Locking devices for floppy disk drives
US5394713A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T70/5566
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Locking devices (10, 10', 10") are inserted within the disk drive (11) of a personal computer ("PC") 12 to prevent unauthorized use thereof. The locking devices (10, 10', 10") include a pair of pivoted plates (15) retained in their expanded position within the disk drive (11) by means of an externally-accessible padlock (20) or its equivalent. In one embodiment, the locking device (10) has respective pairs of pins (21, 22) which sandwich the front cover (13) of the disk drive (11). In another embodiment, the locking device (10') has respective teeth (25) which frictionally engage the respective spaced-apart side rails (26) of the disk drive (11). In yet another embodiment, the locking device (10") has both pins (21, 22) and teeth (25) and is provided with a torsion spring (30) constantly biasing the plates (15) into their expanded position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.