EP0783069B1 - Security counter with at least a movable armoured wall - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of property protection and people, including staff and valuables in banks or similar organizations or enterprises handling objects of security or values, and relates to a security window with at least one movable armored wall.

The aforementioned organizations or companies are often victims armed attacks, and were therefore forced, in order to protect themselves, to provide for a separation at the counter level between their staff and their clients.

Contact with the customer must remain friendly, however, and employees must be able to exchange objects of various sizes with customers, which does not allow the separation of the two zones by fixed walls.

The proper solution to this kind of problem is to separate the area reserved for employees of the area where the public enters through a perimeter of physical protection (armored walls) including one or one-stop shops several movable armored wall (s).

These known counters have a vertical shielding which is hidden in a cabinet or in the body of the counter when the mechanism is at rest and which stands almost instantly as one of the bank's employees triggers an alarm, thus sheltering personnel in a closed enclosure.

The shield is raised at such a speed that the aggressor not warned of the alarm does not have time to enter inside the protected space, or even to fire on the employees.

the triggering of this device generally has a deterrent effect on the aggressor, who quickly abandons his project.

These security windows are generally placed in continuity with walls or doors with the same degree of protection against handguns fire or break-in, thereby defining a physical protection perimeter.

They create at rest (lowered shields), thanks to their large airy openings, a friendly atmosphere at the agency, thus promoting business relationships while inspiring a sense of security for employees.

These security counters have proven their effectiveness for years, so much so that it has become classical architecture today that the vital parts banks are designed to create a protection zone around employees and values to protect.

These protection and security windows with armored wall (s) mobile (s) exist in two families of products fairly close in principle. These two families respectively comprise, on the one hand, the armored counters mobile (opaque shields) and, on the other hand, the windows with mobile glazing, these the latter being distinguished from the former by the fact that the mobile shielding is constituted transparent laminated glazing (burglar-proof glazing and / or bullet-proof).

In the case of a counter with opaque armored walls, in particular metal, the mobile shielding is preferably made of sheet steel (opaque), ordinary or special shade, if the bulletproof level is high.

The mobile armored counter generally includes a carcass embedded in the cabinet or body of the counter, one or two shields vertical and parallel, sliding in two lateral uprights, as well as all or part of the actuator, control and command means.

The carcass, the shields, the uprights and the cross member being Once the mechanism has been deployed, they are part of the protection perimeter. bulletproof, or designed to receive shields.

The types of ammunition against which protection is commonly considered range from small to medium sizes: 22LR, 38 special, 9 mm para, 357 magnum, even 12 mm Brenneke or 12 mm Blondeau.

Using special shielding materials, to report more advantageous shielding performance / specific weight, we can, for a same window, extend protection to more powerful weapons, retaining or by increasing, if necessary, the capacity of the actuator means.

Protection against firearms is generally strengthened and insured against the selected size up to a height of 2 m 10 (level above the height of a person standing behind the counter).

Above this height, thicker sheets can be used to reduce the weight of the shields to be lifted. Ballistic resistance is therefore lower at this level, which is not important in itself, since a bullet fired at breast height above this level has a trajectory rising and fits into the ceiling, after being slowed down as the shielding.

The mobile shields can be coated with anti-ricochet products, thus avoiding that a burst of bullet fired on the shielding does not injure a customer.

The fixed frames of this safety equipment made in mechanically welded construction, are generally dressed by counters or plans of wood or any other material and constitute at least part of the counter body.

The mobile armored counter (s) promotes relationships because when the shields are lowered, they fold back into the fixed framework placed on the ground and in the body of the counter. Only remain visible side uprights and the integration furniture (counter) themselves, including dimensions (depth) and shapes are customizable for each company, according to aesthetic and ergonomic criteria.

The counter with glazed armored wall or movable glazing is more flexible use, in the sense that it is possible, for example, to work with the protection lowered or deployed, since it is transparent and that this type of counter generally has a pass pass at the plan level work (passage for change of money or even small packages), when the framed glazing is raised.

In the case of businesses open day and night, this provides two levels of protection (lowered glazing during the day and read at night).

Note, however, that the fragility of the glazing slightly reduces the deployment speed compared to mobile metal shielding (lighter and less fragile with equivalent degree of protection).

This glazing, of the laminated type and mounted in a metal frame, can be transparent or covered with a layer comprising opacifying crystals.

The metal frame surrounding the glazing is connected to pieces of integral connection of the actuator means which can move said glazing in a vertical direction.

These actuator means, in particular in the form of jacks, can either be arranged on the sides, behind the side uprights, or be integrated directly into said amounts, so that they are hidden for a person located in the area accessible to the public, even when the glazing is deployed.

For the two types of counters described above, the height of the plane working height is generally 1.10 m for standing windows, and 0.80 m for seated desks, these values being commonly accepted for the positions of work considered in each of these cases.

They may vary slightly depending on the country, and desires individuals of companies.

This height of the work surface determines the maximum length of the actuator means, in particular in the form of jacks, incorporated into the framework, and therefore the maximum height of the counters.

In the upper part of the counter, a finishing shelf remains visible and allows to close the slit-shaped opening through which pass (s) the armored wall (s) during their deployment.

Depending on the desired embodiment and the type of window, this shelf can be tilted or pivoted, or even fixed directly on the upper edge of the armored wall (upper) and mount at the same time as this one (preferred solution for the glass armored wall).

The swivel shelf has the advantage of ejecting everything from the customer side object placed voluntarily or not on the shelf during the shielding rise and thus prevent it from being lifted and jamming the mechanism at the end of its travel high, between the shields and the upper crossmember.

The rotation or the pivoting of the tablet can be operated automatically when the shields rise, either under the edge thrust upper of the armored wall (s), either under the action of an actuated piston by a jack (French patent no. 2,571,420 in the name of the plaintiff).

When the wall (s) are retracted, springs placed under tension at the rise of the wall (s) allow to exert sufficient effort to return and maintain the tablet in its initial position, in which it closes the slit-shaped opening.

Sliding pads or rollers can limit friction of the shelf on the armored walls against which it remains pressed for throughout the deployment of said armored walls.

The hinge and the particular mounting of the shelf allow stick on it a coating of the same type as that used for the dressing of the window, respecting a maximum thickness, so that the finish of the work plan seems homogeneous and hides even better the existence of the security device placed in the counter.

The power supply, backup, radio reception and electrical management of the counters is advantageously placed in a remote box, resulting in a gain in volume inside the counters, and a network is wired to connect the wickets to this unit.

Management cards can also be placed in each counter, especially when you want to be able to activate the protections separately.

The emergency closing command can be provided by conventional electrical or pneumatic contacts, although it has become more common to use systems hidden from the eyes of the potential attacker such as bars pedal (foot control), miniature radio transmitters or others.

This order can also be issued by a central post of video surveillance, alarm or detection of anomalies such as breakage of ice, a breach of safe, fire or the like.

Movable shields can be moved by actuator means electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or even by mechanical devices.

However, the desired deployment speed of the screen protection favors the pneumatic solution, the expansion of a compressed gas being almost instant.

In this case, actuator means are available in the window tires, in particular cylinders, in sufficient dimensions and quantities, depending on the width, the height but also the desired protection class (parameters together determining the weight to be moved).

Each counter can have its own source of fluid under sufficient pressure (compressed air tank) to ensure at least one deployment of the protective and rechargeable screen.

In the body of the counter, the various means for monitoring and controlling the actuator means, namely possibly electrical and electronic devices such as cards and management circuits and connectors and interfaces, and, in the case of actuators pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and pneumatic equipment such as switching devices, distribution blocks, filter-regulators, solenoid valves or the like, necessary for powering the actuators tires.

Currently, these different means are dispersed in the volume inside the counter body and always located in the immediate vicinity of the means corresponding actuator.

This dispersion makes any maintenance operation very tedious, maintenance, control or replacement of any of said means of control and command, extends the links between these different means, increases the risk of failure and often generates, at least locally, an undesirable additional depth of the counter body or entails the need to install an annex box, next to the counter, containing these means.

Then, to access the different control means, control and actuators, as well as to the various connecting members, it is currently required either to have a large inspection hatch or several small hatches, provided in the body of the counter, and, if applicable if necessary, in the armored wall (s) on the front (public side) or on the rear side (employee side), or to disassemble a part of the body of the counter, which also requires the displacement of all the objects arranged on or near said counter.

In addition, when access to switchgear and actuators is performed on the client or public side, the intervention is visible and exposes the command and control means, as well as the actuators, and switching off the supply of actuators by the agent now makes the screen protective inoperative and exposes the personnel to a risk of aggression.

The object of the present invention is in particular to alleviate these various disadvantages.

To this end, its purpose is a security window, in particular for banks and risky sites, including at least one movable armored wall under the action of actuator means and of means for monitoring and controlling the vertical displacement of said at least one armored wall between two uprights lateral, said shielded wall (s) being able to be moved between a retracted position in which it (s) is (are) arranged (s) entirely in the counter body and a deployed position in which it (s) is (are) mainly located outside and above the counter, through a slot-shaped opening in the upper face of the window and closed by a removable tablet, characterized in that the means for monitoring and movement control are grouped together and mounted on a plate or plate support arranged inside the window in the volume located between the means actuators and / or between the side uprights.

les figures 1A et 1B sont des vues en élévation latérale et en coupe d'un guichet de sécurité selon l'invention, dans lesquelles la platine support (8) est respectivement escamotée et partiellement extraite ;

la figure 2 est une vue selon la direction A du guichet de sécurité représenté à la figure 1A ;

les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues en élévation latérale et en coupe d'un guichet de sécurité selon une variante de réalisation de l'invention, dans lesquelles la platine support est respectivement en position basse et en position haute, et,

la figure 4 est une vue selon la direction B du guichet de sécurité représenté à la figure 3B.

The invention will be better understood from the description below, which relates to the preferred embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views in side elevation and in section of a security window according to the invention, in which the support plate (8) is respectively retracted and partially extracted;

Figure 2 is a view in direction A of the security window shown in Figure 1A;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views in side elevation and in section of a security window according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the support plate is respectively in the low position and in the high position, and,

Figure 4 is a view in direction B of the security window shown in Figure 3B.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, the window 1 security, especially for banks and risky sites, includes at least one shielded wall 2, 2 'movable under the action of actuator means 3, 3' and means 4 for monitoring and controlling the vertical movement of said at least one shielded wall 2, 2 ′ between two lateral uprights 5, if necessary connected by a cross-member 5 ', said shielded wall (s) being able to be moved between a retracted position in which it (s) is (are) arranged (s) entirely in the window 1 body and a deployed position in which it (s) is (are) mainly located outside and above the window 1, through a opening 6 in the form of a slot made in the upper face of the window 1 and closed by a removable shelf 7.

In the embodiment shown in the above figures, the window 1 advantageously comprises two movable armored walls, one wall lower 2 and an upper wall 2 ', which are respectively displaced under the action of a lower pneumatic cylinder 3 and two pneumatic cylinders superiors 3.

These cylinders 3 and 3 'are supplied with pressurized fluid by the control and command means 4 using 3 "hoses, said means 4 being themselves connected, on the one hand, to a reservoir 14 or to a source of fluid under pressure by a 4 'hose and, on the other hand, to an electrical supply by a 4 "cable.

In accordance with the invention, the means 4 for controlling and movement control are grouped together and mounted on a plate or plate support 8 arranged inside the window 1 in the volume located between the means actuators 3, 3 'and / or between the lateral uprights 5.

Advantageously, this plate 8 is located near the or main actuator means, in order to shorten the length of the hoses and thus reduce the duration of rise of the walls 2, 2 '.

To ensure safe operation of the protection screen, even in the event of a bullet impact, the support plate 8, as well as the actuator means 3, 3 'and the 3 ", 4' hoses and 4" supply cable are located behind said or said movable armored wall (s) 2, 2 ′ and, where appropriate, behind a wall fixed armored 9 integrated in the window 1 and located in front of said wall (s) mobile screen (s) 2, 2 ', said fixed screen wall 9 ensuring protection of the rear part (employee side) of the body of counter 1 when the protective screen 2, 2 'is deployed.

Similarly, the reservoir 14 is also located behind said wall fixed armored 9, if necessary in a special reinforced container 14 '.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, the opening in slot shape 6 has sufficient width to allow access to the plate support 8 and to the actuator means 3, 3 'and the extraction of any one of the control and / or command means 4 or actuator means 3, 3 '.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support plate 8 is extractable from the window 1 through the opening in the form of slot 6. For this purpose, the plate 8 can be mounted, for example so removable in window 1.

The support plate 8 can advantageously, as shown in particular Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, be mounted in the window 1 with the ability to slide vertically between a low position in which said plate 8 is fully retracted in the window 1 and a high position in which said plate 8 is partially or entirely extracted from said window 1 and partially or fully accessible, respectively.

In order to secure the area reserved for employees and located behind the window 1 during maintenance operations, and allow the execution of these protected from the fully or partially deployed protection screen, the extraction of the support plate 8 is only made possible after deployment partial of the shielded wall or at least part of the shielded walls 2, 2 ', or simultaneously with such a deployment.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the plate support 8 can be, for example, arranged under a protruding part 10 of the wall shielded or one of the shielded walls 2, 2 'extending at least partly in the space located in the upper extension of said support plate 8, at least a blocking member 11 of the support plate 8 in the high position being, in addition, planned.

This protruding part 10 may be constituted by a folded portion top of one of the shielded walls 2, 2 'or of the frame surrounding the glazing laminated forming transparent armored wall.

The support plate 8 can be advantageously held and guided laterally by means of rails 12, grooves or the like and be provided with a gripper in its upper part and / or displacement means vertical with manual actuation or not.

Thanks to this arrangement, the plate 8 is made to slide in a vertical plane and the whole of the window 1 is advantageously adapted for this purpose. Thus, the tablet 7 covering the slot 6 necessary for the deployment of the shields 2, 2 ′ upwards is enlarged and dimensioned so as to allow said passages to pass mobile shields as well as the plate 8 with the means of control and control 4, and even the motor jacks 3 'lifting the mobile shielding upper 2 '.

Plate 8 can be extracted vertically after having previously lifted the shields 2, 2 'or one of the shields 2, 2', by a electric actuator or using winches fixed between the 5 'crossbeam connecting the uprights 5 between them and the lower movable shield 2 when the window 1 has a failure which prevents its rise.

It is therefore necessary to mount the protection (walls 2 and 2 ') up to a height of approximately 2 meters to access the plate 8 and be able to slide it up without dismantling anything.

Pneumatic hoses 3 "and 4 'as well as electric cables 4 ", are provided with a sufficient length allowing the mounting of the plate 8 to each access for maintenance, as well as the movements produced at each operation of the shields 2, 2 '.

The plate 8 (shown in the high position in broken lines on Figure 2) can then be locked when raised with latches 11 or to holding pieces in position such as pins, or the like.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, adapted more particularly at the counters 1 with armored walls 2, 2 'opaque and shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, the support plate 8 can be fixed on the rear face of or one of the movable shielded walls 2, 2 '.

The support plate 8 can in particular be fixed to the shielded wall lower 2, so that each time the latter is deployed, said plate 8 is found above the window 1, on the side of the area reserved for employees.

Control and command means 4 (electrical devices, electropneumatic, pneumatic, control, distributors and others) fitted on the plate 8 can be protected by a metal cover or other, such so that each time they are extracted from the bank agents or employees do not see them (the cover plate 8 is shown in high position in lines interrupted in Figure 4).

The pneumatic hoses 4 ′ arriving from the reservoir 14 as well as the 4 "electrical cables must be fitted with a clearance allowing the mounting of the plate 8 at each maneuver of window 1.

The actuating cylinders 3 of the lower movable shield 2 are preferably mounted upside down, so that their body remains fixed by report to said lower mobile shield 2.

This particular provision allows the fixing of hoses supply 3 "of the cylinders 3, 3 'operating the two movable shields 2 and 2' directly on these shields, which reduces the number and length of hoses mobile.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to facilitate the operations routine maintenance (checking of command and control means 4, verification of electrical and pneumatic connections and continuity, verification and replacement of defective electrical and pneumatic parts, settings, etc.), avoiding the uneasy access provided by inspection hatches or the systematic disassembly of the covers.

The repair of the most common breakdowns can therefore be carried out without disassembly and without moving, while preserving safety in the protection perimeter (maintenance on the employee side, shields raised).

In addition, the invention also makes it possible to obtain a gain in place and a shortening of the circuits and pneumatic connections, minimizing the concealment time of the counter window.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are still possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Security counter, in particular for banks and high-risk sites, comprising at least one armour-plated wall which can be moved by the action of actuators and means for monitoring and controlling the vertical displacement of said at least one armour-plated wall between two lateral columns, said armour-plated wall(s) being displaceable between a retracted position in which it (they) is (are) arranged completely within the body of the counter and a deployment position in which it (they) is (are) essentially located outside and above the counter, through a slot-shaped orifice made in the upper face of the counter and blocked by a removable panel, characterized in that the means (4) for monitoring and controlling displacement are assembled and mounted on a supporting board or plate (8) arranged inside the counter (1) in the volume between the actuators (3, 3') and/or between the lateral columns (5).
2. Security counter according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) as well as the actuators (3, 3') and the supply flexes (3", 4') and cable (4") are located behind said movable armour-plated walls) (2, 2') and, if necessary, behind a stationary armour-plated wall (9) integrated in the counter (1) and located in front of said movable armour-plated walls) (2, 2').
3. Security counter according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the slot-shaped aperture (6) is sufficiently wide to allow access to the supporting plate (8) and to the actuators (3, 3') and the extraction of any one of the monitoring and/or control means (4) or of the actuators (3, 3').
4. Security counter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) can be extracted from the counter (1) through the slot-shaped aperture (6).
5. Security counter according to claim 4, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) is mounted in the counter (1) with the ability to slide vertically between a low position in which said plate (8) is completely retracted in the counter (1) and a high position in which said plate (8) is partially or completely extracted from said counter (1) and partially or completely accessible respectively.
6. Security counter according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that extraction of the supporting plate (8) is possible only after partial deployment of the armour-plated wall or of at least a portion of the armour-plated walls (2, 2') or simultaneously with such deployment.
7. Security counter according to claim 6, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) is arranged beneath a projecting portion (10) of the armour-plated wall or of one (2) of the armour-plated walls (2, 2') extending at least partially into the space located in the upper extension of said supporting plate (8), at least one locking element (11) for locking the supporting plate (8) in the top position also being provided.
8. Security counter according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) is held and guided laterally by means of rails (12), grooves or the like and is provided with a gripping means in its upper portion and/or means for vertical displacement which are actuated manually or otherwise.
9. Security counter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supporting plate (8) is fixed on the rear face of the or one of the movable armour-plated walls (2, 2').
10. Security counter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the movable armour-plated wall or at least one of the movable armour-plated walls (2, 2') is equipped with at least one element (13) for locking in the deployed or partially deployed position.

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