GB2340316A - Device to prevent separation of connectors - Google Patents

Description

2340316 Security Device for Releasable Electrical Connector.

This invention relates to releasable connectors for connecting external ports of electrical devices to other electrical devices or ports. In particular the present invention relates to means of preventing unauthorised detachment of such connectors.

Many electrical and electronic devices and systems are provided with external ports which permit communication with other devices and/or electrical power connections. Examples include peripheral ports of computers and network ports for computer systems and telephone systems. In addition it may be desirable to change the internal configuration of an electronic system by manually rerouting connections by means of, for example, a patching cable which is accessible from the exterior of the device.

Where permanent connections are not appropriate, detachable connectors are provided. These detachable connectors typically form junctions comprising male and female portions, e.g. a jack plug and socket, which inter-engage to form a functional connection between the device port and a connection cable.

2 A particular problem with detachable patching and other connections is that the accessibility of the junction outside of the device renders them open to accidental or unauthorised detachment. Naturally this can have serious results for the particular device, causing a loss of function or alteration in configuration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of preventing unauthorised detachment of connectors engaged with electronic device ports.

According to the present invention there is provided a security device for preventing unauthorized detachment of a cable connector from an external port of an electrical device, which security device comprises anchorage means adapted to secure the security device adjacent the port of the device, and a body portion which defines a channel about the port, which channel is dimensioned so as to prevent manual access for release of the connector when the connector is engaged with said port, but permit a cable or cabling attached to the connector to pass therethrough.

The security device is preferably configurable between a first configuration wherein the connector is accessible -P for manual attachment to, or release from, the port and 3 a second configuration wherein the connector is physically shielded to prevent manual access for release from the port. The security device may be provided with locking means for locking the security device in the 5 second configuration.

The body portion may comprise first and second members which define the shielded channel therebetween.

The members are preferably movable between a lockable position which defines the shielded channel and an open position in which one member is moved apart from the other permitting manual access to, and detachment of, the connector.

The first member may comprise a first panel locatable on one side of the port and the second member may comprise a second panel locatable on an opposite side of the port.

In one embodiment of the invention, one member carries the anchorage means and may thereby be anchored to the electronic device and the other member is removable from the anchorable member to permit authorised access to the port.

The removable member may be provided at one end thereof 4 with engagement means for securely engaging with a corresponding end of the anchorable member, and provided at the other end thereof with a locking device arranged to lockably engage with a corresponding other end of the other member.

The engagement means may comprise a rigid tongue provided on one member which tongue engages by entry into a slot in the other member.

The security device may have a generally elongate form so as to define an elongate channel capable of shielding a plurality of ports disposed side by side.

One or both of the first and second members may be formed with an inwardly directed lip at an outside edge thereof, which lip serves to narrow the gap between the members. In this way sufficient channel gap behind the lip may be maintained to permit bulky connectors to be shielded by 20 the security device.

For added security one of the members may be provided with a rigid bracket configured to span the channel and engage with the other member so as to help to prevent the members moving apart from one another and widening the channel before disengagement of the bracket from the other member.

The security device preferably comprises a locking device for locking the members together in the lockable 5 position.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the drawings of a method of putting the present invention into effect.

In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a cross sectional side view of a security device according to the present invention in situ on an 15 electronic machine.

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front, above and one side of the security device of figure 1 in a locked position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front, above and one side of the security device of figure 1 in an open position.

A security device according to the present invention is shown as 10 in figure 1. The device is attached to the 6 housing 9 of a patch panel B. The device 10 comprises upper and lower generally planar elongate members 11 and 12 formed from pressed steel. The two members together define an elongate channel or slot 13 as shown in figure 2. Each elongate member is formed at a front end region 14 thereof with an inwardly displaced lip 15 shown in figure 1. Each lip curves outwardly at an outside edge to form a fluted edge 16 to the members.

The members are disposed above and below a slot 17 in the patch panel housing 9. A plurality of female sockets (one visible as 18) face onto the slot 17 inside the housing. The sockets are disposed side by side on a printed circuit board 19. The printed circuit board carries patching circuitry 20 for connecting plugs engaged in the socket to the circuitry carried in the housing. The housing itself is a made from sheet pressed steel having a generally L-section as shown in figure 1.

The lower elongate plate member 12 carries at a middle region thereof a Csection lip bracket 21 as shown in figure 2. A free end 22 of the bracket is entered into a slot 25 in the fluted edge 16 of the upper elongate member 13.

The elongate members 12 and 14 are held in position 7 against the housing between two horizontally spaced apart mounting bracket assemblies 30,31. The upper plate member is part of an integral structure incorporating the mounting bracket assemblies. The lower plate member is formed from a separate piece of sheet steel. A right hand end 32 of the lower member is provided with a co-planar tongue portion (not visible) which engages with a corresponding slot in the right hand assembly bracket 31. A left hand end region 33 of the lower member carries an upstanding C-section bracket portion 34, as shown in figure 3. A front face 35 of the bracket portion is formed with a keyhole 36. The corresponding rear face 37 carries a locking mechanism (not visible). The locking mechanism includes an engaging arm which in a locked position enters into a slot 38 in the left hand bracket assembly inside wall 39. Each bracket assembly is bolted to the housing 9 by means of two vertically spaced bolts 26 each (one visible).

When the lock is moved to a release position the lower member 12 may be moved away from the left hand bracket assembly 30, in the direction shown by the arrow A in figure 3. The C-section lip bracket 21 at the same time disengages with the slot 25. Further movement of the lower member in an arc about the right hand edge of the member causes the tongue to disengage with the right hand 8 bracket assembly 31. In this way the lower member may be completely detached from the rest of the security device, permitting free access to any plugs (35 shown in figure 1) entered into the sockets.

When the security device is in the locked position as shown in figures 1 and 2 the plug 35 is shielded from above and below by the upper and lower members 11,12. A cable 36 leading from the plug 35 passes between the lip portions 15 and out of the security device. The plug 35 has a release tab 40 which is inaccessible with the lower member in place. Hence the plug may only be released when the lower member is displaced. The distance between each lip portion 15 is, in the present example about 6.5 mm.

This is too narrow to allow entry of fingers into the channel and hence the sockets are well protected from unwanted tampering when the security device is locked in place.

9.

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A security device for preventing unauthorized detachment of a cable connector from an external port of an electrical device, which security device comprises anchorage means adapted to secure the security device adjacent the port of the device, and a body portion which defines a channel about the port, which channel is dimensioned so as to prevent manual access for release of the connector when the connector is engaged with said port yet permit a cable or cabling attached to the connector to pass therethrough.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1 and adapted to be configurable between a first configuration wherein the connector is accessible for manual attachment to, or release from, the port and a second configuration wherein the connector is physically shielded to prevent manual access for release of the connector from the port.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 2 comprising locking means for locking the security device in the second configuration.

10.

4 A security device as claimect any preceding claim wherein the body portion comprises first and second members which define the shielded channel therebetween.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the members are movable relative to one another between a lockable position which defines the shielded channel and an open position in which one member is moved away from the other permitting manual access to, and detachment of, the connector from the port.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the first member comprises a first panel locatable on one side of the port and the second member comprises a second panel locatable on an opposite side of the port.

7. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein one member carries the anchorage means and may thereby be anchored to the electronic device and the other member is removable from the anchorable member to permit authorised access to the port.

8. A security device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the removable member JLs provided at one end thereof 11.

with engagement means for securely engaging with a corresponding end of the anchorable member, and provided at the other end thereof with a locking device adapted to lockably engage with a corresponding other end of the other member.

9. A security device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the engagement means comprises a rigid tongue provided on one member which tongue engages by entry into a slot in the other member.

10. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim and having an elongate form so as to define an elongate channel capable of shielding a plurality of short ports or one or more elongate ports.

11. A security device as claimed in any of claims 4 to wherein one or both of the first and second members may be formed with an inwardly directed lip at an outside edge thereof, which lip serves to narrow the gap between the members.

12. A security device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 11 wherein one of the members is provided with a rigid bracket configured to span the channel and engage with the other member so as to help to Ia.

prevent the members moving apart from one another and widening the channel before disengagement of the bracket from the other member.

13. A security device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 12 comprising a locking device for locking the members together in the lockable position.