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(11) | EP 1 331 615 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | SAFETY MONEY BOX FOR PUBLIC TELEPHONES |
| (57) The body of the cashbox is structured by means of two casings, one internal (1) and
another external (2), between which a cavity (3) is established that houses any means
that is considered opportune to prevent the perforation of the wall of the cashbox,
like for example metal bands, rods, balls, bars, abrasive elements or others. The
access door (8) to the cashbox is provided with an opening system that consists of
two mechanisms, one external consisting in a ball lock (4) that acts on a set of bolts
(7), and another entirely internal (9) that acts to block the bolts (7) and that is
materialised preferably in an electro-mechanism operable by means of validation of
an access code. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cashbox for public telephones that has been specially designed and structured in order to avoid the fraudulent extraction of the collection of the telephone, both by violation of the cashbox itself and by improper operation of its means of locking.
[0002] The invention is of application in the field of public telephony, specifically within the ambit of devices for the collection of coins, tokens or any other means of payment that is defined.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the public telephones that accept coins as means of payment, there is an internal cashbox wherein the collection is deposited until it is recovered by the personnel authorized for this purpose.
[0004] This cashbox is frequently subjected to fraudulent actions by drills, blowtorches or any other means of perforation. This is the reason why this type of device is usually manufactured with high-strength materials and equipped with a security lock.
[0005] However the use of the mentioned materials, besides making the cashbox significantly more expensive, does not signify an adequate degree of protection since the perforation operations are merely hindered and their occurrence is not prevented, since as it is a matter of a rigid element, this can finally be perforated by a drill, blowtorch or any other means of those commonly used for such an end. In like manner security locks can also be forced.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The cashbox that the invention proposes resolves in a fully satisfactory manner the problem outlined above and for this its characteristics are based on the use, for the cashbox body, of a dual casing defined by an internal enclosure and another external, between which a chamber is established that allows the interposing of different types of elements such as metal bands, rods, balls, bars or any other means that is considered opportune to prevent the violation of the cashbox and subsequent removal of the collection deposited therein.
[0007] On the other hand the system for opening the enclosure of the cashbox basically comprises a bolt operated by means of a key of those termed " ball keys", and a system for blocking said bolt, with the special particularity that this blocking system is inside the enclosure of the cashbox and is therefore inaccessible, it being impossible to open the door of the cashbox no matter how much the key of the bolt is manipulated.
[0008] This system of blocking the bolt is achieved by means of a motor or any other means of operation that is considered opportune, a pawl and a worm screw, operatively coupled. Preferably, the operation of the blocking system will be activated after the validation of an access code via the telephone keypad. Notwithstanding, such operation can be implemented by any other means that is considered opportune, since it is simply a question of sending a certain electric signal to the electro-mechanism.
[0009] The type of blocking key employed permits that when the bolt is blocked and it is attempted to actuate the key, the " loose" turning of said key occurs when the maximum force for opening is surpassed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] To complete the description that is being made and for the purpose of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, as an integral part of said description, the same is accompanied with a set of drawings in which by way of illustration and not restrictively, the following has been represented:
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation in front elevation of the enclosure of a security cashbox for public telephones implemented in accordance with the object of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a profile in cross-section of the cashbox represented in the preceding figure.
Figure 3 shows a cross-section in plan view of the same cashbox, according to the cut along line A-B of figure 1.
Figure 4 shows, finally, another cross-section in plan view of the cashbox, in this case according to the cut along line C-D of figure 1.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In the light of the figures mentioned it can be seen how the cashbox proposed is constituted by means of an internal casing (1) and an external casing (2), enclosing the first one, that define between each other a cavity (3) wherein are housed the elements that are considered appropriate for establishing a certain level of protection against perforation of the cashbox and subsequent removal of the collection deposited in its interior. In this sense and as has already been mentioned, in said cavity (3) metal bands, rods, balls, bars, abrasive elements or any other means can be included that are considered opportune for preventing the action of conventional means of perforation.
[0012] Thanks to this double wall of the cashbox an effective protection is achieved against perforation of the enclosure as well as a reduction in the technical requirements of the material that constitutes each of the two cases (1-2), for a same level of protection.
[0013] Complementarily and from the point of view of opening the cashbox incorporates a central key (4) that acts simultaneously on two guides (5), opposite each other, provided with respective racks (6), being associated to each of these guides a pair of bolts (7) for blocking the door (8) of the cashbox over the mouth of the body thereof, in correspondence with four points relatively close to its corners.
[0014] With the bolts (7) an electro-mechanism (9) collaborates which, through a blocking element (10) immobilizes the bolts (7) in the closed position, so that in said position the withdrawal of said bolts (7) proves impossible no matter how much it is attempted to actuate the central key (4), since on surpassing a level of force in the operation thereof and as is habitual, the latter disengages from the guides (5), through a system of balls rotating " loosely" without transmitting any movement.
[0015] With the electro-mechanism (9) a lateral key (11) collaborates that also acts to block the bolts (7) operable through the main key (4).
[0016] Having an electromechanical device that works the blocking system of the bolt makes it possible for the removal of the collection contained in the cashbox to be controlled or be initiated from the element that collects the coins, tokens or similar means of payment, with the increased security that this implies. Thus, any authorization mechanism validated from this collector element, like an access code or similar procedures for example, will imply the actuation of the blocking mechanism of the bolt.
[0017] Once the blocking is withdrawn and by means of a purpose-designed handle, the collection personnel will operate the key (4) of the door (8) of the cashbox, after which it will be possible to remove said door leaving it suspended by a single hinge (12), particularly visible in figure 4, as a supporting element.
[0018] In the event that the access code introduced were not validated, the motor that works the blocking system (9) would receive no power supply and the final result would be that the blocking pins (10) would remain in the initial position, impeding the movement of the bolts (7).
1. Security cashbox for public telephones, characterised in that the body thereof is constituted by means of two casings (1) and (2), one internal
and another external, between which a cavity (3) is established that allows the interposing
of elements such as metal bands, rods, balls, bars, abrasive elements or any other
means that is considered opportune to enhance the degree of resistance of the double
wall of the cashbox against the different methods of perforation.
2. Security cashbox for public telephones, according to claim 1, characterised in that the bolts (7) for blocking the door (8) to the internal case (1) in the closed position,
operable by means of a central lock (4), are assisted by a motor-driven blocking system
(9), materialised in an electro-mechanism that activates in turn a pin (10) or any
other mechanism of blocking the mentioned bolts (7) in the closed position for these
last items, these elements, the key (4) of the bolts (7) and the electro-mechanism
(9) for blocking thereof, being clearly separated in the body of the cashbox.
3. Security cashbox for public telephones, according to claim 2, characterised in that the lock (4) for operating the bolts (7) it is a ball lock so that when a force is
applied thereto that surpasses a predetermined value with the bolts (7) in the blocked
position, the key disengages from the bolts (7) and turns " loosely" rendering impossible
the transmission of force.
4. Security cashbox for public telephones, according to claim 3, characterised in that the door (8) is connected with the internal case (1) through a hinge (12) from which
said door is suspended when the withdrawal of the bolts (7) takes place.
5. Security cashbox for public telephones, according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that while the opening key (4) is of external access, the electro-mechanism (9), that
is to say the motor-driven system for blocking/unblocking of the bolts (7), is entirely
inside the case (1).
6. Security cashbox for public telephones, according to preceding claims, characterised in that the operation of the electro-mechanism (9) for unblocking the bolts (7) takes place
through an internal mechanism of validation, either by validation of an access code
or any other validation system.