Security lock for cassette recorders and cassette players or theft discouragement device for cassette recorders and cassette players

A locking device for preventing use of a cassette player or the like and thereby discouraging theft thereof, comprising:

• body means having an exterior portion of dimensions large enough to prevent such portion from entering the cassette receiving opening of a cassette player, and an interior portion having dimensions suitable to allow same to enter the cassette receiving opening;
• cam means disposed within said interior portion and adapted to expand outwardly to engage an interior wall of said cassette opening;
• lock means disposed within said exterior portion;
• and
• actuating means coupling said lock means to said cam means for driving said cam means from a retracted position to an extended position, said actuating means including a screw and nut drive means coupled to a rotatable part of said lock means and adapted to move said cam means between said retracted position and said extended position as said lock means is changed from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration, said screw being affixed to a bar means disposed in a slot formed in said interior portion and extending transversely relative to the axis of said screw with the distal ends of said bar means being pivotally attached to said cam means and wherein the nut of said nut drive means is affixed to the rotatable cylinder of a key lock forming said lock means.