# US 7,408,126 B2 · Reset lock for electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,408,126 B2 - Document ID: US7408126B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/177,012 - Filed: 2005-07-07 - Published: 2007-01-11 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-07 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Calvin Y. Liu; Manrique Brenes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7408126B2 ## CPC - H01H 9/287: {wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers} - Y10T 70/40: Portable - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide a protective cover over one or more switches on an electronic device. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a housing having a first perforation and a switch coupled to the housing. A switch cover may be placed over the switch to prevent operation of the switch, with the switch cover having a second perforation that aligns with the first perforation of the housing. A locking mechanism may be inserted at least partially through the first and second perforations to lock the switch cover to the electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a housing having a first perforation; a switch coupled to the housing; a switch cover adapted to couple with the housing to prevent operation of the switch, wherein the switch cover has a second perforation which aligns with the first perforation of the housing when the switch cover is coupled to the housing, and wherein the housing and the switch cover are adapted to receive at least a first portion of a locking mechanism inserted through the second perforation of the switch cover and the first perforation of the housing to lock the switch cover to the electronic device; and a second switch disposed within the housing and adapted to indicate when the locking mechanism locks the switch cover to the electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising the locking mechanism adapted to have at least the first portion of the locking mechanism inserted through the second perforation of the switch cover and the first perforation of the housing to lock the switch cover to the electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises; a lock; and a cable coupled to the lock and having a loop, wherein the cable is adapted to wrap around an object near the electronic device, with the lock adapted to pass through the loop to secure the locking mechanism to the object prior to locking the switch cover to the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator light adapted to light when the locking mechanism locks the switch cover to the electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the indicator light is activated based on a position of the second switch, and wherein the electronic device is further adapted to provide information as to a locked or unlocked state of the switch cover based on a position of the second switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first perforation meets Kensington security slot specifications and the locking mechanism comprises a Kensington locking mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises at least one of a push button, a pressure-sensitive button, and a turnable knob. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a network device and the switch comprises a reset button. ### Claim 9 An electronic device comprising: a housing; a switch coupled to the housing; means for preventing operation of the switch; means for locking the preventing means to the electronic device; and means for electronically indicating that the preventing means is locked to the electronic device by the locking means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising means for locking the electronic device to a nearby object. ### Claim 11 A method of preventing access to a switch of an electronic device having a first perforation, the method comprising: providing a cover for the switch, wherein the cover has a second perforation; placing the cover over the switch, wherein the second perforation of the cover aligns with the first perforation of the electronic device and the cover denies access to the switch; inserting a locking mechanism at least partially through the first perforation and the second perforation to lock the cover to the electronic device; and triggering a second switch when the locking mechanism locks the cover to the electronic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising recording locked and/or unlocked status of the cover based on the triggering. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a Kensington locking mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising lighting an indicator light on the electronic device based on the triggering to indicate the cover is locked to the electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the inserting further comprises wrapping the locking mechanism around an object near the electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism secures the electronic device to the object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a router and the switch is a reset button for the router. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a first portion of the cover surrounds the sides of the switch during the placing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first perforation meets Kensington security slot specifications.