GB2195879A - Security cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and means of securing stored material including valuable goods, products, data and information in any form, the method and means including positioning a hollow or recessed secure casing 1 on or into a floor, wall or ceiling 2, mounting a work and display means 10 such as a display cabinet, fitting, desk, task bench, safe, security cabinet, storage rack and the like, relative to the secure casing and forming above or as a top of the work and display means a closure 8, the arrangement being such that in a first or secure position the work and display means is housed securely with the hollow or recessed casing with the closure 8 sealing an opening 5 in the casing and in a second or display position the work and display means 10 is raised or moved from within the casing 1 to allow access thereto. The work and display means can be moved relative to the casing by means of hydraulics, pneumatics, or a mechanical mechanism, for example, a lazy tong linkage 12 or a geared motor positioned within the casing. The movement of the work and display means is preferably activated by a coded electronic locking means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A security device The invention relates to security and more particularly to a means for securing display cabinets, work benches, safes, security cabinets, desks and the like against unauthorised access.

At present in most industries where valuable or confidential goods, products, information or other material are dealt with it can be inconvenient for a person using the material to leave their office or desk as they have to lock the material away. For example, overnight or while the person is out of his or her workplace for a short time they have, in the past, had to move the material to a safe for storage. This is time consuming and is an unproductive use of time and money.

As used herein the term "stored material" includes any valuable goods, products, data or information in any form. The term "work or display means" as used herein includes any display cabinet, fitting, desk, task bench, safe, security cabinet, storage rack and the like in or on which valuable material is carried or stored.

An object of the invention is therefore to maximise a persons production time and to make it easier and simpler for confidential or valuable goods, products or stored material to be secured against theft or misuse.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing stored material as hereinbefore defined, the method including positioning a hollow or recessed secure casing on or into a floor, wall or ceiling, mounting a work or display means as hereinbefore defined relative to the secure casing and forming above or as a top of the work or display means a closure, the arrangement being such that in a first or secure position the work or display means is housed securely within the hollow or recessed casing with the closure sealing an opening in the top of the casing and in a second or display position the work or display means is raised or moved from within the casing to ailow access thereto.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a means for securing a work or display means as hereinbefore defined, the means including a casing positioned on or into a floor, ceiling or wall, the casing having an open mouth associated with a hollow recess in which a closure fits to seal the open mouth of the casing, the closure having mounted in association therewith a work or display means which moves with the closure between a store position within the casing with the closure sealing the open mouth of the casing and a second position with the work or display means out of the casing.

The work or display means can be moved relative to the casing by means of hydraulics, pneumatics, or a mechanical mechanism, for example, a lazy tong linkage or a geared motor positioned within the casing.

The movement of the work or display means is preferably controlled or operated by a coded electronic locking means.

The closure can fit within a recess in an open mouth of a generally hollow casing.

The closure can move to be spaced from the closure or can be a hinged closure which when locked is within a recess in an open mouth of the casing.

The closure and casing can be circular, square or rectangular in cross-section as required.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following descriptions which are given by way of example only.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a section through a security device according to a first example of the invention; Figure 2: shows a vertical section through a second example of security device according to the invention with a display means and closure in its locked position; Figure 3: shows a section through the security device shown in Figure 2 with its display means and closure in its raised or working position; Figure 4: shows a diagrammatic side elevation of an example of lazy tong linkage adapted to raise the work or display surface from within the casing; Figure 5: shows a perspective view from above of the driven links of the lazy tong linkage shown in Figure 1; Figure 6: shows a detail at A of Figure 2 showing a preferred peripheral locking means for the security device; Figure 7: shows an alternative detail at A with a second peripheral locking means for the security device; Figure 8: shows yet another alternative detail at A with a third peripheral locking means for the security device; Figure 9: shows a plan view partly sectioned of the locking means shown in Figure 8; and Figure 10: shows a diagrammatic side elevation of an example of the present invention adapted to house a painting or narrow valuables display cabinet.

The security device includes a casing which can be, in section, of any shape. In the first example shown in Figure 1 the casing is indi cated by arrow 1 and is a reinforced concrete cylinder; The casing 1 is shown mounted with its longitudinal axis vertical and it is to be appreciated that with minor modifications the casing can- be mounted horizontally in a wall.

For ease of explanation this example will be described with reference to the casing 1 being fixed vertically to a floor 2. Alternatively the casing 1 can be mounted within a recess (not shown) in a floor or ceiling and be concreted or fixed by any other suitable method in position. If mounted in the floor the top 3 of the casing 1 would be level with the floor 2. In Figure 1 the casing 1 has a bottom plate 4 which is bolted to the floor 2.

The top 3 of the casing 1 has an opening 5 at an upper edge of which is an internal lip 7.

The casing 1 has a hollow central region 6.

The casing 1 can be reinforced and/or fireproofed and has mounted therein a work or display means spaced above which is a closure. In Figure 1 the closure 8 is mounted on a single column 9 which can telescope to allow the closure 8 to seal the opening 5 when it is housed in the lip 7. The display or work means beneath the closure 8 can be a work surface 10 as shown or a display cabinet or storage rack mounted on the surface 10 and connected to the closure 8.

The closure 8 and surface 10 move together from their raised display or work positions shown to a storage position (shown dotted) under the operation of a pneumatic or hydraulic ram mounted within the column 9. In its lowered position (shown dotted) the column 9 is locked in its down position by a means operable by any coded electronic locking means, for example, a magnetic locking means.

In Figure 1 the space 11 beneath the surface 10 when in its down position has stored therein the locking mechanism and power supply for operating the hydraulic ram. The coded electronic locking means can be operated from a position remote from the hydraulic ram or from a position adjacent thereto.

In use the first example of security means is positioned as required and by operation of the raising or lowering mechanism the work surface or display cabinet can be readily stored or made ready for use.

It is envisaged that the security means may alternatively be locked by a key lock to either a mechanical linkage or electric or electronic circuit or lock, for example a solenoid.

It is envisaged that if the invention is to protect a work bench the casing will be a large rectangular reinforced casing into which the complete work surface, tools and work in hand can be secured. In this construction the work bench or display cabinet can be mounted on more than one column 9.

In the second construction shown in Figures 2 and 3 a generally similar casing 1 to the casing shown in Figure 1 is provided with an alternate and preferred method of raising the work or display surface 10. The raising is ef fected by a lazy tong linkage 12 shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5. The members 13 forming the linkage are of equal length and are pivoted together to extend from the col lapsed position (Figures 2 and 4) to the ex tended position (Figure 3). The end 14 of the lower linkage is fixed to a support in the lower part of the casing 1.

If fireproofing and consequential water proofing are required the closure 8 may in clude a fireproofed lid and skirt 43 (dotted in Figure 2) which extends to protect the gap 5 from the ingress of water or when the closure 8 is shut.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 the lazy tong linkage 12 has a cam member 29 associated with one of the lower members 13. In the example shown in Figure 5 there are two sets of members 13 positioned on either side or at each end of the casing 1. In this construction two cam members 29 are included. The cam members 29 have positioned to ride thereon a pair of rollers 30 mounted on a transverse bar 31. The bar 31 has a centrally positioned cap tive nut 32 through which a driven shaft 33 extends. The shaft 33 has a square thread similar to that of the captive nut 32 so that rotation of the shaft 33 by electric motor 34 draws the bar 31, rollers 30 over the cam members 29. The motor 34 is mounted on the members 13 as shown and moves to the position shown in Figure 3. Alternatively (not shown) the linkage 12 can be operated by a similarly positioned hydraulic ram.The ram be ing connected to move the bar 31 and rollers 30 on the cam members 29. The top of the linkage at 39 is fixed relative to the base 40 of the work and display surface 10 while the end 41 of arm 13 slides relative to base member 42.

As can be seen in Figure 4 the cam roller 30 is trapped between the cam surface 35 and the bottom of the linkage member 13'.

The movement of the cam roller 30 under the action of motor 34 raises member 13' as it moves over the cam surface. This causes the upper linkages to extend to therefore fully ex tend the lazy tong linkage 12. Reverse move ment of the rollers 30 lowers the linkage 12.

The curve of the cam members 29 is a devel oped curve which causes gradual even raising of the linkage.

The members 13 are preferably provided with roller bearings to assist movement of the linkage 12.

The remainder of the security device can be the same as the first example. The provision of the linkage mechanism provides in the bot tom of the casing 1 a mechanism which may readily be locked by a locking mechanism po sitioned in the base of the casing 1. By lock ing the linkages mechanically or by electroni cally controlling the electric motor 34 there is no need to provide for peripheral locking at the top of the casing.

In Figure 6 is shown a preferred peripheral locking arrangement for the security device shown in any one of Figures 1 to 3. The closure or lid 8 of the casing 1 has a peripheral step 16 which engages in the lip 7 around the upper edge of the casing 1. The step 16 has on its surface 17 a shaped groove 18 opposite a rectangular shaped peripheral recess 19 near to the top of the inner wall 20 of the casing 1. The recess 19 has a locking rod 21 therein. Each side wall of the casing 1 can have its own locking rod 21 and operating mechanism as described hereinafter.

The locking rod 21 is shown in Figure 6 in both its locked position and dotted in its unlocked position.

The rod 21 is moved by a lock bar 22 which is moved by hydraulic, electric or mechanical means from its down position (dotted) where it is within a recess 23 in the casing to its raised position. In its raised position the corner 24 has forced the rod 21 upward and inwardly (arrow 25) so that it is located within the groove 18. In this position the lid 8 cannot be raised.

In Figure 7 a locking arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 6 is shown. Similar parts are referenced by similar numerals. In this example the locking rod 21 is pivoted from its unlocked position (dotted) to its locked position by the shaped.lock bar 22. The lock bars 22 of both mechanisms being operated in a similar way.

In Figures 8 and 9 the means for locking the lid 8 is moved from rectangular means 19 by a cam 26 on the end of drive shaft 27 of electric motor 28. The lock rod 21 being shown dotted in its locked position where it has moved in the direction of arrow 25 from within the recess 19.

In Figure 10 is shown a diagrammatic side view of an example of the present invention which is adapted to be used as a support for a painting. In this unit the casing 1 is narrow and can, for example, extend into the ceiling 36, the base 37 of the casing 1 in this case constitutes the closure and may either hinge to open (not shown) or the base 37 may be lowered to the alternate position and appear as a shelf The display being raised by a single lazy tong linkage of the type shown in Figure 4 which is inverted and in the top of the narrow recess 38.

Thus by this invention there is provided a means for securing display cabinets, work benches, safes, security cabinets, desks and the like.

Particuiar examples of the invention have been described herein by way of example and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A method of securing work or display means as hereinbefore defined, the method including positioning a hollow or recessed secure casing 1 on or into a floor, wall or ceiling 2, mounting a work or display means 10 relative to the secure casing, forming above or as a top of the work or display means a closure 8, the arrangement being such that in a first or secure position the work or display means is housed securely within the hollow or recessed casing 1 with the closure sealing an opening 5 in the top of the casing and in a second or display position the work or display means 10 is raised or moved from within the casing 1 to allow access thereto.

2. A means for securing a work or display means as hereinbefore defined, the means including a casing 1 positioned on or into a floor, ceiling or wall 2, the casing having an open mouth 5 associated with a hollow recess in which a closure 8 fits to seal the open mouth of the casing 1, the closure having mounted in association therewith a work or display means 10 which moves with the closure 8 between a store position within the casing 1 with the closure 8 sealing the open mouth 5 of the casing and a second position with the work or display means 10 out of the casing.

3. A means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the work or display means 10 is moved relative to the casing by means of hydraulics, pneumatics, or a mechanical mechanism.

4. A means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the work or display means is moved relative to the casing 1 by a lazy tong linkage 12 or a geared motor positioned within the casing 1.

5. A means as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the movement of the work or display means is controlled or operated by a coded electronic locking means.

6. A means as claimed in claim 5 wherein the closure 8 fits within a recess 7 in an open mouth 5 of a generally hollow casing 1.

7. A means as claimed in claim 6 wherein the closure includes a skirt 43 which extends to cover the top 3 of the casing 1 when in its secure position.

8. A means as claimed in claim 5 wherein the closure and casing 1 is circular, square or rectangular in cross-section.

9. A means as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.