Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSPARENT PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR BANK NOTES
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a security container. In particular, the invention
relates to
a security container which is suitable for bank note counting apparatus. For
convenience, the description below will generally refer to a security
container for
bank note counting apparatus. However, it is to be understood that the present
invention is not limited to that application.
Background of the Invention
Previously, it has been common to provide a box made of cardboard or similar
lo material for holding bank notes counted by bank note counting apparatus.
The
prior art container has had many drawbacks. One glaring example is that the
cardboard container, when sealed with a lid, can resemble a generic cardboard
box
and, without unsealing the cardboard container, it is not readily apparent
that its
contents are valuable. It is possible to inadvertently dispose of such a
cardboard
container without realising that it contains bank notes.
Obiect of the Invention
There is a need to provide a security container which is capable of greater
security
than the prior art cardboard box. In particular, it is desirable to provide
such a
security container which, at least in some embodiments, may be made in
transparent material, so that the valuable nature of the contents can be
apparent. It
is further desirable to provide a security container which, at least in some
embodiments, can be sealed using a tamper-evident seal.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to fulfil some or all of these
needs or
at least to provide useful alternatives.
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Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a security container including:
a base having at least one wall defining an aperture; and
a top for closing off the aperture;
wherein the base has an open end and the top includes means for closing off
the
open end.
The security container may be made of any suitable material but preferably is
a
sturdy plastic material such as polycarbonate. Even more preferably, the
security
container is made of a transparent plastic material, so that the nature of the
contents
lo can be readily seen.
It is within the scope of the invention that the base is made of a different
material
from the top.
The base is preferably rectangular in cross-section but may take any other
suitable
shape, especially with a view to the intended use of the security container.
For
example, a security container used for bank notes may be of a different shape
from
a security container used for storing sorted mail or playing cards.
In this embodiment, the base is rectangular and surrounded on three sides by
upstanding walls. The aperture in this embodiment is defined by the three
upstanding walls. The fourth side of the base does not have a wall and in this
embodiment provides the open end. Preferably, the open end is on the short
side of
the rectangle. If desired, the base may have a series of grooves or the like
to accept
a divider, used to keep contents, such as bank notes or letters, in a closely
stacked
configuration.
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The top for closing off the aperture will normally echo the shape of the
aperture,
although other configurations are possible. Most relevantly, the top includes
means for closing off the open end of the base.
The means for closing off the open end of the base may take any suitable form.
In
the embodiment where the base is rectangular with three upstanding walls, the
top
is preferably also rectangular and includes one downwardly extending wall, so
that
when the top is properly sited on the base, the downwardly extending wall
fills in
and closes off the open end in the base.
Preferably, the base includes on its external surface ridges or grooves to
assist in
1o stacking identical or similar security containers. Preferably, the top also
includes
grooves or ridges for stacking purposes.
Preferably, the top is adapted to slide onto the base. In this embodiment, the
base
and the top have cooperating means to assist sliding of the top onto the base
and to
enhance security of the security container when closed. The cooperating means
can take various forms, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Preferably, the
base includes rail and the top includes a flange which can slide on the rail.
An
example is illustrated in connection with the drawings, below.
Optionally, a divider is provided for use with the security container of the
invention. The divider is preferably a substantially planar piece, adapted to
fit into
a groove or slot formed on the floor of the base.
While it is preferred that the top is adapted to slide onto the base, it is
within the
scope of the invention that the top may be connected to the base in another
fashion.
It is preferred that the security container of the invention can be closed
using a
tamper-evident seal. It is a further option that the security container of the
invention can be locked using a known lock, such as a pin tumbler lock. (Any
suitable lock may be used.) To cater for these options, it is preferred that
the top
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includes means which can cooperate with means on the base to enable locking
and/or use of a tamper-evident seal.
It is particularly preferred that the security container of the invention is
made in a
version which can be readily adapted to either use of a lock or use of a
security
seal. In this embodiment, the base preferably includes a chamber and the top
preferably includes an extension for communicating with the chamber. If the
security container of the invention is to be secured with a security seal, it
is
preferred that the chamber can receive an element which can capture a tamper-
evident seal inserted into a slot in the extension to the top. It is preferred
that the
1o same chamber can receive a different element, having a keyed lock and a
tongue
which can extend through a slot in the extension of the top, to enable the top
to be
locked to the base.
The use of interchangeable elements with the chamber in this embodiment can
enable the same security container to be used in either a lock version or a
seal
version. It can also cater for different types of seals and locks presently
known or
which may become known in the future.
The security seal is preferably the seal available from Harcor Security Seals
Pty
Limited under the name HARCLIP. However, as mentioned above, a preferred
embodiment of the security container can be adapted to various types of seals.
Brief Description of the Invention
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in connection
with
the attached drawings, which, it is to be understood, are not limiting on the
scope
of the invention.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of the
security container of the invention;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the security container of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a lockable version of the
embodiment of Figure 1;
5 Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a seal version of the
embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the base of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of the base of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the top of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a perspective view from below of the top of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of the security container of
Figure 3, disassembled;
Figure 10 is a perspective view from below of the security container of
Figure 3, disassembled;
Figure 11 is a perspective view from above of the security container of
Figure 4, disassembled; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view from below of the security container of
Figure 4, disassembled.
Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention
As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, security container. 10 has a base 12 and a
top 14.
Base 12 is reinforced by thick strip 16 and transverse ridges 18, only some of
which are labelled. Transverse ridges 18 communicate with longitudinal ridges
20.
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In this embodiment, these are designed to fit into longitudinal grooves 22 on
top
14, to facilitate stacking.
Top 14 has a downwardly extending wall 24 for closing off open end 26 (refer
Figure 5) of base 12. Top 14 also has downwardly extending flanges 28 to
assist
sliding of top 14 on base 12 and to help prevent unauthorised access to
contents of
security container 10.
Extension 30 will be described in more detail below in connection with Figure
8.
Flanges 32 will be described in more detail below in connection with Figures 5
and
6.
1o In Figure 3, security container IOA is shown including a lock element 34.
This
version is described in more detail below in connection with Figures 9 and 10.
The
Figure 3 embodiment omits grooves 22.
In Figure 4, security container IOB is shown including a seal element 36. This
is
described in more detail in connection with Figures 11 and 12 below.
Turning now to Figures 5 and 6, which illustrate base 12, it can be seen that
base
12 has a bottom panel 38. Upstanding walls 40, 42 and 44 surround three sides
of
bottom panel 38, leaving an open end 26, and defining an aperture 15.
Set into bottom panel 38 are a series of short ridges and grooves 46, formed
as part
of thick strip 16. L-shaped channels 48 include a series of compartments 50.
Ridges and grooves 46 and compartments 50 are for insertion and retention of a
divider 52, an embodiment of which is shown in Figures 9, 11 and 12. Divider
52
is inserted from above base 12 into an appropriate groove in ridges and
grooves 46
and into the corresponding opposed compartments 50, to press against bank
notes,
letters, etc, stacked inside base 12 and to hold them in a closely stacked,
upright
configuration. More than one divider 52 may be inserted in base 12 for this
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purpose - for example, to separate bank notes of different denomination or
letters
intended for different locations.
As can be seen from Figures 11 and 12, divider 52 includes tab 54 for
insertion
into an appropriate groove in ridges and grooves 46. Divider 52 also includes
tabs
56 for insertion in the appropriate compartments 50 in channels 48.
Divider 52 is substantially planar, but in this embodiment it includes
protruding
panels 58 to assist in providing pressure to stacked contents in base 12.
Channels 48 also function to provide runners for sliding top 14 onto base 12.
Wall 44 of base 12 has on its outside chamber 60, which is strengthened in its
1o position on the outside of wall 44 by flanges 32. Chamber 60 in this
embodiment
has a top opening 64 and a bottom opening 66.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it can be seen that top 14 includes, on
flanges
28, returns 68. These are designed to retain top 14 on base 12 when top 14 has
been slidably engaged with base 12.
Ridges 70 provide reinforcement to top panel 72 of top 14.
Flange 74 on wall 24 assists in ensuring that wall 24 closes off open end 26
and
prevents unauthorised access to the contents of security container 10.
As can be seen Figure 8, top panel 72 of top 14 includes extension 76.
Extension
30 includes slot 78. Slot 78 can be relatively narrow as shown in Figure 8. It
may
be divided in two as shown by 74B in Figure 11 or it may be more elongated as
shown by slot 78A in Figure 9. Alternately, slot 78 may be designed to be
universal so that it can be used for both the lock and seal versions of the
security
container of the invention.
Reference is now made to Figures 9 and 10 where the lock version of the
security
container 1 OAis illustrated. As can be seen from these Figures, chamber 60A
is
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substantially the same as chamber 60 in Figure 6, except that chamber 60A
includes cut out 80. Lock element 34 can be inserted in chamber 60A through
bottom opening 66 so that lock 82 protrudes through cut out 80. Lock element
34
is adapted for attachment within chamber 60A by screws or other fastening
elements inserted through apertures 84 into corresponding apertures 86. Cover
plate 88 fits over lock element 34 to prevent unauthorised access to the
fastening
elements. Cover plate 88 is fixed to lock element 34 by means of screws (not
shown) accessible only when unassembled. When the correct key (not shown) is
inserted into the keyway (not shown) of lock element 34, tongue 90 is extended
1o into slot 78A of extension 30 or retracted from slot 78A, as appropriate.
It will be
noted that divider 52 is shown inserted into base 12 in this embodiment.
Turning now to Figures 11 and 12, chamber 60B includes cut out 80, the same as
that in chamber 60A in Figures 9 and 10. In the Figures 11 and 12 embodiment,
chamber 60B is designed to accept seal element 36, inserted into bottom
opening
66. Seal element 36 is attached through fastening elements (not shown) such as
screws, rivets, or retaining pins inserted into apertures 92 and apertures 94
and
accessible only when unassembled.
Seal element 36 includes aperture 98 which is designed to receive barbed legs
100
of tamper-evident seal 102, the barbs locking beneath shoulders (not shown) of
aperture 98 to prevent withdrawal of tamper-evident seal 102.
As can be seen from Figure 11, top 14 includes extension 30 having slot 78B.
In
this embodiment, slot 78B is divided by barrier 104 into two secondary slots,
each
adapted to receive one of barbed legs 100. Barbed legs 100, to seal assembled
security container 10, pass into slot 78B and then into aperture 98.
It is to be understood that slot 78B need not include barrier 104, if tamper-
evident
seal 102 has a single barbed leg instead of two barbed legs 100, or if slot
78B is to
be designed to accept a variety of tamper-evident seals.
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It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and
variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing
from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
Industrial Applicability
The present invention is industrially applicable in that it offers enhanced
security,
enables its contents to be seen, and is sealable using a tamper-evident seal.
