GB2424919A

GB2424919A - Container securing device including a length of flexible material

Info

Publication number: GB2424919A
Application number: GB0506071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Bruce Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-24
Also published as: GB0506071D0; GB2424919B

Abstract

A device for securing a container 3 at or near a particular location, comprising a length of flexible material 5 that is fixed at one end to the container. The material 5 is passed though an opening 2 in the particular location, such that the material is prevented from being pulled back though the opening until access is gained to the opposite side of the opening. A securing device 7 comprising spring-biased limbs 10, 11 may be provided to be passed though the opening. A further such securing device 8 may be used to attach the one end to the container 3. The material may form a cable 5 provided in two parts joined by a padlock 15. The device may comprise an alarm. Goods or products may be delivered to the container 3 located at a home or place of business. The device may be used to secure the container 3 to a letterbox 2.

Description

1 2424919

SECURING A CONTAINER

The present invention relates to the securing of a container at or in the region of a particular location and, particularly but not exclusively, to a device which enables a container to be secured to, or in the region of, a main door of a person's home or place of business so that goods or products can be left securely whilst the recipient is unavailable.

To this end there is provided a device for securing a container at or in the region of a particular location, comprising a length of flexible material having securing means attached to at least one end of it, wherein the securing means comprises limbs which are biased apart but which can be closed to enable the securing means to be passed through an opening in the said particular location and which automatically open when passed through the opening to prevent the securing means being pulled back through the opening, and means to attach the length of flexible material to the container.

The securing means may comprise a toggle biased by a spring to its open position.

The flexible material may comprise a strong cable which may be in two lengths which two lengths can be connected together.

The two lengths may be connected by a lockable device such as a padlock.

The cable may comprise an internal wire to provide an alarm signal if tampered with.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of securing a container at or near a particular location, comprising passing a length of flexible material, which can be fixed at one end to the container, through an opening in the said particular location so that the flexible material is prevented from being pulled back from the opening until access is gained to the opposite side of the opening.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The drawing shows the front door 1 of a building, such as a house (not shown) provided with a conventional letter box 2. The present invention is, however, equally applicable where the letter box is at the side of, or separate from, the door rather than in the door itself.

When delivering goods to a building, the person making the delivery will bring the goods in one or more strong secure boxes 3. If more than one box 3 is being delivered they can be stacked upon each other as shown in the drawing. However, again the present invention is equally applicable to a single box 3 or a multiplicity of boxes. Each box 3 is provided with a hasp fastening 4 through which extends a strong steel cable 5, preferably sheaved in a plastics material.

Fixed to each end of the cable 5 is a toggle 6, 7 which is spring biased to its open position as shown in the drawing. In its position, the toggle 6 is unable to pass through the opening in the hasp fastening 4 and can only do so when the limbs 8, 9 of the toggle 6 are squeezed together.

Similarly, the toggle 7 cannot pass through the letter box 2 unless its limbs 10, 11 are also squeezed together.

Cable 5 is in two lengths and may have an internal wire (not shown) to provide an alarm signal if it is tampered with. The ends of the lengths of cable 5 which are not fixed to a toggle 6, 7 each has an eye, 12, 13 through which can pass a bar 14 of a padlock 15.

The above described embodiment of the present invention enables goods or products to be delivered to a home or place of business when the occupier is absent or the premises are closed and left safely until such return. The present invention has a wide application for delivered goods, an example might be food that has been ordered on the internet from a supermarket. This can be delivered in a box similar to that illustrated in the drawing. The person making the delivery can secure the box or boxes 3 which contain the food being delivered by means of the cable 5 and toggle6,7.

The person making the delivery can pass the eye 12 of the length of cable fixed to the toggle 6 through the hasp fastening 4 of the, or each, box 3.

The toggle 6 is then pushed through a slot 14 in the front of the box 3 by squeezing the limbs of the toggle 6 so that when the toggle is fully inside the box its limbs will spring open thereby preventing it from being removed without authorisation.

The eye 13 of the length of cable fixed to the toggle 7 can then be passed through the letter box 2 by squeezing the limbs 10, 11 of the toggle 7.

When the toggle 7 has passed entirely through the letter box 2 its limbs 10, 11 will spring open to a position where it cannot be pulled back through the letter box 2. Finally in order to secure the container(s) at the location the two lengths of cable are joined together by inserting the padlock 15 through the eyes 12, 13 of the cable.

The container(s) 3 will remain secure at their particular location until the occupier returns. The cable can be easily removed from the letter box 2 after the door has been opened simply by squeezing the limbs 10, 11 of the toggle 7 and passing it back from the inside to the outside of the door thereby enabling the boxes 3 to be taken inside the premises.

Instead of the container(s) 3 being secured, for example on the ground near the door 2 means can be provided on the wall, adjacent to the door 2 for fixing a container 16 as shown in the drawing.

Claims

1. A device for securing a container at or in the region of a particular location, comprising a length of flexible material having securing means attached to at least one end of it, wherein the securing means comprises limbs which are biased apart but which can be closed to enable the securing means to be passed through an opening in the said particular location and which automatically open when passed through the opening to prevent the securing means being pulled back through the opening, and means to attach the length of flexible material to the container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1. wherein the securing means comprises a toggle biased by a spring to its open position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flexible material comprises a strong cable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cable is in two lengths, which two lengths can be connected together.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two lengths can be connected by a lockable device.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lockable device is a padlock.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the cable comprises an internal wire to provide an alarm signal if tampered with.

8. A method of securing a container at or near a particular location, comprising passing a length of flexible material, which can be fixed at one end to the container, through an opening in the said particular location so that the flexible material is prevented from being pulled back from the opening until access is gained to the opposite side of the opening.

9. A device for securing the container in a particular location, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.