IP Library Granted Patent US 12,639,482
Granted Patent B2
US 12,639,482 · App. 18/622,087 · Granted May 26, 2026

Security lock solution using the USB-C opening

Inventors: Jason Scott Morrison (Chadron, NE); Nicholas D. Grobelny (Evergreen, CO); Mark Andrew Schwager (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F21/86G06F1/1658G06F21/82
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,639,482
App. No.
18/622,087
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for securing data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may be operably connected to other devices via ports. When operably connected, some devices connected via the ports may cause undesired actions to be performed. To limit physical access to the ports, a security apparatus may be used to lock the ports. The security apparatus may transition between states where it may be inserted into openings for the ports and may be locked to the openings for the ports. When so locked, physical access to the ports may be limited.

Claims (32)

1 . A data processing system, comprising:

an enclosure having a vertical wall;

an opening on the vertical wall; and

a receptacle for receiving a plug to connect an external device to the data processing system, the receptacle being disposed within the enclosure at a predetermined distance from the vertical wall,

wherein no part of the receptable is in direct contact with the vertical wall,

wherein the predetermined distance forms a gap between the receptable and the vertical wall that imparts resistance against a brute force removal attempt of the plug from the receptacle once the plug is inserted into the receptacle, and

wherein the enclosure further comprises a bottom horizontal portion that acts as a base of the data processing system, the receptacle is disposed within the enclosure without being in direct contact with the bottom horizontal portion.

2 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is Universal Serial Bus (USB) type C compliant.

3 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein a force applied during the brute force removal attempt of the plug from the receptacle is transmitted to the vertical wall.

4 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein a relative positioning of the receptacle with respect to the vertical wall is USB type C compliant, and a thickness of the receptacle is not USB type C compliant.

5 . The data processing system of claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the receptacle is less than a nominal thickness to be USB type C compliant.

6 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further comprises an upper horizontal portion that comprises a keyboard, the vertical wall connecting the upper horizontal portion with the bottom horizontal portion.

7 . The data processing system of claim 6 , the receptacle is disposed on a circuit card installed within the enclosure.

8 . The data processing system of claim 7 , wherein the circuit card is disposed within the enclosure without being in direct contact with the vertical wall.

9 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is a laptop computer.

10 . The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is a desktop computer.

11 . A data processing system, comprising:

an enclosure having a vertical wall;

an opening on the vertical wall; and

a circuit card disposed within the enclosure at a first predetermined distance from the first vertical wall, the circuit card comprising a receptacle for receiving a plug to connect an external device to the data processing system,

wherein no part of the receptable is in direct contact with the vertical wall,

wherein a gap between the receptable and the vertical wall that imparts resistance against a brute force removal attempt of the plug from the receptacle once the plug is inserted into the receptacle, and

wherein the enclosure further comprises a bottom horizontal portion that acts as a base of the data processing system, the receptacle is disposed within the enclosure without being in direct contact with the bottom horizontal portion.

12 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is Universal Serial Bus (USB) type C compliant.

13 . The data processing system of claim 12 , wherein a relative positioning of the receptacle with respect to the vertical wall is USB type C compliant, and a thickness of the receptacle is not USB type C compliant.

14 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is disposed within the enclosure at a second predetermined distance from the vertical wall, the second predetermined distance being equal to the first predetermined distance.

15 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure further comprises an upper horizontal portion that comprises a keyboard, the vertical wall connecting the upper horizontal portion with the bottom horizontal portion.

16 . The data processing system of claim 15 , the receptacle is disposed on a surface of the circuit card that faces the upper horizontal portion of the enclosure.

17 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein a force applied during the brute force removal attempt of the plug from the receptacle is transmitted to the vertical wall.

18 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the data processing system is a laptop computer.

19 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the data processing system is a desktop computer.

20 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the circuit card is disposed within the enclosure without being in direct contact with the vertical wall.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 17667938 · Feb 9, 2022
Related Publication 20240241995A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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