IP Library Granted Patent US 8,042,366
Granted Patent B2
US 8,042,366 · App. 12/987,000 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

Security apparatus including attachment device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,042,366
App. No.
12/987,000
Granted
Oct 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A security apparatus is disclosed. The security apparatus comprises an attachment device comprising a base. A locking head can be 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. The locking head may contain one or more gate structures for securing to the attachment device.

Claims (36)

1. An attachment device for securing a portable electronic device, 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, the engagement member configured to engage with an aperture of the portable electronic device, wherein the attachment device has an axial pull strength of greater than about 125 lbs.

2. The attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a threaded post, configured to engage with a threaded hole in a chassis of the portable electronic device.

3. The attachment device of claim 2 , wherein the base comprises a smooth surface.

4. The attachment device of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a cylinder and the maximum lateral dimension comprises a diameter of the base, and further wherein the recess extends the entire circumference of the base.

5. The attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is configured to engage with a chassis of the portable electronic device through the aperture in a housing of the portable electronic device.

6. A security system comprising:

a portable electronic device having a housing and a chassis disposed within the housing; and

an attachment device having an axial pull strength of greater than about 125 lbs, the attachment device including an engagement member engaged 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.

7. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a computer.

8. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the engagement member comprises a threaded post engaged with a threaded hole in the chassis of the portable electronic device.

9. The security system of claim 8 , wherein the aperture in the housing comprises a threaded hole that is aligned with the threaded hole in the chassis.

10. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the base of the attachment device does not extend past an edge of the housing.

11. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the engagement member comprises a T-bar.

12. The security system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a cavity in the housing and surrounding the aperture, wherein the attachment device is disposed within the cavity.

13. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the aperture in the housing has a diameter greater than the maximum lateral dimension of the base.

14. 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; and

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.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a laptop.

16. The method of claim 14 , 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 hole in the chassis of the portable electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein, after securing the attachment device to the portable electronic device, the base of the attachment device does not extend past an edge of the housing.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein, after securing the attachment device to the portable electronic device, the base of the attachment device extends past an edge of the housing by at most 3 mm.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a cavity in the housing and surrounding the aperture, wherein securing the attachment device to the portable electronic device comprises inserting the engagement member through both the cavity and the aperture in the housing, to attach the attachment device to the chassis.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member is secured to the chassis of the portable electronic device through the aperture in the housing.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 028217/0360 Recorded May 17, 2013
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EXISTING SWING LINE LENDER AND EXISTING L/C ISSUER
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SWING LINE LENDER AND L/C ISSUER
Reel/Frame 030427/0574 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEE NAMES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028166 FRAME 0890. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES TO BE ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, AND ACCO UK LIMITED. Recorded Jul 5, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028503/0272 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028162 FRAME 0122. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES ARE ACCO UK LIMITED, ACCO BRANDS USA LLC AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028499/0854 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028162 FRAME 0122. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES ARE ACCO BRANDS USA LLC AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION. Recorded Jun 9, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028349/0978 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2012
From: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028217/0360 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028166/0890 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028162/0122 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 19, 2011
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO UK LTD.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 026781/0204 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 19, 2011
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO UK LTD.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026781/0243 →