Background Art Theft of computers from homes, businesses, schools and other institutions is global in its extent and enormous in cost. Various devices have been produced and marketed for the purpose of securing (locking-down) computers at their points of location. A common feature of many of these security devices is a plastic coated, multi stranded wire rope that is threaded through a metal or plastic plate. One end of the wire rope is secured to the desk or bench; the other end is attached to the computer via the plate which is fixed to the computer case by means of an adhesive or cement.

In order for the adhesive plate to be attached to the computer, there needs to be a location on the outer surface of the computer that is both large enough in area and uniform enough in texture, to receive the adhesive plate. Such a location on nearly all computers is only to be found on the removable computer case cover. However, the computer case is very easily removed and discarded, by the simple unscrewing of three or four small screws. Once done, this leaves the computer frame unsecured and easily stolen along with the valuable internal components.

A further weakness in this type of device is inherent in the properties of the cement or adhesive compounds used. Many who have employed these adhesive security devices have experienced'plate failure'where the adhesive bond has been inadequate and the piates have either fallen off or been easily sheared or twisted from their surface attachment.

To improve on the method of attachment of the security device to the computer, the cable end can be firmly and inseparably attached to the computer case frame. This eliminates the problem of adhesive-plate failure. However, to securely attach the cable to the rigid computer case frame requires the skill and service of a trained installer. Such permanent cable-to-frame attachment is beyond the scope of the average computer owner. What is needed in the market place is a security device that offers superior physical attachment to the computer frame, yet can be easily and economically self-installed.

Disclosure of Invention The need for a high-security frame-attached, self-install, non-adhesive computer security device is met by the present invention. The afore-mentioned problems are overcome by the present invention, here referred to as the"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device". The"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device" provides a security cable permanently and inseparably attached at one end to a modified and strengthened computer blanking plate constructed from a heavy gauge material, here referred to as a"Security Blanking Plate". When the"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device"is properly installed in the blanking plate facility of a computer's rear frame, it becomes an integral part of the computer unit and provides a means for locking down the computer.

Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 (a to c) shows the Security Blanking Plate as utilised by the present invention.

A bank of identically shaped and sized blanking plates is common to the rear frame of all PC type computers, along with many other computers that use desktop or tower cases. See Figure 2 (a and b) for a typical bank of blanking plates on a computer's rear frame, viewed from the inside of a desktop case (Figure 2a) and the outside of an alternative tower case (Figure 2b). There are invariably more blanking plate positions provided on a computer case than are ever required by most computer owners.

Figure 3 shows the"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device"fitted to the computer as viewed from inside the computer's rear frame.

Detailed Description of Invention Referring to Figure 1 (a, b, c), the security cable (1) is a multi-stranded wire rope (though other materials can be used in place of the wire rope), permanently and securely attached to the Security Blanking Plate (2). The security cable (1) passes through the face (3) of the security blanking plate and is firmly restrained on both sides of this face with swaged stoppers (4) and (5). The other end of the cable can be secured to a desk or bench by various means.

Referring to Figure 1, the Security Blanking Plate is a folded plate, constructed from highly resilient material. At one end of the face (3) is a folded tab (6) with a holed portion (7). At the other end of the plate is a straight tab (8) that can be slotted into the appropriate housing on the computer frame. Because of the overall thickness of material required by the Security Blanking Plate, it is necessary for the tab (8) to be tapered so as to be accommodated in the narrow-slotted housing common to most computer frames (see item (10) in Figure 3). A folded strengthening-wing (9) forms part of the Security Blanking Plate and provides additional resistance and strength to the device in the event of an attempted theft.

Method of installation with reference to Figure 3: With the security cable (1) facing away from the computer's rear frame and the swaged stopper (5) pointing inside the computer, the security blanking plate (2) is aligned for fixing to the computer's rear frame. First, the loose cable end is passed from inside of the computer frame through a vacant blanking plate slot in the computer frame. The bottom tapered-tab (8) is<BR> dropped into position through a blanking plate slot (10) found in the bottom rail (11) that forms part of the computer's rear frame. Once aligned, the security screw (12) is tightened into the hole (7). Figure 3 shows the"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device"correctly fitted to the rear frame of a computer.

The security offered by this present invention is very much dependent on several features : a) The thickness of the Security Blanking Plate to provide adequate strength against bending when significant force is applied to the device during an attempted theft. The thickness of the material that comprises the plate necessitates that the bottom tab be tapered so as to fit into the slot (10) in the computer frame; b) The length and width of the folded strengthening-wing (9) to provide resistance to bending; c) The permanent fixing of the cable to the Security Blanking Plate by means of swaged stoppers (4) and (5); d) The use of a one-way or security type screw (12) that ensures that the device, once installed, becomes an integral part of the computer frame, not being able to be removed from the computer ; e) The resistance to cutting of the cable, or any other material it is replaced with.

Industrial Applicability It will be realised that the"Blanking Plate Computer Security Device"according to this invention is not restricted to the form of security cable shown in the examples, but instead may utilise another flexible or even rigid material that is difficult to cut, in order to anchor the installed security blanking plate (2) to the desk or bench.

The embodiment presented above is in no way intended to restrict the invention, but the invention may be modified fully freely within the scope of the claims. Therefore it is evident that the arrangement according to the invention or its defaults do not necessarily have to be identical to those shown in the figures but other solutions are possible as well.