WO2018235048A1

WO2018235048A1 - Security container

Info

Publication number: WO2018235048A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/054623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johanna Susarah BARNARD; Gerald Kuisis
Original assignee: Barnard Johanna Susarah
Priority date: 2017-06-22
Filing date: 2018-06-22
Publication date: 2018-12-27

Abstract

This invention relates to a security container (1) and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a security container (1) for use in carrying cash in a secure or securable manner. The security container (1) includes a box (3) having wheels (4) for movably supporting the box (3) thereon, activation means (7) for activating restraining means (6) to selectively restrain movement of one or more of the wheels (4).

Description

SECURITY CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a security container and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a security container for use in carrying and/or transporting cash in a secure or securable manner.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cash in transit and so-called "cross pavement" containers and systems for securely containing and/or transporting cash or other valuables are well-known and widely used. Examples of such containers and systems are described below.

PCT patent publication number WO 2012061852 A1 , entitled "Cross pavement carrier for cash in transit system", discloses the following:

" The secure container (10) comprises an outer casing made up of two interengagable half shells (12, 14). Banknotes (26) are packaged into the container (10) and the container security mechanism includes a detonator that activates in response to an alarm signal to project dye from dye packs (16) into the money pack (26). The container (10) includes means to create a partial vacuum within the container (10), programmable logic means and a pressure sensor. In the event of a rapid loss of vacuum, when the container (10) is opened without authorisation, for instance, the programmable logic means applies the alarm signal as soon as the sensor detects the vacuum loss."

United States patent number US 5615625 A, entitled "System for the secure transportation of articles", discloses the following:

"A system for the secure transportation of articles such as cheques and bank notes comprises first and second docking stations at different locations, and a secure container which mates with the docking stations. The container has a number of lockable doors into which bank notes are fed by a feeder mechanism at the first docking station. The container has its own microcontroller which monitors the status of the doors and the integrity of the container, and which can respond to external control signals while it is in transit. Once the container has been loaded at one docking station, it is transported to the second docking station at a different location, where it can be unloaded. A one-time code is generated each time the container is loaded, and must be communicated to the second docking station before the container can be unloaded. Any attempt to tamper with the container while it is in transit results in the activation of a dye dispenser, which marks the contents of the container."

European patent application number EP 1222638 A1 , entitled "Container for valuables", discloses the following:

"A bank note cassette for use in an automatic teller machine is disclosed. The cassette is provided with a plurality of sensors (52, 54, 56, 58) and a plurality of security devices (60, 62, 64). A central controller (50) is responsive to the sensors for actuating the security devices depending upon the situation of the cassette. The cassette has an independent internal power supply (80, 82) and is thus stand-alone. The cassette is provided with a carrying handle (16) for moving the cassette from one location to another. This handle is movable between two positions for storage and for transit and can only be moved between these positions when an electronic card key is inserted into a reader (70) in the cassette. The number of times that the card is read, to allow movement of the handle, is monitored, this being directly related to the situation of the cassette, since in the normal course of events, the handle should only have to change position when certain events occur, namely on leaving a strong room, on being placed in a van for transit to the bank, for removal from the van and for insertion into the A TM. In dependence of this count, the controller selects sensors applicable to that situation for actuating selected security devices applicable to that situation."

PCT patent publication number WO 2012061851 A1 , entitled "Cash in transit system tamper evident bag", discloses the following:

"A cash in transit system including a secure container (10) with a cash hold (12) adapted to receive a stack of banknotes within a tamper evident bag (100). Electronically lockable doors (16) on the secure container (10) only open when the container is docked within a cash acceptance terminal. The tamper evident bag ( 100) includes tamper evident means (108, 110) moulded into a sealing collar (102) that extends about the upper periphery or mouth (104) of the bag (100), from which the body (106) of the bag (100) depends. When the bag (100) is fully closed, opening of the bag (100) is only possible through destruction of the tamper evident means (108, 110). The process of closing the bag (100) is automated and performed by the automatic door closing mechanism of the secure container (10)." OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a security container of the type described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a security container comprising a box having wheels for movably supporting the box thereon, activation means for activating restraining means to selectively restrain movement of one or more of the wheels.

There is provided for movement of one or more of the wheels to be restrained by the restraining means upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. A further feature of the invention provides for the predetermined event to be the transmission or receipt of an alarm signal and for the alarm signal to be sent in response to the activation or deactivation of a security switch.

The security switch may be included in a handle of the container.

A still further feature of the invention provides for one or more of the wheels to include holes for receiving a part of a pin of the restraining means therein when the restraining means is activated. There is provided for an actuator to actuate the movement of the pin from an armed position in which free movement of the wheel is unimpeded to a restraining position in which part of the pin is engaged in part of a hole in the wheel.

A controller controls the actuator in response to the alarm signal.

There is provided for the actuator to be a servo motor or solenoid.

There is provided for the alarm signal to be received by the controller when the security switch, located on a handle of the container, is activated or deactivated.

Alternatively, the alarm signal may be received by the controller due to the lack of the input of a code into a keypad of the container at predetermined intervals or upon the inputting of an incorrect code. Further alternatively also in cases where an operator of the container follows incorrect procedures.

The container may also include communication means for receiving an activation alarm signal from a remote location.

This invention extends to a method of securing the container comprising the steps of:

- receiving an alarm signal; and

- moving a restraining means to restrain movement of a wheel of the container in response to the receipt of the alarm signal. These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the security container;

Figure 2 shows a lower section of a rear view of the security container of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged rear view of a section proximate a wheel of the security container of figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of a wheel of the security container of figures

1 to 3;

Figure 5 shows a similar view as figure 3 but with the security container in a secured or restrained condition;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional rear view of a wheel section of the container of figures 1 to 5 in an armed condition; and Figure 7 shows the same view as figure 6 but with the container in a secured condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the drawings, a security container is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The security container 1 includes a box 3 with wheels 4 for movably supporting the box. There are two wheels 4 on a common axis. The axis is attached underneath the box toward one side thereof.

The wheels include a number of holes 5 spaced about a centre of the wheel, in a rim of the wheel. The container includes a handle 2 for ease of manual movement of the container.

Activation means 7 for activating restraining means, to selectively restrain movement of one or more of the wheels 4 are provided. The activation means may be a solenoid or servo motor, as is known in the art. The restraining means is in the form of a pin 6, movable between an armed position as shown in figures 2, 3 and 6 and an activated or restraining position as shown in figures 4, 5 and 7. In its armed position, the pin is moved away from the wheel to allow free rotation of the wheel. In its activated or restraining position, part of the pin locates in one of the holes of the wheel. The activation means is controlled by a controller 8 which receives an activation or alarm signal for activation of the activation means which, in turn, moves the restraining means from its armed to its restraining position. In use, the controller ensures that the actuator is armed in that the pin 6 is in its armed position wherein it does not impede free movement of the wheel or wheels of the box. Upon receipt of an alarm signal, the actuator is activated by the controller so that the pin is moved from its armed position towards it securing or retaining position in which part thereof extends into any one of the holes in the rim of the wheel or wheels. If the pin is not aligned with a hole in the rim, a bias is maintained on the pin so that it continues to abut the rim until, as the wheel turns and the pin aligns with one of the holes, the bias on the pin ensures that part of the pin moves into one of the holes.

The alarm signal may be received from a remote station at a communication means of the container or as a result of entering an incorrect identification code into a keypad of the container, or when the identification code is not entered into the keypad at predetermined intervals, or if the user follows incorrect procedures. Preferably however, the alarm signal is activated when a security switch or so-called "dead man's handle" located in or near the handle 2 is activated or deactivated. For example, when a handler of the case removes his hand from the handle in which the security switch is located the security switch is activated with the result that the pin is moved to its securing or retaining position. Once this has happened, the pin has to be reset to its armed position by entering a security code in a keypad connected to the controller physically depressing the security switch and physically moving the pin to its armed position or by another preapproved procedure. It is envisaged that the security container described herein will be convenient to use as, once activated, the wheel or wheels will be locked and retained in position and a thief cannot easily wheel the container away. The container may be too heavy and/or too large to carry and by restraining the wheels, it will be difficult for the thief to move the container.

Apart from the feature of restraining the wheels in case of an emergency, a container will include prior art security measures such as tempering alarms and dye spray devices to colour any cash it may carry in case of an emergency, as is known in the art.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein and those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A security container comprising a box having wheels for movably supporting the box thereon, activation means for activating restraining means to selectively restrain movement of one or more of the wheels.

2. A security container as claimed in claim 1 in which the movement of one or more of the wheels is restrained by the restraining means upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

3. A security container as claimed in claim 2 in which the predetermined event is the transmission or receipt of an alarm signal and for the alarm signal to be sent in response to the activation or deactivation of a security switch.

4. A security container as claimed in claim 3 in which the security switch is included in a handle of the container.

5. A security container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more of the wheels include holes for receiving a part of a pin of the restraining means therein when the restraining means is activated.

6. A security container as claimed in claim 5 in which an actuator actuates the movement of the pin from an armed position in which free movement of the wheel or wheels is unimpeded to a restraining position in which part of the pin is engaged in part of a hole in the wheel or wheels to restrain movement of the wheel or wheels.

7. A security container as claimed in claim 6 in which the actuator is actuated in response to the alarm signal.

8. A security container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the actuator is a servo motor or solenoid.

9. A security container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 in which the alarm signal is received by the controller when the security switch, located on a handle of the container, is activated or deactivated.

10. A security container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the alarm signal is received by the controller due to the lack of the input of a code into a keypad of the container at predetermined intervals or upon the inputting of an incorrect code.

1 1 . A security container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the alarm signal is received when an operator of the container follows incorrect procedures.

12. A security container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container includes communication means for receiving an activation alarm signal from a remote location.

13. A security container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the activation means is controlled by a controller.

14. A security container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 13 in which the security switch is activated or deactivated to send a signal through the controller to the activation means so that the pin is moved from its armed position to its restraining position when a hand of a handler of the container is removed from a handle of the container.

15. A method of securing a security container comprising the steps of:

receiving an alarm signal; and

moving a restraining means to restrain movement of a wheel of the container in response to the receipt of the alarm signal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 including the step of generating the alarm signal when a hand of a handler is removed from a handle of the container.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 including the step of generating an alarm signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 including the step of generating an alarm signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event being receipt of an alarm signal generated in response to a signal sent from a remote location to the controller or to an incorrect activation procedure or to an incorrect code inputted in a keypad in communication with a controller or the activation means.