Plug locking assembly

A plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising opposing top and bottom arms, said top and bottom arms extending tranversely from a wall and defining open spaces therebetween, said open spaces for receiving and holding plugs. The plug holders are typically positioned adjacently to one another or in tandem and the configuration of the opposing top and bottom arms allows for side installation of plugs. The plug locking assembly may further comprise a cover overlying the plug holders.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a plug locking assembly and, more particularly, to a plug locking assembly comprising securement features for holding a plurality of plugs in position adjacent to each other.

BACKGROUND

Telephones and computers are connected to telecommunications networks through the use of standardized modular connections. These modular connections often rely on the use of plugs secured within jacks. The plugs typically comprise a latch that engages with and secures the plug within the jack. The latch may be depressed to disengage the plug for easy removal from the jack, allowing easy disconnection of a device from a network without using tools. In some cases, the latch may be accidentally depressed or unauthorized users may tamper with the latch, resulting in unwanted removal of the plug from its associated jack.

In some installations, particularly those involving fiber optic connections, two plugs are placed in tandem into a jack with two receptacles. These dual-plug installations are susceptible to accidental latch depression and unauthorized tampering as described above, with the added danger that one removed plug renders the entire two-plug connection non-functional.

There is a need, therefore, to protect installations of plugs and prevent their unintended disconnection from associated jacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising opposing top and bottom arms, the top and bottom arms extending tranversely from a wall and defining an open space therebetween for receiving and holding plugs.

In one embodiment, the plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising top and bottom arms, a depression in a surface of at least one of the top and bottom arms, a retaining wall transverse to at least one of the first and second ends and a wall transverse to the top and bottom arms and connected to one of the first and second ends. The top and bottom arms comprise first and second ends and define an open space therebetween for receiving and retaining plugs. The depression is defined by opposing sidewalls positioned between the first and second ends and is sized and shaped to geometrically conform to at least a portion of the plugs to be inserted. The retaining wall comprises a stop surface for retaining plugs in position after insertion.

In another embodiment, the plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising a top arm and a bottom arm, a wall transverse to the top and bottom arms and a cover. The top and bottom arms define a first open space for receiving and holding plugs, with each of the top and bottom arms extending from a first fixed end to a second free end. The second free ends define a second open space for side insertion of plugs. The wall is connected to the top and bottom arms at the first fixed end. The cover overlies the plug holder and blocks topside access to plugs. The cover comprises opposing sidewalls and front and rear end portions, with at least one of the opposing sidewalls comprising a concave surface sloping downwardly into at least one of the front and rear end portions.

In yet another embodiment, the plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising top and bottom arms, a wall transverse to the top and bottom arms and a cover overlying the plug holder for blocking topside access to the plug holder. The top and bottom arms extend from a first fixed end to a second free end and define an open space therebetween for receiving and holding plugs. The wall is connected to the first fixed end. The cover may further comprise opposing sidewalls and front and rear end portions, with the sidewalls comprising a concave surface sloping downwardly into one of the rear and front end portions.

In still yet another embodiment, the plug locking assembly comprises tandem plug holders comprising first and second sets of opposing top and bottom arms, a central wall positioned between the tandem plug holders and a cover. The top and bottom arms extend from a first fixed end to a second free end and define open spaces therebetween for receiving and holding plugs. The central wall is connected to the first fixed ends of the top and bottom arms and positioned transversely thereto. The cover comprises opposing sidewalls and front end and rear end portions, with the opposing sidewalls comprising opposing concave surfaces. At least a portion of the concave surfaces may be positioned above and in alignment with the open spaces

The plug locking assembly may also incorporate various other features. A surface of at least one of the top and bottom arms may, for example, comprise a ramp. When a retaining wall is present, it may comprise a stop surface and/or an angled surface. When a cover is present, it may define two or more tool insertion slots for receiving a plug removal tool and include front end and rear end portions with a bottom surface of the front end portion lying in a different plane than all of said rear end portion. The plug locking assembly may comprise two adjacent plug holders positioned in tandem for receiving two plugs. In addition, a surface of at least one of the top and bottom arms may comprise a depression geometrically conforming to at least a portion of the plugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, plug locking assembly10comprises at least one plug holder12, central wall30positioned between plug holder12, and cover40. Plug locking assembly10may be constructed by injection molding or machining processes well known to those skilled in the art, and may be constructed of plastic, metal, or any other moldable or machinable material.

Plug holders12each comprise opposing top arms14and opposing bottom arms16, each extending transversely from central wall30and defining first open spaces17therebetween. As used herein, the term “transverse” means intersecting at an angle, including but not limited to a 90 degree angle. First open spaces17receive and hold plugs. Top arms14comprise first fixed ends21connected to central wall30and second free ends23spaced apart from first fixed ends21and may taper in width as they extend from first fixed ends21to second free ends23. First fixed ends21are connected to central wall30. As seen most clearly inFIG. 3, second free ends23of top and bottom arms14and16define second open space18for side insertion of plugs and may comprise ramp22for ease of insertion of plugs, as described hereinbelow. As used herein, side insertion means that the plug may be inserted into and engaged by plug holders12from at least a sideways direction, as shown inFIG. 4A. Top surfaces19of top arms14slope downwardly toward bottom arms16. Bottom surfaces25of top arms14comprise depression27defined by opposing sidewalls33and34in bottom surfaces25and sized and shaped to geometrically conform to a least a portion of plugs. Second free ends23of bottom arms16may comprise retaining walls20transverse to bottom arms16and comprising angled surfaces26to aid plug installation and stop surfaces28to retain plugs in position. When plug holders12are positioned in tandem, plug holders comprise first and second sets of top and bottom arms14and16.

Cover40comprises tool insertion slots42, central pull hook opening44, sidewalls46, and top wall48. Cover40is designed to block topside access to latch104and to enable removal of plugs through use of removal tool130. Cover40further comprises front end portion41and rear end portion43. Bottom surface45of front end portion41may lie in a different plane than all of rear end portion43. Sidewalls46may comprise concave surface47, which slopes downwardly into at least one of front end and rear end portions41and43. Sidewalls46help limit side access to the plug latch after the installation. Slots42may exhibit an L-shaped configuration and further comprise a plurality of slot configurations to allow unique keys to be provided to further limit access. Concave surfaces47, when present, are provided to allow the depressed latch of a plug to pass underneath sidewalls46upon insertion or removal of a plug from assembly10. At least a portion of concave surfaces47may be positioned above and in alignment with first open spaces17.

Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, plugs100are secured within plug holders12by depressing plug latch104and inserting plug100between top arms14and bottom arms16sideways. Plugs100comprise opening102, latch104, fiber receiving member105and clasp surface106. Top arm14is inserted into opening102within plug100, and bottom arm16is directed underneath the bottom of plug100. As seen most clearly inFIG. 4B, plug latch104is depressed such that it will fit under concave surface47of cover40upon insertion. During insertion, surfaces of plug100ride over ramps22of top arm14and angled surfaces26of bottom arm16, to slide into open spaces17. When plug100is fully inserted into plug holder12, it is held in place by top arm14and stop surface28as well as its placement within depressions27.FIG. 5Ashows the final assembly with two plugs100retained in tandem in plug locking assembly10.

Once plugs100are secured within locking assembly10, they may be inserted into receptacle120, comprising receptacle latch surface122, manually. In installations where space constraints make manual insertion difficult, tool130, which comprises prongs132and pull hook134, may be used to insert the assembled apparatus into receptacle120. Additional details concerning tool130are shown and described in co-pending, co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/207,853, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIGS. 6A-Cillustrate use of tool130for insertion of plugs100into receptacle120. Tool130is inserted into assembly10with pull hook134positioned in a downward orientation.FIG. 6Ashows the relation of tool130, plug locking assembly10, plugs100, and receptacle120just prior to insertion of plugs100into receptacle120. Prongs132of tool130are inserted into insertion slots42of cover40, but pull hook134remains outside pull hook opening44of cover40. Tool130is pushed forward until plugs100are inserted into receptacle120, as shown inFIG. 6B. Tool130is then removed, as shown inFIG. 6C, leaving plugs100engaged within receptacle120and protected from unintended disconnection and tampering by cover40. In the final assembled position, latches104of plugs100are covered by top wall48and side walls46of cover40, thereby preventing their depression and activation, as shown inFIG. 6C.

Removal of plugs100from receptacle120and plug holder may be achieved through tool130.FIGS. 7A-Cand8A-C illustrate use of tool130for this purpose. Tool130is inserted into assembly10with pull hook134positioned in an upward orientation. Prongs132are inserted into insertion slots42, and pull hook134is inserted into pull hook opening44of cover40. Prongs132depress latches104, removing clasp surface106from contact and interference with receptacle latch surface122, enabling the manual removal of plugs100from receptacle120. These operations are shown in cross-section inFIGS. 8A(plug locked and inserted with tool approaching),8B (tool inserted and latches104depressed), and8C (pull hook134engaged during plug removal). Plugs100may be removed from assembly10by manually depressing latches104so they may pass under concave surfaces47and pulling plugs100out of plug holders12.