GB2127350A

GB2127350A - Lockable mounting structure for business machines and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2127350A
Application number: GB08301681A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Henry Honey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-08
Filing date: 1983-01-21
Publication date: 1984-04-11
Also published as: GB8301681D0

Abstract

A security mounting device for releasably locating a business machine and the like on a support surface comprises a base structure (10) for securing on the support surface, for example by use of a double-sided adhesive tape, and an upper structure for securing beneath the business machine, for example by use of a double-sided adhesive tape. The upper and base structures are slidingly interengagable, for example by means of rails (14) on the base structure which are engaged by tubular elements (18) on the upper structure to allow the upper structure to be slid to a superimposed position over the base structure. Releasable locking means (22) are provided to lock the upper and base structures in their superimposed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lockable mounting device for business machines and the like The invention relates to a lockable mounting device for business machines and the like, e.g. computers, telephones, typwriters or video-equipment, which are disposed on a support surface during normal use and are relatively portable.

Such items of equipment are generally relatively expensive and it is therefore desirable to be able to lock them in position against any unauthorised movement or removal thereof. Equipment security locking devices have been proposed in U.S. Patent Specifications Nos. 3,850,392 and 3,910,079. The device proposed in U.S. Specification No.3,910,079 provides a locking device which passes through a desk top or other support surface. This arrangement may be undesirable or inconvenient because the support surface has to be provided with a suitable aperture. U.S.Patent Specification No. 3,850,392 provides a device having pads which are bonded by adhesive to a mounting surface and a cooperating cover which is secured to the pads using locking pins which are then obscured by locks placed in the apertures in the cover through which the locking pins are passed. This arrangement is relatively complex and hence expensive structure which is relatively difficult to manipulate.

This invention seeks to provide a lockable mounting device for business machines and other similar equipment which is relatively inexpensive and simple to manipulate.

The invention provides a lockable mounting device for business machines and other similar equipment, which device comprises a base structure which can be secured, preferably but not essentially by adhesive to a support surface, an upper structure which can be secured beneath a business machine or other similar equipment, the upper and base structures having interengagable location means for securing together the upper structure on the base structure which means are engaged by a relative sliding movement thereof and releasable means to lock the upper and base structures with respect to one another to prevent disengagement of said locating means.

According to a feature of the invention said location means may comprise at least one rail of the base structure and a rail on the upper structure which is adapted to engage and cooperate with the, or a respective, rail of the base structure on relative sliding movement of the rails in a plane generally parallel to a work surface on which the base structure is mounted in use to prevent or limit relative movement between the rails, when interengaged, in directions transversely thereof. In embodiments according to the invention, a pair of generally parallel linear rails may be provided on each of the base and upper structures.Said rail(s) on one of said structures, e.g. the base structure, may be provided by a first elongate, possibly tubular, member with the cooperating rail(s) on the other of said structure, e.g. the upper structure, being provided by a tubular second elongate member having a slot extending along its length and an inner surface generally conforming to the outer periphery of said first member for sliding thereon when said members are interengaged. Preferably the cooperating sliding surfaces of said members are cylindrical. The internal surface of said tubular second member at one end thereof may be flared in order to facilitate engagement of the first and second members prepaoratory to said relative sliding movement thereof.

Said lock means may comprise a screw threaded member having a security head requiring a special tool to effect rotation thereof, a female screw thread provided at one end portion of said first elongate member and an abutment surface which is provided on said other of said parts and has an aperture which is aligned with said female screw thread when the two elongate members are interengaged after relative sliding movement thereof, the arrangement being such that the screw threaded member passes through said aperture and engages with said female screw thread to bring the head of the screw threaded member firmly into abutment with said abutment surface.

In other embodiments, said lock means may comprise a key-operated locking device associated with one of said structures and having a projection arranged to be engaged in a recess in a portion of said other structure when said structures are located with respect to one another by said location means, when said locking device is locked.

In further embodiments, said lock means may comprise a latch member resiliently mounted on one of said structures which is arranged to engage a cooperating catch part provided on the other structure such that the latch member automatically engages said catch part when said location means are engaged as aforesaid with the latch member and catch part, when engaged, only being accessible in use through a specially shaped security aperture in a part associated with the upper structure and/or base structure through which aperture a corresponding shaped tool may be passed to engage the latch member and disengage it from the catch part to allow separation of the upper and base structures.

In other constructions according to the invention, said location means may comprise an aperture provided in a part associated with one of said apertures and a projection on the other structure adapted to engage in said aperture on the aforesaid relative sliding movement of the structures. A plurality of cooperating projections and apertures are preferably provided. In such constructions said apertures may be provided by the open end of a tubular part of said one structure.Preferably the upper structure has a wall extending part way around the periphery thereof in which a business machine or the like is, in use, received with minimum clearance and the base structure has an upstanding wall, the arrangement being such that the walls on the upper and base structures cooperate, when the structures are locked together, to form a substantially continuous wall bridging between the periphery of the business machine or the like and a surface to which said base structure is secured in use, in order to prevent a tool being inserted beneath the business machine for applying leverage thereto.

Preferably the upper and base structures are generally rectangular and the base structure has a wall along one edge thereof and the upper structure has wall portions along three edges thereof.

In one form of said other constructions, said base structure may include a pair of generally parallel, spaced apart tubular members, the upper structure having a pair of projections adapted to engage in a pair of corresponding open ends of the tubular members, respectively, during a locking operation, and said upper structure may have a pair of spaced apart apertured parts adapted to receive a pair of projections on said base structure during a locking operation. Said projections and said apertured parts on the upper structure are preferably disposed at or adjacent opposite ends thereof.

In said other constructions, said locking means may comprise a lockable latching device on one, preferably the upper, structure and, on the other structure, a catch member with which a resiliently biassed latching member of the latching device automatically cooperates on said relative sliding movement of the structures to lock the structures against a relative separating movement of the structures, unless the latching device is released by use of the appropriate key or similar unlocking implement.In other possible arrangements, the locking device may comprise a threaded aperture provided on a part associated with one, preferably the upper structure and a security locking device provided on the other structure and having a threaded element for cooperating with said threaded aperture on a specific coded operation of the device with a locking implement to effect locking or unlocking of the device.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a mounting device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of one of the tubular rails of the base structure of the mounting device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an under plan of an end portion of a rail of the upper structure of the device of Figure 1; Figures 4A and 4B are respectively a cross-section along line A-A and an end view of the rail of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end view of a locking screw of the device of Figure 1; Figures 6A and 6B are respectively an end view and side view of an alternative locking device for the mounting device of Figure 1;; Figure 7 is a detail of another locking device for the mounting device of Figure 1; Figures 8A and 8B are respectively an end view of an access aperture to the latching device of Figure 7, and a perspective view of an end portion of a tool for unlocking the latching device; Figures 9A and 9B are diagrammatic perspective views of another embodiment, and a detail of an alternative locking device therefor, respectively; and Figures 10 and 11 are perspective diagrammatic representations of two further embodiments.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a lockable mounting device for a business machine or similar equipment comprises a base structure 10 and an upper structure 11 to be superimposed thereon and then locked thereto.

The base structure comprises an angle plate 12 and a flat plate 13 joined by a pair of parallel tubes 14 welded thereto, with one pair of corresponding ends of the tubes being closed by the upstanding flange of the angle plate 12. The other open end of one or both of the tubes 14 is provided with an insert 15 having an internal screw thread, the tube end being swaged inwardly to hold firmly the insert 15 within the tube 14.

The upper structure 11 also comprises an angle plate 16 and a flat plate 17. The plates are joined by a pair of tubular members 18 welded thereto. The tubular members 18 have longitudinal slots 19 along their lengths to allow the tubes 18to engage around and slide along the tubes 14 of the base structure.

The side walls 21 at the open ends 20 of the tubes 18 are flared, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4B, to facilitate engagement of such open ends of the tubes 18 with the corresponding pair of exposed ends of the tubes 14 of the base structure 10.

The base structure 10 is adhered to a mounting surface at the desired location of the piece of equipment to be mounted by the mounting device embodying the invention. Lengths of double side adhesive tape is provided on the underneath flat surfaces of the plates 12 and 13. A suitable double sided adhesive tape is that manufactured by DRG KWIKSEAL PRODUCTS of Chesham Bucks HP5 1 NG, England, and sold under the trade reference INSEAL 1795. This double side tape is extremeiy strong in tension and shear but has a relatively weak peel resistance. After removing the backing strip of the tape, the base structure 10 is pressed firmly down on the support surface.If it is desired to alter the position of the base structure, the plates 12 and 13 are heated and then a screwdriver or other tool is inserted under a corner of one of the plates in order to peel the base structure off the support surface with the adhesive remaining on the plates 12 and 13.

The upper structure 11 may likewise be provided with lengths of double-sided adhesive tape as aforesaid on the upper surfaces of the plates 16 and 17 for fixing the structure 11 firmly underneath a business machine requiring security. The upper and base structures are dimensioned such that the business machine overlaps the structures all round, e.g. by 21/2 inches.

The business machine is then located in position by engaging the flared exposed ends of the tubes 18 of the upper structure on the exposed ends of the tubes 14 of the base structure and sliding the tubes 18 along the tubes 14 until the ends of the tubes 18 abut the upstanding flange of the angle-plate 12 when the upper structure overlies the base structure.

The two structures 10 and 11 are then locked together by a tamper resistant fastener 22 or a pair of such fasteners. Each fastener 22 comprises a screwthreaded shank and a head having a specially shaped projection 23 adapted to be engaged only by a correspondingly shaped tool. The threaded shank of the fastener 22 engages in the threaded insert 15 located in the end of the corresponding tube 14 and the fastener is then tightened with the tool to bring the head of the fastener into firm abutment with the upstanding flange of the angle-plate 16. In this situation the machine is securely fastened to the support surface. The flanges at opposite ends of the upper and base structures impede the insertion of tools beneath the machine and particularly in association with the tube ends with a view to applying leverage to forcibly remove the machine.Since the adhesive tape is extremely strong in tension and in shear, it is not possible to manually break the adhesive bonds between the base structure and the support surface, and between the upper structure and the machine. For an area of 30"(194 cm), which is a bonding area of one embodiment of the invention, the adhesive tape INSEAL 1795 has 970 kg dynamic type tensile adhesion and 2309 kg dynamic shear adhesion.

By releasing the fastener or fasteners 22 using the aforesaid tool, the upper structure and the machine mounted thereon can be slid relative to the base structure allowing the position of the machine to be adjusted in use along the tubes 14 if it is desired to alter the operational position thereof, or permitting complete authorised removal of the machine for servicing or storage elsewhere. The fastener(s) 22 will preferably be held in an aperture in the flange on the angle-plate 16 buy a circlip.

Figure 6 shows another possible device for locking together the upper and base structures when fully engaged with one another. A key-operated lock 25 has a main barrel 26 and a projecting rotary spindle 27 which extends through an aperture in the depending flange of angle-plate 16 of the upper structure with the end of the barrel 26 in abutment with the outer face of that flange.

A cam member 28 is provided at the free end of the spindle 27 and is engagable in a corresponding slot 29 provided in the plate 13 of the base structure adjacent the forward edge thereof then the upper and base structures are fully engaged. Rotation of the cam member 28 to effect locking and unlocking is carried out using the correct key 30 which is inserted into the keyhole 31.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a further possible locking device which is adapted to engage automatically when the upper and base structures are fully engaged.

A resilient latch member 31 is connected to the upstanding flange of the angle-plate 12 of the base structure to project inwardly thereof at a position near to one of the rails 14. The cooperating tubular member 18 of the upper structure has a transverse aperture 34 and a short tubular catch member 32 projecting laterally thereof in alignment with the aperture. A plate 33 is interposed between the catch member 32 and the tubular member 18, the plate being formed with a specially shaped slot 35, e.g. a C-shape, to prevent access to the latching member 31 when engaged with the tubular catch member 32 except to a specially shaped tool 36 having the same cross-sectional shape as that of the slot 35.

When the upper and base structures are engaged with the tubular members 18 sliding along the tubes 14, the catch member 32 abuts a sloping face 37 of the head portion of the latch member 31 thereby moving it out of the path of the catch member until the head of the latch member engages with the open end of the catch member to latch together the upper and base structures. This latch automatically engages on complete engagement of the upper and base structures. Unlocking of the upper and base structures can only be accomplished using the specially-shaped tool 36 which is passed through the aperture 34 in the tubular members 18 and an aligned transverse aperture provided in the tube 14, through the slot 35 in the plate 33 and through the interior of the tubular catch member 32 to engage the head portion of the latch member to remove it from engagement with the catch member 32.A pair of such latch devices may be provided one associated with each pair of cooperating tubular members 14 and 18.

In some embodiments of the invention two or more upper structures may be provided for engagement with and locking to the same base structure.

For example two upper structures may be fixed beneath a keyboard and a monitor respectively of a visual display unit such that each such machine element can be engaged at respective opposite ends of a common base structure. In such an arrangement the base structure could be formed with two flat end plates so that there is no upstanding flange.

Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention generally for use with larger sized business machines or the like. The base structure 40 of this device is generally similar to the base structure 10 of the first embodiment described above. However, the upstanding flange 41 at one end of the base structure projects above the tubular elements 42 of the structure. Furthermore a pair of pins 43 are projection welded to the flange 41 for a purpose described below and a latching device 44 is also secured to the flange 41. Holes 39 are provided in the plates 38,38 of the base structure to allow the structure to be fastened to a support surface using screws in addition to adhesive layers provided on the underside ofthose plates.

The upper structure 72 comprises a pair of flat plates 73,74 which are connected by metal strips 45,46 which are generally perpendicular to the plates and project above and below the plates. A third metal strip 47 of similar height is secured along a side edge of the plate 74 joining a pair of corresponding ends of the strips 45,46 thereby providing a peripheral wall of the generally rectangular upper structure 72, which wall extends along three edges of the structure. Preferably the side wall strips 45,46 and 47 are made of a single piece of metal bent at right angles at two positions intermediate its length.

A lower portion of the business machine, for which the lockable mounting structure is designed, is received with little or no clearance in the recess defined by the portions of the side strips 45,46 and 47 which project above the support plates 73 and 74 of the upper structure. As with the first embodiment double-sided adhesive tape will be used to secure the plates 73,74 to the underside of the machine. As with the base structure 40, holes may be provided in the plates 73,74 to allow additional securing using screws or other fastening members. In addition, for extra strength, an adhesive is used between the peripheral wall of the upper structure and the business machine. A suitable adhesive is Loctite IS 495, which is a relatively fast action cyanoacrylate adhesive.To fit the upper structure to the business machine which is inverted for the process, the adhesive tape on the plates 73,74 is exposed and the upper structure 72 is lowered onto the business machine. The assembly is left to allow the adhesive to set. Afurther application of the Loctite adhesive is made along the siight gap between the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the upper structure and the business machine to form a bead of the adhesive thereat to prevent any levering tool being inserted into the gap.

The upper structure 72 also has a pair of pins 48 projection welded to the strip 47 below the plate 74 for engaging in the open ends of the tubular members 42 of the base structure. A pair of angle brackets 49 are projection welded to the upper surface of plate 73 adjacent the leading edge thereof.

In practice, the angle brackets 49 may be formed out of the material of the plate 73. The upstanding parts of these brackets are formed with apertures for receiving the pins 43 on the base structure when the two structures are fitted together.

During a locking operation, the upper structure 72 secured beneath the business machine is lowered on the base structure in a position slightly offset laterally with respect thereto so that the free ends of the pins 48 and the pins 43 are aligned with and near the open ends of the tubes 42 and the apertures in the brackets 49 respectively. The upper structure is then moved laterally to a position where it exactly overlies the base structures, with the pins 43 and 48 sliding in their respective apertures.In the final position the peripheral wall on the upper structure and the flange 41 on the base structure cooperate to form a substantially continuous wall bridging the gap between the periphery of the business machine and the support surface on which it is positioned, thereby preventing the machine from being prised away from the surface by inserting a screwdriver or other tool therebetween to exert leverage on the business machine.To further assist this object, the pins 43 are secured such that they angled upwardly away from the corresponding base plate of the structure 40 in the direction towards the free ends of the pins, and the pins 48 are angled downwardly away from the plate 74 whereby on the aforesaid sliding engagement of the pins in apertured brackets 49 and the tubes 42, the upper structure will be forced progressively downwards to make firm engagement with the support surface to which the base structure 40 is secured. A flexible PVC strip may be provided along the bottom edge of the peripheral wall of the upper structure to prevent scratching of the table top or other support surface and to prevent a screwdriver or other tool from being inserted between that wall of the upper structure and the support surface.

When the upper and base structures are fully engaged as described above they become automatically locked together by a latching device 50. The device 50 has two parts; a lockable part 51 secured beneath the plate 43 on the upper structure and having a spring biassed latching member 52 projecting therefrom, and an angle bracket 53 projection welded to the upper face of the plate 44 of the lower structure or formed out of the material of the plate 44. The bracket 53 is positioned at an acute angle to the direction of relative sliding movement of the structures to facilitate depression of the latch member 52 against its bias, until the member 52 finally engages behind the projecting part of the bracket 53.

The lockable part 51 has a key-hole 54, which is accessible through an aperture 41a in the flange 41 and is the only exposed part of the latching device when the two structures are secured together, to allow unlocking of the device with the authorised key. In the locked position, the lock face of the part 51 fits in the aperture 41a to fill the aperture so that only the key-hole face is exposed to the outside.

The lockable latching device 51 is therefore positioned on the upper structure with the angle bracket 53 on the lower structure. In this way, the business machine with the upper structure attached thereto can be mounted on any selected one of a plurality of base structures secured at different positions. Since there is no latching device on the base structures they are less expensive to produce and moreover there is less likelihood of the latching device being damaged or the lock altered than if it is provided on the base structure(s).

Figure 9B illustrates an alternative locking device 60 for the device of Figure 9A in place of the latching device 50. This device comprises a key-operated cylinder lock 61 secured behind the flange 41 of the base structure, the lock having a projecting rotary threaded member 62; and a threaded bush 63 secured in the aperture in the angle bracket 53 which is provided on the upper structure 72. The key 64 required for rotating the threaded member 62 into and out of engagement in the threaded bush 63 in order to lock and unlock the device, needs to be engaged in the cylinder lock 61 in a certain position and rotated by a particular number of revolutions in order to operate the lock. This type of combination security lock cannot readily be picked and has a multitude of possible combinations.

A device as illustrated in Figure 9 is particularly suitable for use with machines having cables which engage from below so that the relatively simple separation of the upper and base structures facilitates the addition or removal of cables as required.

Figure 10 illustrates an upper structure 80 of a further embodiment which is a universal fitting for securing beneath a variety of different sized machines. In this case, the peripheral wall 85 extending along three sides of the upper structure 80 does not protrude above the plates 81,82 thereof and the angle brackets (not shown) equivalent to angled brackets 49 of the previous embodiment extend downwardly from the plate 81. The plates 81,82 can be bonded directly to the base of the machine 83 or, as illustrated, metal pads 84 provided on the plates 81,82 are bonded to the lower surface of the machine 83 in positions so as not to cover ventilation facilities of the business machine.

Using Loctite adhesive as aforesaid, there is little chance of the machine being levered off the upper structure. the base structure of this embodiment will be substantially the same as that of the embodiment of Figure 9.

Figure 11 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of Figure 10 in which the side walls 91,92 of the upper structure 90 have tapered upper edges so that the associated business machine is located at an angle to the support surface on which it is mounted.

This is desirable for some types of apparatus, e.g.

T.V. monitors.

It has been found that ventilation of business machines mounted by devices according to the invention is not adversely affected over extended periods, e.g. 8 hours, during which a steady operating state has been reached. No appreciable difference has been found between use with and without a mounting device according to the invention.

There are a number of options in respect of the supply of fixing devices for the base and upper structures, e.g. the aforesaid adhesive tape and Loctite adhesive for a mounting device embodying the invention.

For the base structure (1) The double-sided tape could be supplied loose so that the user can apply it to the base structure and adhere it to the mounting surface, e.g.

a table top. The double-sided tape performs extremely well on a smooth surface giving an excellent bond which does not require additional screws for security. No hole in the table top would then be required to fix the frame to the table top.

(2) Instead only woodscrews may be provided for securing the base structure.

(3) For a permanent situation, Loctite or a combination of double-sided tape and woodscrews can be used.

For the upper structure Loctite its495 will generally always be applied as trails on the upper surface of the plates and the side walls to bond the business machine to the upper structure. The machine is held down for 30 seconds and left overnight for maximum bonding strength.

The performance properties of Loctite Superfast 495 are: Tensile strength ASTM D-2095 2900 to 3630 Ibs force per square inch.

Tensile shear strength ASTM D-1002 1810 to 2540 Ibs force per square inch.

Impact strength ASTM-950 4.6 to 7 ft. Ibs per inch squared.

In addition, but not necessary, the machine can be turned upside down and more Loctite 495 can be added between the wall and the side of the machine, so that a bond is made on three sides continuously on the machine.

The Loctite its495 can only be removed using Acetone and then only if applied along a line of the bond.

The aforesaid DRG adhesive tapes can be removed by warming them to 60 to 70 degrees centrigrade and peeling them off the plate. The adhesive tape will remain on the metal plates and not on the table top, leaving the surface of the table top in pristine condition.

CLAIMS (Filed on 23June1983) 1. A lockable mounting device for business machines and other similar equipment, which device comprises a base structure which can be secured to a support surface, an upper structure which can be secured beneath a business machine or other similar equipment, the upper and base structures having interengagable location means for securing together the upper structure on the base structure which means are engaged by a relative sliding movement thereof and releasable means to lock the upper and base structures with respect to one another to prevent disengagement of said location means.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said location means comprise at least one rail of the base structure and a rail of the upper structure which is adapted to engage and cooperate with the, or a respective, rail of the base structure on relative sliding movement of the rails in a plane generally parallel to a work surface on which the base structure is mounted in use, to prevent or limit relative movement between the rails, when interengaged, in directions transversely thereof.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a pair of generally parallel linear rails are provided for each of the base and upper structures.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said rail(s) on one of said structures is provided by a first elongate member with the cooperating rail(s) on the other of said structure being provided by a tubular second elongate member having a slot extending along its length and an inner surface generally conforming to the outer periphery of said first member for sliding thereon when said members are interengaged.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4wherein said first elongate member is a tubular member.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the cooperating sliding surfaces of said members are cylindrical.

7. A device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the internal surface of said tubular second member at one end thereof is flared in order to facilitate engagement of the first and second members preparatory to said relative sliding movement thereof.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said lock means comprises a screw threaded member having a security head requiring a special tool to effect rotation thereof, a female screw thread provided at one end portion of said first elongate member and an abutment surface which is provided on said other of said parts and has an aperture which is aligned with said female screw thread when the two elongate members are interengaged after relative sliding movement thereof, the arrangement being such that the screw threaded member passes through said aperture and engages

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

83 in positions so as not to cover ventilation facilities of the business machine.

Using Loctite adhesive as aforesaid, there is little chance of the machine being levered off the upper structure. the base structure of this embodiment will be substantially the same as that of the embodiment of Figure 9.

Figure 11 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of Figure 10 in which the side walls 91,92 of the upper structure 90 have tapered upper edges so that the associated business machine is located at an angle to the support surface on which it is mounted.

This is desirable for some types of apparatus, e.g.

T.V. monitors.

It has been found that ventilation of business machines mounted by devices according to the invention is not adversely affected over extended periods, e.g. 8 hours, during which a steady operating state has been reached. No appreciable difference has been found between use with and without a mounting device according to the invention.

There are a number of options in respect of the supply of fixing devices for the base and upper structures, e.g. the aforesaid adhesive tape and Loctite adhesive for a mounting device embodying the invention.

For the base structure (1) The double-sided tape could be supplied loose so that the user can apply it to the base structure and adhere it to the mounting surface, e.g.

a table top. The double-sided tape performs extremely well on a smooth surface giving an excellent bond which does not require additional screws for security. No hole in the table top would then be required to fix the frame to the table top.

(2) Instead only woodscrews may be provided for securing the base structure.

(3) For a permanent situation, Loctite or a combination of double-sided tape and woodscrews can be used.

For the upper structure Loctite its495 will generally always be applied as trails on the upper surface of the plates and the side walls to bond the business machine to the upper structure. The machine is held down for 30 seconds and left overnight for maximum bonding strength.

The performance properties of Loctite Superfast 495 are: Tensile strength ASTM D-2095 2900 to 3630 Ibs force per square inch.

Tensile shear strength ASTM D-1002 1810 to 2540 Ibs force per square inch.

Impact strength ASTM-950 4.6 to 7 ft. Ibs per inch squared.

In addition, but not necessary, the machine can be turned upside down and more Loctite 495 can be added between the wall and the side of the machine, so that a bond is made on three sides continuously on the machine.

The Loctite its495 can only be removed using Acetone and then only if applied along a line of the bond.

The aforesaid DRG adhesive tapes can be removed by warming them to 60 to 70 degrees centrigrade and peeling them off the plate. The adhesive tape will remain on the metal plates and not on the table top, leaving the surface of the table top in pristine condition.

CLAIMS (Filed on 23June1983) 1. A lockable mounting device for business machines and other similar equipment, which device comprises a base structure which can be secured to a support surface, an upper structure which can be secured beneath a business machine or other similar equipment, the upper and base structures having interengagable location means for securing together the upper structure on the base structure which means are engaged by a relative sliding movement thereof and releasable means to lock the upper and base structures with respect to one another to prevent disengagement of said location means.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said location means comprise at least one rail of the base structure and a rail of the upper structure which is adapted to engage and cooperate with the, or a respective, rail of the base structure on relative sliding movement of the rails in a plane generally parallel to a work surface on which the base structure is mounted in use, to prevent or limit relative movement between the rails, when interengaged, in directions transversely thereof.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a pair of generally parallel linear rails are provided for each of the base and upper structures.
4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said rail(s) on one of said structures is provided by a first elongate member with the cooperating rail(s) on the other of said structure being provided by a tubular second elongate member having a slot extending along its length and an inner surface generally conforming to the outer periphery of said first member for sliding thereon when said members are interengaged.
5. A device as claimed in Claim 4wherein said first elongate member is a tubular member.
6. A device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the cooperating sliding surfaces of said members are cylindrical.
7. A device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the internal surface of said tubular second member at one end thereof is flared in order to facilitate engagement of the first and second members preparatory to said relative sliding movement thereof.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said lock means comprises a screw threaded member having a security head requiring a special tool to effect rotation thereof, a female screw thread provided at one end portion of said first elongate member and an abutment surface which is provided on said other of said parts and has an aperture which is aligned with said female screw thread when the two elongate members are interengaged after relative sliding movement thereof, the arrangement being such that the screw threaded member passes through said aperture and engages

with said female screw thread to bring the head of the screw threaded member firmly into abutment with said abutment surface.
9. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said lock means comprise a key-operated locking device associated with one of said structures and having a projection arranged to be engaged in a recess in a portion of said other structure when said structures are located with respect to one another said location means and when said locking device is locked.
10. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said lock means comprise a latch member resiliently mounted on one of said structures which is arranged to engage a cooperating catch part provided on the other structure such that the latch member automatically engages said catch part when said location means are engaged as aforesaid with the latch member and catch part, when engaged, only being accessible in use through a specially shaped security aperture in a part associated with the upper structure and/or base structure through which aperture a corresponding shaped tool may be passed to engage the latch member and disengage it from the catch part to allow separation of the upper and base structures.
11. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said location means comprise an aperture provided in a part associated with one of said structures and a projection on the other structure adapted to engage in said aperture on the aforesaid relative sliding movement of the structures.
12. A device as claimed in Claim 11 wherein a plurality of cooperating projections and apertures are provided.
13. A device as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said aperture is provided by the open end of a tubular part of said one structure.
14. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the upper structure has a wall extending part way around the periphery thereof in which a business machine or the like is, in use, received with minimum clearance and the base structure has an upstanding wall, the arrangement being such that the walls on the upper and base structures cooperate, when the structures are locked together, to form a substantially continuous wall bridging between the periphery of the business machine or the like and a surface to which said base structure is secured in use, in order to prevent a tool being inserted beneath the business machine for applying leverage thereto.
15. A device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the upper and base structures are generally rectangular and the base structure has a wall along one edge thereof and the upper structure has wall portions along three edges thereof.
16. A device as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15 wherein said base structure includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced apart tubular members, the upper structure having a pair of projections adapted to engage in a pair of corresponding open ends of the tubular members, respectively, during a locking operation, and said upper structure having a pair of spaced apart apertured parts adapted to receive a pair of projections on said base structure during a locking operation.
17. A device as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said projections and said apertured parts on the upper structure are disposed at or adjacent opposite ends thereof.
18. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, and 11 to 17, wherein said locking means comprise a lockable latching device on one structure and, on the other structure, a catch member with which a resiliently biassed latching member of the latching device automatically cooperates on said relative sliding movement of the structures to lock the structures against a relative separating movement of the structures, unless the latching device is released by use of the appropriate key or similar unlocking implement.
19. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, and 11 to 17, wherein the locking means comprises a threaded aperture provided on a part associated with one structure and a security locking device provided on the other structure and having a threaded element for cooperating with said threaded aperture on a specific coded operation of the device using a locking implement to effect locking or unlocking of the device.
20. A lockable mounting device for business machines and other similar equipment, the device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 5; or Figures 1 to 5 when modified as illustrated in Figure 6, or Figures 7 and 8; or Figure 9; or Figure 10; or Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.