GB2284798A

GB2284798A - Transferring valuables

Info

Publication number: GB2284798A
Application number: GB9325867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Donelan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-12-17
Filing date: 1993-12-17
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Also published as: GB9325867D0

Abstract

A security system for transferring valuable items between two units 10, 15 in a secure manner. Valuable items are vulnerable when being transferred from a delivery vehicle 15 to their destination 10, and transfer is often effected by hand. The present invention provides means 16, 17 for coupling the two units, so that items am not accessible whilst being transferred between units. Preferably one unit consists of a road side transfer unit 12 transferring valuables pneumatically to e.g. a bank 10 via an underground pipe 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY SYSTEMS The invention relates to security systems and particularly to security systems for use in safely transferring items, for example, valuable items such as cash, from one unit to another.

At present various systems are in operation for transferring valuables from one unit to another, for example from a vehicle to a bank, or vice versa.

In some instances, a vehicle can drive into a secure compound, but in many cases the valuable items have to be transferred across a public area, for example when a security van is parked outside a bank. Known security measures include delivery hatches in the vans that only open according to a time sequence, so that even if security guards are subjected to duress, they cannot open the hatch. Nevertheless, there is usually a vulnerable moment when a security guard has to physically transport valuable items from the van to the bank.

My invention provides a security system which is less vulnerable than known systems.

According to my invention, a security system comprises first transfer means for mounting on a first unit, such as a vehicle, second transfer means for mounting on a second unit, such as a building, and means for coupling the transfer devices together, so that items can be transferred from one device to the other in a secure manner.

Means may be provided for transferring articles from one unit to the other using fluid pressure.

For example, at least one transfer pipe may be provided through which articles can be transferred pneumatically.

Technology is already known for transferring containers along pipes pneumatically, and this technology could readily be adapted to my invention.

The second unit may comprise part of a building, or a unit arranged adjacent to a building. It may for example be positioned at the edge of a roadway, adjacent to a bank, for ready access from a vehicle parked in the roadway.

The coupling means may be protected from a security point of view, for example by any known means, including time delays, locks, passwords and the like.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which The single accompanying figure is a diagrammatic representation of a bank and a security van, fitted with an embodiment of security system according to my invention.

In the figure reference numeral 10 represents a bank. Outside the bank is a pedestrian pavement 11 which, with prior art security arrangements would have to be crossed by a security guard on foot, at which point the security guard and anything carried by him could obviously be subjected to an attack.

According to this embodiment, a special transfer unit 12 is erected at the edge of a roadway 13. From the unit 12, a pneumatic transfer pipe 14 extends under the ground into the bank 10.

A security van 15 and the unit 12 are provided with co-operating coupling devices 16 and 17.

When it is desired to transfer cash from the bank 10 to the vehicle 15 or vice versa, the vehicle parks in the position shown, with the coupling devices 16 and 17 in register. The devices 16 and 17 can then be connected together, in a security controlled manner. For example a security guard inside the van may have to use special keys, or tap in code words or code numbers on a keypad, or insert a specially magnetically coded card. Only then can the devices 16 and 17 be connected together so that cash may be inserted in a transfer container which is then pneumatically transferred from the unit 12 along the pipe 14 and into the bank 10. Alternatively containers can be transferred from the bank 10 to the unit 12 and be passed through the connected coupling devices 16 and 17 into the vehicle 15.

As a further security measure, the coupling devices 16 and 17 may be such that they can only be connected together at certain specified times.

Many other adaptations of the invention are possible. The building 10 need not be a bank. It may be any other building to which cash or valuable items have to be transferred, for example a jewellers, a company payroll office, a Building Society, a supermarket or the like.

The general principal behind this embodiment of the invention is that valuable items can be transferred between a vehicle 15 and a building 10 by transmission pneumatically through a pipe such as 14. It is not however essential to use an intermediate unit 12 and in some instances, it may be possible for connection to take place directly between the vehicle 15 and the building 10. More than one pipe 14 may be provided, so that items can be transferred in opposite directions simultaneously.

Coupling up between a security van and a stationary road unit may take place via a hatch in the floor of the van, so that there is no need for any personnel to alight from the van. Alternatively there may be an external grill at a position on a road side, a corresponding hatch being operable from inside the van, so that once again there is no need for any personnel to alight from the van.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, sunless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A security system comprising first transfer means for mounting on a first unit, such as a vehicle, second transfer means for mounting on a second unit, such as a building, and means for coupling the transfer devices together, so that items can be transferred from one device to the other in a secure manner.

2. A security system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein means are provided for transferring articles from one unit to the other using fluid pressure.

3. A security system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one transfer pipe is provided through which articles are transferred pneumatically.

4. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the transfer pipe extends under the ground.

5. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the second unit comprises part of a building, or a unit arranged adjacent to a building.

6. A security system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the second unit is positioned at the edge of a roadway, for ready access from a vehicle, parked in the roadway.

7. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the coupling means is protected from a security point of view.

8. A security system as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the security is provided by time delays, locks, passwords or the like.

9. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the two units are provided with co-operating coupling devices.

10. A security system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the coupling devices can only be connected together at certain specified times.

11. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the second unit is a bank, a jewellers, a company payroll office, a Building Society, a supermarket or any other building to which cash or valuable items have to be transferred.

12. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein connection is made directly between the first and second units.

13. A security system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein coupling between the first transfer means and the second transfer means takes place via a hatch in the floor of the vehicle, so that there is no need for any personnel to alight from the first unit.

14. A security system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 or 13 wherein the second transfer means comprises an external grill on a road side, a corresponding hatch on the first unit being operable from inside the first unit, so that there is no need for any personnel to alight from the first unit.

15. A security system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A security system whereby items are transferred between a first unit and a second unit by transmission through a pipe.