EP4736587A1

EP4736587A1 - Wall-mounting apparatus for a telecommunications device

Info

Publication number: EP4736587A1
Application number: EP24728204.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William DOWE
Original assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Current assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Priority date: 2023-06-30
Filing date: 2024-05-21
Publication date: 2026-05-06
Also published as: GB2631479A; GB202310064D0; CN121368928A; WO2025002673A1; GB2631479B

Abstract

A wall-mounting apparatus (100) for a telecommunications device (110), said apparatus comprising: a first plate (120-1), for fixing to a wall, comprising: a first engagement formation (130-1); a first locking formation (140-1); and a keyed opening (150); a second plate (120-2), for coupling to, or forming a part of, the telecommunications device, the second plate comprising: a second engagement formation (130-2), complementary to the first engagement formation, so as to slot together with the second engagement formation, thereby to engage the first and second plates together; and a second locking formation (140-2), complementary to the first locking formation, for fixedly locking the second plate to the first plate when engaged together; wherein, in use, the first and/or second locking formation/s is/are accessible through the keyed opening so as to actuate said formation/s thereby to unlock the first and second plates.

Description

WALL-MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR A TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a wall-mounting apparatus for a telecommunications device, and in particular a secure such apparatus for locking said device to a wall, and for limiting access to unlock the device.

Background

Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) is any terminal or associated equipment located at a subscriber's premises and connected with a network service provider, such as a fixed-access broadband network, which may include a copper or fibre optic network. Examples of CPE include modems, routers and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs).

When a customer subscribes to a telecommunications service, the service provider typically provides, on loan, the customer with CPE. The CPE typically remains the property of the service provider, and it is therefore not supposed to be removed from the customer's premises by the customer.

Occasionally, a customer may, accidentally or intentionally, take the CPE with them when moving properties. Replacement of the CPE then falls to the network service provider, which, at scale, can incur significant resources (e.g. cost for replacement equipment, and labour and logistics for installation). The problem is also exacerbated where CPE becomes increasingly sophisticated with ever-improving telecommunications services.

It is an aim of the present invention to at least alleviate some of the aforementioned problems.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided: a wall-mounting apparatus for a telecommunications device, said apparatus comprising: a first plate, for fixing to a wall, comprising: a first engagement formation; a first locking formation; and a keyed opening; a second plate, for coupling to, or forming a part of, the telecommunications device, the second plate comprising: a second engagement formation, complementary to the first engagement formation, so as to slot together with the second engagement formation, thereby to engage the first and second plates together; and a second locking formation, complementary to the first locking formation, for fixedly locking the second plate to the first plate when engaged together; wherein, in use, the first and/or second locking formation/s is/are accessible through the keyed opening so as to actuate said formation/s thereby to unlock the first and second plates. As used herein, the terms “in use”, “installed”, “in situ” and “in normal use” preferably connote, the first plate being mounted, and fixed, to a mounting wall, the telecommunications device being a part of, fixed, or bonded, to the second plate, and the first and second plates being engaged together by means of the first and second engagement formations and/or locked together by means of the first and second locking formations.

Optionally, the first plate comprises a portion of the keyed opening, and wherein the second plate comprises another portion of the keyed opening, so that, upon locking of the first and second plates together, the union of said portions forms the keyed opening as a whole.

Preferably, the first locking formation is recessed within the first plate and/or wherein the second locking formation is recessed within the second plate.

Preferably, in use, the first and/or second locking formation/s is/are only accessible through the keyed opening. Preferably, in use, the first and second locking formations and/or the first and second engagement formations are wholly enclosed by, at least, the mounting wall and telecommunications device. Preferably, the first and/or second locking formation is concealed within the first and/or second plates, such that said formation/s are internal, and are only internal, and externally inaccessible and unexposed.

Preferably, the first and second locking formations comprise complementary mating male-female engagements. Preferably, the first and second locking formations are configured, when locked together, to prevent sliding apart (or “unslotting”) of the first and second engagement formations, and therefore of the first and second plates. Optionally, the male-female engagements comprise a/an: pin and hole; detent and detent notch (or pocket); and/or tongue (or lip or flange) and groove (or channel). Optionally, a male portion of the male-female engagements forms part of the second locking formation, and a female portion of the male-female engagements forms a part of the first locking formation, or vice versa. Optionally, the male and/or female portion/s is/are ramped so as to form a ratchet. Preferably, the male portion is oversized, or protrudes out of the plane of the plate (i.e. first or second) comprising said portion. Preferably, the plate comprising the female portion comprises a base surface for abutting against the male portion when slotting the first and second plates together, thereby to urge the male portion away from said base surface.

Preferably, the first or second locking formation comprises a resilient member for urging together the male-female engagement. Preferably, the resilient member is a spring. Preferably, the resilient member is provided on the first or second plate also comprising the male portion. Optionally, the resilient member is a spring, and may be a leaf spring. Optionally, the leaf spring is inclined relative to the first and/or second engagement formation. Optionally, the resilient member comprises at least two springs, which may be at least two leaf springs, and which may also be arranged in parallel. Optionally, the resilient member is integrally formed as part of the first or second locking formation, and may also be integrally formed as part of the first or second plates, respectively. Preferably, the resilient member/s extends from a centre of the first or second plates.

Preferably, the first and/or second locking formation/s comprise/s a ramp, wherein said ramp is accessible from the keyed opening. Preferably, the ramp is orientated, when approached from the keyed opening, to actuate the locking formation comprising said ramp so at to unlock the first and/or second locking formations. Preferably, the ramp is inclined so that an apex of the ramp is most proximate to the keyed opening. Preferably, in use, an inclined plane of the ramp faces away from the mounting wall. Optionally, the ramp and the detent are provided as the same structure, and may therefore form a ratchet. Preferably, the locking first and/or second locking formation/s is/are configured to be unlocked by a lateral sliding motion, which may be a motion in the plane of the first plate, rather than perpendicular to said plate.

Preferably, the keyed opening is provided on a peripheral wall of the first plate. Preferably, the keyed opening is arranged in alignment with the first and/or second (when in use) locking formation/s, and more preferably with the ramp. The keyed opening may comprise an aperture, and may further comprise a passage extending from the opening towards the first locking formation. Optionally, the aperture is in the shape of, or is shaped to comprise, a/an: truncated triangle; trapezium; hexagon; star; tri-wing; clutch; pozidriv; square; alien; Schrader; and/or slotted. Optionally the aperture comprises a notch or an indent extending into, or out of, said aforementioned shapes. Optionally, the passage mimics the shape of the keyed opening, or the passage may vary in dimension and/or form, throughout the extent of the passage.

Optionally, the passage may narrow and/or comprise notches. Optionally, the passage is straight, angled or curved. Preferably, the keyed opening is the only aperture in the peripheral wall. Preferably, the first and/or second engagement formation/s is/are raised above a base surface of the respective first and/or second plate. Optionally, the first or second engagement formation is recessed within, or behind, the base surface (or face) of the respective first and/or second plate.

Preferably, the first and second engagement formations comprise complementary mating malefemale couplings for slotting together the first and second plates. Preferably, the mating malefemale coupling are arranged so as to slot the first and second plates laterally. Optionally, the male-female couplings comprise a: tongue-and-groove arrangement; and/or rails. Preferably, the first and/or second engagement formation/s comprise/s an end-stop to limit travel of the first and second plates when slotting said plate together. Preferably, the end-stop is formed as a peripheral wall of the first and/or second plates. Preferably, the end-stop at a terminus of the first and/or second engagement formation/s. Preferably, in use, the end-stop is arranged distally to the keyed opening. Preferably, the end-stop is arranged so as to limit travel up to a point at which the first and the second locking formations align, and more preferably overlie one another, so as to lock together. Preferably, the second engagement formation and the second locking formation are provided on the same side of the second plate. Preferably, the first engagement formation and the first locking formation are provided on the same side of the first plate.

Preferably, the wall-mounting apparatus further comprises a partial obstruction (or narrowing member) for partially obstructing access (e.g. line-of-sight access) to the first and/or second locking formation/s via the keyed opening. Preferably, said partial obstructing narrows the keyed opening. Preferably, the partial obstruction is a wall or guide.

Preferably, the first plate comprises a channel (or groove or slot) for receiving a cable for the telecommunications device, and wherein the channel is arranged to be obstructed by, at least, the second plate when said second plate is engaged to the first plate thereby to prevent unslotting (as opposed to unthreading) of the cable from the channel. Preferably, the channel is arranged to be obstructed by, at least, the telecommunications device when said device is engaged to second plate and when said second plate is in turn engaged to the first plate thereby to prevent unslotting of the cable from the channel.

Preferably, the wall-mounting apparatus further comprises a key for unlocking the first and second locking formations, wherein the key is shaped and dimensioned to be received by the keyed opening. Preferably, the key is shaped to mimic the shape of the keyed opening, so as to prevent tilting of the key within the keyed opening. Preferably, the key is straight.

Preferably, the key comprises a flat face, which may extend along, substantially, an entire height of the key, and at least up to the edge. Preferably, the key is dimensioned so as to extend from the aperture to the first and/or second locking formation/s. Preferably, the key comprises a wedge, complementary with, and for urging, the ramp, wherein said wedge may be provided at a free terminal end of the key. Preferably, the keyed opening, or at least the associated aperture, lacks rotational symmetry, thereby to provide only a single orientation at which the key and keyed opening may mate. Preferably, the key is mounted upon a handle at, substantially, a right angle (thereby, together, forming an unlocking tool). Preferably, the handle extends up to, but no further than, the flat face of the key. Optionally, the first plate comprises a fixture for fixing the first plate to a mounting wall. The fixture may comprise a screw hole. Optionally, where the second plate is for coupling to the telecommunications device, the second plate comprises an adhesive, which may be a permanent adhesive, for bonding the second plate to the telecommunications device. Preferably, the second engagement formation and adhesive are provided on different, and more preferably on opposite, sides of the second plate. Optionally, the second plate is (substantially) T-shaped. Optionally, there is provided a set of second plates, including, at least two of the second plate, and wherein each of the second plates in said set have a different shape and/or dimension for retrofitment to different telecommunications devices.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a key (or release tool) for a wallmounting apparatus as described above, the key comprising: a wedge, complementary to the first and/or second locking formation/s so as to actuate said formation/s apart, thereby to unlock the first and second plates; and an elongate shaft, wherein the wedge is provided at terminus of said shaft, the wedge and shaft are shaped and dimensioned so as to be receivable by the keyed opening, and wherein the shaft is dimensioned to deliver the wedge from the keyed opening to the first and/or second locking formation/s so as to actuate said formation/s apart.

Optionally, the wedge and shaft comprises slits, complementary to the aforementioned partial obstructions of the first and/or second locking formation/s, so as to bypass said partial obstructions, thereby to deliver the wedge to the first and/or second locking formation/s.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a wallmounting apparatus as described above, and a key as described above. Optionally, the kit of parts further comprises a telecommunications device for coupling to the wall-mounting apparatus. Preferably, the telecommunications device is a customer premises equipment, and may be in the form of a router and/or Optical Network Terminal (ONT).

The invention includes any novel aspects described and/or illustrated herein. The invention also extends to methods and/or apparatus substantially as herein described and/or as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is also provided as a computer program and/or a computer program product for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein, and a computer-readable medium storing thereon a program for carrying out any of the methods and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein. Features described as being implemented in hardware may alternatively be implemented in software, and vice versa. Any apparatus feature may also be provided as a corresponding step of a method, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may alternatively be expressed in terms of their corresponding structure, for example as a suitably-programmed processor.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied, in any appropriate combination, to other aspects of the invention. Any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination. Particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

As used throughout, the word 'or' can be interpreted in the exclusive and/or inclusive sense, unless otherwise specified.

The invention extends to an apparatus as described herein and/or substantially as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is now described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a wall-mounting apparatus for a telecommunications device; Figures 2a and 2b show detailed views of a first plate of the wall-mounting apparatus;

Figure 3 shows a detailed view of a second plate of the wall-mounting apparatus;

Figure 4 progressively shows coupling of the first and second plates therebetween; and

Figure 5 shows a rear view of the second plate bonded to the telecommunications device;

Figure 6 shows a detail of the first plate, and specifically of a keyed opening of said plate;

Figure 7 shows an unlocking tool for the wall-mounting apparatus;

Figures 8a and 8b show views of the unlocking tool slotted into the keyed opening;

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e show various views of an alternative wall-mounting apparatus; and Figures 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10h, 10i, 10j and 10k show various views of a further alternative wall-mounting apparatus.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a wall-mounting apparatus 100 for retrofitment onto a telecommunications device 110 so as to help lock said device to a wall.

The wall-mounting apparatus 100 comprises a first plate 120-1 , for fixing to a wall (not shown, and herein referred to as the “mounting wall”), and a second plate 120-2, for fixing to the telecommunications device 110. The telecommunications device 110 is CPE, and is available to be in the form of a modem, router and/or an ONT (such as the: Huawei^RTM HG8010H5; NokiaRTM G-101G-Q and/or G-010G-T; and/or Adtran^RTM SDX611 B and/or SDX611 Q).

As described in more detail below, the wall-mounting apparatus 100 is configured to secure the telecommunications device 110 to the mounting wall in a manner that helps impede removal by a customer (e.g. a domestic user) lacking an appropriate unlocking tool.

Figures 2a and 2b show, in more detail, a front and perspective, respectively, elevation of the first plate 120-1 . The first plate comprises a: first engagement formation 130-1 ; first locking formation 140-1 ; keyed opening 150; and a fixture formation 160.

Figure 3 shows, in more detail, a front perspective view of the second plate, which comprises a/an: second engagement formation 130-2; second locking formation 140-2; and adhesive member 170.

The first and second plates 120 are configured to mate so as to slot, and then lock, together.

To facilitate slotting together, the first 130-1 and second 130-2 engagement formations are in the form of complementary pair of male-female engagements for slotting together. As best shown in Figure 2b, the first engagement formation is in the form of a pair of parallel rails, each comprising an outwardly protruding flange (or lips) 210 that are elevated away from a base frontal surface 220 of the first plate.

With reference to Figure 3, the second engagement formation 130-2 is in the form of a pair of parallel rails, each comprising an inwardly protruding flange 230 that are elevated away from a base rear surface 240 of the second plate. The rails of the first and second engagement formations are arranged and dimensioned to receive one another by a slotting action (as progressively shown in Figure 4), and the flanges 210, 230 are correspondingly arranged and dimensioned to engage one another and prevent lifting apart of the first and second plates 120.

The adhesive member 170 (as best shown in Figure 4) is provided on a front face (/.e. opposite the base rear surface 240) of the second plate 120-2, on an opposite side of the second engagement formation 130-2. The adhesive member 170 comprises a double-sided adhesive bonded onto the front face and for bonding onto the telecommunications device 110. The adhesive is suitable for permanent bonding to, at least, plastics, and is available to be in the form of VHB-FR^TM from 3M^RTM. Figure 5 is a rear perspective elevation of the second plate 120-2, as bonded onto and the telecommunications device 110, by the adhesive member sandwiched therebetween. In this way, the telecommunications device 1 10 is retrofitted, by way of the second plate 120-2, with a means of engaging with the first plate 120-1 , and therefore for fastening to the mounting wall.

The first locking formation 140-1 is provided on the same side of the first plate 120-1 as the first engagement formation 130-1 . The first 140-1 and second 140-2 locking formations interact to lock the first and second plates together so as to prevent removal (by “unslotting”) of the second plate 120-2 (and therefore the telecommunications device 100) from the first plate 120-1 (and therefore from the mounting wall).

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 8, the first locking formation 140-1 comprises a: leaf spring 180 (or another form of resilient member)”; detent 182; and ramp 184. The second locking formation comprises a detent notch 186.

The detent notch 186 is dimensioned to receive the detent 182, and the detent and detent notch are formed to present bluff faces to prevent escape of the detent from the detent notch as a result of their lateral motion. For example, the detent is in the form of a cuboid-shaped protrusion, and the detent notch is in the form of a complementary cuboid-shaped void.

The detent 182 is mounted upon the leaf spring 180. The leaf spring 180 is fixed to the first plate 120-1 , and is provided at, substantially, a centre of the first plate, and away from peripheral (or "side”) walls of the first plate. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 8, the leaf spring 180 (and more generally the first locking formation 140-1 and the first engagement formation 130-1 ) is (and are) integrally formed as part of the first plate 120-1. The leaf spring 180 gives freedom for the detent 182 to move (forwards and rearwards) out of the plane of the first plate 120-1. To ensure motion of the leaf spring 180 is not limited by abutment against the mounting wall, the leaf spring is - like the first engagement formation 130-1 - elevated away from a base frontal surface 220.

The detent 182 protrudes forwards, away from the mounting wall, beyond the first engagement formation 130-1. The detent notch 186 is an aperture set within a base rear surface 240 (and through the second plate 120-2), and arranged between the rails of the second engagement formation 130-2. When the first 120-1 and second 120-2 plates are slotted together, because the detent 182 is oversized (relative to the envelope of the first engagement formation) and protrudes, the base rear surface 240 abuts against the detent. As the second plate is slotted into the first plate, the base rear surface 240 urges the detent 182, and therefore the leaf spring 180 rearwards, away from the second plate 120-2 (and towards the mounting wall). Once the detent 182 and the detent notch 186 align, the detent is urged by the leaf spring 180 to snap into the detent notch, thereby locking the first and second face plates together.

In one example, to help ensure locking is consistently effective, the second engagement formation 130-2 comprises a flanged travel limiter 190 for limiting travel along the first engagement formation 130-1 up to a point where the detent 182 and the detent notch 186 are aligned and overlie one another.

To unlock the first 140-1 and second 140-2 locking formations, the leaf spring 180 is actuated away from the detent notch 186, which in turn dislodges the detent 182 from the detent notch. The ramp 184 is provided to aid such actuation of the leaf spring 180. The ramp is formed into a free terminal end of the leaf spring, and is inclined away from the second plate 120-2 (when coupled to the first plate 120-1 ). By pushing against the inclined face of the ramp 184, the leaf spring is moved away from the second plate 120-2, and therefore the detent 182 is also moved away from the detent notch 186. Once the detent surmounts (or is displaced out of) the detent notch, the first and second plates 120 are unlocked from one another, and are available to be unslotted.

To help restrict unlocking of the wall-mounting apparatus 100, and therefore to limit removal of the telecommunications device 1 10 (when wall-mounted via the apparatus 100), the wallmounting apparatus is configured to restrict access to the first 140-1 and second 140-2 locking formations. Generally, when the wall-mounting apparatus 100 is fully installed (fixed to the mounting wall and the telecommunications device 110), the first 140-1 and second 140-2 locking formations are fully enclosed by the mounting wall, the telecommunications device 1 10 and the peripheral walls of the mounting apparatus 1 10. Access to actuate the first locking formation 140- 1 is therefore provided via the keyed opening 150, which is best illustrated in Figure 6.

The keyed opening 150 comprises an aperture in the peripheral wall of the first plate 120-1 and a passage that extends towards the ramp 184.

The keyed opening 150 (specifically, the aperture and/or the passage) is shaped to limit forms of household tools (e.g. screwdrivers, pins, stationery, kitchen utensils, and other typical such elongate objects) that can be received by the aperture and extend through the passage to the ramp 184, and/or that limit (by providing an appropriately narrow opening and/or passage) an extent of travel that can be imparted upon the leaf spring 180. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 8, the keyed opening 150 is shaped as a trapezium with an indent extending inwardly from the wider based of the trapezium; the passage mimics the shape of the opening throughout the extent of said passage.

The ramp 184 is also arranged at a distance away from the aperture so as also to help further limit the household tools that can sufficiently extend through the passage and to the 184 ramp.

Furthermore, the leaf spring 180 is also configured to have sufficient stiffness so that the force required to actuate the leaf spring can prevent slight objects that are capable of reaching the ramp, but which are relatively fragile for the forces required from actuating the ramp (e.g. a pin or toothpick). For example, this stiffness is selected by selecting an appropriate length for the leaf spring 180 (/.e. where a shorter leaf spring requires a greater force to act upon the ramp so as to actuate the leaf spring compared to a longer leaf spring).

By combining, at least, the aforementioned factors, access to, and the capability to actuate, the leaf spring can be restricted to help limit customers from easily being able to unlock the first and second locking formations. Instead, an unlocking tool 300 is provided (e.g. to engineers, or other agents of the owner of the telecommunications device) to permit convenient unlocking. An exemplary such unlocking tool is shown in Figures 7, 8a and 8b.

As best shown in Figure 7, the unlocking tool 300 comprises a key 310 and a handle 320. The shape and dimensions of the key 310 and the keyed opening 150 mimic one another, so that the key is available to be received by the keyed opening. The shape of the keyed opening (as shown in, and described with reference to, Figure 6) is provided without rotational symmetry, and so the key 310 can only fully be inserted into, and through, the keyed opening 150 in only one orientation.

Figures 8a and 8b show the key 310 inserted through the keyed opening 150 and abutting against an apex of the ramp 184.

At a terminal end of the key 310, there is provided a wedge 330 that is orientated, when the key is received within the keyed opening 150, to depress the ramp 184 to an extent that releases the detent 182 from the detent notch 186. The key 310 is dimensioned to be, at least, as long as a distance between the aperture and the ramp 184 so the wedge 330 can make contact with the ramp 184 and actuate the leaf spring 180 so as to effect unlocking.

When the wall-mounting apparatus 100 is installed upon the mounting wall, proximity of the keyed opening 150 to the mounting wall may render insertion of the key 310 into the keyed opening difficult. As a result, the key is mounted at an angle (e.g. a right angle) to a terminal end of the handle 320.

In one example, the first 120-1 and the second 120-2 plates are formed of plastic, and are available to be manufactured by injection moulding, and are therefore each formed of a single integral piece.

Alternatives and Modifications

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e show an alternative example of the wall-mounting apparatus. For brevity, the same reference numerals have been used in Figures 9 as in Figures 1 to 8 to identify corresponding features. Specifically, Figures 9a and 9b show the first 120-1 and second 120-2 plates, respectively.

In the example of Figures 9, the first engagement formation 130-1 (as provided on the first plate 120-1 ) is in the form of a pair rails, which are recessed within the front base surface 220 of the first plate 120-1 , and comprise inwardly extending flanges 230 (rather than flanges 210). Correspondingly, the second engagement formation 130-2 is also in the form of a pair of rails, raised above the rear base surface 240 of the second plate 120-2, and comprise outwardly extending flanges 210 (rather than flanges 230).

The end-stop 190 is provided as part of the first plate 120-1 , and forms the peripheral wall of the first plate.

In the example of Figures 9, the structure of the first 140-1 and second 140-2 locking formations is also available to be reversed, such that the first locking formation 140-1 comprises the detent notch 186, which is oversized relative to the detent 182 that is provided on the second locking formation 140-2. The first locking formation 140-1 further comprises the leaf spring 180 and ramp 184.

Figure 9c shows a rear view of the first and second plates 120 locked together, in which the detent 182 is locked into the detent notch 186, abutting a wall of said notch in a direction that prevents unslotting of said plates 120. In this example, the detent is ramped, to help lift the detent into the detent notch, when locking the plates together. Figure 9d is a corresponding front view of the first and second plates 120 locked together.

Figure 9e shows the unlocking tool 300 actuating, via the keyed opening, the leaf spring 180 by interacting with the ramp 184 (obscured in Figure 9e by the first plate 120-1 ). In the example of Figures 9, the keyed opening 150 is provided by the union of the first and second plates, each of which comprises a gap for forming the keyed opening.

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10h, 10i, 10j and 10k show a further alternative example of the wall-mounting apparatus. For brevity, the same reference numerals have been used in Figures 10 as in Figures 1 to 9 to identify corresponding features.

Specifically, Figure 10a shows the first plate 120-1 , in which the first engagement formation 130- 1 is in the form of a pair of parallel rails, each comprising a castellated series of outwardly protruding flanges (or lips) 210 that are substantially flush with the base frontal surface 220 of the first plate.

The first locking formation 140-1 of the first plate 120-1 comprises a parallel pair of the leaf springs 180, integrally formed with the remaining first plate 120-1 , and that in turn each comprise the detent 182 (and the ramp 184) for interlocking with the detent notch 186, as shown in detail in Figures 10e and 10g. The addition of a plurality of independent leaf springs 180 and detents 182 helps improve security over the examples of Figures 1 to 9, since both springs are simultaneously to be actuated to release the second 120-1 plate.

To further frustrate improper interference with the wall-mounting apparatus and release of the telecommunications device 110, the ramps 184 are partially obstructed by a corresponding pair of obstructions 335 that narrow the path from the keyed opening (as shown in Figure 10e) to the ramp 184, thereby further constraining practical options for actuating the ramp 184. As shown in Figures 10c and 10f, the unlocking tool 300 is keyed to bypass the obstructions 335.

The first plate 120-1 further comprises a cable coupling loop 340, that is recessed below the base frontal surface 220 and forms an open channel for receiving and containing a telecommunications cable. As best shown in Figures 10e, 10h and 10i, the cable coupling loop 340 is arranged on the first plate 120-1 so as to be obstructed by the second plate 120-2 when coupled to the first plate. As shown in Figures 10j and 10k, a loop of telecommunications cable 350 that is input into the telecommunications device 110 and that is received within the cable coupling loop 340 is effectively locked into the cable coupling loop 340 by the second plate 120-2 (and the telecommunications device 110).

Figure 10b shows the second plate 120-2 which comprises the inwardly protruding flanges 230 and detent notch 186. Figure 10c shows the unlocking tool 300 which corresponds to the structure of the pair of detents 182 and the ramps 184, as shown in Figure 10a. Figure 10f shows the unlocking tool 300 in use, as received into the keyed opening 150 (as best shown in Figure 10e).

Figure 10d shows an exploded view of the second plate 120-1 , adhesive member 170 and the telecommunications device 110.

In more general alternatives, it will be appreciated that the first 130-1 and second 130-2 engagement formations are available to take any alternative form that permits laterally slidable engagement, including rails, grooves, channels guides, lips and flanges.

In another alternative, the keyed opening 150, and the corresponding key 300, are available to take any form, and a principle of the restricting unintended access by a costumer is generally to be employed. For example, the keyed opening is available to be in the shape of, or to be shaped to comprise, a/an: hexagon; star; tri-wing; clutch; pozidriv; square; alien; schrader formation; slotted; and/or with any of the aforementioned having at least one additional indent and/or notch. Furthermore, the passage is available to vary along its extent (e.g. to narrow), and is also available to be curved or angled (relative to, at least, the plane of the aperture).

The first plate 120-1 is available to be fixed to the mounting wall in any orientation, however, to help best conceal the keyed opening 150, the first plate is mounted so that the keyed opening is orientated downwards (as per Figures 1 to 8). Alternatively, for ease of access, the first plate 120- 1 is mounted so that the keyed opening 150 is orientated upwards (as per Figures 9).

In one example, the second plate 120-2 is dimensioned, configured, and/or provided as part of a set of second plates having different forms that each allow retrofitment to different formfactors of telecommunications devices 110. For example, the shape and size of the second plate is shaped to avoid covering vents, ports and/or buttons, and/or the second plate is available to have a curved front.

In an alternative, the second plate 120-2 and the device 1 10 are available to be integrally formed together (thereby negating the need for the adhesive member 170).

Furthermore, the locking formations 140 are available to form any complementary locking mechanism, including any form of mating male-female lock that prevent unslotting of the first and second plates 120 (e.g. a pin-and-hole arrangement). Each feature disclosed herein, and (where appropriate) as part of the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Any reference numerals appearing in the claims are for illustration only and shall not limit the scope of the claims.

Claims

1 . A wall-mounting apparatus for a telecommunications device, said apparatus comprising: a first plate, for fixing to a wall, comprising: a first engagement formation; a first locking formation; and a keyed opening; a second plate, for coupling to, or forming a part of, the telecommunications device, the second plate comprising: a second engagement formation, complementary to the first engagement formation, so as to slot together with the second engagement formation, thereby to engage the first and second plates together; and a second locking formation, complementary to the first locking formation, for fixedly locking the second plate to the first plate when engaged together; wherein, in use, the first and/or second locking formation/s is/are accessible through the keyed opening so as to actuate said formation/s thereby to unlock the first and second plates.

2. A wall-mounting apparatus according to Claim 1 , wherein the first locking formation is recessed within the first plate and/or wherein the second locking formation is recessed within the second plate.

3. A wall-mounting apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second locking formations comprise complementary mating male-female engagements.

4. A wall-mounting apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the first or second locking formation comprises a resilient member for urging together the male-female engagement.

5. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second locking formation/s comprise/s a ramp, wherein said ramp is accessible from the keyed opening.

6. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the keyed opening is provided on a peripheral wall of the first plate.

7. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second engagement formation/s is/are raised above a base surface of the respective first and/or second plate.

8. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second engagement formations comprise complementary mating male-female couplings for slotting together the first and second plates.

9. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second engagement formation/s comprise/s an end-stop to limit travel of the first and second plates when slotting said plate together.

10. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a partial obstruction for partially obstructing access to the first and/or second locking formation/s via the keyed opening.

11 . A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first plate comprises a channel for receiving a cable for the telecommunications device, and wherein the channel is arranged to be obstructed by at least the second plate when said second plate is engaged to the first plate thereby to prevent unslotting of the cable from the channel.

12. A wall-mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a key for unlocking the first and second locking formations, wherein the key is shaped and dimensioned to be received by the keyed opening.

13. A key for a wall-mounting apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 11 , the key comprising: a wedge, complementary to the first and/or second locking formation/s so as to actuate said formation/s apart, thereby to unlock the first and second plates; and an elongate shaft, wherein the wedge is provided at terminus of said shaft, the wedge and shaft are shaped and dimensioned so as to be receivable by the keyed opening, and wherein the shaft is dimensioned to deliver the wedge from the keyed opening to the first and/or second locking formation/s so as to actuate said formation/s apart.

14. A kit of parts comprising: a wall-mounting apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 11 ; and a key according to Claim 13.