WO2022058453A1

WO2022058453A1 - Time-locked cabinet for storing electronic devices

Info

Publication number: WO2022058453A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/075534
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Stirling
Original assignee: ABP Technology Limited
Priority date: 2020-09-16
Filing date: 2021-09-16
Publication date: 2022-03-24
Also published as: GB202014613D0; GB2598905A

Abstract

A cabinet for storing an electronic device. The cabinet comprises an opening for receiving the electronic device into an interior of the cabinet and a door movable to a closed position to close the opening and thereby prevent access to the electronic device received into the interior of the cabinet. The cabinet also comprises an automatic lock to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door after a user settable lock time. The cabinet further comprises a set of ports to facilitate electrical connection between the electronic device and an exterior of the cabinet.

Description

Time-locked cabinet for storing electronic devices

The present invention relates to a lockable cabinet, particularly, a lockable cabinet for storing electronic devices, and a method of storing electronic devices within the lockable cabinet.

The advent of electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, PCs and games consoles has brought with it unlimited, readily accessible entertainment for all; however, this has not come without consequence for their users. Such consequences are particularly apparent in children and teenagers, for whom persistent use of electronic devices is reported to have led to a rise in mental health issues, reduced quality of sleep and concentration, escalations of online bullying, diminished educational performance and increased anxiety.

It is known that computer programs may be installed on electronic devices to limit their use; however, this can be a time-consuming process to implement for each device and such programs may not be available for use with every electronic device. Furthermore, it can be difficult to sync access limits on each device.

The invention provides a cabinet for storing an electronic device, wherein the cabinet comprises an opening for receiving the electronic device into an interior of the cabinet; a door movable to a closed position to close the opening and thereby prevent access to the electronic device received into the interior of the cabinet; an automatic lock to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door after a user-settable lock time; and a set of ports to facilitate electrical connection between the electronic device and an exterior of the cabinet.

The cabinet therefore provides a means of rendering one or more electronic devices inaccessible for a desirable period of time determined by the user. Furthermore, the set of ports of the claimed cabinet facilitates an electrical connection between the one or more electronic devices and an exterior of the cabinet, thereby enabling the one or more electronic devices to be charged during the period of time which they are inaccessible, thus priming them for use when they become accessible.

The cabinet may be any container suitable for storing portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, gaming consoles, gaming controllers, and laptops. The cabinet may be portable, thus enabling it to be moved to a desired location within a home, and it may be sized such that it is large enough to hold between five and ten electronic devices, whilst remaining unobtrusive within the home. The cabinet may have one or more handles to enable ease of portability. One handle may be present on a top of the cabinet or, alternatively, a handle may be present on each of two opposing side walls of the cabinet, in order to enable transportation of the cabinet in an up-right orientation. The cabinet may have any shape; for example, the cabinet may have a rectangular prism shape, formed of four walls, a base and a top, and the door may be present in, or form, one of the four walls. The surface area of the opening for receiving the electronic devices may be substantially equivalent to the surface area of the door; thus, where the door forms one of the four walls, maximising the size of electronic device which can be received into the interior of the cabinet. The interior of the cabinet may comprise a volume substantially equivalent to that defined by the four walls, base and top. The rectangular prism may have a width between 15 to 100cm, preferably between 20 to 50cm, for example 30cm; a height between 15 to 100cm, preferably between 20 to 50cm, for example 25cm; and a depth between 15 to 100cm, preferably between 20 to 50cm, for example 25cm.

The door may be secured to the cabinet. The door may be secured via a hinge to enable the door to move from an open to the closed position, and the hinge may be located adjacent a perimeter of the opening. The door in the closed position may close the opening substantially completely to prevent access to the interior of the cabinet, thus prohibiting access to electronic devices received within the interior of the cabinet. Alternatively, the surface area of the door may be less than the surface area of the opening, in which case, the door in the closed position may close the opening such that a gap of the opening is not covered by the door but access to the electronic devices received within the interior of the cabinet is still prohibited.

The automatic lock may be any suitable lock, for example, an electronic or electromechanical lock. The lock may be an electro-magnetic lock, an electric strike-release lock, an electric multi-point lock, or any other suitable lock which may unlock after a usersettable lock time.

The set of ports may be a single port or a plurality of ports, to facilitate electrical connection between an electronic device or a plurality of electronic devices, and an exterior of the cabinet.

The set of ports may include a set of holes for allowing a set of charging cables and associated end plugs to pass between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet. Each port may include a hole sized to enable a single charging cable and associated end plug to pass between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet in either direction. The charging cable may include two end plugs, one at each end. The end plugs may include USB, lightning, micro USB, mini USB, or USB-C connectors, or any other connectors which could electrically couple to an electronic device. Thus, an electronic device may be positioned in the interior of the cabinet with a charging cable coupled thereto by a proximate end plug, and the charging cable and opposite end plug may be fed from the interior to the exterior of the cabinet to be electrically coupled with a mains-powered plug, or other power supply. Alternatively, the electronic device may be positioned in the interior of the cabinet, and the charging cable and proximate end plug may be fed from the exterior (for example, from a mains-powered plug, or other power supply) to the interior of the cabinet to be coupled to the electronic device. In some examples one of the electronic devices within the cabinet may comprise a wireless charger and a charging lead which passes to the exterior of the cabinet so as to enable charge to be provided to the wireless charger which, in turn, may supply charge to the electronic device.

Alternatively, or in addition, the set of ports may include a set of port hubs for coupling to end plugs of a set of charging cables. Each port may include a port hub, and the port hub may include a connection point within the interior of the cabinet for connecting to an end plug of a charging cable. Alternatively, each port may include a plurality of connection points each for connecting to an end plug of a charging cable. Each port hub may be electrically coupled to a mains or other power supply exterior to the cabinet. As described above, a charging cable may include two end plugs one at each end, and the end plugs may include USB, lightning, micro USB, mini USB, or USB-C connectors; thus, the connection points may each be adapted to receive, for example, one of a USB, lightning, micro USB, mini USB, or USB-C connector.

The set of ports may be in a back wall of the cabinet opposite the door of the cabinet. This minimises a user’s interference with any cables (for example, charging cables or a cable used to electronically couple a port hub to a mains supply) when moving the door into the closed position. Furthermore, it enables the charging cables to be substantially concealed by the cabinet when the cabinet is positioned in front of a mains supply in a wall of a room, with the door facing into the room. The set of ports may comprise a plurality of ports.

The cabinet may include a shelf within the interior of the cabinet, wherein the shelf is suitable for supporting an electronic device. Alternatively, the cabinet may include a plurality of shelves within the interior of the cabinet, wherein each shelf of the plurality of shelves is suitable for supporting an electronic device. At least one of the plurality of ports may be located adjacent each shelf, thus enabling at least one charging cable of at least one electronic device supported by each shelf to receive charge from the exterior of the cabinet . Arranging the ports in this manner reduces the likelihood of the charging cables becoming tangled. The at least one port may be located adjacent to and above the respective shelf. Alternatively, the at least one port may be located adjacent to and beneath the respective shelf, and the respective shelf may have an opening to enable the charging cable to pass under the shelf, to, for example, couple with a port hub or pass through the port to connect to a mains supply. The set of shelves may formed of a material, or have a coating, which prevents scratching of the electronic devices. The material or coating may comprise a polymer such as rubber or plastic.

The cabinet may include a plurality of vent openings between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet, and the vent openings may be smaller than the ports. The vent openings function to allow air to pass into and out the interior of the cabinet, thereby enabling heat generated within the interior of the cabinet (for example, as a result of charging the electronic devices stored therein) to be transferred to the exterior of the cabinet, thus preventing heat damage to the electronic devices, charging cables and end plugs. The plurality of vent openings may comprise slots or holes. The plurality of vent openings may be in the back wall opposite the door of the cabinet, and may be interspersed in a random or ordered manner across the surface area of the back wall opposite the door of the cabinet.

The cabinet may include a user interface with which the user may interact to set the lock time and lock the automatic lock. The user interface may include a selectable set of lock time modes and a selectable lock mode. The selectable set of lock time modes may include a single lock time mode or a plurality of lock time modes. The set of lock time modes may be selected by pressing a set of lock time buttons, each of the set of lock time buttons corresponding to a lock time mode. Similarly, the lock mode may be selected by pressing a lock button.

The lock time may be set by pressing one of the set of lock time buttons, and the automatic lock may be locked by subsequently pressing the lock button. A cancellation period may be provided, within which locking of the automatic lock may be cancelled, for example, by pressing one of the set of lock time buttons. The cancellation period may be timed from a time the lock button is pressed. The cancellation period may be a time between approximately 1 to 30 seconds, preferably between 2 to 10 seconds, for example, 2, 3 or 4 seconds. It has been found that 3 seconds typically provides sufficient time to cancel when necessary, without proving burdensome when cancellation is not necessary.

The user interface may include a display. The display may provide a visual indicator of a lock time selected, a lock time remaining, whether a cancellation period is pending and/or whether the cabinet is currently locked. The visual indicator may provide the lock time selected and/or remaining in days, hours, minutes and/or seconds. The display may be an LCD display, may be black and white, or colour. For example the display may be a TFT LCD display, the display may be rectangular and may have a diagonal size between about 5 and 10 cm, for example between about 7 and 7.5 cm. The display may comprise a pixel array of between about 200 to 300 pixels by about 300 to 400 pixels.

The set of lock time buttons may include an hour button to activate an hour mode and increase the lock time by increments of an hour. When the hour button is pressed once whilst the automatic lock is unlocked, the lock time may be set to one hour. When the hour button is pressed subsequently, the lock time may be increased by one hour each time the hour button is pressed. This may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. The lock time may subsequently be reset to one hour by pressing and holding the hour button. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the hour button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by one hour each time the hour button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. The hour mode enables electronic devices to be rendered inaccessible for increments of an hour, and is therefore particularly useful for users wanting a break from their electronic devices for shorter periods of time more frequently throughout the day.

The set of lock time buttons may include a bedtime button to activate a bedtime mode and increase the lock time by a time between 8 to 11 hours. When the bedtime button is pressed once whilst the automatic lock is unlocked, the lock time may be set to a bedtime between 8 to 11 hours, for example, 10 hours. When the bedtime mode is pressed subsequently, the lock time may be increased by one hour each time the bedtime button is pressed. This may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. The lock time may subsequently be reset to the bedtime by pressing and holding the bedtime button. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the bedtime button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by one hour each time the bedtime button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. The bedtime mode enables electronic devices to be rendered inaccessible for a period of time equivalent to that of a quality night’s sleep, and is therefore particularly useful at night, and particularly useful for parents who wish to prevent children from being mentally stimulated by electronic devices prior to sleep.

The set of lock time buttons may include a 24-hour button to activate a 24-hour mode and increase the lock time by 24 hours. When the 24-hour button is pressed once whilst the automatic lock is unlocked, the lock time may be set to 24 hours. When the 24-hour button is pressed subsequently, the lock time may be increased by 24 hours each time the 24-hour button is pressed. This may be up to a maximum of between 3-7 days, for example, 4 days. The lock time may subsequently be reduced to 24 hours by pressing and holding the 24- hour button. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the 24- hour button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by 24 hours each time the 24-hour button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of 2 to 14 days, for example, 4 days. The 24-hour mode enables electronic devices to be rendered inaccessible for a prolonged period of time, and is therefore particularly useful for users seeking a longer break from their electronic devices.

The set of lock time buttons may include one or all of the hour button, bedtime button and 24-hour button. The hour mode, bedtime mode or 24-hour may override one another when activated prior to locking the automatic lock; for example, when the hour mode is activated prior to locking, followed by the 24-hour mode, the 24-hour mode may supplant the hour mode. The mode activated when locking may not be changed post-locking; for example, if the hour mode is activated and the automatic lock locked, the hour mode remains activated post-locking until the automatic lock unlocks, and it may not be possible to activate the bedtime or 24-hour mode until the lock time has elapsed and the automatic lock has unlocked. Reduction of the lock time may be prohibited whilst the automatic lock is locked; therefore, it may be possible to increase the lock time by an hour by pressing the hour button once post-locking, but it may not be possible to subsequently reduce the lock time by an hour. The display may indicate which mode is activated, for example, by lighting the display using a colour assigned to each mode.

The cabinet may include an override which may comprise, for example, a button or switch secured by a key or other security mechanism. The override may comprise a keypad for unlocking the automatic lock before expiry of the lock time. The override keypad may be configured to unlock the automatic lock in response to a code input by a user, thus enabling the user to gain access to the electronic devices stored therein, for example, in cases of emergency. The override keypad may be programmable by the user to cause the automatic lock to unlock in response to a preset code. The keypad may comprise a plurality of digits, letters, symbols, pictures, or a combination thereof, and the code, correspondingly, may be formed of digits, letters, symbols, pictures, or a combination thereof.

The electronic automatic lock may be mains powered. Alternatively, or in addition, the electronic lock may be powered by a rechargeable power source. The electronic automatic lock may be primarily powered by mains power and, in the event that the mains power is removed or fails (for example, due to a power cut), the electronic automatic lock may be powered by the rechargeable power source; thus enabling the electronic devices within the cabinet to continue to be accessible using the override. The cabinet may comprise a compartment for housing the rechargeable power source. The compartment may be located on an exterior surface of the cabinet, or within the interior of the cabinet, for example, on an interior surface of the door.

The cabinet may further include a power button for activating the user interface and override keypad; thus enabling the cabinet to save energy when it is not in use.

The invention also provides a method of positioning an electronic device in an interior of a cabinet by passing the electronic device through an opening into the cabinet; establishing an electrical connection between the electronic device and an exterior of the cabinet via a port; closing a door of the cabinet to close the opening of the cabinet and thereby prevent access to the electronic device in the interior of the cabinet; setting a lock time for locking the door closed using an automatic lock; and locking the door closed for the lock time.

The claimed method therefore enables multiple devices to be rendered inaccessible for a desirable period of time as determined by the user. Furthermore, the claimed method enables the electronic devices to be charged during the period of time which they are inaccessible, thus priming them for use when the electronic devices become accessible.

Setting the lock time may include activating an hour mode and increasing the lock time by increments of an hour. The hour mode may be activated whilst the automatic lock is unlocked by pressing an hour button; this will initially set the lock time to one hour. Subsequent presses of the hour button whilst the automatic lock is unlocked may add an hour per press to the initial lock time. This may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. Pressing and holding the hour button may revert the lock time to one hour. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the hour button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by one hour each time the hour button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of 24 hours.

Setting the lock time may include activating a bedtime mode and increasing the lock time by a time between 8 to 11 hours. The bedtime mode may be activated whilst the automatic lock is unlocked by pressing a bedtime button; this will initially set the lock time to a time between 8 to 11 hours, for example, 10 hours. Subsequent presses of the bedtime button whilst the automatic lock is unlocked may add an hour per press to the initial lock time. This may be up to a maximum of 24 hours. Pressing and holding the bedtime button may revert the lock time to the bedtime between 8 to 11 hours. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the bedtime button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by one hour each time the bedtime button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of 24 hours.

Setting the lock time may include activating a 24-hour mode and increasing the lock time by 24 hours. The 24-hour mode may be activated whilst the automatic lock is unlocked by pressing a 24-hour button; this will initially set the lock time to 24 hours. Subsequent presses of the 24-hour button whilst the automatic lock is unlocked may add 24 hours per press to the initial lock time. This may be up to a maximum of between 2 to 14 days, for example, 4 days. Pressing and holding the 24hour button may revert the lock time to 24 hours. The automatic lock may then be locked for the lock time selected. When the 24-hour button is pressed subsequently whilst the automatic lock is locked, the remaining lock time may be increased by 24 hours each time the 24-hour button is pressed. Again, this may be up to a maximum of between 2 to 14 days, for example, 4 days.

Activating one mode prior to locking the automatic lock may inhibit a previously activated mode; for example, when the bedtime mode is activated prior to locking, followed by the hour mode, the hour mode may supplant the bedtime mode. The mode activated when locking may also not be changed post-locking; for example, if the bedtime mode is active when the automatic lock locks, it may then not be possible to activate the hour mode until the lock time elapses and the automatic lock has unlocked. Reduction of the lock time may be prohibited whilst the automatic lock is locked; therefore, it may be possible to, for example, increase the lock time by an hour by pressing the hour button once post-locking, but it may not be possible to subsequently reduce the lock time by an hour. The method may include selecting an override code to unlock the door prior to expiry of the lock time. This enables a user to override the locking of the automatic lock, for example, in an emergency situation when access to an electronic device within the interior of the cabinet is required.

The method may include electrically coupling the charging cable to the electronic device, and charging the electronic device whilst the door is locked closed. The port may comprise a hole, and establishing the electrical connection between the electronic device and the exterior of the cabinet may comprise feeding a charging cable and end plug through the hole. Alternatively, the port may comprise a port hub, and establishing the electrical connection between the electronic device and the exterior of the cabinet may comprise coupling an end plug of a charging cable to the port hub.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the following figures:

Figure 1 which shows an isometric view of the front of an example of the claimed cabinet;

Figure 2 which shows an isometric view of the rear of the cabinet shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 which shows a view of the interior of the cabinet shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 which shows an example of the claimed method; and

Figure 5 which shows an example method of setting the lock time and locking the automatic lock as shown in step 4 in the example method of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the front of an example cabinet 1 suitable for storing electronic devices. The cabinet 1 is shaped substantially like a rectangular prism, and comprises a top 2, a base (not shown), a first wall 4 opposite a second wall 4’ (not shown in this Figure), and a rear wall (not shown) opposite a closed door 6. First wall 4 has a handle 8 for carrying the cabinet 1 ; for example, to ease the positioning/repositioning of the cabinet 1 within a home. There may also be a handle located opposite handle 8 and within the second wall (not shown). Handle 8 projects into first wall 4 thereby maintaining a streamlined cabinet; however, the handle 8 may alternatively project out from first wall 4. Door 6 is secured to first wall 4 (and thus the remainder of the cabinet) by hinges 10 which enable door 6 to move from a closed position (as shown) to an open position, and vice versa. Cabinet 1 has a power button 12 which enables power to be turned on and off. A set of buttons 16 are present in the top 2 of the cabinet 1. These buttons include an hour button, a bedtime button, a 24-hour button, and a lock button. A display 14 is adjacent the buttons 16.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the rear of the cabinet shown in Figure 1. A rear wall 18 of the cabinet 1 is shown. A plurality of ports 20, in this case openings, extend between an interior and exterior of the cabinet 1 through the rear wall 18. Each of the ports 20 have a circular cross-section, sized to enable a charging cable and end plug to be passed therethrough; thus enabling electronic devices positioned within the interior of the cabinet 1 to be charged. Also shown is a plurality of vents 22 which include openings with a smaller diameter than ports 20. The plurality of vents 22 function to enable hot air to be transferred from the interior to the exterior of the cabinet 1.

An override keypad 24 is located on the rear wall 18. The keypad 24 comprises a plurality of buttons for receiving a numeric or alphanumeric override code. Inputting a code into keypad 24 causes the automatic lock to unlock prior to a lock time expiring.

Figure 2 also shows a power cable 58 extending from the rear wall 18 of the device. The power cable 58 may be coupled to a power supply, for example a mains power supply (not shown), to supply power to the cabinet 1.

Figure 3 shows a view through an opening 26 of the interior 28 of the cabinet 1 shown in Figure 1 as the door 6 is open. A plurality of shelves 30, in this example two central shelves 30 and a base shelf 30’, support electronic devices 32, and the plurality of ports 20 can be seen located adjacent to and above a respective shelf of the plurality of shelves 30.

Figure 3 also shows charging cables 52 extending through ports 20 adjacent a shelf 30,30’ on which an electronic device 32 has been placed. Proximal end plugs 54 of the charging cables 52 are coupled to two of the electronic devices 32 to allow charge to be passed from the exterior of the cabinet 1 when the door 6 is closed. The ports 20 are openings which are sized to allow end plugs 54 of the charging cables 52 to pass through the opening between the interior and exterior of the cabinet, or from the exterior to the interior. Outside the cabinet 1 distal end plugs 54’ of the charging cables 52 are coupled to a power source 56, for example a mains power source. Within the cabinet 2 there is also a battery compartment 60 which houses a rechargeable power source 62, such as a rechargeable battery, which allows the cabinet 1 to be powered when not connected to an external power supply.

Figure 4 shows an example method of using cabinet 1 of Figures 1 to 3. The method comprises a first step 34 of positioning an electronic device in 32 in an interior 28 of the cabinet 1 by passing the electronic device 32 through an opening 26 into the cabinet 1. This is followed by a second step 36 of feeding a charging cable and end plug through a port 20 of the cabinet 1 so that the charging cable passes between the interior 28 and exterior of the cabinet 1. This is followed by a third step 38 of closing the door 6 of the cabinet 1 to close the opening 26 of the cabinet 1 to thereby prevent access to the electronic device 32 in the interior 28 of the cabinet 1. Followed by a fourth step 40 of setting a lock time for locking the door 6 closed using an automatic lock, and a final step 42 of locking the door closed for the lock time. It will be appreciated that these steps are not required to be performed in order; for example, step 36 could be performed before step 34, and step 40 could be performed prior to step 38.

Figure 5 shows an example method of carrying out the fourth step 40 of Figure 4. This method comprises setting a lock time for locking the door 6 by activating 44 an hour mode by pressing an hour button and adding an initial hour to the lock time; increasing 46 the lock time by integers of an hour by subsequently pressing the hour button again, wherein each press results in the lock time increasing by an hour; setting 48 the lock time and locking the automatic lock of the cabinet by pressing a lock button; and, optionally, subsequently increasing the lock time by pressing the hour button to add a desired number of hours to the remaining time.

Claims

1. A cabinet for storing an electronic device, wherein the cabinet comprises an opening for receiving the electronic device into an interior of the cabinet; a door movable to a closed position to close the opening and thereby prevent access to the electronic device received into the interior of the cabinet; an automatic lock to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door after a user settable lock time; and a set of ports to facilitate electrical connection between the electronic device and an exterior of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of ports comprises a set of holes for allowing a set of charging cables and associated end plugs to pass between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the set of ports comprises a set of port hubs for coupling to end plugs of a set of charging cables.

4. A cabinet as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the set of ports are in a back wall of the cabinet opposite the door of the cabinet.

5. A cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the set of ports comprises a plurality of ports.

6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cabinet further comprises a plurality of shelves within the interior of the cabinet, wherein each of the plurality of shelves is suitable for supporting the electronic device, and wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is located adjacent each of the plurality of shelves.

7. A cabinet as claimed in claims 2-6, wherein the cabinet further comprises a plurality of vent openings between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet, the vent openings being smaller than the cable openings.

8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of vent openings are in the back wall opposite the door of the cabinet.

9. A cabinet as claimed in claims 1-8, wherein the cabinet further comprises a user interface for setting the lock time and locking the automatic lock.

10. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises an hour button to activate an hour mode and increase the lock time by increments of an hour.

11. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the user interface comprises a bedtime button to activate a bedtime mode which increases the lock time by time by between 8 to 11 hours.

12. A cabinet as claimed in claims 9-11 , wherein the user interface comprises a button to activate a 24-hour mode which increases the lock time by 24 hours.

13. A cabinet as claimed in claims 9-12, wherein the cabinet further comprises an override keypad for unlocking the automatic lock before expiry of the lock time.

14. A cabinet as claimed in claims 1-13, wherein the automatic lock is electronic and can be mains powered.

15. A cabinet as claimed in claims 1-14, wherein the automatic lock is electronic and can be powered by a rechargeable power source, and the cabinet further comprises a compartment for housing the rechargeable power source.

16. A method, comprising positioning an electronic device in an interior of a cabinet by passing the electronic device through an opening into the cabinet; establishing an electrical connection between the electronic device and an exterior of the cabinet via a port; closing a door of the cabinet to close the opening of the cabinet and thereby prevent access to the electronic device in the interior of the cabinet; setting a lock time for locking the door closed using an automatic lock; and locking the door closed for the lock time.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein setting the lock time comprises activating an hour mode and increasing the lock time by increments of an hour.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein setting the lock time comprises activating a bedtime mode and increasing the lock time by a time between 8 to 11 hours.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein setting the lock time comprises activating a 24-hour mode and increasing the lock time by 24 hours.

20. A method as claimed in claims 16-19, further comprising selecting an override code to unlock the door prior to the expiry of the lock time.

21. A method as claimed in claims 16-20, wherein the port comprises a hole, and wherein establishing the electrical connection between the electronic device and the exterior of the cabinet comprises feeding a charging cable and end plug through the hole.

22. A method as claimed in claims 16-20, wherein the port comprises a port hub, and wherein establishing the electrical connection between the electronic device and the exterior of the cabinet comprises coupling an end plug of a charging cable to the port hub.