GB2205983A

GB2205983A - Security storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2205983A
Application number: GB08713427A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Hepworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-09
Filing date: 1987-06-09
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Also published as: GB8713427D0

Abstract

A security storage apparatus comprises a portable frame 10 and at least one attachment member 20 on which an article is capable of being located between the ends thereof, one end of the member 20 being connected to one part of the frame 10, and the other end of the member being releasably secured to another part of the frame 10 by a releasable locking means 28 which is actuated by a control unit 14 by insertion of a combination therein. <IMAGE>

Description

"Security storage apparatus" This invention relates to security storage apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, storage apparatus for storing articles such as clothing in secure conditions.

In public places such as hotels or restaurants, it is often necessary to provide a facility for patrons to store articles of clothing in secure conditions to reduce the risk of theft thereof.

The provision of a cloakroom and an attendant therefor is one method of providing such a storage facility but it will be appreciated that this involves high labour costs which often makes such a conventional cloakroom uneconomic and the object of this invention is to provide security storage apparatus in which the disadvantages of such a conventional cloakroom facility are alleviated.

According to this invention, a security storage apparatus comprises a portable frame and at least one attachment member on which an article is capable of being located between the ends thereof, one end of the member being connected to one part of the frame, and the other end of the member being releasably secured to another part of the frame by a releasable locking means which is actuated by a control unit by insertion of a combination therein.

Preferably, the control unit comprises a coin or token-operated mechanism for controlling the release of the locking means.

Preferably, also, the coin or token-operated mechanism is disposed at a position remote from the locking means which may be electrically operated thereby.

Preferably, two or more attachment members and associated locking means are provided which are selectively operated after actuation of the coin or token-operated mechanism by utilisation of the combination type of selection mechanism.

Preferably, also, at least part of the attachment member is formed of flexible material.

Said one end of the attachment member is, preferably, mounted on a fixed rail of the frame and is slidable thereon.

Preferably, the flexible attachment member is adapted to be inserted through a sleeve of an article of clothing.

Preferably, also, the attachment member is connected to a support member on which an article of clothing can be hung in the conventional manner of a coat hanger.

The other end of the attachment member is, preferably, provided with connecting means to enable said other end to be connected to the releasable locking means on the frame.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a security storage apparatus; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of an attachment member of the security apparatus; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front view of the attachment member with an article of clothing located thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, a security apparatus for storing articles of clothing or other personal items such as brief cases in secure conditions to reduce the risk of theft thereof comprises a portable metal frame 10 mounted on castors 12. The portable nature of the frame 10 enables the apparatus to be moved to a convenient location in for example a hotel but it is of a size which would make it difficult for it to be removed by an unauthorised person without attracting attention. Indeed, it would also be possible to connect the frame 10 by means of, for example, a padlock and chain (not shown) to a suitable anchorage at the desired location in the hotel.

A control unit indicated generally at 14 is mounted in one end of the frame 10 and a fixed metal rail 16 extends along a major portion of the remainder of the frame 10. A number of attachment members indicated generally at 18 are provided, each member 18 comprising a flexible steel cable 20 which can be provided with a plastics coating (not shown).

One end of the cable 20 is formed into an endless loop 22 which is secured around the rail 16 and is slidable therealong to facilitate limited adjustment of the member 18 along the length of the rail 16. The ends of the rail 16 are permanently secured to the frame 10 so that the members 18 can not be removed from the rail 16.

A coat hanger 24 is secured to the cable 20 adjacent to the loop 22 to form a conventional support for an article of clothing, the cable 20 either passes through one arm of the hanger 24 or is secured thereto.

The loop 22 is positioned so that it is at the centre of the hanger 24, whose arms extend on each side thereof by, approximately, an equal amount. The other end of the cable 20 is provided with a metal plunger 26 by means of which this end of the cable 20 is releasably secured in an associated one of a number of locking mechanisms 28.

The locking mechanisms 28 are mounted on the frame 10 above and in front of the metal rail 16 and are each adapted to receive and releasably retain therein the end of one of the plungers 26. Each plunger 26 is provided with a pointed end and hays an annular groove 30 which is engaged by the edges of an aperture in a spring-loaded sliding gate (not shown) of the associated mechanism 28. The pointed end of the plunger 26 facilitates insertion thereof into the aperture in the gate and the mechanism 28 includes a solenoid (not shown) which when energised moves the gate and releases the plunger 26 from the locking mechanism 28. The insertion of the plunger 26 into the mechanism 28 actuates a micro-switch (not shown) which indicates to the control unit 14 that the mechanism 28 is in use.

The control unit 14 is electrically connected to each of the locking mechanisms 28 and comprises a visual display 32, a coin or token-operated mechanism (not shown) actuated by insertion of a coin or token through a slot 34, a micro processor control unit (not shown), and a selector button array 36.

Where the security storage apparatus is to be used for storing personal items such as brief cases, a separate length of flexible steel cable (not shown) having loops or rings on both ends is provided. This separate length of flexible cable can be passed through, for example, the handle of a brief case and the loops on the ends thereof enable it to be secured on the flexible cable 20 by passing the plunger 26 through said loops prior to engagement of the plunger 26 in the locking mechanism 28.

In operation, a coin or token is inserted through the slot 34 to actuate the control unit 14. Where a number of attachment members 18 are provided and particularly, where certain of these are in use, the number of the next available attachment member is indicated on the visual display 32. A four digit code number is then keyed into the control unit 14 by utilisation of the selector button array 36 and this code number is displayed on the visual display 32. If the code displayed is the code number required by the person storing the article this is entered into the control unit 14 by actuation of an enter button on the selector button array 36.

Where an article of clothing is to be stored, the garment is then placed on the hanger 24 of the selected attachment member 18 and the cable 20 is fed through the garment sleeve. The plunger on the free end of the cable 20 which projects from the garment sleeve is inserted into the locking mechanism 28 associated with the attachment member 18 so that the garment can not be removed from the attachment member 18 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

A similar action is carried out when an article such as a brief case is to be secured utilising the separate length of flexible cable which is passed through the handle of the brief case as previously described.

In order to release the stored garment or the article such as a brief case, the reference number of the attachment member on which it is stored is inserted into the control unit 14 by again utilising the selector button array 36. The code number is displayed on the visual display 32 and if this number is correct the operator presses the enter button on the selector button array whereupon the plunger 26 is released from the locking mechanism 28 thereby allowing the article of clothing or the article such as the brief case to be removed.

It will be appreciated that the above apparatus provides the facility of secure storage of articles of clothing and other portable articles in secure conditions without the need of providing an attendant.

This invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment but extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in the specification and/or drawings, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A security storage apparatus comprising a portable frame and at least one attachment member on which an article is capable of being located between the ends thereof, one end of the member being connected to one part of the frame, and the other end of the member being releasably secured to another part of the frame by a releasable locking means which is actuated by a control unit by insert ion of a combination thereon.

2. A security storage apparatus as claimed in Clalm 1, in which the control unit comprises a coin or token-operated mechanism for controliing the release of the locking means.

3. A security storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the coin or token-operated mechanism Is disposed at a position remote from the locking means.

4. A security storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the locking means is electrically operable by the coin or token-operated mechanism.

5. A security storage apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, in which two or more attachment members are associated locking means are provided which are selectively operated after actuatlon of the coin or token-operated mechanism by uti I isation of the combination type of selection mechanism.

6. A security storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding ClaIms in which at least a part of the attachment member is formed of flexible material.

7. A security storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Clalms, in which said one end of the attachment member is mounted on a fixed rail of the frame and Is slldable there along.

8. A security storage apparatus as claim In any one of the preceding Claims, In which the attachment member is adapted to be Inserted through a sleeve of an article of clothing.

9. A security storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the attachment member is connected to a support member on which an article of clothing can be hung In the conventional manner of a coat hanger.

10. A security storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, In which the other end of the attachment member is provided with the connecting means to enable said other end to be connected to the releasable locking means on the frame.

11. A security storage apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.