Mechanical security fixture for personal computers
OwnerDarrell A. Igelmundinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel fixture (8) for securing personal computers has a tether cable (10) connected to a loop portion (13) which is in turn connected to an expansion slot cover plate (12) for a personal computer. Once the fixture (8) is installed in an expansion slot opening (15) of a personal computer, the computer is secured if the tether cable (10) is attached to a fixed location such as a table (16) using a padlock (17).
Claims12
A security fixture for a personal computer having an expansion slot chassis, comprising:
- an elongated, substantially planar, rigid, unitary main body of substantially constant width and thickness having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having a relatively short, laterally displaced segment of substantially the same width as the body terminating in a transversely extending flange defining an aperture segment for accepting a screw for mating with an upper surface of the expansion slot chassis;
- and
- attachment means in the form of a loop portion connected to the main body for attaching the same to a tether, whereby the security fixture can be installed in the expansion slot chassis and the tether connected to a relatively immovable object thereby substantially securing the personal computer against unauthorized removal.
A security fixture for personal computers, comprising:
- an elongated, tapered, rigid, unitary main body having a planar front surface terminating in an upper end having a width of approximately 1.9 cm and a lower end having a width of approximately 1.7 cm, the upper end also having an upwardly and laterally outwardly extending upper tab portion in the plane of the front surface, the tab portion having a pair of outwardly extending ears and a width of approximately 2.3 cm, and the ears having a height of approximately 0.8 cm for receipt in an upper portion of a personal computer expansion slot chassis, and
- attachment means in the form of a loop portion connected to the main body for attaching the same to a tether whereby the security fixture can be installed in the expansion slot chassis and the tether connected to a relatively immovable object thereby substantially securing the personal computer against unauthorized removal.
A method for manufacturing a personal computer security fixture, comprising the following steps:
- constructing a main body plate from a sturdy material having portions thereon adapted for receipt in a personal computer expansion slot opening;
- forming an elongated rectangular aperture in the main body with a rearwardly directed tab at an end of the elongated aperture;
- positioning a "T" shaped member behind the rectangular aperture, the "T" shaped member having a rear portion larger than the rectangular aperture, a constricted waist portion smaller than the rectangular aperture, and an enlarged nose section forming a pocket for the tab and having a sloped forward edge, the nose section also defining an opening therein for receiving a tether;
- and
- forcing the sloped forward edge through the aperture until the pocket formed by the constricted waist is seated in the rectangular aperture with the tab located substantially in the aperture so as to restrain the "T" shaped member against rearward movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.