Jack security device

• US 4,846,708 A
• Filed: 02/11/1988
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verve LLC
• Original Assignee: Michigan Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marson, Joseph A., Marson, Albert U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/155,344
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 439/133, 439/135, 439/136, 439/144, 439/147, 379/445, 379/438, 379/439, 174/66, 174/67, 70/163, 70/167, 70/168, 70/169
• US Class Current: 439/133
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/667 Preventing unauthorised calls from a telephone set H04M1/677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5584 Dead bolt

Abstract

A jack security device, especially suitable for standard telephone jacks mounted at a panel of an access cabinet, can either prevent unauthorized access to a secured empty jack or prevent removal of a plug from a jack in use. An end portion of the device partially covers the plug receiving jack opening. The main body of the device carries a key-actuated tumbler and slides into an access cabinet housing recess adjacent to the jack. A locking tab carried by an inner end of the tumbler engages a surface provided in the housing to place the device in a locked condition with the flanged end portion partially covering the secure jack. Additionally, arrangements within the access cabinet are provided for overriding a locked condition of the device without the need for a lock actuating key.

Claims

1. A security device for preventing insertion and removal of a plug into and from a jack opening at a first side of a wall comprising:

a main body portion shaped for sliding receipt in a recess of the wall located adjacent to the jack opening;

a tongue portion extending from the main body portion and having an opening therein shaped for receipt therethrough of a cable, the tongue portion configured so as to cover a portion of the jack opening whenever the main body is inserted into the wall recess;

locking means carried by the main body portion and having a movable element protruding from the main body portion and configured in a locking position so as to engage a latching surface coupled to a second side of the wall; and

movable means disposed on said second side of the wall for causing said movable element to disengage said latching surface.

2. The security device of claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises a key-actuated tumbler journaled for rotational movement in the main body portion, with a key receiving opening facing outwardly from the first side of the wall.

3. The security device of claim 2 wherein the movable element of the locking means comprises a rotatable locking tab protruding laterally of the tumbler and main body portion.

4. The security device of claim 1 wherein the tongue portion further comprises first and second members protruding from the main body portion to define a three-sided, cable-receiving opening, the first and second members configured so as to prevent extraction of a plug matingly engaging the jack and to prevent insertion of a mating plug into an empty jack whenever the main body portion is inserted into the wall recess.

5. The security device of claim 4 wherein the tongue portion further comprises a cavity shaped for capturing receipt of an end portion of a flexible locking pin extending outwardly of a plug matingly engaging the jack, thereby preventing actuation of the locking pin whenever the tongue portion overrides the plug.

6. A security system for preventing insertion and removal of a plug into and from a jack opening at a first side of a jack mounting wall comprising:

a recess in the jack mounting wall adjacent to the jack, the recess having a recess wall coupled to a second side of the jack mounting wall;

a jack security device having a main body portion shaped for sliding receipt in the recess, a tongue portion extending from the main body portion configured so as to cover a portion of the jack opening whenever the main body portion is inserted into the recess, and locking means carried by the main body portion having a movable element protruding from the locking means in a locking position to engage a latching portion of the recess wall to prevent removal of the main body portion from the recess; and

wherein the recess wall is movable relative to the locking means so as to enable independent disengagement of the movable element from the latching portion of the recess wall regardless of the position of the locking means.

7. The security system of claim 6 wherein the recess wall is hingedly coupled to the second side of the jack mounting wall for pivotal movement of the latching portion of the recess wall out of engagement with the movable element of the locking means.

8. The security system of claim 6 wherein the recess wall is hinged at a point outwardly of the latching portion to provide clearance for the movable element whenever the recess wall is pivotally moved away from engagement by the latching portion with the movable element and the jack security device is pulled out of the recess.

9. The security device of claim 6 wherein the recess wall includes an opening positioned such that whenever the latching portion of the recess wall is moved out of engagement with the movable member, the movable member will clear the recess wall when the jack securing device is pulled out of the recess.

10. The security system of claim 6 wherein the recess wall further includes a slot opening at the latching portion adjacent to an engagement location with the movable element, the recess wall being independently movable with respect to the locking means such that the slot will receive the movable element enabling its disengagement from the latching portion regardless of the position of the locking means.

11. The security system of claim 6 wherein the movable element comprises a spring loaded element for engaging the latching portion of the recess wall, the spring loaded element being accessible from the second side of the jack mounting wall and movable under pressure opposing the spring load out of engagement with the latching portion regardless of the position of the locking means.

12. The security system of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 wherein the locking means comprises a key-actuated tumbler journaled for rotational movement in the main body portion, with a key receiving opening facing outwardly of the first side of the jack mounting wall and wherein the movable element comprises a locking tab movable with the tumbler into and out of engagement with the latching portion of the recess wall.

13. In an access cabinet for housing a plurality of access jacks for receipt of plug-ended communication line circuits, a security system for selectively preventing insertion and removal of a plug into and from any of the jacks opening at an outer surface of a jack mounting wall of the cabinet, the security system comprising:

a like plurality of recesses in the jack mounting wall each adjacent a corresponding jack opening and each having a recess wall coupled to an inner surface of the cabinet;

at least one jack securing device having a main body portion shaped for sliding receipt in any of the recesses, a tongue portion extending from the main body portion and configured so as to cover a portion of said jack opening whenever the main body portion is inserted into a corresponding recess, and key-actuated tumbler means journaled for rotational movement in the main body portion, the tumbler having a key receiving opening accessible from outside the cabinet and a locking tab protruding from and movable with the tumbler in the recess, the locking tab movable into and out of engagement with the latching portion of the recess wall in accordance with the position of a key insertable into the key receiving opening; and

wherein the recess wall is movable from inside the cabinet relative to the locking tab so as to enable independent disengagement of the locking tab from the latching portion of the recess wall regardless of the key-actuated position of the tumbler means.

14. The security system of claim 13 wherein each tongue portion further comprises first and second members protruding from the main body portion to define a three-sided cable-receiving opening, the first and second members configured so as to prevent extraction of a plug matingly engaging a jack and to prevent insertion of a mating plug into an empty jack whenever the main body portion is inserted into a corresponding recess, and wherein the plurality of jacks and associated recesses are arranged such that at least a portion of the plurality of recesses share a common recess wall, thereby enabling substantially simultaneous independent disengagement of the locking tabs in the portion of the plurality of recesses from inside the cabinet.

15. The security system of claim 14 wherein the common recess wall is hingedly coupled to an inner surface of the cabinet for pivotal movement of the latching portions of the recess wall out of engagement with the locking tabs of the associated jack securing devices.

16. The security system of claim 14 wherein the common recess wall further includes a slot for each recess sharing the wall, each slot opening at the latching portion adjacent an engagement location for a corresponding locking tab, the common recess wall being independently movable with respect to the tumbler means such that each slot will receive its associated locking tab enabling the substantially simultaneous disengagement of each of the locking tabs from the latching portion.

17. The security system of claim 14 wherein the locking tab of each jack securing device comprises a spring loaded element, the common recess wall having openings for providing the latching portions for each spring loaded element.

18. The security system of claim 17 further comprising a shaft coupled to the common recess wall and carrying a release tab for each jack security device sharing the recess wall, each release tab abutting an associated spring loaded element, and a release lever coupled to the shaft operative to rotate the shaft and its associated release tabs so as to substantially simultaneously force the spring loaded elements out of engagement with the common wall.

19. In a jack mounting wall, apparatus for mating receipt of a jack security device having means for preventing insertion and removal of a plug into and from a jack opening at a first side of the jack mounting wall, the apparatus comprising:

a recess in the jack mounting wall adjacent to the jack, the recess having a recess wall coupled to a second side of the jack mounting wall, the recess being shaped for sliding mating receipt of a jack security device such that whenever the jack security device is inserted into the recess, a movable locking element protruding from the security device may be moved into locking engagement with a latching portion of the recessed wall to prevent removal of the security device from the recess; and

wherein at least said latching portion of the recess wall is movable relative to the locking element to enable independent disengagement of the locking element from the latching portion regardless of the position of the locking element.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the recess wall is hingedly coupled to the second side of the jack mounting wall for pivotal movement of the latching portion of the recess wall out of engagement with the locking element.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the recess wall is hinged at a point outwardly of the latching portion to provide clearance for the locking element whenever the recess wall is pivotally moved away from engagement by the latching portion with the locking element and the jack security device is pulled out of the recess.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the recess wall includes an opening position such that whenever the latching portion of the recess wall is moved out of engagement with the locking element, the locking element will clear the recess wall when the jack security device is pulled out of the recess.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the recess wall further includes a slot opening at the latching portion adjacent to an engagement location with the locking element, the recess wall being independently movable with respect to the locking element such that the slot will receive the locking element enabling its disengagement from the latching portion.

24. In an access cabinet for housing a plurality of access jacks for receipt of plug-ended communication line circuits, apparatus for mating receipt of a like plurality of jack security devices having means for selectively preventing insertion and removal of a plug into and from a corresponding one of the jacks opening at an outer surface of a jack mounting wall of the cabinet, the apparatus comprising:

a like plurality of recesses in the jack mounting wall each adjacent corresponding jack and each having a recess wall coupled to an inner surface of the cabinet, each recess being shaped for sliding receipt of a jack security device such that whenever the jack security device is inserted into the recess, a movable locking element protruding from the security device may be moved into locking engagement with a latching portion of the recessed wall to prevent removal of the security device from the recess; and

wherein at least said latching portion of the recess wall is movable relative to the locking element to enable independent disengagement of the locking element from the latching portion regardless of the position of the locking element.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the plurality of jacks and associated recesses are arranged such that at least a portion of the plurality of recesses share a common movable recess wall, thereby enabling substantially simultaneous independent disengagement of the locking element from the latching portion of the plurality of recesses from inside the cabinet.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the common recess wall is hingedly coupled to an inner surface of the cabinet for pivotal movement of the latching portions of the recess wall out of engagement with the locking elements of the associated jack securing devices.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the common recess wall further includes a slot for each recess sharing the wall, each slot opening at the latching portion adjacent an engagement location for the corresponding locking element, the common recess wall being independently movable with respect to the jack security device such that each slot will receive its associated locking element enabling the substantially simultaneous disengagement of each of the locking tabs from the locking portion.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the locking element of each jack securing device comprises a spring loaded element, the common recess wall having openings for providing the latching portions for each spring loaded element.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a shaft coupled to the common recess wall and carrying a release tab for each jack security device sharing the recess wall, each release tab abutting an associated spring loaded element, and a release lever coupled to the shaft operative to rotate the shaft and its associated release tabs so as to substantially simultaneously force the spring loaded elements out of engagement with the common wall.

30. In an electrical plug and jack system in which at least one plug and at least one jack cooperate to selectively assume mated and unmated relationships, a security device comprising:

a panel means defining a first side and a second side and disposed relative to said jack whereby said jack is exposed for access by said plug from said first side and not exposed for access by said plug from said second side;

a first locking means for preventing change in at least one of said mated and unmated relationships;

said first locking means being removably secured to said panel and having a switchable element accessible from said first side and switchable between a locked position and an unlocked position for controlling a latch means movable between a locked position wherein said latch means engages said panel means and thereby prevents said change in at least one of said mated and unmated relationships and an unlocked position wherein said latch means disengages said panel means thereby permitting said first locking means to be removed from said panel, whereby said first locking means does not prevent said change in at least one of said mated and unmated relationships;

means accessible from said second side for overriding said latch means to disengage said latch means from said panel means to permit removal of said first locking means and thereby to permit change in at least one of said mated and unmated relationships while said switchable element is in said locked position;

restriction means for selectively inhibiting access to said second side and thereby preventing use of said overriding means.