Patent Application
20130000365
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a new and improved tamper resistant enclosure. More particularly, this invention provides an enclosure for a cable service box that is easy for to service personnel, to open and service hut resistant to unauthorized access.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art enclosures for protecting cable boxes and telephone lines have proven deficient in a number of respects. Cable television providers currently face many problems with the theft of components and other cable equipment that are mounted in open areas. In some areas, the theft of these types of components such as power supply boxes is a multi-million dollar industry. Cable providers face even more substantial losses of revenue through increased trouble calls, theft of services, theft of splitters, amplifiers, and signal leakage from cable boxes mounted to the exterior of residences. An unauthorized user may access the cable box of an authorized user and engage in signal splitting or other undesirable tampering. Components such as filters, taps, splitters, fittings and coaxial wire may also be stolen from these cable boxes and result in further losses to the cable provider. Such use not only results in lost revenue for the cable provider, but in addition may alienate the authorized user who endures reduced signal quality or service outages.
Signal leakage also results in adverse safety considerations. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other regulatory agencies have mandated for example that signal leakage be reduced due to the negative effects on emergency communications such as those involving police, fire, aircraft, ham radio, security agencies, television and radio. Signal leakage could possibly disable the communications of safety services or aeronautical navigation systems. Such signal leakage is especially pronounced where not only has cable theft occurred, but the unauthorized users have cut some wires, loosely replaced others, or used cheap after-market splitters.
Enforcement after the fact is difficult for cable providers even though cable theft is a criminal offense in the United States under federal and state law. In theory, the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides particularly stringent regulations against such behavior. However, in many cases, the only evidence left behind of such activities is in the possession of the valid users, and efforts to cut service to those utilizing splitters has an adverse effect on the valid user whose cable box has been accessed. Monitors have been utilized to detect theft and quickly address problems that occur, but these are expensive relative to their benefits.
As a result of the above discussed problems, it is desirable to provide cable housing boxes that prevent entry without detriment to the existing services. Cable providers across the country generally use either pad locks or a round inset lock that can be drilled through or knocked out, such that the lock is merely spinning around in the box and never locking the box itself. The locks also typically use a relatively expensive standardized key that has long since been duplicated to gain entrance to the enclosures. Due to the large number of enclosures and the costs of the locks, providers are reluctant to change the keys often. In addition, the enclosures typically have a housing that is easy to pry open or drill into and, thus, generally easy to break into. This leads to a situation where the enclosures are repeatedly vandalized and their contents accessed. The insecure nature of the prior art enclosures results in increased labor, material, repair and maintenance expenses and a culture of illegal access.
Prior art publications and patents have not addressed the above problems in a satisfactory manner. Many of the existing enclosures require substantial bending of cables entering or exiting the cable box, are difficult for authorized users such as technicians to access, or are prohibitively expensive to manufacture.
Therefore, what is needed is a theft deterrent cable housing box that provides easy access for an authorized user to the inside of the box while minimizing the likelihood of unauthorized access. It would further be desirable for such a device to be of relatively low cost and have easy access for cables passing to and from the box.
The present invention provides a cable housing device for preventing cable box theft, minimizing signal leakage, reducing trouble calls, and providing an increase in customers. The device includes a double-locking mechanism that is relatively simple for authorized users having the proper tools to access. The device opens such that authorized users can easily work within the device once it is opened. In contrast, unauthorized users are substantially prevented from accessing the interior of the device. The device is of relatively low cost and requires minimal bending of cables entering into the interior of the box. The device is also easily mounted in any location in which such cable housing boxes are usually located.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed toward a theft deterrent enclosure that includes a back mounting assembly having a locking slot. A front cover having a lock opening is adapted to mate with the back mounting assembly. A pair of protrusions on the front cover engage a pair of mating slots on a back mounting assembly of the enclosure when the front cover is positioned over the back mounting assembly. A key lock cylinder is mounted in the lock opening of the front cover such that the key lock cylinder blocks the lock opening when the key lock cylinder is in a locked position. A keyed interface is mounted on the front cover such that the keyed interface can only be accessed through the lock opening when the key lock cylinder is removed from the lock opening. The keyed interface is positioned on an interior of the enclosure opposite and aligned with the lock opening. The keyed interface preferably comprises a threaded shaft with a security keyed screw head. A sleeve guide is positioned inside the enclosure that guides a security keyed tool toward said keyed interface. A mounting clamp is mounted on the front cover that is adapted to engage with the locking slot on the back mounting member by operating the keyed interface to secure the front cover to the back mounting assembly in a closed position. The theft deterrent enclosure can be opened from a locked position by engaging the key lock cylinder with a key, removing the key lock cylinder from the lock opening, inserting a security keyed tool adapted to engage the keyed interface through the lock opening and disengaging the mounting clamp from the locking slot.
The present invention is directed toward a secure lockbox that uses a two stage locking system to reduce theft of service and unauthorized entry into the lockbox. Referring now to
A preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a novel, dual locking system to secure the front cover 2 to the back mounting assembly 4.
The locking assembly 6 also includes a second locking mechanism 20 that can only be accessed when the key lock cylinder 14 of the first locking mechanism 12 is removed from the opening 16. The second locking mechanism 20 includes a keyed interface 22 that is mounted on the second lock mechanism such that the keyed interface 22 engages a mounting clamp 24 held between two fixed plates 30 and 32. The mounting clamp 24 secures the front 2 and back assemblies 4 of the lockbox 1 in a closed position when the keyed interface 22 is engaged with a security keyed tool 52. Turing the keyed interface 22 one way engages the clamp 24 while turning the keyed interface 22 the other way disengages the clamp 24. The security keyed tool 52 may be a standard or Philips head screwdriver or a screwdriver with a custom keyed face. The keyed interface 22 is positioned on the plate 32 an interior side of the lockbox opposite and aligned with the lock opening 16 for the key lock cylinder 14. A sleeve guide may be positioned inside the enclosure, and, in alignment with the lock opening 16 and keyed interface 22, that guides the security keyed tool toward the keyed screw 22 when the keyed tool 52 is inserted through the lock opening 16.
The second lock mechanism 20 includes an L-shaped bracket 24 or mounting clamp that is advanced or retracted on a threaded shaft 26 between two plates 30 and 32 by rotating the keyed interface 22 to engage or disengage a locking slot 34 in the back cover 4. The locking slot 34 is best shown in
The use of a mounting clamp 24 in the second locking mechanism allows the construction of a secure lockbox that can be easily opened without the need for a relatively expensive and unreliable hinge. Also, a sufficiently secure lockbox can be created from a much thinner metal (16 gauge) than used in prior art designs using the present construction since portions of the lockbox exterior are formed from two separate reinforcing panels. This is particularly beneficial for cable providers in areas where cost of installation is more of a primary concern, than theft of services. In addition, the double locking feature of the present invention is likely to frustrate potential vandals or thieves that remove the key lock cylinder but cannot determine why the lockbox remains securely held together. Even if the potential thief is able to determine that the second locking mechanism is still securing the lockbox, they are very unlikely to possess the particular security keyed tool required to disengage the second locking mechanism and open the lockbox.
To open the lockbox 1, the key lock cylinder 14 is unlocked and removed. The security keyed tool is then inserted through the lock opening 16 and the keyed screw 22 turned to disengage the mounting clamp 24 from the locking slot 34. The front 2 of the lockbox is then lifted off of and removed from the back cover 4 or base which would typically be mounted on a wall or similar structure 8. Once the front cover 2 has been removed, the interior of the lockbox 1 can be accessed. When the front 2 of the box is placed back on the base 4, there are two metal teeth 46 that fit into slots 48 on the top of the base to help secure the front 2 to the base 4. Engaging the mounting clamp 24 in the locking mechanism forces the front of the box into the structure which the base is attached to and secures the lockbox in a locked position.
Referring now to
The embodiment of
The embodiment of
It is to be understood that the present invention is not explicitly limited to the embodiment illustrated in the detailed description given above. Various changes and modifications may be made to Theft Deterrent Enclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
This is a Utility patent application filed for the invention by Johnny Edward Walker for a “Theft Deterrent Enclosure”. This application is related to and claims priority from co-pending application Ser. No. 12/759,325 filed Apr. 13, 2010, which claimed priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/180,148 filed May 21, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/359,004 filed Jun. 28, 2010.
