GB2481269A

GB2481269A - Anti-theft device for a computer tower

Info

Publication number: GB2481269A
Application number: GB201100416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Andrew Stevens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-15
Filing date: 2011-01-11
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Also published as: GB201100416D0; GB201009955D0; GB2481209A; GB2481209B

Abstract

An anti-theft device for securing a computer tower or case 1, e.g. Apple (RTM) Mac Pro (RTM), includes base tray 2 having first end 6, second end 10, and sides having upwardly-extending side walls 2a, 2b extending along a middle portion of each side. First end 6 has a turned back portion forming a slot 6a, with base tray 2, for receiving a first looped foot 1a of the computer tower. Second end 10 has a stepped portion to allow a second looped foot to slide under the base tray when the first looped foot is being received in the slot 6a. The stepped portion extends through the second looped foot and has piercing 7 through which locking pin 8a of lock 8 is received to securely attach tower 1 to tray 2. Plural apertures 3 receive fixing bolts 4 for securing tray 2 to fixed surface 9 such as a desk top, via bolting plates 5, or a floor. The stepped portion may include a channel through which cables can be passed and secured by lock 8. A side wall may include an aperture receiving a cable lock for securing peripherals.

Description

ANTI -THEFT DEVICE FOR A COMPUTER

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for a computer tower, in particular but not strictly limited to an Apple® Mac Pro®.

In recent years powerFul computers have been provided in increasing compact and lightweight forms. This change has made these valuable and useful pieces of equipment attractive targets for thieves. It has become common for large numbers of computers to be provided in open plan office areas, school ICT suites, public libraries and the like where many people have and need regular access to the buildings. Ensuring security of the equipment is an ever growing problem.

Devices for locking computers to desks, for example by cages, cables, clamps and bolts are known but all have disadvantages. Many are unsightly and add clutter to a workspace. Others are fairly easily and quickly disassembled with appropriate tooling, for example by loosening of accessible nuts or cutting of bolts or cables.

The present invention provides a discrete and secure security device which does not suffer from the drawbacks identified in the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for a computer tower, where the computer tower case includes looped feet, the anti-theft device comprising: a base tray configured to fit snugly over the base of the computer tower and having first and second ends for positioning adjacent first and second looped feet of the computer tower and two sides arranged orthogonally to the two ends, the two sides having upwardly extending walls extending along a middle portion of the side and configured to fit snugly against the walls of a computer tower received in the base, the first end comprising a turned back portion forming a slot with the base tray S... configured for snugly receiving a looped foot of the computer tower, S.

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*..*.S

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the second end comprising a stepped portion configured to allow the second looped foot to slide under the base tray when the first looped foot is being received in the slot at the first end, the stepped portion being proportioned to extend through the loop of the second looped foot and terminating in a portion having a piercing extending from an upper to a lower surface thereof, the piercing being configured to receive a locking pin of a lock, the stepped portion and lock being together configured to secure the computer tower in a fixed position in the base tray, a plurality of apertures in the base tray configured to receive a plurality of fasteners for securing the base tray to a fixed surface.

In use, the base tray is first fastened to a desk top or other fixed surface by means of the apertures. In one example, the fasteners comprise flat headed bolts which are the only exposed part of the bolting mechanism removing the possibility of the bolts being easily unfastened or cut. The bolts are secured by nuts which, in use are enclosed beneath the secured computer tower and so are inaccessible. In an alternative, where the tower is to be secured to a desktop, bolts are received in one or more bolting plates which are located beneath the desktop aligned beneath the apertures in positioned base tray. Apertures are drilled through the apertures of the tray and into the desk top to permit the bolts to be passed through the tray and desktop and into the bolt plates.

Once the tray is secured to a fixed surface, a computer tower with looped feet is positioned over the base tray in an overlapping but not coincident manner. The tower is then slid along the base tray so that a first looped foot engages in the slot at the first end and a second looped foot fits under the stepped portion at the *.S...

* second end. The stepped portion passes through the loop of the second looped foot * and a locking pin is passed though the piercing and locked tight. The computer tower is thus securely locked in an attractive tray. The only access is by means of the lock. The lock is desirably selected to be tamper proof.

* ** . The stepped portion optionally has a square or U-shaped channel in cross section through which cables can be passed and secured in position by the lock.

Afternatively or in addition, one or more cable outlet apertures may be provided in the exposed end of the stepped portion through which cables can be passed and hence secured inside the base tray when the base tray is locked in position.

In another option at least one aperture is provided in a side wall of the tray configured for receiving a cable lock which can be employed to fasten down, computer peripherals (for example a monitor) associated with the computer.

The tray desirably has flat walls which, in use, provide a smooth line with the computer tower casing so as to provide a discrete and aesthetic appearance. The device is desirably colour coded to match the computer tower which it is intended to secure.

One well known example of a computer having a casing with looped feet is the Apple® Mac Pro®. The present invention is designed with the intention to secure that computer tower but could easily be adapted, without the need for further invention to secure any casing with one or more looped feet.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which; Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention with an Apple® Mac Pro® Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 when assembled. S.... * *

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*SS*S* * Figure 3 shows schematic, side on view illustrating how the looped feet of the .: : computer tower la, lb are correctly positioned into the tray 2 for securing.

As can be seen from the Figures, an antitheft device for a computer tower 1 in * *S* accordance with the invention comprises a base tray 2 having side walls 2a and 2b I: and provided with multiple apertures 3 for receiving multiple bolts 4. The bolts 4 are configured to pass through the apertures 3 and into tapped holes on bolting plates 5.

A first end of the base tray 2 is a turned back portion 6 which, with the base 2 forms a slot 6a into which a looped foot la of the computer tower 1 can be snugly fitted.

A second end of the base tray incorporates a piercing 7 through which a locking pin 8a of a lock 8 can be received to securely attach the computer tower 1 to the tray 2.

Passing through the second end are cable apertures 10 through which cables ic of the computer tower may be passed.

In the Figure, the component parts are arranged ready for assembly about a desk top 9. Once assembled, the first looped foot la is received in the slot 6a and the second end passes though the loop of the second looped foot presenting the piercing 7 for receiving locking pin 8a of lock 8. Walls 2a and 2b of the tray prevent access to the underside of the tower 1 so that the bolts 4 securing the tray 2 to desktop 9 cannot be easily accessed or tampered with.

Figure 3 shows how to correctly position the tower 1 onto the tray 2. The block arrows show the direction of movement for each of the looped feet la, lb with respect to the first and second ends of the tray 2.

There now follows summarised installation instructions for the above described embodiment.

1. (i) Desk Fixing * Position the tray in the location required on the desk and using a pen mark the 2 x holes at the front and rear of the unit (for desk fixing it is not necessary to use the * ***** * middle set of holes.) Drill 4 x holes in the desk on the marked position ensuring the drill is perpendicular to the desk. Place the tray in position and insert the bolts through the apertures and desk. * *** * *

**.S** * * From underneath, offer up the under desk bolting plates, so the holes match up with the bolts protruding through the desk. Using an appropriate allen key tighten the bolts into the plates.

(ii) Floor Fixing -fixings not supplied Position the tray in the location required on the floor and using a marker pen mark the 6 x holes in the base of the unit. Drill 6 x holes in the floor on the marked position ensuring the drill is perpendicular to the floor. Push in the shielded section of the fixing bolts in to the holes. Place the tray in position and insert the bolts through the tray and tighten into the shield.

2. Lower the computer tower on to the tray so the rear foot of the tower is behind the tray and the front foot of the tower sits between the front folded steel lock tab and the two up-stands positioned on the sides. Slide the tower forward so the front foot sits inside the folded steal lock tab.

3. Locate the lock at the rear and close the locking pin through the piercing in the protruding tab.

4. To secure the LJSB cables Thread power cable and any USB cables (such as keyboard and mouse) through the cable apertures before closing the locking pin.

5. Optional Monitor security A cable aperture is provided at the rear on both sides of the tray to accommodate a * security cable which may be used to protect a monitor for use with the tower. Before *.SS*S * the tower is positioned into the tray, insert the security cable into one of the holes.

: * The lock end of the cable is simply looped around the monitor stand and locked in *** 0 place with a high security padlock. * sI* * S ***S

S * S

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anti-theft device for a computer tower, where the computer tower case includes looped feet, the anti-theft device comprising: a base tray configured to fit snugly over the base of the computer tower and having first and second ends for positioning adjacent first and second looped feet of the computer tower and two sides arranged orthogonally to the two ends, the two sides having upwardly extending walls extending along a middle portion of the side and configured to fit snugly against the walls of a computer tower received in the base, the first end comprising a turned back portion forming a slot with the base tray configured for snugly receiving a looped foot of the computer tower, the second end comprising a stepped portion configured to allow the second looped foot to slide under the base tray when the first looped foot is being received in the slot at the first end, the stepped portion being proportioned to extend through the loop of the second looped foot and terminating in a portion having a piercing extending from an upper to a lower surface thereof, the piercing being configured to receive a locking pin of a lock, the stepped portion and lock being together configured to secure the computer tower in a fixed position in the base tray, a plurality of apertures in the base tray configured to receive a plurality of fasteners for securing the base tray to a fixed surface.
2. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fasteners comprise multiple flat headed bolts.

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3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fasteners * .**** * 1 comprise bolts and one or more bolting plates including tapped holes for receiving the bolts.
4. An anti-theft device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stepped S...portion has a square or U-shaped channel in cross section through which cables can be passed and secured in position by the lock.
5. An anti-theft device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more cable outlet apertures are provided in the exposed end of the stepped portion through which cables can be passed and hence secured inside the base tray when the base tray is locked in position.
6. An anti-theft device for a computer tower as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one aperture is provided in a side wall of the tray configured for receiving a cable lock which can be employed to fasten down, computer peripherals (for example a monitor) associated with the computer.
7. An anti-theft device for a computer tower as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray has flat side walls which, in use, provide a smooth line with the computer tower casing so as to provide a discrete and aesthetic appearance.
8. An anti-theft device for a computer tower as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is colour coded to match the computer tower which it is intended to secure.
9. An anti-theft device for a computer tower as claimed in any preceding claim configured for securing an Apple® Mac Pro® computer tower.
10. An anti-theft device for a computer tower as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 further including a cable lock configured to locate in the side wall apertures.
11. An anti-theft device for a computer tower substantially as described herein S....* and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 3. * .. *. . ** . * * S. *.*** * .