WO1999012133A1

WO1999012133A1 - Locker, particularly suitable for hotels, leisure pools and the like

Info

Publication number: WO1999012133A1
Application number: PCT/SI1998/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luka Cevc
Original assignee: Metra Inz^¿Eniring D.O.O.
Priority date: 1997-08-29
Filing date: 1998-08-21
Publication date: 1999-03-11
Also published as: EP1008121B1; ES2166182T3; DK1008121T3; AU8821998A; PT1008121E; DE69802199T2; DE69802199D1; RU2200447C2; SI9700225A2; EP1008121A1

Abstract

The present invention is based on the idea, how to create a locker, which will be in no doubt useful in leisure pools, hotels and other similar tourist objects, and among others e.g. also in the industry, and which handling, namely unlocking/locking should be carried out without any difficulties by using such means and in such a manner which are completely compatible and useful for handling with other means and use of these means, which are available for the user in the entire complex of activities in the environment, where the user of the locker is to be found. Such a locker comprises a framework (1) which consists of few one against each other and preferentially one above each other in rows placed drawers (2), which are all equipped with the door (21), which can be locked or unlocked by means of appropriate locking mechanism (5), whereby a card-reader (4) suitable for reading magnetic or so called chip-cards as well as a processor (4) are foreseen, by which the locking unit (52) is controlled representing together with at least one lock plate (51) at least a part of appropriate locking mechanism (5).

Description

LOCKER, PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR HOTELS, LEISURE POOLS AND THE LIKE

The invention relates to a locker, which is foreseen for safe keeping of items in leisure pools, hotels and similar, mainly tourist objects.

The aim of the present invention is to create a locker, which shall be in no doubt useful in leisure pools, hotels .and simile tourist objects, .and .among others e.g. .also in the industry, which handling, namely unlocking/locking should be carried out without difficulties by using such means and in such a manner, which are completely compatible and useful for handling with other means and use of these means, which are available for the user in the entire complex of activities in the environment, where the user of the locker is to be found.

A locker, which consists of a frame and more cells or drawers is generally known. In such a locker there are drawers placed alongside, one next to each other, besides the drawers are arranged in more rows, that run one above each other. Each drawer is equipped with a suitable door and a locking mechanism for the door locking. The locking mechanism is performed in a very simple way and comprises a lock and a key, and works in such a way, that it is possible to lock the door and pull the key out only after a suitable card, which is given to a user in a certain place and under certain conditions, is inserted in a special receiving key hole.

In a sense of its basic function such a locker certainly serves its .aim, as it is in no doubt possible to keep safe a certain amount of items each time in an available drawer. However the use of such a locker is in spite of all rather unsuitable. The user of the locker can get use of the locker or each time available drawer in it, namely under certain conditions - usually against the payment. He usually needs money for this, so that he gets a card for the use of a locker or its drawer. After the suitable drawer is chosen the user has to insert a card in an appropriate place in the lock and after that to lock the drawer with a key and to pull the key out thereafter. In order to ensure the access possibility to the items, locked in a drawer of a locker, the user has to carry the key with him and to look after it all the time. The key, that has to be looked after by a user as long as it is at his disposal, unfortunately enables opening of the locker only, but it does not enable e.g. beverage ordering in a bar of a health resort or at the swimming pool or in the hotel. For this purpose the user needs money again, which on the other hand he is not usually carrying around while swimming in the pool. This is why the user of such a locker in tourist objects is, while he is resting or during his free time, relatively strongly burdened with unavoidable performance of several inevitably necessary, consecutive steps, which are dictated by the use of the equipment, which is why it is obviously inevitably so complicated, so that it would be adjusted to the user's demands and comfort to its best.

According to the invention the locker is also created in such a manner as to comprise several one next to each other and preferably also one above each other arranged rows of drawers, where each of them comprises a suitable door, equipped with a locking mechanism. Thereby,; the locker itself is equipped with a card reader and suitable processor, which is electrically connected with an electrically driven bolt actuator of each lock on each drawer. In such a way it is possible to enable opening and closing of the each time disposable drawer of the locker with the help of the magnetic card or the so called chip-card, which is not useful only for locking/unlocking, but also for many other useful purpos, e.g. for locking/unlocking the hotel room, for noting .and settling the accounts for other available hotel services as well as for switching other electric devices and similar. Furthermore, at this present solution, the locking bolt of the locking unit is connectable/disconnectable with the lock plate by means of the electromotor, which can be commanded by the processor .on the basis of a signal, received from the card reader. The lock plate of the locking mechanism is preferably equipped with .an opening into which, whilst locking, a locking bolt is engaged, which is moved by means of electromotor, eccentric drive and appropriate transmission and which is preferably spherical. Said electromotor is together with the tr∑msmission and eccentric drive preferably arranged inside of the housing, where simultaneously a shock-absorber is available, which is foreseen for damping the door slamming when closing or pushing it aside after the unlocking, and which in the most simple case consists of a bar, leant at a suitable compression spring. The present invention will be described in more detail on the basis of an embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings, where

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of a locker according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is the front view of a locking unit with the belonging part of the door of the locker at the parti.ally removed housing.

By the embodiment, which is shown in the Fig. 1 .and 2, the locker consists of a framework 1, which comprises more (in this case ten) drawers 2, which are placed one next to each other and at the same time in two rows one above each other. Each drawer 2 is equipped with suitable door 21, which is with the help of appropriate hinges (not shown) in each draw 2, swingingly fixed on the framework 1.

According to the present solution the locker is equipped with a card-reader 3 and the processor 4, which are in generally placed anywhere, but the place shall be preferably chosen for the mo.st useful and for the user the most satisfactory way. By this embodiment the card-reader 3 and the processor 4 are foreseen for locking/unlocking of one drawer 2 only in a certain moment; and for this purpose the locker is with regard to its dimensions and arrangement of the drawers 2 designed in such a way, that due the ergonomic limitations access of only one user to the card-reader 3 and placing only one card to the card-reader 3 is enabled.

The card-reader 3 and processor 4 are adjusted for receiving and reading a record of an usual magnetic card or the so called chip-card, which is. generally known to those skilled in the .art and is therefore not separatelly shown in more detail. The card-reader 3 is suitable for reading a record memorized on a card and is moreover able to transmit appropriate signal to the processor 4. By means of the pre-progr.ammed processor 4 actuation of the consisting parts of the locking mechanism 5 is controlled, which is placed in the area of each drawer 2 of the locker and foreseen for locking/unlocking the door 21, .and which will be here.after described in more detail. The locking mechanism 5 generally consists of the lock plate 51, where by this embodiment a locking opening 510 is available and which is preferably fixed on each door 21, as well as of a locking unit 52, which is arranged inside of a suitable housing 520 preferably placed in the area of each drawer 2. Those skilled in the art shall understand, that also a vice-versa arrangement is possible, namely by placing the lock plate 51 in the drawer 2 and the locking mechanism 52 on the door 21.

An appropriate electromotor 521, which is supplied by the electric power via appropriate cable 5210, is built in the housing 520 and controlled by appropriate processor 4 and is moreover by means of appropriate gear 522 (by this embodiment a worm gear) set into cooperation with the eccentric drive 523, wherethrough during locking/unlocking the preferably spherical shaped locking bolt 524 can be engaged into the opening 510 of the loock plate 51 or disengaged therefrom. By this embodiment the electromotor 521 can be e.g. supplied by a continuous current (DC) power.

Moreover, by this embodiment .also a shock-absorber 525 is available in the housing 520 of the locking unit 52, comprising thereby a supporting bar 5252 leant at a compression spring 5251.

Thanks to above described arrangement according to the present invention, besides the other activity accomplishment, it is furthermore also enabled to a locker user with a magnetic or so called chip-card a reliable locking or unlocking of the locker. For this purpose the user inserts the card into the card-reader 3, whereupon the processor 4 can receive the corresponding signal therefrom .and contrail the electromotor 521 of the locking unit 52. In such a way by means of transmission 522 .and eccentric drive 523 appropriate connection or loosening of the lock plate 51 and locking unit 52 of the locking mechanism 5 is achieved. In addition, after the connection between the lock plate 51 and mechanism 52 is loosened, by means of the shock absorber 525 and especially thanks to the force of the spring 5252, the door 21 is gently pushed .and opened.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Locker, particul.arly suitable for tourist objects, leisure pools and similar objects, said locker comprising a framework (1), which consists of few one against each other and preferentially one above each other in rows placed drawers (2), which are all equipped with the door (21), which can be locked or unlocked by means of appropriate locking mechanism (5), characterized in that it comprises a card-reader (3) suitable for reading magnetic or the so called chip-cards, and a processor (4), by means of which the locking unit (52) is controled representing thereby together with at least one lock plate (51) at least a part of a locking mechanism (5).

2. Locker according to claim 1, characterized in that a locking bolt (524) of the locking unit (52) can be engaged to the lock plate (51) or disengaged therefrom by means of an electromotor (521), which is controlled by the processor (4) on the basis of appropriate signals, received from the card-reader (3).

3. Locker according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the lock plate (51) of the locking mechanism (5) is equipped with an opening (510) into which during locking a spherical lock (524) is engaged being moved thereby by means of the electromotor (521), an eccentric drive (523) and a transmission (522).

4. Locker according to any of the the previous claims, characterized in that the electromotor (521), the transmission (522) and the eccentric drive (524) are arranged in the housing (520), where moreover preferably also a shock-absorber (525) is placed comprising a bar (5252) leant at a spring (5251).