GB2453445A

GB2453445A - Wall mountable key safe

Info

Publication number: GB2453445A
Application number: GB0818242A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham John Bennett
Original assignee: TOTAL PRODUCT SALES Ltd
Current assignee: TOTAL PRODUCT SALES Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-05
Filing date: 2008-10-06
Publication date: 2009-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-06
Also published as: GB0719472D0; GB2453445B; GB0818242D0

Abstract

A safe mountable on a wall or door, the safe comprises code entry means 31 operating on the locking mechanism 301 which comprises a sliding plate 302 operatively connected to a locking tab 304, and a first cam 33. In a preferred embodiment The code entry means is operable upon correct entry of a pre-settable code to permit engagement of the first cam with the locking mechanism such that a first portion of the safe is removable from a second portion thereof to allow access to the interior of the safe.

Description

SAFES

The present invention relates to safes, for example those having mechanical push-button keypad locks.

Keypad locks as presently known are exemplified by that shown in GB 2412693, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Such locks comprise a keypad and rotatable latch mechanism. Upon entry of the correct code into the keypad, the latch mechanism may be rotated such that the latch will operatively engage with the interior latch mechanism within the door of a safe in much the same way as the turning of a door handle, thus permitting the door to be opened to provide access to the interior of a safe.

Such locks have many advantages over key locks: there is no need to issue a key to all users of the door and the code may be distributed e.g. to authorised personnel without the necessity of a key being issued and returned.

In the event of unauthorised distribution, the keypad may be reset to accept a different code without the necessity of changing all the locks. Regular change of the code will ensure maintenance of security without the inconvenience to authorised users of having to obtain a fresh set of keys each time the lock is changed.

There are however certain drawbacks to such mechanisms. The first is that they must engage with the latch mechanism of the door, which makes them cumbersome to retro-fit. A further disadvantage is that the door may be closed without necessarily being locked. Only close inspection will tell whether or not the door to a safe is closed and locked.

It is from a consideration of the above that the present invention has been developed.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a safe mountable on a wall or door having a code entry means, a cam and a locking mechanism, the code entry means being operable upon correct entry of a pre-settable code to permit engagement of the cam with the locking mechanism such that a first portion of the safe is removable io from a second portion thereof to allow access to the interior of the sate.

Preferably the code entry means comprises a mechanical push-button mechanism.

Preferably the cam abuts from the first portion of the safe into the second portion of the safe, being retractable, upon correct entry of the pre-settable code, to permit separation of the first and second portions.

Preferably the safe further comprises a further, fixed and non-retractable, cam abutting from the first portion into the second portion, the second fixed cam being arranged to facilitate and guide re-attachment of the first and second portions of the safe.

Preferably the code entry means is arranged to reset upon separation of the first and second portion such that re-attachment requires re-entry of the code.

Alternatively the code entry means may be arranged such that the retractable first cam remains retracted until re-attachment of the first and second portions of the safe.

Alternatively the code entry means may be arranged such that re-engagement of the first and second portions is contingent on the replacement of an object within the interior of the safe.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be described by way of non-limitative example with references to the Figures wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a safe of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the first and second portions having been separated; and Figure 3 illustrates the plan view of Figure 1 once the first portion has been removed.

Referring now to Figure 1, the safe 10 of the present invention comprises a first portion 30 and a second portion 20. The first portion 30 comprises a code entry means 31, preferably a series of mechanical push-button keypad buttons as is known in the art and as typified by GB 2412693. The first portion 30 also comprises a rotatable knob 32 and associated mechanism.

The first portion 30 comprises a flat face part from which protrudes the code entry means 31 and the rotatable knob 32. A wall depends from the face part which, at its terminal edge provides a peripheral shoulder. A further wall depends from a position inboard of the shoulder.

The second part 30 has a base wall and an upstanding peripheral wall. The shoulder is arranged to abut, in use, the terminal edge of the upstanding wall of the second portion 30, such that the further wall of the first portion 30 extends within the volume defined by the upstanding wall of the second portion 30.

Referring now to Figure 2, upon entry of the correct code, rotation of the knob 32 will permit engagement with a retractable abutting cam 33. The cam 33 abuts from the first portion 30 and is held by suitable means (not shown) in the second portion 20. The cam knob latch 32, by means of a locking mechanism (not shown). Retraction of the cam 33 into the first portion 30 permits separation of the first portion 30 from the second portion 20. An optional further cam 34, which does not retract, may be included. This cam 34 will guide and facilitate re-attachment of the first portion 30 and the second portion 20 by its interaction with a suitable channel (not shown) or other guide means in the second portion 20.

The lock and cam mechanism may operate in two separate ways.

In a first way entry of the code and rotation of the knob 32 will cause the cam 33 to retract, following which the cam 33, for example in response to resilient urging of the knob 32, will return to its extended position, for example when the knob 32 or first portion 30 is released. The cam 33 may be urged towards its extended position and will automatically adopt that configuration upon removal of the first portion 30 from the second portion 20. The code must therefore be re-entered and the knob 32 rotated to retract the cam 33 before the first portion 30 can be re-attached to the second portion 20.

A second is that the code entry means 31 will interact with the locking mechanism (not shown) such that following entry of the code, and optionally additional code buttons, and rotation of the knob 32, the cam 33 will be locked in the retracted position. Upon re-attachment of the first portion 30 and the second portion 20, the code entry means 31 and the knob 32 must be re-used to cause the cam 33 to re-engage with the second portion 20 and lock the two portions together. For example, the cam 33 may remain in its locked or retracted position until the knob 32 is turned and/or on or more code sequences are input into said code entry means 31.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the interior of the safe 10 is within the second portion 20. Access to the interior of the safe and its contents 40 is gained by removal of the first portion 30 from the second portion 20.

In one specific embodiment, the safe 10 may be a box for holding a key 40. The key is obtained by entering the correct code and separating the first portion 30 and the second portion 20. A further means (not shown) may be present which allows re-engagement of the parts only once the key has been reintroduced into the interior.

Such an embodiment ensures that if the safe 10 is shut then the key 40 is inside. This prevents a user of the safe from inadvertently forgetting to replace the key 40 after use.

Screw holes 21 in the second portion 20 permit the safe 10 to be mounted to any convenient surface.

The knob 32 may take the form of a handle or other gripping means to allow a user to turn or otherwise move to engage the cam.

The retraction or extension of the cam may be contingent upon an item being present or absence from the sate. Means may be provided to facilitate such retraction or extension upon such presence.

In order that the invention may be further explained, it will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 4 us a sectional view of a further safe according to the invention; Figure 5 is a sectional view along line X-X of Figure 4; and Figures 6A to C are elevations of components of the safe of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a two part safe 100 having a first portion 300 io holding the mechanism 301 and a second portion (not shown) for the reception of goods (as per the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3). As the second portion is substantially the same as that previously disclosed there will be no further discussion.

The mechanism 301 comprises a moveable, sliding, plate 302, reciprocable in the direction of the Arrows A. The plate 302 is operatively connected to a locking tab 304 for engagement with the second portion. The plate 302 has a bottom edge 305, an upper edge 306 and a pair of parallel side edges 307, 308. Inboard of the edges is an aperture 309 defined, in part, by a pair of parallel internal side edges 310. Each internal side edge is provided with a series of castellations 311, between or adjacent each is a corresponding recess 312. The plate 302 also includes a notch 313, the purpose of which will be described below.

Operatively connected to a lock actuation/deactivation device, e.g. a rotatable knob (not shown) is a mechanism 350 to operate a pair of pins 351, movable in the direction of arrow B. Each pin 351 runs in a kidney-shaped or arcuate groove 352.

Protruding from the base of the first portion 300 is a fixed lockable tab 330.

Mounted within the first potion 300 is a series of tumblers 360, operatively connected to the buttons of the safe 100, the features of which will be described with reference to Figure 5 and 6A, B, C. The safe 100 has a series of buttons 101, 102 which are resiliently urged by springs 103. Located beneath each button 101, 102 is a corresponding tumbler 200, the base of which is resiliently urged by a tumbler spring 201, which bears against a base of the first portion 300.

Also mounted within the first portion 300, corresponding to each tumbler 200, is a catch means 106 which is mounted a guide 108, upstanding from a central wall 107. Each catch means 106 extends at an angle from the central wall 107 towards a side of the first portion 300 to a point where there is a bend to form a short, flat abutment surface 109 which terminates in an in turned portion 110 which extends, at an angle, away from the same side of the first portion 300. Each catch means 306 having the appearance of half an arrow head.

In a recess 315 adjacent each side of the first portion 300 is located a resiliently urged pawl 316, urged by a pawl spring 317 which bears against the base of the recess 315.

The pawl 316 engages the underside of the plate 302.

The tumbles 200 are formed, as is seen in Figures 6A and 6B, as a locking tumbler 202 or a non locking tumbler 203.

Each tumbler 200 has an upper surface 204 for engagement with its corresponding button 101, 102 and a lower surface 204' for engagement with its corresponding spring 201, Each of upper and lower surfaces 204 having associated projections to act a guides 250. On one side, each tumbler has a groove 205 which extends through the tumbler 200 and a slot 206 which only extends part way through the tumbler 200. The other side of the tumbler 200 is an abutment 207 having an abutment face 208. The abutment 207 extends away at an angle from the body of the tumbler 200 until it reaches a part which runs parallel to the principal axis of the tumbler 200. The abutment face extends orthogonally from the parallel part.

The tumbler 200 of Figure 6C is identical to that of Figure 6B except that in place of a io slot it has a second groove 205d.

In use, the safe 100 has a pre-programmed code, say a three or four figure code, which code corresponds to buttons 101, 102... located on the first portion 300. The code' buttons 101 have a locking tumbler 203 associated therewith. The non code' buttons 102 have a non locking tumbler 202 associated therewith.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be appreciated that the safe 300 is in the locked condition with the locking tab 304 extended. It will be further appreciated that the tumblers 200 are in correspondence with the recesses 310 in the plate 302.

Referring to Figure 5, in use, a person wishing to gain entry to the sate 300 depresses certain buttons according to a code. By depressing the surface 104 of each button 101, 102 against the urging of the spring 103, the button 101, 102 is forced into engagement with the top of the corresponding tumbler 200. The tumbler 200 is correspondingly urged downwards against the urging it the tumbler spring 201. As the tumbler 200 is forced downwardly the in turned portion 110 of the catch 106 rides along and over the abutment 207, against its inherent urging, until the abutment surface 109 of the catch 106 clears the abutment 207 and the catch 106 snaps into engagement such that the abutment surface 109 of the catch 106 engages the abutment face 208. The urging of the spring 201 and the inherent urging of the catch 106 ensuring that the catch does not become unseated from the tumbler 200 and retaining the tumbler 200 in the depressed condition (i.e. the tumbler 200 on the right of Figure 6).

If, in the depressed position, the tumbler is a locking tumbler 202, upon tumbler depression the groove 205a will be brought into registry with the principal axis of the plate 302, allowing passage of the plate 302 in the direction of arrow A passed the io tumbler 202. Thus, if all of the correct code' buttons 102 are pushed, the safe 300 will be openable.

In contradistinction, if the person pushes a non code' button 1 01, depression of the button 101 will cause the slot 206b to be held in registry with the principal axis of the plate 302 thereby inhibiting movement of the plate 302 in the direction of arrow A. Once the key code has been entered, the knob may be turned clockwise, causing the pin 351 to travel within the slot 352 until it abuts the end and causes the plate to move downwards to disengage the tab 304 from the corresponding receiving part of the second portion of the safe 100. The mechanism 301 is resiliently urged towards a neutral position and so, upon release, will spring back to its initial starting position. As the mechanism 301 springs back to its neutral position it causes the central guide to move in the direction of arrow A, thereby disengaging the catch 106 from the tumbler 200. Urging of the spring 201 causing the tumbler 200 to return to its starting position.

In this state the tab 304 will again protrude from the first part 300 ensuring that the code has to be entered again to allow the safe 100 to be locked.

As a further embodiment a further tumbler may be provided (as shown in Figure 60).

The tumbler 210 engages the notch 313 when the safe 100 is in the unlocked state, thereby holding it in the unlocked state. To disengage the tumbler 210 a button may be pushed or rotation of the mechanism 301 may be effected.

Therefore, the safe 100 may have a default locked condition thereby providing a failsafe to accidental reclosing of the safe 300, or it may have a position whereby it is held in an unlocked condition until the mechanism is actuated.

As will be appreciated, in the locked state a plurality of locked tumblers 102 inhibit movement of the plate 302. If a plurality of non code' tumblers are depressed a plurality of tumblers (code' and non code') will inhibit movement of the plate 302.

Clearly such a situation makes the mechanism stronger than if a single stop were provided.

The features from the first embodiment may be incorporated into the second embodiment and vice versa.

Although the above description requires a plate, other movable members may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the tumblers need not be the specific shape disclosed. ft

Claims

1. A safe mountable on a wall or door, the safe comprising code entry means, a first cam and a locking mechanism, said code entry means being operable upon correct entry of a pre-settable code to permit engagement of the first cam with the locking mechanism such that a first portion of the safe is removable from a second portion thereof to allow access to the interior of the safe.

2. A safe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the code entry means comprises a mechanical push-button mechanism.

3. A safe as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the first cam extends from the first portion of the safe into the second portion of the safe is

4. A safe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the cam is retractable, upon correct entry of the pre-settable code, to permit separation of the first and second portions.

5. A safe as claimed in any preceding Claim, further comprising a second cam.

6. A safe as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the second cam is fixed and non-retractable, the cam extending from the first portion into the second portion.

7. A sate according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the second cam is arranged to facilitate and guide re-attachment of the first and second portions of the safe.

8. A safe as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the code entry means is arranged to reset upon separation of the first and second portion such that re-attachment requires re-entry of the code.

9. A safe as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the code entry means is arranged such that the first cam remains retracted until re-attachment of the first and second portions of the safe.

10. A safe as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the code entry means is io arranged such that re-engagement of the first and second portions is contingent on the replacement of an object within the interior of the safe.

11. A safe as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein actuation of the code entry means allows movement of a plate operatively connected to the cam.

12. A safe according to Claim 11, further comprising a plurality of stop means arranged to inhibit or allow motion of the plate.

13. A safe according to Claim 12, wherein each stop means is associated with one of said code entry means.

14. A safe according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein each of said stop means comprise a moveable member with a passage to allow motion and a portion to inhibit motion of said plate.

15. A safe substantially as hereinbef ore described.

16. A safe substantially as herein illustrated.