Connector locking assembly

A connector locking assembly includes a cable connector, a sleeve, and a locking device. The cable connector has a pressing plate. The sleeve includes a casing and a protective plate. The casing is connected to the rear portion of the cable connector. The protective plate extends from the casing, covers the pressing plate from above, and has a through hole. A ring set extends from the rear end of the casing. The locking device is inserted into the through hole of the protective plate for interfering with the descent of the pressing plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cable connectors, and more particularly, to a connector locking assembly and for providing locking and lock-releasing mechanisms thereto.

2. Description of the Related Art

Taiwan Patent M413736 discloses a safety lock assembly for a communication circuit, comprising a hollowed-out lock body and a lock-actuating device. The hollowed-out lock body receives and fastens a communication wire, such that the communication wire cannot be withdrawn from the hollowed-out lock body. The lock-actuating device is inserted into the hollowed-out lock body for releasing the communication wire which is otherwise fastened inside the hollowed-out lock body. Slots of existing electronic apparatuses (such as notebook computers or host computers) are usually arranged tightly and adjacently. As a result, if the hollowed-out lock body is overly large, ease of use will be compromised.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,976,329 discloses a connector locking device. The connector has a lock support and a locking tongue. The locking device penetrates the lock support, has a locking tongue support for supporting the locking tongue, and has a retaining mechanism connected to a release arm, and engaged with the lock support. The key has a release prong for engaging the release arm of the locking device, so as to withdraw the locking device from the lock support. The locking tongue of the connector is fully exposed; as a result, the locking tongue is likely to be compressed by an external force and severed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a connector locking assembly for fastening a cable connector in use, so as to prevent the cable connector from being disconnected at will and enhance network communication security.

In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a connector locking assembly, comprising a cable connector, a sleeve, and a locking device. The cable connector comprises a body and a pressing plate extending from the body. The sleeve comprises a casing and a protective plate. The casing is connected to a rear portion of the cable connector. The protective plate extends from the casing, covers the pressing plate from above, and has a through hole penetrating front and rear sides of the protective plate, the front side facing the casing. The locking device comprises a bolt, a resilient element, and a stop block. The bolt has a front portion penetrating the through hole, being positioned between the body of the cable connector and the pressing plate, and interfering with the descent of the pressing plate. The resilient element extends from the bolt and is engaged with the casing. The stop block extends from the bolt and is positioned at a rear portion of the bolt, such that the stop block is stopped at the rear side of the protective plate.

Preferably, the connector locking assembly further comprises a lock-releasing device having a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate is disposed on the stop block and has a hook engageable with a front edge of the stop block. The bottom plate lifts the resilient element of the locking device. When the lock-releasing device is engaged with the locking device, the stop block and the resilient element of the locking device are received between the top plate and the bottom plate of the lock-releasing device, and the hook of the top plate is engaged with a front edge of the stop block, such that the bottom plate lifts the resilient element of the locking device to thereby cause the engaging block to withdraw from a mouth edge of the casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a schematic view of a connector locking assembly1according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector locking assembly1comprises a cable connector2, a cable3, a sleeve4, and a locking device5.

In this embodiment, the cable connector2is exemplified by a RJ45 connector. The cable connector2comprises a body20, a pressing plate22, and a plurality of pins24. The pressing plate22extends from the body20and is positioned at the front end of the body20. The pins24are disposed in the body20, as shown inFIG. 2. The cable3is connected to the body20of the cable connector2and comprises a plurality of wires. The wires are connected to the pins24in the body20, respectively, by a one-to-one relationship. In practice, each of the two terminal ends of the cable3is connected to a cable connector2. The pins24of each of the cable connectors2are electrically connected to pins in a network jack of a corresponding one of the electronic apparatuses, respectively, such that the two electronic apparatuses transmit signals and power to each other via the wires of the cable3, as soon as two said cable connectors2connected to the cable3are inserted into the network jacks of the two electronic apparatuses, respectively. The electronic apparatuses are desktop computers, notebook computers, POS systems, phones, scanners, webcams and servers. Also, once the cable connector2is inserted into the network jack, the cable connector2will be engaged with the network jack, such that the cable connector2cannot be disconnected therefrom; meanwhile, if a user presses the pressing plate22of the cable connector2, the cable connector2can be disconnected from the network jack.

The sleeve4comprises a casing40, a protective plate42, and a ring set44. The sleeve4serves as a shaped covering for the cable3and the cable connector2and thereby protects the connection between the cable3and the cable connector2. The casing40is connected to the rear portion of the cable connector2. The protective plate42extends from the casing40and covers the pressing plate22from above, so as to prevent the pressing plate22from being severed. The protective plate42has a through hole420that penetrates its front and rear sides. The front side of the protective plate42faces the casing40. The ring set44extends from the rear end of the casing40to be put around the cable3. The ring set44prevents the cable3and the cable connector2from being overly bent relative to each other and disconnected. Nonetheless, in practice, the ring set44may be dispensed with.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, there are shown schematic views of the locking device5inserted into the sleeve4, respectively. The locking device5is designed to penetrate the through hole420of the protective plate42, and comprises a bolt50, a resilient element52, and a stop block56. Insertion of the locking device5into the through hole420of the protective plate42of the sleeve4causes the front portion of the bolt50to pass through the through hole420, be positioned between the body20of the cable connector2and the pressing plate22, and interfere with the distance of the descent of the pressing plate22. Hence, the cable connectors2cannot be disconnected from the network jacks of the electronic apparatuses. The resilient element52extends from the bolt50and is engaged with the casing40. The stop block56extends from the bolt50so as to be positioned at the rear portion of the bolt50and stopped at the rear side of the protective plate42. As a result, the locking device5cannot be withdrawn from the through hole420of the protective plate42.

Referring toFIG. 1again, a label region560is defined on the stop block56of the locking device5. The label region560displays a text, a symbol, a color, and/or a pattern. Two ends of a cable are usually connected to two said locking devices5, and the label regions560on two said locking devices5are identical and identifiable by users, though the way of its application is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG. 5, a partial enlarged view of theFIG. 4is shown inFIG. 5for depicting the encircled portion ofFIG. 4in detail. The casing40of the sleeve4has a notch400. The notch400communicates with the casing40and faces the protective plate42of the casing40. The resilient element52has an engaging block54. The engaging block54is disposed in the notch400of the casing40and engaged with a mouth edge of the notch400of the casing40for preventing the locking device5from being reversely withdrawn from the through hole420of the protective plate42.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the resilient element52of the locking device5further has an arm522. The arm522has one end connected to the bolt50of the locking device5. The arm522tilts relative to the bolt50. The top side of the arm522faces the bolt50. The engaging block54is disposed on the bottom side of the arm522and is slightly lower than the bottom of the bolt50. Hence, the arm522of the locking device5can swing relative to the bolt50resiliently and vertically.

Referring toFIG. 8andFIG. 9, a perspective view of a lock-releasing device6is shown inFIG. 8, and a schematic view of application of the lock-releasing device6is shown inFIG. 9. The connector locking assembly1further comprises a lock-releasing device6. The lock-releasing device6has a top plate60and a bottom plate62and serves to unlock the locking device5and thereby release the cable connector2.

Referring toFIG. 10andFIG. 11, a lateral cross-sectional view ofFIG. 9is shown inFIG. 10andFIG. 11, and a partial enlarged view ofFIG. 10is shown in FIG.11for depicting the encircled portion ofFIG. 10in detail. The resilient element52and the stop block56of the locking device5are received between the top plate60and the bottom plate62of the lock-releasing device6. The top plate60has a hook600engageable with a front edge of the stop block56. The bottom plate62lifts the resilient element52of the locking device5and thereby causes the engaging block54to withdraw from a mouth edge of the notch400of the casing40. Hence, the locking device5can be reversely withdrawn by means of the lock-releasing device6, thereby pressing the pressing plate22downward.

The bottom plate62of the lock-releasing device6has a ramp620. The arm522of the resilient element52can be moved along the ramp620of the bottom plate62onto the bottom plate62, such that not only can the bottom plate62be smoothly inserted into the bottom of the arm522, but the engaging block54can be smoothly disconnected from the notch400of the casing40.

Preferably, the arm522of the resilient element52has a ramp524, and the angle of inclination of the ramp524equals that of the ramp620of the bottom plate62.

Angle of inclination is between degrees of 20 to 45, but not limited to these. Hence, the ramp524of the arm522can be moved along the ramp620of the bottom plate62to reach the top side of the bottom plate62, as soon as the lock-releasing device6is engaged with the locking device5.

Referring toFIG. 8andFIG. 12, the top plate60further has a window602adjacent to the hook600. If the hook600of the top plate60of the lock-releasing device is engaged with the front edge of the stop block56, the window602will face the label region560of the locking device5.

Referring toFIGS. 13 through 19, there are shown schematic views of a connector locking assembly1aaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the connector locking assembly1acomprises a cable connector7, a sleeve8, a locking device9, and a lock-releasing device (not shown). The connector locking assembly1ais substantially the same as the connector locking assembly1, except that not only is the cable connector7of the connector locking assembly1aexemplified by an LC optical fiber connector, but the sleeve8of the connector locking assembly1areceives two cables3a(such as optical fiber cables). The locking device9is engageable with the sleeve8, and has a purpose and a structure which are substantially the same as that of the locking device5.

Referring toFIGS. 15 through 17, there are shown a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the connector locking assembly1a, respectively. The cable connector7have two chambers70which extend from the top of the cable connector7to the bottom of the cable connector7and are disposed on two sides of the cable connector7, respectively. The sleeve8has a casing80and a protective plate82. The connection and structures of the protective plate82and the casing80are identical to that of the protective plate42and the casing40and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The casing80has a top lid800and a bottom board802. The top lid800has two ribs804positioned on two inner sides of the top lid800, respectively. The top lid800covers the top of the cable connector7. The two ribs804are positioned in two said chambers70of the cable connector7, respectively. The bottom board802underpins the bottom of the cable connector7. Hence, the casing80connects the cable connector7firmly.

Referring toFIG. 13andFIG. 18, the main difference betweenFIG. 13andFIG. 18lies in the structure of a stop block90of the locking device9, whereas other structures (such as the bolts or resilient elements) shown inFIG. 13andFIG. 18are identical. A point to note is that the primary purpose of the stop blocks56,90is to stop at the protective plates42,82, respectively; hence, the present invention requires that the stop blocks of the locking devices have to stop at the protective plates, but the present invention is not restrictive of the structure of the stop blocks.

FIG. 18is a perspective view of the connector locking assembly1a.FIG. 19is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 18. Referring toFIG. 18andFIG. 19, the structure of the locking device9and its application-oriented relationship with the sleeve8are substantially the same as the related disclosure in the preceding embodiment and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The top lid800of the casing80has a notch806. The notch806faces the protective plate82. A resilient element92of the locking device9has an engaging block94. The engaging block94is disposed inside the notch806of the top lid800and engaged with a mouth edge of the notch806of the top lid800. Hence, the extent of the press-induced descent of a pressing plate72of the cable connector7is held in check, and thus the locking device9cannot be withdrawn at will.

Furthermore, the structure and purpose of a lock-releasing device in the second embodiment are the same as that of the lock-releasing device6in the first embodiment and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity.

Referring toFIGS. 20 through 24, there are drawings of the third embodiment of the present invention. A connector locking assembly in the third embodiment is substantially the same as the connector locking assembly in the first embodiment in terms of structure. A lock-releasing device6aand a locking device9ain the third embodiment distinguish the third embodiment from the first embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 20, the lock-releasing device6ahas a top plate60a, a bottom plate62a, and two teeth64a,66a. The top plate60aand the bottom plate62ain the third embodiment are equal to the top plate60and the bottom plate62in the first embodiment in terms of structure and purpose and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The two teeth64a,66aare formed on the bottom plate62aand face the top plate60a. The tooth64ais of a greater width than the tooth66a. The tooth64ais of a lesser height than the tooth66a. Referring toFIG. 21, the locking device9afurther has two slits900a,902a. The two slits900a,902aare formed at the bottom of a stop block90aand adapted to match and receive the two teeth64a,66a, respectively. The two teeth64a,66atogether function as a lock-releasing portion of the lock-releasing device6a, whereas the two slits900a,902atogether function as a locking portion of the locking device9a, such that the lock-releasing portion and the locking portion are matched and coupled together.

Referring toFIG. 22andFIG. 23, the two slits900a,902aand the two teeth64a,66aare equal in width and height, such that the two teeth64a,66acan be inserted into the slits900a,902arespectively and in a one-to-one manner, so as to serve a lock-releasing purpose. Conversely, if the two teeth64a,66afail to be inserted into the slits900a,902arespectively and in a one-to-one manner, for example, in a situation where one of the teeth64a,66ais wider than a corresponding one of the slits900a,902a, the lock-releasing device6acannot serve a lock-releasing purpose. As a result, the locking device9aneeds a specific said lock-releasing device6ain order to serve a lock-releasing purpose.

Referring toFIG. 24, alternatively, the locking portion the locking device9acan be a threesome tooth901a, whereas the lock-releasing portion of the lock-releasing device6acan be a threesome slit65a, so as to perform a lock-releasing operation that requires a specific said lock-releasing device6a. The quantity, structure, and distribution of the slits65a,900a,902aand the teeth64a,66a,901aare not limited to the above-mentioned. Besides, the slits and the teeth can coexist on the locking portion and the lock-releasing portion, but have to meet the requirement that the lock-releasing portion and the locking portion can be matched and coupled together.

Referring toFIG. 25, a bolt91aof the locking device9ahas four bumps910a,911a,912a,913a, and the four bumps910a,911a,912a,913aare paired and disposed on two lateral sides of the bolt91a, respectively. At the point in time when the bolt91aof the locking device9ais inserted into the through hole of the protective plate of the sleeve and the locking device9ahas not entered a locked state (as shown inFIG. 4), the bumps910a,911a,912a,913aare stopped at a mouth edge of the through hole, so as to prevent the locking device9afrom being disconnected reversely.

Referring toFIG. 26andFIG. 27, a stop block90bof a locking device9bhas a guiding curved surface94b. The top edge of the guiding curved surface94bis connected to the top of the stop block90b. The bottom edge of the guiding curved surface94bis connected to a bolt91bof the locking device9band abuts against the rear side of a protective plate42b, so as to prevent the locking device9bfrom being forcibly damaged. For example, if a screw or a finger is inserted between the stop block90band the protective plate42b, any external force exerted upon the screw or the finger will lack a preferred fulcrum, because the screw or the finger will slide along the guiding curved surface94b.

In conclusion, a connector locking assembly according to the present invention is applicable to various cable connectors and thus its application is not restricted to the cable connectors in the aforesaid embodiment. The connector locking assembly according to the present invention is not only effective in preventing cable connectors which are inserted into network jacks from being disconnected at will, but also enhances the security of administration of communication network. Furthermore, the connector locking assembly comprises a protective plate for protecting a pressing plate of the cable connector and thereby preventing the pressing plate from severing under an external force.