Improved van security system

Abstract

A security enclosure for a van comprises a structure in the form of a wall or gate formed from a plurality of hollow rectangular tubes 20 to form a cage. At least one of the rectangular tubes comprises an elongate cylindrical rod or tube 30 which is free to rotate within the tube. A plurality of rods or tubes may be provided within the rectangular tubes, helping prevent attack by tools such as angle grinders. The rectangular tubes may be formed from aluminium and the inner rod or tube may be formed from steel. The enclosure may be thermally insulated from the van. An electrically insulated wire for a detection system may be present within the rectangular tube and outside the cylindrical tube or rod. An electrically insulated resistance wire may be present in the rectangular tube to produce heat. The rectangular tube may be coated with an intumescent foam material. The enclosure may include a gate supported by electrically insulated hinges.

Description

The present invention relates to an improved van security system for providing a secure enclosure within a van. Background securing materials, equipment and valuables within a vehicle is a well-known an important consideration. This is critically so when the vehicle is left unattended. A van being a type of road vehicle with an enclosed rear section are widely used for transporting materials and equipment and vans are a popular vehicle category for tradespeople, who need to transport and store the tools of their trade. The vans owned and operated by tradespeople are soft-skinned civilian vehicles. They to preconstruction of thin sheet metal and as such contrast to security vehicles and trucks which have robust interior enclosures for the transportation of valuables, money and other high security items. These vehicles are specifically constructed with security in mind. However, tool theft, the criminal activity of stealing tools, victimizes tradespeople who typically use conventional vans. This visited this is particularly so t tradespeople often have to keep all their tools with them creating a concentration of valuables, creating a prime target for thieves. In addition the mobile nature of work means that tradespeople have to keep tools in a vehicle. Further, tradespeople have a large number of operating costs, and thus have limited security funding, particularly as the protection against theft is not a profit generating endeavour in itself. In contrast tool thieves solely profit from stealing and thus procure equipment specifically for such. There is therefore a need for providing improvements of the security for vans, such as those used by tradespeople. This contrast with vans and similar vehicles used for high security applications, such as the aforementioned transfer of valuables, or similarly the transfer of prisoners and the like. A specific difference being the requirement for security of an unattended vehicle, vehicle often left outside, such as overnight. There is therefore a need for a secure enclosure for such vehicles which is simple, cheap and robust and addresses the specific issues associated with tradesperson use. The present invention The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. The present invention provides A security enclosure for a van, security enclosure comprising: A structure being at least one wall, or gate providing access to the enclosure wherein the structure comprises a plurality of hollow rectangular tubes secured to other members to form a cage structure; wherein at least one of said tubes comprises an inner elongate cylindrical rod and / or cylindrical tube, free to rotate, within each of said rectangular tubes. The security enclosure, being an enclosure encloses a volume of space. The purpose of this is to accommodate tools and equipment to keep them secure, such as it as a deterrent to theft. The enclosure comprises at least one wall or gate, the gate providing access, having the construction according to the invention. This may be sufficient to provide adequate security on the basis that the particular wall or gate will be one at a crucial juncture, such as the main access to the interior of the van. The enclosure is in the form of a cage structure, that is that the said wall or gate comprises a number of elongate members attached together to form a generally planar structure with gaps between the members. Whilst this in principle is less secure than an entirely enclosed box for the purposes of the present invention which is for a van, optically a commercial barn, it obviates the need to consider ventilation, such as needed to provide adequate safety should a person become locked in the enclosure and it also reduces the weight required. It is also advantageous that visual inspection of the contents, such as by allowing police or others to view the inside is possible without actually having to physically provide access to the internal part of the enclosure. Nevertheless, the disadvantage is that it allows circulation of and in some circumstances this can give rise to condensation on the inside the enclosure. The tubes and bars are preferably choosing bars made of steel. Because the present invention is intended to be constructed largely in situ than the use of mild steel is preferred as any temper in other forms of steel will be lost during the welding process. Whilst mild steel may be less hard the present invention addresses this by the means of construction. The cage of the present invention may be configured to be installed, or installed in a vehicle, preferably a van, with the members of the cage arranged other than in a mutually perpendicular arrangement (i.e. where the apertures in the cage are essentially rectangles). This is advantageous as most cutting tools are most easily used in a vertical or horizontal plane and provides additional security. Such arrangement may provide diamond shaped apertures, having the smallest internal angle in the range 30 to 40°. Preferably the structure’s hollow rectangular tubes are welded together to comprise the structure. The enclosure being a structure acts as a barrier behind which equipment can be stored. The structure can be used in conjunction with locking mechanism to allow a gate embodiment to be secured shut in the locked state and non-destructively opened in the unlocked state. The locking mechanism will be selected by the van owner such that the locking mechanism can only be manipulated between the locked state and unlocked state by desired parties. Undesired malicious parties may attempt to cut the hollow rectangular tubes that comprise the security enclosure of the van to breach the gate. To do this it is likely that the malicious party would use tools commonly used to cut rectangular tube. Tools likely include the use of an angle grinder, utilising rotational abrasive disc for abrasive cutting or a hacksaw utilising reciprocating toothed blade for sawing or gas cutting torch, utilising the combustion of fuel gases for melting, hydraulic shears utilising the blades for snipping. In preferred forms of the present invention said cylindrical rods / tubes (in the plural or singular) may be made of a plastics material. This is advantageous as such materials readily melt when subjected to heat and / or abrasion, such as an intrusion tap using a grinding desk, such as attached to an angle grinder, and this can effectively gum up such grinding tools, and / or produce discomforting fumes to the attacker. Furthermore, the availability of saws which efficiently cut steel and plastics is limited in the combination can be more effective at stopping an attack than either steel or plastic alone. When a plastics material is used the plastics material is preferably ABS plastic as this is been found to give minimal distortion when subjected briefly to welding temperatures on the outside of a rectangular tube containing the plastics inner. The tools typically used for an attack can be subdivided into rotational and reciprocating. In both instances when applied to the rectangular tube of the present invention when that tube is breached the tool then becomes in contact with the inner cylinder or bar. When these tools are used on the cylinder or rod within this bar rotates with an angle grinder rotating the cylinder or hacksaw reciprocally oscillating the cylinder as the malicious party tries to break through. The addition of internal rod and or tube increases the heat capacity of the structure, slowing cutting using a gas cutting torch. Likewise, this additional material requires more powerful hydraulic shears. As will be described further within the inner cylindrical tube may be placed a wire. A preferred form of wire is a braided steel wire. This is particularly effective against compressive cutting tools, such as a bolt cutter. Preferably the enclosure in which there are a plurality of said elongate rods or cylindrical tubes laterally spaced, along the elongate length of at least one of the rectangular tubes. This addresses two issues, First, for the accuracy of metal used in tradesmen’s vehicles the rectangular member used in construction of the structure have some distortion from the manufacturing process. This is particular so if welding of that member gives rise to an internal distortion. Such distortions would hinder the rotation of the inner tube or rod and by subdividing that tube and / or rod the entrance to rotation is reduced. This enables this form of security improvements to be adapted to situations where the tolerances are relatively inaccurate but in line with what is available in construction of the structures of the present invention, i.e. trades people’s vehicles such as being modified on a bespoke, adult basis. Second, the rectangular members may be heated, in the manufacturing process or by a malicious party causing distortion in the member. A malicious party may strike the rectangular member, including striking with a tool, like a sledgehammer, causing deformation. Deformation of rotation elements may prevent rotation. I was segmenting the inner tube or bar this means that any hindrance to rotation is limited to a given section. If a plurality of elements are used the chance of deformation of any given member is decreased. Distortion may instead occur between elements instead deformation of in any given member. The use of a bar, preferably a bar which accommodates last than 30% of the internal volume of the rectangular tube is preferred as smaller cylinders have less inertia an thus will spin more freely than longer members. This is particularly relevant when for The use of a tube is preferred as a tube has lower inertia than a bar for a given outer diameter and may therefore spin more readily. However, for equivalent volume of materials are cut through the tube needs to be of large diameter, however this is advantageous since it gives a lower gearing between a rotating cutting disc and the tube. The combination of these features means that a combination of cylindrical bar within cylindrical tube is preferred. Preferably the enclosure is such that each of said elongate cylindrical tubes comprises said elongate rod, free to rotate, within said cylindrical tubes. Preferably a tube as this is has a larger radius, therefore lower gearing to turn and low inertia to turn, therefore more effective against cutting. Shorter length tubes also have low inertia. Preferably the enclosure is such that the plurality of elongate cylindrical tubes laterally displaced are spanned by one or more of said elongate rod, said elongate rod residing within both tubes. This is advantageous because the gaps between cylindrical segments can be a vulnerability. Preferably the gaps between the cylindrical segments are covered by tube segments. The gaps between tube segments are backed-up by cylindrical segments. This alternating pattern mitigates the bar having vulnerable points. In other words, the gaps between the tubes are covered so that with the tubes and the rods alter alternating there is no weak point for a saw to go through. Preferably the enclosure is such that one or more of said plurality of hollow rectangular tubes are constructed from aluminium and one or more of said elongate cylindrical rod and or cylindrical tube are constructed from steel. This has the benefit of providing a lighter construction, set weight limit for carrying goods in a van, benefit of steel against cutting benefit of aluminium for weight and lowered specific heat capacity. Whilst in terms of resistance to cutting aluminium, depending upon the form of cutting implements may be less robust than steel it has an advantage, in addition to weight, that the low specific heat capacity means that it is less susceptible to condensation. The issue of condensation is significant for the present application of the invention, i.e. vans for use by tradespeople as such vehicles are normally left outside overnight, become cold and in doing so condensation arises. This condensation cannot only give rise to corrosion of the enclosure itself but can also lead to dripping of water onto tools and / or equipment or materials resulting in damage. Whilst this can be overcome by an enclosure other than in the form of a cage such enclosures for a given weight are thinner, and less resistant to attack or if not thinner are extremely heavy. The high security vehicles, such as for carrying cash or bullion then such vehicles are typically kept indoors overnight and the weight of the goods that they carry is relatively lower so that the designed weight capacity of a given vehicle chassis is not as readily reached, particularly in modern security vehicles were the amount of physical coins and metallic objects of security is usually far more limited. This potential issue is also addressed by two further, optional features of the present invention. First, the rectangular tube may comprise a heating wire this can provide a relatively low amount of heat, but sufficient to avoid condensation. Such heating wire is preferably used in conjunction with a thermostat to detect when a given temperature occurs, the preferred temperature is 5°C at which point the heating wire is energised to provide a low level of heat, such as between 1 and 5 W per metre which is sufficient to avoid the condensation issue. Second, the rectangular tube may be coated, particularly after construction of the enclosure / cage of the invention with a foam material so as to provide insulation. The preferred form of insulation is a spray on polyurethane foam such as is widely used in the construction industry. This provides an adhesive coating, improves thermal insulation, acts to hinder cutting implements particularly when heated and also improve safety as a person impacting the cage / structure of the enclosure is less likely to be hurt. The preferred form of plastics for use with the present invention, whether in the form of the foam or other internal member of the rectangular section is an intumescent plastic. This is very advantageous as any cutting action, particularly in a security attack usually intended to take place quickly, as time is at a premium for a thief. This produces heat and an intumescent plastic will then increase in volume and give a distant additional hindrance to any cutting action, indeed it may effectively seal up an existing court which has been made. Preferably the enclosure is such that the individual members comprising said rectangular tubes are retained in the enclosure structure by means of welding. In other words, the cage itself may be made of parts welded together but the cage and enclosure may furthermore be welded into the vehicle which is carrying the enclosure. Preferably the enclosure of the present invention is such that the security enclosure is constructed within a van and secured in situ in the van. This is significant since the practical considerations of constructing a structure within an existing vehicle requires a simplicity of construction in the present invention provides that in conjunction with improved security. Preferably the enclosure is such that the enclosure is configured to be insulated from the metal structure of the van by means of thermal insulation. This further addresses the problem mentioned previously regarding condensation as a low external night time temperature (for example) will give rise to lower heat loss. Normally any secure enclosure within a vehicle, such as the high security van, is directly physically bolted or welded to the structure of the vehicle thus providing a very efficient heat bridge. This is disadvantageous as rapid heat loss occurs, particularly during the night hours thus giving rise to condensation with the attendant problems mentioned previously, i.e. less likelihood of rust and dripping water onto tools and materials within the van. Preferably the enclosure is such that the enclosure is configured to be insulated for the metal structure of the van by means of electrical insulation to disconnect the enclosure from Earth. The benefit of this is that an electrical connection of the internal cage to earth can act as a signal that security has been breached. Preferably the enclosure is such that an electrically insulated wire is present within the rectangular tube and outside the cylindrical tube or rod, the wire being configured to be operated with a detection system. This provides a specific means to check whether a tube is been cut into, because simply checking the connection between the cage and the van it may occur when a tool bridges the gap whereas a wire within the tube is protected and will only be contacted if the tube is sawn through. In a preferred form of the invention the invention is used in conjunction with an alarm system in which an electrical bridge between said electrically insulated wire and the rest of the structure provides alarm signal. This will specifically occur if an attempt to cut through the structure takes place. Preferably the enclosure is such that I electrically insulated resistance wire is present within the rectangular tube and outside the cylindrical tube or rod, why being configured to produce heat when electric current is passed through the wire. This enables the cage to be heated, for the reasons previously mentioned. Preferably the speech is also used in proximity to a mechanical lock for locking a gate of the invention thus avoiding freezing of the lock during winter. Preferably the enclosure is such that said wire or wires are secured in an internal angle of the rectangular tube. This is particularly beneficial in construction as it enables the wire to be pre-installed in the rectangular tube and otherwise connected before the internal cylindrical tubes and / or rods is inserted thus greatly simplifying construction, physically given that construction the present invention is intended to take place in situ, as a retrofit to a vehicle rather than during original manufacture. In addition, or alternatively said wire wires may be placed within the central cylindrical tube (which of solid may be considered rod as a result). This is a significant advantage that its use in terms of alarm detection can take place since any rotation of the rod will cause a breakage in the wire thus providing a discontinuity and a mechanism by which an alarm may be set up. In a preferred form of the invention to wires or sets of wires are present, a first set as in the previous paragraph central to the members and readily broken so as to trigger alarm and a second set proximate, as in the porter at paragraph, to the rectangular rod so is to provide proximate heating to the outside of the rod. This also simplifies construction by clearly separating the wires. Preferably the enclosure further comprising a gate, the gate comprising at least one of said rectangular tubular members, the gate being supported upon electrically insulated hinges. The benefits is that being electrically separate if there is electrical connection between the gates and the cage or something else, for example something else externally, then this can be detected and a breach of security thereby detected, such as by detection using alarm system. Presumably also the lock will need to be electrically insulated to prevent electrical bridge between the gate and the rest of the structure. In the present invention the invention may be in the form of a gate, the great may be a bifold gate. The enclosure can reinforce the front side, back side, left side and right side, roof and floor of the cargo bay. Preferably all sides are reinforced. To save on resources and decrease weight it may be preferable to reinforce fewer sides. The back side, left side and right side are preferably covered as they face the outdoor space next to the van. The front side is may not be reinforced due to the cabin of the van being an additional barrier to reaching the cargo area when attacking from the front direction. However, if the cabin is a target in its own right, then the front side may also defend from an attacker who has already breached the cargo area from breaching the cabin area and vice versa and thus be preferable to have reinforced. The roof may not be deemed preferable to reinforce, due to the difficulty to attackers of climbing onto the van and extracting tools through a roof hole. This can be additionally challenging when attackers are attempting to take tools that have weight such that the attackers struggle to lift the tool. The enclosure covering the floor may not be reinforced because of the difficulty of climbing under the van and having to extract tools through the space under the van. The limited space may hamper the use of breaching equipment. Furthermore, if attempting to enter through the floor, the tools on the floor may fall onto the attackers in the entry process acting as a deterrence. The floor may have other integrity by nature of having to support the tools, this acting as a barrier. By virtue of the same enclosure defending multiple faces, the comers are not vulnerable as the interface between faces part of the continuous structure. Drawings The present invention is illustrated by means of the following drawings in which like features are designated with like numerals. The figures provide Figure 1 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20. Figure 2 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 3 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 4 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 5 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 6 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 7 depicts a cross section of the rectangular tube 20 of a different embodiment. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7 are depicted from the same perspective. Figure 8 depicts an isometric projection of a portion of the rectangular tube 20 of the embodiment as seen in figure 5. Figure 9 depicts an isometric projection of a portion of the rectangular tube 20 of the embodiment as seen in figure 3 and figure, with a portion removed giving visibility of the internal structure. Figure 10 depicts an isometric projection of a portion of the rectangular tube 20 of the embodiment as seen in figure 5 and figure 8, with a portion removed giving visibility of the internal structure. Figure 11 depicts an isometric projection of a portion of the rectangular tube 20 of the embodiment as seen in figure 7. Figure 12 depicts an isometric projection of a portion of the rectangular tube 20 of the embodiment as seen figure 7 and figure 11, with a portion removed giving visibility of the internal structure. Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11 and Figure 12 are depicted from the same perspective. 20 - rectangular tube 30 - outer cylindrical tube 31 - adjacent outer cylindrical tube 40 - inner cylindrical tube 41 - adjacent inner cylindrical tube 60 - rod 80 - twisted pair of wires corner embodiment 81 - first wire corner embodiment 82 - second wire corner embodiment 90 - twisted pair of wires centre embodiment 91 - first wire centre embodiment 92 - second wire centre embodiment The features of the drawings are listed as follows: Figure 1 shows a member for use in a security enclosure of a van, the member being a rectangular tube 20 containing a cylindrical tube. The cylindrical tube is contained within the rectangular tube 20 on the plain of cross-section. The rectangular tube 20 has a cross section of a square with rounded comers. The thickness of the metal of rectangular tube 20 is the same as the thickness of the metal of the cylindrical tube. Figure 2 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 1 with the addition of an inner cylindrical tube 40 contained within the outer cylindrical tube 30. The outer cylindrical tube 30 of figure 2 is the same as the cylindrical tube of figure 1. The inner cylindrical tube 40 contained within the outer cylindrical tube 30 is contained in a similar manner that the outer cylindrical tube 30 is contained within the rectangular tube 20. Figure 3 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 2 with the addition of a rod contained within the inner cylindrical tube 40. The outer cylindrical tube 30 of figure 3 is the same as the cylindrical tube of figure 1. The inner cylindrical tube 40 of figure 3 is the same as the inner cylindrical tube 40 of figure 2. The rod contained within the inner cylindrical tube 40 is contained in a similar manner that the outer cylindrical tube 30 is contained within the rectangular tube 20. The tube is an elongate cylinder, with the cross section of a circle. Figure 4 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 1 with the addition of a twisted pair of wires 80 contained within the rectangular tube 20, but outside of the cylindrical tube. The pair of wires is attached to the rectangular tube 20. The outer cylindrical tube 30 of figure 4 is the same as the cylindrical tube of figure 1. The inner cylindrical tube 40 of figure 4 is the same as the inner cylindrical tube 40 of figure 2. Figure 5 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 3 with the addition of the twisted pair of wires 80 depicted in figure 4. Figure 6 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 1 with the addition of a pair of twisted wires similar to the pair of twisted wires as depicted in figure 3 with the exception that the twisted pair of wires 90 are at the centre of the rectangular tube 20 and inside the cylindrical tube. Figure 7 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 2 with the addition of a pair of twisted wires similar to the pair of twisted wires as depicted in figure 6. Figure 8 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van of the same embodiment of figure 5. Figure 9 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van with a portion removed for visibility, however otherwise the embodiment depicted in figure 3. Figure 10 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van with a portion removed for visibility, however otherwise the embodiment depicted in figure 5. 5 Figure 11 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van of the same embodiment of figure 7. Figure 12 depicts a member for use in a security enclosure of a van with a portion removed for visibility, however otherwise the embodiment depicted in figure 7. As seen in figure 8, figure 9, figure 10, figure 11 and figure 12 the rectangular tube io 20 contains a plurality of circular tubes. The wires are attached with adhesive. In all figures the gaps between tubes and other tubes, and between rods and tubes allows for independent motion of each. The copies of the tube are adjacent. Adjacent tubes and rods abut each other.

Claims

02 08 241. A security enclosure for a van, security enclosure comprising:a. A structure being at least one wall, or gate providing access to the enclosure wherein the structure comprises a plurality of hollow quadrilateral tubes, wherein some of the quadrilateral tubes are secured to the other quadrilateral tubes to form a cage structure;b. wherein at least one of said tubes comprises an elongate cylindrical rod and / or cylindrical tube, free to rotate, within each of said quadrilateral tubes.c. wherein the elongate cylindrical rod and / or cylindrical tube are comprised of a plurality of elongate cylindrical rod and / or cylindrical tube quadrilateral tubes that are laterally spaced, along the elongate length of at least one of the quadrilateral tubes.

2. Enclosure of claim 1 in which there are a plurality of said elongate rods or cylindrical tubes laterally spaced, along the elongate length of at least one of the quadrilateral tubes.

3. Enclosure of claim one or claim two comprising one or more elongate cylindrical rod and comprising one or more cylindrical tube wherein each of said elongate cylindrical tubes comprises said elongate rod, free to rotate, within said cylindrical tubes.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 wherein the plurality of elongate cylindrical tubes laterally displaced are spanned by one or more of said elongate rod, said elongate rod residing within both tubes.

5. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein one or more of said plurality of hollow quadrilateral tubes are constructed from aluminium and one or more of said elongate cylindrical rod and / or cylindrical tube are constructed from steel.

6. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein the individual members comprising said quadrilateral tubes that are configured to be welded into the enclosure structure.

7. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein the security enclosure is configured to be secured in situ into a van.

8. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is configured to be insulated from the metal structure of the van by means of thermal insulation.02 08 249. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is configured to be insulated for the metal structure of the van by means of electrical insulation to disconnect the enclosure from Earth.

10. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein an electrically insulated wire is present within the quadrilateral tube and outside the cylindrical tube or rod, the wire being configured to be operated with a detection system.

11. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein electrically insulated resistance wire is present within the quadrilateral tube and outside the cylindrical tube or rod, why being configured to produce heat when electric current is passed through the wire.

12. The enclosure of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said wire or wires are secured in an internal angle of the quadrilateral tube.

13. The enclosure of any preceding claim wherein said quadrilateral tube is coated with a foam material.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein said foam material is a polyurethane foam adhere to said tube.

15. The enclosure of claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said foam is an intumescent foam.

16. The enclosure of any preceding claim comprising a gate, wherein the gate comprises at least one of said quadrilateral tubular members, the gate being supported upon electrically insulated hinges.

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