GB2274487A - Security container - Google Patents

Abstract

A security container comprises a box (1), an upper, compartmented money receiving drawer (3) slidable into the upper part of the box, and a lower compartmented security drawer slidable into the lower part (9) of the box. The money receiving upper drawer is provided with hinged base parts (7) which in the open position partially withdrawn from the box retain notes in the upper drawer but in the closed position within the box allow the notes to fall into the lower security drawer. First lock means are arranged to retain the lower drawer in the box and a cover plate is insertable over the lower drawer with the first lock means being releasable only when the cover plate is located over the lower drawer to prevent access thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH BOXES This invention has reference to cash boxes and has particular reference to cash boxes for use in casinos and other betting establishments and places of entertainment.

In casinos it is usual to issue chips or tokens to prospective punters in exchange for cash whereupon the money received is placed into a receptacle in a gaming table where it is stored until the casino closes. The money received is then removed from the receptacle when the notes have to be separated into their various denominations and counted and processed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of cash box.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of cash box which is capable of being used in a casino or other betting establishment or place of entertainment in order that the money passed into the cash box may be safely stored and made ready for processing.

According to the present invention a cash box comprises a body part with provision to receive an upper money receiving drawer and a lower security drawer with each of the upper and lower drawers having spacers to divide the drawers into respective bank note receiving compartments and in which the upper drawer is provided with hinged base parts which in the one position retain the bank notes in the drawer but in the other positions allow the bank notes to fall into the lower drawer.

Preferably a security cover plate cooperates with the lower security drawer to slide over the drawer to close the drawer and to release the drawer and permit it to be removed from the cash box.

Conveniently the lower security drawer is provided with a lock mechanism to lock the security cover plate to the drawer so that the drawer may be securely removed from the cash box.

The body of the cash box may be provided with spacers to ensure that notes falling from the upper money receiving drawer fall from a compartment in the money receiving drawer into a corresponding compartment in the lower security drawer.

A cash box in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the body of the cash box, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the money receiving drawer, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the security drawer; and Fig. 4 is a view of the security cover for the security drawer.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 a cash box body 1 preferably of metal which has fasteners (not shown) making it capable of being securely affixed to a gaming table of a casino or other betting establishment.

The upper part 2 of the body part is designed to receive, by sliding, an upper money receiving drawer 3 (Fig.

2). The upper part 2 is provided with slide/support members at 4 and 4A to enable the drawer 3 to be slid into and out of the body part.

The upper money receiving drawer 3 is divided by vertical spacers 5 extending from the front to the back of the drawer into compartments 6 with each compartment being of a size readily to receive respective denominations of bank notes. Thus the left hand side compartment may be of a size to receive five pound (5) notes and the other compartments to be of a size to receive 10, 20 and 50 notes respectively. The bottom of each compartment comprises a base 7 pivotable about a horizontal hinge member 8 extending across the base.The parts 4A of the upper part 2 of the cash box at the front and immediately beneath the drawer 3 serve, when the drawer is partially pulled out of the body, as an abutment 8 to engage the respective pivoted bases 7 of each compartment 6 to urge the bases to provide the bottom parts of the respective compartments. The compartments are then capable of receiving bank notes but when the drawer is pushed further into the body, the bases pivot downwardly permitting the bank notes to drop out of the drawer 3.

The lower part 9 of the body 1 is designed to receive, by sliding, a lower security drawer 10 (Fig. 3).

The lower part 9 is provided with a base and/or slide member 11 to enable the drawer to be slid into and out of the part part 1. A door 12A secured to the front bottom edge of body part 9 by a hinge 12A includes a security lock 12B adapted to be secured positively to part 12C of the lower security drawer 10 when in position to prevent unauthorised removal of or access to the drawer. A spring loaded mortice lock 13 is provided in the back of the body part to project into an aperture 13A of the security drawer to retain the security drawer in the cash box body 9 until released (as will be hereinafter described).

The lower security drawer 10 (Fig. 3) is like the money receiving drawer 3 divided into compartments 14 by vertical spacers 15 so as to be capable of readily receiving 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes. It is arranged that the 5 compartment in the drawer 10 shall be beneath the i5 compartment in the drawer 3 and the compartments for the other notes in the drawer 10 are beneath the respective compartments in the drawer 3. The tops of the side and rear edges of the security drawer 10 are provided with tracking 16, which together with a forwardly extending guide plate 16A are to receive a security cover plate 14, see Fig. 4.

The security cover plate 14 is arranged to cover and close the drawer 10 and can slide in the tracking 16 when the drawer 10 is in position in the body part 9. The guide plate 16A is provied with spring loaded mortice lock bolt member 17 and the cover plate with a corresponding positioned recess 17A. When the plate is initially pushed into the slot, the bolt member is pushed downwardly but once the cover plate is located fully over the drawer the bolt is urged outwardly (upwardly) into the recess to lock the security cover plate in position on the drawer 10. The cover plate has a part 13B, arranged to engage the lock member 13 when it is fully inserted onto the drawer, to release the lock and allow withdrawal of the drawer.

The part of the body 1 between the upper part occupied by the money receiving drawer 3 and the security drawer 10 is provided with spacers 18 substantially in line with the spacers in the drawers 3 and 10. These spacers ensure that the 5 notes fall out of the 5 compartment in the drawer 3 into the 5 compartment in the drawer 10.

Similarly the other notes fall into their designated compartments in the drawer 10.

When the cash box is being used on a gaming table in a casino the drawer 10 (but not including the security cover plate 14) is located in the cash box body part 9 and locked by the mortice lock 13 and/or security lock 12. To insert money, the money receiving drawer is pulled out and the pivoted base parts 7 are urged into the bottom of the drawer.

Chips are exchanged on the gaming table for money and the bank notes are positioned in their respective compartments in the money receiving drawer 3. At the end of the money/counter receiving session the drawer 2 is closed and the bank notes fall through the cash box between the spacers 18 into the respective compartments in the drawer 10. This action is repeated over several sessions.

From time to time a duly authorized operative collects the lower security drawer 10 from the cash box.

Before removing the drawer 10, the cover plate 14 is inserted and locks to the drawer, releasing lock 13. The drawer 10 is released by opening the locking bolt 12 with a duly authorized key. The drawer 10 with cover may then be removed and replaced by an empty drawer 10.

The drawer containing the notes may then be taken to a counting section where the drawer is opened by releasing the lock 17 and the notes are counted and processed to account for the counters issued. The notes may then be used to pay out customers who return their counters at the end of the gambling session. This arrangement reduces the amount of the necessary float.

Claims (10)

1. A security container comprising a box, an upper money receiving drawer slidable into the upper part of the box, and a lower security drawer slidable into the lower part of the box, the money receiving upper drawer being provided with hinged base means which in the open drawer position partially withdrawn from the box serve to retain notes in the upper drawer but in the closed drawer position within the box allow the notes to fall into the lower security drawer.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the upper drawer receiving part of the box is spaced from the lower drawer receiving part of the box by a sufficient distance to accommodate the hinged base means.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which each of the upper and lower drawers includes spacers to divide the drawers into respective bank note receiving compartments.

4. A container according to claim 2 together with claim 3 in which the box is provided with spacers dividing the space between the drawers into similar compartments.

5. A container according to any of claims 1 to 4 including first lock means arranged to retain the lower drawer in the box, a cover plate insertable over the lower drawer and the first lock means being releasable only when the cover plate is located over the lower drawer to prevent access thereto.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the first lock means is spring loaded to automatically lock the drawer to the box when the drawer is inserted in the box.

7. A container according to claim 5 or claim 6 including second lock means arranged to automatically lock the cover plate to the lower drawer as or before the cover plate releases the first lock means.

8. A container according to any of claims 5 to 7 including further lock means for additionally locking the security drawer to the box.

9. A container according to any of claims 1 to 8 including securing means by which the box is adapted to be secured or is secured to a gaming table.

10. A security container substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.