EP0010598A1 — Locking arrangement for portable depository conta…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 70 words

Security apparatus comprising a portable depository box or other container having a closure member lockable in a closed position and a safe or like structure providing a housing for the container characterised in that the housing comprises a mechanism for unlocking and opening the container when the container is housed within the structure and for preventing removal of the container from the structure until the container is closed and relocked.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 70 words

Security apparatus comprising a portable depository box or other container having a closure member lockable in a closed position and a safe or like structure providing a housing for the container characterised in that the housing comprises a mechanism for unlocking and opening the container when the container is housed within the structure and for preventing removal of the container from the structure until the container is closed and relocked.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 200 words

Apparatus for restricting access to the content of a portable depository box or other container, said apparatus comprising a portable depository box or other container having a closure member lockable in a closed position but movable to an open position when unlocked to provide access to the interior of the box, a housing providing a cavity containing the box and from which the box can only be removed and returned through an aperture in a wall of the housing, said cavity, aperture and box being of such relative sizes that access to the cavity through the aperture is prevented when the box is located in the cavity, securing means operative to secure the box within the housing by preventing removal thereof through the aperture, opening means operative to move the box closure member between its closed and open positions when the box is within the housing and means inter-locking the securing means and the opening means so that the securing means can only be rendered inoperative when the box closure member is in its closed position and so that the opening means can only be rendered operative when the securing means are operative to secure the box within the housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 200 words

Apparatus for restricting access to the content of a portable depository box or other container, said apparatus comprising a portable depository box or other container having a closure member lockable in a closed position but movable to an open position when unlocked to provide access to the interior of the box, a housing providing a cavity containing the box and from which the box can only be removed and returned through an aperture in a wall of the housing, said cavity, aperture and box being of such relative sizes that access to the cavity through the aperture is prevented when the box is located in the cavity, securing means operative to secure the box within the housing by preventing removal thereof through the aperture, opening means operative to move the box closure member between its closed and open positions when the box is within the housing and means inter-locking the securing means and the opening means so that the securing means can only be rendered inoperative when the box closure member is in its closed position and so that the opening means can only be rendered operative when the securing means are operative to secure the box within the housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 109 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the securing means comprise a barrier arm movable between a barrier position in which it projects across the aperture to prevent passage of the container therethrough and an access position in which such passage is permitted, in which the opening means comprise an opening element engagable with the closure member and movable when so engaged to move the closure member between its open and closed positions, and in which the inter-locking means comprise co-operating parts allowing the opening element to be moved into and out of engagement with the closure member only when the closure member is in its closed position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the inter-locking means comprise a mechanical connection between the barrier arm and the opening member allowing movement of the barrier arm out of its barrier position only when the container has been closed and the opening member moved out of engagement therewith.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 115 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the inter-locking means comprise a rotatably supported tubular member carrying the barrier arm and an elongate second member axially movable relative to the tubular member and carrying a radial stop arm passing through an axially extending slot in the wall of the tubular member, and an abutment normally engaged by the projecting end of the stop arm extending axially along the tubular member for just less than the axial length of the slot whereby rotational movement of the tubular element to carry the barrier arm away from its barrier position is prevented until the second member is moved axially to dis-engage the stop arm from the abutment.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, 4, or 5, in which the barrier arm carries key means for operating the container lock and in which the key entry aperture of the container lock is positioned on the container so that the key means can only be engaged with the container lock when the barrier arm is in its barrier position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the key means can only be dis-engaged from the container lock when the lock has been re-locked.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising a door movable to and from a closed position in which it covers the aperture in the wall of the housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, in combination with means for automatically conveying articles (e.g. bank notes) into the container while the container is open and secured in the housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 153 words

Apparatus for securing, within a substantially stationary housing and controlling access to the interior of, a portable depository having an access member that is normally locked closed, said apparatus comprising key means insertable into the depository for unlocking the member; and two means supported by the housing and movable axially and rotationally relative to each other with certain restraints, one of said means providing a barrier arm that carries said key means and is rotatable to a blocking position to prevent removal of the depository when the other of said means is withdrawn axially at least a predetermined distance relative to said one means, said other means being rotated by said one means into operative engagement with the member to enable said member to be moved to an access-providing position following unlocking of the member by said key means and in response to reinsertion of said other means axially into said one means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 153 words

Apparatus for securing, within a substantially stationary housing and controlling access to the interior of, a portable depository having an access member that is normally locked closed, said apparatus comprising key means insertable into the depository for unlocking the member; and two means supported by the housing and movable axially and rotationally relative to each other with certain restraints, one of said means providing a barrier arm that carries said key means and is rotatable to a blocking position to prevent removal of the depository when the other of said means is withdrawn axially at least a predetermined distance relative to said one means, said other means being rotated by said one means into operative engagement with the member to enable said member to be moved to an access-providing position following unlocking of the member by said key means and in response to reinsertion of said other means axially into said one means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which said one means and said other means are interconnected by a pin-in-slot connection.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 158 words

Apparatus for receiving a portable depository having a slidable door that is normally locked closed, said apparatus comprising housing means defining a predetermined location for receiving the depository; means rotably supported by said housing means and including a tube with a longitudinal slot, a barrier arm extending transversely from said tube, and a key carried by said arm; means including a rod slidably mounted within said tube, and a pin projecting from said rod and through said slot and retainer means normally engaged by said pin for maintaining said arm in one position in which it permits movement of the depository into and from said location, said pin when withdrawn relative to said tube and past said retainer means permitting said arm to be rotated to another position in which it prevents removal of the depository from said location and enables insertion of the key in the lock and rotation of the key to a door- unlocking position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 158 words

Apparatus for receiving a portable depository having a slidable door that is normally locked closed, said apparatus comprising housing means defining a predetermined location for receiving the depository; means rotably supported by said housing means and including a tube with a longitudinal slot, a barrier arm extending transversely from said tube, and a key carried by said arm; means including a rod slidably mounted within said tube, and a pin projecting from said rod and through said slot and retainer means normally engaged by said pin for maintaining said arm in one position in which it permits movement of the depository into and from said location, said pin when withdrawn relative to said tube and past said retainer means permitting said arm to be rotated to another position in which it prevents removal of the depository from said location and enables insertion of the key in the lock and rotation of the key to a door- unlocking position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which said retainer means is effective upon rotation of said arm to said other position to maintain said pin engaged with the door to cause the door to be moved to an open position by said pin responsively to reinsertion of said rod into said tube.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including deflector means projecting from said tube for deflecting items into the depository through the opened door when said arm is in said other position.

Locking arrangement for portable depository containers

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