Background and Summary of Invention The relatively lightweight and small personal computers are becoming more attractive to theft. Not only are the personal computers valuable but they also often contain information that is more valuable than the computer units themselves. Some computers contain information that is even irreparable should the computer be stolen. A variety of alarm solutions have been provided and developed in the past.

However, one inherent drawback of all alarm systems is that they almost always must be powered with electricity and the alarms do not work properly if the electricity is cut off from the alarm unit. There is a need for a reliable device and method that prevents unauthorized removal of computers from offices and other location without relying on complicated alarm systems.

The method of the present invention provides a solution to the problems outlined above. More particularly, the method of the present invention is for locking a computer by providing a computer having a rear panel with fasteners.

The method also provides an attachment plate, a cover plate and a holder. The end segment is applied to the rear panel

RF: sj 282. 817PRO 9/19/02 and attached thereto by the fasteners. The cover plate is placed over the attachment plate so that an end segment of the cover plate covers the fasteners and an opening of the attachment plate is aligned with an opening of the cover plate. The holder is slid over the plates so that an opening of the holder is aligned with both openings of the attachment plate and the cover plate. A lock is inserted through the openings and locked to an elongate member to fasten the computer to the member.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a locking mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled locking mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 3 is detailed perspective side view of an assembled locking mechanism disposed behind a rear panel of a laptop computer; Fig. 4 is a perspective side view of the locking mechanism placed between a screen and a support panel of a laptop computer; Figs. 5a-c is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism mounted on a laptop computer; and Figs. 7a-c is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention.

RF: sj 282. 817PR0 9/19/02- Detailed Description With reference to Figs. 1-4, the present invention is a kit of a locking mechanism 10 that may be used to lock computers and other valuable equipment. It should be noted that the locking mechanism 10 may be used to lock any type of equipment and a laptop computer has only been used as an illustrative example. More particularly, the mechanism 10 comprises an attachment plate 12, a cover plate 14 and a holder 16. The plate 12 has an opening 18 defined therein at an outer end 20. A perpendicular end segment 22 is disposed at an opposite end thereof. The segment 22 has a plurality of elongate openings 24 defined therein for receiving fasteners 26, such as screws. It is also possible to have one very long opening defined in the segment 22, if so desired.

The cover plate 14 is very similar to the plate 12 except that the plate 14 has an end segment 28 that does not have any openings defined therein. The plate 14 has an opening 30 defined therein at an outer end 32. The plate 14 is dimensioned so that the opening 30 is aligned with the opening 18 of the plate 12 when the plate 14 is placed on top of the plate 12 with the segment 28 immediately adjacent to the segment 22, as best shown in Fig. 2. In this way, the plate 14 is slightly shorter than the plate 12 so that there is room for the screw heads therebetween. One important function of the plate 14 is to cover the fasteners 26 with the

RF: sj 282. 817PR0 9/19/02 segment 28 so that the fasteners 26 cannot be unscrewed.

The hollow holder 16 may be slid over the plate 14 and the plate 12, as shown by arrows F, so that an opening 34 of the holder 16 may be aligned with the openings 18,30. An openable lock 36, as best shown in Fig. 3, may be inserted through the openings 18,30, 34 of the locking mechanism 10 to secure a laptop computer 38 to a chain 40. As shown above, the fasteners may be mounted on the plate 12 and attached to screw holes 42 defined in a rear panel 44 of the computer 38.

One feature of the present invention is that it is possible to use existing screws 46 on the panel 44 and the holes 24 are elongate to adjust for different distances between screws. In this way, there is no need to drill new holes or to alter or damage the computer 38.

Fig. 4 shows the plate 14 inserted between a screen 48 and a support panel 50 of the computer 38 so that the lock 36 may be attached to the opening 30. In this way, it is not necessary to use the plate 12 and the cover 16. It should be noted that the plate 14 has the same thickness throughout. However, it is possible to use different plate thickness in different sections of the plate 14, as desired.

The segment 28 is thin enough so that the screen member 48 may be closed on the support panel 50 without damaging the support panel or the keyboard 52. The segment 68 protrudes upwardly towards the screen 48 on an inside of the computer 38. In this way, the screen 48 may be opened or closed although the computer 38 is locked with the lock 36 that is disposed

RF: sj 282. 817PR0 9/19/02-5- outside the computer 38.

Figs. 5a-c shows a second embodiment of a locking mechanism 60 that includes a plate 62 and a cover 64. The plate 62 has an opening 66 defined therein and a perpendicular end segment 68. The cover 64 has openings 70,72. Of course, the cover 64 may have more or less than two openings defined therein. The plate 62 slide into the cover 64, as shown by arrow G, until the opening 66 is aligned with one of the openings 70,72 of the cover 64 so that the plates 62,64 can be locked together by a lock 74. As best shown in Fig. 6, the segment 68 may be inserted between a screen 76 and a support panel 78 of a laptop computer 80 so that the segment 68 protrudes upwardly towards the screen 76 on an inside of the computer 80. The plate 64 is then slid over the plate 62 until the plate 64 tightly holds the plate 62 in place and one of the openings of the plate 64 is aligned with the opening 66 of the plate 62. The openings of the holder 64 make it possible to adjust to the thickness of the screen 76 so that the holder 64 is always tightly mounted on the plate 62 and bears against the computer 80 to make it more difficult to remove the plate 62. Another feature is that it prevents the plate 62 from sliding in too far along the panel 78 so that the segment 68 does not damage the screen 76 when the screen 76 is closed towards the support panel 78. Preferably, the segment 68 should bear against an inside 77 of the screen 76 so that the segment 68 rotates with the screen 76 when the screen 76 is closed.

RF: sj 282. 817PR0 9/19/02-6- Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a locking mechanism 90 that has a plate 92 with an end segment 94 having openings 96 defined therein. The mechanism 90 also has a cover 98 with a perpendicular end segment 100 that ends with a flap 102. An outer end 104 may be inserted into an opening 106 of the cover 98 so that an opening 108 of the plate 92 is aligned with an opening 110 of the cover 98, as shown in Fig. 7c. It should be noted that the flap 102 covers the openings 96 of the plate 92 so that any screws inserted therein cannot be accessed.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.