GB2268541A

GB2268541A - Anti-theft device.

Info

Publication number: GB2268541A
Application number: GB9214227A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Harold Acketts; Ronald Lionel Acketts
Original assignee: ACKETTS PLC
Current assignee: ACKETTS PLC
Priority date: 1992-07-03
Filing date: 1992-07-03
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-03
Also published as: GB2297803A; GB9605427D0; GB9214227D0; GB2297803B; GB2268541B

Abstract

A supporting frame for an automatic teller machine (A. T. M.) comprises first and second parts, the first part 20 being fixable to a supporting floor and the second part 26 being fixable to the A. T. M. Bolts 30, 32 clamp the first and second parts together, and slots 29 allow limited relative movement between the first and second frame parts under the action of a substantial force. This increases the time required to forcibly remove the A. T. M. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI-THEFT DEVICE The present invention relates to an anti-theft device which is particularly suited for use with automatic teller machines (A. T. M.'s).

A. T. M. ' s are typically supported on a steel stand known as a HARRISON frame. The stand is adjustable in height and usually fixed to a floor by mild steel clips or by bolts through pre-drilled holes in the corners of the base frame.. The A. T. M. rests on a box section tray which has slots for receiving tines of a fork lift truck for lifting and positioning the A.T.M. The tray rests on a steel plate which is supported on the stand.

Typically, but not always, the A. T. M. is bolted to the steel plate which in turn is fixed by height adjusting bolts to the stand.

With this arrangement it has been realised that the A. T. M. can be stolen relatively easily. Where the box-section tray is visible and accessible, for example through a glass-window, a fork-lift truck can be used to break the window and lift the A. T. M. from the stand, or remove the A. T. M. with the stand.

Where the A.T.M. is mounted in a wall, an excavator or other large grabbing machinery can be used to break through the wall and carry away the A. T. M. This method of theft can result in consequential damage which far exceeds the value of the machine and money which have been stolen.

The main problem faced in preventing this type of theft is the speed with which the operation can be performed. The A. T. M. can be stolen within a couple of minutes, which is shorter than any reasonable police response time to an alarm call.

There is therefore a need to prevent or deter the theft of A.T.M's. There is also a need to provide a theft prevention system which can be readily fixed to existing A.T.M. installations.

A first aspect of the invention provides a supporting frame for an A.T.M., the supporting frame comprising first and second parts, the first part being fixable to a supporting floor and the second part being fixable to the A.T.M., wherein connecting means is provided for connecting the first and second parts together, the connecting means allowing limited relative movement between the first and second frame parts under the action of a substantial force.

It has been found that by allowing a degree of limited movement when the A. T. M. is being attacked by an excavator or similar device, the ability to withstand the substantial forces applied can be significantly increased, so that an attack can be resisted for sufficient time to allow police to reach the scene of the attack.

Preferably, high tensile steel bolts are used to fix the A. T. M. to the frame and expanding bolts are used to fix the frame to a concrete floor.

Preferably the frame includes a supporting beam which is attached to the floor by a bracket, the beam and bracket being joined by a bolt passing through a slotted aperture in the frame or bracket, so that the beam can slide relative to the bracket by a limited amount. The force required to move the beam relative to the bracket depends on the clamping force exerted by the bolt. It is believed that this relative movement serves to absorb some of the energy of the attack and so, in combination with use of high tensile steel bolts, serves to keep the A. T. M. secured to the floor. It has been found that such an assembly can resist a concerted attack by an excavator for at least 10 minutes which is sufficient for an effective police response and so will, in time, act as a deterrent to such attacks.

Another aspect of the invention provides a supporting frame for an A. T. M., the frame including side panels which prevent access between the A. T. M. and the frame. In particular, the side panels are arranged to prevent access by a fork lift truck to a lifting box on which the A.T.M. sits on the frame. Advantageously, the side panels also serve to prevent a lip of an excavator bucket or the like being forced between the A.T.M. and the frame.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides an assembly for installation within a HARRISON frame or the like supporting an A.T.M., the assembly comprising a pair of first beams, a pair of brackets for anchoring the first beams to a floor, a second beam attachable to the first beams to be supported thereby, and means for attaching the A. T. M. to the second beam.

Preferably, the first beams are arranged to extend across the width of the frame and the brackets are attached to the floor outside of the frame. Very preferably, the assembly allows a limited degree of forced movement of the A. T. M. relative to the floor.

Other, preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is an exploded part view of a supporting frame for an automatic teller machine, for installation inside an existing HARRISON frame, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the frame of Figure 1 assembled, along the line II-II.

Figures 1 and 2 show an assembly which can be installed inside an existing HARRISON frame to support an automated teller machine (A.T.M.).

In Figure 1, panels and brackets on only two sides of the frame and assembly are shown, but it will be appreciated that these are also present on the other two sides.

An A. T. M. 2 is shown in outline on a mild steel box 4 which has a pair of slots 6 in front and back walls 8 to receive the tines of a fork lift truck. Thus the A.T.M. is manoeuvered into position by lifting at the box 4.

The A.T.M. 2 and box 4 rest on a HARRISON frame 10 which comprises upper and lower mild steel sections 12, 14 joined by telescopic legs 16. A steel plate 18 rests on top of the upper section 14 and may be attached to the upper section by height adjusting and levelling bolts (not shown). In existing arrangements, the lower frame is held down by mild steel clips which are in turn fixed to the floor by expanding bolts, and the A. T. M. is bolted to the plate 18 (through the box 4) by steel bolts. The clips are relatively weak and so the frame 10 can be pulled from the floor.

In the present embodiment of the invention an assembly is provided for more securely attaching the A. T. M. to the supporting floor. To avoid disruption of the surroundings, the assembly is designed to be installed without disturbing the existing frame 10 or removing the A. T. M. 2.

The assembly comprises a first frame part including two right angled brackets 20 which are each bolted to a concrete supporting floor by three expanding bolts 22.

The bolts have a head 24 which snaps off when a predetermined torque is reached. In this way it can be determined easily that the floor is of sufficient strength to hold the assembly. A second frame part comprises two rolled steel channel-beams 26 which have a plate 28 welded on each end. The plates 28 each have two slots 29 which extend generally vertically when the assembly is installed.

The first and second frame parts are clamped together by high tensile steel bolts 30, 32. By setting the clamping force (ie. the torque applied to the nut and bolt assemblies 30, 32) the force required to move the beams 26 relative to the brackets 20 can be set.

The A. T. M. 2 is attached by high tensile steel bolts 36 to a rolled steel I-beam 34 which straddles the channel-beams 26. Beam 34 is attached to beams 26 by high tensile steel bolts 38. The bolts 36 extend through the box 4 and plate 18.

The basic assembly described above can be installed without disturbing the HARRISON frame or removing the A.T.M. It is necessary to drill larger holes in the base of the A.T.M. to accommodate the bolts 36, but these can be drilled in situ, drilling through the base of the A.T.M., box 4 and plate 18 simultaneously.

When an attempt is made to remove the A. T. M. by lifting at box 4 with a fork lift truck or from abpve by an excavator or the like, the force on the A.T.M. is transmitted through to the brackets 20 secured to the floor. With beams 28 fixed in position against the brackets 20, the force is taken mostly by the bolts 36, 22. By allowing the beams 26 to move relative to the brackets 20, some of the force is dissipated. Also the actual movement of the A.T.M. itself may help deflect some of the force applied.

It will be appreciated that other degrees of movement may be provided for.

The embodiment shows various additional features.

The heads of the bolts 20 are covered by the base 40 of an L-shaped bracket 42. The upright 44 of bracket 42 has two bolts or studs 32 welded in position, so that the bolts 32 are not accessible from outside the frame 10.

A lower cover plate 46 is bolted between the end plates 28 and bracket 20. An adjustable upper cover plate 48 is sandwiched at its lower edge between the plate 46 and frame 10. Slots 50 slide over the bolts 30, 32. The upper plate 48 is attached to the upper part of the frame 10 by clips 52. As seen in Figure 2, the upper plate 48 extends upwards alongside the box 4 and above the lower edge of the A. T. M. 2.

Lower side cover plates 54 are attached to the lower frame part 12 by screws 56 which screw into clips 58 straddling the edge of the frame part 12. Screws 60 attach the plates 54 to the lower plates 46.

Upper side cover plates are mounted between the lower side cover plates 54 and frame 10 using clips 52 and side clips 64,66 for attaching to the upper plates 48. The upper side cover plates 62 are positioned to cover the slots 6 in box 4 and also the lower edge of the A.T.M. 2.

It can be seen that the upper panels 48, 62 are adjustable relative to the lower panels 46, 54 and so the assembly can be fitted to frames installed at various heights. Principal securing bolts 20, 32, 36 and 38 are enclosed to prevent easy access for releasing the system. The screws 56,60 etc. may have one-way heads on them to hinder removal of the cover plates.

A spacer plate 68 is used to adjust the height of the assembly, or a second I-beam on top of the I-beam 34 may be used. Elongate holes 70 are formed in the spacer plate 68 and the upper flange of I-beam 34 to receive the bolts 36 to facilitate positioning. End plates 28 are shown resting on the lower frame 12 but may rest on the supporting floor outside of the frame 10.

High tensile steel bolts are used for connecting the beams and mounting the A. T. M. 2 on the assembly.

Expanding bolts manufactured by HILTI are preferably used for attaching the bracket 20 to the supporting floor. These have a loose collar where the bolt penetrates the bracket 20 to protect against shearing of the bolt at this point.

It will be appreciated that a supporting frame may be formed from the assembly, independently of the HARRISON frame, for example by providing a second beam adjacent beam 34.

Various modifications may be made to the descibed embodiment and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A supporting frame for an automated teller machine (A. T. M. ), the supporting frame comprising first and second parts, the first part being fixable to a supporting floor and the second part being fixable to the A.T.M., wherein connecting means is provided for connecting the first and second parts together, the connecting means allowing limited relative movement between the first and second frame parts under the action of a substantial force.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein high tensile steel bolts are used to fix the A. T. M. to the second frame part and expanding bolts are used to fix the second frame part to a concrete floor.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first frame part includes a bracket and the second frame part includes a supporting beam, the beam and bracket being clamped together so that the beam can slide relative to the bracket by a limited amount.

4. A supporting frame for an A.T.M., the frame including side panels which prevent access between the A. T. M. and the frame.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the side panels are arranged to prevent access by a fork lift truck to a lifting box on which the A. T. M. sits on the frame.

6. A frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the side panels serve to prevent a lip of an excavator bucket or the like being forced between the A. T. M. and the frame.

7. An assembly for installation within a HARRISON frame or the like supporting an A.T.M., the assembly comprising a first beam, a pair of brackets for anchoring the first beam to a floor, and means for attaching the A.T.M. to the beam.

8. An assembly as climed in claim 7, wherein the first beam is arranged to extend across the width of the frame and the brackets are attached to the floor outside of the frame.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the assembly allows a limited degree of forced movement of the A. T. M. relative to the floor.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 7,8 or 9, wherein upper and lower cover plates are provided, the relative positions of the plates being variable to cover the side of a frame set at various heights.

11. An assembly according to claim 8,9,10 or 11, in combination with a Harrison frame.

12. A support frame for an automatic teller machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.