SWITCHED DATA OUTLET SOCKET ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A data outlet socket assembly (1) incorporates a conventional jack (4) for example an RJ45 jack) and a switch (6). The switch may be a key operated switch or a key pad operated switch. The switch controls connection of the jack (4) to a wiring system whereby when the switch is in the "0" position the jack does not provide a workable connection to the wiring system. The switch may be used to prevent unauthorised access to a computer network or unauthorised use of a telephone system. The switch may simply open circuit of one or more connections between the wiring and the jack or may provide a positive connection between one or more conductors of the wiring system and another conductor or earth, thereby providing a signal to a central monitoring system as to the status of the switch.

Description: SWITCHED DATA OUTLET SOCKET ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a switched data outlet socket assembly, that is to say a data outlet socket assembly which incorporates a switch controlling use of the data outlet socket. Data outlet sockets are frequently used in building installations to enable a releasable data connection to be made between electronic equipment and a fixed wiring system present within the building. Data outlet sockets may, for example, enable computers to be connected to a computer network or telephone handsets to be connected to a telephone cable system. Often, more socket outlets are provided than the number of appliances to be connected to the wiling system and accordingly at any one time some socket outlets are "vacant". If these socket outlets are live the possibility exists of an authorised connection of equipment to them. For example, a telephone appliance could be plugged into a vacant telephone socket or a computer could be plugged into a vacant computer network socket. This is highly undesirable, especially in the case of computer networks handling confidential information. According to the present invention, a data outlet socket assembly incorporates a switch which enables the socket to be disabled. The switch may be a mechanical key operated switch or could be a key pad operated switch. In its simplest embodiment, the switch may simply interrupt the connection between one conductor of a fixed wiring system and a corresponding conductor of a jack mounted within the socket assembly. Accordingly, when the switch is in the "off ("0") position an appliance plugged into the jack will not operate because one of the connections between that jack and the fixed wiring system has been interrupted. When the switched is moved to the "on" ("1") position the connection controlled by the switch is closed with the result that the socket is functional. More sophisticated arrangements are, however, possible. In particular, in the case of a computer network the switch may be arranged to produce a particular connection between two or more conductors of the fixed wiring system, or between one or more such conductor and ground, when the switch is in the 0 position. In this case, means may be provided at a central location for monitoring the electrical connections to each socket outlet of the system. When the socket is moved from the 0 to the 1 position the change in state may accordingly be detected at a central monitoring point to provide a central indication that a particular socket has been activated. Such a monitoring arrangement provides an additional level of security and may be particularly desirable where highly confidential information is transmitted over a computer network. It will be appreciated that the invention is of wide general applicability to controlling the connection of equipment to a fixed wiring system. The socket assembly may, therefore, be used for example in a private house to control the connection of a computer modem to the telephone system or to prevent the unauthorised use of a telephone system by plugging a telephone receiver into a vacant telephone socket. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the socket outlet assembly incorporates a module comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) upon which is mounted the switch, a jack for receiving a connecting plug, and one or more connector blocks for receiving wires from a fixed wiring system. The PCB provides necessary connections between the switch, the jack and the connector blocks so that in order to install the socket assembly it is merely necessary to connect the fixed wiring system to the connector blocks using existing wiring conventions. In a modified embodiment of the invention the socket assembly includes a fly lead which at one end is connected to the connector blocks and at the other end has a plug which can be inserted into an existing conventional socket outlet. Accordingly, the switched socket outlet of the present invention may be mounted atop an existing unswitched socket outlet simply by inserting the plug of the switched socket outlet into the jack of the existing socket outlet. A suitable mounting pattress is provided for mounting the switched socket outlet on top of the existing socket outlet. Accordingly, no disruption to the existing fixed wiring will be necessary in order to employ the modified embodiment of switched socket outlet assembly. If desired, security fixings may be used to secure embodiments of the present invention into place. Such security fixings may take the form of special purpose screws requiring special purpose tools for their removal, or screws with heads which permit tightening using a conventional screwdriver but which cannot be unscrewed because of the absence of reaction surfaces on the screw head. The above and other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1. Referring firstly to Figure 1, the switched data outlet socket assembly 1 shown comprises a face plate 2 having fixing holes 3 to allow the face plate to be mounted on a conventional flush mounting or surface mounting connection box. The socket assembly includes a conventional jack 4, for example an RJ45 jack. A slide cover 5 can, if desired, be provided for covering the jack access hole when the socket is not in use. A panel 5A may be provided for carrying socket identification markings. A key operated switch 6 is provided adjacent the jack 4. The switch has an "0" position in which the socket is not available for use and a "1" position in which the socket is available for use. Preferably, the key operated arrangement is such that when the switch is in the "1" position the key cannot be withdrawn from the socket. Referring now to Figure 2 it will be noted that the key operated switch 6 is mounted on a printed circuit board 7 which also has mounted thereon the jack 4 and connecting blocks 9, 10. The PCB provides tracks connecting the blocks 9, 10 to the jack 4. At least one of the connections is made via the switch 6. In the simplest arrangement one critical conductor is routed via the switch 6 and the switch 6 is arranged to break that conductor when in the "0" position and make that conductor when in the "1" position. More sophisticated arrangements are, however, possible. For example, the switch 6 may be arranged to connect two or more of the terminals 8 of the connector blocks 9, 10 together when in the "0" position or may be arranged to connect one or more of the teπninals 8 of the blocks 9, 10 to ground when in the "0" position. The module formed by the switch 6, PCB 7, jack 4 and connecting blocks 9, 10 is self contained and self supporting and is secured to the face plate 2 by means of an adapter 11. The adapter 11 includes legs 12, 13 which have grooves 14 near the base thereof for foπning a snap fit with the face plate 2. The free ends 15 of the legs incorporate grooves for receiving opposite edges of the PCB 7. Accordingly, in order to assemble the socket assembly the adapter 11 is snapped into an aperture provided in the face plate 2 and the PCB 7 is sprung into place between the legs 12, 13. The presence of the PCB holds the legs apart and thereby prevents removal of the adapter 11 from the face plate 2. Screws 16 provided for securing the face plate in position may be conventional screws or, if a higher degree of security is required, can be security screws as described above. In a modified embodiment of the invention (not shown) a short fly lead is connected to the blocks 9, 10 and incorporates at the free end thereof a plug adapted to be inserted in an existing outlet socket. A suitable pattress is used to mount the switched socket outlet assembly atop an existing conventional socket outlet assembly thereby converting the existing socket outlet assembly into a switch socket outlet assembly without interfering with the fixed wiring of the building in which the socket is positioned.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A data outlet socket assembly incorporating a switch operation of which selectively enables or disables the socket assembly. 2. A data outlet socket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is a mechanical key operated switch. 3. A data outlet socket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is a key pad operated switch. 4. A data outlet socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the switch interrupts connection between one or more conductors of a fixed wiring system and one or more respective corresponding conductors of a jack mounted within the socket assembly. 5. A data outlet socket assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the switch is arranged to produce a particular connection between two or more conductors of a fixed wiring system or between one or more such conductors and ground when the switch is in the state to disable the socket. 6. A data outlet socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket assembly incorporates a module comprising a printed circuit board upon which is mounted the switch, a jack for receiving a connecting plug, and one or more connector blocks for receiving wires from a fixed wiring system. 7. A data outlet socket assembly according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the socket assembly includes a fly lead for providing an input to the socket assembly whereby the socket assembly may be mounted atop an existing unswitched socket outlet. 8. A data outlet socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet socket assembly comprises securing fixings which, when used to secure the assembly in position, cannot be removed or can only be removed by use of special tools.

Inventors: WEATHERLEY RICHARD, WEATHERLEY, RICHARD
Applicants: R W DATA LTD, WEATHERLEY RICHARD, R. W. DATA LIMITED, WEATHERLEY, RICHARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R25, H04M1