Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

William B Foster, Jr

Douglas Alan Lostoski

Douglas Robert Bodmann

William M Ruddy

Douglas J Dura

A universal serial bus (USB) locking connector includes a cable, a polymeric body connected to the cable, and a metallic male plug that projects axially from the body. One or more locking prongs extend axially alongside but are spaced from the male plug and are resiliently deflectable toward and away from the male plug. Each locking prong includes a leg having an outer end, and an enlarged tooth defined at the outer end. The enlarged tooth includes an inclined ramp surface and a transverse locking face. When the USB locking connected is mated with a conventional female USB connector, the locking prongs engage a peripheral edge of the female connector and capture the locking connector to the female connector to provide resistance to axial pull-out. In another arrangement, a USB connector locking system includes a female USB connector installed in a housing. A lock ring is movably connected to the housing adjacent the peripheral edge of the female USB connector. The lock ring is manually movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. When moved to its locked position, the lock ring frictionally engages an associated male USB connector that is mated with the female USB connector to inhibit disconnection of the associated male USB connector from the female USB connector.

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Stow, OH, United States of America

William B Foster, Jr