GB2510099A

GB2510099A - Protection device for a data communication port

Info

Publication number: GB2510099A
Application number: GB201220638A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-16
Filing date: 2012-11-16
Publication date: 2014-07-30
Also published as: GB201220638D0

Abstract

A device for protecting a vehicle On-Board Diagnostics port, comprises a cover adapted to fit over the port connector that is fixed in place such that it cannot be removed by an unauthorised person to gain access to the port to program a key or bypass the vehicle security systems to steal the vehicle. The cover may be fixed with torsion screws or fasteners with profiled heads.

Description

A protection device for a data communication port

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protection device for a data communication port, in particular to a protection device for a vehicle data communication port or on-board diagnostics (OBD') port.

Background

Modern vehicles commonly have data communications ports allowing access to the vehicle's on-board control systems for diagnostic and repair or maintenance purposes. These pods can be used to gain access to data allowing programming of duplicate key fobs, or to bypass the vehicle's security systems, allowing the vehicle to be stolen. The on-board diagnostics (OBD) port is commonly located in an easily accessible position, for example under the dashboard of a car, allowing the OBD port to be accessed and the vehicle to be stolen in a shod time! for example under 3 minutes. This has led to high value vehicle thefts increasing significantly, and to vehicle users seeking amateur and do-it-yourself solutions such as moving or hiding the connector.

OBD ports commonly comprise a multi-way female electrical connector having a connection portion housing the individual connection sockets and a mounting portion comprising a fixing means usable to mount the connector to or in a recess in a mounting bracket, panel or fascia. The mounting portion may comprise as a fixing means two mounting flanges at opposite sides of the connection portion, each having a hole for a bolt or screw to lix it to the bracket or panel.

In an alternative form the mounting portion may be substantially circular in cross-section and may comprise a flange partially or substantially surrounding the connection portion, the mounting portion further comprising as a fixing means a screw thread usable in combination with a nut to bolt the mounting portion through a hole in the bracket or panel.

Access to the communication port is from the front, by means of a plug interfitting with some or all of the individual connection sockets. In normal use, the OBD port is used with a matching OBD plug. In a case of theft, some or all of the individual connection sockets may be accessed individually.

A device that is easy to use, that prevents ready access to the OBD port while allowing an authorised person access to the port, and without tampering with the location of the car's wiring for example by moving the location of the port connector, Herein the invention will be described with reference to its use in protecting an ORD port in a vehicle, by which is meant any vehicle, for example cars, vans, trucks, agricultural machinery such as tractors and harvesters, boats and aircraft. The application of the invention is not limited to vehicles and may encompass any communication port that is desired to be protected from rapid, unauthorised access.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a communication port protector device adapted to protect a port mounted on a surface, the device having a housing comprising: a cover portion adapted to cover all or part of the connection portion of the communication port connector said connection portion having electrical contacts within it; a fixing portion adjoining the cover portion and comprising fixing means adapted to match in layout and size the fixing means of the communication port connector, one or more fasteners adapted for use with the fixing means and the communication port connector, operable in use to fix the port protector over the communication port connector and the communication port connector to the surface.

By surface is meant any mounting position for the communication port connector including for example a panel, fascia, recess in a solid material such as a moulding or formed metal, a fixing bracket or fixing location formed as part of a car body, a mounting position moulded into a component forming part of an apparatus, for example a vehicle component. By surface in this context is also meant the outer surface of narrow projecting members such as pillars onto which a connector might mount.

By matching is meant that the fixing means of the protector device and the fixing means of the communication port connector may both be joined by a common fastener to a surface. For example in the case that the fixing means each comprise a hole or slot for a screw or bolt, the holes overlap and have sufficient diameter for a common fastener to pass through them both and fix them both to a surface. Other shapes or dimensions, such as the external shapes or dimensions of the protector fixing means, do not need to be exactly or substantially the same as those of the mounting portion of the connector, though in some embodiments they may be so.

In a preferred embodiment adapted for use with a communications port connector having a raised connection portion, the cover portion comprises a recess adapted to accommodate the connection portion of the communication port connector.

Preferably the recess has a depth chosen to accommodate the full depth of the connection portion. In a preferred embodiment the recess completely surrounds the connection portion.

In a preferred embodiment the fixing portion is sized and shaped so as substantially to match the fixing portion of the connector. In this way in use fasteners will fit into existing fixing holes in the surface and so can fix both the communication port connector in place and the protector device covering it.

In a preferred embodiment the outer upper surface of the cover portion is modelled to resemble the upper surface of the connector, so giving the appearance of a normal connector. In this way potential thieves will not realise readily that the port is protected, and so will not seek to discover and remove the protector.

In a preferred embodiment in which the connector comprises a snap-fit retaining means adapted to retain a plug, comprising a feature formed on a surface of connector, the protector comprises a complementary feature adapted to interfit with this feature. For example, a common snap-fit means comprises a flexible projection formed on a sidewall of the connection portion. In this case the protector preferably comprises a mating recess or aperture adapted to receive the projection when the protector is in place over the connector.

The fixing portion is preferably adapted to match the form and dimension of the mounting portion of the connector. In a preferred embodiment the fixing portion comprises a flat flange projecting extending from either side of the cover portion and having a screw hole or slot in each side. Such a flange may be fastened down by fasteners passing through the hole or slot and then also through the corresponding hole or slot of the connector mounting portion.

Preferably the fasteners are adapted to resist removal from the surface.

In a preferred embodiment the fasteners comprise screws or bolts adapted to be fixed in place with a high torsion. In a preferred embodiment the fasteners comprise torsion screws or torsion bolts. In a preferred embodiment the fasteners are fixed in place with a torque chosen such that a power screwdriver is needed to undo them, so acting in use to deter thieves who may rely on hand torque to try to remove the protector.

In a preferred embodiment the fasteners comprise tamper resistant fasteners.

Tamper-resistant fasteners are known in the art and comprise fasteners having specifically-shaped driving head profiles that match specific driving bits.

Preferably the fasteners comprise tamper-resistant fasteners having a security driving recess profile having a matched security driving bit. Preferably the matched security driving bit is available only to authorised users so hindering use by thieves.

In a preferred embodiment the fasteners comprise more than one different pattern of driving head. In this way, a thief will need to have a selection of driving bits available, and will take time selecting them, reducing the chance of a successful theft.

In one embodiment the fasteners comprise one-way screws or bolts, being adapted to be tightened but not to be removed. In this way, access to the port may be by drilling out the fastener, which will deter potential thieves while being within reasonable scope of a repair shop to access the port for maintenance.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides: a communication port protector kit comprising a protector device as described herein and one or more driving bits adapted for use with fasteners forming part of the device.

According to a further aspect the invention provides a method for protecting a communications port comprising a connector comprising the steps of: providing a communications port protector substantially as described herein and fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using fasteners in such a way that removal of the protector will delay access to the connector.

In a preferred embodiment the method comprises the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using fasteners at a torque such that the fasteners cannot be removed using a hand screwdriver.

In a preferred embodiment the fasteners comprise one-way screws or bolts.

Preferably the method comprises the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using tamper-proof fasteners.

In a preferred embodiment the method comprises the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using tamper-proof fasteners having more than one driving head profile.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a typical OBD port connector on a car; Figure 2 shows the embodiment of figure 3 in position on the communications port; and Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in use being fitted to an OBD port connector of the type shown in figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an OBD port connector mounted on a car with the trim covering removed, with the upper surface of the connection portion visible, having recesses within which the individual electrical connections are accessible.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the protector device of the invention adapted for use with the OBD port connector of figure 1 being filled over the OBD port connector.

The OBD port connector has been removed from the surface on which it is mounted.

The protector device comprises a cover portion adapted to receive the connection portion of the connector, here seen side on, which in this instance comprises a raised portion in the form of a plug, the individual electrical connections themselves being sockets.

The cover portion comprises a recess adapted to receive the connection portion, being substantially in the form of a socket adapted to receive the plug-like form of the connection portion. The protector comprises two mounting flanges, each matching a mounting flange on the OBD Port connector, and an aperture adapted to receive a clip-in projection visible on the sidewall of the connector.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the protector device of the invention may be adapted to suit different forms of the communication port connector and such adaptation may take into account the location in which such a connector is mounted.

Preferably the cover portion of the protector covers the whole of the connection portion of the connector as shown in figure 2, but in some embodiments it may cover only a portion of the connection portion.

Preferably the protector device is adapted for each combination of OBD port connector unit and vehicle in which such a connector is mounted, forming a kit suitable for use to protect a specific vehicle type.

Once the protector device is in place over the OBO port connector both may be fixed to the surface on which the OBD port connector was originally mounted, preferably using fasteners and in a manner that will resist undoing of the fasteners by an unauthorised person, as described herein. Preferably the fasteners are fixed using a torque driver such that they are difficult or impossible to undo by hand. In some embodiments the fasteners comprise anti-tamper fasteners of the types described above.

Anti-tamper fasteners are available from a range of suppliers. Specialist security anti-tamper fasteners are available for example from Bryce Fastener Manufacturing, Inc. (Glibert, AZ, USA), including fasteners having specific keyway driving head profiles that will only interfit with matching keyway driving bits that are not available except to authorised users. Such fasteners are well adapted for use as part of the present inventive device, kit and method.

Figure 2 shows the protector device in-situ. In this embodiment the outer upper surface of the cover portion of the protector device is adapted to resemble the upper surface of the connector. Preferably the protector device comprises features resembling the individual electrical connection of the connector.

In this way as shown in figure 2 when in situ it is hard to tell the protector device from the connector device, so causing a thief to waste valuable time until they discover the connector port does not work. In practice, such delay can be expected to deter theft.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A communication port protector device adapted to protect a port mounted on a surface, the device having a housing comprising: a cover portion adapted to cover all or part of the connection portion of the communication port connector said connection portion having electrical contacts within it a fixing portion adjoining the cover portion and comprising fixing means adapted to match in layout and size the fixing means of the communication port one or more fasteners adapted for use with the fixing means and the communication port connector, operable in use to fix the port protector over the communication port and the communication port to the surface.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 adapted for use with a communications port connector having a raised connection portion, the cover portion comprising a recess adapted to accommodate the connection portion.
3. A device as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the fasteners are adapted to resist removal from the surface,
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fasteners comprise torsion screws or torsion bolts.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fasteners comprise tamper resistant fasteners.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fasteners comprise tamper resistant fasteners having more than one driving head profile. 30.
7. A device as claimed in any claim above wherein the outer upper surface of the cover portion is modelled to resemble the upper surface of a communication port connector.
8. A communication port protector kit comprising a protector device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 and one or more driving bits adapted for use with fasteners forming part of the device.
9. A method for protecting a communications port comprising a connector comprising the steps of: Providing a communications port protector substantially as described herein and fixing the communications port protector aver the communications port connector using fasteners in such a way that removal of the protector will delay access to the connector.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using fasteners using a torque such that the fasteners cannot be removed using a hand screwdriver.
11. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications part connector using one-way screws or bolts.
12. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using tamper-proof fasteners.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 comprising the step of fixing the communications port protector over the communications port connector using tamper-proof fasteners having more than one driving head profile.