AU668995B2 - Locker assembly - Google Patents

Description

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r q, l P/:00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

gil TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT i1-

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Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: BARRY COLIN CAWTHORNE BARRY COLIN CAWTHORNE

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JOHN R.G. GARDNER PO BOX 443 MUDGEERABA QLD 4213 Invention title: A LOCKER ASSEMBLY Details of Associated Provisional Applications:Nos: PL 5104 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a locker assembly and in particular to a mobile locker assembly.

The protection of valuables from theft particularly in beach locations is becoming an increasing problem. For example, the theft of such valuables often occurs when persons leave valuables unattended when they are swimming or walking along the beach. It is often difficult to reduce this risk because of lack of police presence on a beach or insufficient police resources to cover situations which arise. Whilst fixed lockers are sometimes provided in establishments located adjacent to the beach area such as in lifesaving club houses, such lockers are generally intended for use only by members of the club and not the general public. Additionally they are normally not conveniently sited.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages by providing a mobile locker assembly which may be easily transported and used in any situation where storage of valuables or other articles is required.

The present invention is particularly suited to use in beach locations but may be used in other locations where valuables are subject to the risk of theft. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention provides in a preferred form a mobile locker assembly including a road transport vehicle and a plurality of lockers supported on said vehicle, one of said lockers including locking means releasable only upon application of releasing means unique to said one locker or upon presentation of identification data unique to said one locker.

The road transport vehicle may be a vehicle such as a four wheel drive vehicle which may be driven over the sand or other terrain but preferably the road transport vehicle is a trailer which may be coupled to any suitable prime mover.

Preferably the lockers are arranged in an array of rows and columns on the frame. The mobile trailer frame 7 3 suitably is supported for movement on one or more pairs of wheels. The locker assembly thus may be transported by towing to any desired site.

Any suitable locking means may be provided for selectively locking the lockers. Such locking means however are such to provide a high degree of security.

Means are suitably provided for controlling access to the locking means of the lockers. Such means suitably comprise identifying means for identifying a user of a particular locker with the locker being used.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile locker assembly according to the present invention; Figs. 2A, B, C and D are side, rear, plan and front views of one form of mobile locker assembly according to the present invention; and Figs. 3A, B, C and D are side, rear, plan and front views of a second form of locker assembly according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings firstly to Figs. 1 and 2A to D there is illustrated a mobile locker assembly accordingly to the present invention comprising a support frame 11 being provided with a single axle and wheels 12 and a towing coupling 13 to enable the frame 11 to be coupled to a towing vehicle. Supported on the frame 11 are a plurality of lockers 14 arranged in upstanding columns and horizontal rows on opposite sides of the frame 11. The lockers 14 in this embodiment are of generally rectangular hollow form and provided with hinged doors which may be locked in a closed position by any suitable locking device such as a conventional key operated locking device. In the above described configuration, the lockers are arranged in six columns of five lockers per column arranged in horizontal rows.

Arranged at the forward end of the frame 11

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between the opposite side arrays of lockers 14 is a large cupboard-like enclosure 16 provided with vertically hWnamd doors 17, the enclosure 16 being provided to hold and store larger objects. Arranged at the rearward end of the frame 11 between the opposite side rows of lockers are a further array 18 of lockers arranged in this embodiment in three columns of five lockers per column.

The mobile frame 11 as shown in Fig. 1A may be provided with stabilisers 19 which may be actuated to stabilise the locker assemblies 10 in use. In a preferred form the stabilisers 19 comprise legs which may be lowered into engagement with the ground to support and stabilise the frame 11. The stabilisers 19 may be retracted from the ground to enable the mobile frame to be towed or otherwise moved.

Figs. 3A to D illustrate a second form of mobile locker assembly 20 according to the invention which is of a larger size and provided with two pairs of axles and associated wheels 21. As before however a plurality of lockers 14 are provided on opposite sides and at the rear of the frame 11 whilst a cupboard 16 is provided at the u

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forward side of the frame 11. In this embodiment, the lockers are provided in an array of ten columns of five lockers per column.

S 25 In use the mobile locker assembly 10 or 20 is II coupled to a towing vehicle and transported to site which for example may comprise an area on or adjacent a beach. A person wishing to use such lockers may, upon payment of a sum of money, obtain a key from an attendant and either retain the key or leave the key with the attendant for subsequent collection upon providing suitable identification. For the former purpose, the keys to the lockers 14 may be provided with means to facilitate their attachment to the body of a user such as a wrist strap or the like. For the latter purpose, means may be provided to identify the person who uses the facility to enable identification with a particular key held by an attendant.

Such means may comprise a marker or the like such as an .1.

invisible marker stamped or placed upon the wrist of the user by the attendant, the marker being readable by suitable means such as ultraviolet detection means. Such an arrangement will provide full security to the system.

As an alternative arrangement, a bar code armlet may be af fixed to or about the user'Is wrist or arm as a means identifying a user with a particular locker or key which is held by the attendant. The attendant may then be provided with a barcode reader to identify the bar code of the armlet of a particular user so that the locker or key of that person can be identified and the locker unlocked.

The armlet fo~r this purpose suitably comprises a plastic strip which is secured about the arm of the user in any suitably fashion.

In yet an alternative arrangement, means may be provided to enable association of a particular locker with a person and automatic opening thereof. Such means may comprise means which read or identify a particular natural charactu2.xistic of a person such as a fingerprint or an applied characteristic marker or stamp on the person. In such an arrangement, the attendant may be provided with sensor means which will enable such a marker or stamp or other characteristic to be read and open automatically a particular locker. This arrangement enables key operated lockers to be eliminated, the lockers in this case being locked or unlocked by a solenoid operated lock.

Larger articles may be stored within the enclosure 16 which may be provided with a lock of any suitable type as above.

Preferably the lockers 14 are constructed of a corrosion resistant material so as to avoid salt corrosion as encountered in beach areas. Preferably also, the individual lockers 14 are covered or are f ormed of a weatherproof material which may comprise a plastic or fibreglass sheeting. Inf a particularly preferred construction the lockers are f ormed or moulded of a f ibreglass material which serves to resist corrosion.

The Locker assemblies shown and described are of

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6 generally rectangular form however the lockers may be of other shapes and arranged in any array such as in a circule- array or triangular array.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (9)

1. A mobile locker assembly including a road transport vehicle and a plurality of lockers supported on said vehicle, one of said lockers including locking means releasable only upon application of releasing means unique to said one locker or upon presentation of identification data unique to said one locker.

2. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasing means is a key or a combination.

3. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification data is carried by carrier means adapted for portage with a person.

4. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carrier means is adapted to circumscribe a limb of a person and to be secured thereto. -s

5. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the identification data includes a bar code identifiable with said one locker.

6. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lockers are provided in arrays on opposite sides of said vehicle.

7. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding ciaims and including an array of said lockers at c -the rear of said vehicle.

8. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a lockable cupboard-like enclosure at the forward end of said vehicle.

9. A mobile locker assembly as claimed in any one of the X('t preceding claims, wherein said vehicle is a trailer. N V"I- ,.MEO A mobile locker assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Ninth DAY OF February, 1996. BARRY COLIN CAWTHORNE by PIZZEYS t 4* Ia. j' t ABSTRACT A mobile locker assembly (10) including a mobile frame (11) which supports on opposite sides arrays of lockers (14). Each locker is individually lockable so as to provide a secure storage location for valuables or other goods. The locker assembly (10) may be transported to any location where secure storage of valuables or personal effectj is required. LII