Electric cable access prevention device

• US 6,012,941 A
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexander Shkolnik, Igor Burdenko, Mark Gorokhovsky
• Original Assignee: Alexander Shkolnik, Igor Burdenko, Mark Gorokhovsky
• Inventors: Gorokhovsky, Mark, Burdenko, Igor, Shkolnik, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US09/196,893
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 439/304, 439/133, 439/135, 439/373, 174/66, 174/67, 70/58
• US Class Current: 439/373
• 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: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A set of two locking devices for permanently securing in place a detachable socket of an electric power supply cable and for preventing access to the electric plug on the opposite end of the cable. Both devices are locked by the same key which is used for tightening bolts on the locking device of the socket and for locking a box-like enclosure around the plug. The set is intended for preventing access of unauthorized individuals to electric appliances, instruments and devices. It is also intended for limiting access by children to electric appliances, as well as to television and video games in the absence of parental supervision.

Claims

1. An electric cable access prevention device for a detachable cable having a socket portion for connection to an electric appliance on one end and a plug portion for connection to a power supply source on the other end, comprising:

socket enclosure means having an interior sufficient for enclosing said socket portion and an opening in a wall sufficient for passing said cable but insufficient for passing said socket portion, said socket enclosing means consisting of;

a connection part which has means for permanently connecting said connection part to said electric appliance; and

a locking part for locking said socket portion in said enclosure means, said locking part having at least one fastener means for attaching said locking part to said connection part;

a key for connecting said locking part to said connection part, said key having means for preventing disconnection of said locking part from said connection part; and

means for enclosing and locking said plug portion of said detachable cable with said key.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for enclosing and locking said plug comprise:

an openable and closable box-like housing which consists of a first part and a second part which are connected to one another via a hinge, an interior of said openable and closable box-like housing being sufficient for enclosing said plug portion when said box-like housing is in a closed state, said first part and said second part having openings sufficient for passing said cable through said openings but insufficient for removing said plug portion when said means for enclosing and locking are in a closed state;

and means for locking said box-like housing from inside in said closed state by said key.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for permanently connecting said connection part to said electric appliance comprises a frame-like plate with an adhesive substance on the side of said frame-like plate which faces said electrical appliance and a peelable protective layer which covers said adhesive substance, said adhesive substance being constantly attached to said frame-like plate, said frame-like plate having threaded opening.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said at least one fastener means for attaching said locking part to said connection part comprises a screw engageable with the thread of said threaded opening.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said key has a polygonal tapered end, said means for preventing disconnection of said locking part from said connection part by means other than said key comprising a polygonal tapered recess matching said polygonal tapered end.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said polygonal tapered end and said polygonal tapered recess have nonstandard specific cross-sectional configuration.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said screw has a head and a recess in said head which is identical to said polygonal tapered recess.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for locking said box-like housing in said closed state by said key comprises a pin on one of said parts of said box-like housing and a pivotable lever with a hook engageable with said pin on the other part of said housing for locking said box-like housing in said closed state, said pin and said lever being located inside said box-like housing.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said pivotable lever has means for engaging with said key for turning said pivotable lever into position of engagement of said hook with said pin.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said key has a polygonal tapered end, said means for engaging with said key for turning said pivotable lever comprising a sleeve rotatingly installed in said one of said parts of said box-like housing and a polygonal tapered recess matching said polygonal tapered end.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said means for permanently connecting said connection part to said electric appliance comprises a frame-like plate with an adhesive substance on the side of said frame-like plate which faces said electrical appliance and a peelable protective layer which covers said adhesive substance, said adhesive substance being constantly attached to said frame-like plate, said frame-like plate having threaded opening.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one fastener means for attaching said locking part to said connection part comprises a screw engageable with the thread of said threaded opening.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said means for preventing disconnection of said locking part from said connection part by means other than said key comprising a recess identical to said polygonal tapered recess matching said polygonal tapered end.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said polygonal tapered end and said polygonal tapered recess have nonstandard specific cross-sectional configuration.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said socket enclosure means and said means for enclosing and locking said plug portion of said detachable cable can be used separately or in combination.

22. The device of claim 4, wherein said key has a straight configuration of irregular polygonal cross section, said means for preventing disconnection of said locking part from said connection part by means other than said key comprising a recess matching said configuration and said cross-section of said key.

23. The device of claim 4, wherein said key has a straight configuration of polygonal cross section with dimensions different from dimensions of standardized wrenches for socket head fasteners, said means for preventing disconnection of said locking part from said connection part by means other than said key comprising a recess matching said configuration of said key.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said screw has a head and a recess in said head which matches said polygonal cross section of said key.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said means for locking said box-like housing in said closed state by said key comprises a pin on one of said parts of said box-like housing and a pivotable lever with a hook engageable with said pin on the other part of said housing for locking said box-like housing in said closed state, said pin and said lever being located inside said box-like housing.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said pivotable lever has means for engaging with said key for turning said pivotable lever into position of engagement of said hook with said pin.

27. The device of claim 26, said means for engaging with said key for turning said pivotable lever comprising a sleeve rotatingly installed in said one of said parts of said box-like housing and a polygonal recess matching said configuration of said key.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein said means for permanently connecting said connection part to said electric appliance comprises a frame-like plate with an adhesive substance on the side of said frame-like plate which faces said electrical appliance and a peelable protective layer which covers said adhesive substance, said adhesive substance being constantly attached to said frame-like plate, said frame-like plate having threaded opening.

15. An electric cable access prevention device for a detachable cable having a socket portion for connection to an electric appliance on one end and a plug portion for connection to a power supply source on the other end, comprising:

socket enclosure means consisting of;

a frame-like plate which has, on one side, an adhesive substance for attaching to said electric appliance, said layer being covered with a peelable layer, and, on the other side, metal inserts permanently fixed in said frame-like plate with threaded openings in said metal inserts; and

a locking part for locking said socket portion in said enclosure means, said locking means having a couple of screws for attaching said locking part to said connection part by screwing said screws into said threaded openings, said screws having heads with polygonal tapered recesses;

a key for connecting said locking part to said connection part, said key having a polygonal tapered end engageable with said polygonal tapered recesses for tightening said screws; and

a box-like openable and closable housing which consists of a first part and a second part, said both parts being pivotally connected via a hinge, in a closed state said box-like housing forming an interior space sufficient for placing said plug portion into said interior space;

and means in said box-like openable and closable housing for closing said housing from inside by said key, in a closed state said housing forming an opening sufficient for passing said cable, but insufficient for removing said plug portion from said box-like housing when said housing is closed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said means for locking said box-like housing in said closed state by said key comprises a pin on one of said parts of said box-like housing and a pivotable lever with a hook engageable with said pin on the other part of said housing for locking said box-like housing in said closed state.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a sleeve rotatingly installed in one of said parts of said box-like housing, said sleeve having a polygonal tapered recess matching said polygonal tapered end of said key.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said locking part for locking said socket portion and said box-like housing are made of plastic, said frame-like plate, said sleeve, said bolts, said screws, said lever, and said pin are made of metal.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein said socket enclosure means and said a box-like openable and closable housing can be used separately or in combination with each other.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein said socket enclosure means and said a box-like openable and closable housing can be used separately or in combination with each other.