Safe box

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a safe box, comprising a fixed frame (2) and a door (3) hinged to said fixed frame (2). The door (3) has a side, the lower and upper extremities of which are respectively connected to a lower corner projection (17) of the base of the frame and to an upper corner projection (18) of the top of the frame through respective pin hinges (22, 28). At least one of said corner projections (17,18) or of said extremities of the side of the door (3) support a second pin (21) which enters a corresponding slot (26) having an arched shape which limits the rotation of the door (3). In addition, one of the pin hinges (22, 28) is hollow to allow the passage from the fixed frame (2) to the door (2) of electrical conductors (38) powering the electrical equipment mounted on the door (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a safe boxCurrently the safe boxes used in banks, jewellery stores, offices and other places where money, precious objects, confidential documents etc need to be stored are devices of an essentially functional interest, in other words their prime requirement is to be safe and as burglar proof as possible without much attention being paid to their aesthetic role.Just think, for example, how often in banks, offices or finely furnished homes one sees safe boxes which compared to the rest of the furnishings leave much to be desired as regards aesthetics.One of the elements which certainly does not add to the aesthetic appeal of safe boxes is the presence of hinges.Said hinges, which are functionally essential in that they permit, in effect, hinging of the door to the rest of the safe box, from an aesthetic point of view are elements which interrupt the continuity of the external surface of the safe box, making it less attractive.It should also be pointed out that, when the door of the safe box is fitted with an electronic type lock, the electric power supply cables pass from the body of the safe box to the door through the hinge itself, which thus often has a shape and size conditional to this further function.

[0002] Lastly, the hinge of the safe box is sometimes sized and shaped so as to form a stop to the rotation of the door.

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to propose a safe box in which the door is connected to the body by means of a hinge system concealed from view, to the advantage of the aesthetic appearance of the safe box, and in any case suitable for forming a passage for the electric cables and a stop to rotation of the door.

[0004] Such purpose is achieved by a safe box according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the safe box.

[0005] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will, however, be more evident from the description below made by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

• figure 1 shows a perspective view of a safe box according to the present invention, in a configuration with the door open;
• figure 2 shows a perspective view from below of the separate parts of the safe box in figure 1;
• figure 3 shows a perspective view from above of the separate parts of the safe box in figure 1;
• figure 4 shows a perspective view partially in cross-section of the two pintles comprised in the safe box in figure 1;
• figure 5 shows a perspective view of the two pintles in figure 4;
• figure 6 shows a perspective view of the safe box in figure 1, with portions of electric power supply cable visible;
• figure 7 shows a perspective view of an upper wall of the safe box in figure 1 with the electric power supply cable of figure 6 visible.

[0006] With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes, in its entirety, a safe box according to the present invention.

[0007] The safe box 1 comprises a fixed frame 2 and a door 3 hinged to the fixed frame 2.

[0008] The fixed frame 2 comprises a base 5, two side walls 4, a bottom 7, which extends vertically from the base 5 along a longitudinal axis Y, and a top 6, opposite the base 5.

[0009] At least one of the walls of the fixed frame 2, for instance the top 6, supports at least one lighting device 10 to illuminate the inside of the safe box when it is opened.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the door 3 is fitted with a locking mechanism 33 comprising at least one brace 67 for moving locking pins 35.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism 33 comprises an upper brace 67b and a lower brace 67a, translating vertically between a rearward position (of mutual approach), wherein the locking pins 35, dragged by the braces 67, disengage from the body of the safe box, and a forward position (of mutual distancing), wherein the locking pins 35 engage in the body of the safe box.

[0012] In addition, the locking mechanism 33 comprises a right brace 67d and a left brace 67c which can be moved in the same way as the vertical braces 67a, 67b, but in a horizontal direction.

[0013] An electronic locking device 68 is associated with at least one of the braces 67 and permits moving of the brace 67 only when the locking device 68 is released by the user, for instance, by entering a code.

[0014] When the electronic locking device 68 is blocked however, it is not possible to act on the braces 67.

[0015] The electronic locking device 68 comprises a control console 34, which includes a keypad for entering the code and a display, incorporated in an outer wall of the door 3.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism 33 and the electronic locking device 34 are contained in a box element 70 which projects from the interior wall of the door 3 towards the interior of the fixed frame 2 of the safe box.

[0017] On the side facing the door 3, the fixed frame 2 defines a frame 11 comprising two cross members 12a, 12b and two uprights 13a, 13b so that, upon closing, the interior wall of the door 3 hits against these while the box element 70 is inserted in said frame.

[0018] Said cross members 12a, 12b and said uprights 13a, 13b comprise housing seats 14 of the locking pins 35.

[0019] The base 5 of the fixed frame 2 comprises a lower corner projection 17 projecting forwards in relation to the side walls 4 and acting as a fixed element of a lower pintle 60 for hinging the door to 3 the frame.

[0020] Similarly, the top 6 of the frame comprises an upper corner projection 18 projecting forwards in relation to the side walls 4 and acting as a fixed element of an upper pintle 61 for hinging the door to 3 the frame.

[0021] Correspondingly, the door 3 comprises a continuous side hinged to the frame 2, at the respective lower and upper extremities of which the mobile element 24 of the lower pintle 60 projecting forwards in relation to the side walls 4 and acting as a fixed element, and the mobile element 29 of the upper pintle 61, projecting forwards in relation to the side walls 4 and acting as a fixed element, are made.

[0022] In other words, the door 3 is hinged at the base 5 and at the top 6 of the fixed frame 2 by respective lower 60 and upper pintles 61, which are hidden from view inasmuch as covered by the thickness of the side hinged to the door 3 and by the projecting lower 17 and upper 18 corner projections of the fixed frame 2, said three elements being aligned with each other.

[0023] According to one advantageous embodiment, the base 5 extends sufficiently forwards to form a lower front projection 15 essentially equal to the thickness of the door 3 and above which the door 3 sits when closed on the frame 2.

[0024] Similarly, the top 6 too extends sufficiently forwards to form an upper front projection 16 essentially equal to the thickness of the door 3 and under which the door 3 sits when closed on the frame.

[0025] The lower 17 and upper 18 corner projections are formed in said lower 15 and upper 16 front projections, respectively.

[0026] Consequently, when in a closed configuration, the safe box 1 has an essentially continuous front surface, obtained by aligning the front wall of the door 3 with the lower 15 and upper 16 projections of the fixed frame 2.

[0027] Advantageously, this gives the safe box an aesthetic value inasmuch as lacking the usual unattractive external hinges and having instead a continuous, smooth exterior surface.

[0028] The fixed element 17 of the lower pintle 60 comprises a fixed block 76 in which two through holes 19, 20 are formed and in which a first and a second pin 21, 22, are respectively inserted.

[0029] In particular, the first pin 22 is used to hinge the door 3 and is hollow.

[0030] In fact, as well as performing the function of supporting the door 3, it also permits the passage inside it of the electric cables 38 destined to power the electric devices present in the safe box 1, as will be further described below.

[0031] The second pin 21 may, however, have a solid section.

[0032] The part of said pins 21, 22 projecting from the fixed element 17 of the lower pintle 60 engages in the mobile part 24 of the lower pintle 60, that is in the lower extremity of the side of the door 3.

[0033] In particular, in said lower part of the side of the door 3 there is a mobile block 77 in which a first through hole 25 is formed, able to receive the hollow hinge pin 22 and a slot, 26, for instance blind, able to receive the second pin 21. The slot 26 is essentially an arched shape.

[0034] In conditions of use, during movement of the door 3, the slot 26 moves in relation to the solid pin 21 so that abutment of this against the extremities of the slot determines the maximum width of rotation of the door 3.

[0035] In other words, the slot-pin coupling acts as a limit position for the door 3.

[0036] The coupling of the two elements of the lower pintle 60, fixed and mobile 17, 24, thus allows the hinging of the lower part of the door 3 to the fixed frame 2.

[0037] From the fixed element 18 of the upper pintle 61 an upper pin hinge 28 extends downwards. Said pin 28 enters a corresponding hole 27 made in the upper extremity of the side of the door 3.

[0038] The coupling of the two parts of the upper pintle 61, fixed 18 and mobile 29, thus allows the hinging of the upper part of the door 3 to the top of the fixed frame 2.

[0039] In other words, after assembly, the door 3 is kept in position by the supporting effect of the pins 28, 22 respectively in the upper and lower part, while the pin 21 which engages in the slot 26 of the pintle 60 placed in the lower part of the door 3 has the function of limiting its maximum excursion during rotation.

[0040] The axes of the pins 28, 22 respectively supporting the door 3 to the fixed frame 2 in the upper and lower part of the safe box 1, must be coaxial in order to permit rotation of the door 3.

[0041] In other words, after assembly, the door 3 is free to rotate around an axis Z passing through the two rotation pins 28, 22.

[0042] Clearly, the lower 22 and upper 28 pin hinges, as well as the limit position pin 21, can be joined to the door 3 rather than to the fixed frame 2, just as the limit position slot 26 may be made in the fixed block 76 of the pintle 60, rather than in the mobile block 77 of the mobile part 24 of the pintle 60.

[0043] Advantageously, to remedy any misalignment of the door 3 in relation to the frame 2, the lower pin hinge 22 engages above in an undercut 25' made in the relative hole 25 in the mobile block 77 and has an accessible base 22' which can be engaged by a tool to adjust the axial position of the pin 22 and thereby adjust the height of the entire door 3. For example, the pin 22 may be screwed more or less into the lower block 76, so as to determine, by the engagement of the upper extremity of the pin 22 in the undercut 25' made in the mobile block 77, the height of the latter and thereby of the door 3. According to one embodiment, the pin 22 is guided in a self lubricating boss 48 and abuts above against a washer 49, made for example from manganese or other particularly resistant material.

[0044] Once screwed up, the pin 22 is kept in the predefined position by a transversal locking pin 51.

[0045] As said above, the door 3 comprises the mobile braces 67, locking mechanism 33, the electronic locking device 68 is able to block /release said braces 67, and the control console 34 the electronic locking device 68.

[0046] Starting from a configuration with a safe box locked, and therefore a configuration in which the door 3 is closed and the locking pins 35 engage the relative holes 14, when the electronic locking device 68 releases the braces 67 the braces can move so as to disengage the pins 35 from the holes 14 and thereby permit opening of the door 3.

[0047] Advantageously, an electric switch 90 controlling the lighting device 36 is connected to one of the braces 67.

[0048] In practice, when the braces 67 are drawn back to open the door 3, the switch 90 closes an electric power supply circuit of the lighting device 10, which thus comes on automatically.

[0049] Consequently, the following electrical equipment is associated with the safe box 1: the electronic locking device 68, the control console 34 and switch 90, on the door 3; the lighting device 10, fitted on the fixed frame 2.

[0050] A particularly advantageous method of electrically powering these devices will now be described.

[0051] The base 5 comprises an electrical socket 37 for the connection of the safe box 1 to the electrical power supply.

[0052] A first section 38a of electric cable, comprising the electrical conductors powering the devices mentioned above, runs within the base 5 of the fixed frame 2, from the power supply socket 37 to the lower corner projection 17 of the base 5 itself, acting as the lower fixed pintle.

[0053] According to one embodiment, such corner projection 17 of the base 5 defines, beside the block 76 bearing the pins 21, 22, a compartment 66 into which the electric cable runs 38a.

[0054] The electrical conductors of the electronic locking device 68 of the control console 34 contained in the electric cable 38a pass through the hollow pin hinge 22 and go into a second section of electric cable 38b which, from the through hole 25 made in the block of the mobile element 24 of the lower pintle 60, guides them into the door 3 so that they reach the relative equipment to be powered.

[0055] Advantageously, the block 76 bearing the hollow pin 22 has a lateral opening 65 through which it is possible to guide the electrical conductors inside the hollow pin 22 through its downward facing head for example.

[0056] One of the two electric power cables of the lighting device 10 also enters the door 3 through the hollow pin 22 and reaches the switch associated with one of the blocking braces 67.

[0057] Then, said conductor returns, tracing back its steps through the hollow pin 2, to the compartment 66 of the fixed element 17 of the lower pintle 60.

[0058] This conductor, together with another conductor of opposite polarity, comes out of said compartment 66 through a lateral aperture and goes into a third section of electric cable 38c which takes it inside the base 5, then along a vertical wall of the fixed frame and then into the top 6, for connection to the lighting device 10.

[0059] Consequently, the passage of the electric cables inside the safe box 1 is designed so as to be completely hidden from view and not influence the shape or size of the door 3 or of its hinging mechanisms to the fixed frame, even slightly.

Claims

1. Safe box, comprising:

- a fixed frame (2);

- a door (3) hinged to said fixed frame (2),

the fixed frame (2) comprising:

- a base (5), side walls (4), a bottom (7) and a top (6) opposite the base (5),

characterised by the fact that said door (3) has a side whose lower and upper extremities are respectively connected to a lower corner projection (17) of the base and to an upper corner projection (18) of the top by means of respective pin hinges (22, 28), wherein at least one of said corner projections (17, 18) or of said extremities of the side of the door (3) support a second pin (21) which is inserted into a corresponding slot (26) having an arched shape which limits rotation of the door (3), and wherein one of the pin hinges (22,28) is hollow to allow passage from the fixed frame (2) to the door (3) of electrical conductors (38) which power electrical devices mounted on the door (3).

2. Safe box in accordance with claim 1, in which the lower corner projection (17) functions as fixed element of a lower pintle (60) for hinging the door (3) to the fixed frame (2).

3. Safe box in accordance with the previous claim, wherein the upper corner projection (18) functions as fixed element of an upper pintle (61) for hinging the door (3) to the fixed frame (2).

4. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein the base (5) and the top (6) extend forward to form, respectively, lower and upper front projections (15, 16) substantially equal in thickness to the door (3), above and beneath which the door (3) lies when it is closed on the frame (2), the lower and upper corner projections (17, 18) being obtained from these front projections.

5. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein in the lower and upper extremities of the side hinged to the frame (2) of door (3), a mobile element (24) of the lower hinge (60) and a mobile element (29) of the upper hinge (61), respectively, are provided.

6. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein the lower pin hinge (22) engages above with an undercut (25') created in the related hole (25) in the mobile block (77) and has a base (22') which is accessible and can be engaged with a tool for adjustment of the axial position of the pin (22) and therefore for height adjustment of the entire door (3).

7. Safe box in accordance with the previous claim, wherein the axial position of the lower pin hinge (22) is maintained by a transversal locking screw (51).

8. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, comprising a locking mechanism (33) connected with the door (3) and including at least one brace (67) for handling the locking pins (35), at least one of the braces (67) being connected with an electronic locking device (68) which permits movement of the brace (67) only when the lock (68) is unlocked by the user.

9. Safe box in accordance with the previous claim, in which the electronic locking device (68) includes a control console (34) incorporated in the external wall of the door (3).

10. Safe box in accordance with the previous claim, in which the locking mechanism (33) and the electronic lock (34) are contained in a box element (70) which projects from the interior wall of the door (3) towards the interior of the safe box fixed frame (2).

11. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which at least one wall of the fixed frame (2) houses at least one lighting device (10) which is switched on when the safe box is opened.

12. Safe box in accordance with claim 11, in which the lighting device (10) is controlled by an electrical switch (90) that detects the movement of at least one of the braces (67) of the locking mechanism.

13. Safe box in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the base (5) includes an electric power socket (37) and in which an electrical cable (38a), including the electrical conductors powering the electrical devices in the safe box, runs within the base (5) of the fixed frame (2), from the power supply socket (37) to the lower corner projection (17) of the base (5).

14. Safe box in accordance with the previous claim, in which the power supply conductors for electronic locking (68) and the control console (34) contained in the electrical cable (38a) pass through the hollow pin hinge (22) and are inserted into a second electrical cable (38b) which takes them into the door (3) in such a way as to connect them with the related devices to be supplied.

15. Safe box in accordance with claim 14, in which one of the two supply conductors of the lighting device (10) enters the door (3) by way of the hollow pin (22) and is taken to the switch (90), returning through the hollow pin in the fixed element (17) of the lower pintle (60) and, together with another conductor of the opposite pole, is inserted into a third electrical cable (38c) which takes these conductors to the lighting device (10).

Drawing