Connector lock for a universal serial bus port

• US 6,991,479 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jin Tay Industries Co.
• Original Assignee: Jin Tay Industries Co.
• Inventors: Miao, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US10/884,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20050202698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 439/133, 439/134, 439147-149, 439/352, 439/345, 439/350, 439/353, 439/357, 439/358, 70 32- 34, 70/58, 70/14
• US Class Current: 439/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

The connector lock for a USB port has a tubular body, a rotatably limit, a lock activator, a plug and a faceplate. Aligning a rotating diametric recess in the rotatable limit with a stationary diametric recess formed in the proximal end of the tubular body allows the tubular lock activator to slide on the tubular body and unlock the connector lock from a USB port. Then the connector lock can be removed from the USB port so the USB port can be used.

Claims

1. A connector lock for a universal serial bus port comprising

a tubular body having

an outside surface;

a distal end;

a proximal end;

a stepped longitudinal hole formed axially through the tubular body and having an internal surface and at least one internal annular step near the distal end;

a lock cylinder seated in the stepped longitudinal hole against the internal annular step;

a stationary diametric recess formed in the proximal end; and

a rotation limit formed in the internal surface of the stepped longitudinal hole at the proximal end of the tubular body;

a rotatable limit seated in the stepped longitudinal hole, attached to the lock cylinder, being cylindrical and having

an outer end;

an inner end attached to the lock cylinder;

a rotating diametric recess selectively aligned with the stationary diametric recess in the tubular body;

an outer surface; and

a positive stop formed on and protruding from the outside surface at the outer end and corresponding to the rotation limit in the tubular body;

a lock activator being tubular, mounted slidably around the proximal end of the tubular body and having

an inside surface;

an outer end;

an inner end;

a transverse bar formed across the outer end and aligned with the stationary diametric recess in the tubular body; and

a latch activator attached to the transverse bar and having

two sides;

a top edge;

a bottom edge;

a proximal end attached to the transverse bar;

a distal end;

two grooves formed on one side of the latch activator respectively at the top and bottom edges; and

a drive hole formed through the latch activator near the distal end and having

a front edge;

a rear edge;

a front inclined surface formed on the front edge of the drive hole; and

a rear inclined surface formed on the rear edge of the drive hole wherein the front and rear inclined surfaces are inclined so the surfaces face opposite sides of the latch activator and the rear inclined surface faces away from the side with the grooves;

a plug being hollow, mounted slidably around the latch activator of the rotatable limit and having;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

two narrow sides;

two retainers formed on and extending in respectively from the narrow sides of the plug near the proximal end and corresponding to and sliding in the grooves in the latch activator; and

a resilient latch tongue formed in the plug between the narrow sides of the plug and having

a proximal end formed with the plug;

two side edges;

an inclined distal surface having an inside surface and an outside surface; and

two protruding latches formed on and extending out respectively from the side edges of the resilient latch tongue near the inclined distal surface;

a faceplate connected around the proximal end of the plug, attached to the proximal end of the tubular body and having

an inside surface; and

a through hole formed through the faceplate.

2. The connector lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the tubular body further comprises at least two mounting posts formed on and protruding longitudinally from the proximal end of the tubular body;

and

the through hole in the faceplate has four corners and at least two of the corners of the through hole in the faceplate have holes formed respectively in the corners and corresponding to the at least two mounting posts on the tubular body wherein the at least two mounting posts pass through the lock activator and attach to the corresponding holes in the faceplate.

3. The connector lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the plug further comprises multiple mounting tabs formed around and extending out from the proximal end of the plug;

and

the faceplate further comprises multiple recesses formed around the through hole and corresponding respectively to the mounting tabs on the plug.

4. The connector lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the outside surface of the tubular body is non-circular;

and

the inside surface of the latch activator corresponds to the outside surface of the tubular body.