EP0340078A1 - Safe, particularly for accounting access means or other objects for monitored usage - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a safe comprising a cupboard (1) equipped at the front with a door (6) normally closed by means of a bolt (40) released by at least one electromagnet (39) made live under the effect of a door-opening means (38, 49, 50, 53), and a rear back (3) opposite the door. <??>The invention is characterised in that it comprises, arranged inside the cupboard (1) on an intermediate plate (16) parallel to, but separated from the back of this cupboard, at least one receiving housing (29) for at least one protected access means (30) or another similar article which can be removed from its housing only after the opening of the door and the release of a flap (31) protecting said access means, the intermediate plate (16) supporting members (23, 24, 25, 26) for checking and counting the movements of the access means in relation to its housing and for verifying predetermined parameters capable of allowing the retraction of this means and then of monitoring its correct return before the closing of the door. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a safety box, making it possible to control and manage the use of means, in particular of the kind of keys, badges, magnetic cards or the like, giving access to premises or enclosures, cupboards or similar closed entities, in particular by providing detailed and complete information, for example on the movements and use of these means, the identity of users, the times and durations of these uses and any other parameters that may be desired to ensure thorough monitoring. The invention applies in the same way to the management of similar objects to carry out a control of the use of these only by authorized persons, under predetermined conditions.

At present, it is conventional to have inside a box provided with a window or other screen of the same kind, a key necessary for the opening of an access door to a room or a closed enclosure. To allow the user to take this key to open the room closed by the door, it is usually essential to have an ordinary key or other similar opening means to access the interior of the box, or , in an emergency, to break the window, allowing only during this opening to notify if necessary a central control. In particular, these rudimentary systems do not in any way make it possible to manage the movements of the key contained in the box and in particular to know who took it, at what time, for what use, and also when it was put back in place and again by whom. Similarly, these systems do not make it possible to differentiate the authorizations available to certain people to the exclusion of others, for taking and using the key placed in the box, according to the hours or the destination of the key. As an indication, reference may in particular be made in relation to these known systems to those described in the European patent applications published EP-AO 104 072 or EP-AO 86 617, which illustrate safety boxes for keys or similar objects but which do not allow complete management of the movements of these keys in time and space, according to their destinations, their modes of use, the identity of their users, the rights of use of the latter and the conditions under which they are empowered to exercise these rights.

It is therefore understandable the advantage of a system which, on the contrary, makes it possible to completely control the use and movements of the access means or means enclosed in the box, or of similar objects, this box being able to contain one or more of such means or objects, arranged side by side and only some of which can be used by specific users, the others being reserved for different users, for equally distinct uses.

The subject of the invention is therefore a safety box which makes it possible to authorize temporary access to at least one opening means housed in the box or to a similar object, only on condition that the user justifies of a right of use, authorizing only the opening of this box, it being further arranged to record and control the movements of the access means or means or other object, by identifying all the parameters characterizing these movements.

To this end, the box considered, comprising a cabinet provided at the front with a door normally closed by a bolt released by an electromagnet energized by a door opening means, personalized to the user, and a rear bottom, provided at the opposite the door, is characterized in that it comprises, arranged inside the cabinet on an intermediate sheet, parallel but separate from the bottom of this cabinet, at least one receiving housing for at least one means of protected access or other similar object, which can only be removed from its housing after the door has been opened and a protective flap for said access means has been released, the intermediate sheet supporting movement control and counting members of the means of access with respect to its housing and of verification of predetermined parameters, suitable for authorizing the withdrawal of this means and then controlling its correct replacement before closing the door.

According to a particular characteristic of the box in question, the bottom of the cabinet has inward, fixing lugs supporting studs for anchoring the cabinet on a support surface, these studs being associated by their threaded ends, located inside the cabinet, with locking and immobilization nuts, not accessible from the outside when the door is closed.

Advantageously, the fixing studs comprise at the end a hole for the establishment of an inviolable seal, in order to control any possible tearing of the box. In addition, the cabinet preferably comprises, between its bottom and the support surface, an electrical contact joined to a control center, disposed near or at a distance, recording any possible movement of the cabinet.

According to another characteristic, the bottom of the cabinet supports a connection strip for the passage through this bottom of electrical connection conductors, joining the control unit to all of the command and / or control members, mounted in the cabinet.

According to another characteristic also, the intermediate sheet supports, in its face directed towards the door, a counter with digital or other display, recording the number of successive openings and / or closings of the cabinet. Advantageously, the sheet also supports an electroluminescent diode, in order to signal the presence or absence of the access means in its housing. Similarly, the intermediate sheet advantageously includes a loudspeaker for sound warning of the opening of the cabinet, associated at the rear of the sheet with an adjustable control and amplification circuit.

According to yet another characteristic of the cabinet according to the invention, the cabinet comprises, between the intermediate sheet and its bottom, a backup battery or the autonomous supply of the organs of the cabinet and a barrel for receiving a key or the like, to reset the display counter.

Preferably also, the cabinet comprises, mounted on the intermediate sheet, a parking meter, possibly connected to a recorder, of the printer type, capable of memorizing the movements of the access means in and out of its housing.

According to another particular characteristic of the box under consideration, the protective flap of the access means is mounted tilting about an axis and controls in its movement a three-position contact, respectively giving information on the presence of the access means in its housing, on its removal and finally on its possible incorrect positioning, the contact being in series with the electromagnet control circuit door closing.

Preferably, the means for opening the door of the cabinet consists of a key, a badge, a keypad or an infrared wave receiver, carried by the outside face of the door. An electrical contact is advantageously provided to control the opening of the door and is for this purpose mounted between the latter and the part of the cabinet against which it is applied in the closed position.

• - la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective écla­tée d'un coffret de sécurité selon l'invention ;
• - la Figure 2 est une vue de face à plus gran­de échelle de l'armoire du coffret, la porte de cette armoire étant représentée en position d'ouverture;
• - la Figure 3 est un schéma de principe illus­trant de façon schématique les logements destinés à re­cevoir les moyens d'accès contenus dans le coffret, et le contacteur qui contrôle le positionnement de chaque moyen dans le logement correspondant ;
• - la Figure 4 est une vue à plus faible échel­le, de profil, illustrant la structure du volet de pro­tection, prévu à l'intérieur de l'armoire;
• - les Figures 5 et 6 illustrent deux variantes de réalisation de la porte disposée à l'avant de l'ar­moire du coffret selon l'invention.

Other characteristics of a safety box established in accordance with the invention will become more apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which :

• - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a safety box according to the invention;
• - Figure 2 is a front view on a larger scale of the cabinet of the cabinet, the door of this cabinet being shown in the open position;
• - Figure 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the housings intended to receive the access means contained in the box, and the contactor which controls the positioning of each means in the corresponding housing;
• - Figure 4 is a view on a smaller scale, in profile, illustrating the structure of the protective flap, provided inside the cabinet;
• - Figures 5 and 6 illustrate two alternative embodiments of the door disposed at the front of the cabinet of the cabinet according to the invention.

As can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the box under consideration essentially consists of a cabinet 1, generally metallic, with walls which are sufficiently resistant to avoid external aggression. This cabinet 1 has walls side 2, a bottom wall 3 intended to be applied against a wall or support surface M, and opposite to this, a front wall 4, having a return 5 towards the inside and a pivoting door 6 , hinged around hinges 7 so as to allow, open or close an opening 8 to access the interior of the cabinet. The outer face 9 of the bottom plate 3, applied against the wall M, is crossed by anchor studs 10, preferably four in number, arranged according to the four corners of the bottom, these studs comprising at their ends penetrating into the wall a blooming 11. They are supported inside the cabinet 1 beyond the bottom 3 by lugs 12, welded on this bottom and having an end shoulder 13. At the end, each stud 10 which passes through the 'shoulder 13 corresponding, has a thread 14 which, after crossing a hole 15 provided in the corners opposite an intermediate sheet 16, parallel but separated from the bottom 3, has a transverse bore 17, allowing, after mounting and immobilization studs on the legs by a nut 18 screwed onto their threaded part 14, the mounting of a seal or seal 19, capable of controlling the inviolability of the box and in particular its possible tearing away from the wall M. Advantageously is provided in the outer face 9 from the bottom 3, a contactor 20 allowing, in the event that the cabinet is detached from the wall M following an attempt to tear off, to supply an appropriate signal to a control center (not shown), located at in the immediate vicinity of the box or, if necessary, at a distance from it.

On the inner face of the bottom 3 is also provided a terminal block or connecting bar 21, to which leads all of the electrical connections of the devices mounted in the cabinet, these connections can be gathered at the control center to allow, as said below, an adapted management of all the parameters which govern the use of the box and the organs it contains.

Between the intermediate sheet 16 and the bottom 3, the lugs 12 thus make it possible to reserve sufficient space for the mounting, next to the terminal block 21, of a backup battery 22, constituting an autonomous source of electrical supply to the box, that -this can in normal operation be powered by the sector. In addition and on the opposite face of the sheet 16 is provided a counter 23 with digital or other display, making it possible in particular to note the number of successive openings or closings of the pivoting door 6 giving access to the interior of the box. Also this intermediate sheet 16 supports a loudspeaker 24, playing the role of an alarm in the event of authorized or unauthorized operation of the device with, at the rear of the sheet, its control and amplification circuit, a diode electro-luminescent 25 and finally a parking meter 26, if necessary associated with a printer 27, making it possible to record the various parameters governing the operation of the cabinet.

On the front of the sheet 16 is mounted a housing 28, provided with a set of housings or parallel barrels 29, each adapted to receive an access means 30, here a key, making it possible to open or close a housing or other enclosure, separate from the cabinet 1 and for which it is desired at any time and according to the invention, to be able to identify the means of access which has been used, the time of this use and the identity of the user.

In the embodiment shown, the access means thus contained in the cabinet 1, here at number of three, are schematically designated under the references a, b, c. Of course, it goes without saying that the safety box considered could provide for the implementation of any number of such means, this number itself being indifferent to the invention and not having a directly limiting character.

The access means 30 are normally arranged inside a pivoting protective flap 31, mounted at articulation around an axis 32 carried by the intermediate sheet 16. This flap 31 has two inclined front faces, respectively 33 and 34 and side walls 35. In addition, the access means 30 engaged in their housings 29 under the flap 31 are arranged so that, as the case may be, they close one of the positions of a three-way contactor. terminals, schematically represented in FIG. 3, corresponding to the opening (O), the closing (F) or an intermediate position (I), the key being in this case not fully engaged or withdrawn in or out of its housing. The diode 25 makes it possible in particular to signal whether the key 30 is in one or the other of these positions, for example being lit if the key is withdrawn.

The intermediate sheet 16 finally comprises a device 36 for resetting the counters and other signaling members of the cabinet to zero, comprising a barrel 37 for engaging an appropriate special key available only for example for a user responsible for verifying and recording the indications of the box after a determined period of use.

In the return 5 of the front face 4 of the cabinet 1, there is also provided the input 38 of a means for controlling the opening of the door 6, in particular here a magnetic card, allowing an authorized user, having such a card, automatically causing the powering of an electromagnet 39 housed in the cabinet 1. This electromagnet thus attracts a locking bolt 40, suitable for cooperating with a keeper 41 provided in the door 6 in order to close the latter when the bolt is out, or on the contrary when the electro -magnet is energized, to attract this bolt, then releasing the striker 41 and the door 6 which can thus pivot on the hinges 7, releasing the access opening 8. Contacts 42 and 43 are respectively provided on the internal face of the door 6 and the rim 5 of the cabinet 1 in order to automatically detect the opening or closing positions of the door. A second light-emitting diode 44, or other similar indicator, can also be provided on the front face of the door 6, in order to signal the opening or closing positions of the latter. In FIG. 1, all the electrical equipment of the box, in particular the counter 23, the loudspeaker 24, the diodes 25 and 44, the parking meter 26, the contacts 20, 42 and 43 etc ... are represented with each two electrical connecting conductors, all joined by appropriate wiring to the strip 21.

Figure 2 shows in more detail, the structure of the electromagnet 39. In particular, it can be seen that the bolt 40 is preferably permanently subjected to the action of a spring 45, intended to do so permanently protrude outward to engage in keeper 41, when the coil of this electromagnet is de-energized. On the other hand, when the electromagnet is controlled, the bolt 40 is drawn against the spring 45, thereby releasing the door 6. Advantageously, a second electromagnet 46 can be provided, operating in parallel with the electro- magnet 39, to ensure better locking of the door at its two ends.

In Figure 2, there is also shown under the reference 47 the three-position contact (O, F or I) associated with each housing 29 receiving a key 30, to control the open, closed or intermediate position of this key. This contactor 47 is notably mounted in the circuit of the electromagnet 39 so that the opening of the door can only produce if the key is suitably engaged in its housing and brought into the closed position (F). In the open (O) or intermediate (I) position, the door cannot be replaced, the head of the key blocking the flap 31 in its middle part 48, partially pushing the flap back and preventing the door from closing by the bolt 40.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate other alternative embodiments of the opening means 38 of the door 6 of the box according to the invention. In FIG. 5, the rim 5 of the front face 4 thus comprises a keyboard 49 with keys, making it possible to control the electromagnet after entering a determined code. Likewise, the front face of the door 6 may comprise cannons, respectively 50, 51, 52, suitable for each receiving an appropriate key, each of which is associated with a particular user, thus distinguishing from one to the other. each of the potential users. In the variant of FIG. 6, the door 6 can be opened by means of an infrared ray receiver 53, remotely controlled by a transmitter 54, again also available to authorized users only.

The box according to the invention thus produced makes it possible to ensure simple and complete management of the movement of all of the access means 30 enclosed inside the cabinet 1, by not authorizing the opening of the latter only by authorized persons who, on the opening means (38, 49, 50, ...) of door 6 can alone reach one of the means access 30. The withdrawal of one of these means from the corresponding housing 29, once the flap 31 raised, can then be strictly recorded and controlled, the box making it possible in particular to count the successive openings and closings of the cabinet, to record the time and identity of the user who removed the said means and to control the time of use, the time of its replacement, and also to verify its correct engagement in the associated accommodation and the door closing. Note that the door can only be closed if the access means is suitably replaced, the contact 47 only authorizing the operation of the electromagnet 39 and the final closing.

The safety box in question therefore makes it possible to supply and keep in memory all of the information necessary for the purpose of constantly knowing who used a means of access, who, at what time, who put it back in place and what time, allowing in addition to determine the identity of the user and to verify his authorization.

Of course it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment more specifically described and shown above; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants. It is therefore easy to see that the characteristics of the invention can likewise be applied if the box encloses, at places and places with access means such as keys, other objects whose use must be controlled and reserved for certain users exclusively, under conditions also determined. Thus we can consider that the box contains weapons held vertically inside the box between a fixed support immobilizing for example their stock at their lower part and an upper collar surrounding their barrel, this collar being made up of two parts, one of which is fixed and carried by the intermediate sheet of the box and the other of which is mobile and constitutes a pivoting flap associated with an electromagnetic, mechanical or other mechanism, ensuring its immobilization by closing the collar. The pivoting flap can thus only be released by opening the collar under determined conditions, only authorized, allowing the user to release the corresponding weapon from the box, the latter making it possible to know permanently, who took the said weapon, what time, for what period of time before it was replaced, etc.

Other equivalent uses could similarly be provided, for example for the temporary immobilization and the conditional release of any objects, which can only be made available to authorized persons, such as skis or other instruments necessary for the practice of sports inside premises available or frequented by a group of people, avoiding that these objects are not used improperly, even stolen.

Claims (14)

1 . Safety box, comprising a cabinet (1) provided at the front with a door (6) normally closed by a bolt (40), released by at least one electromagnet (39) energized under the effect of 'a means for opening the door (38, 49, 50, 53), and a rear bottom (3) opposite the door, characterized in that it comprises, arranged inside the cupboard (1) on an intermediate sheet (16), parallel but separate from the bottom of this cupboard, at least one receiving housing (29) for at least one protected access means (30) or another similar object, which cannot be removed from its housing only after opening the door and releasing a protective flap (31) of said access means, the intermediate sheet (16) supporting control and counting members (23, 24, 25, 26) movements of the access means with respect to its housing and verification of predetermined parameters, suitable for authorizing the withdrawal of this means and then controlling its correct replacement before closing the door. 2 . Safety box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (3) of the cabinet (1) comprises, towards the outside, fixing lugs (12) supporting the anchoring studs (10) of the cabinet on a support surface (11), these studs being associated by their threaded ends (14), located inside the cabinet, with nuts (18) for locking and immobilization, not accessible from the outside when the door (6) is closed. 3 . Safety box according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing studs (10) comprise at the end a hole (17) for the establishment of a tamper-evident seal (19) in order to control any possible tearing off of the screw box- with respect to a support surface (M). 4 . Safety box according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the cabinet (1) comprises, between its bottom (3) and the support surface (M), an electrical contact (20) joined to a control center, located remotely or nearby, to record any possible movement of the cabinet. 5 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bottom (3) of the cabinet comprises a strip of connections (21) for the passage through this bottom of the electrical connection conductors. 6 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate sheet (16) supports in its face directed towards the door (6), a counter (23) preferably with digital display, recording the number cabinet openings and closings. 7 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the sheet (16) also supports a light-emitting diode (25) signaling the presence or absence of the access means (30) in its housing (29 ). 8 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sheet (16) supports a loudspeaker (24) for sound warning, with an adjustable amplification and control circuit. 9 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that between the intermediate sheet (16) and the bottom (3) of the cabinet is housed a battery for autonomous supply of the electrical components of the box. 10 . Safety box according to claim 6 characterized in that the intermediate sheet (16) supports a barrel (36) for a reset key (37) of the display counter (23). 11 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a parking meter (26), possibly associated with a printer-type recorder. 12 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the protective flap (31) is pivotally mounted around an axis (32) and controls in its movement a contact (47) with three positions, respectively giving information on the presence of the access means (30) in its housing (29), its removal or possible incorrect positioning, the contact being in series with the electromagnet supply circuit (39) controlling the bolt (40) for closing the door (6). 13 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the door opening means (6) consists of a key, a badge, a keypad with digital code, or a transmitter with infrared rays , carried by the front face of the cabinet (1). 14 . Safety box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that an electrical contact (42-43) is provided between the door (6) and the cabinet (1) to control the opening or closing of the door, possibly in connection with a signaling diode (44).

Images