AU738728B3 - Secure locking device for cash drawer to protect collected cash - notes - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 SECURE LOCKING DEVICE FOR CASH DRAWER TO PROTECT COLLECTED CASH AND PREVENT REMOVAL OF CASH TRAY INSERT The invention is described in the following statement: 1 SECURE LOCKING DEVICE FOR CASH DRAWER TO PROTECT COLLECTED CASH AND PREVENT REMOVAL OF CASH TRAY INSERT This device relates to the security of excess collected cash in cash register or till drawers.

There is a growing problem of cash been stolen from cash registers. Offences such as 'grab run', staff pilfering to armed robbery are common forms of attacks on cash collecting drawers attached to cash registers or Point of Sale equipment. This locking devise is designed to allow a cash drawer operator to quickly secure excess to needs cash as it is being collected from customers. This is achieved by sliding any 'high value' notes received through a small slit into a secure area within the drawer. This leaves only small value notes for change giving and for general business transactions. This device will make cash control easier and safer for the operator and deter would be offenders from attacking the cash till drawer and restrict the actual cash loss to a minimum.

SAlthough there are a number of other security devises available such as under counter safes, 'they require the operator to remove the notes from the drawer and load them into the undercounter secure container. This requires constant vigilance to removing excess cash that often builds up in the cash drawer. In our system the cash note/s to be secured is laid inside the drawer on top and in front of the loading slot. This allows the operator to pay out the customer and ensure the correct change is presented. Once the transaction is complete the operator slips the note fully into the secure area where it drops into the cavity of the secured area.

The secure area is key locked by a standard barrel cam key lock. This key would be normally held by the manager or a person of authority. The manager would when required would unlock the cash securing devise allowing it to be removed from the cash drawer exposing the cash notes contents of the storage area. They would remove the cash contents and then relock the cash securing devise to the cash tray insert by placing it into the secure area at an angle of around 45 degrees allowing the cash securing devises restriction plate to be behind the front face of the drawer frame. The cash securing devise is placed in its correct position for locking by the turning of the cam by the key lock. In the normal position the restriction plate stops the drawer from travelling out fully. This causes both the cash tray insert and the cash drawer to 1 remain attached to the drawer frame as it is restricted by the restriction plate from reaching the point where they would normally be removed. The effect of locking the components together is permanent until the key lock within the cash securing devise is turned to the unlocked position, the cash securing devise is pushed sideways releasing it thus allowing it to be lifted out of the cash tray insert.

The cash secure devise is designed to suit a cash tray insert that has a compartments that compliment and allow notes to remain flat and where the locking devise can 'lock' over this area. The cash securing devise has a 'grab' feature located at the far side of the plate. This grab feature captures the edge of the cash insert tray when the cam attached to the key barrel is turned.

The secure area where collected cash accumulates is secured by a key which forms part of the device. This key locking occurs when the key turns within the key barrel causing a cam bar to move in one direction This invention enhances the security and cash management of a generic cash drawer design currently in commercial supply and accepted use. The descriptions shown as EXAMPLES 1 TO 4 provides a brief explanation for each component and how it would normally work as a single unit.

For the ease of understanding how the invention works with a generic drawer, reference will now be made to the accompanying EXAMPLE drawings. A typical cash drawer commonly comes with three primary components shown as EXAMPLE No 1 CASH TRAY INSERT EXAMPLE No 2 CASH DRAWER FRAME EXAMPLE No 3 CASH DRAWER SURROUND and work in unison as shown in EXAMPLE No 4 1 To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which shows one example of the invention.

FIG 1 shows a cash drawer that has compartments that allow the separation and quick access of cash notes and coins. In this example there is a section at the rear of the drawer insert that can allow notes to fall freely into the bottom of the insert. Alongside this is a partition and another compartment which is capable of providing a void for the locking mechanism for the cash securing devise.

This example is one of many insert designs and configurations currently available and our design is not restricted to this example showing its installation at rear part of the cash tray insert.

FIG 2 Provides a cut out view of the cash securing devise as it would be if it were locked into the cash tray insert. The locking devise comprises of a plate made of a steel, plastic or any suitable material. The areas of compartments and are protected by the shape of the cash securing devise. A key lock is located in the compartment and a slot is located along the front of the cover to allow cash notes to be slipped into the compartment. The locking devise is secured by the lock when turned to the locked position.

S.FIG3 how the cash secure devise would look when being viewed by an operator. The deposit slot and only the front section of the unit is visible. The remainder of the cash secure devise is prevented from moving by the restricting plate hitting the inner side of the drawer frame.

FIG4 shows the locking devise being removed from the cash tray insert. This is done by unlocking the locking devise from the drawer from the locked position and sliding the entire locking devise to the right which then allows the locking devise to rotate away from the back of the drawer frame and then be fully removed from the drawer insert exposing both compartments and To install the locking devise the locking devise is placed on top of the and compartments at 45 degrees with the restrictor fully extended under the drawer frame and pushed to horizontal position. The lock key turns the lock to the lock position forcing the cash securing devise to move to the left and capturing the edge of the cash drawer insert frame.

1 FIG 5 shows the fabricated components that form the physical body of the invention in isometric.

FIG 6 shows the cam lock capture bracket which secures the lock into the correct position when locking the cash securing devise. The capture bracket is installed onto the insert tray 14 in area by a screw, bolt and or other fixing devises such as double sided tape or adhesive.

FIG 7 shows the cash secure devise in front view with the cam locking unit interacting with the FIG6 bracket.

FIG8 shows a plan view of the cash secure devise.

We will describe here how the cash secure devise works using FIG2, FIG7 and FIG8 numbered descriptions.

The steel plate or similar suitable material 1 which is folded to fit inside the size of both compartments and The key lock 2 is used to secure the cash securing devise by turning the cam 8 in a direction that pushes against the bracket 9 forcing the entire 1 cash secure devise to move sideways to the left. As the key lock reaches its locking position the cam 8 climbs under the bracket 8 securing itself from an opportunity to be forcefully lifted out of the correct anatomical position. This action causes the platel of the cash secure devise to become secured on top of compartments The posting slot 3 is there to accept CASH notes slid through it. Notes would fall into the cavity space allowing for continuous feeding of notes through the slot.

Eventually the cash secure devise would be removed by unlocking 2 and removal from the tray insert (See FIG 4) to reveal the collected cash for banking or management.

A restricting plate 5 hits the top of the drawer frame as the drawer travels in an outward motion. Because the drawer frame is restricted from conducting its full travel the cash tray insert cannot be removed. With the cash tray insert fixed in the drawer frame no opportunity for the drawer frame to be removed exists, thus locking all components together until the cash 1 secure devise has been totally removed. The cash secure devise cannot be removed unless the correct key is used to release the lock by rotating cam 8 away from bracket 9.

To remove the cash secure devise from the drawer completely requires the operator to first unlock the lock and to push the cash secure devise to the right freeing it from tray insert edge from the capture lug 7.

Cutout 5 allows for the cash secure devise to pivot at point 13 on the upper edge of the divider between areas Also as the pivot point is forward of the restricting plate 5 the pivoting action to remove the cash secure devise allows the restricting plate 5 to be free from hitting the drawer frame (see 16 FIG4). Once removed the drawer is free to travel the remaining distance where the tray insert can be removed and, if required, also the drawer frame.

7 is the slot that allows the locking devise to be locked onto the top of the insert frame edge 12.

6 is the cutout that allows the cash secure devise to be loaded onto the top of the insert frame.

is the folded edge to provides added strength and to facilitate correct positioning of the cash securing devise.

11 are the retaining lugs to secure the locking devise from moving back over the insert frame.

It will be realised that the cash secure devise according to this invention here is not restricted to the form of a secure devise shown in the example, but may use many or other sections of the drawer to facilitate the security of collected cash.

A SECURE LOCKING DEVICE FOR CASH DRAWER TO PROTECT COLLECTED CASH AND PREVENT REMOVAL OF CASH TRAY INSERT substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Richard Gould 3 June, 2001

Claims (3)

1. An accessory for a cash register tray, the accessory including: a body portion including an attachment means for attaching the body portion to the tray so that at least a part of the body portion overlies at least one compartment of the tray; a locking means carried on the body portion for locking the body portion in position on the tray; and an access opening defined in the part of the body portion for facilitating insertion of items into the at least one compartment of the tray.

2. The accessory of claim 1 in which the access opening is in the form of a slot, the slot being dimensioned to receive money through it for enabling the money to be stored in the at least one compartment of the tray. 1b'

3. The accessory of claim 1 or claim 2 which includes an engaging means carried by the body portion, the engaging means, in use, engaging a drawer surround of the cash register to inhibit a drawer in which the tray is received being fully opened and thereby inhibiting removal of the tray from the drawer. Dated this 6t August 2001 Richard John Gould Donald Norman Wood