Security apparatus including locking head and attachment device
View Patent ↗A security apparatus is disclosed. The security apparatus comprises an attachment device comprising a base, and a locking head configured to secure to the base. The attachment device can be small and strong. The locking head can have a securing element and a locking component, associated with a housing. The locking head may be in a secured configuration upon a single motion or movement of the locking head.
1. A security apparatus for a portable electronic device, the security apparatus comprising:
an attachment device having an axial pull strength of greater than about 125 lbs, the attachment device comprising
a base comprising a maximum lateral dimension of about 8 mm and a height of at most about 7.5 mm, wherein the base has
a ring structure,
a cap structure, and
a recess located between the ring structure and the cap structure, and
an engagement member attached to the base and configured to engage with an aperture in a housing of the portable electronic device; and
a head comprising
a housing,
a gate structure within the housing of the head and configured to secure to the attachment device, the gate structure including a front wall portion having an inward sloped surface, a rear wall portion, a bridging portion connected to the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, and a rear protrusion extending from the rear wall portion,
a biasing element configured to bias the gate structure inwardly toward the base,
a locking component inside of the housing of the head, and
an actuator configured to engage the rear protrusion when the locking component is in an unlocked configuration, the actuator extending from the locking component.
2. The security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a threaded post configured to engage with a threaded hole in the chassis of the portable electronic device.
3. The security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a T-bar.
4. The security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment device has an axial pull strength of about 490 lbs.
5. The security apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gate structure is a first gate structure and the biasing element is a first biasing element, and wherein the security apparatus further comprises a second gate structure and a second biasing element, wherein the first and second biasing elements are configured to bias the first and second gate structures toward the base when the locking component is in a locked configuration.
6. The security apparatus of claim 5 wherein portions of the first gate structure overlap with portions of the second gate structure.
7. The security apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator is configured to move the gate structure away from the base by engaging the rear protrusion.
8. A system comprising:
a security apparatus comprising
an attachment device having an axial pull strength of greater than about 125 lbs, the attachment device comprising
a base comprising a maximum lateral dimension of about 8 mm and a height of at most about 7.5 mm, wherein the base has
a ring structure,
a cap structure, and
a recess located between the ring structure and the cap structure, and
an engagement member attached to the base and engaged with an aperture in a housing of a portable electronic device, and
a head comprising
a housing,
a gate structure within the housing of the head and configured to secure to the attachment device, the gate structure including a front wall portion having an inward sloped surface, a rear wall portion, a bridging portion connected to the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, and a rear protrusion extending from the rear wall portion,
a biasing element configured to bias the gate structure inwardly toward the base,
a locking component inside of the housing of the head, and
an actuator configured to engage the rear protrusion when the locking component is in an unlocked configuration, the actuator extending from the locking component; and
the portable electronic device.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a laptop.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the engagement member has a hardness of about 30 Rockwell C.
11. A method of securing a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
obtaining the portable electronic device having a housing and a chassis disposed within the housing;
securing an attachment device to the portable electronic device, the attachment device having an axial pull strength of greater than about 125 lbs, the attachment device including an engagement member configured to engage with an aperture in the housing of the portable electronic device, wherein the attachment device further includes a base attached to the engagement member, the base having a maximum lateral dimension of about 8 mm and a height of at most about 7.5 mm, wherein the base includes
a ring structure,
a cap structure, and
a recess located between the ring structure and the cap structure; and
attaching a head to the attachment device, wherein the head comprises
a housing,
a gate structure within the housing of the head and configured to secure to the attachment device, the gate structure including a front wall portion having an inward sloped surface, a rear wall portion, a bridging portion connected to the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, and a rear protrusion extending from the rear wall portion,
a biasing element configured to bias the gate structure inwardly toward the base,
a locking component inside of the housing of the head, and
an actuator configured to engage the rear protrusion when the locking component is in an unlocked configuration, the actuator extending from the locking component,
wherein the locking component is in a locked configuration after the head is attached.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attaching the head comprises a single linear motion of moving the head toward the base, so that the base pushes the gate structure outward, until the base passes the front wall portion.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attachment device has an axial pull strength of greater than about 400 lbs.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein a key is not necessary to attach the head to the attachment device.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
inserting a key into the head;
turning the actuator to engage the rear protrusion, wherein the actuator pushes the rear protrusion outward and compresses the biasing element; and
removing the head from the attachment device.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the gate structure is a first gate structure and the biasing element is a first biasing element, and wherein the head further comprises a second gate structure and a second biasing element, wherein the first and second biasing elements are configured to bias the first and second gate structures inwardly when the locking component is in a locked configuration, and wherein portions of the first gate structure overlap with portions of the second gate structure.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the engagement member comprises a threaded post, and wherein securing the attachment device to the portable electronic device comprises rotating the base so that the threaded post is threadably engaged with a threaded aperture in the housing of the portable electronic device.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the engagement member comprises a T-bar.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the securing the attachment device to the portable electronic device comprises securing the engagement member to the chassis, through the aperture in the housing of the portable electronic device.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attaching the head to the attachment device comprises surrounding the base by the head.