Device-port locking covers

• US 5,220,815 A
• Filed: 01/19/1993
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Neer, Jay H., Newsom, Thomas H., Kuchar, Francis A. Jr., Davidge, Ronald V., Dewitt, John R., Galinis, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/003,942
• Time in Patent Office: 154 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/57, 70/58, 70/167-169, 70/232, 70/DIG. 57, 439/133, 439/134
• US Class Current: 70/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1639 Arrangements for locking plugged peripheral connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/005 Means for locking the disc or cassette receiving slot, e.g. dummy cassettes locked in the slot
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/57 Screw guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5584 Dead bolt

Abstract

Lockable covers are used to cover either of two types of shield blocks to prevent access to circuits within either of two types of external ports on computing devices. Each such shield block covers the port contacts associated with these circuits, includes locking surfaces for holding the lockable cover in place, and is itself held in place by the attachment features provided on the external port for holding an external cable in place. One such shield block is held in place by a pair of screws extending into threaded holes in the external port, while the other such shield block is held in place by a pair of flexible wire bails rotatably mounted in the external port.

Claims

1. Apparatus for blocking physical access to contacts in an external port of a device, wherein said external port includes engageable means for fastening a cable connector in attachment with said port, said cable connector being engaged with said port in an inward direction and disengaged with said port in an outward direction, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a cover including an outward-facing closed end with an aperture therein, sides extending inward, entirely around a periphery of said closed end, and an inward-facing open end, defined by edges of said sides, opposite said closed end;

a lock mechanism mounted in said aperture, including an outward-facing face with a slot therein, a movable locking tab within said sides, and means actuable when a key is inserted within said slot for moving said locking tab in either direction between an unlocked position and a locked position;

a key for actuating said lock mechanism; and

a shield block configured for mounting on said external port, within said cover, surrounded by said closed end and said sides, including fastening means for engaging said engageable means, and a locking surface extending outwardly adjacent to said locking tab, when said shield block is mounted within said cover and when said locking tab is in said locked position;

wherein said cover can be installed on said shield block in said inward direction when said locking tab is in said unlocked position; and

wherein said cover can be removed from said shield block in said outward direction when said locking tab is in said unlocked position.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising in addition a spring extending inwardly from said closed end to contact said shield block when said shield block is mounted within said cover.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said engageable means comprises a threaded hole;

and wherein said fastening means comprises a screw rotatable within said threaded hole and within a hole in said shield block.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said engageable means comprises a flexible bail rotatably mounted on said port;

wherein said fastening means comprises a slotted tab extending from said shield block; and

wherein rotation of said bail from an unlocked to a locked position, when said shield block is installed on said port, brings a portion of said bail into a position outwardly adjacent to a surface of said slotted tab.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said shield block includes a central aperture through which a portion of said lock mechanism extends inward when said cover is installed on said shield block, with locking surfaces extending on two opposite sides of said central aperture;

said lock mechanism includes a locking plate having a pair of locking tabs extending radially outward at diametrically opposed position, said locking plate being pivoted about an axis between said locked position, in which said tabs are inwardly adjacent to said locking surfaces, and said unlocked position, in which said tabs pass outward through said central aperture as said cover is removed from said shield block; and

said spring extends radially to contact said shield bock at opposite sides of said lock mechanism.

6. Apparatus for blocking physical access to contacts in an external port of a device, wherein said external port includes a flexible bail rotatably mounted thereon, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a shield block, configured for engagement with said external port by inward movement and for disengagement therewith by outward movement, including a locking surface and a slotted tab configured so that, when said shield block is engaged with said port, rotation of said bail from an unlatched to a latched position brings a portion of said bail into a position outwardly adjacent to a surface of said slotted tab; and

a cover, configured for engagement with said shield block by movement in an inward direction and for disengagement therewith by movement in an outward direction, including a locking tab, locking means operable with an encoded key for moving said locking tab between a locked position, and an unlocked position, said locking means being positioned in an outward-facing closed end of said cover, said cover including walls extending from a periphery of said closed end inward to an open end opposite said closed end;

wherein, when said cover is engaged with said shield block, said cover prohibits external access of said flexible bail;

wherein said tab in said locked position is inwardly adjacent to said locking surface; and

wherein said tab in said unlocked position is moved away from said locking surface.

7. Apparatus for prohibiting physical access to contacts in either of a first or second type of external port in a device, wherein said first and second types of external ports engage cable connectors moved inward thereto and release cable connectors moved outward therefrom, wherein said first type of external port includes a first means for fastening a first type of external cable in place on said port, wherein said second type of external port includes a second means for fastening a second type of external cable in place on said port, wherein said first and second means for fastening provide different fastening surfaces for fastening said first and second types of external cables and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a cover including an outward-facing closed end with key-operated locking means for moving a locking tab between a locked and an unlocked position, and a shroud extending inward around an entire periphery of said closed end to an open end opposite said closed end;

a first shield block engageable with said cover, within said shroud, including a lockable structure held in place by said locking tab in said locked position and released by said locking tab in said unlocked position, and first means for engaging said first means for fastening to hold said shield block in place on said first type of external port, wherein said cover engaged with said first shield block covers said first means for engaging;

a second shield block engageable with said cover, within said shroud, including a lockable structure held in place by said locking tab in said locked position and released by said locking tab in said unlocked position; and

second means for engaging said second means for fastening, to hold said second shield block in place on said second type of external port, wherein said cover engaged with said second shield block covers said second means for engaging;

wherein said shroud fits over said first and second shield blocks to be attached thereto by inward movement and to be removed therefrom by outward movement.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first means for fastening comprises a threaded hole in said first type of external port, wherein said second means for fastening comprises a flexible bail rotatably mounted on said second type of external port, and wherein:

said first means for engaging comprises a screw rotatable within said threaded hole and within a hole in said first shield block; and

said second means for engaging comprises a slotted tab configured to be held in engagement with said second type of port when said flexibel bail is rotated from an unlatched to a latched position, and released from engagement with said second type of port when said flexible bail is rotated from said latched to said unlatched position.

9. Apparatus for prohibiting physical access to contacts in either of a first or second type of external port in a device, wherein said first and second types of external ports engage cable connectors moved inward thereto and release cable connectors moved outward therefrom, wherein said first type of external port includes a threaded hole for fastening an external cable in place thereon, wherein said second type of external port includes a rotatable bail for fastening an external cable in place thereon, and wherein aid apparatus comprise:

a cover including an outward-facing closed end with key-operated locking means for moving a locking tab between a locked and an unlocked position, and a shroud extending inward around an entire periphery of said closed end to an open end opposite said closed end;

a shield block engageable with said cover as said cover is moved inward with said shroud being moved around said shield block, including a lockable structure held in place by said locking tab in said locked position and released by said locking tab in said unlocked position to allow outward motion of said cover on said shield block, a screw for engaging said threaded hole to hold said shield block in place on said first type of external port, and a slotted tab for engaging said rotatable bail for fastening said shield block in place on said second type of external port, wherein said cover engaged with said shield block blocks access to said screw and said rotatable bail.