GB2310246A - Security device for computer casing - Google Patents

Description

SECURITY DEVICE FOR COMPUTER CASINGS This invention relates to security devices for computers and more particularly for application to the casing containing the central processing unit and memory of computers in the formats commonly known as towers and desktops having separate monitors and keyboards.

Current practice is to construct tower and desktop casings from a base plate carrying a chassis in turn carrying cards incorporating the central processing unit and memory chips, and a housing secured, usually by self-tapping screws, to the base plate or chassis to encase the components. Hence it is a reasonably easy matter for a thief to separate the housing from the base plate on site or elsewhere to gain access to the chassis etc within the casing to steal the components of the computer, usually the central processing unit or memory chips, these being readily pocketable, unidentifiable, and having re-sale value for use in other computers.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a security device operating to deny or make substantially more difficult unauthorised access to computer casings and their contents and which can be readily adapted to resist unauthorised removal of said casings in their entirety from site.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a security device as defined by claim 1 of the appended claims.

The invention also provides the combination of a computer tower, desktop or other casing and a security device as so defined.

An example of the invention for use with a computer casing of the tower type is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure la and b is a side elevation of a security device secured to said casing.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereto (part broken away) together with anchor elements of the device.

Figure 3a, b and c are a perspective detail of parts of the device showing their manner of interengagement, and figure 4 is a perspective view of a top element of the device.

The security device fits onto the tower type computer casing 10 and comprises base elements in the form of two similar base brackets 12 of heavy gauge steel plate each adapted to be securely connected to the generally flat underside of the base plate 14 of casing 10 with cranked ends 16 to overlap the lower margins of the opposing side walls 18,20 of the brick shaped housing 22 of the casing which surmounts base plate 14.

Various means may be used for achieving this secure connection of base brackets 12 to base plate 14, their common factor being that after connection the securing means is inaccessible from outside the casing so that the brackets and base plate cannot be separated without access to the inside of casing 10 or use of excessive measures unlikely to be available "on the spot" to the intending thief.

In the example shown base brackets 12 incorporate upstanding screwed studs 24 welded to their upper faces. After removal of the feet usually fitted to the underside of base plate 14 studs 24 are received in the holes in the base plate for the attachment of the feet and then secured to the base plate by nuts on the inside of the casing and hence inaccessible when assembled. Alternatively brackets 12 may be provided with pressed out integral tongues capable of interengaging with base plate 14 through the feet holes. In a third example brackets 12 are provided with heavy duty adhesive which can be uncovered or activated to adhere to the underside of plate 14 after removal of any paint on the relevant areas of the base plate. If feet holes are not already present or for any reason are unsuitable then holes can be drilled at the appropriate positions in plate 14.

The cranked upstanding ends 16 of brackets 12 have bayonet slots 26 with horizontally forwardly directed openings and upwardly extending terminal parts. Two pairs of flat bar steel side straps 28, 30 have laterally extending integral necked studs 32 adjacent to each of their lower ends for engagement with slots 26. The forward strap 28 of each pair is longer than the rearward strap 30 and all have in the vicinity of their upper ends circular holes to receive and share a common bridge bar 34 (Figure lb) of locking means of the device.

The security device locking means further comprises a top element 36 again of heavy gauge steel plate and L-section designed transversely to overlap adjacent margins forming the top rear edge corner between the top and rear sides of housing 22. One or both inside faces of element 36 are rebated (figure 4) where necessary as at 35 to accommodate and cover the heads of any screws of casing 10 at that edge and to give close contact of element 36 with housing 22.

Element 36 has slots 37 in register with the sides of housing 22 to accept therethrough the upper ends of the pairs of straps 28 and 30 exposing the latter's holes just above element 36.

Bridge bar 34 is round steel rod and one end of the bar is cranked to block passage through the holes in straps 28 and 30.

Adjacent the opposite end of the bar it has a dimensional hole outside the relevant side strap to receive the hasp of a removable conventional padlock 38 for locking the bar in place.

To assembly the device, base brackets 12 are first secured in the appropriate manner to the base plate 14 of casing 10 after removal of its feet. Studs 32 at the lower ends of the four straps 28,30 are then introduced into their respective slots 26 in side lugs 16 of brackets 12 and the upper ends of the straps are passed in pairs through the two slots 37 in the top element 36 whilst the pairs of straps lie in close proximity to the sides of housing 22 with element 36 resting on the top back corner of the housing. Then with the cranked end of the bridge 34 engaged with the outside strap of one pair of straps the hasp of the padlock 38 is engaged through the diametral hole of the bridge bar outside the outer strap of the other pair.In this manner a strong cage is put about casing 10 with the strap studs 32 held fast in slots 26 by virtue of the rearward and upward angling of straps 28,30 linking base brackets 12 and top element 36 so as to prevent any removal of the side straps. If the hook tongue version of base brackets 12 is employed then the angle of the straps prevents the disengagement of the tongues from the base plate holes when the device has been applied. Hence housing 22 cannot be removed from base plate 14 to allow unauthorised access to the interior of the casing 10. On the other hand, after removing padlock 38 and bridge bar 34, top element 36 and straps 28,. 30 can be readily unhooked from base bracket 16 for opening basing 10 by removal of housing 22 and without leaving any significant obstruction to working in the interior of the computer.

To secure together with elements of the security device an alternative locking means (not shown) may be provided wherein the bridge bar 34 is screw-threaded adjacent both ends. A pair of outer elements each with a circular recess is secured to a respective strap 28 or 30 of each pair near their upper ends for example by welding of the elements to the straps. A pair of wheel-like inner elements sit snugly within the cavities of the respective outer elements and each has a circle of holes for selective engagement by a peg spanner.

Central apertures in the wheels are screw-threaded for engagement with respective ends of the bridge bar 34. In assembly of the security device the bridge bar is passed through all four aligned holes at upper ends of the side straps above top element 36 as above described and the wheels are screwed tightly onto the ends of bar 34 using peg spanners. In this way the components of the security device are locked together and can be only be unlocked with the aid of a peg spanner or like special tool unlikely to be in the possession of an intending thief and with access to the peripheries of the inner elements by wrenches or the like being denied to the thief by their being inside the cavities of the outer elements.

The base brackets 16 may be provided with their own feet to substitute for the removed feet of casing 10 if the latter is to remain free-standing. The device provides an ideal strong attachment for an end of a hawser cable or other anchor element adapted for securing the casing 10 to a desk or the like or to fixed structure to resist bodily removal.

It will be appreciated that with the security device assembled in position to cage casing 10 its design as hereinbefore described is such that no impedient is put in the way of normal use of the computer since there is no obstruction of the front side of the casing, and more particularly of its various drive bays, and no obstruction of access to cable connections for its power and peripherals, in its rear face.

It is preferred that slots 26 are of the forwardly opening bayonet or L-shape so that when the necks of studs 32 are fitted into these slots and the upper ends of straps 28,30 are secured to top element 36, the stud necks are drawn up into the vertical legs of the slots for added security against forced disconnection of the straps from the base brackets. However, for some applications said slots may be merely horizontal, securing the straps keeping them engaged rearwardly therein. Keyhole or other forms of slots may be employed, or the lower ends of the straps might be secured by circular inner and outer elements as referred to above in connection with bridge bar 34. The straps could be permanently pivoted to base brackets 12 being merely swung aside when unlocked to release housing 22.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 2,3b and 3c, anchor elements in the form of brackets shaped as above described but of a size to nest outside base brackets 16 are provided. These anchor brackets 40 have somewhat wider bayonet slots 42 so as to accept the heads of studs 32. Anchor brackets 40 are adapted, for example by screw holes 44, to be fastened down onto a floor, desk top or other fixed location. In use brackets 16 are fitted within anchor brackets 40 followed by insertion of the strap studs 32 with the latter's necks and heads passed along the horizontal and into the vertical legs of the bracket slots 26,42.When the upper ends of the straps are locked to top element 36 as previously described the computer casing is secured onto the desk top or the like ås well as being secured from opening and with the screws used to fasten anchor brackets 40 made inaccessible by the locked presence of the base brackets and computer casing.

Instead of bridge bar 34 passing through both pairs of straps, individual padlocks may have their hasps passed directly through the holes in each pair so that they are individually locked against withdrawal from top element 36.

Instead of separate base brackets 12 a single base element might be provided, for example a plate extending over all or a major part of the underside of casing base plate 14 with side flanges or lugs providing connections for straps 28,30 at suitable locations.

Similarly, a single anchor element might be used instead of separate anchor brackets 40. An anchor element may be provided consisting of a very heavy plate or block to which casing 10 is locked when the device is in secured condition to make it much less easy to move or carry as well as preventing unauthorised access to its interior.

An alarm might be incorporated in or connected to the device to provide a signal on attempted tampering or movement.

It will be understood that the device can be dimensioned and shaped for securing computer casings of other types than the tower above described, for example longer base brackets and top elements and shorter straps may be provided to fit the much wider but much less tall casings of the desk top type.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. Security device for a computer casing comprising at least one base element adapted to have secure attachment to the underside of the casing in use by means which is inaccessible when the device is secured on the casing; strap means having connection with the or each base element to extend upwardly along opposing side walls of the casing; and locking means for securing the strap means and base element or elements about the casing, the locking means comprising an angle section top element for seating on an upper edge of the casing which extends transversely of said opposing walls, the top element being linked to the strap means in secured condition so that the casing cannot be freed from the base element or elements nor can the device be freed from the casing in said condition.

2. A device as in claim 1 further including one or more anchor elements to be secured to or combined with a fixed structure or other body in use whereby the device operates to secure the casing thereto.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said anchor element or elements are adapted to have secure attachment to said structure or other body by means which is inaccessible when the device is secured on the casing.

4. A device as in claim 2 or 3 wherein the anchor element or elements engage with the base element or elements and cannot be freed therefrom while the device is in secured condition.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the connection of the strap means with the base element or elements also serves to secure the latter element or elements to the anchor element or elements.

6. A device as in any preceding claim wherein the base element or elements include one or more threaded studs for engagement through holes in the casing underside to be secured by threaded elements from within the casing.

7. A device as in any preceding claim wherein the strap means comprise two pairs of straps, one strap of each pair being longer than the other to extend from the base element or elements at respective front and rear regions of the underside in use for common connection to the top element.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein each said strap is provided with a headed stud at its operatively lower end and the base element or elements have mating bayonet or other slots open towards the front to receive the stud necks, the studs being retained in the rear parts of the slots when the locking means is secured.

9. A device as in claim 7 or 8 wherein the top element has slots at each end to receive the upper ends of each pair of straps, and said upper ends have holes for receiving a lockable bar or hasp preventing their withdrawal from said slots.

10. A security device for a computer casing substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. The combination of a computer casing and a security device according to any preceding claim.