GB2425331A

GB2425331A - A security device for a cash drawer

Info

Publication number: GB2425331A
Application number: GB0508265A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Noel Fanthom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-23
Filing date: 2005-04-23
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-23
Also published as: GB0508265D0; GB2425331B

Abstract

A security device for a cash drawer 16 embraces a cash drawer on at least five sides, when locked the device preferably encloses the drawer on six sides and prevents opening of the drawer. Closure means 6 may be provided which include a locking device 9, 14 secured to the rear of a base plate 1 and extending forwardly over the top of the drawer. A clamp 11 may be provided to cover the front of the cash drawer and engage with the locking device. Preferably a key is provided to operate the locking device, enabling the clamp to be removed therefrom.

Description

SECURITY DEVICE FOR A CASH CONTAINER

The purpose of this invention is to provide additional security for a cash container of the type commonly used on supermarket check outs.

There are many different cash containers in use today which are combined with, or incorporated into, retail cash tills. However, of all products available modern supermarkets are increasingly to be found using the type of cash till which has a separate cash container that is not incorporated into the design of the body of the cash till itself. It is now common to find the cash container mounted underneath or alongside the cash till and frequently the till device is smaller than the cash container leaving a significant area of the top of the cash container visible once a cash till has been placed on top of the cash container.

Cash containers themselves tend to fall into two different types of design.

One which has a body and a pivoted lid mounted for movement between open and closed positions. A container of this type has, in the art, been referred to as a cash cassette and an example of an additional security device for such a cash cassette is given amongst the examples of the art detailed below.

A second type of cash container commonly used today is often referred to as a cash drawer rather than a cassette. Such a device is so named because it is in fact a drawer which opens slideably, like a conventional drawer and does not incorporate the characterising hinged lid as do the containers of the cash cassette type.

Both of these types of container, though entirely different in concept and design are normally equipped with their own lock. Both types may or may not be secured to the surface upon which they stand depending on the security requirement.

All of these containers however, have similar security problems, possibly due to the fact that they are used in similar environments. Supermarkets commonly lose about 2.4 million a year due to till losses, this is partly due to the design of the cash containers and partly due to the operating procedures.

For example, cash containers frequently all utilise the same key. Operators change frequently generally as many as 12 operators a day could be using the same till and cash containers and if keys were not the same significant delays would occur at change over times.

It is also common for supermarkets to leave the cash containers full of cash, even after there is no operator present. This practise is well known to thieves who regularly use duplicate keys to access unmanned till positions in supermarkets in search of cash.

A number of solutions to these problems have been offered in the art.

EP 0121170 provides for a removable cash box of the type which cannot be removed until the cash registers main body is operated to release an interlock which holds the cash box in place.

EB 2213312 describes a cash drawer where additional security is achieved by adding a secure cash box to the cash drawer which is further secured by a time lock.

GB 2291116 teaches additional security to a cash cassette but is unsuitable for a cash drawer. It consists of a hook device designed to fit over the type of cassette which has a hinged lid, the hook device is not detachable, simply hinging up out of the way. Whilst locked it also covers the original lock on the hinged lid of the cassette. This art is closer to the present invention than the previous two examples, but the construction and operation is different and it is specifically focused on the cassette type of cash container which has a hinged lid. This art also has the disadvantage that it does not enclose any more than 4 sides of the cash container and in circumstances where the cash container could be slid sideways this art would not provide any security solution.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies to be found in the art and to provide additional security for any cash container but more usually a drawer type container by securing the said container on all 6 sides when locked and on 5 sides when unlocked.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for a cash drawer comprising a base plate or frame upon which the container rests, one or more retainers, secured to both sides of the base plate or frame and passing over the top of the cash container, a locking device secured to the rear of the said frame, rising with the back of the cash container and turning through 90 degrees to pass forwards over the top of the cash drawer and secured to at least one of the said retainers. A drawer clamp is provided which, in use, when the device is in its secure state engages a hole in the front of the said base plate or frame, covers the front of the cash drawer and turns through 90 degrees to engage the said locking device. When the drawer is in use the said drawer clamp is removed and set aside.

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 Shows the fully assembled security device, in use, in the locked condition.

Figure 2 Shows the component parts of the security device Referring now to Figure 2. The device consists of a base plate or frame 1, a front retainer 2 and a rear retainer 3 which are both secured to the frame 1 by screws inserted through holes 4 in the retainers and engaging the frame I at positions 5.

Locking device 6 is secured to the rear of the frame with a bolt attached through holes 7 and 8. This locking device is equipped with a mouth 9 for receiving the tongue 10 of the clamp 11 and also has a locking cylinder 14 which engages with hole 15 on the tongue 10 of clamp 11 when is use. To insert clamp 11, pin 12 is engaged with hole 13 and tongue 10 is engaged with mouth 9 where it is retained by operating locking cylinder 14.

Figure 1 shows the device is use where the cash container 16 is encompassed on all 6 sides of the device. In order to open the slideably mounted cash drawer 17, the drawer lock 18 must be operated then the clamp 11 is removed by unlocking cylinder 14 and removing clamp 11.

Other methods of construction may be employed which also enclose the cash container on 6 sides when locked and 5 sides when unlocked.

There are many different possible embodiments for this invention and each embodiment disclosed in this specification including the drawings is given by way of example only and may be replaced by alternative embodiments serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise each embodiment disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar embodiments which can incorporate the invention.

Claims

1. A security device for a cash drawer, characterised in that in use when the cash drawer is present it embraces the said cash drawer on at least 5 of the drawers 6 sides.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1 which incorporates a closure means so that when the said security device is in use and the cash drawer is present it embraces the cash drawer on 6 sides

3. A security device for a cash drawer as claimed in claims 1 or 2 which device includes closure means which means when in use : **, prevents the opening of the cash drawer when the drawer is presest S...

within the security device. S. *S

:

4. A security device as claimed in claim 3 in which the said closure means includes a locking device secured to the rear of the base S..

::: plate and turning through 90 degrees to pass forwards over the top of the cash drawer.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 4 which includes a drawer clamp which clamp when in use covers the front of the cash drawer and engages the said locking device.

6. A security device as claimed in claim 4 where the said locking device includes a means of receiving and securing the said drawer clamp.

7. A security device as claimed in claim 4 where the said locking device includes a means of receiving and securing the said drawer clamp which includes a key releasable means which when operated enables the drawer clamp to be released from it's connection with the said locking device.

8. A security device as claimed in claim 5 in which the said drawer clamp when in use can be secured to the security device by any releasable means. * S. * . S S... * . S... S. SI * S * * S S.. * IS

S I. S

S S S *S