IE63374B1

IE63374B1 - A newspaper security unit

Info

Publication number: IE63374B1
Application number: IE261888A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Alexander Wilson; Martin Anthony Barry
Original assignee: New Ad Advertising Company Lim
Priority date: 1988-09-29
Filing date: 1988-09-29
Publication date: 1995-04-19
Also published as: GB2223269B; GB9107529D0; GB8922029D0; GB2242771B; GB2242771A; GB2223269A; BE1001650A7; IE62346B1

Abstract

An advertising display apparatus comprises a container having an inlet opening 10 communicating with a storage area 12 within the container. A spring loaded flap 17 may be provided at an entrance to the storage area 12. Access to the storage area is through a lockable door 13. A front wall 3 of the container forms a display panel which suitably comprises a frame supporting a pair of transparent sheets 35 between which an advertising poster is mounted. Lamps 40 may be mounted behind said panel.

Description

This invention relates to an apparatus for securely storing newspapers outside a retail premises. Divisional Patent Application No. 9107529.1 (Serial No. 2,242,771A) has been divided out of this application.

At present, newspapers are generally delivered to a retail premises in stacks tied together. In the case of early morning deliveries, more often than not the newspaper bundles are delivered before the premises is open and are thus generally left outside on the footpath. There are obvious disadvantages associated with this, for example, the ease of theft of the newspapers or they may be damaged by exposure to bad weather.

The present invention is directed towards providing a newspaper security unit to overcome these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a newspaper security unit comprising a container defining an enclosure for the storage of stacks comprising a plurality of newspapers tied together, the container having an inlet opening for reception of stacks of newspapers communicating with a storage area for storage of the stacks of newspapers, means to restrict access between the opening and the storage area, the access restricting means including a ramp means extending upwardly from the inlet opening, and a lockable door to facilitate retrieval of newspapers from the storage area.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention display means to carry advertising is provided on the container. Typically the display means is a display panel for reception of an advertising poster. Ideally the display panel comprises a frame demountably secured on the container, the frame supporting a transparent sheet of material behind which the advertising poster is mounted in use, fastening means being provided to releasably secure the frame on the container.

In another embodiment illumination means is provided to illuminate the display means. Preferably, the illumination means comprises one or more lamps mounted on the container. The lamps are preferably mounted on the container behind the display panel.

Automatic switch means may be provided to control operation of the lamp or lamps. The automatic switch means may be a photoelectric switch mounted on an exterior of the container.

In a further embodiment the means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the storage area of the container is a closure member at an entrance to the storage area, the closure member movable between a closed position blocking the entrance and an open position allowing through passage of newspapers from the inlet opening to the storage area.

The closure member is preferably pivotally mounted at the entrance. Biassing means may be provided to urge the closure member towards the closed position. The closure member and biassing means may be arranged such that the weight of a bundle of newspapers placed on the closure member is sufficient to overcome the biassing means and move the closure member to the open position. Typically the biassing means is a spring.

In another embodiment the means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the storage area is a tortuous path between the opening and the storage area. Preferably the tortuous path is defined by a number of spaced-apart baffles between the inlet opening and the storage area.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a newspaper security unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 with a front wall of the newspaper security unit removed; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the newspaper security unit; Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of the newspaper security unit; Fig. 5 is an end sectional view of the newspaper security unit; Fig. 6 is a detailed end sectional view of portion of the newspaper security unit; Fig. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective exploded view of another newspaper security unit; Fig. 8 is a front sectional view of the newspaper security unit of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a detailed side sectional view of a front wall of the unit.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, there is illustrated a newspaper security unit according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The newspaper security unit 1 comprises a container of rectangular box construction having a base 2, a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, side walls 6 and 7 and a top 8. An opening 10 closed by a hinged flap 11 is provided at an upper end of the side wall 7 for reception of newspapers. This opening 10 communicates with an interior of the container, a lower portion of which forms a storage area 12 for storage of newspapers. A lockable door 13 is provided on the side wall 7 below the opening 10 to facilitate retrieval of newspapers from the storage area 12. The door 13 has a conventional lock 14. Mounted within the container adjacent the opening 10 at an entrance to the storage area 12 is a closure member comprising a spring loaded flap 17 having a fixed end 18 and a movable end 19. A pivot bar 20 is secured at the fixed end 18 of the flap 17 and is pivotally mounted to the side wall 6. Torsion springs 22 adjacent each end of the pivot bar 20 hold the flap 17 cantilevered substantially horizontally outwardly from the side wall 6 as shown in Fig. 3. A ramp 25 projects inwardly and upwardly from a lower end 26 of the opening 10, the ramp 25 having an inner end 27 approximately midway between the side walls 6, 7, and the movable end 19 of the flap 17 abuts the inner end 27 of the ramp 25 as shown in Fig. 3.

The front wall 3 of the container forms a display panel for reception of an advertising poster 29 and comprises a rectangular frame having sides 30, a top 31 and bottom 32, the frame 3 supporting a pair of transparent sheets 35 of lexon glass between which an advertising poster is mounted, in use. A pair of spaced-apart spigots 36 on the top 31 of the front wall 3 engage behind a tubular cross member 37 which extends between the side walls 6, 7 at the top 8 of the container. The bottom 32 of the front wall 3 is bolted to the base 2 of the container to secure the front wall 3 on the container.

It will be noted that an intermediate wall 38 is formed behind the front wall 3 and extends between the top 8 and base 2 and the side walls 6, 7 of the container. A number of lamps 40 are mounted on the container behind the front wall 3 and between the front wall 3 and the intermediate wall 38 for illumination of posters mounted on the front wall 3. A conventional junction box (not shown) for connection to a 220 volt mains supply is provided on the base 2. Operation of the lamps 40 is controlled by a photocell 43 mounted on the top 8 of the container.

In use, an advertising poster is mounted on the front wall 3 and the newspaper security unit 1 is positioned outside a retail premises so that the poster faces outwardly. It may be either free-standing or mounted on a wall for example. The junction box is connected to a mains electricity supply and the photocell 43 will control operation of the lamps 40 such that the lamps 40 illuminate the poster 29 mounted on the front wall 3 during darkness. With the door 13 securely locked, when a bundle of newspapers is being delivered to the premises, the bundle is pushed through the opening 10, up the ramp 25 and onto the flap 17. The weight of the bundle of newspapers pivots the flap 17 downwardly and drops the bundle of newspapers into the storage area 12. When the newspaper bundle drops off the flap 17 the springs 22 return the flap to a horizontal position closing of the storage area 12. When the proprietor is opening the premises he or she can remove the newspapers through the lockable door 13.

It will be appreciated that the spring loaded flap 17 being mounted remotely from the opening 10 makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a potential thief to get access to the storage area 12. As a further security measure, one or more inclined baffle plates may be provided beneath the flap 17 and ramp 25 to define a tortuous path between the opening 10 and the storage area 12.

It will be appreciated that the invention thus provides a secure enclosure for newspapers until a retail premises is opened, the newspaper security unit advantageously incorporating a display panel on which an advertising poster can be mounted. The advertising poster can be quickly and easily replaced when necessary by demounting the front wall 3 from the container.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 10 there is illustrated another newspaper security unit indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The unit 50 comprises a container of rectangular box construction having a base 52 of wire mesh, front, rear and side walls 53 and a top cover 54. An opening 55 with a hinged flap 56 is provided in one side 53 for reception of newspapers. A lockable hinged door 57 is provided below the opening 55 to facilitate retrieving of newspapers by an authorised person. The lockable door 57 has a conventional lock 58. In this embodiment the storage area for newspapers is formed by the area within the container above the base 52. Mounted between the front and rear walls 53 there is provided a chute 59 directed inwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the reception opening 55. A baffle plate 61 is also mounted between the front and rear walls 53 at the opposite side of the container from the opening 55. The baffle plate 61 is directed inwardly and downwardly from the opposite side. The chute 59 and baffle plate 61 together define a tortuous path for newspapers between the opening 55 and the storage area.

The front wall 53 of the newspaper security unit 50 forms a display panel for reception of an advertising poster 60. The front wall 53 comprises a poster mounted board 61 secured by cross members 62 on the container leaving a narrow gap 63 between a periphery of the board 61 and the container. The poster 60 can be secured on the board 61 and a rectangular frame 65 retains a sheet 66 of plastics material over the poster 60 as shown in Fig. 10. Sides 68 of the frame 65 project through the gap 63. A pair of spaced-apart spigots 69 on a top edge of the frame 65 locate behind a cross member 70 running between the sidewalls 53 at the top 54 of the container. Bolts 72 at a lower end of the frame 65 project into the storage area and secure the frame 65 on the container with clamp bars 73 which are mounted on the bolts 72 and engage against a rear face of the board 61.

The use of the newspaper security unit 50 is similar to use of the newspaper security unit described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 6.

Claims

1. A security unit for stacks of newspapers comprising : a container defining an enclosure for the storage of stacks comprising a plurality of newspapers tied together, the container having an inlet opening for reception of stacks of newspapers communicating with a storage area for storage of the stacks of newspapers, means to restrict access between the opening and the storage area, the access restricting means including a ramp means extending upwardly from the inlet opening, and a lockable door to facilitate retrieval of stacks of newspapers from the storage area.

2. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein display means to carry advertising is provided on the container.

3. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the display means is a display panel for reception of an advertising poster.

4. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the display panel comprises a frame demountably secured on the container, the frame supporting a transparent sheet of material behind which the advertising poster is mounted in use, fastening means being provided to releasably secure the frame on the container.

5. A newspaper security unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein illumination means is provided to illuminate the display means .

6. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the illumination means comprises one or more lamps.

7. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lamp or lamps are mounted on the container behind the display panel.

8. A newspaper security unit as claimed in any of claims 6 to 7 wherein automatic switch means is provided to control operation of the lamp or lamps.

9. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the automatic switch means is a photoelectric switch mounted on an exterior of the container.

10. A newspaper security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the storage area of the container includes a closure member at an entrance to the storage area, the closure member being movable between a closed position blocking the entrance and an open position allowing through passage of newspapers from the inlet opening to the storage area.

11. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the closure member is pivotally mounted at the entrance.

12. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein biassing means is provided to urge the closure member towards the closed position.

13. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the closure member and biassing means are arranged such that the weight of a bundle of newspapers placed on the closure member is sufficient to overcome the biassing means and move the closure member to the open position.

14. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the biassing means is a spring.

15. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 14 wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

16. A newspaper security unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the storage area is a tortuous path between the opening and the storage area.

17. A newspaper security unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the tortuous path is defined by a number of spaced-apart baffles between the inlet opening and the storage area.

18. A newspaper security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the container comprises an elongate upright box, the inlet opening being provided at an upper end of the box and the storage area being formed by a lower portion of the box.

19. A newspaper security unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings.

20. A newspaper security unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawings.