WO2011058567A1

WO2011058567A1 - A protective structure for a safe

Info

Publication number: WO2011058567A1
Application number: PCT/IL2010/000951
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoav Weinberger
Original assignee: Hamafteach Hamistovev Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-11-16
Filing date: 2010-11-16
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: IL202151A0

Abstract

A protective structure for a safe is disclosed, which may include a housing with an inner compartment surrounded by walls with a main opening. At least one of the walls may be hollow defining at least one reloadable filling chamber with at least one reusable opening for loading and unloading filling medium, into and from said at least one reloadable filling chamber. The filling medium may be characterized by at least one desired protective characteristic. Thus, separate delivery of the protective structure for a safe and the filling medium to a desired installation location and loading of the filing medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber at the desired installation location may be facilitated.

Description

A PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE FOR A SAFE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to safes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective structure for a safe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] A safe is a secured lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. Small safes for homes and offices are light-weight which makes them vulnerable to stealing. Fixing small safes to a floor or to a wall using screws and masonry anchors is not very effective since the safe may be uprooted using a long crow bar-type pole which is commonly used by thieves. Furthermore, transporting and concealing small safes is not a difficult task for thieves. Installing a small safe in a cement wall or in the floor involves substantive digging accompanied by significant noise and dirt. Furthermore the wall width typically limits the size of a wall-installed safe. Furthermore safes that are installed in the floor are vulnerable to flood damages and very inconvenient for use because the user is forced to bend down and sometimes even lie on the floor in order to reach the safes content. Typically safes are installed by professionals with significant cost involved while a "do-it-yourself approach will typically make the safe less protected. Typical small size homes safes weigh 3 to 4 kilograms and may reach up to 20 kilograms. Typical office safes weigh up to 80 kilograms and professional safes weigh more than 100 kilograms and costs accordingly.

[003] The weight of a safe is an important characteristic in the protection of valuable objects. Heavy safes of 100 kilograms are much more difficult to steal and conceal since it involves special equipment, planning and team work beyond the capabilities of casual thieves. Heavy weight is a basic protective characteristic of commercial and professional safes used to store valuable items. Heavy-weight safes may weigh a few tons. Such heavy weight safes are extremely difficult to manufacture, to transport and to install which makes these heavy safes not applicable for broad public use.

[004] Most safes have a boxed shape structure with a lockable door. Home and office safes walls are typically made of 1.5 to 5 millimeters width steel plates. Professional heavy safes walls typically include two parallel steel plates, an internal plate and an external plate of variable width. Voids within the wall of heavy safes are filled during manufacture with a bonding material, such as, for example, cement. The steel plates and the bonding material solidify to present unified rigid walls supplying the required strength and weight to the safe structure.

[005] However, heavy safes are more expansive to manufacture and their transport and installation difficulties involve the use of special means of transportation and lifts which makes heavier safes expensive and less attractive to the public.

[006] Another disadvantage of heavy safes is that during the solidification of the bonding materials the walls or even the entire structure might deform causeing structural damages to the safe body and may require fixing.

[007] It is an aim of the present invention to provide protective structures for safes which supply high level of protection with inexpensive manufacturing and easy and convenient transportation and installation.

[008] Yet another aim of the present invention is to allow a user to select the desired weight of a safe and determine other protective characteristics and to change it later according to changing needs and will.

[009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly appreciated after reading the present specification and reviewing the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] There is thus provided, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a protective structure for a safe. The protective structure for a safe may include a housing with an inner compartment surrounded by walls with a main opening. At least one of the walls may be hollow defining at least one reloadable filling chamber with at least one reusable opening for loading and unloading filling medium, into and from said at least one reloadable filling chamber. The filling medium may be characterized by at least one desired protective characteristic. Thus, separate delivery of the protective structure for a safe and the filling medium to a desired installation location and loading of the filing medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber at the desired installation location may be facilitated.

[0011] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the desired protective characteristic may be selected from a group of protective characteristics consisting of weight, heat resistance, fire resistance, magnetic protection, penetration resistance and drill resistance.

[0012] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the opening may be provided on an internal surface of the housing accessible only from within the inner compartment.

[0013] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the main opening may be provided with a door.

[0014] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the protective structure may include a safe inserted in and fixed to said inner compartment.

[0015] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling chamber may include a plurality of filling chambers.

[0016] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the opening may be provided with a lid.

[0017] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the protective structure may be provided with a filling medium.

[0018] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling medium may include empty boxes for filling with filling materials.

[0019] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling medium may be made of one or more materials selected from the group of materials which consists of: iron, steel, sand, heat resistive materials, fire resistive materials, and antimagnetic materials.

[0020] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling medium may include a plurality of filling elements.

[0021] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling elements may be intertwinable.

[0022] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, each of the filling elements may be provided in a form selected from the group of forms consisting of: a brick and a plate.

[0023] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the filling medium may be provided in a form selected from the group of forms consisting of grain, powder and chunks.

[0024] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the opening may be provided on an external surface of the housing.

[0025] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining and adjusting a desired protective characteristic of a protective structure for a safe at a desired installation location. The method may include providing a housing with an inner compartment surrounded by walls with a main opening, wherein at least one of the walls is hollow defining at least one reloadable filling chamber with at least one reusable opening for loading and unloading filling medium, into and from said at least one reloadable filling chamber. The method may also include selecting a filling medium to comply with at least one desired protective characteristic and loading the filling medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber through said at least one opening for loading and unloading. Thus, separate delivery of the protective structure for a safe and the filling medium to a desired installation location and loading of the filing medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber at the desired installation location may be facilitated.

[0026] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the method may include unloading at least some of the filling medium from said at least one reloadable filling chamber. [0027] Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the desired protective characteristic is selected from a group of protective characteristics consisting of weight, heat resistance, fire resistance, penetration resistance anti-magnetism and drill resistance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its practical applications, the following Figures and corresponding description are provided and referenced hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures and corresponding description are given as an examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Like components are denoted by like reference numerals.

[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates a protective structure for a safe with an inner compartment for retaining valuable objects and a filling chamber at a bottom hollow wall according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 2 illustrates the protective structure for a safe shown in Fig. 1 where the filling chamber is loaded with bricks.

[0031] Fig. 3 illustrates the protective structure for a safe shown in Fig. 1 where the loaded filling chamber is closed with a lid.

[0032] Fig. 4 illustrates the protective structure for a safe with an inner compartment and hollow walls which define one or more filling chambers for filling with protective material according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Fig. 5 illustrates the protective structure for a safe shown in Fig. 4 where the loaded filling chambers are closed with lids.

[0034] Fig. 6 illustrates a protective structure for a safe with an inner compartment, with filling chambers in the hollow walls and a regular safe according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 7 illustrates the protective structure for a safe and the regular safe shown in Fig. 6 with loaded filling chambers closed as the regular safe is inserted into the inner compartment. [0036] Fig. 8 illustrates the protective structure for a safe and the regular safe shown in Fig. 7 with the regular safe installed inside the inner compartment of the protective structure .

[0037] Fig. 9 illustrates a filling chamber of a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiment of the present invention including one opening and a suited lid.

[0038] Fig. 10 illustrates a filling chamber of a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiment of the present invention with several openings.

[0039] Fig. 11 illustrates a hollow wall of a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiment of the present invention divided into a plurality of chambers in a beehive formation.

[0040] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B illustrate views of a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 12A there is shown a hollow wall with external opening and an internal chamber partially filled with bricks, in an open state. Fig. 12B shows the same in a closed state.

[0041] Fig. Fig. 13 illustrates two protective structures and a regular safe, incorporated in a combined configuration, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] Fig. 14 illustrates filling bricks made of a single protective material according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Fig. 15 illustrates filling bricks made of different protective materials according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figs. 16 A-F illustrate filling bricks designed to fit together and form interlocked structure of filling bricks that may be conveniently installed in filling chambers of a protective structure according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Fig. 16A illustrates filling bricks with a protrusion and a matching recess, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] Fig. 16B illustrates filling bricks with recesses and an intermediary insert, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0047] Fig. 16C illustrates filling bricks with a bore passing through the bricks and a matching bar insert, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0048] Fig. 16D illustrates intertwinable filling bricks, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0049] Fig. 16E illustrates an intertwinable filling brick, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0050] Fig. 16F illustrates interconnectable filling bricks, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0051] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] According to embodiments of the present invention a protective structure for a safe and a protective structure for a regular safe (hereinafter jointly referred to as - "a protective structure for a safe") whose weight and other protective characteristics may be adjusted, at the end user site or at any other location after manufacture, in contrast to prior art safes that have manufacturer-fixed protective characteristics. According to embodiments of the present invention a protective structure for a safe has one or more hollow walls defining a filling chamber or multiple filling chambers designed to be loaded with protective filling medium when so desired any time after leaving the manufacturer premises.

[0053] The term "protective structure for a safe" in the context of the present application relates both to a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiments of the present invention, complete with a lockable door and an inner compartment in which valuables are safely stored, as well as to a protective structure for a safe which has an inner compartment accessible from an opening in which a regular safe (typically a light-weight safe) may be inserted and fixed in it for extra protection.

[0054] The present invention allows determining the desired weight and other protective characteristics of the protective structure for a safe and adjusting these characteristics after manufacturing, transporting and installing the protective structure for a safe according to customer needs and will or according to insurance requirements. The filling chambers of a protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention may be reloaded with a variety of protective materials while the access to the filling chambers is enabled from the interior of the protective structure for a safe only. Loading the filling medium into the filling chambers may be done gradually. The filling material may include a plurality of filling elements, which are loaded into the filling chambers until the protective structure for a safe reaches the required weight and other protective characteristics.

[0055] The advantage of a protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention may be appreciated by comparing the means and the costs of manufacturing, transporting and installing a heavy (e.g. 500 Kgs) safe for example to a protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention. Transportation of regular heavy safe would require expensive means for transporting and for lifting the extremely heavy safe to the designated installation location. As opposed to that, transportation of a protective structure for a safe that may weigh for example only 80 kilograms would need a simple stroller for transporting the protective structure for a safe (with empty filling chambers) and separate transportation of the protective filling medium in small chunks, boxes or other packaging. Another advantage is that the filling medium can be unloaded easily at a later time and the protective structure for a safe may be transported and installed easily at a new location.

[0056] Filling medium may be selected from a huge variety of materials and shapes, according to customer requirements, customer budget and according to the protective characteristics required (for example, insurance requirements). The filling medium can be for example sand, gravel, marble, stones, iron, cement, glass. The filling medium can be provided in the form of bulk grain or powder or natural chunks. The filling medium may include filling elements having various processed shapes convenient for transportation and for loading or reloading the filling chambers of the protective structure gradually such as, for example, plates, 71, or bricks, 73, as shown in Fig 14. The filling elements may be fully solid or hollow, allowing the filling of the voids within with filling materials of desired weight and protective characteristics. For example, the filling elements may include plastic boxes which can be filled with sand or other filling material, sealed (or otherwise closed to prevent the filling material from spilling out) and stacked inside the hollow walls of the protective structure for a safe.

[0057] The filling elements can be, for example, made of iron, cement, thermally insulating materials, drill-resistant materials, antimagnetic materials and others and any combinations of such materials. Fig 15 illustrates a filling element 75 which is a combination of a plates made of cement 77, and of a thermally insulating plate, 79. Fig 15 illustrates further a combination of a filling brick, 81, made of cement, 77, a drill-resistant steel, 83, and a thermally insulating material 85. Any other combinations of other materials and other shapes may be used according to the protective characteristics desired.

[0058] The filling medium may be selected according to their weight. Materials with high specific weight like iron, lead or tin will provide high weight to the protective structure for a safe. Sand that has a low specific weight and is a much cheaper material comparing to iron, would provide a lower weight for the same filled volume. Filling medium with heat or fire resistant materials may be used that would provide lower weight but may withstand higher temperatures and fire.

[0059] A protective structure for a safe, according to embodiments of the present invention, allows combining filling medium with different protective characteristics in the same filling chamber or in different filling chambers. The filling medium may be shipped (e.g. packaged in convenient boxes) for convenient loading into the filling chambers of the protective structure for a safe at the installation site. The filling material may be selected to specifically provide enhanced protection at selected safe locations. Examples for specific combinations of filling medium include loading the filling chambers with a drill- resistant material adjacent to the safe locking mechanism or the bolts in order to prevent drilling and cracking the safe while other filling chambers may be filled with, for example, thermally insulating materials or high specific weight materials (for obtaining a desired minimal weight for the protective structure for a safe).

[0060] Figs. 1 to 3 illustrates a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiment of the present invention with inner compartment for retaining valuable objects and a filling chamber in the bottom wall, shown empty (Fig. 1) or loaded with filling bricks and with an open (Fig. 2) and a closed (Fig. 3) lid. The protective structure for a safe, A, includes a boxed shape housing, 1, and a safe door, 17. The housing 1 further includes a filling chamber, 5, within hollow bottom wall, 3, such that upper surface 9 of bottom wall, 3, is used as a common wall of the protective structure for a safe bottom (the safe floor) and the upper wall of the filling chamber, 3. Wall, 9 has an opening, 11, that allows access to the filling chamber only from the interior of the safe through the floor of the protective structure for a safe A. A suited lid 13, shown in Fig. 3, includes screws 15 or similar fixation means to fix the lid over the opening, 11 in surface, 9.

[0061] After installation of protective structure for a safe A at a customer location and opening of door 17 the lid 13 may be removed to uncover opening 11 of the filling chamber, 3, in order to facilitate loading it with filling medium. Fig 2 illustrates the filling chamber of the protective structure for a safe loaded with bricks 61. After filling chamber 3 is loaded with bricks, the filling chamber is closed with lid 13 using the screws 15 as shown in Fig 3.

[0062] The protective structure for a safe A that weighted X kilogram before loading the protective filling medium, reaches a final weight of X+Y kilograms including Y kilogram of the selected protective material. The filling medium loaded to the filling chamber 3 does not disrupt the use of the safe. If the owner of the protective structure for a safe wants to replace the filling medium with other type of protective materials or to install the protective structure for a safe in a different location the installation procedure described above may be reversed, and the filling material may be easily unloaded. The unloaded protective structure for a safe may be then re-installed at a new location conveniently.

[0063] Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention with more then one filling chamber and hollow walls with lids (shown with the lid off in Fig. 4 and with the lid on in Fig. 5). Protective structure for a safe B includes a housing 19, and a safe door 17. Hollow walls 21 of protective structure for a safe B are made of two steel plates, external plate 23 and internal plate 25 defining a space therebetween. The steel plates are connected by spacers 27 or other connecting means as shown in Figs 9- 11 to form a rigid hollow wall 21. Five such hollow walls, which are rigidly connected to each other, form housing 19, which is provided with a safe door 17, over the opening of the housing. It is noted that the safe walls may be manufactured in a variety of ways. It should be further noted that the structures described here are for illustration purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention the hollow walls 21 of the protective structure for a safe includes a separate filling chamber, 5, in each hollow wall. In other embodiments of the present invention the hollow walls, 21 have a common filling chamber. The internal wall openings, 11 allows access to the filling chambers 5 only from within the interior of the protective structure for a safe B when the safe door 17,is open.

[0065] After installation of protective structure for a safe B at the customer site and opening of the safe door 17 the lids 13 of the filling chambers may be removed to uncover openings 11, to facilitate loading the filling chambers 3 with the selected protective materials. After filling chambers 3 are loaded, the filling chambers can be closed with lids 13 using screws 15.

[0066] Fig. 5 illustrates a protective structure for a safe B after the filling chambers were loaded and the lids were affixed in position. Filling of the upper hollow wall filling chamber of the protective structure for a safe may be performed conveniently by turning the housing upside down and after the upper filling chamber is filled and sealed the housing may be turned back and the other filling chambers may be conveniently filled with the selected protective materials.

[0067] The openings of the hollow walls may be made with sockets for their suited lids such that the filling chambers lids will not protrude over the internal surface of the protective structure for a safe. Furthermore, the filling chambers can be used as a hidden inner compartment for storing valuable objects in addition to the main safe inner compartment.

[0068] The filling manner and the use of the protective structure for a safe are flexible and tailored to the customer needs. For example, one may purchase a protective structure for a safe, according to embodiments of the present invention that weighs 80 kilograms without the protective filling medium and has a filling chambers volume of 50 litters. The filling chambers of the upper and side walls may have, for example, a total volume of 20 litters and may be filled with a fire resistant protective material. With a typical specific weight of 1.5 grams per square centimeter the total weight of the added fire resistant material is about 30 kilograms. The filling chamber of the rear hollow wall (20 litters in volume, in this example) may be filled, for example, with sand having typical specific weight of 2.5 grams per square centimeter the total weight of the added sand is 50 kilograms. The filling chamber of the bottom hollow wall (of the remaining 10 litters in volume) may be filled, for example, with iron cubes, having typical specific weight of 7.8 grams per square centimeter the total weight of the added iron cubes is about 70-80 kilograms. The total weight of the entire protective structure for a safe is 230 kilograms. Filling all the filling chambers with iron cubes in the example described above would yield a protective structure for a safe weighing some 420-430 kilograms.

[0069] It should be noted that the protective structure for a safe may have as many hollow walls as desired. Protective structure for a safe s with one or more hollow walls and any combination of the number of hollow walls, and number of filling chambers in a hollow wall, may be considered - all which are covered by the scope of the present invention.

[0070] Figs. 6 to 8 illustrate a protective structure for a safe used to fortify a regular safe according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig 6 illustrates a protective structure for a safe E according to embodiments of the present invention with empty filling chambers and a separate regular safe F. Fig 7 illustrates the protective structure for a safe, E, with filled and sealed filling chambers and the regular safe, F, before it is inserted into inner compartment of the protective structure for a safe. Fig 8 illustrates protective structure for a safe E with the regular safe, F, inserted into the inner compartment of the protective structure for a safe.

[0071] As shown in Fig 6, Protective structure for a safe E includes a box shaped housing 43 and inner compartment 45 designed to contain a regular safe F. The hollow walls 21 of protective structure for a safe E are made of two steel plates - external plate 23 and internal plate 25 - defining a space in between. The steel plates are connected by spacers 27 (shown in Figs 9-11) that hold the two plates at a fixed distance to form a rigid hollow wall, 47 of protective structure for a safe E.

[0072] The hollow walls 47 of protective structure for a safe E, according to embodiments of the present invention, includes a separate filling chamber 5 in each hollow wall. In other embodiments of the present invention the protective structure for a safe has a filling chamber common to all of the hollow walls. The internal wall openings 1 1 allow access to the filling chambers 5 only from within the protective structure for a safe E.

[0073] Internal walls 25 of the protective structure for a safe E include openings 1 1 that allow access to filling chambers 5 within hollow walls 47 only from the interior of the protective structure for a safe. As shown in Fig 9, the lids 13 include screws 15 that fix the lids in their designated position 25. As shown in Fig 7, the internal walls of protective structure for a safe E include bores 49 at selected positions aligned with corresponding holes and screw threads provided in the walls of safe F. [0074] After installation of the safe protective E the lids of the filling chambers may be removed to uncover the openings of the filling chambers in the hollow walls 47, so as to facilitate loading protective materials into the chambers. After the filling chambers are loaded or reloaded with the selected protective materials, the filling chambers are closed with lids, 13, using screws 15 as shown in Fig 9.

[0075] Fig 7 illustrates protective structure for a safe E with filled and sealed filling chambers and with a separate regular safe F. Next, regular safe F is inserted into the inner compartment of the protective structure for a safe, the safe door is opened and screws, 63, are screwed through holes provided in the walls of safe F aligned with corresponding holes 49 in the walls or the lids of protective structure for a safe E. The filling chambers of the protective structure for a safe are not accessible when the regular safe F is installed and secured within the inner compartment of the protective structure for a safe.

[0076] Protective structure for a safe E, which weighs X kilogram before loading of the protective filling medium and inserting the regular safe, reaches a final weight of X+Y+Z kilograms including Y kilogram of the filled protective material and Z kilogram of the safe installed inside it.

[0077] The filling manner and the use of the protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention are flexible and tailored to the customer needs. For example, a person may purchase a regular safe weighing 10 kilograms and a protective structure for a safe according to some embodiments of the present invention that weighs 10 kilograms without the protective filling medium and has a filling chamber volume of 24 litters. The safe owner may fill 4 litter of filling chamber located at the bottom hollow wall with sand (totaling some 10 kilograms). Alternatively, the entire 24 litter volume of the filling chambers of the protective structure for a safe may be filled with sand (totaling some 60 kilograms) so that the safe with the protective structure for a safe weigh together 80 kilograms. In yet another alternative the safe owner may fill the side walls of the protective structure for a safe with sand (totaling some 50 kilograms) and place iron filling material in the bottom filling chamber (totaling some 30 kilograms) so that the total weigh of the safe with the protective structure for a safe reaches 100 kilograms.

[0078] If the safe owner chooses to fill all chambers with iron plates the protective structure for a safe and regular safe would weigh approximately 200 kilograms.

[0079] Fig. 9 illustrates a safe protective according to embodiments of the present invention, which includes an opening of a filling chamber in the hollow side wall 65. Opening 12 that may practically be as big as the whole internal hollow wall 25 is shown in Fig 9. The opening may be covered by a single suited lid 13 using the screws 15. When the lid is removed an easy and convenient access to the filling chamber 5 is facilitated. Lid 13 may be divided into smaller lids in similar way to the way shown on Fig. 10 to allow easy access to different parts of the filling chamber.

[0080] Alternatively, the opening in the internal side of the wall may be fully covered by a single lid so that the entire internal wall may be removed and reinstalled after loading or reloading the protective materials.

[0081] Fig. 10 illustrates a plurality of openings of a single filling chamber in a hollow wall 67 of a protective structure for a safe, according to embodiments of the present invention. Three separate openings 14 of the filling chamber in the hollow wall allow convenient access to different parts of the filling chamber and have separate lids 16 and screws 15, as shown in Fig 10. The ribs that define the various compartments of the filling chamber provide added strength to the internal wall structure.

[0082] Fig. 11 illustrates a hollow wall 69, divided into a plurality of filling chambers in a beehive structure, according to embodiments of the present invention. The beehive structure strengthens the hollow wall and allows convenient access to the separate filling chambers. Accordingly, the hollow walls include dividers connecting plates 31 that form the beehive structure and internal wall 25 on which lid 16 may be placed covering the opening of the hollow wall smoothly. [0083] Figs. 12A and 12B illustrates protective structures for a safes, according to embodiments of the present invention, with a hollow wall that includes an opening to a partially filled chamber with - Fig. 12A showing the opening without a lid and Fig. 12B showing the lid covering the opening. The hollow wall is similar to the hollow walls shown in Figs. 1 to 3 where the external plate 23 of the upper wall includes an opening 12. With this hollow wall structure where the opening is provided on the external plate 23 of the wall, the internal plate 25 is sealed and may not include any openings. An external lid 55 closes the external opening of the hollow wall 23. The external lid 55 is fixed in position by screws 91 that may be screwed only from the interior of the protective structure for a safe .

[0084] Fig. 13 illustrates two protective structures for a safe and regular safe, in a combined configuration, according to some embodiments of the present invention. A set of protective structures for a safe, each containing a smaller protective structure for a safe, with the smaller designed to contain a regular safe. For example, a regular small safe G with external height and width of 20 centimeters may be inserted into a suited protective structure for a safe GG, which has external height and width of 30 centimeters. The next protective structure for a safe of a medium size HH, having internal height and width of 30 centimeters and external height and width of 40 centimeters, so that small safe G with its protective structure GG may be inserted into protective structure HH, and so forth. Such structured safes series allows the manufacturer to offer more then one protection layer. For example, a person may purchase a regular safe G and two protective structures GG and HH. First the bigger protective structure for a safe HH, would be installed and filled with protective materials. Next, the second, smaller, protective structure for a safe GG would be inserted into the inner compartment of protective structure for a safe HH , and installed into it, and then filled with protective materials. Lastly, regular safe G would be installed inside the inner compartment of the second protective structure for a safe GG.

[0085] The final result is a regular safe G secured within two layers of protective structure for a safes, GG and HH, as shown in Fig 13 and where the three structures form one integral protective structure for a safe according to embodiments of the present invention. The two-layer protective structure for a safe provides enhanced protection to the smaller regular safe, G.

[0086] Furthermore, the safe owner may want to upgrade his regular safe, G, to a bigger safe, H. The safe owner can disassemble safe G and protective structure GG from protective structure HH, purchase a regular safe H and install it inside protective structure HH thus reducing expenses.

[0087] Another advantage of protective structures for safes in a multi-layer configuration is that a person may purchase a safe G and protective structure for a safe GG. Later, whether it is required by the insurance or desired by the safe owner, the safe owner may upgrade the protection of his safe by purchasing a greater protective structure for a safe HH and install the smaller protective structure for a safe GG in the inner compartment of protective structure for a safe HH. By doing so, the safe owner enhances the safe protection significantly without having to purchase a new, bigger and more expansive, regular safe.

[0088] A multi-layer configuration of protective structures for a safe facilitates the production of a line of modular protective structures which are designed to fit in a multi-layer configuration, thus possibly lowering production costs.

[0089] Figs. 16 A-F illustrate filling bricks designed to fit together and form interlocked structure of filling bricks that may be conveniently installed in filling chambers of a protective structure according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Intertwined filling bricks, according to embodiments of the present invention, may add strength and increase the level of security to the walls of a protective structure for a safe. In the event of an unlawful attempt to breach the protective structure it would be more difficult to withdraw intertwined filling bricks than to withdraw separate bricks, requiring drilling a greater hole in the wall, and consuming more time of the thieves.

[0091] The filling elements may be installed at sensitive areas of the protective structure, which are more vulnerable to breaking in. The intertwinement of the filling elements may be organized along one axis, along two axes, three axes or even in a chaotic manner.

[0092] Fig. 16A illustrates filling bricks 160 with a protrusion 162 and a matching recess 164 for intertwining two adjacent filling bricks, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0093] Fig. 16B illustrates filling bricks 167 with recesses 169 and an intermediary insert 165, which is inserted into the recesses 167 of adjacent filling bricks to interlock them, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0094] Fig. 16C illustrates filling bricks 171 with a bore 173 passing through the bricks and a matching bar insert 175, which is inserted through the bores to interlock several adjacent filling bricks, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0095] Fig. 16D illustrates intertwinable filling bricks 180, with a protruding portion 182 and a corresponding recess 184 to interlock adjacent filling bricks, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] Fig. 16E illustrates an intertwinable filling brick 185, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The filling brick has bores 187 on one, some or all facets so that matching pins 189 may be inserted into the bores and into corresponding bores of adjacent similar such filling bricks.

[0097] Fig. 16F illustrates interconnectable filling bricks 190 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. The filling bricks 190 each have notch 192 of a predetermined cross section across one of the facets, so that a bar whose shape matches that of the cross section of the notches may be inserted in the notches to interlock several filling bricks together.

[0098] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS [0099] What is claimed is:

1. A protective structure for a safe comprising: a housing with an inner compartment surrounded by walls with a main opening, wherein at least one of the walls is hollow defining at least one reloadable filling chamber with at least one reusable opening for loading and unloading filling medium, into and from said at least one reloadable filling chamber, the filling medium characterized by at least one desired protective characteristic, thereby facilitating separate delivery of the protective structure for a safe and the filling medium to a desired installation location and loading of the filing medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber at the desired installation location.

2. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one desired protective characteristic is selected from a group of protective characteristics consisting of weight, heat resistance, fire resistance, magnetic protection, penetration resistance and drill resistance.

3. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is provided on an internal surface of the housing accessible only from within the inner compartment.

4. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main opening is provided with a door.

5. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, including a safe inserted in and fixed to said inner compartment.

6. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one filling chamber comprises a plurality of filling chambers.

7. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is provided with a lid.

8. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, provided with a filling medium.

9. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filling medium comprises empty boxes for filling with filling materials.

10. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filling medium is made of one or more materials selected from the group of materials which consists of: iron, steel, sand, heat resistive materials, fire resistive materials, antimagnetic materials.

11. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filling medium comprises a plurality of filling elements.

12. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 11, wherein the filling elements are intertwinable.

13. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the filling elements is provided in a form selected from the group of forms consisting of: a brick and a plate.

14. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filling medium is provided in a form selected from the group of forms consisting of: grain, powder and chunks.

15. A protective structure for a safe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is provided on an external surface of the housing.

16. A method for determining and adjusting a desired protective characteristic of a protective structure for a safe at a desired installation location, the method comprising: providing a housing with an inner compartment surrounded by walls with a main opening, wherein at least one of the walls is hollow defining at least one reloadable filling chamber with at least one reusable opening for loading and unloading filling medium, into and from said at least one reloadable filling chamber; selecting a filling medium to comply with at least one desired protective characteristic; and

loading the filling medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber through said at least one opening for loading and unloading, thereby facilitating separate delivery of the protective structure for a safe and the filling medium to a desired installation location and loading of the filing medium into said at least one reloadable filling chamber at the desired installation location.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising unloading at least some of the filling medium from said at least one reloadable filling chamber.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the desired protective characteristic is selected from a group of protective characteristics consisting of weight, heat resistance, fire resistance, penetration resistance anti-magnetism and drill resistance.