Cable locking covers

• US 5,288,241 A
• Filed: 06/07/1993
• Issued: 02/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Davidge, Ronald V., Galinis, Paul J., Newson, Thomas H., Neer, Jay H., Kuchar, Francis A. Jr., Dewitt, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/990,205
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367, 439/368, 439/484, 439/133, 439/134, 439/304, 439/372, 439/362, 70/57, 70/58, 70/163
• US Class Current: 439/304
• 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: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application

Abstract

Cover assemblies, capable of being locked and unlocked by means of a key, are configured to be placed over the connectors at each end of an external computer system cable. When these cover assemblies are locked in place, the cable cannot be unplugged from the connector ports of the system devices. When these cover assemblies are unlocked, they can be removed from the cable, and the cable can then be unplugged from the connector ports.

A first type of cover assembly is designed to operate with a connector which is fastened in place in its plugged position by means of a pair of screws, while a second type of cover assembly is designed to operate with a connector which is fastened in place by means of a pair of rotatable wire bails. These cover assemblies may also be used to prevent access to connector ports to which cables are not attached by locking in place terminators commonly used on such ports, or by locking in place shells configured for this purpose, if such terminators are otherwise not required.

Claims

1. Apparatus for locking a cable connector in engagement with an external port of a device, wherein said cable connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts at a contact end configured for contact with port contacts within said external port and a plurality of insulated wires attached to various of said electrical contacts extending from said cable connector at an end opposite said contact end, wherein said cable connector and said port include first attachment means for holding said cable in engagement with said port, said first attachment means being operable to prevent said cable connector from being pulled away from said port and to release said cable connector for disengagement with said port, wherein said first attachment means comprises a screw rotatable in said cable connector and engageable within a threaded hole in a port, with a screw head attached thereto extending from an end of said cable connector opposite to said contact end, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a bracket configured for engagement with said connector, including a bracket aperture through which said insulated wires extend when said bracket and said connector are so engaged;

second attachment means for holding said bracket and said connector in engagement, wherein said second attachment means comprises a tab, including a slot, extending from said bracket, configured so that, when said bracket is engaged with said cable connector, surfaces adjacent to said slot extend between said screw head and an adjacent back face opposite to a front face of said cable connector;

a cover configured for engagement with said bracket, including a cover aperture through which said insulated wires extend when said cover is engaged with said bracket and said bracket is engaged with said connector; and

lockable attachment means for holding said cover and said bracket in engagement;

wherein said cover, engaged with said bracket, surrounds said second attachment means when said bracket is engaged with said cable connector, to block access thereto;

wherein said cover and said bracket, when engaged with each other and with said connector, block operation of said first attachment means, thereby preventing release of said cable connector from said port; and

wherein said cover and said bracket together comprise means for surrounding said screw head to block access thereto when attached and engaged with said connector.

2. Apparatus for preventing electrical and mechanical access to contacts within an external port of a device, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a connector engageable with said port, configured to block access to said contacts;

first attachment means for holding said connector in engagement with said port, wherein said first attachment means includes a screw constrained to rotate within a hole in said connector, operable within a threaded hole in said port;

a bracket engageable with said connector, wherein said bracket, when so engaged, partially surrounds said connector;

second attachment means for holding said bracket in engagement with said connector, wherein said second attachment means includes a slotted tab in said bracket, positioned over a portion of said screw between a head of said screw and an adjacent back face opposite to a front face of said connector;

a cover engageable with said bracket, wherein, when said bracket is engaged with said connector and said cover is engaged with said bracket, said bracket and said cover surround said connector prohibiting access to said first and second attachment means; and

lockable attachment means for holding said cover in engagement with said bracket.