GB2288208A - Security container for receiving and dispensing valuables - Google Patents

Abstract

A security container (2) for receiving and dispensing valuables, comprises a body portion (4), an openable portion (6) for gaining access to the body portion (4), lock means (8) for locking the openable portion (6) to the body portion (4), a first area (12) within the body portion (4) for receiving deposited valuables from a first aperture means (14) when the security container (2) is shut, second aperture means (18) for enabling the dispensation of predetermined amounts of valuables from a second area (16) when the security container (2) is shut, dispenser means for causing the dispensation of valuables, and time delay means for preventing the dispensation of the valuables for a predetermined time delay period. <IMAGE>

Description

A SECURITY CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING AND DISPENSING VALUABLES This invention relates to a security container for receiving and dispensing valuables.

Certain types of premises are subject to hold-ups and over the counter raids. Examples of such premises are all night garages, late opening off licences, late opening shops, jewellers, hotels, chemists and hospitals. Depending upon the type of premises, the management of the premises may need to store valuables in the form of, for example, cash, jewellery or drugs.

If the valuables are initially stored in a safe, the safe tends to prevent easy and repeated access to the valuables. Thus, for example, if an all night garage needs repeatedly to top up a cash float, then a safe is not an ideal place to store the cash float. Similarly, if the all night garage tends to accumulate too much cash, then the safe is not an ideal place in which to store the cash on a repeated basis because each time the safe is opened its total contents are vulnerable. Safes are not generally designed to allow the easy receipt and dispensation of valuables on a frequent basis.

There is a need for a security container which can be used in premises such for example as all night garages, late opening off licences, late opening shops, jewellers, hotels, chemists and hospitals and which allows the-easy receipt and dispensation of valuables on a frequent basis by a plurality of members of staff. It is an aim of the present invention to provide such a security container.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a security container for receiving and dispensing valuables, which security container comprises a body portion, an openable portion for gaining access to the body portion, lock means for locking the openable portion to the body portion in order to lock the security container shut, a first area within the body portion for receiving deposited valuables, first aperture means which is in communication with the first area and which is for enabling the valuables to be deposited into the first area when the security container is shut, a second area within the body portion for receiving pre-stored valuables, second aperture means which is in communication with the second area and which is for enabling the dispensation of predetermined amounts of the valuables from the second area when the security container is shut, dispenser means for causing the dispensation of the valuables, and time delay means for preventing the dispensation of the valuables for a predetermined time delay period.

The security container of the present invention may be used to provide security for the valuables from opportunists and also from determined types of attack.

Owners of premises and management may be confident that their staff will be able to deposit valuables into the security container as may be required and without having to have keys or a combination to operate the lock means.

If outside of pre-arranged opening times, the security container may be employed to stop staff without keys or a combination for the lock means gaining access to the valuables in the security container.

The time delay means may be such that the time delay period starts when the security container receives instructions to dispense a predetermined amount of the valuables. In this case, a raider causing the security container to receive the instructions will have to wait for a set period and if this set period is long enough, for example four minutes, then it will probably be too risky for the raider to wait and so the raider will run away. If desired, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the time delay means may be such that the time delay period starts when the security container has dispensed a predetermined amount of the valuables. In this case, a raider would be able to obtain one dispensation only before having to wait an unacceptable length of time before initiating a second time delay for a second dispensation of the valuables.The time delay means will usually cause one of the time delay periods for each dispensation to be made from the security container.

The time delay means will usually be an electromechanical time delay means. Any suitable and appropriate time delay means may be employed.

Preferably, the second area in the security container has a plurality of horizontal, vertical or radial partitions forming a plurality of compartments, in each of which compartments the valuables can be stacked. The partitions may be disposed at any suitable and appropriate angle. The valuables in each compartment can be dispensed under gravity or by mechanical means.

The plurality of compartments may communicate with a common chute which leads to the second aperture means.

The common chute is preferably a removable common chute.

The security container may be one in which the second aperture means is in the openable portion, the openable portion then being in the form of a door.

If the security container is in the form of a chest, then the openable portion will usually be a lid.

In this case, the second aperture means will usually be in one of the walls of the body portion of the chest.

Preferably, the first aperture means is such as to enable the deposited valuables to be deposited under gravity. The first aperture means may be in a top wall of the body portion.

Preferably, the first aperture means is a deposit tube.

The lock means is preferably a key-operated lock means. The lock means may however be a combination lock means if desired.

The dispenser means will usually include an external key pad. Power from the external key pad may be provided by a battery inside the security container and/or by mains power. Any suitable and appropriate construction for the dispenser means may be employed.

Preferably, the valuables will be contained in tubular capsules. The tubular capsules may be transparent so that their contents can easily be seen.

The security container may be used for any suitable and appropriate type of valuables including money, jewellery and drugs. Keys to the security container and other keys may be deposited in the security container in the same way as the valuables.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security container in an open condition; Figure 2 is a side section through the security container shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a front view of the security container as shown in Figure 1 but in a closed condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a security container 2 for receiving and dispensing valuables such for example as money, jewellery and drugs. The security container 2 comprises a body portion 4 and an openable portion in the form of a door 6. The door 6 provides access to the body portion 4 as will be seen from Figure 1.

The security container 2 includes lock means including safe-type bolts 8 for locking the door 6 to the body portion 4 using a key (not shown) which will be inserted into a keyhole 10 in the door 6, see Figure 3.

The security container 2 has a first area 12 within the body portion 4 for receiving deposited valuables.

The valuables are deposited via first aperture means in the form of a deposit tube 14. The deposit tube 14 is in communication with the first area 12 and so valuables put in to the deposit tube 14 pass under gravity to the first area 12. The deposit tube 14 is always open so that valuables can always be deposited into the first area 12, even when the door 6 is shut.

The security container 2 comprises a second area 16 which is positioned above the first area 12 in the body portion 4. The second area 16 may be for pre-stored valuables. The door 6 is provided with second aperture means 18 which is slot shaped as shown and which is in communication with the second area 16. Thus the second aperture means 18 enables dispensation of pre-determined amounts of the valuables from the second area 16 when the door 6 is shut.

The security container 2 includes dispenser means (not shown) for causing the dispensation of the valuables or programmable recovery of keys. Any suitable and appropriate type of dispenser means may be employed.

The security container 2 also includes time delay means (not shown) for preventing the dispensation of the valuables for a predetermined time delay period. Any suitable and appropriate time delay means may be employed. Preferably the time delay means is such that the time delay period starts when the security container 2 receives instructions to dispense a predetermined amount of the valuables. Thus, each time the security container 2 receives instructions to dispense a predetermined amount of the valuables, the time delay period occurs.

As can best be seen from Figure 1, the second area 16 has a plurality of vertical partitions 20 forming a plurality of compartments 22. Each compartment 22 is for receiving valuables which are containers in tubular capsules 24. The valuables in the capsules 24 can be dispensed under gravity or by mechanical means, When an appropriate capsule 24 is dispensed, it falls under gravity or is moved mechanically into a removable common chute 26 which leads to the second aperture means 18.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the first area 12 is underneath the second area 16, and access to the first area 12 is via an access door 28. This access door 28 can be provided with a lock if desired or the access door 28 may be openable without a lock.

The security container 2 is able to provide security for the valuables from opportunists and determined types of attack. The security container 2 will be constructed appropriate to the type of attack anticipated. The lock means may include an operating release mechanism housed inside the security container 2. The security container 2 may have security type door bolt work including the above mentioned bolts 8. The use of the time delay means is able to ensure that only authorised personnel are able to gain access to the contents of the security container 2 and then only at specific times.

Owners and management are able to be confident that valuables are able to be deposited in the security container 2 without keys. Staff are prevented from accessing the deposited valuables and all persons including thieves will need to wait for the preset time delay.

The dispenser means may include an external key pad which uses a designated code for various valuables or keys deposited. The time delay prevents the entire stock of the security container 2 being obtainable in one go. Any suitable and appropriate time delay periods may be programmed to the security container 2.

Specific keys, for example for various doors or items of security equipment in a building, can be issued on a random basis, ensuring that each user has total control of his or her own keys, without the user being compromised by others who have access to the security container 2. In order to avoid key holders taking their keys off site at the end of a shift, the keys can be deposited into the security container 2 via the deposit tube 14.

Banknotes and coins of predetermined amounts may be placed in appropriate numbers of the capsules 24. The capsules can be recovered and deposited on the same basis as for the keys. The security container 2 can be used to maintain a workable money float throughout an employee's working shift, and at the same time provide the employee with the capability of depositing additional money as it accrues from on-going sales.

If the security container 2 is used in hospitals and chemists, then it may be used to store hard additive type drugs. The drugs may still be stored in the capsules 24. The required drug may be obtained using a designated code number.

When the security container 2 is to be used in jewellers, then small and expensive items of jewellery may be stored in the capsules 24 and issued back with a designated code number, in the same manner as for drugs.

Advantageously, a facility may be built into the mechanism for the jewellery to be returned and re-stored if not sold, required or accessed in error.

The security container of the present invention may be made in any suitable and appropriate sizes, dependent upon where the security container is to be installed and upon its intended use.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the security container 2 could be in the design of a chest or a carousel rather than in the design of a safe as shown in the drawings.

Claims (15)

1. A security container for receiving and depositing valuables, which security container comprises a body portion, an openable portion for gaining access to the body portion, lock means for locking the openable portion to the body portion in order to lock the security container shut, a first area within the body portion for receiving deposited valuables, first aperture means which is in communication with the first area and which is for enabling the valuables to be deposited into the first area when the security container is shut, a second area within the body portion for receiving pre-stored valuables, second aperture means which is in communication with the second area and which is for enabling the dispensation of predetermined amounts of the valuables from the second area when the security container is shut, dispenser means for causing the dispensation of the valuables, and time delay means preventing the dispensation of the valuables for a predetermined time delay period.

2. A security container according to claim 1 in which the time delay means is such that the time delay period starts when the security container receives instructions to dispense a predetermined amount of the valuables.

3. A security container according to claim 1 in which the time delay means is such that the time delay period starts when the security container has dispensed a predetermined amount of the valuables.

4. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second area in the security container has a plurality of horizontal, vertical or radial partitions forming a plurality of compartments, in each of which compartments the valuables can be stacked.

5. A security container according to claim 4 in which the valuables in each compartment are dispensed under gravity or by mechanical means.

6. A security container according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the plurality of compartments communicate with a common chute which leads to the second aperture means.

7. A security container according to claim 6 in which the common chute is a removable common chute.

8. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second aperture means is in the openable portion, the openable portion then being in th & form of a door.

9. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first aperture means enables the deposited valuables to be deposited under gravity.

10. A security container according to claim 9 in which the first aperture means is in a top wall of the body portion.

11. A security container according to claim 10 in which the first aperture means is a deposit tube.

12. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lock means is a keyoperated lock means.

13. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the dispenser means includes an external pad.

14. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims and including tubular capsules for receiving the valuables.

15. A security container for receiving and dispensing valuables, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.