IE901109A1

IE901109A1 - A Security Unit

Info

Publication number: IE901109A1
Application number: IE110990A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: New Ad Advertising Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-03-27
Filing date: 1990-03-27
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Also published as: GB9106559D0; ZA912314B; GB2242481A

Abstract

A security unit 1 comprises a container having an inlet opening 10 closed by a lockable flap 11, said opening leading via a delivery means (26) to a storage area (25) which is closable by means of a lockable door (15). The unit may incorporate an advertising display panel. The door is suitably provided with first and second lock means.

Description

A Security Unit The invention relates to a security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like. The invention also relates to an advertising display apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided a security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage area for the storage of articles, the container having an inlet opening for reception of 10 articles, and a lockable door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area wherein the security unit includes a delivery means for delivering articles from the inlet opening to the storage area.

In one embodiment of the invention the delivery means comprises a delivery chute which is mounted to the container •E901109 - 2 for movement between a receiving position for receiving articles through the inlet opening to a discharge position for delivering articles into the storage area.

In one embodiment of the invention a closure flap is provided 5 for the inlet opening, the delivery chute being movable on opening of the flap from the delivery position to the receiving position.

In one embodiment of the invention interlink means are provided between the flap and delivery chute so that the movement of the flap and delivery chute are interlinked.

In one arrangement the interlink means comprises a mechanical linkage between the chute and the flap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the delivery chute is pivotally mounted for movement between the receiving and delivery positions.

Preferably the delivery chute is counterweighted into the delivery position.

In one embodiment of the invention the delivery chute comprises a base, upstanding side walls and a rear wall having an open front for receiving and delivering articles. - 3 In a preferred embodiment of the invention access restricting means are provided between the inlet opening and the delivery chute to restrict access to the storage area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the access 5 restricting means comprises a ramp means.

Preferably the ramp means has a leading portion extending upwardly from the inlet opening and a trailing portion extending downwardly from the leading portion to direct articles into the delivery chute.

In one embodiment of the invention the door lock means comprises first and second lock means, both of which must be operated to open the door.

According to another aspect the invention provides a security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage area for the storage of articles; the container having an inlet opening for reception of articles; and a door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area; - 4 wherein the door is provided with lock means comprising first and second lock means, both of which must be operated to open the door.

In one embodiment of the invention the first and second lock 5 means are operated by different key means.

Preferably the first lock means comprises a shoot bolt lock and the second lock means comprises a deadlock.

In another aspect the invention provides a security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage area for the storage of articles; the container having an inlet opening for reception of articles; and a door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area; wherein the inlet opening is provided with a closure flap and lock means are provided to lock the flap in a position closing the inlet opening. - 5 In one embodiment of the invention the flap is provided with gripping means for manually closing the flap.

Preferably the gripping means comprises a recess in the flap for reception of a user's finger(s).

In another embodiment of the invention the security unit comprises a frame formed of box section and flat box sections to which panels are mounted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the security unit includes display means to display advertising.

Preferably the display means comprises a display panel for reception of an advertising poster.

In one embodiment of the invention the display panel comprises a frame demountably secured to the container, the frame supporting a transparent sheet of material behind which the advertising poster is placed, in use. Preferably fastening means are provided for releasably securing the frame to the container.

Preferably illumination means are provided to illuminate the display means. Typically the illumination means comprises one or more lamps mounted behind the display panel. Preferably - 6 the lamps are operated by an automatic switch means such as a photoelectric switch means .

The invention also provides an advertising display apparatus comprising a security unit according to the invention having display means to display advertising.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a security unit according 10 to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the other side of the security unit of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the security unit of Fig. 1 with some of the panels removed, Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the security unit in one position of use, Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the security unit in another position of use, - Ί Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a locking door detail of the invention, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the detail of Fig. 6 in another position, Fig. 8 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of portion of the door arrangement, Fig. 9 is a perspective partially cut-away view of another construction of security unit according to the invention, Fig. 10 is a view of an advertising display side of a frame of the security unit of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 is a view of the other side of the frame of Fig. 9, Fig. 12 is a view of the rear of the frame of Fig. 9, Fig. 13 is a view of the door side of the frame of Fig. 9, Fig. 14 is a view of the base of the frame of Fig. 9, and Fig. 15 is a view of the top of the frame of Fig. 9. - 8 Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 to 8 thereof there is illustrated a security unit according to the invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for articles, in this case, for bundles of newspapers 20.

The security unit 1 comprises a container of rectangular box construction comprising a base 2, a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, side walls 6 and 7 extending upwardly from the base 2 and a top wall 8. An inlet opening 10 closed by a hinged flap 11 is provided at the upper end of the front wall 3 through which bundles of newspapers 20 are inserted as illustrated in Fig. 4. A lockable door 15 is provided in the lower part of the front wall 3 to facilitate retrieval of bundles of newspapers 20 from the container as will be described in more detail below.

Delivery means for delivering bundles of newspapers 20 from the inlet opening 10 to a storage area 25 defined by the lower part of the container in this case comprises a delivery chute 26 which is pivotally mounted to the container for movement between a receiving position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 for receiving newspapers 20 delivered through the inlet opening 10, to a delivery position illustrated in Fig. 5 for delivering bundles of newspapers 20 into the storage area 25. The closure flap 11 is interlinked with the delivery chute 26 by an interlink arm 27 which is pivotally mounted at 28 to the - 9 delivery chute 26 and pivotally mounted at 29 to a bracket 30 provided on the closure flap 11 so that, on opening of the closure flap 11 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the delivery chute 26 is in the receiving position and when the chute 26 moves to the delivery position illustrated in Fig. 5 the arm 27 is thrown forwardly in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 4 to close the flap 11 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The delivery chute 26 comprises a base 31, a rear wall 32 and cut-away side walls 33, 34 extending upwardly from the base 31 to define a front opening for receiving and delivering newspapers 20. The base 31 of the chute 26 is pivotally mounted on a pivot bar 35 and the arrangement is such that the chute 26 is counterweighted into the normally unloaded delivery position illustrated in Fig. 5 with the flap 11 closed. When the flap 11 is opened the interlink arm 27 lifts the chute 26 into the receiving position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Means for restricting access to the storage area 25 in this case comprises a ramp means 40 adjacent the inlet opening 10.

The ramp means 40 comprises a leading portion 41 extending upwardly from the inlet opening 10 and a trailing portion 42 extending downwardly from the end of the upwardly extending ramp portion 41 to direct bundles of newspapers 20 into the delivery chute as illustrated in Fig. 4. - 10 The security unit 1 includes a display panel 60 attached to the side wall 7 for reception of an advertising poster 61. The display panel 60 is only shown in Fig. 2. The panel 60 comprises a frame supporting a pair of transparent sheets of Lexon glass between which the advertising poster 61 is mounted in use. A number of lamps 62 may be mounted for illumination of the advertising poster. Operation of the lamps 62 is controlled by a photoelectric cell 63 mounted on the top wall 8 of the security unit 1.

Referring in particular to Figs. 6 to 8 the door 15 is operated by opening two different arrangements of lock. Elongate locking bars 65 operated by a first key 64 have locking ends 66, 67 which engage respectively in upper and lower receivers 68, 69 to lock the door 15 in the closed position. The bars 65 include an intermediate plate 71 having a slot 72 engageable in the locked position by a lock 73 of a conventional deadlock 70 which is operated by a second key 75. In the locked position illustrated in Fig. 7 the ends 66, 67 of the locking bar 65 engage in the receivers 68, 69 and the lock 73 engages in the slot 72. To open the door the second key 75 is first operated to release the lock 73 from the slot 72 and the first key 64 is then operated to release the ends of the locking bar 65 from their respective receivers 68, 69 allowing the door 15 to be opened and the bundles of newspapers 20 in the storage area 25 to be removed. - 11 In use, an advertising poster is mounted to the security unit I as described and the unit is positioned outside a retail premises so that the poster faces outwardly. The unit may be either freestanding or fixed in position by mounting on a wall, for example. When the photoelectric cell 63 is operated the lamps 60 are lit to illuminate the poster mounted on the security unit. With the door 15 securely locked and the flap II in the closed position a bundle of newspapers 20 is pushed in through the opening 10 against the flap 11, raising the delivery chute into the receiving position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The bundle 20 is then pushed into the delivery chute 26 which, by virtue of the weight of the bundle 20, pivots on the pivot bar 35 to deliver the newspapers 20 into the storage area 25 as illustrated in Fig. 5 while pushing the linkage arm 27 forwardly in the direction of the arrow A to close the flap 11. Further bundles of newspapers 20 may be loaded into the container in the same manner.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 15 there is illustrated another security unit 80 which is similar to the security unit described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the unit 80 is formed by a framework of box section members 81, flat bars 82 and angle sections 84 for increased structural strength. Panels 83 are welded to the framework. - 12 In this case the flap 11 is provided with a lock 85 similar to the shoot bolt lock described above and operated typically by a similar or identical square drive key. The flap 11 is also provided with gripping means in this case in the form of a finger receiving recess 87 in the flap 11. A recess 87 is preferred to a simple knob or handle to avoid newspapers snagging when a bundle of newspapers are pushed through the inlet opening 10. On passing through the inlet opening 10 a bundle of newspapers may be delivered into the container by any suitable means such as the delivery chute arrangement as described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 or along a simple shelf or ramp 90 adjacent to the inlet opening 10 as illustrated in Fig. 9.

Many variations on the specific embodiments of the invention described will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage 5 area for the storage of articles, the container having an inlet opening for reception of articles, and a lockable door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area 10 wherein the security unit includes a delivery means for delivering articles from the inlet opening to the storage area.

2. A security unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the delivery means comprises a delivery chute which is 15 mounted to the container for movement between a receiving position for receiving articles through the inlet opening to a discharge position for delivering articles into the storage area .

3. A security unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein a closure 20 flap is provided for the inlet opening, the delivery - 14 chute being movable on opening of the flap from the delivery position to the receiving position.

4. A security unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein interlink means are provided between the flap and delivery chute so 5. That the movement of the flap and delivery chute are interlinked.

5. A security unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the interlink means comprises a mechanical linkage between the chute and the flap. 10

6. A security unit as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the delivery chute is pivotally mounted for movement between the receiving and delivery positions.

7. A security unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the delivery chute is counterweighted into the 15 delivery position.

8. A security unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the delivery chute comprises a base, upstanding side walls and a rear wall having an open front for receiving and delivering articles. 20

9. A security unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 wherein access restricting means are provided between the - 15 inlet opening and the delivery chute to restrict access to the storage area.

10. A security unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the access restricting means comprises a ramp means. 5

11. A security unit as claimed in claim 19 wherein the ramp means has a leading portion extending upwardly from the inlet opening and a trailing portion extending downwardly from the leading portion to direct articles into the delivery chute. 10

12. A security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the door is provided with lock means comprising first and second lock means, both of which must be operated to open the door.

13. A security unit for articles such as newspapers and the 15 like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage area for the storage of articles; the container having an inlet opening for reception of articles; and - 16 a door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area; wherein the door is provided with lock means comprising first and second lock means, both of 5 which must be operated to open the door.

14. A security unit as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the first and second lock means are operated by different key means .

15. A security unit as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14 10 wherein the first lock means comprises a shoot bolt lock and the second lock means comprises a deadlock.

16. A security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inlet opening is provided with a closure flap and lock means are provided to lock the flap in a position 15 closing the inlet opening.

17. A security unit for articles such as newspapers and the like comprising: a container defining an enclosure having a storage area for the storage of articles; - 17 the container having an inlet opening for reception of articles; and a door to facilitate retrieval of articles from the storage area; 5 wherein the inlet opening is provided with a closure flap and lock means are provided to lock the flap in a position closing the inlet opening.

18. A security unit as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the flap is provided with gripping means for manually closing 10 the flap.

19. A security unit as claimed in claim 18 wherein the gripping means comprises a recess in the flap for reception of a user's finger(s).

20. A security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 15 the security unit comprises a frame formed of box section and flat bar section to which panels are mounted.

21. A security unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the unit includes display means to display advertising. - 18

22. A security unit as claimed in claim 21 wherein the display means comprises a display panel for reception of an advertising poster.

23. A security unit as claimed in claim 22 wherein the 5 display panel comprises a frame demountably secured to the container, the frame supporting a transparent sheet of material behind which the advertising poster is placed, in use.

24. A security unit as claimed in claim 23 wherein fastening 10 means are provided for releasably securing the frame to the container.

25. A security unit as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24 wherein illumination means are provided to illuminate the display means . 15

26. A security unit as claimed in claim 25 wherein the illumination means comprises one or more lamps mounted behind the display panel.

27. A security unit as claimed in claim 26 wherein the lamps are operated by an automatic switch means such as a 20 photoelectric switch means. ΙΕ 9011θ 9

28.

29.

30. - 19 A security unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An advertising display apparatus comprising a security unit as claimed in any preceding claim and display means to display advertising. An advertising display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .