate
assembly 12, 14 with respective nuts andl PEM studs, such that the
projector rests on the horizontal portions e~f the brackets 16, 18. The
PEM studs extend from the parts 12, 14, 16, 18 such that the nuts are
on the inside of the cage assembly.
V80270CA\VAN LAW\ 149843\1 14
CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Determining Enclosure Depth Setting
(a) Position the projector inside the cage assembly in a satisfactory
position, e.g. with a clear line-of-sight to a wall screen, and with
unobstructed access to connection ports ors the projector.
(b) Once the projector is positioned, place the wings 22 in line with the
lock tab 24 on the outside top plate 12, as close to the edges of the
projector as possible.
(c) Place the top track 20 over the wings 22, then thread PEM studs
extending from fastener openings 33 in the top track 20 through
fastener openings in each respective wind 22, to form a locking bar
assembly 20, 22.
(d) Lift the locking bar assembly 20, 22 from the top plates 12, 14, and
fasten nuts to the PEM, with the nuts on the inside of the locking bar
assembly 20, 22.
(e) Note which side the projector lens is on and remove the projector from
the cage assembly. The cage is now set at: a size that impedes access
to the nuts of the fasteners when the projector is located therein.
The following describes installing the enclosure 10 and projector to a
ceiling mounted 1.5" NPT drop pipe
Installing the Stopper Assembly
~ Assemble the stopper assembly 26 as shovvn in Figure 9.
~ Tighten the first nut 46 until the cylinder 4:? will just fit inside the
drop
pipe, but will not spin.
V80270CA\VAN LAW\ 14984311 15
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
~ Push the stopper assembly 26 into the drop pipe until the first washer
44 is just about inside the drop pipe, about 2 or 3 mm below the bottom
of the pipe.
~ Tighten the first nut 46 until the stopper as;>embly 26 will not turn on its
own inside the drop pipe. Care should be taken not to over-tighten.
Mounting the Assembled AV Cage
~ Siip the top ring 30 over the drop pipe with the PEM studs pointing
down.
~ Screw the flange 32 onto the threads of the drop pipe until tight. Then,
rest the top ring 30 on top of the flange ~~2, but do not put the studs
through the holes in the flange 32.
~ Pick up the second washer, second left hand nut, and the cage
assembly and thread the rubber stopper assembly bolt 40 through the
central openings 13 of the top plates 12, 14. Temporarily secure the
cage enclosure to the stopper assembly :?6 by threading the second
nut to the bolt 40.
~ Spin the cage so the side where the lens will be is facing the screen.
Slip the studs from the top ring 30 through fastener openings in the
flange 32, and turn the cage assembly back (as if to loosen) until the
studs extending from the top ring 30 and flange 32 line up with the
fastener openings 15 in the outer top plate 12. Push the studs through
into the outer top plate 12.
~ Fasten nuts onto the studs from the top rinel 30.
~ Remove the second left hand nut from the center bolt 40,
2~ ~ Turn the cage assembly (tighten onto the drop pipe) so the front of the
cage assembly is facing a desired position, e.g. towards a wall screen.
V80270CA\VAN LAW1149843\1 16
CA 02472679 2004-06-29
~ Put on the second washer on the rubber stopper assembly bolt 40, and
then secure the second nut to the bolt 40.. The enclosure 10 is now
securely fastened to the drop pipe; the rubber stopper assembly 26
impedes attempts to unscrew the enclosure 10 from the drop pipe, as
the left-hand threads of the bolt 40 are in an opposite direction to the
right hand threads of the drop pipe. Furthermore, access to the
second nut of the rubber stopper assembly 26 is impeded by the snug
fit of the projector inside the cage.
Installing the Dafa Projector
~ Slide the projector into the cage assembly.
~ Position the lock bar assembly 20, 22 in pllace over the top tab 24 and
lock in place with a lock. A suitable lock can be a 70mm disk lock such
as Diskus type manufactured by ABUS Lock .
An advantageous feature of the enclosure 1 G is how easy it is to access
IS the fasteners (PEM studs) that secure the adjustabiliity of the enclosure
10 when
the data projector is not in the enclosure 10, and then how difficult it is to
access
those same fasteners once the projector is locked inside the enclosure 10. The
single disk lock that secures the lock bar assembly 20, 22 in place impedes
access to the nuts of the fasteners. Removal of the lock bar assembly 20, 22
enables the projector to easily removed from the enclosure 10, thereby
providing
ready access to the nuts so that the size and shape of the enclosure can be
adjusted.
According to another embodiment of the invention, and referring to
Figures 5-8 and 11 (a) to (d) a security enclosure 10 is provided that has a
z5 different connector assembly 50 than what is disclosed in the first
embodiment.
In particular, the connector assembly 50 of this embodiment comprises a ball
52
and a collar 54 which together enable the cage assembly to be tilted into a
desirable position.
V80270CA\VAN LAW1149843\1 I7
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CA 02472679 2004-06-29
Both ball 52 and collar 54 are machined frorr~ aluminum; however, other
suitable materials can be used for these parts 52, 54 as is known in the art.
The
connector assembly 50 consists of a 1.5" radius k~all 52 having a cylindrical
recess 56 of which a portion is threaded. The diameter of the cylinder 56 and
the
thread pattern are selected to match the drop pipe, so that the ball 52 can be
screwed onto the drop pipe. The collar 54 has a cavity that snugly receives
the
ball 52, and a top opening 57 at the top of the collar 54; this opening is
large
enough to pass the drop pipe therethrough but not the ball 52. The collar 54
also
has a bottom rim 58 defining a bottom opening 59 that is large enough to pass
the ball 52 therethrough. Four threaded bolt opening, 60 extend into the rim
and
are spaced to match the bolt openings in the outer top plate 12.
The ball and collar assembly 50 is mounted to the cage assembly and
drop pipe as follows:
(a) Fit the ball 52 inside the collar 54 such tlhat the threaded cylinder 56
of the ball 52 faces the top opening of the collar 54.
(b) Screw the ball 52 onto the drop pipe and tighten the set screw.
(c) Position the assembled cage assembly against the collar 54 rim
such that the fastener openings 15 in the outer top plate 12 and the bolt
openings
60 in the collar rim are aligned.
(d) Insert cap screws into each of the four fastener openings 15, 60
from inside the cage assembly, thereby securing the cage assembly to the
collar
54.
When this unit is used, it replaces rubber stopper assembly 26 and the
mounting flange assembly 28 of the first embodiment.
V80270CA1VAN LAVJ~ 14984311
CA 02472679 2004-06-29
While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and
described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
V80270CA1VAN LAW1 14984311 1 C
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