Security apparatus for a portable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11236529-B2
Application number	US-201716318544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A security apparatus for a portable electronic device having a slot includes a body having an insertable portion configured to be inserted into the slot of the portable electronic device, and a boss extending from the insertable portion and positioned outside of the slot. The boss is configured to attach to a lock head. The security apparatus also includes a wedge supported at least partially within the insertable portion of the body. The wedge is movable relative to the insertable portion between a first position, in which the wedge extends out of the insertable portion and is configured to engage a surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot, and a second position, in which the wedge is retracted relative to the first position and is configured to disengage the surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A security apparatus for a portable electronic device having a slot, the security apparatus comprising:
a body including an insertable portion configured to be inserted into the slot of the portable electronic device, and a boss extending from the insertable portion and positioned outside of the slot, the boss configured to attach to a lock head;
a wedge supported at least partially within the insertable portion of the body, the wedge being movable relative to the insertable portion between a first position, in which the wedge extends out of the insertable portion and is configured to engage a surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot, and a second position, in which the wedge is retracted relative to the first position and is configured to disengage the surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot, and
a fastener coupled to the body and selectively engageable with the wedge to move the wedge to the first position, the fastener including a head adjacent the boss, a stem extending from the head into the insertable portion, and a threaded portion formed on the head.

2. The security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wedge is a first wedge, and further comprising a second wedge supported at least partially within the insertable portion adjacent an opposite side of the insertable portion of the body from the first wedge and being movable relative to the insertable portion between a first position, in which the second wedge extends out of the insertable portion and is configured to engage another surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot, and a second position, in which the second wedge is retracted relative to the first position and is configured to disengage the another surface of the portable electronic device that defines the slot.

3. The security apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fastener is selectively engageable with the first and second wedges to move the wedges to their respective first positions.

4. The security apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second wedges includes a radially inwardly-facing surface that is selectively engaged by the fastener to move the first and second wedges to their respective first positions.

5. The security apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the radially inwardly-facing surfaces of the first and second wedges include a tapered lead-in portion to facilitate smooth extension of the wedges upon initial engagement with the fastener.

6. The security apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second wedges translate linearly between the first and second positions.

7. The security apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second wedges pivot relative to one another between the first and second positions.

8. The security apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fastener is a threaded screw, and wherein rotation of the screw causes translation of the screw along a longitudinal axis of the body that selectively moves the screw into or out of engagement with the first and second wedges.

9. The security apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a retention member coupled with at least one of the first and second wedges, the retention member being one of a pin or a spring.

10. The security apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the retention member is at least partially positioned within a recess in at least one of the first and second wedges.

11. The security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insertable portion has a rectangular cross section.

12. An anchor configured to be installed into a slot in a portable electronic device and to be subsequently engaged by a locking head of a lock in order to secure the portable electronic device to an immovable object, the anchor comprising:
a body including an insertable portion configured to be inserted into the slot of the portable electronic device, and a boss extending from the insertable portion and positioned outside of the slot, the boss having a cap, a ring structure, and an annular recess positioned between the cap and the ring structure, the boss configured to attach to a lock head; and
a first tapered projecting member coupled to the insertable portion of the body, and
a second tapered projecting member coupled to an opposite side of the insertable portion from the first tapered projecting member,
the first and second tapered projecting members being movable relative to the insertable portion between an extended position, in which the tapered projecting members extend in opposite directions from within the insertable portion to engage respective surfaces of the portable electronic device that defines the slot, and a retracted position, in which the tapered projecting members retract within the insertable portion to disengage the respective surfaces of the portable electronic device that defines the slot,
wherein the anchor further comprises a fastener coupled to the body and selectively engageable with the first and second tapered projecting members to move the tapered projecting members to the extended position, the fastener including a head adjacent the boss, a stem extending from the head into the insertable portion, and a threaded portion formed on the head.

13. The anchor of claim 12 , wherein the tapered projecting members translate linearly between the extended and retracted positions.

14. The anchor of claim 12 , wherein the fastener is a threaded screw, and wherein rotation of the threaded screw causes translation of the threaded screw along a longitudinal axis of the body that selectively moves the threaded screw into or out of engagement with the first and second tapered projecting members.

15. The anchor of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second tapered projecting members includes a radially inwardly-facing surface that is selectively engaged by the fastener to move the first and second tapered projecting members to the extended position.

16. The anchor of claim 15 , wherein the radially inwardly-facing surfaces of the first and second tapered projecting members include a tapered lead-in portion to facilitate smooth extension of the tapered projecting members upon initial engagement with the fastener.

17. The anchor of claim 12 , further comprising a retention member coupled with at least one of the first and second tapered projecting members, the retention member being one of a pin, or a spring.

18. The anchor of claim 17 , wherein the retention member is at least partially positioned within a recess in at least one of the first and second tapered projecting members.

Assignees

• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Tse Wilson
• De Meulenaere William
• Otsuka Michael
• Kao James
• Teresi Joseph A
• Klinkman Alex J
• Robinson Todd C

Classifications

• G06F1/182 Primary

  with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI] · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F21/86

  Secure or tamper-resistant housings · CPC title

• E05B73/0082 Primary

  for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators · CPC title

• H01R13/6397

  with means for preventing unauthorised use · CPC title