GB2476028A

GB2476028A - Plinth for ATM and similar apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2476028A
Application number: GB0917082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Robert Calder
Original assignee: Scotia Safes Ltd
Current assignee: Scotia Safes Ltd
Priority date: 2009-09-29
Filing date: 2009-09-29
Publication date: 2011-06-15
Also published as: GB0917082D0

Abstract

A plinth for an ATM, cash dispenser or the like (1) comprises an upper support frame (2) that is connected to the base of an ATM. The frame (2) is matched to the footprint of the ATM (1). A base frame (6) is mounted onto a floor or other support surface for supporting the ATM. The base frame (6) has a plurality of upstanding support legs (8) having a plurality of fixingpoints (12) along its length. The base frame (6) supports the support legs (8) so as to support the upper support frame (2) and the ATM. The legs (8) extend beyond and out of register of the support frame (2). The upper support frame (2) has fixing points which co-operate with the fixing points (12) in the support legs (8). An ATM supported on the upper support frame (2) can be adjusted in height with respect to the base frame (6) on the upstanding support legs (8) at a desired height with respect to the ground or floor upon which a said ATM is to be installed. Anti-ram raid devices can be fitted within the plinth. The base frame (6) may have adjustable feet (22) for levelling the base frame (6).

Description

PLINTH FOR ATM

The present invention relates to a plinth for use with an automated teller machine (ATM), sometimes referred to as a cash point machine or the like.

ATMs are installed in a wide variety of locations including banking halls as freestanding structures, and in through wall applications, for example, through the wall of a bank building. Disability legislation dictates that the user interface portion of an ATM must be within a strictly defined minimum and maximum height from the floor or surface upon which the ATM is to be positioned. Furthermore when installing ATMs in through wall installations the height of the supporting floor/surface on one side of the wall may vary quite significantly with the height of the floor on the other side of the wall which will be used by an ATM user. Again disability legislation dictates that the user interface must be within a minimum and maximum height.

Accordingly when installing an ATM it is necessary to be able to provide for the ability to vary the height of the ATM so as to comply with the disability legislation.

Such variations in height can range from as little as 50 mm to in excess of 500 mm and will vary from one installation to another.

ATMs are not installed by ATM manufacturers and are instead installed by specialist ATM installers and it is important that ATMs can be installed quickly arid efficiently and in a safe and secure manner. Traditionally ATM installers have utilised bespoke manufactured plinths which have a predetermined height that has been calculated by taking measurements prior to the installation. In practice it is found that fixed height plinths do not allow for any adjustment whatsoever and failure to get the correct height can result in an ATM installation project having to be delayed whilst a modified plinth is assembled.

Various adjustable height plinths have been proposed previously, such as GE2344755; W02007/1013l0; US2005/0224688; G32409252; & US2005/012l593 amongst others.

Such devices have limitations such as expense of manufacture and installation and stability issues.

Specifically existing plinth designs have long assembly times and complex instruction/assembly manuals. They are often very heavy (but not necessarily strong) necessitating the use of lifting equipment. Additionally where an ATM is to be installed in a banking hall/lobby installation it is necessary to provide additional shop fitting services to cover over the plinth. Such shop fitting services are time consuming and costly. Furthermore where a plinth requires to have anti-ram raid properties more complex, heavy and costly designs and installation techniques are required.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides an improved plinth for an ATM, cash point machine or the like comprising an upper support frame formed and arranged to be connected to the base of an ATM or the like in use of the plinth, the frame being in register with the footprint of a said ATM in use of the plinth; a base frame formed and arranged to be mounted onto a floor or other support surface for supporting a said ATM, said base frame having a plurality of upstanding support legs comprising a support member having a plurality of fixing points along the length of said support leg; said base frame supporting said support legs so as to support the upper support frame, and extend therebeyond and out of register therewith, said upper support frame having fixing points formed and arranged for co-operating with said fixing points in said support legs by fixing means for use in said respective fixing points, whereby in use an ATM supported on said upper support frame can be adjusted in height with respect to the base frame on said upstanding support legs at a desired height with respect to the ground or floor upon which a said ATM is to be installed.

Preferably said upper frame comprises a sheet of formed steel having a plurality of apertures, optionally threaded apertures, for securing an ATM base thereto with appropriate bolts or other suitable fixing means.

Preferably the underside of said upper frame is provided with an anchorage point formed and arranged for receiving one end of an optional anti-ram raid fixing device such as a chain, cable or the like which may be secured to a ground anchor positioned within the lower base frame.

Preferably the lower base frame comprises two parallel spaced apart elongate members, each of said elongate members having at each distal end thereof a support foot, said support foot being provided with a threaded portion formed and arranged for co-operating with a corresponding threaded portion in said member to provide for fine adjustability of the plinth on a support surface or floor so that an ATM supported by said plinth may be levelled.

Preferably said spaced apart members are connected together by two elongate spaced apart parallel channel members in a rectangular arrangement, said channels and members being connected together with suitable fixing means such as bolts.

Preferably said elongate channels comprise a channel with a wide base and relatively short upstanding side members and can be connected to said support members in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. In a horizontal orientation the channels allow for a reduced height of the upper support frame with respect to the base frame thereby facilitating a low height installation of an ATM. In the vertical orientation said channels provide for increased strength, rigidity and stability when an ATM is installed at a higher level on the plinth.

Preferably said upstanding support legs are in the form of a box section, either an open or closed box section, having laterally extending flange portions in which said fixing points are formed. Preferably said fixing points are in the form of apertures spaced along the length of the support leg. Said flange portions abut against the edge of said upper support frame with said box section facing away therefrom. In use in with an ATM said flange portions abut against the side of a said ATM. Typically said support legs have a height in the region of from 300 to 700 mm, typically 400-600 mm, preferably 500 mm. A said leg portion may have any number of apertures along its flange portion typically there may be formed approximately ten spaced apart apertures on each flange portion of said support leg.

Preferably the plinth is supplied in a knocked down kit form which makes for ease of transportation and onsite construction.

As a said plinth according to the present invention does not have desirable aesthetic appearances there is provided cover portions for covering over the sides and front and back of the plinth. This is particularly so where the ATM is a freestanding installation in, for example, a banking hail. Preferably there are provided front and rear panels formed and arranged so as to readily cut to a required height. The left and right sides of the plinth where the upstanding support legs extend and out of register with the footprint of the ATM, are provided with cover panels formed and arranged to cover the support legs and to interengage therewith, for example, by hook portions formed on the inner side of the panel, said hook portion being formed and arranged to hook into the box section portion of the support leg and to abut with the side of an ATM in use of the piinth. The height of said left and right cover panels correspond to the length of the upstanding support legs. Preferably said left and right support panels have curved or tapered edges.

In another respect the present invention provides a method of installing an ATM which method comprises the steps of providing a plinth according to the first aspect of the present invention; mounting said upper support frame of said plinth to the base of an ATM to be installed; adjusting the positioning of the upper support frame and the ATM with respect to the upstanding support legs so as to position a said ATM at a predetermined height above the ground on which it is to be installed and positioning said ATM supported on said plinth on the ground.

Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention as described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -Fig 1. is a perspective view of a plinth for use with an ATM; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plinth shown in Fig. 1 in a different orientation; Fig. 3 is an underside view of the plinth of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cover plate for use with the plinth of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the cover plate of Fig. 4 in situ with the plinth of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the plinth with left and right cover plates and a front cover; Fig. 7 shows an ATM on a plinth according to the invention.

A plinth, generally indicated by reference number 1, for use with an ATM (shown in outline by broken lines) is shown in Fig. 1. The plinth 1 comprises an upper support frame 2 provided with four fixing points 4 for connection to the base of the ATM such that the support frame 2 is in register with the footprint of the ATM in use of the plinth 1. The plinth 1 has a base frame 6 arranged to be mounted onto the floor or other support surface for supporting the ATM in use of the plinth. The base frame has four upstanding legs 8, each support leg 8 comprising a box section 10 having a plurality of apertures 12 along its length. The base support frame 6 comprises two parallel spaced apart channel members 14,16 connected together by two further elongate and parallel support members 18,20, arranged in a rectangle such that the support legs 8 extend at least beyond the upper support frame 2 and being out of register therewith such that the height of the upper support frame 2 and the ATM mounted thereon can be varied in height with respect to the base frame 6 by bolting the upper support frame 2 to the apertures 12 in each of the support legs 8.

The two parallel spaced apart elongate members 18,20 of the lower base frame 6 are provided with foot supports 22 provided with a threaded portion formed and arranged for co-operating with a corresponding threaded portion in the member 18,20 so as to provide for fine adjustability of the plinth on a support surface or floor and so that an ATM supported by the plinth may be levelled.

Fig. 2 shows the same plinth in Fig. 1 except that the height of an ATM (shown in broken line) is lower with respect to the base frame 6 and the two parallel spaced apart elongate channel members 14,16 are mounted in a horizontal orientation, as distinct from the vertical orientation shown on Fig. 1 to facilitate a low height installation of an ATM.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective underside view of the plinth shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows an end cover plate 30 for use with the plinth 1 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 shows the end cover plate 30 mounted to the plinth 1. The end cover plate 30 has upper 32 and lower hook portions 34 on the inside face 36, the upper hook portions 32 being formed and arranged to hook into the open box section 10 of the upstanding support leg 8 (see Fig. 5), the lower hook portions 34 being formed and arranged to hook over the spaced apart elongate members 18,20 of the lower base frame 6. A corresponding end plate (not shown) covers over the right hand support legs as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 also shows the front panel 38 used for covering over the front and rear of the plinth 1. The front and rear cover panels 38 comprise a sheet of steel material having a plurality of discontinuous parallel cuts 40 therealong and being interconnected by frangible or cutable portions so that strips of the panel may be readily cut away to allow for variations in height of the upper support frame 2 and an ATM mounted thereon with respect to the ground on which the plinth is installed.

As shown in Fig. 7 which shows an ATM mounted on the support plinth shown in Fig. 6 (and Fig. 1) the left and right cover panels are out of the register with the footprint of the ATM.

Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An improved plinth (1) for an ATM, cash point machine or the like comprising an upper support frame (2) formed and arranged to be connected to the base of an ATM or the like in use of the plinth (1), the frame (2) being in register with the footprint of a said ATM in use of the plinth; a base frame (6) formed and arranged to be mounted onto a floor or other support surface for supporting a said ATM, said base frame having a plurality of upstanding support legs (8) comprising a support member (10) having a plurality of fixing points (12) along the length of said support leg (8); said base frame (6) supporting said support legs (8) so as to support the upper support frame (2), and extend therebeyond and out of register therewith, said upper support frame (2) having fixing points (12) formed and arranged for co-operating with said fixing points (12) in said support legs (8) by fixing means for use in said respective fixing points (12), whereby in use an ATM supported on said upper support frame (2) can be adjusted in height with respect to the base frame (6) on said upstanding support legs (8) at a desired height with respect to the ground or floor upon which a said ATM is to be installed.
2. A plinth as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper frame (2) comprises a sheet of formed steel having a plurality of apertures (4), optionally threaded apertures, for securing an ATM base thereto with appropriate bolts or other suitable fixing means.
3. A plinth as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the underside of said upper frame is provided with an anchorage point formed and arranged for receiving one end of an anti-ram raid fixing device such as a chain, cable or the like which may be secured to a ground anchor positioned within the lower base frame (6)
4. A plinth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lower base frame (6) comprises two parallel spaced apart elongate members (18, 20), each of said elongate members (18, 20) having at each distal end thereof a support foot (22), said support foot (22) being provided with a threaded portion formed and arranged for co-operating with a corresponding threaded portion in said member (18, 20) to provide for fine adjustability of the plinth on a support surface or floor so that an ATM supported by said plinth may be levelled.
5. A plinth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said spaced apart members (18, 20) are connected together by two elongate spaced apart parallel channel members (14, 16) in a rectangular arrangement, said channels (14, 16) and members (18, 20) being connected together by fixing means.
6. A plinth as claimed in claim 5 wherein said elongate channels (14, 16) comprise a channel with a wide base and relatively short upstanding side members formed and arranged to be connected to said support members in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.
7. A plinth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein there is provided cover portions for covering over the sides and front and back of the plinth.
8. A method of installing an ATM which method comprises the steps of providing a plinth according to claim 1; mounting said upper support frame of said plinth to the base of an ATM to be installed; adjusting the positioning of the upper support frame and the ATM with respect to the upstanding support legs so as to position a said ATM at a predetermined height above the ground on which it is to be installed and positioning said ATM supported on said plinth on the ground.
9. A plinth for use with an ATM substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.