Abstract:
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.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/956,491, which was filed Aug. 17, 2007, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the plug locking assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the plug locking assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front end view of the plug locking assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a first plug inserted into the plug locking assembly of  FIG. 1  and a second plug adjacent the locking assembly prior to insertion; 
       FIG. 4B  is a side elevated view of the insertion shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of two plugs inserted in the plug locking assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5B  is a side elevated view of  FIG. 5A ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a tool being used to insert plugs contained in one embodiment of the plug locking assembly of the present invention into a receptacle just before insertion; 
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of  FIG. 6A  with the plugs at the point of insertion; 
       FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of  FIG. 6A  after insertion of the plugs into the receptacle; 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of plugs in a receptacle held in one embodiment of the plug locking assembly of the present invention and the tool of  FIG. 6A  rotated 180 degrees for removing said plugs from said receptacle; 
       FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7A , with the tool inserted into the slots of the plug locking assembly; 
       FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7A , with the tool engaged with the plug locking assembly and removing the plugs from the receptacle; 
       FIG. 8A  is a cross-section of the receptacle and the plug locking assembly shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
       FIG. 8B  is a cross-section of the receptacle and the plug locking assembly shown in  FIG. 7B , showing the operation of the tool; and 
       FIG. 8C  is a cross-section of the receptacle, plug locking assembly, and tool of  FIG. 7C , showing the engagement of the tool with the assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , plug locking assembly  10  comprises at least one plug holder  12 , central wall  30  positioned between plug holder  12 , and cover  40 . Plug locking assembly  10  may 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 holders  12  each comprise opposing top arms  14  and opposing bottom arms  16 , each extending transversely from central wall  30  and defining first open spaces  17  therebetween. As used herein, the term “transverse” means intersecting at an angle, including but not limited to a 90 degree angle. First open spaces  17  receive and hold plugs. Top arms  14  comprise first fixed ends  21  connected to central wall  30  and second free ends  23  spaced apart from first fixed ends  21  and may taper in width as they extend from first fixed ends  21  to second free ends  23 . First fixed ends  21  are connected to central wall  30 . As seen most clearly in  FIG. 3 , second free ends  23  of top and bottom arms  14  and  16  define second open space  18  for side insertion of plugs and may comprise ramp  22  for 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 holders  12  from at least a sideways direction, as shown in  FIG. 4A . Top surfaces  19  of top arms  14  slope downwardly toward bottom arms  16 . Bottom surfaces  25  of top arms  14  comprise depression  27  defined by opposing sidewalls  33  and  34  in bottom surfaces  25  and sized and shaped to geometrically conform to a least a portion of plugs. Second free ends  23  of bottom arms  16  may comprise retaining walls  20  transverse to bottom arms  16  and comprising angled surfaces  26  to aid plug installation and stop surfaces  28  to retain plugs in position. When plug holders  12  are positioned in tandem, plug holders comprise first and second sets of top and bottom arms  14  and  16 . 
   Cover  40  comprises tool insertion slots  42 , central pull hook opening  44 , sidewalls  46 , and top wall  48 . Cover  40  is designed to block topside access to latch  104  and to enable removal of plugs through use of removal tool  130 . Cover  40  further comprises front end portion  41  and rear end portion  43 . Bottom surface  45  of front end portion  41  may lie in a different plane than all of rear end portion  43 . Sidewalls  46  may comprise concave surface  47 , which slopes downwardly into at least one of front end and rear end portions  41  and  43 . Sidewalls  46  help limit side access to the plug latch after the installation. Slots  42  may 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 surfaces  47 , when present, are provided to allow the depressed latch of a plug to pass underneath sidewalls  46  upon insertion or removal of a plug from assembly  10 . At least a portion of concave surfaces  47  may be positioned above and in alignment with first open spaces  17 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , plugs  100  are secured within plug holders  12  by depressing plug latch  104  and inserting plug  100  between top arms  14  and bottom arms  16  sideways. Plugs  100  comprise opening  102 , latch  104 , fiber receiving member  105  and clasp surface  106 . Top arm  14  is inserted into opening  102  within plug  100 , and bottom arm  16  is directed underneath the bottom of plug  100 . As seen most clearly in  FIG. 4B , plug latch  104  is depressed such that it will fit under concave surface  47  of cover  40  upon insertion. During insertion, surfaces of plug  100  ride over ramps  22  of top arm  14  and angled surfaces  26  of bottom arm  16 , to slide into open spaces  17 . When plug  100  is fully inserted into plug holder  12 , it is held in place by top arm  14  and stop surface  28  as well as its placement within depressions  27 .  FIG. 5A  shows the final assembly with two plugs  100  retained in tandem in plug locking assembly  10 . 
   Once plugs  100  are secured within locking assembly  10 , they may be inserted into receptacle  120 , comprising receptacle latch surface  122 , manually. In installations where space constraints make manual insertion difficult, tool  130 , which comprises prongs  132  and pull hook  134 , may be used to insert the assembled apparatus into receptacle  120 . Additional details concerning tool  130  are 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-C  illustrate use of tool  130  for insertion of plugs  100  into receptacle  120 . Tool  130  is inserted into assembly  10  with pull hook  134  positioned in a downward orientation.  FIG. 6A  shows the relation of tool  130 , plug locking assembly  10 , plugs  100 , and receptacle  120  just prior to insertion of plugs  100  into receptacle  120 . Prongs  132  of tool  130  are inserted into insertion slots  42  of cover  40 , but pull hook  134  remains outside pull hook opening  44  of cover  40 . Tool  130  is pushed forward until plugs  100  are inserted into receptacle  120 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . Tool  130  is then removed, as shown in  FIG. 6C , leaving plugs  100  engaged within receptacle  120  and protected from unintended disconnection and tampering by cover  40 . In the final assembled position, latches  104  of plugs  100  are covered by top wall  48  and side walls  46  of cover  40 , thereby preventing their depression and activation, as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
   Removal of plugs  100  from receptacle  120  and plug holder may be achieved through tool  130 .  FIGS. 7A-C  and  8 A-C illustrate use of tool  130  for this purpose. Tool  130  is inserted into assembly  10  with pull hook  134  positioned in an upward orientation. Prongs  132  are inserted into insertion slots  42 , and pull hook  134  is inserted into pull hook opening  44  of cover  40 . Prongs  132  depress latches  104 , removing clasp surface  106  from contact and interference with receptacle latch surface  122 , enabling the manual removal of plugs  100  from receptacle  120 . These operations are shown in cross-section in  FIGS. 8A  (plug locked and inserted with tool approaching),  8 B (tool inserted and latches  104  depressed), and  8 C (pull hook  134  engaged during plug removal). Plugs  100  may be removed from assembly  10  by manually depressing latches  104  so they may pass under concave surfaces  47  and pulling plugs  100  out of plug holders  12 .