Locking devices for floppy disk drives

Claim 2

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, wherein the plates have an over-the-center camming action when moved from their folded position into their expanded position within the disk drive.

Claim 3

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members.

Claim 4

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2, wherein the externally-accessible portion of the members comprises respective overlapping portions having respective holes formed therein, the holes aligning with each other in the expanded position of the members, and wherein the removable locking means comprises a padlock received in the aligned holes in the respective members.

Claim 6

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members, wherein the members in their expanded position have an over-the-center camming action which flexes the respective side rails laterally and in respective directions which are opposite to each other.

Claim 7

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members, wherein the members in their expanded position have an over-the-center camming action which flexes the respective side rails laterally and in respective directions which are opposite to each other.

Claim 8

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members, wherein the abutment means on the respective side edge of each member comprises a pair of teeth which bite into the respective rail, thereby tending to form an indentation therein.

Claim 9

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of members pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the members are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the members are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the members having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the members having respective abutment means extending laterally therefrom, such that the members in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the members thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending abutment means on the respective side edges of the members engage the side rails, respectively, thereby rigidly securing the members within the disk drive, the members having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly of the disk drive when the members are secured within the disk drive, and removable locking means carried by the externally-accessible portion of the respective members, wherein the abutment means on the respective side edge of each member comprises a pair of teeth which bite into the respective rail, thereby tending to form an indentation therein.

Claim 10

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of plates pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the plates are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the plates are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the plates having a relieved portion, such that the plates may be pivotably nested with respect to each other in the folded position of the plates, each of the plates further having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the plates having at least one tooth extending laterally therefrom, such that the plates in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the plates thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending teeth on the respective side edges of the plates frictionally engage the side rails, respectively, as the plates exhibit an over-the-center camming action, thereby frictionally locking the plates in their expanded position within the disk drive, and means for maintaining the plates in their frictionally-locked expanded position within the disk drive.

Claim 11

In combination with the disk drive of a personal computer, wherein the disk drive has an aperture and further has a pair of spaced-apart side rails for insertion of a floppy disk therein, a removable lock comprising a pair of plates pivotably connected together about a pivot, such that the lock has a folded position in which the plates are pivoted towards each other and further has an expanded position in which the plates are pivotably extended away from each other, each of the plates having a relieved portion, such that the plates may be pivotably nested with respect to each other in the folded position of the plates, each of the plates further having a side edge remote from the pivot, and each of the side edges of the plates having at least one tooth extending laterally therefrom, such that the plates in their folded position are inserted through the aperture and pushed into the disk drive in the personal computer, and such that the plates thereafter are pivoted into their expanded position, whereby the laterally-extending teeth on the respective side edges of the plates frictionally engage the side rails, respectively, as the plates exhibit an over-the-center camming action, thereby frictionally locking the plates in their expanded position within the disk drive, and means for maintaining the plates in their frictionally-locked expanded position within the disk drive.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 6, wherein said last-named means comprises each of the plates having a hole formed therein, the holes being aligned with each other in the expanded position of the plates, and a padlock having a shank received in the aligned holes.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 6, further including an elastomeric bushing at the pivot between the plates, thereby facilitating the over-the-center camming action and accommodating dimensional variations and tolerance accumulations in the disk drive.

Claim 14

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, the plates being inserted into the disk drive in a given direction, means including a pair of pins, one each carried by a respective pivoted plate, for limiting the insertion of the plates into the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, the abutment means exerting a retention force which is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the plates are inserted into the disk drive, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, the removable means including a removable lock, and the plates having respective holes registering with each other in the expanded position of the plates and aligned with the pivot means in the direction in which the plates are inserted within the disk drive.

Claim 15

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, the plates being inserted into the disk drive in a given direction, means including a pair of pins, one each carried by a respective pivoted plate, for limiting the insertion of the plates into the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, the abutment means exerting a retention force which is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the plates are inserted into the disk drive, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, the removable means including a removable lock, and the plates having respective holes registering with each other in the expanded position of the plates and aligned with the pivot means in the direction in which the plates are inserted within the disk drive.

Claim 16

The removable lock of claim 9, wherein the pivot means comprises a rivet between the plates, and wherein an elastomeric bushing is disposed between the rivet and the plates.

Claim 17

The removable lock of claim 9, wherein each of the plates has a relieved portion, such that the plates are partially nested in their folded position.

Claim 18

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, wherein the disk drive has a front cover, and wherein the abutment means comprises two pairs of spaced-apart pins carried by the respective plates perpendicularly thereof, the front cover of the disk drive being sandwiched between the pins in the expanded position of the plates.

Claim 19

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, wherein the disk drive has a front cover, and wherein the abutment means comprises two pairs of spaced-apart pins carried by the respective plates perpendicularly thereof, the front cover of the disk drive being sandwiched between the pins in the expanded position of the plates.

Claim 20

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, wherein the disk drive has a pair of side rails, and wherein the abutment means comprises laterally-projecting teeth carried by the respective plates and engaging the side rails, respectively.

Claim 21

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, wherein the disk drive has a pair of side rails, and wherein the abutment means comprises laterally-projecting teeth carried by the respective plates and engaging the side rails, respectively.

Claim 22

The removable lock of claim 13, wherein the disk drive has a front cover, and wherein a pair of spaced-apart pins is carried by the respective plates and engages the front cover of the disk drive, thereby limiting the insertion of the plates into the disk drive.

Claim 23

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, further including a torsion spring carried by the pivoted plates for constantly urging the plates towards their expanded position.

Claim 24

A removable lock inserted into the disk drive of a personal computer, comprising a pair of plates, pivot means for pivoting the plates together, such that the plates have a folded position for insertion of the plates into the disk drive, and such that the plates thereafter have an expanded position within the disk drive, abutment means carried by the plates and engaging the disk drive in the expanded position of the plates, and removable means for maintaining the plates in their expanded position in the disk drive and preventing the removal therefrom, further including a torsion spring carried by the pivoted plates for constantly urging the plates towards their expanded position.