Secure lighting and storage apparatus

Abstract

A secure lighting and storage apparatus attached to a support surface 8 comprises a body 4 including a light source located on a mounting assembly 6. A recess 12 is defined by either or both of the mo

Description

The invention to which this application relates is to a secure lighting and storage apparatus, particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, an apparatus which includes a light source in a body or housing and in which the body can be used as a means of assisting the secure storage of one or more items. The application is particularly related to apparatus which includes a recess in which there may be provided one or more items, such as keys, in a secure manner. In one embodiment the recess may allow secure location of the items directly therein or may include therein a secure container, which can also be referred to as a lock box, which in turn is typically used to contain keys or another access means to enter a property by an authorised user. For example, if the person has forgotten or misplaced their personal keys or they have paid to rent the premises and require the keys to be available when the premises is unattended they may gain access to the recess to obtain the item or the lockbox to then obtain the items, by relative movement of the body. The lockbox typically comprises a door or hinged portion that is selectively retained by a locking mechanism, such as a keypad or combination lock. Conventionally items such as keys may be placed under mats or other unsecure places which can easily be accessed or know lock boxes or other secure containers are typically wall mounted and are often located proximal the main access door of the premises, but, as such may be easily visible from the street. It has been found that opportunistic thieves or other unauthorised persons may force open or damage the lockbox containers by applying a significant force to the same by a tool or other object. Furthermore, a user of the lockbox may fail to correctly close the same, and so allowing the lockbox to be left unlocked or even ajar, which again may be visible from the street. There is therefore a need to provide the item, and the lockbox in which the same is located, in a more secure manner and preferably to conceal these lockboxes from an observer in a nomobvious manner, and tn such a way that the concealing means is visually appealing and / or has another function, whilst, at the same time allowing the access to the items which are stored to be possible by authorised users and, preferably improve the ability of the authorised user or person to do so. An aim of the invention is therefore to provide a means to conceal and thereby provide a recessed secure storage means. A further aim is to provide the concealment in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing and / or has an additional function. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus including a mounting assembly, a body, including a light source, located on the mounting assembly, and a recess defined by either or both of said mounting assembly and / or body and / or a support surface to which the mounting assembly is attached, wherein the said body, with the light source, is movable relative to the mounting assembly between a first, closed, position in which the recess is substantially inaccessible and hidden from view externally of the apparatus and a second, open, position in which access can be gamed to said recess. In one embodiment the recess is provided to selectively receive one or more items which are required to be securely stored therein. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a container, said container located m the recess when the body is in the first, closed, position and the container is accessible and / or visible when the body is in the second position. Thus, the container is hidden from the exterior when the body is in the first position and exposed and accessible when the body is in the second position. In one embodiment the apparatus includes retaining means to retain the body in the closed position with the mounting assembly and so retain the apparatus in the first, closed, position. In one embodiment the retention means are lockable. In one embodiment the container includes locking means to allow a portion of the same which is movable between a closed and an open position to be selectively retained in the closed position. In one embodiment, the locking means of the container is inaccessible when the body is in the first position and is accessible when the body is in the second position such that the locking means for the container cannot be operated when the body is in the first, closed, position. Typically the container locking means includes any of a keypad, combination lock, keyhole and / or the like. In one embodiment the container is located on a wall or structure, and typically is located on the same wall or structure to which the mounting assembly is attached and, in one embodiment, is integrally formed with the mounting assembly or alternatively is independent from the mounting assembly. In one embodiment the body includes at least a portion through which light from the at least one light source, when illuminated, can pass to the external environment. Thus, there is provided the advantage that the body may be prevented from moving from the first closed position by an unauthorised user. In one embodiment the apparatus includes masking means for preventing a user from contacting the body when the same is at an elevated temperature. It will be appreciated that the means for preventing a user from contacting the body when the same is at an elevated temperature is most likely to be required when the light source has been illuminated for a significant period of time. Thus, there is provided the advantage that the user is prevented from experiencing a burn injury when pivoting the body between the first and second positions. In one embodiment, the body includes a handle part. In one embodiment the body includes a one or more power cells or is connected to a mains connection. Preferably, when power cells are provided, the apparatus includes apparatus to convert solar energy to electrical power and hence allow the power cells to be charged in situ. In one embodiment the said body is adapted such that at least some of said light from the illumination of said at least one light source, is directed to the interior of the recess and / or container therein when the body is in the second, open position so as to allow a person to be able to view the interior of the recess and / or container more clearly. This is of particular advantage when the surrounding environment is dark such as at night and therefore allows improved access to the items and / or operation of the locking means for the container. In one embodiment apparatus includes sensing means which, when activated, cause the illumination of the said at least one light source. In one embodiment the sensing means are activated when said retaining means or locking means for the body and mounting assembly are operated to allow movement of the body with respect to the mounting means. In one embodiment the said recess includes at least one means to allow the location of said one or more items therein. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes sensing means, which when activated, cause the illumination of the said at least one light source. In one embodiment the sensing means are activated when said retaining means are released to allow movement of the body with respect to the mounting means. In one embodiment the said one or more items to be stored in the recess directly, or in the said container, are keys to allow access to a premises in the vicinity of the location at which said apparatus is mounted. Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a storage apparatus in a first, closed, position; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the storage apparatus of Figure 1 m a second, open position; and Figure 3 illustrates another perspective view of the storage apparatus of Figure 1 in the second, open, position. Apparatus 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a body 4 which in this embodiment is pivotably mounted to a mounting assembly 6, such that the body 4 may be moved between a first, closed, position, as shown in Figure 1, and a second, open, position, as shown in Figures 2-3. In this embodiment, the mounting assembly 6 is mounted to a wall 8 by mounting means, in this instance screws 10. In this embodiment, the body 4 includes a light source in the form of a glass bulb surrounding a light filament, and the outer walls of the body form a housing in which the light source is located. The external walls of the body 4 which form the housing may be formed of, for example frosted glass, and typically will allow the passage of the light therethrough to the external environment 7 and / or the passage of light as indicated by arrow 9 towards the location of the recess and / or a container located them, when the body is in the second, open, position so as to allow improved operation of the container locking means and / or placement and / or removal of items into and from the recess and / or container. The body 4 typically pivots about a hinge 11 located at the interface between the body 4 and the mounting assembly 6. The body 4 may then be pivoted towards and away from the wall 8 about the lunge. The inner face 13 of the body is shaped so as, in combination with the support surface or wall 8, define a recess 12. Alternatively, the recess 12 may be defined within the body, or alternatively may be defined in the mounting assembly or by both the mounting assembly and the body when in the first, closed position. The recess 12 is suitable for the selective location of a container 14 therein or may directly receive one or more items to be secured therein without the container. The container 14 in this embodiment includes a door portion 16 that may be opened or closed by a user to access the storage compartment of the container when the body 4 is in the second, open, position. The container is selectively retained in the closed position by a locking means 18, in this case a combination lock and the container is also mounted to the wall 8 or may be mounted on the mounting assembly which in turn is mounted on the wall.. When the body 4 is in the closed position, the recess 12 and lockbox 14 are concealed and are not visible from the exterior due to the translucency of the glass of the body 4. The locking mechanism 18 of the lockbox 14 is inaccessible when the body 4 is in the closed position, and the door portion 16 is unable to be opened typically as a result of the engagement of lockable retaining means between the body and mounting assembly. The retaining means therefore retain the body 4 in the closed position and the body may also be locked in this position and can be selectively released by the user. In this way, the body 4 is prevented from swinging between the positions uncontrollably, which may damage the body 4 but more importantly retains the recess in a closed masked condition when the body is in the closed position. The door portion 16 of the lockbox 14 is only able to be opened when the body 4 is in the open position, and the recess 12 becomes accessible. In this embodiment the body 4 includes a groove 20 that acts as a gripping means for a user to move the body 4 between the open and closed positions and the retaining means may include a lever or other mechanical lock which locates the groove 20 with the mounting assembly 6 when the body is in the closed position The light source within the body 4 may be activated and deactivated by a switching means connecting the light to a power source. The switching means may be a conventional manually operated switch and / or may include sensing means to allow the light source to be automatically illuminated when the presence of a person at or near the apparatus is detected. In one embodiment a first light source is provided for general illumination of the external environment and the same or another light source is provided to provide illumination of the recess and / or container and the same or separate switching means and types are provided for the respective light sources. For example, a switch may be used to illuminate the first light source, and release of the retaining means between the body and mounting assembly may cause illumination of the second light source. The body can also be provided with means to prevent a user from burning their hand by touching the body 4 which has been at an elevated temperature as a result of the illumination of the light source before the body 4 has sufficiently cooled. The switching means may include a light sensor to automatically connect the power source and illuminate the light when the ambient light levels have sufficiently decreased. The apparatus may include an alarm, the alarm activated when the body 4 has been moved from the open or closed position when the body retaining means is moved. In this way, the alarm is triggered when an unauthorised user attempts to physically overcome the body retaining means. There is therefore provided a light apparatus that is movable to selectively conceal and make accessible a secured item contained within a recess of the body. This provides the benefit of concealing the secured item in a non-conspicuous manner, when access to the same is not required.

Claims

1. Apparatus including a mounting assembly, a body, including a light source, located on the mounting assembly, and a recess defined by either or both of said mounting assembly and / or body and / or a support surface to which the mounting assembly is attached, wherein the said body, with the light source, is movable relative to the mounting assembly between a first, closed, position in which the recess is substantially inaccessible and hidden from view externally of the apparatus and a second, open, position in which access can be gained to said recess.

2. Apparatus according; to claim 1 wherein the body is retained in the first closed position by a retaining means which is selectively operable to an open position to selectively allow movement of the body between the first closed and second open positions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said retaining means are lockable.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes a container which is located in the recess and access to which is possible when the body is in the second, open, position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the container includes locking means which, when locked, prevents access to the interior of the container and, when open or unlocked, allows a portion of the container to be movable from closed to an open position and allow access to the interior of the container.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein when the body is in the first position, operation of the container locking means is prevented.

7. Apparatus according to any of claim 5-6 wherein the locking means is operable by any of a keypad or a combination lock which are provided as part of the container or as part of the body, or by a key received in a keyhole in the container.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 4-7 wherein the container is mounted on the support surface in the form of a wall or structure and is independent to the mounting assembly.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 4-7 wherein the container is mounted integrally with the mounting assembly to said support surface in the form of a wall or structure.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the container is connected to a power source so as to allow electrical operation of any or any combination of the light source, locking means, retaining means lock and / or a sensing means.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body includes a portion which allows the emission of light therethrough from an interior cavity of the said body when said at least one light source is illuminated so as to provide light to the external environment.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein masking or protective means are provided to prevent a user from making contact with portions of the body which are heated by the illumination of the at least one light source when accessing the recess.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said body is adapted such that at least some of said light from the illumination of said at least one light source, is directed to the interior of the recess when the body is in the second, open position so as to allow a person to be able to view the interior of the recess more clearly.

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes sensing means, which when activated, cause the illumination of the said at least one light source.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the sensing means are activated when said retaining means are released to allow movement of the body with respect to the mounting means.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said recess includes at least one means to allow the location therein of one or more items which are required to be stored in the recess.

17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said one or more items to be stored in the recess directly or in the said container, are keys to allow access to a premises in the vicinity of the location at which said apparatus is mounted.

18. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the power source is a mam electricity power source.

19. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the power source is or includes one oi more power cells which are replaceable and / or rechargeable.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the apparatus includes one or more solar power charging systems to allow the in situ charging of the said one or more power cells.

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