EP1613830A1

EP1613830A1 - Safety device

Info

Publication number: EP1613830A1
Application number: EP02801157A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gérard OUFELLA
Original assignee: Oufella Badiaa
Current assignee: Oufella Badiaa
Priority date: 2002-12-20
Filing date: 2002-12-20
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Also published as: AU2002364860A1; WO2004065741A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a safety assembly useable in public locations. Said assembly comprises a container (1) which is a hollow box whereof the walls (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) define an internal space for receiving personal objects, said box being provided with an opening (9) capable of being closed with a plate including a lock capable of being actuated by a mechanical or electronic key, and with an orifice on one of its walls, the fixing means consisting of a block (20) integral with the non-detachable element (3), said block (20) comprising a slot (21) and penetrating said orifice and being assembled in that position by means of a tab (24) co-operating with said slot (21), the tab (24) being insertible into or removable from said the slot (21) only from inside the box and hence when the box is opened by deactivating the closure means. The invention can be used as a safe for example in leisure locations.

Description

SECURITY DEVICE

• The present invention relates to a security assembly and more particularly an assembly intended to contain objects and to protect them against theft, in particular in public places such as beaches, swimming pools, leisure centers and others.

We know that on summer beaches vacationers tend to leave various objects in place such as umbrellas, chairs, floor mats, and in addition, personal items such as watches, cameras, mobile phones. When summer visitors wish to bathe or practice a sport such as windsurfing, surfing, swimming, ball games, they tend to move away from the place where they have deposited their personal items. These are then no longer under surveillance and can be easily stolen. Likewise, in swimming pools, leisure centers, valuables are often stolen.

To avoid theft, it is known to make available to users cloakrooms which include non-removable boxes closed with a lock and a key. The user deposits his personal objects in the box, locks it with a key, this key being provided with a bracelet, places the bracelet around his wrist and moves away from the box to devote himself to his playful activities. Such a device has many drawbacks. A first drawback is that the boxes are far from the place where the user practices his bathing, resting activities, etc. There are therefore two zones, the first zone is a zone dedicated to the security of objects, called the security zone, and the second zone is a zone dedicated to leisure activities, called the leisure zone. These zones are distant from each other and can be distant from several tens of meters, or even several hundreds of meters. When the user in the leisure zone wishes to use an object in the security zone, he is obliged to make the journey which separates him from the security zone each time. Therefore, the The distance between the two areas is often a deterrent and the user experiences discomfort caused by this distance.

Boxes known as "beach safes" are already known which are marketed by the Swiss company Beach Box and which are rectangular boxes which can be locked with a dimension of 25 cm x 25 cm x 35 cm. We can assume that these boxes are portable, and that the user will carry it with him to place it in or near the leisure area where he exercises his fun activities. However, a major drawback of these beach safes is that they can be moved by anyone, namely by someone other than the user of the box. They can therefore be stolen in the absence of the user or as a result of his remoteness or inattention.

Thus, we developed beach safes called Beachsafe by their inventor, which are boxes that can be locked with a key or by means of a code lock, provided with a means of attachment of the box to a pole. This attachment means is a steel cable, one end of which is fixed in non-removable manner to the cover of the box and the other end of which can be detached from the cover of the box to allow it to be wound around a post. The drawback of such a device is that the attachment means is not secure and it can be cut using pliers. This device therefore includes an alarm which is activated if an attempt is made to cut the cable.

Document FR-A-2 768312 describes a device for preventing theft of valuables comprising a housing having an articulated hatch locked by a lock and a hollow central axis provided with a tightening screw into which a parasol base. Such a device is impractical because it is intended to be used only with a parasol base. It is necessary to introduce the base of the parasol into the device, which results in significant handling. GB-A-2309 025 describes a safety box comprising a compartment which can be filled with beach sand. Other safety boxes are described in documents DE-AÏ -199 39268, EP-A2-0988 809, FR-A-2 542 358, Us No. 5 191 974.

None of these documents relates to a security device which has a permanent fixing device, which in addition can be activated or deactivated only by the user.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a container which can be closed, movable and fixable by the user, its closure and its fixing being able to be carried out only by the user and in a secure manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a container which can be closed in a secure manner, comprising means for fixing to an irremovable or difficult to move element, these fixing means being able to be activated or deactivated only by the user.

An object of the invention is further to be able to rent such a container. Thus, it is desired to confuse the security zone with the leisure zone or at least bring them closer together, each user having his own security zone comprising his own security device, the security device comprising means for fixing to an irremovable or hardly removable element. displaceable. We also want to rent the container and control its use by a person.

Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a container which includes means making it possible to control its use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container comprising means for closing the container and means for fixing the container, said fixing means being activated once by the user and deactivated once by the user .

To this end, the present invention relates to a safety device comprising on the one hand a removable container and on the other hand means for fixing the container to a non-removable element, the container comprising closing means, characterized in that the means fasteners are permanently attached to the irremovable element, and can only be activated or deactivated when the closure means are inactive.

By permanently attached fixing means of the irremovable element is meant that these means are fixed on the irremovable element. Thus, the fixing means are themselves fixed for example on an upright of tables, chairs, etc.

Thus, the fixing means can only be activated by the person who will be authorized to open or close the container, that is to say the box. The box can therefore only be fixed by the person who has the key to the box cover or the code if the cover is closed with a code lock. Conversely, the box can only be detached from the irremovable element if the closing means are active, that is to say, only by the person authorized to open or close the cover of the box. By this cooperation of means, we therefore obtain a security system inviolable by anyone other than the user. The device according to the present invention is such that: said container is a hollow box whose walls define an internal space intended to receive personal objects, said box being provided with an opening which can be closed by a plate comprising a lock actuable by a mechanical or electronic key, of an orifice on one of its walls, said fixing means being constituted by a block secured to the irremovable element, said block comprising a slot and penetrating into said orifice and being assembled in this position by means of 'A tongue cooperating with said slot, the tongue can not be inserted into or removed from the slot only from the inside of the box and therefore when the box is opened by inactivation of the closure means. The tongue comprises means for retaining said tongue in said slot allowing the blocking of said fixing means. The tongue has a shape adapted to the shape of the slot so as to be able to cooperate with said slot.

The tongue preferably has a U shape comprising at least two tabs and comprises means for gripping said tongue. The retaining means are lugs internal to the U coming to be placed under said block.

The tongue may be unbreakable or the tongue may include points of mechanical weakness allowing it to break and thus the separation of the block. The block is fixed to the irremovable element by a longitudinal tab.

The tab has a free end intended to engage in a slot provided in the wall of the box at a suitable distance so that the block enters the orifice of the box.

The invention also relates to a tab for activating or deactivating the fixing means of a security device as described above. It is planar, of a thickness substantially equal to the tolerances, to the thickness of a slot made in said block and possibly includes a gripping means.

The tongue has points of weakness that allow it to be broken to release the block.

According to an essential point of the present invention, the tongue is for single use. In this case it allows the control of the use of the safety device. In fact, only a person having both the key for closing the box and the tongue to activate the fixing means can use the device.

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it possible to better understand how the invention can be put into practice.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container of a security device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a means of fixing the security device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a front view of a tab of the safety device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the container of the security device according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along line AA of the container of Figure 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the block of the device according to the present invention, with a means of adaptation of this block on an external irremovable element.

As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the safety device according to the invention comprises three separate elements which cooperate with each other: a container 1 (Figure 1); fixing means 2 (Figure 2) of the container 1 on a non-removable element 3; and a tab 24 (Figure 3).

The container 1 is removable and is temporarily fixed on the non-removable element 3. This non-removable element 3 is effectively fixed or is difficult to move. This is for example a chair leg or a table leg or a parasol base, or any other heavy element, difficult to move or fix on which the user wishes to fix the safety device according to the 'invention. The container 1 is a hollow box with walls. In FIG. 1, the container is parallelepipedic, and has four walls 4,

5, 6, 7, a bottom 8 and an opening 9. However, one can provide that the box has a shape as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This box has a front wall 10, a rear wall 11 which are flat and rounded side walls 12, 13. The flat walls 10, 11 allow place printed sheets of advertising material and designs. The box has an opening 14.

The box is such that the walls define an internal space in which one can place personal objects such as a camera, a portable telephone, a watch, identity papers, coins, etc.

The opening 8 (or respectively 14) can be closed using a plate or cover 15 (respectively 16) which can pivot around an axis 17 to allow the opening or closing of the box. A lock 17 (respectively 18) makes it possible to immobilize the cover 15, 16 in the closed position. This lock 17, 18 can be a key lock, a code lock or a punch card lock or any other means.

The box is provided on one of its walls, preferably the rear wall 8 respectively 11, with an orifice or cutout 19. This orifice 19 cooperates with fixing means 2.

The fixing means 2 of the box on a non-removable element 3 are constituted by a block 20. This block, as shown in FIG. 2 has a parallelepiped shape, but any other shape may be suitable, for example a cylindrical shape. The block 20 has for example a square cross section, and in this case the orifice 19 in the rear wall 8 has a corresponding shape, allowing the block to come into the orifice 19. If the block 20 has a shape cylindrical, the orifice 19 will have a circle shape corresponding to the base circle of the cylinder, so that the block 20 can penetrate the orifice in the form of a circle. According to an essential characteristic of the present invention, the block 20 has a slot 21 parallel to the longitudinal plane of the block 20. The block 20 is secured to the immovable element 3 for example by means of a longitudinal tab 22 fixed on the element irremovable, such as a chair leg or armrest, by means of a rivet 33 or a weld, or a strip which is introduced into the slot 39. In the slot 21 can be introduced a tab 24 as shown in Figure 3. It can also remove this tab 24 from the slot 21. The slot 21 is distant from the rear face 23 of the block 20 by a distance d substantially equal the thickness of the wall on the back of the box. Therefore, when the block 20 is introduced into the orifice 19, to introduce the tongue 24 into the slot 21 it is mandatory that the box is open and allows access to the internal space. Thus, only the person empowered to activate the lock 18 will be able to introduce or remove the tab. Only this authorized person can therefore fix the box on the irremovable element 3.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tongue 24 has a U shape and is planar. The U has two legs 25, 26 and a bar 27. Preferably the tongue has means for retaining the tongue in the slot when the tongue is inserted therein. For example, as shown in Figure 3, these retaining means are lugs 28, 29. It can be provided that the tongue has a certain elasticity which allows the lugs 28, 29 to be placed under the underside of block 20, after separation of the legs of the U then tightening of these. According to a better embodiment of the invention, the tongue comprises gripping means 30, for example a protruding tab on the bar of the U.

We can predict that the tongue is unbreakable.

But preferably, the tongue is breakable. Thus, to be able to separate the tongue 24 from the slot 21, in order to separate the block 2 from the box 1, it is necessary to break the tongue 24. The fragility can for example be obtained by grooves 31, 32 on the legs of the U. This break therefore allows a single use of the tongue 24. This embodiment is the most preferred because it makes it possible to count the number of tongues used and therefore the number of times the box is fixed to a support. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear face of the box has a slot (not shown) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX of the box, into which the tab 22 is inserted.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the block 20 also comprises a flexible part 34 (see FIG. 6), for example welded to the block.

20. This flexible piece 34 allows the adaptation of the block 20 to any flat, rounded or slightly deformed surface of any support.

The mode of use of the device according to the invention is as follows: The beach attendant asks the owner of the beach or of the leisure center for a safety box and a tongue. Then he heads for an umbrella or a deckchair on the beach. This parasol or this lounge chair has an irremovable or difficult to move element which is constituted by the base of the parasol or the armrest of the chair, and comprises a fixing means comprising a block. This fixing means is permanently attached to the parasol or chair base. The user introduces the free end 34 of the tab 22 into the slot provided for this purpose in the rear wall of the box, then performs a rotational movement to place the rear screen 6 of the box against the tab 22, by introducing the block 20 in the orifice 19. The user opens the cover 15 of the box, rotates it to gain access to the internal space of the box. He then places the tongue in the slot 21. The box is then fixed to the chair leg or to the table upright or the chair armrest. The user places his personal objects in the box and closes it by blocking it with a key or using a code or an electronic card or with holes. The box is then fixed and cannot be moved by another person. When the user wants to take back the box, he opens it and thus accesses the internal space of the box, he removes the tab by pulling it by the gripping means, and breaks it. The pieces of tongue fall into the box. Thus, the rental of the box can be made by selling a tab.

Claims

1. Safety device comprising on the one hand a removable container (1) and on the other hand means for fixing (2) the container (1) on a non-removable element (3) external to said device, the container (1) comprising closing means, characterized in that the fixing means (2) are permanently fixed to the non-removable element (3), and can only be activated or deactivated when the closing means (18) are inactive.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said container (1) is a hollow box whose walls (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) define an internal space intended to receive personal objects, said box being provided an opening (9) which can be closed by a plate (15) comprising a lock that can be actuated (18) by a mechanical or electronic key, and an orifice (19) on one of its walls, said fixing means being constituted by a block (20) integral with the irremovable element (3), said block (20) comprising a slot (21) and penetrating into said orifice (19) and being assembled in this position by means of a tongue (24) cooperating with said slot (21), the tongue (24) being able to be inserted into or removed from the slot (21) only from inside the box and therefore when the box is opened by inactivation of the closing means.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tongue (24) comprises retaining means (28, 29) of said tongue in said slot allowing the blocking of said fixing means.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said tongue (24) has a shape adapted to the shape of the slot (21) to cooperate with said slot (21).

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said tongue (24) has a U shape having at least two legs and comprises gripping means (30) of said tongue.

6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said retaining means (28, 29) are lugs internal to the

U coming to be placed under said block (20).

7. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the tongue (24) is unbreakable.

8. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the tongue (24) comprises points (31, 32) of mechanical weakness allowing its rupture and thus the deoiidarisation of the block (20).

9. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the block (20) is fixed to the irremovable element by a longitudinal tab (22).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the tab (22) has a free end (34) intended to engage in a slot provided in the wall (8) of the box at a distance suitable for the block enters the hole in the box.

11. Tab (24) for activating or deactivating said means for fixing a safety device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is planar, of substantially equal thickness to within tolerances, to the thickness of a slot made in said block and possibly includes a gripping means.

12. Tab according to claim 1, characterized in that it is unbreakable.

13. Tongue according to claim 11, characterized in that it has points of weakness which allow it to be broken in order to release the block.

14. Tab according to claim 11, characterized in that it is for single use.