Safe Configured For Holding Valuables

• US 20190316406A1
• Filed: 04/12/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intirion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dandy Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Estill, Jim, Hall, Gregory Allen Thomas, Cunningham, Bryan Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 10,781,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/00 Permutation or combination locks handles with combination locks E05B13/103; keyhole guards with combination locks E05B17/145; electric permutation locks E05B49/00; Puzzle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/14 Hinges for safes
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/024 Wall or panel structure
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00

Abstract

A safe configured for holding valuables (137) includes a safe body (141) which bounds an interior area (270). The safe body is comprised of a plurality of engageable panels. A door (272) is releasable engageable with the body. The door includes a lock (284) that is changeable between locked and unlocked conditions.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a safe adapted to hold valuables,

wherein the safe includes a body that bounds an interior area,

wherein the body includes an access opening to the interior area,

a door movably mounted on the body wherein the door is movable between

a closed position, wherein the door closes the access opening, and

an open position wherein at least a portion of the door is disposed from the access opening and enables the interior area to be accessed from outside the body,

a lock in operative connection with the door, wherein the lock is changeable between a locked condition in which the lock is operative to hold the door in the closed position, and an unlocked condition in which the door is enabled to be moved from the closed position to the open position,

wherein the safe body includes a plurality of wall pieces, including

a bottom wall piece,

a top wall piece,

a first side wall piece,

a second side wall piece,

a back wall piece,

wherein the access opening is opposite the back wall piece,

wherein a first one of the side wall pieces includes,

an outer bounding wall segment,

an engaging wall segment that extends parallel to and is disposed within the interior area,

wherein the outer bounding wall segment and the engaging wall segment define an elongated slot,

wherein a second one of the wall pieces include

a latching edge portion, wherein the latching edge portion extends in the elongated slot,

wherein one of the engaging wall segment and the latching edge portion includes at least one deformable resilient spring tab and the other of the engaging wall segment and the latching edge portion includes at least one recess that is engaged with a respective tab, wherein the engaged at least one tab and at least one recess resist disengagement of the first and second wall pieces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a third one of the wall pieces includes

a further outer bounding wall segment that extends generally parallel of the outer bounding wall segment,

a further engaging wall segment wherein the further engaging wall segment extends generally parallel of the engaging wall segment,

wherein the further outer bounding wall segment and the further engaging wall segment define a further elongated slot,

wherein the second one of the wall pieces includes

a further latching edge portion, wherein the further latching edge portion is disposed generally opposite of the latching edge portion, wherein the further latching edge portion extends in the further elongated slot,

wherein one of the further latching edge portion and the further engaging wall segment includes at least one further resilient spring tab and the other of the further latching edge portion and the further engaging wall segment includes at least one further recess, wherein the at least one further recess is in engagement with the at least one further resilient spring tab.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the engaging wall segment includes an aperture, and the latching edge portion includes a further aperture, wherein a releasable fastener extends in both the aperture and the further aperture.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the first one of the wall pieces includes the bottom wall piece,

the third one of the wall pieces includes the top wall piece, and

the second one of the wall pieces includes one of the first side wall piece and the second side wall piece and the back wall piece.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4

wherein the bottom wall piece includes

two bottom bounding wall side segments on two opposed lateral sides thereof,

two bottom engaging wall side segments, one of which is adjacent each bounding wall side segment, wherein each of which bottom bounding wall side segment and bottom engaging wall side segment define a respective elongated bottom side slot, and

a back bottom bounding wall segment at a back side thereof,

a back bottom engaging wall segment adjacent the back bottom bounding wall segment, which back bottom bounding wall and back bottom engaging wall segment define a back bottom slot,

wherein a lower latching edge portion of the first side wall piece is engaged in one of the elongated bottom side slots,

a lower latching edge portion of the second side wall piece is engaged in the other elongated bottom side slot,

a lower latching edge portion of the back wall piece is engaged in the back bottom slot,

wherein each of the bottom engaging wall side segments and back bottom engaging wall segment of the bottom wall piece includes at least one tab engaging recess, and each of the lower latching edge portions of the first side wall piece, the second side wall piece and the back wall piece include at least one recess engaging resilient spring tab.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5

wherein the top wall piece includes

two top bounding wall side segments at opposed lateral sides thereof,

two top engaging wall side segments, one of which is adjacent each top bounding wall side segment and each of which top bounding wall side segment and top engaging wall segment define a respective elongated top side slot,

a back top bounding wall segment and a back side thereof,

a back top engaging wall segment adjacent the back top bounding wall segment, which back top bounding wall segment and back top engaging wall segment define a back top slot,

wherein an upper latching edge portion of the first side wall piece is engaged in one of the elongated top side slots, and

an upper latching edge portion of the second side wall piece is engaged in another of the top side slots,

an upper latching edge portion of the back wall piece is engaged in the back top slot,

wherein each of the top engaging wall side segments and back top engaging wall segment of the top wall piece includes at least one tab engaging recess, and each of the upper latching edge portions of the first side wall piece, the second side wall piece and the back wall piece each include a recess engaging resilient spring tab.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6

wherein the lock includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the locked condition the bolt is in the extended position and in the unlocked position the bolt is in the retracted position,

wherein at least one side wall piece includes a strike, wherein the strike includes at least a opening,

wherein in a closed position of the door closing the access opening and in the locked condition of the lock, the bolt in the extended position extends in the strike opening, wherein the door is held in the closed position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the door includes an inner door face, wherein the inner door face includes a strike recess,

wherein in the closed position of the door the strike extends in the strike recess.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the bottom wall piece includes a bottom shelf, wherein the bottom shelf extends generally horizontally in an operative position of the safe, wherein the bottom shelf includes a bottom hinge pin opening,

wherein the top wall piece includes a top shelf, wherein the stop shelf extends generally horizontally in the operative position of the safe, wherein the top shelf includes a top hinge pin opening, wherein the top hinge pin opening and the bottom hinge pin opening are aligned along an axis,

wherein the door is in operative connection with a top hinge pin and a bottom hinge pin, wherein the top hinge pin is operatively engaged in the top hinge pin opening and the bottom hinge pin is operatively engaged in the bottom hinge pin opening, wherein the door is rotatable about the axis.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9

wherein each of the top hinge pin and the bottom hinge pin are selectively extendable and retractable from the door,

whereby the door in the open position and disposed from closing the access opening, can be engaged with and disengaged from the safe body.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10

wherein the door inner face includes a hinge pin recess,

wherein the top hinge pin and the bottom hinge pin can be selectively moved between respective extended and retracted positions from the door through engagement thereof in the hinge pin recess.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11

wherein each of the top hinge pin and the bottom hinge pin are in operative connection with at least one spring,

wherein the at least one spring biases the top hinge pin and the bottom hinge pin toward the respective extended positions.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9

wherein the bottom shelf includes a bottom shelf stop, wherein the bottom shelf stop extends upward when the safe is in the operative position, and

the top shelf includes a top shelf stop, wherein the top shelf stop extends downward when the safe is in the operative position,

wherein both stops are operative to prevent the door in the closed position from being moved further into the interior area.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13

wherein the bottom shelf stop comprises a bottom turned edge of the bottom shelf, and the top shelf stop comprises a top turned edge of the top shelf,

wherein each of the top turned edge and the bottom turned edge extend substantially an entire width of the access opening.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13

wherein each resilient spring tab comprises a punched opening extending in a respective wall portion, wherein the opening extends generally perpendicular to the wall portion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein each resilient spring tab includes a catch surface at a first end, wherein the catch surface is sheared and disposed away from the wall portion in the area of the catch surface,

a smooth rounded second end surface opposed of the first end surface,

and a pair of rounded side surfaces, wherein the second end surface and the side surfaces are continuous with the wall portion,

wherein a catch surface is configured to engage an edge bounding a tab engaging recess.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein the wall pieces and the door are configured to be assembled to form the safe body and after safe body assembly to have the door attached to the body, manually and without the use of tools.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein the wall pieces and the door are configured to be in separated flat stacked condition prior to assembly into the safe body.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein the safe body is configured to be included in an appliance unit in intermediate stacked relation between a refrigerator and a microwave oven.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19

wherein at least one component of the safe receives power from at least one of the refrigerator and the microwave.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19

wherein the interior area includes a power connector configured for charging a battery of a mobile device.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18

wherein the safe includes

at least one safe circuit,

at least one audible annunciator.

wherein the at least one audible annunciator is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

at least one electrically conductive material mesh in operative connection with the safe body,

wherein the at least one mesh is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

wherein a change is integrity of the at least one mesh is operative to cause the at least one annunciator to provide an output audible alarm.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18

wherein the safe circuit includes

at least one safe circuit,

at least one conductive trace,

wherein the at least one conductive trace is in operative connection with at last one of the body and the door,

wherein the at least one conductive trace is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

at least one audible annunciator,

wherein the at least one audible annunciator is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

wherein a break in the at least one conductive trace is operative to cause the at least one annunciator to provide an output audible alarm.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18

wherein the safe includes

at least one safe circuit,

at least one audible annunciator,

wherein the at least one audible annunciator is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

at least one position sensor,

wherein the at least one position sensor is operative to detect movement of the safe,

wherein the at least one position sensor is in operative connection with the at least one safe circuit,

wherein the at least one position sensor responsive to sensing movement of the safe is operative to cause the at least one annunciator to provide an output audible alarm.