Patent · US Expired

Locking devices for floppy disk drives

US5390514A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
11References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 1993
Grant dateFeb 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T70/5566
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A locking device 100 is inserted within the disk drive (11) of a personal computer ("PC") 12 to prevent unauthorized use thereof. The locking device (100) includes a pair of pivoted plates (101, 102) retained in their expanded locking position within the disk drive (11) by means of an externally-accessible padlock (107) or its equivalent. Each of the plates (101, 102) carries a spring finger (109) which "bites" into the adjacent respective side rail (26) in the event that an attempt is made to remove the locking device (100). The locking device (100) is inserted into the disk drive (11) in a one-handed operation and in its locked position. In another embodiment, a key-operated lock is carried on one of the pivoted plates.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.