Tamper prevention and detection apparatus for an electronic device
View Patent ↗An apparatus for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device is provided. The apparatus may prevent and detect tampering occurring through an aperture in a casing of the electronic device where the aperture is configured for receiving a standoff that couples a communication cable to a communication port of the electronic device. Upon removal of the standoff, visual indicia of tampering may be provided. Additionally, a shield may block entry of the standoff into the aperture if the standoff is removed.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a shield for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling a communication cable with a communication port, the shield having a first position in which the shield prevents pass-through of the standoff into the bore and a second position in which the shield allows pass-through of the standoff into the bore, wherein the shield defines an aperture for allowing selective pass-through of the standoff into the bore and the bore defines an internally threaded portion that is configured for engageably receiving a threaded portion of the standoff.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is biased towards the first position.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the shield is biased towards the first position by a spring.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is slideable from the first position to the second position.
5. An apparatus comprising:
a shield for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling a communication cable with a communication port, the shield defining an aperture for allowing selective pass-through of the standoff into the bore and moveable between a first position in which the aperture is offset from the bore, thereby restricting pass-through of the standoff into the bore, and a second position in which the aperture is generally aligned with the bore, thereby allowing pass-through of the standoff into the bore, wherein at least one of the aperture and the bore defines an internally threaded portion that is configured for engageably receiving a threaded portion of the standoff.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the shield is biased towards the first position.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the shield is slideably positioned within a slot defined in a base of the communication port.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the shield defines a spring engagement surface that is in engagement with a spring that biases the shield towards the first position.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the shield defines an engagement surface for imparting movement of the shield from the first position to the second position.
10. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the aperture defines the internally threaded portion that engageably receives a threaded portion of the standoff.
11. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the shield is carried by at least one bracket defining a recess therein for slideably receiving the shield.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a shield for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling a communication cable with a communication port, the shield having an elongate elliptical spring and a cover on at least one end thereof and moveable from a first position in which the cover obstructs the bore thereby restricting pass-through of the standoff therethrough, and a second position in which the cover does not obstruct the bore thereby allowing pass-through of the standoff therethrough, wherein the bore defines an internally threaded portion that is configured for engageably receiving a threaded portion of the standoff.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the spring defines a dimension sized to match a dimension between opposing bases of spaced-apart communication ports such that the shield nests between the opposing bases of spaced-apart communication ports.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the shield is positioned between the opposing bases of spaced-apart communication ports and a casing covering the electronic device such that the shield is covered by the casing when installed on the electronic device.
15. The tamper detection apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein, upon removal of the standoff, the shield is biased into the first position.
16. An apparatus comprising:
a shield for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling a communication cable with a communication port, the shield having a slider defining an aperture configured for allowing selective pass-through of the standoff and being slideable from a first position in which the aperture is offset from the bore and a second position in which the aperture is generally aligned with the bore to allow pass-through of the standoff therethrough, wherein at least one of the aperture and the bore defines an internally threaded portion that is configured for engageably receiving a threaded portion of the standoff.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the slider is slideably positioned within a recess defined proximal the communication port.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the slider comprises two sliding blocks that are closely-spaced when the slider is in the first position and spaced-apart when the slider is in the second position.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the two sliding blocks are biased to be closely-spaced.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein each of the two sliding blocks are respectively positioned proximal a first and second communication ports.