GB2263102A - Bottle security device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device by means of which one or more bottles, for example milk bottles, may be kept secure against opportunist theft or tampering includes a container (10) to receive one or more bottles, which container has a lockable lid (13) and can be secured to an adjacent fixed surface (19), and at least one inwardly-opening one-way valve (11) in a lower face, for example the underside, of the container. Bottles may easily be inserted into the container through the one-way valve and are held secure within the container until the lid is unlocked. <IMAGE>

Description

Bottle Security Device The present invention is a device by means of which one or more bottles may be kept secure against opportunist theft or tapering. It has been devised with the security of milk bottles in mind but may be used in various forms for bottles of various types.

Milk bottles in particular are vulnerable to theft or tempering since they are normally left unattended for a period of time after delivery. During that time, the bottle top may be attacked by birds. This familiar problem has been met by the provision of various protective devices, which include bottle containers, but such containers are not designed to secure the bottle or bottles against theft.A simple locked box would afford such security but would require specific action by the milk deliverer to lock the box; any such extra action entails time which would, in aggregate, delay subsequent deliveries and affect the overall economics of the delivery service. However thefts of milk and bottles are a considerable inconvenience to both the supplier and the consumer and a significant cost to the supplier and there therefore is a real need for a suitable security device, by means of which delivered milk bottles are readily rendered secure against casual theft.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device.

The bottle security device according to the present invention comprises a container to receive one or more bottles, means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface, a lockable lid for the container and, in a lower face of the container, at least one inwardly-opening one-way valve, whereby a bottle may be inserted into the container but may not readily be subsequently withdrawn. The container may normally be left in a locked condition until the owner requires access to its contents. However the person delivering the bottle can insert it via the one-way valve without having to unlock or lock the lid or taking any other extra time-consuming action.

The container may be of such dimensions as to contain a single bottle or may be designed to contain two or more bottles.

Although in principle two or more bottles could be introduced in succession through a single valve and stored above each other in the container, it is much preferred that a separate one-way valve be provided for each bottle to be held within the container and that the bottles then be stored side-by-side.

In the case of milk bottles, the average daily delivery is between one and two bottles per household and the container according to the present invention may therefore conveniently be such as to contain one or two bottles when designed for this purpose.

The container may be constructed of any desired material which is suitable for the intended use. The material should be weather-resistant when intended for use in an exposed location and may conveniently be a synthetic polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. As explained below, the valve by which the bottle(s) is/are introduced to the container maiy also be of a synthetic polymeric material. The container itself and the valve may therefore advantageously be produced as a unitary moulding.

moans are provided for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface, so that the security device is not readily removed from its position of use. Thus, by way of example, the container may be secured to a wall, door or other part of a building or to a gate, gatepost or fence.

A mounting bracket may be provided for this purpose, secured to the container or formed integral with the container. As one alternative, the device may simply have one or more holes in the container, through which screws or bolts may be passed to enable the container to be affixed thereby to the chosen fixed surface.

The container is provided with a lockable lid, which may be removable but preferably is hinged to the container. A latch or bolt may be mounted upon the lid or upon the container to enable the lid to be locked in place. However when the device is formed very simply as a moulding in a synthetic polymeric material, it is preferred to secure the lid by a separate padlock.

A key feature of the bottle security device according to the present invention is the one-way valve through which the bottle is introduced into the container. The valve is located in a lower face of the container, normally in the underside of the container. Any form of valve by which a bottle may be passed into the container but cannot readily subsequently be removed is suitable. However a preferred form of the one-way valve comprises one or more flexible, preferably resilient, flaps which can be displaced to allow the bottle to be inserted in the container but then return to a closed position. In a particularly preferred form the valve canprises a plurality of resilient flaps extending inwardly towards each other from the periphery of a generally circular aperture.

Thus in one preferred form the bottle security device comprises a generally cylindrical container adapted for securing with its axis generally vertical to an adjacent fixed surface, a one-way, inwardly-opening valve in the lower face of the container, the valve canprising a plurality of resilient flaps and being formed integral with the container in a synthetic polymeric material, and a lockable lid for the container.

In another preferred form, the container is so shaped and dimensioned as to contain two or more bottles in side-by-side relationship and a separate one-way valve is provided for each of the bottles.

The invention will now be further described and illustrated by means of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one preferred form of the bottle security device of the present invention and wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation fran the front of the device; Fig. 2 is a view of the device from the side, largely in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 is a view fran the front, largely in section, with a single bottle in position; and Fig. 5 is a view fram below.

The illustrated device comprises a generally cylindrical container 10 having in its base a one-way valve 11 canprising a number of flaps 12 which extend towards each other and towards the axis of the cylinder and which together present a generally concave surface from below the device. The valve 11 and the container 10 are formed as a unitary moulding in polypropylene. A lid 13 is pivoted to the container at 14 and, in the closed position of the lid, lugs 15 on the lid align with a lug 16 on the container and allow a padlock (not shown) to be used to lock the lid closed.

By means of screws 17 passing through holes 18 in the container, the device is mounted at a convenient position upon a wall 19. The screws are tightened by a screwdriver (not shown) which is passed through further holes 20 in the container, aligned with the holes 18. When a bottle 21 is within the container, the heads of the screws 17 are inaccessible.

When the container is to be used, it is normally left locked. A bottle 21 delivered may be inserted from below, uyilrdly into the container 10, through the one-way valve 11.

As the bottle is being inserted, the flaps 12 flex upwardly and outwardly to allow the bottle to pass and then they return to their normal position of rest as illustrated, in which position they are able to support the bottle as shown in Fig. 4.

Only the legitimate user may gain access to the bottle, by releasing the lid 13 and withdrawing the bottle upwardly fram the container, subsequently re-locking the lid to enable the device to be used again.

Thus the illustrated device is very simple to use, requiring no extra steps beyond the insertion of the bottle, but affords valuable security against casual theft of the bottle and its contents. It also provides protection against tampering and against damage by birds.

Claims (9)

1. A bottle security device comprising a container to receive one or more bottles, means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface, a lockable lid for the container and, in a lower face of the container, at least one inwardly-opening one-way valve, whereby a bottle may be inserted into the container but may not readily be subsequently withdrawn.

2. A bottle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is designed to contain a single bottle.

3. A bottle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is designed to contain two bottles and said device has two said one-way valves.

4. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said container is of a synthetic polymeric material.

5. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface comprises a mounting bracket, secured to the container or formed integral with the container.

6. A bottle security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface comprises one or more holes, through which one or more screws or bolts may be passed.

7. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lockable lid is hinged to the container.

8. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the valve comprises one or more flexible flaps.

9. A bottle security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

9. A bottle security device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of resilient flaps extending inwardly towards each other from the periphery of a generally circular aperture.

10. A bottle security device comprising a generally cylindrical container adapted for securing with its axis generally vertical to an adjacent fixed surface, a one-way, inwardly-opening valve in the lower face of the container, the valve comprising a plurality of resilient flaps and being formed integral with the container in a synthetic polymeric material, and a lockable lid for the container.

11. A bottle security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A bottle security device comprising a container to receive one or more bottles, Dxuns for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface, a one-way, inwardly-qpening valve in a lower face of the container, the valve comprising a plurality of resilient flaps and being formed integral with the container in a synthetic polymeric material, and a lockable lid for the container.

2. A bottle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is designed to contain a single bottle.

3. A bottle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is designed to contain two bottles and said device has two one-way valves.

4. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said container is of a synthetic polymeric material.

5. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface comprises a ncunting bracket, secured to the container or formed integral with the container.

6. A bottle security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said means for securing the container to an adjacent fixed surface comprises one or more boles, through which one or more screws or bolts may be passed.

7. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lockable lid is hinged to the container.

8. A bottle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said resilient flaps extend inwardly towards each other fran the periphery of a generally circular aperture.