GB2368264A

GB2368264A - Security storage cupboard

Info

Publication number: GB2368264A
Application number: GB0026412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Charles Robson; Stephen John Morley
Original assignee: AMORINI Ltd
Current assignee: AMORINI Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-27
Filing date: 2000-10-27
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Also published as: GB0026412D0

Abstract

A secure cupboard, eg for portable computers, comprises two separable storage parts 11,12 each having a partially open side 4. The parts can be secured together, with their open sides facing each other, using angle brackets 13 (14, Fig 2), which engage slots 8 (9), whereby the open sides become inaccessible. The parts may be mounted on castors, the brackets may be secured in place by solenoid operated locks, and an additional external bracket (21, Fig 3) may be provided for securing the cupboard to a wall.

Description

SECURE STORAGE DEVICE

DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a storage device for storing in a secure manner articles, particularly valuable articles, for example, laptop computers and other electronic equipment having rechargeable electric power sources.

Currently, laptop computers are supplied to schools and other institutions in which the computers are often stored in conventional cupboards where their power sources are recharged individually over night and are then carried to their respective points-of-use the next day. With such arrangements, the laptop computers, or indeed other items of valuable electronic equipment, are not stored in a particularly secure manner and are liable to be stolen. Also, the recharging process requires several electrical leads to be supplied to the cupboards in which the computers are stored for recharging purposes. Further, the laptop computers, once recharged for use, say, the next day, are carried back and forth to their respective points-of-use which may be remote from their storage cupboards. This can result in the computers being damaged during transit.

It is an object of the present to overcome, or at least substantially reduce, the disadvantages associated with the storage and recharging of valuable items of electronic equipment, as discussed above.

Accordingly, the invention provides a secure storage device comprising a plurality of separate storage parts, such as cupboards, each of which has an at least partially open side for access to the interior thereof and which are detachably securable together, wherein, when the storage parts are so-secured together, access to their interiors via their respective at least

partially open sides is denied and, when the parts are separated from each other, access to their interiors via their respective at least partially open sides is permitted Preferably, the at least partially open side of each part is a generally

fully open side.

The storage device may be provided with means for detachably securing the parts together, which means may also be used to secure the device to an anchor point when the parts are secured together In an embodiment of the inventive device, such anchoring means may comprise a bolt which is passable through an interlocking bracket on at least one of the parts, for securing the parts together such that access to their interiors via their respective at least partially open sides is denied, and which may also be engageable with an anchor point, for example, a complementary bracket on a wall or other secure structure. The bolt, or indeed other suitable means, may be solenoid-operated, preferably one which is operable remotely It is preferred to have two storage parts for the device, which are substantially identical in shape and size, in which case, each may have a single at least partially open side, whereby the at least partially open sides of the two storage parts confront each other when the parts are secured together, thus denying access to their interiors However, the device may comprise more than two storage parts, in which case, they may be suitably shaped and sized to include one or more at least partially open sides which, when the parts are secured together, confront each other in respective pairs to deny access to the interiors of the parts.

The device may be provided with means for connection to an electrical power source, to provide electric power to the interiors of the parts for

recharging laptop computers, or indeed other items of electronic equipment, stored therein. The interiors of the parts may be compartmentised for such storage purposes.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a secure storage device with two storage parts separated from each other; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the two parts shown in Fig. 1 being brought together for subsequent securement to each other ; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the two parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 brought together prior to their being secured to each other and to a wall bracket; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the two parts shown in Fig. 3 being offered up to the wall bracket; and Figs. 5 and 6 are respective cut-away perspective and plan views of the two parts being secured together and to the wall bracket.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a secure storage device, indicated generally at 1, comprises a pair of rectangularly-shaped parts in the

form of storage cupboards indicated generally at 11 and 12 respectively.

The storage cupboard 11 comprises a pair (only one shown) of side walls 2, a top 3, a base (not shown), a rear wall (also not shown) and generally fully open front 4.

Similarly, the storage cupboard 12 comprises a pair (only one shown) of side walls 5, a top 3, a base (not shown), a rear wall 6 and a generally fully open front (also not shown).

These respective side wall 2,5, tops 3, bases and rear walls 6 of the two cupboards 11,12 are made of steel and are joined rigidly together, for example, by being bolted together and/or welded or bolted or otherwise attached securely to rigid frames. Castors 7 are provided at the base wall comers of the cupboards 11, 12 for ease of movement across the floor As shown in Figs 1 and 2, one side wall 2 of the cupboard 11 has an exterior slot 8 (only one shown) adjacent each of its top and bottom forward comers and the other side wall 2 of the cupboard 11 has an interior slot 9 (only one shown) adjacent each of its opposed top and bottom forward comers.

The other cupboard 12 has a steel angle bracket 13 provided on one side 5 adjacent each of the top and bottom forward comers thereof, with a steel angle bracket 14 (only one shown) provided on the opposed other side 5 adjacent each of the top and bottom forward comers thereof.

As shown in Fig 2, in which the tops 3 of the two storage cupboards 11,12 are omitted for reasons of clarity, the interiors of the cupboards 11,12 are shelved at 15, with dividers 16 defining therebetween compartments 17 for the storage of laptop computers (not shown) Each storage cupboard 11,12 is capable, in this particular case, of storing fifteen laptop computers.

The cupboard 11 is provided with a charging facility 18 for all thirty laptop computers. If necessary, that charging facility 18 can be connected to a mains power source.

When the two storage cupboards 11,12 are brought together in the direction of the arrow A with their open fronts 4 confronting each other, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the free ends 13'of the outer top and bottom angle brackets 13 of the cupboard 12 engage in respective top and bottom slots 8 in the other cupboard 11. Similarly, the free ends 14'of the top and bottom inner angle brackets 14 of the cupboard 12 engage in respective top and bottom inner slots 9 in the cupboard 11.

When the storage cupboards 11 and 12 and their respective angle brackets 13,14 and slots 8,9 are fully engaged, as shown in Fig. 3, access to the interiors of the cupboards 11,12 via their open fronts 4 is denied.

In Fig. 3, there is also shown another angle bracket 21 secured to a retaining wall (not shown) up to which the pair of engaged cupboards 11,12 are offered in the direction of the arrow B as also show in Fig. 4 in which the angle bracket 21 is attached to its associated retaining wall 22.

When the two cupboards 11,12 are, as a unit constituting the device 1, offered up wholly to the retaining wall 22, the free end 21'of the wall angle bracket 21 also engages in the top slot 8 of the cupboard 11 in confronting engagement with the free end 13'of the angle bracket 13 of the cupboard 12, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Each free end 18', 21'of the respective cupboard and wall brackets 13, 21 is provided with a circular hole 18,23 which, with the cupboards 11,12 in confronting relationship with the wall 22, again as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, lie in-register with each other.

A bolt 24 is operated by a solenoid 25 to be received securely in the inregister holes 18, 23 In this manner, the two cupboards 11,12 are secured together, whilst also being attached securely to the retaining wall 22 via the angle bracket 21 With this configuration, the two cupboards 11,12 cannot be separated from each other and, also, cannot be removed from the wall 22, whereby access to their interiors via respective open confronting fronts 4, is denied Preferably, the solenoid 25 for operating the retaining bolt 24 is actuated remotely, thereby eliminating any exterior switches for the same purpose and for security reasons Also, remote actuation of the solenoid-operated bolt 24 may be used to cause the recharging facility 18 to come into operation for recharging laptop computers stored in the cupboards 11, 12.

In order to provide access to the interiors of the cupboards 11,12, the bolt 24 is released from the in-register holes 18,23 of the cupboard bracket 13 and wall bracket 21, thereby allowing the cupboards 11,12 to be wheeled away from the retaining wall 22 and separated from each other, to expose their open fronts 4 Thus, access to the laptop computers is permitted Once separated, the two cupboards 11,12 can be used in separate locations.

In a modification of the device 1 described above in respect of the first embodiment, each otherwise open front 4 of the two cupboards 11,12 can be provided with an openable door (s), a shutter, blind or the like, which can be

closed prior to the cupboards 11, 12 being brought together for subsequent securement to the wall 22.

Thus, when the two cupboards 11,12 are wheeled away from the wall 22 and separated from each other, the door (s), shutter, blind or the like can be retained temporarily in its closed position for transportation purposes, in order to prevent any articles, such as the laptop computers, stored in their interiors from falling out. Once the separated cupboards 11,12 have been wheeled to their desired locations, the door (s), shutter, blind or the like can be opened to provide access to the interiors of the two cupboards.

It is to be appreciated that, although each of the parts, such as the cupboards 11,12 discussed above, must have a side which, in accordance with the invention, is at least partially open, the other sides of each part, and particularly those which are exposed to view and are readily accessible, such as the top 3 and vertical sides 2,5, 6 are preferably, fully closed for security purposes. However, the base may be open, for example, to allow cooling of the interior of the parts when the electronic equipment stored therein, is being recharged. With this arrangement, security is not jeopardised, because the base of each of the parts is inaccessible when the two parts are secured together and anchored to a secure structure, such as a wall, as hereinbefore described in relation to the preferred embodiment.

Claims

I A secure storage device comprising a plurality of separate storage parts each of which has an at least partially open side for access to the interior thereof and which are detachably securable together, wherein, when the storage parts are so-secured together, access to their interiors via their respective at least partially open sides is denied and, when the parts are separated from each other, access to their interiors via their respective at least partially open sides is permitted.
2 A device according to claim I including means for detachably securing the parts together
3 A device according to claim 2, wherein said securing means is arranged to secure the device to an anchor point when the parts are secured together.
4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said securing means comprises a bolt which is passable through an interlocking bracket on at least one of the parts, for securing the parts together such that access to their interiors via their respective at least partially open sides is denied.
5. A device according to claim 2,3 or 4, wherein said securing means is engageable with an anchor point, for example a complementary bracket on a wall or other secure structure
6. A device according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said securing means is solenoid-operated.
7. A device according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said securing means is operable remotely.
8. A device according to any preceding claim including two storage parts which are substantially identical in shape and size
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein each part has a single at least partially open side, whereby the at least partially open sides of the two storage parts confront each other when the parts are secured together, thus denying access to their interiors.
10. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7 including more than two storage parts which are suitably shaped and sized to include one or more at least partially open sides which, when the parts are secured together, confront each other in respective pairs to deny access to the interiors of the parts.
11. A device according to any preceding claims including means for connection to an electrical power source, to provide electric power to the interiors of the parts.
12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the interiors of the parts are compartmentised for storage purposes.
13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each part has a generally fully open side.
14. A device according to any preceding claim including means arranged to close temporarily the at least partially open side of each part.
15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said temporary closure means comprises a door, shutter or blind.
16. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the at least partially open side of each part is generally fully open.
17 A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each part is in the general form of a cupboard.
18. A security storage device substantially as hereinbefore described. with reference to the accompanying drawings.