Office machine security system

Claim 1

A security system that discourages the theft of office machines mounted on the top of furniture having a flat lower surface comprising in combination: an elongated fastener comprising a rod having a first end including attachment means to attach the first end to the base of the machine, said rod having a length sufficient to extend through a hole in said top of the furniture and including a second end; a cap having a wider diameter than the rod and the hole in the top attached to the second end of the rod for securing the machine to the top; a hollow housing surrounding said cap having a chamber, said housing including a flat upper wall, a downwardly extending side wall connected to the upper wall and having an open lower end, said flat upper wall engaging the flat lower surface of the top and having an aperture for receiving the second end of said rod and being rotatably mounted on said rod between the cap and the lower surface of the furniture top; a lock closure means including a lock barrel having a retractable latch, said lock barrel being releasably and rotatably secured in the lower open end of said housing with the lock barrel spaced from said cap and being independent of the cap fastener; and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing containing a continuous, horizontal rim disposed in a position to slidingly engage the bottom surface of the latch whereby said lock barrel is rotatable throughout 360 degrees in said housing.