Patent Publication Number: US-8529284-B1

Title: Connector locking assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to cable connectors, and more particularly, to a connector locking assembly and for providing locking and lock-releasing mechanisms thereto. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Taiwan Patent M413736 discloses a safety lock assembly for a communication circuit, comprising a hollowed-out lock body and a lock-actuating device. The hollowed-out lock body receives and fastens a communication wire, such that the communication wire cannot be withdrawn from the hollowed-out lock body. The lock-actuating device is inserted into the hollowed-out lock body for releasing the communication wire which is otherwise fastened inside the hollowed-out lock body. Slots of existing electronic apparatuses (such as notebook computers or host computers) are usually arranged tightly and adjacently. As a result, if the hollowed-out lock body is overly large, ease of use will be compromised. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,976,329 discloses a connector locking device. The connector has a lock support and a locking tongue. The locking device penetrates the lock support, has a locking tongue support for supporting the locking tongue, and has a retaining mechanism connected to a release arm, and engaged with the lock support. The key has a release prong for engaging the release arm of the locking device, so as to withdraw the locking device from the lock support. The locking tongue of the connector is fully exposed; as a result, the locking tongue is likely to be compressed by an external force and severed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a connector locking assembly for fastening a cable connector in use, so as to prevent the cable connector from being disconnected at will and enhance network communication security. 
     In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a connector locking assembly, comprising a cable connector, a sleeve, and a locking device. The cable connector comprises a body and a pressing plate extending from the body. The sleeve comprises a casing and a protective plate. The casing is connected to a rear portion of the cable connector. The protective plate extends from the casing, covers the pressing plate from above, and has a through hole penetrating front and rear sides of the protective plate, the front side facing the casing. The locking device comprises a bolt, a resilient element, and a stop block. The bolt has a front portion penetrating the through hole, being positioned between the body of the cable connector and the pressing plate, and interfering with the descent of the pressing plate. The resilient element extends from the bolt and is engaged with the casing. The stop block extends from the bolt and is positioned at a rear portion of the bolt, such that the stop block is stopped at the rear side of the protective plate. 
     Preferably, the connector locking assembly further comprises a lock-releasing device having a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate is disposed on the stop block and has a hook engageable with a front edge of the stop block. The bottom plate lifts the resilient element of the locking device. When the lock-releasing device is engaged with the locking device, the stop block and the resilient element of the locking device are received between the top plate and the bottom plate of the lock-releasing device, and the hook of the top plate is engaged with a front edge of the stop block, such that the bottom plate lifts the resilient element of the locking device to thereby cause the engaging block to withdraw from a mouth edge of the casing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a connector locking assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the connector locking assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic assembled view of the connector locking assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a locking device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the locking device; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a lock-releasing device of the connector locking assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of application of the lock-releasing device; 
         FIG. 10  is a lateral cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view of application of the lock-releasing device; 
         FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are perspective views of a connector locking assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 15 through 17  are a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the connector locking assembly, respectively; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the connector locking assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the lock mechanism taken along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a lock-releasing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a locking device according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a side view of the lock-releasing device is coupled to the locking device; 
         FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  are cross-sectional views of  FIG. 22 ; and 
         FIG. 25  is a bottom view of the locking device in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a locking device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of the connector locking assembly with the locking device in  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic view of a connector locking assembly  1  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector locking assembly  1  comprises a cable connector  2 , a cable  3 , a sleeve  4 , and a locking device  5 . 
     In this embodiment, the cable connector  2  is exemplified by a RJ45 connector. The cable connector  2  comprises a body  20 , a pressing plate  22 , and a plurality of pins  24 . The pressing plate  22  extends from the body  20  and is positioned at the front end of the body  20 . The pins  24  are disposed in the body  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The cable  3  is connected to the body  20  of the cable connector  2  and comprises a plurality of wires. The wires are connected to the pins  24  in the body  20 , respectively, by a one-to-one relationship. In practice, each of the two terminal ends of the cable  3  is connected to a cable connector  2 . The pins  24  of each of the cable connectors  2  are electrically connected to pins in a network jack of a corresponding one of the electronic apparatuses, respectively, such that the two electronic apparatuses transmit signals and power to each other via the wires of the cable  3 , as soon as two said cable connectors  2  connected to the cable  3  are inserted into the network jacks of the two electronic apparatuses, respectively. The electronic apparatuses are desktop computers, notebook computers, POS systems, phones, scanners, webcams and servers. Also, once the cable connector  2  is inserted into the network jack, the cable connector  2  will be engaged with the network jack, such that the cable connector  2  cannot be disconnected therefrom; meanwhile, if a user presses the pressing plate  22  of the cable connector  2 , the cable connector  2  can be disconnected from the network jack. 
     The sleeve  4  comprises a casing  40 , a protective plate  42 , and a ring set  44 . The sleeve  4  serves as a shaped covering for the cable  3  and the cable connector  2  and thereby protects the connection between the cable  3  and the cable connector  2 . The casing  40  is connected to the rear portion of the cable connector  2 . The protective plate  42  extends from the casing  40  and covers the pressing plate  22  from above, so as to prevent the pressing plate  22  from being severed. The protective plate  42  has a through hole  420  that penetrates its front and rear sides. The front side of the protective plate  42  faces the casing  40 . The ring set  44  extends from the rear end of the casing  40  to be put around the cable  3 . The ring set  44  prevents the cable  3  and the cable connector  2  from being overly bent relative to each other and disconnected. Nonetheless, in practice, the ring set  44  may be dispensed with. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , there are shown schematic views of the locking device  5  inserted into the sleeve  4 , respectively. The locking device  5  is designed to penetrate the through hole  420  of the protective plate  42 , and comprises a bolt  50 , a resilient element  52 , and a stop block  56 . Insertion of the locking device  5  into the through hole  420  of the protective plate  42  of the sleeve  4  causes the front portion of the bolt  50  to pass through the through hole  420 , be positioned between the body  20  of the cable connector  2  and the pressing plate  22 , and interfere with the distance of the descent of the pressing plate  22 . Hence, the cable connectors  2  cannot be disconnected from the network jacks of the electronic apparatuses. The resilient element  52  extends from the bolt  50  and is engaged with the casing  40 . The stop block  56  extends from the bolt  50  so as to be positioned at the rear portion of the bolt  50  and stopped at the rear side of the protective plate  42 . As a result, the locking device  5  cannot be withdrawn from the through hole  420  of the protective plate  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  again, a label region  560  is defined on the stop block  56  of the locking device  5 . The label region  560  displays a text, a symbol, a color, and/or a pattern. Two ends of a cable are usually connected to two said locking devices  5 , and the label regions  560  on two said locking devices  5  are identical and identifiable by users, though the way of its application is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a partial enlarged view of the  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 5  for depicting the encircled portion of  FIG. 4  in detail. The casing  40  of the sleeve  4  has a notch  400 . The notch  400  communicates with the casing  40  and faces the protective plate  42  of the casing  40 . The resilient element  52  has an engaging block  54 . The engaging block  54  is disposed in the notch  400  of the casing  40  and engaged with a mouth edge of the notch  400  of the casing  40  for preventing the locking device  5  from being reversely withdrawn from the through hole  420  of the protective plate  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the resilient element  52  of the locking device  5  further has an arm  522 . The arm  522  has one end connected to the bolt  50  of the locking device  5 . The arm  522  tilts relative to the bolt  50 . The top side of the arm  522  faces the bolt  50 . The engaging block  54  is disposed on the bottom side of the arm  522  and is slightly lower than the bottom of the bolt  50 . Hence, the arm  522  of the locking device  5  can swing relative to the bolt  50  resiliently and vertically. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of a lock-releasing device  6  is shown in  FIG. 8 , and a schematic view of application of the lock-releasing device  6  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The connector locking assembly  1  further comprises a lock-releasing device  6 . The lock-releasing device  6  has a top plate  60  and a bottom plate  62  and serves to unlock the locking device  5  and thereby release the cable connector  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , a lateral cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9  is shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , and a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 10  is shown in FIG.  11  for depicting the encircled portion of  FIG. 10  in detail. The resilient element  52  and the stop block  56  of the locking device  5  are received between the top plate  60  and the bottom plate  62  of the lock-releasing device  6 . The top plate  60  has a hook  600  engageable with a front edge of the stop block  56 . The bottom plate  62  lifts the resilient element  52  of the locking device  5  and thereby causes the engaging block  54  to withdraw from a mouth edge of the notch  400  of the casing  40 . Hence, the locking device  5  can be reversely withdrawn by means of the lock-releasing device  6 , thereby pressing the pressing plate  22  downward. 
     The bottom plate  62  of the lock-releasing device  6  has a ramp  620 . The arm  522  of the resilient element  52  can be moved along the ramp  620  of the bottom plate  62  onto the bottom plate  62 , such that not only can the bottom plate  62  be smoothly inserted into the bottom of the arm  522 , but the engaging block  54  can be smoothly disconnected from the notch  400  of the casing  40 . 
     Preferably, the arm  522  of the resilient element  52  has a ramp  524 , and the angle of inclination of the ramp  524  equals that of the ramp  620  of the bottom plate  62 . 
     Angle of inclination is between degrees of 20 to 45, but not limited to these. Hence, the ramp  524  of the arm  522  can be moved along the ramp  620  of the bottom plate  62  to reach the top side of the bottom plate  62 , as soon as the lock-releasing device  6  is engaged with the locking device  5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 12 , the top plate  60  further has a window  602  adjacent to the hook  600 . If the hook  600  of the top plate  60  of the lock-releasing device is engaged with the front edge of the stop block  56 , the window  602  will face the label region  560  of the locking device  5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 through 19 , there are shown schematic views of a connector locking assembly  1   a  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the connector locking assembly  1   a  comprises a cable connector  7 , a sleeve  8 , a locking device  9 , and a lock-releasing device (not shown). The connector locking assembly  1   a  is substantially the same as the connector locking assembly  1 , except that not only is the cable connector  7  of the connector locking assembly  1   a  exemplified by an LC optical fiber connector, but the sleeve  8  of the connector locking assembly  1   a  receives two cables  3   a  (such as optical fiber cables). The locking device  9  is engageable with the sleeve  8 , and has a purpose and a structure which are substantially the same as that of the locking device  5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 through 17 , there are shown a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the connector locking assembly  1   a , respectively. The cable connector  7  have two chambers  70  which extend from the top of the cable connector  7  to the bottom of the cable connector  7  and are disposed on two sides of the cable connector  7 , respectively. The sleeve  8  has a casing  80  and a protective plate  82 . The connection and structures of the protective plate  82  and the casing  80  are identical to that of the protective plate  42  and the casing  40  and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The casing  80  has a top lid  800  and a bottom board  802 . The top lid  800  has two ribs  804  positioned on two inner sides of the top lid  800 , respectively. The top lid  800  covers the top of the cable connector  7 . The two ribs  804  are positioned in two said chambers  70  of the cable connector  7 , respectively. The bottom board  802  underpins the bottom of the cable connector  7 . Hence, the casing  80  connects the cable connector  7  firmly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 18 , the main difference between  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 18  lies in the structure of a stop block  90  of the locking device  9 , whereas other structures (such as the bolts or resilient elements) shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 18  are identical. A point to note is that the primary purpose of the stop blocks  56 ,  90  is to stop at the protective plates  42 ,  82 , respectively; hence, the present invention requires that the stop blocks of the locking devices have to stop at the protective plates, but the present invention is not restrictive of the structure of the stop blocks. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the connector locking assembly  1   a .  FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 18 . Referring to  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , the structure of the locking device  9  and its application-oriented relationship with the sleeve  8  are substantially the same as the related disclosure in the preceding embodiment and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The top lid  800  of the casing  80  has a notch  806 . The notch  806  faces the protective plate  82 . A resilient element  92  of the locking device  9  has an engaging block  94 . The engaging block  94  is disposed inside the notch  806  of the top lid  800  and engaged with a mouth edge of the notch  806  of the top lid  800 . Hence, the extent of the press-induced descent of a pressing plate  72  of the cable connector  7  is held in check, and thus the locking device  9  cannot be withdrawn at will. 
     Furthermore, the structure and purpose of a lock-releasing device in the second embodiment are the same as that of the lock-releasing device  6  in the first embodiment and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20 through 24 , there are drawings of the third embodiment of the present invention. A connector locking assembly in the third embodiment is substantially the same as the connector locking assembly in the first embodiment in terms of structure. A lock-releasing device  6   a  and a locking device  9   a  in the third embodiment distinguish the third embodiment from the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the lock-releasing device  6   a  has a top plate  60   a , a bottom plate  62   a , and two teeth  64   a ,  66   a . The top plate  60   a  and the bottom plate  62   a  in the third embodiment are equal to the top plate  60  and the bottom plate  62  in the first embodiment in terms of structure and purpose and thus are not described herein again for the sake of brevity. The two teeth  64   a ,  66   a  are formed on the bottom plate  62   a  and face the top plate  60   a . The tooth  64   a  is of a greater width than the tooth  66   a . The tooth  64   a  is of a lesser height than the tooth  66   a . Referring to  FIG. 21 , the locking device  9   a  further has two slits  900   a ,  902   a . The two slits  900   a ,  902   a  are formed at the bottom of a stop block  90   a  and adapted to match and receive the two teeth  64   a ,  66   a , respectively. The two teeth  64   a ,  66   a  together function as a lock-releasing portion of the lock-releasing device  6   a , whereas the two slits  900   a ,  902   a  together function as a locking portion of the locking device  9   a , such that the lock-releasing portion and the locking portion are matched and coupled together. 
     Referring to  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , the two slits  900   a ,  902   a  and the two teeth  64   a ,  66   a  are equal in width and height, such that the two teeth  64   a ,  66   a  can be inserted into the slits  900   a ,  902   a  respectively and in a one-to-one manner, so as to serve a lock-releasing purpose. Conversely, if the two teeth  64   a ,  66   a  fail to be inserted into the slits  900   a ,  902   a  respectively and in a one-to-one manner, for example, in a situation where one of the teeth  64   a ,  66   a  is wider than a corresponding one of the slits  900   a ,  902   a , the lock-releasing device  6   a  cannot serve a lock-releasing purpose. As a result, the locking device  9   a  needs a specific said lock-releasing device  6   a  in order to serve a lock-releasing purpose. 
     Referring to  FIG. 24 , alternatively, the locking portion the locking device  9   a  can be a threesome tooth  901   a , whereas the lock-releasing portion of the lock-releasing device  6   a  can be a threesome slit  65   a , so as to perform a lock-releasing operation that requires a specific said lock-releasing device  6   a . The quantity, structure, and distribution of the slits  65   a ,  900   a ,  902   a  and the teeth  64   a ,  66   a ,  901   a  are not limited to the above-mentioned. Besides, the slits and the teeth can coexist on the locking portion and the lock-releasing portion, but have to meet the requirement that the lock-releasing portion and the locking portion can be matched and coupled together. 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , a bolt  91   a  of the locking device  9   a  has four bumps  910   a ,  911   a ,  912   a ,  913   a , and the four bumps  910   a ,  911   a ,  912   a ,  913   a  are paired and disposed on two lateral sides of the bolt  91   a , respectively. At the point in time when the bolt  91   a  of the locking device  9   a  is inserted into the through hole of the protective plate of the sleeve and the locking device  9   a  has not entered a locked state (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the bumps  910   a ,  911   a ,  912   a ,  913   a  are stopped at a mouth edge of the through hole, so as to prevent the locking device  9   a  from being disconnected reversely. 
     Referring to  FIG. 26  and  FIG. 27 , a stop block  90   b  of a locking device  9   b  has a guiding curved surface  94   b . The top edge of the guiding curved surface  94   b  is connected to the top of the stop block  90   b . The bottom edge of the guiding curved surface  94   b  is connected to a bolt  91   b  of the locking device  9   b  and abuts against the rear side of a protective plate  42   b , so as to prevent the locking device  9   b  from being forcibly damaged. For example, if a screw or a finger is inserted between the stop block  90   b  and the protective plate  42   b , any external force exerted upon the screw or the finger will lack a preferred fulcrum, because the screw or the finger will slide along the guiding curved surface  94   b.    
     In conclusion, a connector locking assembly according to the present invention is applicable to various cable connectors and thus its application is not restricted to the cable connectors in the aforesaid embodiment. The connector locking assembly according to the present invention is not only effective in preventing cable connectors which are inserted into network jacks from being disconnected at will, but also enhances the security of administration of communication network. Furthermore, the connector locking assembly comprises a protective plate for protecting a pressing plate of the cable connector and thereby preventing the pressing plate from severing under an external force.