Means for locking cables and connector ports

• US 5,169,332 A
• Filed: 09/19/1991
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeWitt, John R., Cooke, Kevin K., Neer, Jay H., Newsom, Thomas H., Davidge, Ronald V., Galinis, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/762,142
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 439/133, 439/144, 439/304, 439/362, 439/364, 439/347, 439/357, 439/358, 439/911, 439/350, 439/372
• US Class Current: 439/304
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/123 Mounting arrangements of constructional parts onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/911 Safety, e.g. electrical disconnection required before opening housing

Abstract

A cable connector, terminator, or shield is fastened in place over a port connector in a unit having a lockable cover, by fastening means which can only be accessed when the cover is unlocked and opened or removed. In a first version, the cable connector, terminator, or shield includes a pair of tabs extending into the unit through a slot at each end of the port connector, with each tab having a notch which forms a latching surface. A rotatable bracket, engaging these latching surfaces, prevents the removal of the connector, terminator, or shield. With the cover opened or removed, this bracket can be rotated into a position in which the latching surfaces are released. In a second version, a locking bracket is provided to extend around an outer portion of the cable connector, terminator, or shield. This locking bracket includes a shaft extending through a hole into the unit, to be fastened in place by a nut engaging a threaded portion of the shaft. The nut can be accessed to release the shaft from within the unit only when the lockable cover is opened or removed. In a third version, the connector, terminator, or shield includes a pair of slidably mounted shafts, which extend through holes at each end of the port connector to engage holes within a latching bar. When the lockable cover is opened or removed, the latching bar can be manually slid from a locked position in which these shafts are held in place, to an unlocked position, in which they are released. Thus, in all versions, physical access to electronic circuits within the port connector is prevented as long as a cable connector, terminator, or shield is held in place with the lockable cover locked in its closed position.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a unit containing electronic circuits;

a lockable and unlockable cover, which covers at least a portion of said unit, which can be opened and closed when unlocked, but which cannot be opened when locked, attached to said unit;

a port external to said unit containing a number of port contacts electrically connected to circuits within said unit;

an external shield covering said contacts, comprising in addition guiding surfaces for establishing a direction of removal for said external shield from said port;

a tab extending, as a part of said external shield, into said unit in a direction opposite to said direction of removal, comprising a latching surface extending within said unit substantially perpendicular to said direction of removal;

a latching bracket mounted within said unit, rotatably movable between a first position in which motion of said latching surface in said direction of removal is blocked and a second position in which motion of said latching surface in said direction of removal is permitted;

wherein said latching bracket can be moved from said first position to said second position to release said external shield when said lockable and unlockable cover is open;

wherein, as said tab is moved past said latching bracket in a direction opposite said direction of removal, said latching bracket is moved from said first position to said second position in contact with said tab, and from said second position to said first position as said latching surface moves by said latching bracket; and

wherein said lockable and unlockable cover when closed blocks external access for movement of said latching bracket to release said external shield.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said shield comprises a plurality of interconnection contacts configured to make electrical connection with said port contacts.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said shield comprises additionally an a plurality of circuits connected among various said interconnection contacts.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said shield comprises additionally an insulated electrical cable having a plurality of wires connected to said interconnection contacts.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a unit containing electronic circuits;

a lockable and unlockable cover, which covers at least a portion of said unit, which can be opened and closed when unlocked, but which cannot be opened when locked, attached to said unit;

a port external to said unit containing a number of port contacts electrically connected to circuits within said unit;

an external shield covering said contacts;

a bracket extending from said unit around part of said shield; and

means for holding said bracket in place, operable to release said bracket when said lockable and unlockable cover is open, and not operable to release said bracket when said lockable and unlockable cover is closed, wherein said bracket is released only when said means for holding is operated.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein:

said bracket comprises a threaded portion extending within said unit, and

said means for holding comprises a nut operable on said threaded portion.

7. A shield for blocking access to an external electronic port of a unit, wherein said shield comprises:

a housing configured to cover contacts within said port;

guiding surfaces to establish installation of said shield on said electronic port in a first direction;

a tab extending from said housing in said first direction; and

a latching surface forming a part of an outer surface of said tab, facing a direction opposite to said first direction.

8. A shield as recited in claim 7, further comprising a contact assembly with a plurality of interconnection contacts configured to make electrical connections to contacts within said port.

9. A shield as recited in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of circuits electrically connected among said interconnection contacts.

10. A shield as recited in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of insulated wires within an insulated cover, electrically connected with said interconnection contacts, extending from said housing.

11. A latching bracket for holding a shield with a direction of removal in place over a port connector of a unit having a lockable cover, wherein:

said bracket is rotatably attached within said unit adjacent to an external port of said unit;

said bracket comprises a surface facing inside said unit, opposite said direction of removal, which is movable between two positions by rotation of said bracket;

said bracket is held in one direction of rotation by a biasing spring torque; and

external access to said bracket is prevented when said lockable cover is in place in said unit.

12. A latching bracket for holding a shield with a direction of removal in place over a port connector extending from a circuit card assembly, wherein:

said bracket is rotatably attached to said circuit card assembly adjacent to an external port of said circuit card assembly; and

said bracket is held in one direction of rotation by a biasing spring torque; and

said bracket comprises a surface facing opposite said direction of removal which is movable between a position blocking outward motion of a shield and a position permitting such motion.

13. A locking bracket for holding a shield in place over a port connector of a unit having a lockable cover, wherein said lockable cover has a closed and locked position and an open position, wherein said locking bracket comprises:

a bracket housing configured to extend around a portion of said shield;

a threaded extension configured to extend within said unit; and

a nut engaging said threaded extension, wherein said nut is operable to disengage said locking bracket from said shield when said cover is in said open position, and wherein said cover in said closed position blocks external access to operation of said nut.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a unit containing electronic circuits;

a lockable and unlockable cover, which covers at least a portion of said unit, which can be opened and closed when unlocked, but which cannot be opened when locked, attached to said unit;

a port external to said unit containing a number of port contacts electrically connected to circuits within said unit;

an external shield covering said contacts, comprising in addition guiding surfaces for establishing a direction of removal for said external shield from said port;

a latching shaft mounted to slide between travel limits within said external shield, comprising a latching surface extending within said unit substantially perpendicular to said direction of removal;

a latching bar mounted within said unit, movable between a first position in which motion of said latching surface in said direction of removal is blocked and a second position in which motion of said latching surface in said direction of removal is permitted;

wherein said latching bar can be moved from said first position to said second position to release said external shield when said lockable and unlockable cover is open; and

wherein said lockable and unlockable cover when closed blocks external access for movement of said latching bracket to release said latching shaft.