WO2008153400A1

WO2008153400A1 - Safe deposit box

Info

Publication number: WO2008153400A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050387
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Cornelis Ram
Original assignee: E En M Beheer
Priority date: 2007-06-14
Filing date: 2008-06-16
Publication date: 2008-12-18
Also published as: NL2000705C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a safe deposit box assembly comprising a safe deposit box and a holder part, in which the safe deposit box comprises a locking part which can be moved from a first position in which the locking part is situated within the outer periphery of the safe deposit box into a second position, the locking part, in the second position, extending outside the outer periphery of the safe deposit box, and in which the locking part is at least partially accommodated in a receiving space provided in the holder part to lock the safe deposit box to the holder part, and to release the safe deposit box when the locking part is in the first position.

Description

Safe deposit box

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a safe deposit box assembly comprising a safe deposit box and a holder part, in which the safe deposit box comprises a locking part which can be moved from a first position, in which the locking part is situated within the outer periphery of the safe deposit box, into a second position.

The invention furthermore relates to a safe deposit box comprising locking parts.

Safe deposit boxes are generally known, for example from patent publication NL C 1025586 which discloses a safe deposit box for installation in a vehicle comprising a box part, a lid part which can be locked onto the box part, and attachment means for removable attachment of the box part to a vehicle. The attachment means have a pin which is attached to a plate part of a vehicle. On its free end, the pin is provided with a radial annular projection. The attachment means are furthermore provided with a bolt which is provided on the bottom of the box part. Said bolt is provided with two openings which are connected to one another, one of which is sufficiently large for the pin with the projection to fit through and the other one is sufficiently small for the pin with the projection not to fit through.

One drawback of this known safe deposit box for installation in a vehicle is the fact that the technical measures which have to be taken in order to install the safe deposit box in a vehicle are relatively complicated, as is the operation of the latter.

DE 3335228 Al discloses a deposit box which can be locked in a storage compartment. One drawback is the fact that the deposit box cannot be locked on its own. In addition, the storage compartment takes up as much space as the deposit box, even when the deposit box is not inside the storage compartment.

DE 411429 C describes a wall deposit box which can be locked on its own and which can be placed in a compartment of a wall cabinet. One drawback is the fact that the wall cabinet takes up as much space as the lockable wall deposit box itself. Another drawback is the use of a number of bolts and the relatively complex operation thereof.

NL A 7811894 describes a small box and a sleeve which can be attached to a support and which can accommodate the entire box. The box can be locked with a lock and can be locked in the sleeve using the same lock when the entire box is situated inside the holder. One drawback is the fact that the sleeve takes up as much space as the box itself, even when the box is not situated inside the sleeve.

WO 02/097225 A discloses a frame in which a box is securely locked, is kept by means of a bolt lock. One drawback is the fact that the box cannot be locked on its own, outside the frame.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative for a safe deposit box in a vehicle.

It is another object of the invention to simplify the installation of a safe deposit box in a vehicle.

It is another object of the invention to offer a more practical design of a safe deposit box in a vehicle.

It is another object of the invention to simplify the operation of a safe deposit box in a vehicle.

To this end, the invention provides a safe deposit box assembly comprising a safe deposit box and a holder part, in which the safe deposit box comprises a locking part which can be moved from a first position in which the locking part is situated within the outer periphery of the safe deposit box to a second position, in which, the safe deposit box, in the second position, is locked by means of the locking part and the locking part extends outside the outer periphery of the safe deposit box and the locking part is at least partly accommodated in a receiving space provided in the holder part to lock the safe deposit box to the holder part, in the first position of the locking part, the safe deposit box can be removed from the holder part, and - the holder part leaves the safe deposit box partially free.

Due to the fact that the locking part extends outside the safe deposit box into a holder part, it becomes possible to secure the entire safe deposit box in that location where the holder part is mounted. The holder part may be an eye, but it is also conceivable to use a tube which comprises the safe deposit box and is provided with one or more sockets for receiving locking parts. The holder part accommodates the safe deposit box only partially, as a result of which the holder part itself takes up less space, especially when the safe deposit box is not accommodated in the holder part As the locking part is provided in the safe deposit box, the safe deposit box can be locked in various holders in a simple manner by means of a lock and key. It is possible that, in one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, a locking part can assume an intermediate position between the first and the second position of the locking part. In the intermediate position, the safe deposit box itself is locked, but the locking part does not extend into the receiving space of the holder part and the safe deposit box is not locked to the holder part.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the safe deposit box assembly comprises attachment means to connect the holder part to a securing surface. Said holder part may be installed at any desired location on a securing surface, for example in a vehicle, passenger car, lorry, pleasure boat, but also in dwellings and hotels, etc. With the assembly according to the invention, a mobile safe deposit box is provided and a holder part can be installed in any desired location to lock the safe deposit box in.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the holder part is a holder which at least partially accommodates the safe deposit box. The holder surrounds the safe deposit box and adds to the strength of the safe deposit box, thus improving the security of the safe deposit box. In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the attachment means are covered by the safe deposit box if the latter is locked to the holder part. Due to the fact that the attachment means are not accessible, the security of the safe deposit box is improved still further.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the safe deposit box and holder part are adapted to one another in such a manner that the locking part, in the second position, at least partially extends into the holder part. Preferably, the holder part (or also holder) takes up at most a quarter of the safe deposit box when the safe deposit box and the holder part are joined together. The smaller the holder part, the less obtrusive it is when the safe deposit box has been removed from the holder part.

In one embodiment, the safe deposit box assembly comprises a first and second pin which, with opposite safe deposit box walls, extend outside the safe deposit box walls. When the safe deposit box is locked, the pins engage with apertures or retaining sockets provided in the holder part or holder. As a result thereof, the safe deposit box is fixedly connected to the holder part. By using two opposite locking parts which engage with the holder part at the greatest possible distance, that is at opposite safe deposit box walls, the effect of the tolerance between a locking part and the holder is reduced, thus preventing the safe deposit box from being prized out still further. This is all the more important in combination with a safe deposit box which is significantly larger than the holder, which offers every opportunity to apply a force directly on the safe deposit box in order to prize the safe deposit box out of the holder.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the safe deposit box comprises a safe deposit box door for closing off a safe deposit box space and in which the locking part, in its second position, also locks the safe deposit box door.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the holder comprises two opposite holder wall parts, substantially parallel to the safe deposit box walls with the locking parts, provided with a receiving space which, when the safe deposit box is accommodated in the holder, are situated opposite locking parts for accommodating the pins. The pins accommodated on two sides increase the strength of the safe deposit box assembly so that it can withstand, inter alia, being dislodged, which is important as the holder part leaves the safe deposit box partially free and thus offers every opportunity for wrenching the safe deposit box.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, a holder part is suitable to be attached to a securing surface, and the safe deposit box comprises a safe deposit box door, a safe deposit box space and a locking part to lock the safe deposit box door, and the locking part extends into the holder part when the safe deposit box door is locked.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the safe deposit box comprises a connecting means, which is operationally connected to an electric power supply and/or a data network of the vehicle, boat, etc. Thus, it is possible to charge a battery of, for example, a laptop when the laptop is situated in the safe deposit box. It is also possible to connect a laptop, positioning sensor, other devices and/or data storage means in the safe deposit box to the data network for exchanging data, such as music or picture information, inter alia. Applications such as navigation, e-mail, etc. then work in a protected environment while the operation and the reading out of data takes place elsewhere in the car via the data network in the car.

In one embodiment, the safe deposit box assembly comprises a locking part drive mechanism which can be operated by means of a control signal. Preferably, the control signal is an electromagnetic signal. This makes it possible to produce an automatic safe deposit box with an actuable locking part in which the locking part drive mechanism can be controlled remotely by means of an electromagnetic control signal.

In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the control signal and the operation of a vehicle locking means are operationally connected when the safe deposit box assembly is provided in a vehicle. In this way, the safe deposit box is automatically locked when the driver leaves the vehicle and there is no risk of forgetting to lock the safe deposit box. Incidentally, this advantage is also achieved when the vehicle locking means are operationally connected to a lock drive mechanism of a fixed safe deposit box or storage space in a vehicle. In one embodiment of the safe deposit box assembly, the safe deposit box is substantially made of metal. As a result thereof, the contents of the safe deposit box are enclosed by metal which attenuates the emission of electromagnetic radiation if there are electronic devices in the safe deposit box. As the emission is reduced, the devices can less readily be detected by burglars.

The invention furthermore relates to a safe deposit box comprising locking parts in which a locking part projects outside the outer periphery of the safe deposit box when the safe deposit box is locked.

In one embodiment, the safe deposit box furthermore comprises a safe deposit box door and a safe deposit box space in which the locking part locks the safe deposit box door and extends beyond the outer periphery of the safe deposit box. Preferably, the locking part in this case extends through an aperture in the outer periphery of the safe deposit box. In this manner, a locking part ensures that the safe deposit box door is locked and can, at the same time, engage with a receiving space outside the safe deposit box and fasten the safe deposit box thereto.

The invention furthermore provides a safe deposit box provided in a vehicle, in which a safe deposit box lock drive mechanism is operationally connected to a vehicle locking mechanism. The operational connection prevents the safe deposit box from remaining unlocked when the vehicle is locked when this is not intended.

To this end, the invention furthermore provides a method for producing a sheet steel holder or safe deposit box of a safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, comprising the following steps: positioning the receiving space and the holder part with respect to one another by means of a first jig before the receiving space is fixedly connected to the holder part, positioning a locking part and the safe deposit box with respect to one another by means of a second jig before the locking part and the safe deposit box are connected to one another. Using a first and second jig makes it possible to correctly position the receiving space and the locking part with respect to the holder part and the safe deposit box, respectively, using relatively inexpensive starting material and relatively simple production steps.

In one embodiment of the methods according to the invention, the first and the second jig are operationally connected in order to position the locking part and the receiving space with respect to one another so that the locking part can readily be introduced into the receiving space when the safe deposit box and the holder are joined together. Preferably, the first and the second jig are one and the same jig. However, it is also conceivable that the second jig comprises the first jig as well as an attachment for adjusting a specific position measurement. It is important that the adjustment of the position of the locking part and the receiving space with respect to one another can ultimately be reduced to one physical jig, so that, for example, the effect of wear during production does not affect the adjustment of the position of the locking part and the receiving space with respect to one another or does so only to a limited extent.

To this end, the invention furthermore provides a sheet steel blank for a holder part of the safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim.

It will be clear that the various aspects mentioned in the present patent application can be combined and may each be considered individually for a divisional patent application.

Brief description of the figures

The attached figures show various embodiments of a safe deposit box assembly according to the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a safe deposit box assembly;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a safe deposit box assembly with the parts separated; Fig. 3 shows a perspective cut-away view of a part of a safe deposit box assembly;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a detail of the cut-away safe deposit box assembly from Fig.

3;

Fig. 5 shows a blank of a holder part for a safe deposit box assembly. Description of embodiments

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a safe deposit box assembly 1 according to the invention. The safe deposit box assembly 1 comprises a safe deposit box 2 and a safe deposit box holder 3 (also referred to as holder part 3 or holder 3). In this case, the end face of the safe deposit box 2 is accommodated in the holder 3. The safe deposit box 2 has safe deposit box walls 7. The safe deposit box walls 7 enclose the safe deposit box space 6 from Fig. 3. Safe deposit box 2 furthermore has a safe deposit box door or lid 5 which can hinge about hinge 4. The hinge 4 preferably comprises hardened steel. Safe deposit box door 5 gives access to the safe deposit box space 6 from Fig. 3. Preferably, the safe deposit box space 6 below the safe deposit box door 5 is partially covered by a protective plate (not shown) from hinge 4. Said protective plate extends as far as possible towards the holder part 3, so that a double barrier is formed as much as possible which prevents access to the safe deposit box space 6, namely the safe deposit box door 5 itself and the combination of the holder part 3 and the protective plate. The safe deposit box door 5 and the bottom 19 from Fig. 3 may furthermore be connected by means of a pneumatic spring (not shown) which provides fall protection. The safe deposit box assembly is preferably provided with a safety catch (not shown) which prevents the safe deposit box door S from springing open due to the pneumatic spring when the safe deposit box 2 is taken out of the holder part 3. The safety catch can be operated from the outside by the user and is preferably only accessible when the safe deposit box 2 is located outside the holder part 3. Safe deposit box space 6 may be lined with foam rubber or another damping material in order to protect the contents of the safe deposit box against violent knocks, and said foam rubber may be thickened locally in order to secure the contents of the safe deposit box in a clamping manner. The safe deposit box door 5 has a cylinder lock 10 which is accessible so that the safe deposit box door 5 can be locked. At the front, on the wall 7, a handle 8 is attached which can hinge about a T-piece 9. The safe deposit box 2 is preferably made from sheet steel using processing techniques such as, inter alia, cutting, punching and bending and welding. The use of sheet steel as starting material and the relatively simple processing steps result in a cost-efficient safe deposit box 2. The holder 3 has holder walls 15. The holder 3 is also constructed from sheet steel using processing techniques such as, inter alia, cutting, punching, bending, deep- drawing and welding. The holder 3 is in this case formed from a single part, but it is also conceivable to form the holder from several parts if this is advantageous with regard to producibility or otherwise. Another choice of material or combinations of materials for the holder 3 are conceivable. On the upper side of holder 3, a slot 12 is provided in order to allow access to the cylinder lock 10. Instead of a continuous slot, another aperture may be sufficient, such as, for example, a round hole by means of which cylinder lock 10 is accessible when safe deposit box 2 and holder 3 are in a specific position with respect to one another. Two opposite walls 15 of the holder 3 are provided with a receiving space 11 to accommodate a pin 16 which in this case simultaneously locks the safe deposit box 2 and extends outside the safe deposit box 2 in order to fasten or lock the safe deposit box 2 in the holder 3. Receiving space 11 may be obtained by welding on a socket, but it is also conceivable to use a technique such as deep-drawing.

Fig. 2 shows the safe deposit box assembly from Fig. 1 with the parts separated. In this case, the securing holes 14 for fastening the holder 3 to a securing surface can also be seen. When the safe deposit box 2 is situated in the holder 3, the safe deposit box 2 covers the securing holes 14, thus improving the security of the safe deposit box assembly 1. Edge 20 may be rounded or bent slightly outwards to form a run-in edge and facilitate introduction of the safe deposit box 2. It is conceivable that the run-in edge is formed by a separate part which is not shown.

The receiving space 11 is in this case a cylindrical socket 1 1 which, on the side which faces the wall 15, is preferably provided with a securing flange (not shown). The cylindrical socket 11 is welded to the wall 15 of the holder 3 by means of its flange. The flange, in combination with the oversized dimensions of pin hole 24 from Fig. 5, makes it possible to vary the position of the receiving space 11 with respect to the wall 15.

Fig. 3 shows a cut-away part of the safe deposit box assembly from Fig. 1. As can clearly be seen, the cylinder lock 10 is accommodated in safe deposit box 2. The cylinder lock 10 is in this case connected to the safe deposit box lid 5 by means of a sheet steel part 21. It is also conceivable for the cylinder lock to be connected to the safe deposit box bottom 19. The cylinder is rotatably housed and the end thereof is provided with an operating rod which is hingedly connected to the ends of the pin- driving parts 18. The opposite ends of the pin-driving parts 18 are hingedly connected to the pins 16 in order to move these in and out of receiving space 11. The pins 16 are held by pin-guiding walls 17 which determine the movement of the pins 16.

Fig.4 shows a detail from Fig. 3 in top view. Pin 16 is held by a guiding wall 17 which is connected to the safe deposit box bottom 19 and safe deposit box wall 7. The pin 16 furthermore passes through safe deposit box wall 7, as a result of which the safe deposit box door 5 from Fig. 1 is locked. At the same time, pin 16 extends as far as into the receiving space 11, so that the safe deposit box 2 is fastened in the holder 3. The receiving space 11 or cylindrical socket 11 is preferably hardened in order to prevent the pin 16 from being forced open and thus to delay access in the event of a burglary. The receiving space 11 for the pin is preferably a separate part which is attached to the holder 3. This makes it possible to vary the position of the receiving space 11 with respect to the holder 3. The receiving space 11 is attached to the wall 15 after the blank from Fig.5 has been folded, so that processing inaccuracies during punching and bending do not affect the final position of the receiving space 11. The receiving space 11 is preferably welded onto the wall 15 of the holder 3. When attaching the receiving space 11 to the wall 15, the holder 3 and the receiving space 11 are preferably positioned with respect to one another by means of a holding jig (not shown). Said holding jig inter alia determines the distance a between the inner periphery of the rear wall of the holder 3 and the central axis 22 of the receiving space. When the pin 16 is secured in the safe deposit box 2, the pin 16 and the safe deposit box 2 are preferably positioned with respect to one another by means of a safe deposit box jig (not shown). Said safe deposit box jig inter alia determines the distance b between the outer periphery of the rear wall of the safe deposit box 2 and the central axis 22 of the pin 16. Ideally, as is illustrated, the central axis 22 is both the central axis of the receiving space 11 and of the pin 16. Preferably, the dimensions a and b can be reduced to one jig, so that, for example, wear of the jig during production does not affect the position of the pin 16 and the receiving space 11 with respect to one another when the safe deposit box 2 and the holder 3 are joined together, or does so only to a limited extent. Of course, the aforementioned also applies to the vertical positioning of the pin 16 and the receiving space 11 with respect to one another.

Fig. 5 shows a sheet steel blank 23 of the holder 3. The interrupted lines are folding lines along which the sheet steel is bent or folded. Fig. 2 shows the folded holder 3. It is clear that flaps 26, 27 after folding on the outer periphery of the holder 3. These flaps 26, 27 are in this case welded to the adjacent plate. Of course, these flaps 26, 27 can, if desired, also be welded under the adjacent plate, so that the flaps 26, 27 are not immediately visible. The blank 23 is provided with securing holes 25 in order to attach the holder 3 to a support, such as for example a base plate of a vehicle. The blank 23 is provided with pin holes 24 which give a pin 16 access to the receiving space 11. The blank 23 is provided with a recess 12, in this case a slot 12, which offers access to the

1.

It will be clear that the above description has been given in order to illustrate the functioning of preferred embodiments of the invention, and not in order to limit the scope of the invention/On the basis of the above explanation, many variations which fall within the spirit and the scope of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Safe deposit box assembly comprising a safe deposit box and a holder part, in which the safe deposit box comprises a locking part which can be moved from a first position in which the locking part is situated within the outer periphery of the safe deposit box into a second position characterized in that the safe deposit box, in the second position, is locked by means of the locking part and the locking part extends outside the outer periphery of the safe deposit box and the locking part is at least partly accommodated in a receiving space provided in the holder part to lock the safe deposit box to the holder part, in the first position of the locking part, the safe deposit box can be removed from the holder part, and the holder leaves the safe deposit box partially free.

2. Safe deposit box assembly according to Claim 1 , furthermore comprising attachment means to connect the holder part to a securing surface.

3. Safe deposit box assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the holder part is a holder which at least partially accommodates the safe deposit box.

4. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the holder takes up at most a quarter of the safe deposit box.

5. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the attachment means are covered by the safe deposit box if the latter is locked to the holder part.

6. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the holder part is fixedly connected to a vehicle.

7. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the safe deposit box and holder part are adapted to one another in such a manner that the locking part, in the second position, at least partially extends into the holder part.

8. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which it comprises a first and second pin which, with opposite safe deposit box walls, extend outside the safe deposit box walls.

9. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the safe deposit box comprises a safe deposit box door for closing off a safe deposit box space and in which the locking part, in its second position, also locks the safe deposit box door.

10. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the holder comprises two opposite holder wall parts, substantially parallel to the safe deposit box walls with the locking parts, provided with a receiving space which, when the safe deposit box is accommodated in the holder, are situated opposite locking parts for accommodating the pins.

11. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim in which the safe deposit box comprises a connecting means, which is operationally connected to an electric power supply and/or a data network of the vehicle.

12. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, furthermore comprising a locking part drive mechanism which can be operated by means of a control signal.

13. Safe deposit box assembly according to Claim 12, in which the control signal is an electromagnetic signal.

14. Safe deposit box assembly according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the latter is provided in a vehicle and in which the control signal and the operation of a vehicle locking means are operationally connected.

S 13. Safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, in which the safe deposit box is substantially made of metal.

16. Safe deposit box assembly according to the preamble of Claim 1 , in which the holder part is suitable to be attached to a securing surface and in which0 the safe deposit box comprises a safe deposit box door, a safe deposit box space and a locking part to lock the safe deposit box door, in which the locking part extends into the holder part when the safe deposit box door is locked. 5

17. Safe deposit box, clearly intended and suitable for a safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim.

18. Safe deposit box according to Claim 17, in which the safe deposit box comprises locking parts and in which a locking part projects outside the outer periphery of the safe deposit box when the safe deposit box is locked.

19. Safe deposit box according to a preceding claim, furthermore comprising a safe deposit box door and a safe deposit box space in which the locking part locks the safe deposit box door and extends beyond the outer periphery of the safe deposit box.

20. Safe deposit box according to a preceding claim, in which the locking part extends through an aperture in the outer periphery of the safe deposit box.

21. Safe deposit box provided in a vehicle, in which a safe deposit box lock drive mechanism is operationally connected to a vehicle locking mechanism.

22. Holder part, clearly intended and suitable for a safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim.

23. Set comprising a safe deposit box according to a preceding claim and a holder part according to a preceding claim.

24. Method for producing a sheet steel holder or safe deposit box of a safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim, comprising the following steps: positioning the receiving space and the holder part with respect to one another by means of a first jig before the receiving space is fixedly connected to the holder part, positioning a locking part and the safe deposit box with respect to one another by means of a second jig before the locking part and the safe deposit box are connected to one another.

25. Method according to Claim 24, in which the first and the second jig are operationally connected in order to position the locking part and the receiving space with respect to one another when the safe deposit box and the holder are joined together.

26. Sheet steel blank for a holder part of the safe deposit box assembly according to a preceding claim.

27. Device provided with one or more of the characterizing features described in the attached description and/or illustrated in the attached drawings.

28. Method comprising one or more of the characterizing steps described in the attached description and/or illustrated in the attached drawings.