Abstract:
A security cover for a distribution tap that is mounted over the top of the tap preventing access to the service drop ports on top of the tap. The security cover includes one or more walls, a lid allowing access through the security cover to the tap, a base plate attachable to the tap and notches in at least one wall for cable access. The lid and walls fit over and substantially enclose the service drop ports of the tap. The lid is attachable to at least one of the walls via a z-hinge and a barrel and plunger lock is used to secure the lid to the walls. One side of the base plate is attachable to the walls and the opposite side of the base plate is attachable to the tap. The base plate is substantially open to the top surface of the tap and is attachable to the tap via the tap&#39;s existing mounting points.

Description:
[0001]    A security cover for telecommunications and cable television distribution taps is disclosed. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Distribution taps are used in the telecommunication, cable TV and other industries to distribute signals.  FIG. 1  shows a commonly used distribution tap  100 . The tap includes a housing  1 , a face plate  2 , a plurality of service drop ports  3 , one or more input/output/test ports  14 , and one or more holes  16  through which bolts or other similar fastening devices may be passed to attach the faceplate  2  to the housing  1 .  FIG. 2  shows how a signal may flow through a typical distribution tap  100  used in the cable TV industry. The signal may be carried on a line-in  17 A leading into an input/output/test port  14  of the distribution tap  100 . The signal is made available to the service drop ports  3  and then continues through the distribution tap through a line-out  17 B at a second input/output/test port  14 . One or more service drop cables  11  may be attached to the service drop ports  3  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4  and the related discussion below with respect to service drop lines  11 ) and the signal from the line-in  17 A will be carried through the service drop cable(s)  11  which may be attached to in this example a cable TV box or directly to a cable-ready TV. The line-out  17 B may then carry the signal to down-line distribution taps for further distribution of the signal. It is typical that there is a pair of input/output/test ports  14  that lead to the same service drop ports  3 . The line-in  17 A may be attached to either one of the input pair and line-out  17 B may be attached to either one of the output pair. A technician may then use special instruments inserted at the unused input/output/test port  14  to test various characteristics of the signal being carried. 
         [0003]    Cable TV signals and many other telecommunications signals are commonly not made available free of charge. For example, cable TV subscribers must pay to obtain the signal being carried or supplied by the line-in  17 A. Once a subscriber has paid, the cable TV provider attaches a service drop cable  11  to a service drop port  3  on a distribution tap  100  near the subscriber&#39;s house or place of business. Distribution taps  100  are commonly located in underground/aboveground storage devices such as vaults, on telephone poles or merely in a cable line. The storage devices may or may not be locked or secure. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a cable TV or other telecommunications signal without paying a fee by illegally attaching a service drop cable  11  to an open unsecured service drop port  3 . 
         [0004]    There are existing devices to deter illegal tapping of distribution taps  100  and service drop ports  3 . For example, service port terminators may be placed in unused service ports  3 . However, the terminators are removed by a simple tool that is inexpensive and available for purchase from any number of online suppliers. Moreover, the tool simply makes it faster and easier to remove the terminator; there are several ways to remove a terminator even without a tool. Other devices include security sleeves that make it difficult to remove a service drop cable  11  from a filter  18  and attach it directly to a service port  3 . There are also numerous devices that completely enclose distribution taps  100  and other connecting devices within a locking enclosure. Such devices preclude access to the test ports  14  unless the enclosure is unlocked. They are also cumbersome and move independently from the distribution tap  100 . 
         [0005]    Disclosed herein is a security cover that attaches directly to the distribution tap faceplate. Unlike the prior art that merely encloses the distribution tap, any attempt to cut or pry the security cover off will cause loss or decreased signal generating a trouble call. Prior art which completely enclosed the distribution tap but is not attached to it, could be opened without damaging the distribution tap thus enabling the removal of the distribution tap to gain access to the ports. The disclosed security cover, being attached directly to the distribution tap does not depend on walls or mounting surfaces other than the distribution tap faceplate, although the assembled security cover and distribution tap may be attached to walls or other mounting services as desired. The access holes for the service drop cables on the security cover are designed to be small so no tools or any other means can be used to attach cable to an open port on the tap unlike the relatively large entry paths on prior art devices. Other benefits of the disclosed security cover over the prior art include: easy access to the input/output/test ports without unlocking the security cover; designed gaps within the security cover to prevent water damage to the distribution tap; installation can be in underground/aboveground storage devices, telephone poles or on-line aerial locations; the compact design will not interfere with size constraints of small or crowded vaults or interfere with each other in multiple tap chains; the design allows for a minimum bend radius for the cable drops to be maintained; and no other security devices i.e. port terminator or sleeves need to be installed when using the security cover. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed herein is a security cover for a distribution tap that is mounted over the top of the tap preventing access to the service drop ports on top of the tap. The security cover includes one or more walls surrounding at least the top of the tap, a lid allowing access through the security cover to the tap, a lock to secure the lid to the walls, openings in the security cover for cable. The security cover is secured to the tap via the interior of the security cover. In one embodiment, the security cover is attachable to the tap via the tap&#39;s existing mounting points. In some embodiments the openings for cable comprise notches in one or more of the walls. In other embodiments the openings are notches in the lid. 
         [0007]    The security cover may also include a base plate. In that embodiment one side of the base plate is attachable to the walls and the opposite side of the base plate is attachable to the tap. The base plate has one or more openings to the top surface of the tap. In other embodiments the base plate is substantially open to the tap. In some embodiments the base plate is attachable to the tap via the tap&#39;s existing mounting points. 
         [0008]    The lock used may be a barrel and plunger lock or other types of locks. The lid of the security cover may be attached to the wall of the security cover via an interior hinge or, in other embodiments, via a Z-hinge. Alternatively, the lid could be attached to the walls and secured by the use of two locks. 
         [0009]    Also disclosed herein is an attachable filter security box that can be used in conjunction with the security cover. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of a security cover for a distribution tap that is mounted over the top of the tap preventing access to the service drop ports on top of the tap disclosed herein the security cover includes one or more walls surrounding at least the top of the tap, and a lid allowing access through the security cover to the tap. The lid is attachable to at least one of the walls via a z-hinge. A barrel and plunger lock is used to secure the lid to the walls. The security cover also includes a base plate. One side of the base plate is attachable to the walls and the opposite side of the base plate is attachable to the tap via the tap&#39;s existing mounting points. The base plate is substantially open to the top surface of the tap. The security cover includes notches in at least one wall for cable. In one embodiment of the security cover an attachable filter security box is also disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a typical distribution tap; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing how a signal may flow through a typical distribution tap; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the security cover with an interior hinge showing how it is installed on a distribution tap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the security cover with a Z-hinge showing how it is installed on a distribution tap; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the security cover with an interior hinge installed on a distribution tap; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the security cover with a Z-hinge installed on a distribution tap; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  contains detailed cut-away side and top views of the security cover showing the drainage feature of the security cover; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of two security covers chained together; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the security cover with an interior hinge and an attachable filter security box; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the security cover with a Z-hinge and an attachable filter security box; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  contains side views of two embodiments of fastening devices used to attached the filter security box to the security cover. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIGS. 3 ,  3 A,  4  and  4 A show exploded and assembled views respectively of two embodiments of the security cover  200  as it would be attached to a distribution tap  100 . The security cover  200  is attached to the distribution tap housing  1  with the existing fasteners  4  of the distribution tap  100 . The fasteners  4  go through the base plate  5  of the security cover  200  and the face plate  2  of the distribution tap  100 . The fasteners  4  are on the interior of the security cover  200  so that once the security cover  200  is locked the fasteners  4  are not accessible. However, the security cover  200  may be attached via other means as well. For example, new or different attachment points could be drilled into the distribution tap  100  to use to attach the security cover  100 . Indeed, one embodiment of the security cover  200  may be configured without a base plate  5 . In this embodiment, the walls or sides  10  of the security cover  100  may incorporate attachment points through which the fasteners  4  of the distribution tap  100  may pass for attachment of the security cover  200  to the distribution tap  100  at the distribution taps  100  existing mounting points or new mounting points may be drilled. Other attachment points and methods may be used such as clamping the security cover onto the tap, attachment via the service drop points, etc. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in embodiments that use a base plate  5 , the base plate  5  of the security cover  200  is open in the middle  5 A to accommodate the fitting of the base plate  5  over the distribution tap  100  and the service drop ports  3  of the distribution tap  100 . Rather than being substantially open as is depicted in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments the base plate  5  could instead have one or more openings placed and sized such that only access to the service drop ports  3  is available and not the entire face plate  2  of the distribution tap  100 . In either case, the baseplate  5  is preferably sized such that when it is attached to the distribution tap  100  the perimeter of the middle  5 A of the base plate  5  of the security cover  200  is slightly larger than the perimeter of the faceplate  2  and housing  1  of the distribution tap  100  creating a small gap between the middle  5 A of the base plate  5  and the distribution tap  100 . The gap will allow water to drain out  12  of the assembled distribution tap  100  and security cover  200  while preventing access of tools. In embodiments wherein a base plate  5  is not used, the perimeter of the side(s) or wall(s)  10  of the security cover  100  is preferably sized to provide a gap for drainage. 
         [0024]    The security cover  200  includes four sides  10  and a lid  9  attached via a hinge  8  or  8 A. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A , the hinge is preferably a Z-hinge  8 A. The Z-hinge  8 A comprises two parts—a Z-hinge locking tab  37  and a Z-hinge exterior tab  38 . The Z-hinge tabs  37 ,  38  are configured so that when lid  9  is rotated closed Z-hinge locking tab  37  is inserted from the exterior of security cover  200  into the interior of the security cover  200  though hinge slot  31  where it is secured and cannot be tampered with. However, as shown  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the hinge could also be an interior hinge  8  which would also prevent tampering when lid  9  is rotated closed and the security cover  200  is locked. The cover sides  10  and the lid  9  are preferably made of hardened steel or some other material difficult to cut or otherwise breech. The security cover  200  also includes means for locking the lid  9  to at least one of the sides  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the means for locking comprises a barrel or plunger type lock  13 . In this embodiment, the security cover  200  includes a lock housing  6  incorporated into the lid  9  and one of the sides  10  designed to accept a barrel or plunger type lock  13 . Other types of locks are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0025]    In  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the lid  9  is shown in an open ( FIG. 3 ) or removed ( FIG. 3A ), unlocked position. In the open or removed position, the service drop ports  3  of the distribution tap  100  are accessible. In the open or removed positions, service drop cables  11  may be attached and detached from the service drop ports  3 . With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 4A , after attaching the service drop cable  11  with the lid in an open or removed position, the service drop cable  11  is laid in a service drop cable notch  7  which allows the lid  9  to be closed securely against the cover sides  10 . In some embodiments, the security cover may instead be provided with service drop cable notches in the lid or there may be notches in both the lid  9  and the sides  10 . Also, holes through the lid  9  and/or the sides  10  may be used instead of or in addition to the service drop cable notches  7 . With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 4A , when closing lid  9 , the “Z” hinge  8 A is inserted from the outside of the security cover  200  into hinge slot  31  on one side of the security cover  200  as lid  9  is rotated closed. In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lid  9  is simply rotated closed. In either of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  or in  FIGS. 3A and 4A , after lid  9  is closed, there is sufficient overlap of the Z-hinge  8 A (specifically, the Z-hinge locking tab  37 , which is now in the interior of the security cover  200 ) or coverage of the rotating hinge  8  by the lid  9  to prevent removal when a barrel or plunger type lock  13  is installed. Other types of hinges and hinge placements are certainly possible in various embodiments. Indeed, in some embodiments the lid may be secured by the use of two or more locks without the use of a hinge. The placement of the service drop cable notches  7  are preferably along the edge of the cover sides  10  opposite the face plate  2  of the distribution tap  100  and the cover sides  10  are of such a height so as to be able to maintain a minimum bend radius  15  of the service drop cable  11  when attached to a service drop port  3 . However, other configurations with respect to placement of service drop cable notches  7  and the cover sides  10  are certainly possible. The service drop cable notches  7  are preferably no larger than needed to lay the service drop cable  11  in and allow the lid  9  to close so that it would be difficult to use a tool to gain access through an unused service drop cable notch  7  to attach a cable to an unused service drop port  3  while the security cover  200  is locked. 
         [0026]    The lid  9  is shown in the closed position in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . With continuing reference to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the lid  9  may then be locked by inserting the barrel/plunger style lock  13  into the lock housing  6 . Once the lid  9  is locked, the service drop ports  3  are not accessible. However, the input/output/test ports  14  of the distribution tap  100  remain accessible even when the security cover  200  is locked. This makes it much easier and quicker for a technician to diagnose problems without having to unlock the security cover  200  or remove service drop port terminators or security sleeves as he or she would be required to do with prior art devices. 
         [0027]    Because the width and length of the security cover  200  is only slightly larger than the width and length of the distribution tap  100 , the security cover  200  is particularly useful in small or crowded vaults and in multi-tap chains taking up little more room than the distribution taps themselves.  FIG. 6  shows security covers  200  attached to two distribution taps  100  in a two-tap chain; however, the chains can be of any length and configuration as needed. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 7A , the security cover may also include a “slide-on” compartment that will provide security for traps and/or filters that may be added to the service drop cable  11 . As can be appreciated from the design of the filter security box described herein, the filter security box could also be used for other devices such as modems, monitoring equipment or data collecting equipment. As described below, traps and filters have the same function and the terms are used interchangeably herein. In a typical cable television system, the line-in  17 A includes all the channels that the cable TV provider offers. Absent a filter, the service drop line  11  will also carry all the channels that the cable TV provider offers. However, the cable TV provider generally provides varying levels of service with each level offering a different line-up of channels. In order to provide only the channels to which the subscriber is entitled, the cable TV provider adds a filter  18  to the service drop cable  11 . The filter  18  removes the channels that the subscriber has not paid for from the signal being carried by the service drop cable  11 . In order to steal channels that the subscriber has not paid for, the subscriber would only need to replace the filter  18  with a different filter  18  or remove the filter  18  entirely. Thus, providing security for the filters  18  may be as important as providing security for the distribution tap  100  itself. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 7 and 7A  show two embodiments of a filter security box  300  that optionally attaches to a security cover  200 . Filters  18  are typically connected directly in-line with the service drop cable  11 . Accordingly, the filter security box  300  consists of a completely enclosed box including four filter box sides  19 , a filter box bottom  20  and a filter box lid  21 . With reference to  FIG. 7A , in one embodiment, the filter box lid  21  is attached to the filter security box  300  via a filter box “Z” hinge  22 A which is inserted through an exterior side  19  of the filter security box  300  into a filter box hinge slot  31 A as the filter box lid  21  is rotated closed. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , an interior filter box hinge  22  is used that allows the filter box lid  21  to be rotated closed. The filter security box  300  also includes means for locking the filter box lid  21  to at least one of the filter box sides  19 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7A , the means for locking comprises a barrel or plunger type lock  13 . In this embodiment, the filter security box  300  includes a filter box lock housing  23  incorporated into the filter box lid  21  and one of the filter box sides  19  designed to accept a barrel or plunger type lock  13 . Filter box service drop cable notches  24  are provided in the filter box sides  19 . The service drop cables  11 , may then be run out of the security cover  200  via the service drop cable notches  7  in the security cover  200  and then through the filter box service drop cable notches  24  in the filter security box  300  where they are attached to the input of the filter  18 . Additional service drop cables  11  are attached to the output of the filter  18  and fed out of filter box service drop cable notches  24  and to the subscriber. Once the service drop cables  11  are laid as desired in the filter box service drop cable notches  24 , the filter box lid  21  may be securely closed against the filter box sides  19 . 
         [0030]    The filter security box  300  may be attached to the security cover  200  via fastening means. Although a wide variety of fastening means are suitable, one such fastening means is shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8  wherein the filter security box  300  is attached to the security cover  200  using one or more “U” shaped fasteners  25 . The “U” shaped fastener  25  is comprised of two parts, the sides  28  and a shoulder section  29 . 
         [0031]    The shoulder  29  is designed to slide down into the service drop cable notches  7  of the security cover  200  and service drop cable notches  24  of the filter security box  300 . The sides  28  of the fastener  25  are larger than notches  7  of the security cover  200  and notches  24  of the filter security box  300  to prevent prying the units apart to gain access to service drop cable  11 . 
         [0032]    An alternative fastening means is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  wherein the filter security box  300  is attached to the security cover  200  using a bolt(s)  32 . The bolt  32  has a threaded end  33  and a head end  34 . The bolt  32  also has a small shoulder  35  designed to slide down into the service drop cable notches  7  of the security cover  200  and a large shoulder  36  designed to butt up against but not pass through the service drop cable notches  7 . The filter security box  300  is attached by passing the bolt(s)  32  from the interior of the security cover  200  through a service drop cable notch  7  of the security cover  200  so that the small shoulder  35  of the bolt  32  lays in a service drop cable notch  7  and the large shoulder  36  of the bolt  32  butts up against the interior of the side  10  of the security cover  200  and the thread end  33  of the bolt  32  is threaded through a bolt hole  26  in one of the filter box sides  19  of the filter security box  300 . The threaded end  33  may be long enough so that an additional nut (not shown) may be threaded onto the thread end  33  from the interior of the filter security box  300 . 
         [0033]    The scope of this disclosure includes embodiments of the security cover applicable to securing other shapes and types of taps either in existence now or to be created. For example, embodiments of the security cover  200  within this disclosure would include one walled or sided security covers for circular taps, three walled or sided security covers for triangular taps, etc. Similarly, the sides do not need to be either parallel to one another or perpendicular to the distribution tap but could vary. 
         [0034]    Whereas the disclosure has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof and a few variations, many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the disclosure.