GB2216951A

GB2216951A - Security closure

Info

Publication number: GB2216951A
Application number: GB8906773A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Dalton
Original assignee: Volumatic Ltd
Current assignee: Volumatic Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-26
Filing date: 1989-03-23
Publication date: 1989-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-23
Also published as: GB8807265D0; GB8906773D0; GB2216951B

Abstract

A security case (10) has a lid (16) in the form of a security closure. The lid is a double-walled lid having coplanar upper and lower walls (18, 20). The upper wall (18) is hinged along its rear edge to a rear wall of the case and has a key-operated lock (22) adjacent its front edge. An anti-theft device (26) such as a smoke dye canister is secured between the two walls (18, 20) and is secured to the lower wall (20) with a firing mechanism of the canister secured to the upper wall such that when the walls are separated the canister is activated. The arrangement is such that when the lid is in a closed, locked position any attempt to force open the lid raises the upper wall (18), separating it from the lower wall and activating the smoke dye canister. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Security Closure The present invention relates to a security closure.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved security closure.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a security closure for securing access to an enclosed space, comprising; a closure member adapted to be hinged along one edge thereof to an opening in the enclosure for closing said opening; wherein said closure member has a lower wall member having a lock means for locking said member in a closed position and an upper wall member overlying said lower wall member and secured thereto by securing means, said upper wall member being pivotable independently of said lower wall member along said one edge; an anti-theft device located between said wall members and secured thereto such that separation of said wall members actuates said anti-theft device; the arrangement being such that when said closure is in a closed, locked position an attempt to prise open said closure member causes said upper and lower wall members to separate and actuate said anti-theft device.

One application for a closure according to the present invention is as a lid for a security case.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security case with a security closure according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a partial section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The drawings show a security case 10 which is generally rectangular in shape although any suitable shape may be used. The case has four side walls 12, a bottom wall 14 and a closure in the form of a lid 16.

The lid 16 is a double-walled lid having upper and lower generally coplanar walls 18, 20. The lower wall 20 is generally U-shaped in cross section as seen in Figure 2 with the upper wall 18 being generally in the. form of a flat sheet secured to the lower wall 20.

The lid 16 is hinged along its rear edge to the rear wall of the case and is provided with a key-operated lock or locks 22 adjacent its front edge. The lock 22 is secured to the lower wall 20 but projects through the upper wall 18 for access. The upper wall 18 is secured to the lower wall 20 along the front edge of the latter by suitable means such as soft rivets 24.

A smoke dye canister 26 or other suitable anti-theft device is located between the two walls 18 and 20, being secured to the wall 20 and has a'chain 28 one end of which is secured to the upper wall 18 and the other end which is attached to the firing or activating mechanism of the canister 26. The arrangement is such that when the upper wall 18 is raised relative to the lower wall 20 the chain 28 is drawn taut and activates the canister 26.

The upper wall 18 along its front edge overhangs the lower wall 20 such that the latter is not accessible when the lid is closed. Therefore, any force applied to the lid to try and prise the lid open is applied to the upper wall 18. This results in the rivets 24 breaking, allowing the upper wall 18 to hinge away from the wall 20. The chain 28 is thus drawn taut and activates the smoke dye canister 26.

Although soft rivets 24 are preferred, any other suitable means for securing the upper and lower walls 18, 20 together may be used provided their combined strength is sufficiently less than that of the lock 22 to ensure that the upper wall 18 breaks away from the lower wall 20 when an attempt is made to prise the lid open.

A sound alarm may also be incorporated in the lid for activation with or as an alternative to the smoke dye canister.

Although a preferred form of security closure has been described in relation to a security case it will be appreciated that such a closure has many applications in circumstances where access to a confined space has to be controlled.

Claims

1. A security closure for securing access to an enclosed space, comprising: a closure member adapted to be hinged along one edge thereof to an opening in the enclosure for closing said opening; wherein said closure member has a lower wall member having a lock means for locking said member in a closed position and an upper wall member overlying said lower wall member and secured thereto by securing means, said upper wall member being pivotable independently of said lower wall member along said one edge; an anti-theft device located between said wall members and secured thereto such that separation of said wall members actuates said anti-theft device; the arrangement being such that when said closure is in a closed, locked position an attempt to prise open said closure member causes said upper and lower wall members to separate and actuate said anti-theft device.

2. A security closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper wall is subetSntially flat and coplanar with said lower wall and is secured thereto along its edge remote from said one edge.

3. A security closure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said lock means is secured to said lower wall member and projects through said upper wall member for access thereto.

4. A security closure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said anti-theft device is secured to said lower wall member and has an activating mechanism coupled to said upper wall member such that separation of said wall members causes actuation of said anti-theft device.

5. A security closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said anti-theft device is a smoke dye canister.

6. A security closure as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein said anti-theft device comprises a sound alarm.

7. A security closure as claimed in said upper wall member overhangs said lower wall member such that the latter is not accessible when the closure member is in a closed position.

8. A security closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A security case having a lid formed by a security closure as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

10. A security case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.