FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13) TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Locking device for a dongle INVENTOR
Name : Kamble Deepak Gajanan
Nationality : Indian National
Address : Crompton Greaves Ltd
Corporate R&D and Quality, Industrial Design Centre, Kanjur Marg (E), Mumbai 400 042, Maharashtra, India
APPLICANTS
Name : CROMPTON GREAVES LIMITED
Nationality : Indian Company
Address : CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025, Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:


FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a locking device for a dongle.
PRIOR ART
A dongle or hardware lock is used to protect commercial computer programs against unauthorized copying or access to them. The computer program sends queries to the dongle at the start of the program or at predetermined intervals during the running of the program and if the dongle does not respond to these queries with the desired validation code, the program will not be executed or will be terminated, as the case may be. A typical dongle comprises a rectangular housing for the electronic circuitry and the programmed memory. The housing is provided with protruding connector portions at the two ends thereof and a pair of mounting flanges each pair laterally extending from the opposite sides thereof. In order to connect the dongle to the port of a computer, one of the connector portions of the dongle is push fitted into the port and the dongle is fitted against the sidewall of the port by screws secured through mounting holes provided in the mounting flanges of the dongle and in the sidewall of the port. Any unauthorized person can easily remove the dongle by unscrewing the screws thereby inconveniencing the user of the software program, as the program cannot be executed without the connection of the dongle to the port of the user's computer.
2

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a dongle, whereby unauthorized access and removal of the dongle from the port of a user's computer is prevented.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a dongle, which can be readily easily fitted on an existing dongle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a dongle, which is inexpensive.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a dongle, which is simple in construction and easy and convenient to use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a locking device for a dongle, the locking device comprising a C-shaped member comprising two limbs extending from a base portion, each limb of the C-shaped member being provided with an oblong slot across the outer end thereof, the base portion of the C-shaped member being provided with a first oblong opening along the length thereof for one of the connector portions at one end of the dongle and a pair of mounting holes each in the proximity of each end of the first oblong opening, the locking device further comprising a locking plate comprising a second oblong opening provided along the length thereof for the other connector portion at the other end of the dongle, the locking plate further comprising a lug at one end thereof and a locking hole at the other end thereof, the C-shaped member being disposed over the dongle with the limbs thereof
3

abutting the mounting flanges at the sides of the dongle and the base portion thereof abutting said one end of the dongle with the connector portion at the said one end of the dongle protruding out through the first oblong opening in the base portion, the mounting holes in the base portion of the C-shaped member being in line with the mounting holes in the mounting flanges of the dongle, the dongle with the C-shaped member being mounted to the port of a user's computer by mounting screws secured through the mounting holes in the mounting flanges and mounting holes in the base portion of the C-shaped member and mounting holes in the sidewall of the port, the locking plate being adapted to pass through the oblong slots at the outer ends of the limbs of the C-shaped member and abut against the other end of the dongle with the connector portion at the other end of the dongle protruding out through the second oblong opening in the locking plate and overlie the mounting screws, the lug abutting against the corresponding limb of the C-shaped member, and the dongle being locked by a lock comprising a shackle engaged in the locking hole at the other end of the locking plate.
The following is detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig 1 is an exploded view of the locking device of the invention including a dongle; and
Fig 2 is isometric view of the locking device of Fig 1 fitted on the dongle.
As shown in Figs 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, 1 is a locking device comprising a C-shaped member 2 comprising two limbs 3,4 extending from a base portion 5. Each limb of the C-shaped member is provided with an oblong slot 6 across the outer end thereof. The base portion of the C-shaped member is provided with a first oblong opening 7 along the length thereof for a connector portion 8 a at one end of a dongle 9 and a pair of mounting holes 10,10 each in the proximity of each end of the first
4

oblong opening. Two pairs of mounting flanges at the opposite sides of the dongle are marked 11, 12. 13 is a locking plate comprising a second oblong opening 14 provided along the length thereof for the other connector portion 8b at the other end of the dongle and a lug comprising an L-shaped bend 16 at one end thereof and a locking hole 17 at the other end thereof. The C-shaped member is disposed over the dongle with the limbs thereof abutting the mounting flanges 11, 12 at the opposite sides of the dongle and the base portion 5 thereof abutting the said one end of the dongle with the connector portion 8a protruding out through the first oblong opening in the base portion. The mounting holes 10 in the base portion of the C-shaped member are in line with the mounting holes 18 in the mounting flanges 11, 12 of the dongle. The dongle with the C-shaped member is mounted to the port (not shown) of a user's computer (not shown) against the sidewall (not shown) of the port by mounting screws 19 secured through the mounting holes 10 in the base portion of the C-shaped member and the mounting holes 18 in the mounting flanges and mounting holes (not shown) in the sidewall of the port and by passing the locking plate through the oblong slots at the outer ends of the limbs of the C-shaped member. The locking plate abuts against the said other end of the dongle with the connector portion 8b at the other end of the dongle protruding out through the second oblong 14 in the locking plate. The locking plate overlies the mounting screws 19 and the lug thereof abuts against the corresponding limb 3 of the C-shaped member. The dongle is locked by a padlock 20 comprising a shackle 21 engaged in the locking hole 17 at the other end of the locking plate. When the dongle is secured to the port of the user's computer by the locking device of the invention, the locking plate overlies the mounting screws and prevents access to the mounting screws thereby preventing unauthorized
5

removal of the dongle. The dongle cannot be removed from the port of the user's computer without breaking the padlock. The locking device thus affords safety to the computer software. The locking device is simple in construction and easy and convenient to operate. The device can be easily fitted and removed from the port of a user's computer. It can also be easily readily fitted on an existing dongle. It is inexpensive as it comprises very few inexpensive components.
The C-shaped member and the locking plate are made of any mechanically strong material such as mild steel, stainless steel or toughened plastics.
It is to be understood that the locking plate can be locked by any fastening means obvious to those skilled in the art. Instead of padlock any lock having a shackle can be used for locking the locking plate. Such variations of the invention are to be construed and understood to be within the scope of the invention.
6

We Claim
1. A locking device for a dongle, the locking device comprising a C-shaped member comprising two limbs extending from a base portion, each limb of the C-shaped member being provided with an oblong slot across the outer end thereof, the base portion of the C-shaped member being provided with a first oblong opening along the length thereof for one of the connector portions at one end of the dongle and a pair of mounting holes each in the proximity of each end of the first oblong opening, the locking device further comprising a locking plate comprising a second oblong opening provided along the length thereof for the other connector portion at the other end of the dongle, the locking plate further comprising a lug at one end thereof and a locking hole at the other end thereof, the C-shaped member being disposed over the dongle with the limbs thereof abutting the mounting flanges at the sides of the dongle and the base portion thereof abutting said one end of the dongle with the connector portion at the said one end of the dongle protruding out through the first oblong opening in the base portion, the mounting holes in the base portion of the C-shaped member being in line with the mounting holes in the mounting flanges of the dongle, the dongle with the C-shaped member being mounted to the port of a user's computer by mounting screws secured through the mounting holes in the mounting flanges and mounting holes in the base portion of the C-shaped member and mounting holes in the sidewall of the port, the locking plate being adapted to pass through the oblong slots at the outer ends of the limbs of the C-shaped member and abut against the other end of the dongle with the connector portion at the other end of the dongle protruding out through the second oblong opening in the locking plate and overlie the mounting screws, the lug abutting against the corresponding limb of
7

the C-shaped member, and the dongle being locked by a lock comprising a shackle engaged in the locking hole at the other end of the locking plate.
2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lug comprises a L-shaped bend provided at the said one end of the locking plate.
3. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the C-shaped member and the locking plate are made of any mechanically materials strong material such as mild steel, stainless steel or toughened plastics.
Dated this 12th day of June 2006 „
(Prita Madan)
of Khaitan & Co
Agent for the Applicants
8

Abstract
A locking device (1) for a dongle (9) comprising a C-shaped member (2) comprising two limbs (3, 4) extending from a base portion (5). Each limb of the C-shaped member is provided with an oblong slot (6) across the outer end thereof. The base portion of the C-shaped member is provided with a first oblong opening (7) along the length thereof for one of the connector portions (8a) at one end of the dongle and a pair of mounting holes (10,10) each in the proximity of each end of the first oblong opening. The locking device further comprises a locking plate (13) comprising a second oblong opening (14) provided along the length thereof for the other connector portion (8b) at the other end of the dongle. The locking plate further comprises a lug (16) at one end thereof and a locking hole (17) at the other end thereof. The C-shaped member is disposed over the dongle with the limbs thereof abutting the mounting flanges at the sides of the dongle and the base portion thereof abutting said one end of the dongle with the connector portion at the said one end of the dongle protruding out through the first oblong opening in the base portion. The mounting holes in the base portion of the C-shaped member are in line with the mounting holes (18) in the mounting flanges (11, 12) of the dongle. The dongle with the C-shaped member is mounted to the port of a user's computer (not shown) by mounting screws (19) secured through the mounting holes in the mounting flanges and mounting holes (18) in the base portion of the C-shaped member and mounting holes (not shown) in the sidewall of the port. The locking plate is adapted to pass through the oblong slots at the outer ends of the limbs of the C-shaped member and abut against the other end of the dongle with the connector portion (8b) at the other end of the dongle protruding out through the second oblong opening (14) in the locking plate and overlie the mounting screws (19) and the lug abuts against the corresponding limb (3) of the C-shaped member. The dongle is locked by a lock (20) comprising a shackle (21) engaged in the locking hole (17) at the other end of the locking plate (Fig 1).