GB2464135A

GB2464135A - Movable safe

Info

Publication number: GB2464135A
Application number: GB0818233A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fiona Humphries
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-06
Filing date: 2008-10-06
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-06
Also published as: GB0818233D0; GB2464135B

Abstract

A movable safe or locker 10 comprises a safe body 12 with a fastening strap 28, the first end of which is permanently attached to the safe body and the second end of which is selectively lockable to the safe body. The safe may also comprise a hinged lid 14 lockable by means of combination lock 26. The second end of the strap may be passed around a structure and through slot or cutaway 32 in the safe body. The strap 28 is secured inside the safe body by passing holes 36 in the strap over fixed pins 34 extending from a wall of the safe body. A clamping member 30 may be mounted to the underside of the lid, which clamps the strap located on the pins when the lid is in a closed position.

Description

Movable Safe The present invention relates to a movable safe and particularly, but not exclusively, to a movable safe for use with beds, such as hospital beds.

When resting on a bed in a hospital, there is often nowhere to safely deposit valuables, when sleeping. Sometimes lockable cabinets are provided, but these are not particularly secure and are typically key operated. The security of the cabinets relies on the security of the key and there is nowhere to conveniently and safely keep a key.

In other environments, such as at beach resorts, there are no security cupboards, and valuables are at risk of being stolen. In a modern society, individuals carry a relatively large number of valuable items about their person, for example, mobile telephones, music players, wallets, jewellery and cameras. It is difficult to keep these items safe when relaxing in a public environment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a movable safe which provides security for storing valuables when in public places and reduces or substantially obviates the above mentioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a movable safe comprising a a safe body and a fastening means for attaching the safe body to an object, a first end of the fastening means being permanently fixed to safe body and a second end of the fastening means being adjustably lockable to the safe body.

Preferably the second end of the fastening means is securable and lockable to an inside wall of the safe body.

This is advantageous because the fastening means cannot be released without access to the safe body.

Preferably a lid is provided on the safe body, the lid being movable between an open position for allowing access to the inside of the safe and a closed position for denying access to the inside of the safe, the lid being lockable to the safe body.

Preferably a combination lock is provided for locking the lid to the safe body.

The fastening means may be a strap. The strap may be made at least in part from metal.

Preferably the strap is constructed as a flexible metal core enclosed in a fabric cover.

The flexible metal core may be made from chain, but is preferably made from mesh.

The flexible metal core is extremely difficult to cut and enhances the security of the safe.

The fabric of the strap is ideally of high durability, such as a heavy weight canvas, or synthetic material such as that used in webbing.

Preferably the second end of the strap is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, the apertures being reinforced with hollow metal studs.

A slot may be provided in a wall of the safe body, enabling the second end of the strap to be passed to the inside of the safe when the safe is in an open position.

Preferably at least one pin extends from an inside wall of the safe body, the pin being sized to pass through each of said reinforced apertures in the strap.

Preferably a pair of pins extend from the inside wall of the safe body, each pair of pins being sized and arranged to pass through an adjacent pair of said reinforced apertures in the strap.

The lid is preferably hinged to the safe body.

Preferably a clamping member is disposed on the underside of the lid for clamping the fastening means between the clamping member and a wall of the safe body, the clamping member being movable between a clamping position when the lid is in an open position and a release position when the lid is in a closed position.

Advantageously, when the clamping member engages the fastening means, it holds the fastening means against the wall of the safe body, the apertures in the fastening means being held firmly engaged on the pins.

The safe body and lid may be made from plastics. Alternatively, the safe body and lid are made from metal, metal alloy or a composite material.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a movable safe of the invention, with the lid of the safe in an open position; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the safe of Figure 1 with the lid in a closed position; and Figure 3 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the safe of Figure 1, with the safe locked to a bedstead.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2. a movable safe is indicated generally at 10. The movable safe 10 includes a safe body 12 constructed as an open topped container with a lockable lid 14 hinged to the body 12 about pivots 16. The safe body 12 has a rear wall 18, first and second side walls 20, 22, a front wall 24 and a base (not shown).

The base is approximately 250mm by 150mm and the safe 10 is approximately 200mm deep. The pivots 16 are disposed adjacent the upper edge of the rear wall 18.

A combination lock 26 is provided in the front wall 24 for locking the lid in a closed position, as shown in Figure 2. The combination lock 26 is preferred, because it does not require a key, which could easily become lost. A key also has to be carried, thus posing a security risk. The safe body 12 is preferably moulded from plastics, but can be fabricated from metal, as desired.

A strap 28 is mounted to the outside of the safe body 12, attached to the rear wall 18 of the safe body 12, approximately one third up the rear wall from the base. A wrap around clamping means 30 engages a portion of the strap 28 and is secured to the rear wall 18 of the safe body. The strap 28 extends upwardly from the clamping means 30 and is arranged to pass through a slot or cutaway 32 in the upper edge of the rear wall 18. The cutaway 32 is provided mid-way along the upper edge of the rear wall 18.

Once inside the safe body 12, the strap 28 can then be directed down the inside surface of the rear wall 18.

A pair of pins 34, each being approximately 20mm long and 5mm in diameter, extends into the interior of the safe body 12 from the rear wall 18. The pins 34 are disposed side by side approximately 10-15mm apart and are angled downwardly from the rear wall at an angle of between 10° and 20°. The pins 34 are preferably made from metal and are set into the moulded plastics of the body 12. The strap 28 has pairs of apertures 36 provided side by side, equi-spaced along the length of the strap 28. Each aperture 36 is reinforced with a metal tube, which is crimped over at either end onto the strap. The strap 28 is constructed as a metal core, for example of mesh, with a durable fabric outer and is highly resistant to being cut.

A clamping member 38 extends substantially perpendicularly from the underside of the lid 14 and is disposed in alignment with the cutaway 32 in the rear wall 18. The clamping member 38, as shown, is integrally formed with the lid and includes a wall reinforced with three substantially triangular shaped strengthening webs or flanges 42.

At the distal tip of the clamping member 38, a rearward facing jaw 44 extends marginally outwardly of the wall. The jaw 44 is positioned so that when the lid 14 is in the closed position, it presses into the strap and clamps the strap 28 between the rear wall 18 and the jaw 44, as discussed further below.

Referring also to Figure 3, the safe 10 is shown in use attached to a bedstead 46. In order to attach the safe 10 to the bedstead 46, the combination lock is unlocked in conventional manner and the lid 14 of the safe 10 opened. The strap 28 is then moved away from the rear wall 18 and the reinforced apertures 36 moved away from the pins 34. The distal end of the strap 28 can then be withdrawn through the cutaway 32 in the rear wall 18 and passed around an object to which the safe is to be secured. In Figure 3, the distal end is passed around the bedstead 46. The distal end of the strap 28 is then passed back through the cutaway 32 and is pulled tight from inside the safe body 12. A pair of apertures 36 in the strap 28 are then located on the pins 34, which hold the strap 28 tight, in the manner of a belt buckle, with the strap wrapped around the bedstead 46.

Items to be safely stowed can then be placed inside the safe 10. When the safe lid 14 is closed, this causes the clamping member 38 to rotate into contact with the strap.

When the lid is in a fully closed position, the jaw 44 engages the strap 28 and clamps it to the rear wall 18 of the safe body. This ensures that the strap 28 cannot be released from the pins 34, when the lid is closed. The lid can then be locked with the combination lock 26. The combination lock 26 can be re-set for each use in known manner, if desired, for example, for different users.

The safe 10 has many uses, for example, in hospitals, holiday resorts, vehicles, cruise ships or in any public place where secure storage is required. The length of the strap 28 can also be varied, for example, to take account of different dimensions of structures to which the safe 10 is to be attached. The safe 10 is also intended to he splash-proof, and may even be provided with seals to make it substantially watertight.

The safe 10 also provides a display area on which company indicia can be displayed for advertising purposes. It is envisaged that in some circumstances, safes 10 could be rented on an hourly or daily basis, for example, with sun beds.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A movable safe comprising a safe body and a fastening means for attaching the safe body to an object, a first end of the fastening means being permanently fixed to safe body and a second end of the fastening means being adjustably lockable to the safe body.
2. A movable safe as claimed in claim 1, in which the second end of the fastening means is securable and lockable to an inside wall of the safe body.
3. A movable safe as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which a lid is provided on the safe body, the lid being movable between an open position for allowing access to the inside of the safe and a closed position for denying access to the inside of the safe, the lid being lockable to the safe body.
4. A movable safe as claimed in any one of claim 3, in which a combination lock is provided for locking the lid to the safe body.
5. A movable safe as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the fastening means is a strap.
6. A movable safe as claimed in claim 5, in which the strap is made at least in part from metal.
7. A movable safe as claimed in any one of claim 5 or 6, in which the strap is constructed as a flexible metal core enclosed in a fabric cover.
8. A movable safe as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the second end of the strap is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, the apertures being reinforced with hollow metal studs.
9. A movable safe as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which a slot is provided in a wall of the safe body, enabling the second end of the strap to be passed to the inside of the safe when the safe is in an open position.
10. A movable safe as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, when dependent on claim 8, in which at least one pin extends from an inside wall of the safe body, the pin being sized to pass through each of said reinforced apertures in the strap.
11. A movable safe as claimed in claim 10, in which a pair of pins extend from the inside wall of the safe body, each pair of pins being sized and arranged to pass through an adjacent pair of said reinforced apertures in the strap.
12. A movable safe as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lid is hinged to the safe body.
13. A movable safe as claimed in claim 12, in which a clamping member is disposed on the underside of the lid for clamping the fastening means between the clamping member and a wall of the safe body, the clamping member being movable between a clamping position when the lid is in an open position and a release position when the lid is in a closed position.
14. A movable safe as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the safe body and lid are made from plastics.
15. A movable safe as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the safe body and lid are made from metal, metal alloy or a composite material.
16. A movable safe substantially as claimed herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.