WO2008107632A1

WO2008107632A1 - Security apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008107632A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/000598
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Clive Broadbridge
Original assignee: Dalen Limited
Priority date: 2007-03-03
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: GB2440215A; GB0704158D0; EP2134219A1; GB2440215B

Abstract

The present invention resides in a cabinet for storing at least one item of equipment. The cabinet comprises at least one shelf and a releasable door having an opening, the width of the opening being less than the width of the cabinet. The cabinet is further provided with at least one blocking plate releasably engagable with the at least one shelf, such that in use the at least one blocking plate engages with the at least one shelf and at least a part of the at least one blocking plate is located beneath an item of equipment stored on the at least one shelf.

Description

SECURITY APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a security apparatus and a method of use of the security apparatus to prevent the unwanted removal of an item of equipment from a cabinet, while still retaining access to the item.

It is known to provide cabinets in which a variety of electronic equipment, such as audio-visual equipment, may be retained. Such cabinets have use, for example in schools, universities or other training facilities where such equipment is to be stored within a secured cabinet to prevent theft. The value of such items makes them a particular target for theft.

If stored within a closed cabinet it is necessary to provide access to the cabinet prior to each use of the equipment stored within. This is inconvenient for the user of the equipment and also provides difficulties in keeping track of the means (such as keys) required to access the cabinet, which for security reasons will need to be kept separate from the cabinet.

One solution to this problem is to provide a cabinet having an opening through which the controls of the equipment may be accessible. In many cases equipment such as audio visual equipment is of standardised width and it is known to retain such equipment in place by ensuring that the dimensions of the opening in the cabinet, for example in a cabinet door, are narrower than the width of the equipment being retained behind the door. However, much equipment in use is not of such standardised width and access to the equipment is still required. It is for example, known to provide blocking plates that are welded into position on a shelf to provide a bespoke width for part of that shelf within the cabinet. However, the location of the blocking plate can only be known once the dimensions of the equipment to be located are themselves known. Thus the owner of the cabinet is required to acquire a suitable shelf and blocking plate on each occasion that such equipment is obtained. This presents an . unwanted economic cost to the owner of the cabinet.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it overcomes these problems and provides a flexible solution to the problem of retaining equipment within a cabinet while providing access to the controls of such equipment.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cabinet for storing at least one item of equipment is provided, the cabinet comprising at least one shelf and a releasable door having an opening, the width of the opening being less than the width of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is further provided with at least one blocking plate releasably engagable with the at least one shelf, such that in use the at least one blocking plate engages with the at least one shelf and at least a part of the at least one blocking plate is located beneath an item of equipment stored on the at least one shelf.

This has as an advantage that the item of equipment retains the blocking plate in position which itself then prevents adjustment of the position of the item of equipment on the shelf.

Preferably the at least one blocking plate comprises a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and plate engaging means. More preferably, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends from the base of the upstanding web and generally "C" shaped hooks extend from the side of the horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web.

Preferably, the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

Alternatively, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web, a plurality of openings are provided in the generally horizontal portion and tabs extending from the base of the upstanding web in a direction opposite to the generally horizontal portion and in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion.

Preferably, the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

Alternatively, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web provided with a cutaway portion between its ends, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web and tabs extending from the side of the generally horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of retaining an item of equipment within a cabinet comprises the steps of providing a cabinet comprising at least one shelf and a releasably securable door having an opening, the width of the opening being less than the width of the cabinet, providing at least one blocking plate releasably engagable with the or one of the at least one shelf, the blocking plate comprising a vertical element and a horizontal element, determining a dimension of the item of equipment, with the door in an open position, engaging the at least one blocking plate with the shelf such that the vertical part of the blocking plate defines a dimension corresponding to the dimension of the item of equipment, placing the item of equipment on the shelf such that it overlies the horizontal part of the blocking plate and closing and securing the door in a closed position.

This has as an advantage that the item of equipment retains the blocking plate in position which itself then prevents adjustment of the position of the item of equipment on the shelf. Further, when the item of equipment is to be replaced, the door may be opened and the item of equipment removed from its shelf. The blocking plate may then be removed from the shelf allowing reuse of the shelf, and the blocking plate if required, for a replacement item of equipment.

Preferably, the dimension of the item of equipment is its width. This prevents sideways movement of the item of equipment to prevent its extraction through the door opening. Additionally or alternatively, the dimension of the equipment is its depth. This prevents the forwards or backwards movement of the item of equipment on the shelf.

Conveniently, when retaining the item of equipment against forward or backward movement the blocking plate is dimensioned so as not to cover connection points or ventilation openings provided on the item of equipment.

Preferably the at least one blocking plate comprises a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and plate engaging means for engagement with the at least one shelf.

More preferably, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends from the base of the upstanding web and generally "C" shaped hooks extend from the side of the horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web for engagement with the at least one shelf.

Preferably, the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

Alternatively, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web, a plurality of openings are provided in the generally horizontal portion and tabs extending from the base of the upstanding web in a direction opposite to the generally horizontal portion and in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion for engagement with the at least one shelf.

Preferably, the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings. Alternatively, the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web provided with a cutaway portion between its ends, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web and tabs extending from the side of the generally horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion for engagement with the at least one shelf.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a cabinet in accordance with the present invention with the door in an open position;

Figure 2 shows the cabinet of Figure 1 with the door in a closed position;

Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of a blocking plate for use with the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a blocking plate for use with the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of a blocking plate for use with the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 , there may be seen a cabinet 2 for the storage of a number of items of equipment. A main part of the cabinet comprises a box having a left and right side walls 4,6, a lower panel 8, an upper panel 10 and a rear panel 12 extending between the left and right side walls, the lower panel, and the upper panel to close the rear of the cabinet. A front panel or door 14 is hingedly connected to one of the side panels and moveable between a fully open position (Figure 1) and a closed position (Figure T). As may best be seen from Figure 2, the door 14 is provided in its upper region with an opening or window 16. Locking means 18 may be provided at the top and bottom of the door to enable the door 14 to be releasably secured the to the main part of the cabinet 2

At each side of the main part of the cabinet two sets of parallel rails 20 are provided. Each of the rails 20 is provided with a series of openings 22. It is to these rails 20 that in use the shelving 24 (or in some cases items of equipment to be stored within the cabinet) is secured. Each of the shelves 24 comprises a broadly horizontal plate 25 provided at each side with vertically extending flanges 26. The vertical flanges 26 are themselves provided with laterally extending tabs 28 to the front and rear of the shelf. The tabs 28 are provided with openings 30 adapted to marry with the openings 22 in the rails 20. The location of each of the shelves is chosen by a user and each shelf secured into position by the use of suitable fasteners such as threaded screws (not shown for reasons of clarity) extending through suitably matched openings. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1 five such shelves are provided. In use, these shelves are provided with a plurality of ventilation openings extending across the width of the horizontal plate 25. Typically these will comprise aligned elongate openings. Typically the vertical flanges 26 will also be provided with a plurality of openings.

As may be seen from the upper part of Figure 1 the shelving may be installed in either orientation, that is with the vertical flanges 26 extending upward or downward from the horizontal plate 25. It can be seen that in this way the guide rails 20, together with the vertical flanges 26 define an inner working width of the cabinet 2. A first item of equipment 32 is shown provided with laterally extending tabs 34 and is secured directly to the cabinet rails 20.

The opening 16 in the door 14 is of lesser width than the inner working width of the cabinet.

Some items of equipment of standard width will fit on the shelving between the vertical flanges 26 with only minimal clearance, such as a second item 36, while others may fit with room to spare, such as a third or a fourth item 38,40.

In relation to the third item 38, since, in use access to the equipment is not required, it is located beneath the level of the opening 16 in the door 14, such that while the door 16 is in the closed position no access is provided. In relation to the second item 36 while access is permitted, the second item cannot be removed from its shelf since it is broader than the opening 16 in the door. The second item 36 cannot be tilted to manoeuvre it through the door as it is bounded above and below by shelving (or similar in the case of the first item 32 of equipment).

However, in relation to the fourth item 40 it will be seen that absent a blocking plate 42 the fourth item of equipment 40 might be removed simply by aligning it within the door opening 16.

Examples of blocking plates 42 for use with the present invention will now be described primarily with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Referring first to Figure 3 a first embodiment of the blocking plate 42 is shown. In common with all the embodiments the blocking plate 42 comprises a generally vertical portion 50, a generally horizontal portion 52 and plate engaging means 54.

The generally vertical portion 50 comprises an upstanding web 60 provided with a plurality of openings 62. The generally horizontal portion 52 extends from the base of the upstanding web 60. In this embodiment no openings are provided in the generally horizontal portion. Plate engaging means in the form of generally "C" shaped hooks 64 extend from the side of the generally horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web 60. The outer dimensions of the hooks 64 are such that they will readily pass through the ventilation openings in the horizontal plate of a shelf. The separation of the limbs of the hooks is such that the horizontal plate will pass therebetween. It will be understood that it by placing the hooks 64 through the ventilation openings and moving the blocking plate 42 to draw the limbs of the hooks over the horizontal plate defining the ventilation openings, the upstanding web 60 is held upright in relation to the shelf.

In use, a user will determine a dimension of the item of equipment to be stored on the shelf, for example its width. The user then manipulates the blocking plate 42 into position such that, if the dimension is the width of the equipment, the distance between the generally vertical portion 50 of the blocking plate 42 and an adjacent vertical flange 26 allows the item of equipment to fit therebetween. Conveniently one edge of the equipment will overlie the horizontal portion 52 of the blocking plate 42 when the item of equipment is located between the blocking plate 42 and the vertical flange 26. With the equipment in this position, the blocking plate 42 cannot be removed from the shelf and so movement of the equipment against the vertical portion 50 of the blocking plate 42 is constrained. In constraining the sideways movement of the equipment the user may choose to use more than one blocking plate, for example one located to the front and one located to the rear may be used.

In this arrangement, when the door 14 is in the closed position forward movement of the equipment will be prevented as one side of the equipment will extend beyond the opening 16 in the door 14 behind the door 14 and the blocking plate 42 will prevent manoeuvring of the equipment to remove it from the cabinet through the opening 16.

Similarly the depth of the equipment may be less than the depth of the cabinet 2 producing a tendency for the equipment to be pushed to the rear of the cabinet. The blocking plate 42 may be engaged to be arranged extending between the sides of the cabinet 2 rather than from front to back to provide means to prevent the item of equipment from moving in this direction. In this orientation, the openings in the vertical portion 50 of the blocking plate 42 may be used to allow the connection of the constrained item of equipment either to other items of equipment within, or exterior to, the cabinet or to a power source or to avoid covering of ventilation openings provided on the constrained item of equipment itself.

Referring now to Figure 4 a second embodiment of the blocking plate 42 is shown comprising a generally vertical portion 50, a generally horizontal portion 52 and plate engaging means 54. The generally vertical portion comprises an upstanding web 160 provided with a plurality of openings 162. The generally horizontal portion 52 extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web 160. In this embodiment a plurality of openings 150 are provided in the generally horizontal portion. Plate engaging means in the form of tabs 164 extend from the base of the upstanding web 160 in a direction opposite to the generally horizontal portion and in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion. The distance between a lower surface of the generally horizontal portion 52 and an upper surface of the tabs 164 broadly corresponds to a thickness of the horizontal plate of the shelf. The tabs 164 are conveniently formed from the material of the horizontal portion such that the openings formed therein are the result of the manipulation of the material from the horizontal portion to form the tabs, for example by stamping of a suitable blank and then forming the blank into the described blocking plate 42.

It will be understood that it will be necessary to angle the blocking plate 42 to the shelf to allow the tabs 164 to pass through the ventilation openings and that when the tabs 164 are in position beneath the horizontal plate and the generally horizontal portion is in position above the horizontal plate the upstanding web 160 is held upright in relation to the shelf. A user will determine the desired position for the blocking plate 42 and then place the item of equipment to be constrained in position such that one edge of the equipment will overlie the horizontal portion 52 of the blocking plate. With the equipment in this position, the blocking plate 42 cannot be removed from the shelf and so movement of the equipment against the vertical portion 50 of the blocking plate is constrained. Referring to Figure 5 a third embodiment of the blocking plate is shown comprising a generally vertical portion 50, a generally horizontal portion 52 and plate engaging means 54. The generally vertical portion 50 comprises an upstanding web 260 provided with a cutaway portion 262 between its ends. The generally horizontal portion 52 extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web 260. Plate engaging means in the form of tabs 264 extend from the side of the generally horizontal portion 52 opposite the upstanding web 260 in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion. Each of the tabs 264 is conveniently connected to the generally horizontal portion 52 by a shoulder 266. The distance between a lower surface of the generally horizontal portion and an upper surface of the tabs broadly corresponds to a thickness of the horizontal plate of the shelf.

Again, it will be understood that it will be necessary to angle the blocking plate 42 to the shelf to allow the tabs 264 to pass through the ventilation openings and that when the tabs 264 are in position beneath the horizontal plate and the generally horizontal portion is in position above the horizontal plate the upstanding web 260 is held upright in relation to the shelf. A user will determine the desired position for the blocking plate 42 and then place the equipment in position such that one edge of the equipment will overlie the horizontal portion 52 of the blocking plate 42. With the item of equipment in this position, the blocking plate 42 cannot be removed from the shelf and so movement of the equipment against the vertical portion 50 of the blocking plate 42 is constrained.

In this embodiment, the cutaway portion 262 in the upstanding wall 260 may be used to allow the connection of the item of equipment to be constrained either to other items of equipment within, or exterior to, the cabinet or to a power source or to avoid covering of ventilation openings provided on the equipment itself.

Claims

1 A cabinet for storing at least one item of equipment, the cabinet comprising at least one shelf and a releasable door having an opening, the width of the opening being less than the width of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is further provided with at least one blocking plate releasably engagable with the at least one shelf, such that in use the at least one blocking plate engages with the at least one shelf and at least a part of the at least one blocking plate is located beneath an item of equipment stored on the at least one shelf.

2 A cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one blocking plate comprises a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and plate engaging means.

3 A cabinet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends from the base of the upstanding web and generally "C" shaped hooks extend from the side of the horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web.

4 A cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the upstanding web is 'provided with a plurality of openings.

5 A cabinet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web, a plurality of openings are provided in the generally horizontal portion and tabs extending from the base of the upstanding web in a direction opposite to the generally horizontal portion and in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion.

6 A cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

7 A cabinet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web provided with a cutaway portion between its ends, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web and tabs extending from the generally horizontal portion extend from the side of the generally horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion.

8 A method of retaining an item of equipment within a cabinet comprises the steps of providing a cabinet comprising at least one shelf and a releasably securable door having an opening, the width of the opening being less than the width of the cabinet, providing at least one blocking plate releasably engagable with the or one of the at least one shelf, the blocking plate comprising a vertical element and a horizontal element, determining a dimension of the item of equipment, with the door in an open position, engaging the at least one blocking plate with the shelf such that the vertical part of the blocking plate defines a dimension corresponding to the dimension of the item of equipment, placing the item of equipment on the shelf such that it overlies the horizontal part of the blocking plate and closing and securing the door in a closed position.

9 A method according to claim 8, wherein the dimension of the item of equipment is its width.

10 A method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the dimension of the equipment is its depth.

11 A method according to claim 10, wherein the blocking plate is dimensioned so as not to cover connection points or ventilation openings provided on the item of equipment.

12 A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one blocking plate comprises a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and plate engaging means for engagement with the at least one shelf.

13 A method according to claim 8, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends from the base of the upstanding web and generally "C" shaped hooks extend from the side of the horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web for engagement with the at least one shelf.

14 A method according to claim 13, wherein the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

15 A method according to claim 8, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web, a plurality of openings are provided in the generally horizontal portion and tabs extending from the base of the upstanding web in a direction opposite to the generally horizontal portion and in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion for engagement with the at least one shelf.

16 A method according to claim 15, wherein the upstanding web is provided with a plurality of openings.

17 A method according to claim 8, wherein the or each blocking plate comprises an upstanding web provided with a cutaway portion between its ends, the horizontal portion extends in a first plane from the base of the upstanding web and tabs extending from the generally horizontal portion extend from the side of the generally horizontal portion opposite the upstanding web in a plane beneath that of the generally horizontal portion for engagement with the at least one shelf.

18 A cabinet for storing at least one item of equipment substantially as described herein with reference to accompanying drawings.

19 A method of retaining an item of equipment within a cabinet substantially as described herein with reference to accompanying drawings.