Access control assembly, system, and method for controlling access to a plug end of a power plug assembly

An access control system for controlling access to a plug end of a power plug assembly, the access control system comprising:

• a power outlet coupled to a power source;
• the power plug assembly comprising a plug with the plug end configured to be plugged into the power outlet in a plugged-in position to create an electrical connection, and the power plug assembly further comprising a power cord, and a coupling element coupling the power cord to the plug;
• and
• an access control assembly comprising:
• a hinged ring having a first portion pivotably connected to a second portion, via a hinge pin at a hinged end, so that the first portion pivots toward and away from the second portion to close and open the hinged ring, the first portion and the second portion each having one or more lockout holes formed through an outer tab at a non-hinged end, and the second portion having an interior concave recessed portion and a cap attachment hole, wherein when the hinged ring is in a closed position, the first portion and the second portion define a circular opening, the outer tabs of the first portion and the second portion abut against each other, and the one or more lockout holes of the first portion and the second portion are aligned as aligned lockout holes;
• one or more locking elements configured to be inserted through one or more of the aligned lockout holes of the first portion and the second portion, to lock the hinged ring in the closed position;
• a cap having an internal cavity with an interior ridge and an exterior lip around a first end of the cap, the exterior lip having an attachment point tab extending outwardly from the exterior lip;
• and
• a cap connector element having a first end connected to the attachment point tab of the cap and having a second end connected to the cap attachment hole on the second portion of the hinged ring,
• wherein the access control assembly controls access to the plug end of the power plug assembly by preventing disconnection of the plug end from the power outlet, when the plug end is plugged into the power outlet in the plugged-in position and the hinged ring is locked around the plug end and around an exterior portion of the power outlet.

A method for controlling access to a plug end of a power plug assembly using an access control assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the access control assembly comprising:
• a hinged ring having a first portion pivotably connected to a second portion, via a hinge pin at a hinged end, so that the first portion pivots toward and away from the second portion to close and open the hinged ring, the first portion and the second portion each having one or more lockout holes formed through an outer tab at a non-hinged end, and the second portion having an interior concave recessed portion and a cap attachment hole, wherein when the hinged ring is in a closed position, the first portion and the second portion define a circular opening, the outer tabs of the first portion and the second portion abut against each other, and the one or more lockout holes of the first portion and the second portion are aligned as aligned lockout holes;
• one or more locking elements configured to be inserted through one or more of the aligned lockout holes of the first portion and the second portion, to lock the hinged ring in the closed position;
• a cap having an internal cavity with an interior ridge and having an exterior lip around a first end of the cap, the exterior lip having an attachment point tab extending outwardly from the exterior lip;
• and
• a cap connector element having a first end connected to the attachment point tab of the cap and having a second end connected to the cap attachment hole on the second portion of the hinged ring;
• covering the plug end of the power plug assembly with the cap when the plug end is in an unplugged position;
• locking the hinged ring of the access control assembly in the closed position around the plug end and around an exterior portion of the cap, to prevent connection of the plug end to a power outlet;
• unlocking the hinged ring from around the plug end and from around the exterior portion of the cap, and removing the cap from the plug end, when the connection of the plug end to the power outlet is desired;
• plugging the plug end of the power plug assembly into the power outlet, so that the plug end is in a plugged-in position to create an electrical connection;
• and
• locking the hinged ring of the access control assembly in the closed position around the plug end and around an exterior portion of the power outlet, to prevent disconnection of the plug end from the power outlet, when the plug end is plugged into the power outlet in the plugged-in position.