Patent Publication Number: US-2003224637-A1

Title: Plug socket securing device for use with plug socket having a slot formed by a resilient tab

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention is related to a plug socket securing device, particularly one for use with an equipment provided with a plug socket having a slot formed by a resilient tab on the plug socket and features electrical or signal transmission function.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002] With the rapid development of the modern society, the application of electronic equipments and computers has become very common. The current computer, either a desktop computer or a laptop computer  1 , as shown in FIG. 1, has a plurality of connector ports, each port including at least one slot formed by a resilient tab of the plug socket of the port, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port plug  10  for connecting a USB interface.  
       [0003] However, the existence of a USB interface may allow unauthorized persons to connect to an appropriate hardware, such as a portable hard diskette drive or a CD-R drive to steal the data files from the electronic equipment by connecting a transmitting cable to the plug. Thus, there is a need to provide a device to prevent unauthorized connection to the plugs of the electronic equipment.  
       [0004] Furthermore, as they have become lighter and more compact, electronic equipments including fax machines, printers, or laptop computers that are compact in size, may be easily stolen. To attack such a problem, known measures for securing such electronic equipments include furnishing the equipment with a custom security device on the equipment casing, the security device then being locked to a lock or cable lock device provided on a fixture, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,853 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,502.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005] In view of the above problems, a primary objective of this invention is to provide a plug socket securing device, particularly one for use with an equipment provided with a plug socket having a slot formed by a resilient tab on the plug socket and features electrical or signal transmission function, for securing and locking the plug socket (such as a USB port or a fire wire port), the plug socket securing device comprising: a closure to be inserted into the plug socket for covering the plug socket; at least one fastener connected to the closure and being movable, in relation to the closure, between a first position which allows the closure to attach and detach from the slot of the socket plug and a second position which prevents the closure inserted in the plug socket from being detached from the plug socket; and a lock mechanism, assembled to the closure for actuating the fastener, the lock mechanism being switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state, where in the unlocked state, the lock mechanism forces the fastener to be restrained to the second position.  
       [0006] As such, this invention helps to seal and lock the closure in the plug socket, such that connection of other hardware or transmission lines to the plug socket by unauthorized persons are prevented.  
       [0007] Another objective of this invention is to provide an interface connected to the plug socket that may be connected to other hardware equipments or transmission lines, thereby allowing indirect connection to the plug socket under the state where the equipment is affixed to the fixture through a connecting element.  
       [0008] The structures and characteristics of this invention can be realized by referring to the appended drawings and explanations of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a currently available laptop computer equipped with a USB port.  
     [0010]FIG. 1( a ) is a perspective view of a USB port.  
     [0011]FIG. 1( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  1   b - 1   b  of FIG. 1( a ).  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective, schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of this invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 3.  
     [0014] FIGS.  4 ( a ) to  4 ( c ) are cross-sectional views of the embodiment in FIG. 2, illustrating the operations where the closure engages the plug socket, in which FIG. 4( c ) illustrates the fastener under its first position.  
     [0015] FIGS.  5 ( a ) to  5 ( b ) are cross-sectional views of the embodiment in FIG. 2, illustrating the operations after the closure engages the plug socket, and a connecting element being in a restraining state, in which FIG. 5( a ) illustrates the fastener under its second position.  
     [0016]FIG. 6( a ) is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention, illustrating the fastener under its first position, and the lock mechanism under its unlocked state.  
     [0017]FIG. 6( b ) is a partially cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 6( a ), illustrating the fastener under its second position, and the lock mechanism under its locked state.  
     [0018]FIG. 7( a ) is a partially cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention, illustrating the fastener under its first position, and the lock mechanism under its unlocked state.  
     [0019]FIG. 7( b ) is a partially cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 7( a ), illustrating the fastener under its second position, and a connecting element being in place.  
     [0020]FIG. 7( c ) is cross-sectional end view of the embodiment in FIG. 7( a ) taken along lines  7   c - 7   c  of FIG. 7( b ), illustrating the fastener under its second position, and a connecting element being in a restraining state.  
     [0021]FIG. 8( a ) is a partially cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention, illustrating the fastener under its first position, and the lock mechanism under its unlocked state.  
     [0022]FIG. 8( b ) is a partially cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 8( a ), illustrating the fastener under its second position, and a connecting element in place.  
     [0023]FIG. 8( c ) is a cross-sectional end view of the embodiment in FIG. 8( a ), illustrating the fastener under its second position, and a connecting element being in a restraining state.  
     [0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 6,  7 , and  8  under the state of use.  
     [0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective, schematic view showing another preferred embodiment of this invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective, exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 10.  
     [0027]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the embodiment in FIG. 10, illustrating the fastener under its first position.  
     [0028]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the embodiment in FIG. 10, illustrating the fastener under its second position. 
    
    
     [0029]                               NOMENCLATURES OF ELEMENTS                                                1   laptop computer           2   securing device           10   plug socket           11   slot           12   resilient tab           20   closure           21   tab           22   lock opening           24   locking arm           27   c-clip           28   connecting element           29   support           32   pivot           34   lock opening           46   lock case           48   control member           60   key lock           62   key           70   drawing lock           71   control button           73   lock opening           80   rotary lock           81   control button           82   cam face           83   lock opening           90   drawing lock           91   control member           93   lock opening           120   bypass interface           122   electrical component           123   circuit board           130   control key           132   lock opening           150   table leg           211   claw           241   control end           242   claw end           243   compression spring           244   leaf spring           281   loop           282   padlock           421   protrusion           462   window           481   cam face           911   urging end                        
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EMBODIMENTS  
     [0030] This invention is mainly related to a plug socket securing device  2 , for securing a plug socket  10  provided on an electronic equipment, such as a communication device, a desktop computer or a laptop computer  1 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0031] The perspective view of the plug socket  10  is shown in FIG. 1( a ). FIG. 1( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  1   b - 1   b  of FIG. 1( a ). The plug socket  10  includes at least one slot  11  formed by a resilient tab  12  and is featured with electrical or signal transmission function, such as a USB port plug.  
     [0032]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of this embodiment. By referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plug socket securing device  2  in this embodiment includes: a closure  20  to be inserted into the plug socket  10  for covering the plug socket  10 ; at least a fastener or a resilient body, such as a tab  21  joined to the closure  20  and being movable, in relation to the closure  20 , between a first position which allows the closure  20  to attach and detach from the socket plug  10  and a second position which prevents the closure  20  inserted in the plug socket  10  from being detached from the plug socket  10 , wherein the tab  21  includes a claw  211  that hooks to the slot  11  of the plug socket  10  at the second position; a lock mechanism, assembled to the closure  20  and being switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein in the unlocked state, the lock mechanism forces the tab  21  to be restrained to the slot  10  in the second position.  
     [0033] This embodiment adopts a drawing lock  90  as the lock mechanism. The drawing lock  90  includes: a lock case  46  formed with a lock opening  93 ; a control member  48  formed with a corresponding lock opening  93 , the control member  48  being movable in relation to the lock case  46  in a linear manner, to urge against the resilient body  21  to the second position, in the unlocked stated, the control member  48  being movable in relation to the lock case  46 ; and a control shaft  91  integrally formed by the control member  48  and has an urging end  911 .  
     [0034] FIGS.  4 ( a ) to  4 ( c ) illustrate the states prior to where the closure  20  engage the plug socket  10 , in which FIG. 4( c ) illustrates the fastener/resilient body in its first position.  
     [0035] While using the securing device  2  of this embodiment, the user draws the control shaft  91  such that the urging end  911  integrally formed by the control member  48  does not urge against the tab  21  of the closure  20 . At this time, the closure  20  may be inserted into the plug socket  10 . When the control shaft  91  is pushed such that the urging end  911  of the control member  48  urges against the tab  21  on the closure  20 , the tab  21  will engage a slot  11  formed in the plug socket  10 , as shown in FIG. 5( a ).  
     [0036] When the urging end  911  is restrained in the second position, the corresponding lock opening  93  adopts to allow a connecting element  28  or a padlock  282 , as shown in FIG. 1, to pass through, thereby limiting the movement of the control member  48 . Therefore, by passing the connecting element  28  through the lock openings  93  of the lock case  46  and control member  48 , movement of the control shaft  91  in the drawing lock  90  may be prevented, as shown in FIG. 5( b ), thereby turning the drawing lock  90  into the locked state, that is, the second position. Therefore, the tab  21  of the closure  20  is locked in the slot  11  of the plug socket  11  and cannot be detached.  
     [0037] In this embodiment, the connecting element  28  may also be wrapped about a fixture, such as a table leg  150 , as that shown in FIG. 12. A locking apparatus may further be provided to lock the connecting element  28  to the fixture  150 , so as to secure the communication equipment or computer  1  to the fixture  150 .  
     [0038] The tab  21  type fastener as shown in FIGS.  2 - 5  is furnished to accommodate the standard plug socket  11  of a USB port  10 , as shown in FIG. 11. Such a tab  21  type fastener may also be of other configurations that comply with other standard plug sockets having slots, such as a wire fire socket; such modifications can be made easily by persons skilled in the art.  
     [0039]FIG. 6( a ) is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the plug socket securing device  2  comprises a closure  20  substantially configured complementary to the shape of the USB plug socket  10 , to be inserted into the plug socket  10  for covering the plug socket  10 . The closure  20  of the plug socket securing device  2  in this invention includes at least one fastener, such as a locking arm  24  shown in this embodiment. The locking arm  24  is movable, in relation to the closure  20 , between a first position (as shown in FIG. 6( a )) that allows the closure  20  to attach and detach from the socket plug  10  and a second position (as shown in FIG. 6( b )) that prevents the locking arm  24  of the closure  20  inserted in the plug socket  10  from being detached from the slot  11  of the plug socket  10 .  
     [0040] The securing device  2  includes a lock mechanism that may be locks of any type, such as the key lock  60  shown in FIGS.  6 ( a ) and  6 ( b ), so long as the lock mechanism is able to lock the locking arm  24  of the closure  20  to the slot  11  of the plug socket  10 . The constructions of the lock mechanism are not limited to those disclosed in the embodiments. The lock mechanism is assembled to the closure  20  and co-acts with the fastener/locking arm  24 . The lock mechanism is switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state. In the unlocked state, the lock mechanism forces the fastener/locking arm to be restrained to the second position.  
     [0041] According to this embodiment, a pivot  32  is provided to the lock mechanism for pivoting the locking arm  24 , and allowing the locking arm  24  of the closure  20  to pivot about the pivot  32 . The locking arm  24  includes a control end  241  and a claw end  242  located at its free end. The lock mechanism is a lock having a lock case  46 ; a control member  48  movable in relation to the lock case  46  for urging the fastener/locking arm  24  to the second position. The control member  48  is a pin that applies forces to the control end  241  of the locking arm  24  in response to the operation of the lock mechanism. In the unlocked state, the control member  48  is movable in relation to the lock case  46 . Of course, the engagement between the control member and the locking arm  24  may adopt configurations not limited to that disclosed in this embodiment.  
     [0042] The detailed structures and locking measures of the key lock  60  in relation to the closure  20  utilized in the preferred embodiment of this invention are known to persons skilled in the art. It should be noted that the lock mechanism can be variously designed to achieve the objects of this invention and should not be limited to those disclosed in the preferred embodiments.  
     [0043] In the embodiment of FIGS.  6 ( a ) and  6 ( b ), FIG. 6( a ) shows the key lock  60  in the unlocked state, that is, the control member  48  is driven by a key  62  so as to not urge against the locking arm  24 . The claw end  242  of the locking arm  24  is detachable from the plug socket  10  due to the resilience of a compression spring  243  applied to the control end  241 , and maintains at the first position. When the control member  48  is driven by the key  62  to rotate such that the control member  48  urges against the locking arm and turns the key lock  60  into the locked state, as shown in FIG. 6( b ), the locking arm  24  is consequently driven by the control member  48  so as to move to the second position to where the claw end  242  tightly attaches to the slot  11  of the plug socket  10 , whereby the closure  20  cannot be detached from the plug socket  10 .  
     [0044] The lock mechanism may further be affixed with a connecting element, such as a cable or a chain, such that after the closure  2  seals and secures the plug socket  10 , the connecting element may affix the equipment having a plug socket  10  to a fixture, such as a table, thereby preventing theft of the equipment, if desired. The securing device  2  may further be affixed with a connecting element  28 , such as a cable or a chain. An end of the connecting element  28  may form a loop  281 , as shown in FIG. 9. However, it should be noted that such connecting element provides additional securing effects to the present invention, but is not intended to limit the scope. In other words, in this embodiment, the object of covering and securing the plug socket  10  may still be achieved without the provision of the connecting element  28 .  
     [0045] In the embodiment of FIGS.  7 ( a ) to  7 ( c ), FIG. 7( a ) shows the securing device  2  of this invention implementing a rotary lock  80 . The rotary lock  80  includes: a lock case  46  formed with a lock opening  83 ; a control member  48  formed with a corresponding lock opening  83 , the control member  48  being movable in relation to the lock case  46  in a rotational manner, to urge against the control end  241  of the locking arm  24 .  
     [0046] In this embodiment, the control member  48  includes a cam face  82  controlled by a control button  81  subjecting the cam face  82  to act on the control end  241  of the locking arm. In the unlocked state, the control member  48  is movable in relation to the lock case  46  and is clear from the control end  241  of the locking arm  24 .  
     [0047]FIG. 7( a ) illustrates the rotary lock  80  under the unlocked state, that is, the cam face  82  does not urge against the locking arm  24  because the control button  81  has yet to be rotated. As such, the claw end  242  of the locking arm  24  is detachable from the plug socket  10  because of the resilience of a compression spring  243  applied to the claw end  241 , and maintains at the first position. When the control member  48  is driven by the cam face  82  of the control button  8  to rotate, the locking arm  24  is consequently driven by the cam face  82  to move to the second position to where the claw end  242  tightly attaches to the slot  11  of the plug socket  10 , whereby the closure  20  cannot be detached from the plug socket  10 .  
     [0048] In this embodiment, the lock case  46  and the control member  48  of the rotary lock  80  are each formed with a lock opening  83 . The lock opening  83  allows a connecting element  28  to pass through when the locking arm  24  is at the second position, limiting the rotation of the control button  81  in relation to the control member  48 , thereby turning the rotary lock  80  into a locked state, as shown in FIG. 7( c ). Hence, the claw end  242  of the locking arm  24  is locked to the slot  11  of the plug socket  10  and cannot be detached. The control button  81  and the control member  48  shown in FIGS.  7 ( a ) and  7 ( b ) are an integral piece. Other appropriate engagements of the two may certainly be adopted.  
     [0049] In the embodiment of FIGS.  8 ( a ) to  8 ( c ), FIG. 8( a ) shows the securing device  2  of this invention implementing a drawing lock  70 . The drawing lock  70  includes: a lock case  46  formed with a lock opening  73 ; a control member  48  formed with a corresponding lock opening  73 , the control member  48  being movable in relation to the lock case  46  in a linear manner, to urge against the control end  241  of the locking arm  24 ; and a control shaft  71  integrally formed by the control member  48  and has an urging end  711 .  
     [0050] While using the securing device  2  of this embodiment, the user draws the control shaft  71  such that the urging end  711  integrally formed by the control member  48  does not urge against the control end  241  of the locking arm  24 . At this time, the closure  20  may be inserted into the plug socket  10 . When the control shaft  71  is pushed such that the urging end  711  of the control member  48  urges against the tab  21  on the closure  20 , the tab  21  will engage the slot  11  formed in the plug socket  10 , as shown in FIG. 8( a ).  
     [0051] When the urging end  711  is restrained to the second position, the corresponding lock opening  73  adopts to allow a connecting element  28  to pass through, thereby limiting the movement of the control member  48 . Therefore, by passing the connecting element  28  or a padlock  282  as shown in FIG. 1 through the lock openings  73  of the lock case  46  and control member  48 , movement of the control shaft  71  in the drawing lock  70  may be prevented, as shown in FIG. 8( c ), thereby turning the drawing lock  70  into the locked state, that is, the second position. Therefore, the tab  21  of the closure  20  is locked in the slot  10  of the plug socket  10 .  
     [0052] The locking arm  24  type fastener as shown in FIGS.  6 - 8  is furnished to accommodate the standard plug socket  11  of a USB port  10  as shown in FIG. 10. Such a locking arm  24  type fastener may also be of other configurations that comply with other standard plug sockets having slots; such modifications can be made easily by persons skilled in the art.  
     [0053]FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective of the embodiment in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the embodiment in FIG. 10, illustrating the closure being detached from the plug socket. By referring to FIG. 11, the securing device  12  comprises: a closure  20 ; at least one fastener connected to the closure  20 ; a lock mechanism, assembled to the closure  20  for actuating the locking arm type fastener; a connecting element  28 , having an end connecting the lock mechanism and another end connected to a fixture; and a bypass interface  120 , electrically connected to the closure  20  and serves as a connection between other hardware or transmission lines and the plug socket  10  when the closure  29  covers the plug socket  10 .  
     [0054] In this embodiment, the closure  20  may be designed to be substantially identical to those as discussed previously. In other words, the closure  20  may be substantially configured complementary to the shape of the plug socket  10 , to be inserted into the plug socket  10  for covering the plug socket  10 .  
     [0055] The fastener may be a locking arm  24  as illustrated. The locking arm  24  is movable, in relation to the closure  20 , between a first position (as shown in FIG. 12) that allows the closure  20  to attach and detach from the slot  11  of the socket plug  10  and a second position (as shown in FIG. 13) that prevents the closure  20  inserted in the plug socket  10  from being detached from the slot  11  of plug socket  10 . According to this embodiment, a pivot  32  is provided to the lock mechanism for pivoting the locking arm  24  and allowing the locking arm  24  of the closure  20  to pivot about the pivot  32 . The locking arm  24  includes a control end  241  and a claw end  242  located at its free end.  
     [0056] Similarly, the lock mechanism may be of any type of locks so long as the lock mechanism is able to lock the locking arm  24  of the closure  20  to the plug socket  10 . The constructions of the lock mechanism are not limited to those disclosed in the embodiments. The lock mechanism is assembled to the closure  20  and co-acts with the fastener. The lock mechanism is switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state. In the unlocked state, the lock mechanism forces the fastener to be restrained to the second position.  
     [0057] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS.  10 - 13 , the lock mechanism includes a lock case  46 , formed with at least one lock opening  22 ; a control key  130 , formed with at least one corresponding lock opening  132  and being freely movable within the lock case  46  formed by a window  462 , the control key  130  protruding out of the lock case  46  from the window  462  to be operated by a user; a control member  48 , controlled by the control key  130  so as to move in relation to the lock case  46 , wherein the control member  48  may urge against the control end  241  of the locking arm  24  for restraining the fastener/locking arm  24  to the second position.  
     [0058] In this embodiment, the control member  48  includes an electrical component  122  that is electrically connected to the closure  20  through the locking arm  24  and a circuit board  123 , the electrical component  122  being electrically connected to the bypass interface  120 . The control member  48  applies forces to the control end  241  of the locking arm  24  in response to the operation of the lock mechanism. In the unlocked state, the control member  48  is movable in relation to the lock case  46  and is clear from the control end  241  of the locking arm. The control key  130  controls the locked state and unlocked state of the securing device  2 . The control member  48  is normally subjected to a force applied by a compression spring  243  to the control end  241 , subjecting the claw end  242  to the state as shown in FIG. 12.  
     [0059] In use, after the closure  20  is inserted into the plug socket  10 , the control key  130  is pushed to cause the control member  48  driving the locking arm  24  to pivot about the pivot  32 , such that the claw end  242  of the locking arm  24  tightly attaches to the slot of the plug socket, that is, moving from the first position shown in FIG. 12 to the second position shown in FIG. 13.  
     [0060] When the fastener/locking arm is restrained to the second position, a connecting element  28  is passed through the lock opening  22  on the lock case  46  of the securing device  2 , and through the lock opening  132  on the control key  130  at the same time, thereby limiting the movement of the control key  130  in relation to the securing device  2 , as shown in FIG. 13.  
     [0061] The features that distinguish this embodiment from the prior embodiments include that the securing device  2  in this embodiment further includes the bypass interface  120  that is electrically connected to the closure  20  through an electrical component  122 , and that the closure  20  is electrically connected to the contacts in the plug socket  10 .  
     [0062] Therefore, after the hardware equipment or transmission lines are wrapped about a fixture by means of the connecting element  28 , the communication equipment or computer may be connected to other hardware equipments or transmission lines for data transmission purposes.  
     [0063] This invention is related to a novel creation that makes a breakthrough in the art. Aforementioned explanations, however, are directed to the description of preferred embodiments according to this invention. Since this invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiments, changes and implementations to certain features of the preferred embodiments without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.