Locking seal for data ports and associated methods

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/844,388, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,824, issued May 12, 2009, which itself claimed priority to provisional applications Ser. No. 60/824,518, filed Sep. 5, 2006, and Ser. No. 60/938,060, filed May 15, 2007.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing access to data and telephone lines, and, more particularly, to such devices and methods for securing access to data via data ports and to telephone lines via telephone jacks.

2. Description of Related Art

Data ports are frequently sprinkled about business sites for ease of access. However, the proliferation of such ports can provide the possibility of a security breach into a site network. Further, telephone jacks can also be situated for ease of use by authorized personnel, but may be desired to be protected from unauthorized use.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device and system for limiting access to data ports and telephone jacks, and to determine whether security into those ports has been breached.

The present invention is directed in one aspect to a device for limiting access into a jack port. The jack port can include, for example, a telephone jack port or a data port. The device can comprise a jack body that has a plug section having a distal portion that is dimensioned for insertion into a jack port. The plug section has an aperture thereinto that extends from a proximal end and is defined by an upper wall and a lower wall. A protrusion extends into the aperture from the lower wall and is positioned in spaced relation from the proximal end.

The jack body further has a spring element that has a distal end affixed to the plug section\'s distal portion and a proximal end extending above the plug section\'s distal portion. The spring element is dimensioned for snapping into an upper section of the jack port and for, upon a depression thereof, releasing the plug section from the jack port.

A locking body has a lower section that has a protrusion extending from a bottom face thereof and is dimensioned for insertion into the jack body\'s aperture. An upper section is dimensioned so that a distal portion thereof is extendible between the jack body\'s plug section and the spring element\'s proximal end. The upper section is also dimensioned so that, when so positioned, a depression of the spring element sufficient to release the plug section from the jack port is prevented. A notch extends from a distal end between the lower section and the upper section and is dimensioned to admit the plug section\'s upper wall.

In use, the locking body\'s lower section is insertable into the plug section\'s aperture, and the lower section\'s protrusion is snappable over the plug portion\'s protrusion so as to prevent a removal of the locking body from the plug section\'s aperture. In this position, the notch is positioned to encompass a portion of the plug section\'s upper wall, and the locking body\'s upper section is positionable between the plug section\'s upper wall and the spring element, so as to prevent a removal of the plug section from a jack port.

A method is also provided for using the device of the present invention wherein the device is positioned into a jack port desired to be protected from unauthorized entry. The device has affixed thereto or imprinted thereon unique indicia so that, if the device is destroyed upon an unauthorized removal from the jack port, a reconstruction of the device is not possible, and the removal is detectable. The device may also have operatively associated therewith an electronically pollable sensor for detecting a presence of the device in a jack port over a network.

In a second embodiment, the device comprises a base having a top and two sides. Each side has an upper edge meeting a side edge of the top and a longitudinal slot therein open at a front end and terminating forward of a rear edge of the respective side. Each slot communicates with a base inner space defined by the top and two sides and has a bottom edge that is substantially parallel with the respective side upper edge. A protrusion extends upwardly from the slot\'s bottom edge into the slot in spaced relation from the respective side front edge. The top is downwardly compressible relative to the sides so that the slot has a first width in a released position and a second width less than the first width in a compressed position.

A ramped element is atop the base top and has a first height at a front end joined to the base top adjacent a front edge thereof and a second height rearward of the front edge. The second height is greater than the first height, and the back end is substantially aligned vertically with the slot protrusion.

A stop element is also atop the base top. The stop element has a third height greater than the second height, and is positioned rearward of and in spaced relation from the ramped element.

A front portion of the device in the compressed position is dimensioned for insertion into a target port to a sufficient distance that the ramped element is retained within the port when device is in the released position. When the device is retained within the port, the slot\'s upward protrusion prevents sufficient slot compression to remove the device from the port, and the stop element is positioned to prevent access into the port. Preferably, the device is removable from the port only by destroying the device\'s integrity.

A third embodiment comprises a base, the shape of which is substantially irrelevant. A distal portion comprises a dual-prong element having a generally “U” shape in side cross-section, with outwardly flaring wings. The prong element and the wings together are dimensioned and have sufficient compressibility for insertion into a jack port, and are biased to open upon entering the port, so that the wings retain the device within the port like a barb. The device then cannot be removed from the port without being broken. A serial number can again be provided for tracking purposes.

The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.