US3899983A

US3899983A - Safe having a concealed compartment

Info

Publication number: US3899983A
Application number: US466789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Antonio Januario Hernandez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-05-03
Filing date: 1974-05-03
Publication date: 1975-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-19

Abstract

A rectangular safe having an interior compartment with a door hinged to the safe body and providing access thereto, the bottom of the safe extending below the floor level on which the safe is rested and hiding therein a concealed compartment hidden from normal view in the safe by a false safe bottom secured by hidden hinges at one end with the opposite end secured in position by an electrically operated magnet connected by suitable wires to a key operated switch mounted remotely from the safe, the energization of the electromagnet retaining the safe floor bottom in position concealing the compartment therebeneath with de-energization of the electromagnet permitting the raising of the safe floor to permit free access to the concealed compartment.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,899,983

Hernandez Aug. 19, 1975 [54] SAFE HAVING A CONCEALED 6 4|5,073 4/1966 Netherlands 4. [09/54 COMPARTMENT [76] Inventor: Antonio Januario Hernandez, 3lS

F" St., Harlingen, Tex. 78550 Primary ExuminerDennis L. Taylor 221 Filed: May 3, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [2i] Appl' N0" 466'789 A rectangular safe having an interior compartment with a door hinged to the safe body and providing ac- [52] US. Cl 4 i w i i 109/54; IO9/53 c355 thereto, the bottom of the safe extending below [51] Int- CI- E056 the floor level on which the safe is rested and hiding Field Search therein a concealed compartment hidden from normal 2/ 206 view in the safe by a false safe bottom secured by hidden hinges at one end with the opposite end secured l l Relel'ences Ciled in position by an electrically operated magnet con- UNITED STATES PATENTS nected by suitable wires to a key operated switch 508.895 ll/l893 Meyers 109/54 mounted remotely from the Safe emergiza"on of [599.235 9/1924 H 109/54 the electromagnet retaining the safe floor bottom in 1,609,980 12/1926 Winh 4 1 292/DIG, 72 position concealing the compartment therebeneath 2,l93,4l6 3/!940 Friestedt v v 1 i 1 i '292/DIG. 72 with de-energization of the electromagnet permitting 7 13 /l i hzl l l Z 72 the raising of the safe floor to permit free access to the R9305 7/l880 Heineman lU9/54 X Concealed C0mpartmem FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l l 4 Dr 123 790 7/1931 Austria 109/54 Calm awmg figures I I l l I l I l I I j :C s '2 5 /ll\\ 1AA //l\\\V//j PATENTEU M181 9 m5 lmi fki,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to safes and more particularly to a novel and improved safe having a concealed or hidden compartment in the base section thereof for the storage of valuables.

2. Description of the Prior Art The number of burglaries, robberies. and thefts oc curring throughout the country is constantly increasing, and the need for protecting the valuables of an individual or office against such loss is increasing daily.

While safes have been provided in the prior art for the protection of such valuables, the ready availability of modern tools and implements has made the entry into a safe more expedient for unauthorized individuals, especially those safes of the normal home and office type. Thus, while a conventional safe provides more than the ordinary protection for valuables under normal conditions, it is also more appealing to prospective burglars such that the probability of burglary is increased.

To increase the safety provided by a safe, some safes have been provided with hidden compartments and the like, an example being that of Garfinkel, U.S. Pat. No. l,347,693. However, such hidden compartments of such prior art devices are either overly complex and expensive to manufacture and difficult to maintain due to the complexities involved, or alternatively, are readily apparent to an individual upon making a rapid search of the safe.

It would thus be desirable to provide a concealed compartment for a safe which is not readily apparent from either an interior or exterior inspection of the safe since in the majority of robberies and burglaries the burglar is usually in a hurry and is not able to carefully examine and search the safe for concealed compartments except when such compartments are readily noticeable.

It would thus be desirable to provide a safe having a fully hidden and unnoticeable concealed compartment for the extra safe keeping of valuables, such as large amounts of money, jewels, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the need for safe keeping of valuables and, recognizing the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available safes having hidden and concealed compartment therein, provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a safe having a concealed compartment in the base thereof disposed beneath the floor level on which the safe is resting and which is hidden from view by the interior compartment floor of the safe which is remotely operable in a manner to permit access to the hidden base compartment.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a safe having a concealed compartment therein.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a safe having a concealed compartment with access controlled thereto from a location remote from the safe.

A further feature of the present invention provides a safe having a concealed compartment and whichjs easy to use and reliable and efi'icient in operation.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a safe having a concealed compartment wherein the concealed compartment is manufactured as an integral part of the safe such that the safe can be readily manufactured by known manufacturing methods and retailed at a price competitively with safes not having such a concealed compartment.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safe having a concealed compartment and constructed in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the safe with the floor and wall sections shown in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a safe having a concealed compartment and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, the safe being illustrated as permanently attached to the floor 8 of a room having a side wall 9, The safe consists of a conventionally shaped rectangular body II and a base 12 formed integrally therewith and adapted to be mounted beneath floor 8 when the body rests on floor 8 and is permanently affixed thereto.

The rectangular safe body 11 may be of a solid hollow mass or fabricated from structural steel, concrete, combination of concrete and steel, fireproof material, or any other material or combination of materials which lend themselves to contribute to the safety of valuables placed within the safe both from burglary and from tire. The safe body includes a horizontal top surface 21, a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest n a supporting floor 8,

vertical side walls

23 and 24, a vertical back wall 25, and a vertical front wall 26 having a rectangular opening 27 leading into the interior compartment 28 of the safe, access to such compartment being provided by door 29 secured by hinges 30 in the doorway 27 and having associated therewith a key or tumbler type combination lock 31.

The interior of the compartment 28 is normal in appearance and is provided with a floor plate 41 which, from the top surface thereof, is in snug joining relationship with all of the side walls of the compartment so as to have the full appearance as to being the solid bottom of the safe. In actuality, the floor plate 41 is hinged to the interior back surface of the compartment 28 by hidden hinges 42 secured to the lower surface thereof, the front edge of the floor plate being received on a stop member 42 affixed to the front interior surface of the compartment such that the floor plate is hinged in a manner to provide access to a hidden and concealed compartment 45 disposed beneath the floor plate and in the safe base section 12. In this regard it is to be appreciated that the base section 12 is of a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of safe bottom surface 22 and is received in an opening 46 provided in floor 8 when the safe is permanently mounted on the floor. ln this manner the base section I2 is completely hidden from view exterior of the safe. The floor plate 41 is retained in its closed position by an electrically operated electromagnet 51 mounted on bracket 52 affixed to a wall surface of compartment 45, the electromagnet contacting the bottom surface of the floor plate in a position near stop 42 with energization of the electromagnet retaining the floor plate in position. The electromagnet is connected by a pair of suitable electrical lead wires 53 extending out of the base section 12 beneath floor 8 which are then routed through the floor and to a remote position from the safe which, for purposes of illustration is shown by wall section 9, where the leads terminate in an electrical switch 54 operated only by a key 55. The electromagnet is also connected to a suitable source of electrical power such that operation of switch 54 by key 55 effects the electrical energization and de-energization of the electromagnet 51.

As there must be no indications on the top surface of floor plate 41 that the floor plate is moveable, this means that there can be no handle or other means for lifting the floor plate such that there is provided on the back surface of floor plate 41 near electromagnet 51 a pair of spring retainer socket members 61 each having a socket portion opening downwardly therefrom, with each having associated therewith a socket member 62 mounted in vertical alignment therewith on the bottom surface of the compartment 45. A pair of coiled springs 63 are provided with each spring extending vertically between associated

sockets

61 and 62 in a manner to resiliently bias the floor plate 41 in an upward direction such that upon de-energization of electromagnet 51 the spring 63 effects the slight raising of floor plate 41 permitting an individual to grasp an edge thereof with their fingers to raise the floor plate and gain access to concealed compartment 45. To close the compartment 45, the electromagnet 51 is energized and then an individual manually pushes floor plate 41 downwardly to engage the floor plate with stop 42 and the electromagnet while simultaneously compressing springs 63, the electromagnet retaining the floor plate in the closed position until again de-energized for access to the concealed compartment.

There is thus provided a novel safe having a hidden and concealed compartment unobvious to an individual from an exterior and interior search of the safe such that large amounts of currency, expensive jewelry, and other valuables may be safely concealed in the hidden compartment against a search or examination of the safe. Further, access to the hidden compartment is readily obtained by authorized individuals to permit the ease of introduction or removal of the contents.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferredexample of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

l. A safe having a hidden compartment therein defin ing an additional area for safekeeping of valuables comprising:

A hollow body member having a top surface, a horizontal bottom surface, vertical side wall surfaces, a vertical back wall surface and vertical front wall surface, said surfaces defining interiorly thereof a chamber, said chamber having an opening in the front wall surface providing access thereto with a door pivotally affixed to said front surface and moveable into and out of said front surface opening to provide controlled access to said chamber;

a chamber having a top surface, bottom surface, op-

posed side wall surfaces and a back surface;

a hollow rectangular base section formed as an integral part of said safe body and projecting downwardly from said bottom surface thereof, said base having a cross-section area less than the crosssection area of said bottom surface and adapted to be received in an opening in a supporting floor surface on which said safe body is restingly supported on said bottom surface such that said base section is completely hidden and concealed within said supporting floor, said base section being hollow and defining an interior concealed compartment disposed therein immediately beneath said chamber floor surface;

a flat floor plate forming said chamber bottom surface, said floor plate being hinged to one of said wall surfaces of said chamber to provide selective access to said concealed compartment disposed there beneath, said floor plate defining the bottom surface of said chamber and having a pair of hinges with each hinge having one leg thereof affixed to a bottom surface of said floor plate adjacent the back edge thereof, the opposite leg of each hinge being secured to a back surface of said hidden compartment whereby each of said hinges are hidden from view in said chamber when said floor plate is in a position closing said compartment, said device including a stop member affixed to a front wall sur face of said compartment and adapted to restingly receive the front edge portion of said floor plate thereon when said floor plate is in compartment closing position;

means for selectively retaining said floor plate in a nonnal position forming the bottom of said chamber and closing said compartment, said means comprising an electrically operated electromagnet mounted by a bracket interiorly of said compartment adjacent the front wall portion thereof, said electromagnet adapted to engage the bottom front edge portion of said floor plate within the closed position resting on said stop member, said means having suitable electrical leads extending from said electromagnet out of said base section and adapted to be routed to a position remote from said safe, the means further including a key operated electric switch connected to said wires and a suitable source of electrical energy connected to said wires whereby said electromagnet is normally energized to retain said floor plate in a closed position and whereby operation of said key switch will efi'ect the electrical de-energization of said electromagnet permitting said opening means to effect a partial opening of said floor plate from said stop member to permit access to said hidden compartment; and

means disposed in said compartment and adapted to 6 of said compartment and opening upwardly therefrom, and a resilient spring having one end in engagment with said first socket forming member and having the opposite end in engagement with said second socket forming member, said spring tending to resiliently urge said floor plate upwardly away from said stop member upon release of said floor plate from the electromagnet.

Claims

1. A safe having a hidden compartment therein defining an additional area for safekeeping of valuables comprising: A hollow body member having a top surface, a horizontal bottom surface, vertical side wall surfaces, a vertical back wall surface and vertical front wall surface, said surfaces defining interiorly thereof a chamber, said chamber having an opening in the front wall surface providing access thereto with a door pivotally affixed to said front surface and moveable into and out of said front surface opening to provide controlled access to said chamber; a chamber having a top surface, bottom surface, opposed side wall surfaces and a back surface; a hollow rectangular base section formed as an integral part of said safe body and projecting downwardly from said boTtom surface thereof, said base having a cross-section area less than the cross-section area of said bottom surface and adapted to be received in an opening in a supporting floor surface on which said safe body is restingly supported on said bottom surface such that said base section is completely hidden and concealed within said supporting floor, said base section being hollow and defining an interior concealed compartment disposed therein immediately beneath said chamber floor surface; a flat floor plate forming said chamber bottom surface, said floor plate being hinged to one of said wall surfaces of said chamber to provide selective access to said concealed compartment disposed there beneath, said floor plate defining the bottom surface of said chamber and having a pair of hinges with each hinge having one leg thereof affixed to a bottom surface of said floor plate adjacent the back edge thereof, the opposite leg of each hinge being secured to a back surface of said hidden compartment whereby each of said hinges are hidden from view in said chamber when said floor plate is in a position closing said compartment, said device including a stop member affixed to a front wall surface of said compartment and adapted to restingly receive the front edge portion of said floor plate thereon when said floor plate is in compartment closing position; means for selectively retaining said floor plate in a normal position forming the bottom of said chamber and closing said compartment, said means comprising an electrically operated electromagnet mounted by a bracket interiorly of said compartment adjacent the front wall portion thereof, said electromagnet adapted to engage the bottom front edge portion of said floor plate within the closed position resting on said stop member, said means having suitable electrical leads extending from said electromagnet out of said base section and adapted to be routed to a position remote from said safe, the means further including a key operated electric switch connected to said wires and a suitable source of electrical energy connected to said wires whereby said electromagnet is normally energized to retain said floor plate in a closed position and whereby operation of said key switch will effect the electrical de-energization of said electromagnet permitting said opening means to effect a partial opening of said floor plate from said stop member to permit access to said hidden compartment; and means disposed in said compartment and adapted to at least partially open said floor plate relative to said compartment upon release of said retaining means to provide access to said compartment, said means including a first socket forming member affixed to the bottom surface of said floor plate in said compartment and opening downwardly relative thereto, a second socket forming member disposed in vertical alignment with said first socket forming member and affixed to the bottom surface of said compartment and opening upwardly therefrom, and a resilient spring having one end in engagment with said first socket forming member and having the opposite end in engagement with said second socket forming member, said spring tending to resiliently urge said floor plate upwardly away from said stop member upon release of said floor plate from the electromagnet.