GB2442344A

GB2442344A - Container having a latch that is not accessible from outside the container

Info

Publication number: GB2442344A
Application number: GB0718953A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy John Hall
Original assignee: HALL PLANT HIRE Ltd
Current assignee: HALL PLANT HIRE Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2007-09-28
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Also published as: GB0619232D0; GB0718953D0

Abstract

A secure store comprises a container having a door secured by a lock having a latch 24 that is not accessible from outside the container. The lock may be released in response to a signal from a radio-frequency transmitter. The secure store may be a transport container comprising sidewalls, a door, roof and base. The lock for securing the door may be located inside of the container with no part accessible from outside the container. An emergency handle 32 can be extended through an aperture 35 in a sidewall to engage with a lock operating device 2. The door and sidewalls may comprise a sandwich of a concrete core (figure 4, 22) containing harder nuggets (figure 4, 22a), faced on each side with sheet steel (figure 4, 20, 21). The store may be fitted out internally with welfare facilities including a toilet, washing facilities, a rest space and facilities for preparing beverages.

Description

SECURE TRANSPORT CONTAINER

This invention relates to a secure transport container for secure storage and transport of tools and small apparatus between use sites in for example the building and civil engineering industries.

It is known to use containers for transporting civil engineering machines which are not adapted to be driven on the highway, from site to site or depot, and also to secure them against damage or even theft when out of use on site. Such a container is described in our application GB-A-2,4 12,649. This is of particular use for small excavators, fork lifts, mini-dump trucks and the like.

Smaller pieces of apparatus however, which can be transported by one or two persons, present a different problem. These range from hand tools, much as spades, shovels, plasterers trowels, hammers, chisels and the like, to larger pieces such as power tools, drills and tampers. Whilst tradesman and craftsmen will generally use and be responsible for their own tools, tools for use by general labourers, and high capital cost items such as power tools, electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically powered apparatus, need to be closely monitored to prevent loss, pilferage and damage. Essentially, this entails that tools should not be taken off site, and consequently must be stored securely when out of use, and in transit between sites.

It is an object of the invention to provide a secure store which is transportable. **..

According to the invention a secure store, suitable for storage of tools and for transportation between sites comprises a container comprising end walls, side walls, a **...

base and a roof, and provided with a door in one of said walls, characterised in that the door is secured by a lock the latch of which is not externally accessible.

The effect of this feature is that the door cannot be opened or forced from outside.

The door lock is remotely actuable, and this may be by means of a radio-frequency transmitter which is programmed to emit a signal to which the lock mechanism will respond by releasing a keeper member. The signal is preferably a unique or quasi-unique randomly generated code operating at a specific frequency which is included in a waveband capable of penetrating the material of the walls of the container, which is pre-programmed into both the lock mechanism and the transmitter. The power of the transmitter should suffice to penetrate the wall material, but not be such as to cause interference with other signals in the same waveband beyond a restricted range.

The material of the walls, and door should be such as to be highly resistant to attack by cutting tools, including power saws, and cutting torches. This may be achieved by making the walls, door, floor and roof of a sandwich construction, with a core of cementitous material, such as concrete, with steel plates of suitable thickness on each face. The concrete may include harder particles to interfere with cutting tools.

The door fastening mechanism may comprise a plate fixed to the inner face of S. : *** the door leaf which has an aperture through which a pin carried on the inner face wall S... * S...

passes when the door is closed. The lock may comprise a hydraulically or electrically operated device which extends the pin to latch with a bracket on the door, to prevent . *...

opening of the door in the locked state of the door. The device may be a solenoid or ram and may be controlled by a switch or valve which changes over the energisation state of the solenoid or pressure connection of the ram, The switch is preferably 0 -3-actuable by a control circuit responsive to the remote signal. In one state of the device, the pin latches with the bracket, and in the other, the pin is withdrawn from the bracket to allow the door to be opened.

A manual override or emergency opening means may be provided in the case of a hydraulic ram, to operate a pump which actuates the ram from outside of the container. A lifting attachment may be provided at either or both ends of the container, to enable the container to be lifted onto a transporter.

An example of a secure tool transport container according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container; Figure 2 is a sectional view from above of the container; and Figure 3 is a sectional view of a corner of the container, in the lock region of the door; and Figure 4 is a sectional view of a part of a wall of the container.

The container 10 comprises a box-shaped structure, consisting of a base 11, a top wall 12, end walls 13 and 14, and sidewalls 15 and 16.

One side wall 16 is provided with a door 17 which is pivoted on hinges 18 to the side wall 16. A bar 19 is mounted on one end wall 13 of the container, on struts

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which are fastened through the container wall. This can be at either end 13 as shown S...

or end 14 of the container. This bar 19 is provided for engagement with lifting gear to S....

S load the container onto a transporter and of course, one such bar may be provided on each end wall so that the container can be loaded from either end.

The walls 13-16 and the base 11 and roof 12 are of a composite structure, as shown in Figure 4 provided with an inner skin 20 and an outer skin 21 of sheet steel, say 6-7mm thickness, and an inner core 22 of a refractory material such as concrete.

The concrete may contain nuggets 22a of harder material such as corundum to interfere with cutting tools. The concrete core 22 may be 30-50mm thick. This structure is shown in sectional view by way of example in Figure 4. The leaf of door 17 is of similar construction.

The door 17 has an internal lock with no mechanical access to the lock from outside of the door. The only external feature is a handle 20 which can be used to pull the door open once it is unlocked.

The lock comprises a pin 24 which extends from the jamb of the door, parallel to the inner face of the door on which it is mounted by a bracket 23. The pin 24 is arranged to pass through an aperture in a bracket 22 mounted on the inner face of door 17 adjacent the edge. The pin 24 is a shaft connected to the piston of a hydraulic ram 25. The ram 25 is operated by a hydraulic pump 26, via pressure conduits 27, 28 and a change-over valve 29, connected by further conduits 30, 31 to the ram 25. the pump 26 provides positive pressure by one conduit 27, and negative pressure by the other 28, to the change-over valve 29, which can be switched to alternative high and low pressure to the conduits 30, 31 and thus to retract or extend the pin 24 from or into the ram 24. In normal operation the pump 26 is operated by an electric motor (not *.S.

S....' shown).

I.* S** * The lock and pump motor (can) be actuated by radio frequency signals in a specific frequency band from outside of the container to operate the change-over valve 29 and motor. This may be given from a hand-held transmitter, such as a key fob. The circuit 33 is prograninied to respond only to receipt of a signal which matches a digital code stored in memory in the circuit, being a pre-selected, randomly generated numerical code or "word". This will avoid accidental operation by similar transmitter devices which emit non-matching codes.

An alternative means, or an emergency override, is provided by a shaft 33 of a handle 32 which extends through the wall 14 of the container through an aperture 34 lined with a sleeve 35. The handle can be inserted through aperture 34, and is removable for safe storage. The motor of pump 26 can be turned manually by the handle 34 to enable the ram to be operated in place of the motor.

The wall construction is provided to be resistant to attempts to forcibly enter the container by cutting or burning through the walls of the container. Tools such as saws or cutting torches which can cut through the outer skin will be resisted by the concrete, saws for example will be blunted or broken by hard nuggets, or aggregate inclusions in the concrete, and cutting torches will be resisted by the refractory properties of the concrete core. The construction of the walls may not be invulnerable, but making a useable breach would take a considerable time, increasing the chances of detection.

The container described is suitable for use as a secure tool store which can be *1 ::: used to store handtools and larger portable apparatus such as chainsaws, drills and the like, on site overnight and in transport from site to site. The interior may be fitted appropriately with shelves, racks and bins or different types of tools and for :. : accessories for use on site such as fasteners, batteries and the like.

The details of construction may be varied, as may the dimensions, which may be up to full container size, but may conveniently be half-container size.

In a modified embodiment, as well as or instead of a tool store, the interior of the container may be fitted out as a welfare unit, with toilet and washing facilities, a rest space and possibly facilities for preparing beverages. * *.* * . ** )* * . ***.

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Claims

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Claims I. A secure store comprising a container comprising end walls, side walls, a base and a roof and is provided with a door in one of said walls, characterised in that the door is secured by a lock having a latch which is not externally accessible.
2. A secure store according to claim 1, wherein said container is adapted to be transportable, by means of a lifting attachment provided at either or both ends of the container.
3. A secure store according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door lock is remotely accessible by means of a radio-frequency transmitter which is programmed to emit a signal to which the lock mechanism will respond by releasing a keeper member.
4. A secure store according to claim 3, wherein the signal is a unique or quasi-unique randomly generated code operating at a specific frequency which is included in a wave band capable of penetrating the material of the walls of the container, which code is pre-programmed into both the lock mechanism and the transmitter.
5. A secure store according to claim 4, wherein the power of the transmitter suffices to penetrate the wall material, but is not such as to cause I..

interference with other signals in the same waveband beyond a restricted range. . *.
6. A secure store according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of at least the walls and door is resistant to attack by cutting tools.
7. A secure store according to claim 6, wherein at least the walls and door are of a sandwich construction comprising a core of cementitious material, with steel plates on each outer and inner face.
8. A secure store according to claim 7, wherein the cementitious material comprises concrete which includes harder particles.
9. A secure store according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the floor and roof are also made of said sandwich construction.
10. A secure store according to any preceding claim wherein the door fastening mechanism comprises a plate fixed to the inner face of the door leaf, said plate having an aperture through which a pin carried on the inner face of the wall, passes when the door is closed.
11. A secure store according to claim 10, wherein the lock comprises a hydraulically or electrically operated device which extends the pin to latch with a bracket on the door, to prevent opening of the door in the locked state of the door.
12. A secure store according to claim 11 wherein the lock device is a solenoid or ram which is controlled by a switch or valve which changes over the energisation state of the solenoid or pressure connection of the ram.
13. A secure store according to claim 12, wherein the switch or valve is actuable by a control circuit responsive to the remote signal, in one state of the device the pin latching with the bracket, and in the other, the pin being withdrawn from the bracket to allow the door to be opened. * * **

S S * S.
14. A secure store according to claim 12 or 13 wherein, in the case of a hydraulic ram, a manual override or emergency opening means is provided to operate a pump which actuates the ram from outside of the container.
15. A secure store according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein an aperture is provided in a side wall through which the shaft of a handle may be extended to engage with the pump, as an emergency opening means.
16. A secure store according to any preceding claim which is fitted out internally to provide welfare facilities including toilet and washing facilities a rest space and preferably facilities for preparing beverages.

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