Securable cable access

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plate including a substantially rectangular first opening;

a tray including a second opening having a large area and a slot area overlapped by the first opening, the large area being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable connector and the slot being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable but not a cable connector, the tray being immovably connected to the plate with the first opening overlapping the second opening;

a hatch element positioned in a space between the plate and the tray, the hatch element movable within the space between a first position and a second position such that movement from the first position to the second position causes the hatch element to overlap a greater portion of the first and second openings; and

a ratchet attached to the tray; and

a pawl attached to the hatch element, wherein the ratchet and pawl are configured and positioned such that the ratchet and pawl interact to allow movement of the hatch element toward the second position and resist movement of the hatch element toward the first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pawl includes a ramp oriented toward the ratchet, the apparatus further comprising:

a release element attached to the hatch element between the hatch element and the tray, the release element slide-able from a third position to a fourth position with respect to the hatch element and including a ramp contact edge, movement of the release element from the third position to the fourth position causing the ramp contact edge to contact the ramp and urge the ramp away from the ratchet such that pawl is disengaged from the ratchet with the release element in the fourth position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a spring attached between the hatch element and the release element, the spring resisting movement of the release element from the third position toward the fourth position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the release element includes a first tab accessible by a user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position by movement of the first tab.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the hatch element includes a second tab accessible by the user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position moving the first tab toward the second tab.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hatch element includes a notch positioned to overlap the slot when the hatch element is in the second position.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a plate including a substantially rectangular first opening;

a tray including a second opening having a large area and a slot area overlapped by the first opening, the large area being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable connector and the slot being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable but not a cable connector, the tray being immovably connected to the plate with the first opening overlapping the second opening;

a hatch element positioned in a space between the plate and the tray, the hatch element movable within the space between a first position and a second position such that movement from the first position to the second position causes the hatch element to overlap a greater portion of the first and second openings; and

a ratchet and a pawl attached between the hatch element and the tray, the ratchet and pawl being configured and positioned such that the ratchet and pawl interact to allow movement of the hatch element toward the second position and resist movement of the hatch element toward the first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pawl includes a ramp oriented toward the ratchet, the apparatus further comprising:

a release element attached to the hatch element between the hatch element and the tray, the release element slide-able from a third position to a fourth position with respect to the hatch element and including a ramp contact edge, movement of the release element from the third position to the fourth position causing the ramp contact edge to contact the ramp and urge the ramp away from the ratchet such that pawl is disengaged from the ratchet with the release element in the fourth position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a spring attached between the hatch element and the release element, the spring resisting movement of the release element from the third position toward the fourth position.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the release element includes a first tab accessible by a user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position by movement of the first tab.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the hatch element includes a second tab accessible by the user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position moving the first tab toward the second tab.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the hatch element includes a notch positioned to overlap the slot when the hatch element is in the second position.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a plate including a substantially rectangular first opening;

a tray including a second opening having a large area and a slot area overlapped by the first opening, the large area being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable connector and the slot being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable but not a cable connector, the tray being immovably connected to the plate with the first opening overlapping the second opening;

a hatch element positioned in a space between the plate and the tray, the hatch element movable within the space between a first position and a second position such that movement from the first position to the second position causes the hatch element to overlap a greater portion of the first and second openings; and

means for allowing movement of the hatch element toward the second position and resisting movement of the hatch element toward the first position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for allowing movement of the hatch element toward the first position.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hatch element includes a notch positioned to overlap the slot when the hatch element is in the second position.

16. A kit for attaching to a rack with a plate including a substantially rectangular first opening, the kit comprising:

a tray including a second opening having a large area and a slot area overlapped by the first opening, the large area being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable connector and the slot being dimensioned to allow passage of a cable but not a cable connector, the tray being dimensioned and configured to be immovably connected to the plate with the first opening overlapping the second opening;

a hatch element configured and dimension to be positioned in a space between the plate and the tray, and to be movable within the space between a first position and a second position such that movement from the first position to the second position causes the hatch element to overlap a greater portion of the first and second openings;

a ratchet attached to the tray; and

a pawl attached to the hatch element, wherein the ratchet and pawl are configured and positioned such that the ratchet and pawl interact to allow movement of the hatch element toward the second position and resist movement of the hatch element toward the first position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pawl includes a ramp oriented toward the ratchet, the apparatus further comprising:

a release element attached to the hatch element between the hatch element and the tray, the release element slide-able from a third position to a fourth position with respect to the hatch element and including a ramp contact edge, movement of the release element from the third position to the fourth position causing the ramp contact edge to contact the ramp and urge the ramp away from the ratchet such that pawl is disengaged from the ratchet with the release element in the fourth position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a spring attached between the hatch element and the release element, the spring resisting movement of the release element from the third position toward the fourth position.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the release element includes a first tab accessible by a user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position by movement of the first tab.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the hatch element includes a second tab accessible by the user through the large area of the second opening, and wherein the release element may be moved from the third position to the fourth position moving the first tab toward the second tab.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the hatch element includes a notch positioned to overlap the slot when the hatch element is in the second position.