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(11) | EP 1 703 475 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Security apparatus |
| (57) A security apparatus for collecting, storing and transporting valuables comprising
a housing that can, for example, be mounted below a removable bottom opening of a
compartment of a cash register and a container for receiving valuables such as moneys
released from this compartment. The container has a closure arranged to be locked
shut during removal of the container from the housing. The container is further arranged
to prevent locking shut of the closure before the container is inserted into the housing.
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[0001] The present invention is directed towards a security apparatus and in particular to a security apparatus for collecting, storing and transporting valuables and money from a cash register to the central office of a store.
[0002] In known cash registers money is stored in money trays comprising various compartments for bank notes and coins. These money trays may be removable from the cash register for transport to the central office of a store for accounting purposes. Some known cash trays envisage providing a lid that can be mounted and locked to the tray so that the tray's content is protected from loss and pilferage during transport. However, the tray's contents are accessible before the lid is locked to the tray, thus providing an opportunity for moneys to be lost or removed from the tray prior to the covering of the tray.
[0003] Other known cash desks provide one or more compartments in the money receiving tray that have an openable bottom closure. This bottom closure may open when the money receiving tray is stored away inside its housing. The content of the openable compartment is therefore emptied into a part of the cash desk located below the money receiving tray. The part of the cash desk below the money receiving tray can comprise a container for receiving the contents of the openable compartment. Such containers are usually removed from the cash register, locked and transported to the central office of a shop for accounting purposes. Prior to locking the container, however, access to the container's contents is normally possible, thus again providing an opportunity for loss or removal of money.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a security apparatus comprising a container for receiving valuables, a housing for receiving the container, the container comprising an opening through which valuables may be deposited in the container, a closure for the opening, and a locking mechanism for the closure, the locking mechanism being such as to be latched open by the container being opened externally of the housing to remove valuables therefrom; the locking mechanism being such as to be unlatched when the container is thereafter properly received within the housing so as to be lockable; and the apparatus being configured such that withdrawal of the container from the housing acts to close and lock the closure.
[0006] Thus advantageously the apparatus permits access to the inside of the container when the container is outside the housing only prior to proper receipt of the container in the housing. The container is closed on removal from the housing and, as the locking mechanism is unlatched after being properly received in the housing, the container locks upon shutting. Thus the container is reliably shut and locked after removal from the housing without permitting access to the container's interior. Access to the inside of the container is therefore reliably prevented at times when valuables may be contained inside the container.
[0007] The locking mechanism is preferably unlatched by interaction of said locking mechanism with said housing, most preferably by interaction with an actuator arranged to interact with the locking mechanism inside the housing. This actuator may take the form of a protrusion arranged to extend through an opening in a wall of the container when the container is properly received inside the housing.
[0008] The closure of the container preferably covers the opening in the wall of the container when closed so as to prevent tampering with the locking mechanism when the container is closed.
[0009] The container is preferably received in the housing through an opening in the housing's side wall.
[0010] The housing and the closure preferably cooperate to close the closure as the container is being removed from said housing.
[0011] A preferred housing comprises a member, most preferably a roller, engaging the closure as the container is withdrawn so as to close the closure.
[0012] The closure of the security apparatus is preferably pivotally mounted but may alternatively be slidably mounted. In one preferred embodiment the closure is biased towards an open position, most preferably by a spring biased hinge connecting the closure to the container. Alternatively the closure can be moved towards the open position by guide means provided in or on said housing.
[0013] The housing may be arranged such that full insertion of said container into said housing is prevented should said closure be closed. In a preferred embodiment comprising an actuator inside the housing the closure is configured so as to interact with the actuator and so prevent the actuator's interaction with the locking mechanism when the closure is closed. A door may furthermore be provided on the housing. Preferably the housing is dimensioned so that the door cannot be closed when the container is not fully inserted.
[0014] The security apparatus of the present invention may be associated with a check-out desk or a cash desk. As will be appreciated, however, the security apparatus of the present invention is useful for any type of application in which access to the inside of the container is to be prevented after removal of the container from a housing. For example, the security apparatus of the present invention could provide useful protection in banks, bank deposit boxes, vending machines, coin or chip operated gaming or arcade devises, safety deposit boxes, in casinos, night safes and other such devices.
[0015] A preferred housing comprises a chute for guiding valuables towards the opening of the container, for example from an openable compartment of a money receiving tray of a check-out desk.
[0016] The present invention furthermore extends to a container for use in the security apparatus and towards a housing for such use.
[0017] The locking mechanism preferably comprises a locking member and a latching member, the latching member having two detents, wherein the locking member is retainable in a first one of said detents in an unlatched position in which the locking member can engage a locking formation; and wherein the locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which the locking member cannot engage the locking formation.
[0018] This locking mechanism is advantageous in its own right and according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lock for use in a security apparatus comprising a locking member and a latching member, the latching member having two detents, wherein the locking member is retainable in a first one of the detents in an unlatched position in which the locking member can engage a locking formation; and the locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which the locking member cannot engage the locking formation.
[0019] In a preferred lock, movement, for example rotation, of the latching member upon unlocking of the lock permits the locking member to move from its unlatched to its latched open position. The locking member and the latching member are preferably biased towards each other, more preferably spring biased towards each other.
[0020] The locking member may comprise a camming surface adapted to cause the locking member to be translated out of the position in which it can engage the locking formation when the locking formation passes along the camming surface, so that the locking formation can pass the camming surface. A preferred locking member is hook shaped. The camming surface is provided on a retaining portion of the hook portion of this locking member.
[0021] The lock preferably further comprises a release member for engaging the latching member. Actuation of said release member may rotate the latching member so that after this rotation the locking member is held in the latched open position. The release member preferably comprises a cylinder lock.
[0022] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of receiving, storing and transporting valuables comprising inserting an unlocked and open container into a housing; collecting valuables in said container; removing said container from said housing and thereby closing a closure member of said container and locking said container shut.
[0023] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a security apparatus comprising a container for receiving valuables; a housing for receiving the container; the container comprising an opening through which valuables may be deposited in the box; a closure for the opening; and a locking mechanism for the closure; the locking mechanism being disabled by the container being opened externally of the housing to remove valuables therefrom; the locking mechanism being enabled thereafter when the container is properly received within the housing; and the apparatus being configured so that withdrawal of the container from the housing acts to close and lock the closure.
[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a crosssectioned perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a container and housing according to the present invention, the container being partially inserted into the housing;
Fig. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1 with the container being further inserted into the housing than in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a view of a preferred lock with the locking member in a position in which it is able to engage a locking formation;
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the preferred lock illustrated in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking member along line 5-5 in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 shows a preferred lock provided on a container partially inserted in the housing, with the locking member in a latched open position in which it cannot engage a locking formation; and
Fig. 7 shows the lock of Figs. 3 and 4 provided on a container partially inserted in the housing, with the locking member in an unlatched position in which it is able to engage a locking formation.
Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a security apparatus 2 comprising a housing 4 and a container 6. An opening 8 having door 10 is provided on housing 4. Door 10 can be locked shut using lock 12.
[0025] The housing 4 can be mounted to, for example, the bottom of a known cash drawer, such as of the type described above, via chute 14 and flanges 16 and 18.
[0026] An actuator pin 20 is provided inside housing 4 on back wall 22 of housing 4. This pin 20 has an edge 24 that extends at an angle to back wall 22 that is not a right angle. A roller 26 and a surface 28 having an edge 30 are further provided inside housing 4. A hole 32 is furthermore provided in back wall 22. The function of these components will be described in more detail below.
[0027] Container 6 comprises a body 33 and a lid 34 connected to body 33 via hinge 36. Lid 34 carries a locking pin 38 on its front face. An elevated portion 40 is provided on lid 34. The function of these components will also be described in more detail hereinafter.
[0028] Lock 42 is mounted to the rear wall 44 of container 6 and is covered by covering plate 46. Slots 48 and 50 are provided in wall 44 and covering plate 46 so that the actuator pin 20actuator pin 20 can extend through both slots 48 and 50 when the container 4 is fully inserted in housing 6. A handle 52 is connected to the front wall 53 of container 6 to facilitate removal of container 6 from housing 4.
[0029] The structure of lock 42 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Lock 42 comprises a base plate 54. Covering plate 46 can be mounted to this base plate 54 using pins 56. Base plate 54 furthermore comprises slot 58 having edge 59. In use, locking pin 38 is received in slot 58 and moves along edge 59 towards the bottom of slot 58.
[0030] Figs. 6 and 7 show lock 42 mounted to the wall 44 of container 4. In these figures covering plate 46 is not shown for clarity. As can be seen from these figures, wall 44 of container 4 also comprises a slot that coincides with slot 58 provided in base plate 54.
[0031] Referring again to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, locking member 60 is attached to base plate 54 by rivet 62 which extends through elongated hole 64 provided in locking member 60. A cross-section of locking member 60 along line 5-5 in Figs. 3 and 4 is shown in more detail in Fig. 5. As can be seen from Fig. 5, shaft 66 of rivet 62 extends through the elongated hole 64. Head 68 of rivet 62 is larger than the smallest dimension of elongated hole 64 so that the locking member 60 is securely held in place on the base plate 54. Rivet 62 is secured to the base plate 54, for example by press fitting or by other means. As can be seen from Fig. 5, there is a gap between the head 68 of the rivet 62 and locking member 60 that is sufficiently wide to allow smooth rotational and translational movement of locking member 60 relative to rivet 62.
[0032] A part of locking member 60 is bent forwardly to form upstanding tab 70. A pin 74 is furthermore provided on base plate 54. Spring 72 is attached between tab 70 and pin 74 and biases locking member 60 towards edge 59 of slot 58. A hook-shaped locking structure comprising a camming surface 76 and a recess 78 is further provided on locking member 60.
[0033] Latching member 80 is attached to base plate 54 by rivet 82. Rivet 82 extends through a hole in latching member 80 so that latching member 80 can rotate but not translate relative to base plate 54.
[0034] Detents 84 and 86 and upstanding tabs 88 and 90 are furthermore provided on latching member 80. Spring 92 extends between tab 70 of locking member 60 and tab 88 of latching member 80 and biases locking member 60 latching member 80 towards each other.
[0035] Lock 42 further comprises cylinder lock 94 which supports release member 96. Release member 96 can engage tab 90 of latching member 80 when latching member 80 is in the unlatched position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7. Cylinder lock 94 is preferably arranged so that from the position shown in Fig. 3 only counter-clockwise rotation is possible.
[0036] The latching states of lock 42 will now be described in more detail and with reference to Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7.
[0037] Fig. 6 shows lock 42 with locking member 60 in a latched open position in which locking pin 38 cannot be retained within slot 58. Locking member 60 is in this position after unlocking of the container 6 using cylinder lock 94 and before full insertion of container 6 into housing 4.
[0038] In this latched open position locking member 60 is biased against detent 84 of latching member 80 and locking member 60 cannot retain locking pin 38 in slot 58 when locking pin 38 travels to the bottom of slot 58, that is when the lid 34 is closed. Thus lid 34 cannot be locked shut in this latching state of lock 42. Secure contact between locking member 60 and detent 84 of latching member 80 is ensured through the biasing force provided by spring 92.
[0039] Figs. 3, 4 and 7 show lock 42 with locking member 60 in an unlatched position in which it can, in use, retain locking pin 38 in slot 58. Lock 42 is switched to this latching state upon full insertion of the container 6 into housing 4 and remains in this latching state until container 6 is unlocked using cylinder lock 94. As can be seen from Figs. 3, 4 and 7, locking member 60 is biased against detent 86 of latching member 80 in this position.
[0040] When locking pin 38 is moved downwardly in slot 58 it contacts camming surface 76 of locking member 60. As outlined above, the elongate shape of hole 64 in locking member 60 permits translation of locking member 60 away from slot 58. Thus the pushing force exerted by locking pin 38 onto camming surface 76 causes locking member 60 to move away from slot 58 so that locking pin 38 can move past the hook-shaped locking structure of locking member 60 into recess 78. When locking pin 38 looses contact with camming surface 76, locking member 60 is drawn back to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 under the influence of the biasing force applied by spring 72. Thus locking pin 38 is retained in the area defined by edge 59 and recess 78 and lid 34 of container 6 is locked shut.
[0041] The switching mechanism used for switching lock 42 from the latched open state shown in Fig. 6 to the unlatched state shown in Fig. 3, 4 and 7 will now be described in more detail.
[0042] Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which illustrates the lock 42 of container 6 in its latched open state during insertion, and in particular prior to full insertion. As can be seen from this Fig. 6, locking member 60 is in its latched open position in which it cannot engage locking pin 38. In Fig. 6 protrusion 20 partly extends through slot 48 and is in contact with locking member 60.
[0043] As discussed above, edge 24 of protrusion 20 does not extend in a direction orthogonal to back wall 22 of housing 4. Edge 24 therefore also defines an acute angle relative to wall 44 of container 6. It will be appreciated that edge 24 accordingly acts as a camming surface on locking member 60 upon further insertion of container 6 into housing 4 and counter-clockwise rotation of locking member 60 is induced through the resulting camming action of edge 24.
[0044] As discussed above, spring 92 biases latching member 80 towards locking member 60 so that contact between the two members is ensured independent of the rotational position of locking member 60. Rotation of locking member 60 therefore causes the section of locking member 60 retained in detent 84 to ride over the edge of latching member 80 located between detents 84 and 86 and to subsequently be retained in detent 86 under the influence of the biasing force provided by spring 92 (as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7).
[0045] Locking member 60, latching member 80, actuator pin 20actuator pin 20 and slots 48 and 50 are shaped and positioned so that this change in the position of locking member 60 relative to latching member 80 is only achieved when the container 6 is fully inserted into housing 4.
[0046] Although not illustrated in the drawings, a further preferred embodiment in which actuator pin 20 is located inside housing 4 so as to interact directly with latching member 80 to induce counter-clockwise rotation of latching member 80 is also envisaged. As will be appreciated, the so induced rotation of latching member 80 also causes switching of lock 42 from the latched open state shown in Fig. 6 to the unlatched state shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7.
[0047] When unlocking container 6 cylinder lock 94 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. This causes release member 96 to lift tab 90 of latching member 80, thus inducing clockwise rotation of latching member 80. Through this rotation of latching member 80 the part of locking member 60 retained in detent 86 of latching member 80 rides over the edge of latching member 80 located between detents 84 and 86 under the influence of the biasing force provided by spring 92 and is subsequently retained in detent 84 of latching member 80. The biasing forces provided by springs 72 and 92 are chosen so that locking member 60 cannot translate away from slot 58 when following the clockwise rotation of latching member 80 but that it is instead forced to rotate in the clockwise direction.
[0048] Locking member 60 is therefore positioned as shown in Fig. 6 following the unlocking of container 6, thus allowing locking pin 38 to leave slot 58 so that container 6 can be opened.
[0049] It will be appreciated that the position of locking member 60 does not change from the latched open position shown in Fig. 6 unless and until container 6 is reinserted into housing 4 so that locking member 60 can again interact with actuator pin 20. Thus even if lid 34 is accidentally or deliberately closed so that locking pin 58 travels to the bottom of slot 58, the lid 34 cannot be locked shut. Therefore the container and locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment ensure that the container is always open when inside housing 4. Advantageously therefore valuables deposited into housing 4 through chute 14 cannot accumulate on top of lid 34 but are reliably collected inside container 6.
[0050] The use of container 6 in housing 4, for example as operated by a clerk and/or a cashier in a shop or supermarket, will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
[0051] An empty container 6 is provided to delivery staff for transporting the container 6 from the shops central office to one or more check-out desks. The locking member 60 of container 6, when handed to the member of staff is in the latched open position shown in Fig. 6, so that lid 34 cannot be locked shut even if the lid 34 is temporarily pushed shut. A user cannot therefore position the container 6 in housing 4 in a locked shut state, for example in order to accumulate money on top of the container. Covering plate 46 furthermore prevents interference with lock 42.
[0052] At the check-out desk the container 6 may be inserted into housing 4 by a cashier. As can be appreciated from Fig. 1, opening 8 is dimensioned so that lid 34 has to be closed during the initial stages of insertion as otherwise full insertion of container 6 into housing 4 is not possible. During full insertion, locking member 60 is moved from the latched open position shown in Fig. 6 to the unlatched position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 through the interaction between locking member 60 and actuator pin 20.
[0053] Housing 4 is configured so that door 10 can only be closed and locked after full insertion of housing 4 thus ensuring that container 6 is fully inserted into housing every time. Thus in the preferred embodiment the lock 42 is reliably switched from the latched open state shown in Fig. 6 to the unlatched state shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7.
[0054] During removal of container 6 from housing 4 the lid 34 is again moved to the closed position as the upper edge of opening 8 forces lid 34 downwardly during removal. To assist this process roller 26 and elevated region 40 are provided on housing 4 and lid 34 respectively. At one stage during removal of container 6 from housing 4 roller 26 contacts elevated region 40 so that lid 34 is firmly pressed shut. Through this closing action locking pin 38 is forced to move to the bottom of slot 58 of lock 42 during removal of container 6 from housing 4. As during this removal locking member 60 is in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, locking pin 38 is reliable retained between edge 59 and recess 78 after removal of container 6 from housing 4. Thus after removal of container 6 from housing 4 the inside of container 6 is only accessible after unlocking container 6 using cylinder lock 94. Container 6 is typically emptied in a shop's or supermarket's main office by a person holding the key to cylinder lock 94. The fail safe nature of the preferred embodiment allows the task of collecting containers 6 from check-out desks to be delegated to staff not usually permitted access to containers 6.
[0055] Having described the basic functional principle of the security apparatus of a preferred embodiment, some additional features will now be described in more detail.
[0056] As discussed above, it is very important that lid 34 of container 6 is open when in use inside housing 4. To achieve this, hinge 36 is preferably a spring biased hinge which causes the lid 34 to open in the absence of a holding force, such as a closing force applied by a user during insertion of the container 6 into housing 5.
[0057] Spring biased hinges suitable for this purpose are commercially available. Alternatively or additionally, lid 34 may be guided to the open position by guiding structures (not shown) provided on the inside of the housing's side walls.
[0058] Guide vanes similar to surface 30 may also be provided inside chute 14 to ensure that valuables that are released into housing 4 from above the chute 14 cannot be lodged in gaps formed between the walls of housing 4 and the walls of container 6. Thus the preferred embodiment ensures that valuables are reliably collected inside container 6.
[0059] To further ensure that container 6 cannot fully be inserted when lid 34 is shut, edge 30 of surface 28 is arranged so that the gap defined by edge 30 and the bottom wall of housing 4 is too narrow (as shown in Figs. 6 and 7) to permit full insertion of container 6 when lid 34 is closed. Thus, even if container 6 is locked shut prior to insertion into housing 4, be it through failure of a component or following manipulation of lock 42, full insertion of container 6 into housing 4 is not possible. Thus door 10 cannot be closed and locked shut. It will accordingly be apparent from the state of door 10 that container 6 is not in its intended state and that a different container needs to be used.
[0060] In order to ensure that full insertion of container 6 into housing 4 is possible in a non-failure state, hole 32 is furthermore provided in back wall 22 of housing 4 so that parts of cylinder lock 94 protruding to the outside of container 6 can protrude through hole 32, so as not to prevent full insertion of container 6 into housing 4.
[0061] It furthermore has to be appreciated that the front face of lid 34, namely the face opposite hinge 36 is dimensioned so that it fully covers slot 48 when the lid 34 is closed. Thus any attempts of tampering with lock 42 through slot 48 are prevented when lid 34 is closed.
[0062] As will be appreciate from the above, a user delivering container 6 for insertion into housing 4 can only access the interior of container 6 prior to insertion of container 6 into housing 4, that is when container 6 does not hold any valuables or moneys. The preferred embodiment further ensures that lid 34 remains open when container 6 is inside housing 4 so that valuables or moneys will reliably be deposited inside container 6. Full insertion of container 6 into housing 4 and closing of door 10 is prevented if container 6 has been tampered with or is defective so that lid 34 remains closed after insertion of container 6 into housing 4. Accordingly the defect can easily be detected.
[0063] It will be appreciated from the above that the apparatus of the preferred embodiment permits delivery of containers for collection of moneys and valuables and subsequent collection of these containers without the delivering user being able access valuables or moneys inside or intended to be inside container 6.
[0064] It will be appreciated that changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, lid 34 may be of a different type or container 6 may not comprise a lid but instead may be of a type that comprises a side opening drawer that is forced shut during removal of container 6 from housing 4.
[0065] It is furthermore envisaged that different types of locking pins may be used. For example, a locking pin comprising an annular groove around its circumference may be used. This groove may present a locking surface to a locking member and a locking pin of this type may, for example, be inserted into the lock in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the locking pin while still being held securely inside the lock in its locked state.
1. Security apparatus comprising:
a container for receiving valuables;
a housing for receiving the container;
the container comprising:
an opening through which valuables may be deposited in the container;
a closure for the opening; and
a locking mechanism for the closure;
said locking mechanism being such as to be latched open by the container being opened externally of the housing to remove valuables therefrom;
said locking mechanism being such as to be unlatched when the container is thereafter properly received within the housing so as to be lockable; and
said apparatus being configured such that withdrawal of the container from the housing acts to close and lock the closure.
2. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is unlatched
by interaction of said locking mechanism with said housing.
3. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing comprises an actuator
arranged to interact with said locking mechanism.
4. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuator is a protrusion arranged
to extend through an opening in a wall of said container when said container is properly
received inside said housing.
5. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said closure covers said opening
in said wall of said container when closed.
6. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing comprises
an opening in a side wall thereof for receiving said container.
7. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing and said
closure cooperate to close the closure as the container is being removed from said
housing.
8. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housing comprises a member
engaging said closure as the container is withdrawn so as to close said closure.
9. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said member comprises a roller.
10. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said closure is pivotally
mounted.
11. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said closure is biased
towards an open position.
12. Security apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11,
wherein said closure is biased to said open position by a spring biased hinge connecting said closure to said container.
wherein said closure is biased to said open position by a spring biased hinge connecting said closure to said container.
13. Security apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said closure is slidably
mounted.
14. Security apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said closure is movable
towards an open position by guide means provided in or on said housing.
15. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing is arranged
such that full insertion of said container into said housing is prevented should said
closure be closed.
16. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 15 as dependent directly or indirectly upon
claim 3, wherein said closure is configured so as to interact with said actuator and
so prevent the actuator's interaction with the locking mechanism when the closure
is closed.
17. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing comprises
a door.
18. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said housing is dimensioned so
that said door cannot be closed when said container is not fully inserted.
19. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, associated with a check-out
desk or a cash desk.
20. Security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing comprises
a chute for guiding valuables towards the opening of said container.
21. A container for use in a security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.
22. A housing for use in a security apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20.
23. A security apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism
comprises:
wherein said locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which said locking member cannot engage said locking formation.
a locking member and a latching member;
said latching member having two detents;
wherein said locking member is retainable in a first one of said detents in an unlatched position in which said locking member can engage a locking formation; andwherein said locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which said locking member cannot engage said locking formation.
24. A lock for use in a security apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising
a locking member and a latching member;
said latching member having two detents;
wherein said locking member is retainable in a first one of said detents in an unlatched position in which said locking member can engage a locking formation; and
said locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which said locking member cannot engage said locking formation.
said latching member having two detents;
wherein said locking member is retainable in a first one of said detents in an unlatched position in which said locking member can engage a locking formation; and
said locking member is retainable in the second detent in a latched open position in which said locking member cannot engage said locking formation.
25. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein movement, for example
rotation, of said latching member upon unlocking of the lock permits said locking
member to move from its unlatched to its latched open position.
26. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein said locking
member and said latching member are biased towards each other.
27. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 26, wherein said locking member and
said latching member are spring biased towards each other.
28. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in any of claims 24 to 27, wherein said locking
member comprises a camming surface adapted to cause the locking member to be translated
out of said position in which it can engage said locking formation when said locking
formation passes along said camming surface, so that said locking formation can pass
said camming surface.
29. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 28, wherein said locking member is
hook shaped and
wherein said camming surface is provided on a retaining portion of the hook.
wherein said camming surface is provided on a retaining portion of the hook.
30. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in any of claims 24 to 29, further comprising
a release member for engaging said latching member.
31. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 30, wherein actuation of said release
member rotates said latching member so that after said rotation said locking member
is held in said latched open position.
32. A security apparatus or lock as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein said release member
comprises a cylinder lock.
33. A method of receiving, storing and transporting valuables comprising:
inserting an unlocked and open container into a housing;
collecting valuables in said container;
removing said container from said housing and thereby closing a closure member of said container and locking said container shut.
34. Security apparatus comprising:
a container for receiving valuables
a housing for receiving the container;
the container comprising:
an opening through which valuables may be deposited in the box;
a closure for the opening; and
a locking mechanism for the closure;
said locking mechanism being disabled by the container being opened externally of the housing to remove valuables therefrom;
said locking mechanism being enabled thereafter when the container is properly received within the housing; and
said apparatus being configured such that withdrawal of the container from the housing acts to close and lock the closure.
35. A security apparatus as claimed in claim 34,
wherein said locking mechanism is disabled by being latched open in an first position and enabled by being unlatched from that first position.
wherein said locking mechanism is disabled by being latched open in an first position and enabled by being unlatched from that first position.