Abstract:
A cover for concealing the identity of a container, such as a safe, is configured to be positioned over the container. The cover may have the appearance of another item or group of items, such as a less valuable item that may be found in the environment where the container is kept (e.g., a freezer, a cabinet, a collection of tools, etc., in a garage; etc.). The cover may include an access portion, or panel, that lifts to reveal a door or other entry point of the container. The access portion may be configured to rest atop the container, which may eliminate the need for further manipulation while the inside and any contents within the container are accessed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    A claim for the benefit of priority to the Feb. 4, 2014 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/935,339, titled APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONCEALING FLOOR SAFES AND OTHER CONTAINERS (“the &#39;339 Provisional Application”) is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). A claim for the benefit of priority to the Sep. 29, 2014 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/057,141, titled APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONCEALING FLOOR SAFES AND OTHER CONTAINERS (“the &#39;141 Provisional Application”) is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of each of the &#39;483 Provisional Application and the &#39;141 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to covers for containers and, more specifically, to covers for safes. In particular, this disclosure relates to covers for hiding the identities of safes and other containers. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Individual consumers purchase safes for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, to securely store valuables, documents, guns and other items. Safes that accommodate guns are typically quite large, and occupy a substantial amount of floor space. 
         [0004]    Gun safes are often kept in workshops, garages and other locations that may be readily visible from outside of the residence or other building in which the safes are stored, often enabling others to readily discover the precise location of the safe within the building. Thus, although space considerations may necessitate the placement of a floor safe in a workshop, garage or another location that is readily perceptible to others, such placement also partially defeats the primary purpose of the safe—security. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A cover according to this disclosure is configured to be placed over at least portions of a safe to at least partially conceal the safe. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the cover is configured to be placed over the door of a safe. The cover may be configured to be positioned over one or more distinctive features that make the container readily identifiable; for example, features that typically appear on a safe door, such as indicia on the safe (e.g., a brand name, logo, etc., that appears on the door of the safe), a locking mechanism, a handle or the like. The cover may include a design (e.g., an image, etc.) that makes the safe appear to be some other item and, thus, to provide an added level of concealment. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, a cover may also be configured for placement over other surfaces of a safe, such as some or all of the top of the safe, one or both sides of the safe and even the back, or rear, of the safe. A cover for a safe may be configured to cover the top of the safe, both sides of the safe and the front of the safe. A portion, or panel, of the cover that is configured to be positioned over a door of the safe (e.g., on the front of the safe, etc.) may be configured to be at least partially removed from the safe to provide access to the door, while remaining portions, or panels, of the cover (e.g., those that are configured to be positioned over the top, back and sides of the safe, etc.) may be configured to remain in place over their corresponding surfaces of the safe. Such a portion or panel may be referred to as a “concealment portion” or a “concealment panel,” or as an “access portion” or an “access panel.” 
         [0007]    In a specific embodiment, a cover may include a top panel, two side panels that are secured to and extend downward from side edges of the top panel. In some embodiments, the front panel may be secured to and extend downward from a front edge of the top panel, but may not be secured to the front edge of either side panel of the cover. In other embodiments, the front panel may be secured to and extend from a front edge of one of the side panels, but not from the front edge of the opposite side panel or from the front edge of the top panel. Such a cover may also include one or more securing elements. When concealment of a safe is desired, the securing element(s) may hold the front panel of the cover in place over the front of the safe and, thus, may hold its unsecured side and/or top edge(s) in place adjacent to their corresponding front edges of the top and/or side panel(s) of the cover. Optionally, such a cover may also include a back panel that is secured to and extends downward from a rear edge of the top panel and is secured to and extends laterally from rear edges of the side panels of the cover. 
         [0008]    Such a cover may be configured to protect the safe. Without limitation, a cover may be made with a material that is resistant to fire and/or moisture, and may provide thermal insulation. Such a cover may impart or enhance the fire-resistance and/or heat-resistance of a safe, as well as impart the safe with resistance to water or other types of moisture. 
         [0009]    A cover according to this disclosure may be also be used to conceal items other than safes, including, but not limited to, other security containers, tool boxes, cabinets, filing cabinets, freezers, refrigerators or other containers. 
         [0010]    Methods for securely storing items and methods for concealing containers include positioning a cover over features of a container that make the container identifiable as such. Placement of a cover over distinctive features may conceal the identity of the container, especially from passersby and others who do not need to access the contents of the container. Without limitation, such a method may include placing a cover over at least a front surface of the container to conceal the front surface. Portions of the cover may also be placed at least partially over other surfaces of the container (e.g., top, side and/or back surfaces, etc.). Placement of the cover may include one or more securing elements, which may hold the cover or portions thereof in place over a covered container. In some embodiments, in addition to concealing one or more distinctive features of the container, the cover may include one or more designs that impart the cover, and the container over which the cover is placed, with the appearance of something else (e.g., one or more other items that are often found in the place (e.g., workshop, garage, etc.) where the container is stored, etc.). 
         [0011]    In another aspect, concealed storage systems are disclosed. A concealed storage system may include a container, such as a safe, a tool chest, a cabinet or the like and a cover that conceals the container. In some embodiments, the cover may have the appearance of another item (e.g., a less valuable item, etc.) or collection of items, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, shelves, tools hanging from a wall, a cabinet or virtually any other item that might be found in the environment where the container is kept. 
         [0012]    When access to the inside of the container is desired, the cover, or a portion thereof, may be pulled away, or removed, from the surface over which it was positioned to reveal a door or other opening for the container. In embodiments where one or more portions of the cover are also positioned over one or more other surfaces of the container, or over portions of the other surface(s), those portions of the cover may remain in place. The container may then be opened to provide access to the interior of the container. Once access to the interior of the container is no longer needed, the container may be closed and the cover or the portion thereof that was removed may be repositioned and secured in place to again conceal the container. 
         [0013]    Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cover according to this disclosure, in place over a container, such as a floor safe, to conceal the container and cover a door or other opening thereof; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of cover shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating some interior features of the cover; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment of cover shown in  FIG. 1 , with a portion of the cover positioned to reveal a door or other opening of the container on which the cover has been placed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of cover; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate embodiments of covers bearing different designs. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , an embodiment of a cover  10  for a container  50 , such as a floor safe (e.g., a gun safe, etc.), a toolbox, a cabinet, a filing cabinet, or the like, is depicted. At least an access portion  20  of the cover  10  may be configured to be positioned over one or more distinguishing features  52 ,  54 , etc., of the container  50  (seen in  FIG. 3 ), and/or over at least a portion of a surface  60  of the container  50  by or through which access to an interior of the container  50  is obtained. In the depicted, non-limiting embodiment of the cover  10 , the surface  60  over which the access portion  20  of the cover  10  is configured to be placed comprises the door of a floor safe. 
         [0021]    In addition to including a portion that covers at least a portion of a container  50  that includes distinguishing features  52 ,  54 , etc., or that includes a surface  60  by or through which an interior of the container  50  may be accessed, a cover  10  according to this disclosure may include one or more portions that cover part or all of one or more other surfaces (not shown) of the container  50 . In the depicted embodiment, the cover  20  includes a top portion  24  configured to cover a top surface (not shown) of the container  50  and side portions  26  configured to cover side surfaces (not shown) of the container  50 . Optionally, the cover  10  may include a back portion  28 , which may be configured to cover all or part of (e.g., an uppermost portion of, etc.) a back surface (not shown) of the container  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion  24 , side portions  26  and optional back portion  28  of the cover  10  comprise panels that are secured to (e.g., sewn together, etc.) or continuous with one another. 
         [0022]    The dimensions, shapes and arrangement of the top portion  24 , side portions  26  and/or optional back portion  28  of the cover  10  may hold the cover  10  in place over a container  50  with which the cover  10  is designed to be used. In addition, a cover  10  may include one or more features, or “securing elements”  30 , that hold the cover  10  or one or more portions thereof in place over one or more corresponding portions of the container  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one or more securing elements  30  may be positioned along one or more of the front edge  24   f  and or the rear edge  24   r  of the top portion  24  ( FIG. 1 ) and the front edge  26   f  of one or both side portions  26  ( FIG. 2 ) of the cover  10 . In a specific, but non-limiting embodiment, each securing element  30  may comprise a magnet (e.g., an elongated magnet, a series of smaller magnets, etc.). In another specific embodiment, securing elements  30  positioned along the rear edge  24   r  of the top portion  24  may be configured to mechanically engage or be mechanically engaged by corresponding features along the rear top edge of a container  50  (e.g., eyelets and hooks, complementary snaps, etc.). 
         [0023]    In the embodiment of cover  10  depicted by  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the access portion  20  may be secured to (e.g., sewn to, hingedly secured to, etc.) or continuous with a front edge  24   f  of the top portion  24  of the cover  10 . In such an embodiment, the access portion  20  may, as depicted by  FIGS. 1 and 2 , be permitted to cover (e.g., hang down over, etc.) the surface  60  of the container it is configured to conceal or, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the access portion  20  may be folded, rolled or otherwise oriented to reveal the surface  60  and, thus, to provide access to the surface  60 . In embodiments where the access portion  20  of the cover  10  is configured to be lifted, it may rest upon the top of the container  50  while providing access to the container  50  (i.e., to one or more doors, drawers or other access features thereof). Thus, the access portion  20  may provide access to the container  50  without requiring further manipulation (e.g., securing, holding, movement, etc.) while accessing the container  50 . In addition, by lifting upward, the access portion  20  may provide access to and accommodate opening and closing of doors, drawers and other features that open from a variety of different directions and/or in a variety of different ways (e.g., doors with left side hinges, doors with right side hinges, doors are configured to tilt open, drawers that slide open, etc.). 
         [0024]    The cover  10  may include one or more securing elements  21  associated with the access portion  20 . Each securing element  21  may be configured to secure the access portion  20  of the cover  10  in place relative to appropriate portions of the cover  10  or to the container  50 . When the access portion  20  of the cover  10  is positioned over its corresponding surface  60  of the container  50 , each securing element  21  will be positioned adjacent to an appropriate portion of the cover  10  and, thus, may secure the access portion  20  in place relative to adjacent portions of the cover (e.g., to areas of the side portions  26  located adjacent to the front edges  26   f  of the side portions  26 , etc.) or to the container  50  itself (either directly or through another portion of the cover). Without limitation, each securing element  21  may comprise a magnet, which may be oriented in a manner that enables it to be secured to a corresponding securing element  30  that holds another portion of the cover  10  to the container  50 , or in such a way that the securing element  21  may “stick” to the container  50 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, lateral extensions  22   l  and  22   r  may be secured to or are continuous with corresponding side edges  20   l  and  20   r  of the access portion  20 . Each lateral extension  22  may be configured to extend backwards from its corresponding side edge  20   l,    20   r  of the access portion  20 . When the access portion  20  is positioned over its corresponding surface  60  of the container  50 , the lateral extensions  22  may extend partially over opposite surfaces of the container  50  (e.g., sides  26 , etc.) that are adjacent to surface  60 , and may overlap portions of the cover  10  (e.g., the front edges  26   f  and adjacent areas of side portions  26 , etc.). Thus, when the cover  10  is oriented in the manner depicted by  FIG. 1 , the lateral extensions  22  may eliminate gaps between the access portion  20  and adjacent portions of the cover (e.g., side portions  26 , etc.) and further conceal the container  50 . 
         [0026]    A cover  10  that includes lateral extensions  22  extending backwards from its access panel  20  may include one or more securing elements  21  carried by each lateral extension  22 . More specifically, a securing element  21  may be positioned adjacent to a rear edge of a lateral extension  22 , and may secure the lateral extension  22  in place over its corresponding side portion  26  of the cover  10 . 
         [0027]    The cover  10 , or at least portions thereof, such as the access portion  20 , may be formed from a pliable material, such as a fabric. Some examples of fabrics that may be used to make a cover  10  include, without limitation, nylon and nylon-based fabrics, such as those marked under the CORDURA® trademark by Invista of Wichita, Kans. Other embodiments of materials that may be used to form a cover  10  include, but are not limited to, plastics, plastic-based films or sheets and the like. In some embodiments, including, but not limited to, embodiments where a cover  10  is configured to cover the top, sides and rear of a container (e.g., a floor safe, a portable safe, a lock box, etc.) and, optionally, the bottom of the container, the cover  10  may be formed from a fire-resistant material, a thermally insulating material, a water-resistant material or any other material with desired properties. In a specific embodiment, the material from which a cover  10  is made may be configured to prevent a container  50 , such as a safe, over which the cover  10  is positioned from being exposed to fire or other high temperature sources, as well as to moisture, while providing thermal insulation. More specifically, such a material may include a thermal insulator positioned, or sandwiched, between inner and outer layers. The thermal insulator may comprise spun fiberglass or a so-called “mineral wool” insulation (e.g., that marketed as THERMAFIBER® insulation by CertainTeed Corporation of Valley Forge, Pa., etc.). The inner and outer layers may comprise a fire-resistant material, such as a woven fiberglass material, coated in or impregnated with a water-resistant material (e.g., a polymer, such as a fire rated silicone; etc.). A material that has fire-resistant, water-resistant and thermally insulative properties may be particularly useful for embodiments of covers  10  that are designed to completely cover the top, front, sides and rear surfaces of a container  50  and, when positioned over the container, may protect the container  50  and its contents from water damage, fire damage and/or thermal damage. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , some embodiments of a cover  10 ′,  10 ″ may include a design  12 ′,  12 ″. The design  12 ′,  12 ″ may be configured to impart a container  50  ( FIG. 3 ) with the appearance of one or more other objects, such as a refrigerator ( FIG. 4 ) or a collection of items that are typically found in a garage ( FIG. 5 ) (e.g., gardening tools, etc.). Alternatively, a design may be decorative. Examples of decorative designs include, but are not limited to, camouflage patterns, logos, images and the like. 
         [0029]    With returned reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a cover  10  may be used to conceal a container  50 , such as a floor safe, a toolbox, a cabinet, a file cabinet or the like, or a portion thereof. The cover  10 , or a portion of the cover  10  (e.g., an access portion  20 , etc.), may be positioned at least partially over one or more distinguishing features  52  of the container  50  and/or over at least a portion of a surface  60  by or through which access to an interior of the container  50  is accessed. One or more securing elements  30  may engage the container  50  or (a) corresponding feature(s) on or of the container  50  to at least partially hold the cover  10  in place over its corresponding surface(s) of the container  50 . With the cover  10  in place, the identity of the container  50  may be at least partially concealed. In embodiments where the cover  10  includes a design  12 ′,  12 ″ ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the design  12 ′,  12 ″ may further conceal the identity of the container  50 . 
         [0030]    When access to the interior of the container  50  is desired, the cover  10  or a portion thereof (e.g., the access portion  20 , etc.) may be at least partially removed from the container  50  to expose an area of the container  50  by or through which such access may be obtained. In the embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 1 through 3 , and as shown in  FIG. 3 , one or more securing elements  21  on the access portion  20  may be released and the access portion  20  may be lifted and, optionally, simultaneously folded or rolled to reveal a surface  60  by or through which the interior of the container  50  may be accessed. The container  50  may then be opened to provide access to its interior  56 . 
         [0031]    Once access to the interior  56  of the container  50  is no longer needed, the container  50  may be closed and the cover  10 , or a portion thereof, may be replaced over at least a portion of the container  50  to re-conceal it. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of cover  110  is illustrated. Cover  110  is configured to be positioned over and to completely conceal a single surface  60  ( FIG. 3 ) of a container  50  ( FIG. 3 ), while merely engaging portions of other surfaces of the container  50 . More specifically, the cover  110  shown in  FIG. 4  includes a concealment panel  120  with a top attachment strip  124  and a pair of side attachment strips  126 . 
         [0033]    The top attachment strip  124  may include a central portion  124   c  that is continuous with or secured to (e.g., sewn to, etc.) a top edge of the concealment panel  120 . When the concealment panel  120  is positioned over a surface  60  ( FIG. 3 ) of a container  50  ( FIG. 3 ) (e.g., a door of a safe, etc.), the central portion  124   c  of the top attachment strip  124  may fold over onto a portion of an adjacent surface of the container  50  (e.g., onto a portion of a top edge of a safe, etc.). Securing elements  21  on the central portion  124   c  of the top attachment strip  124  (e.g., magnets, etc.) may secure the central portion  124   c  to its corresponding surface of the container  50 . 
         [0034]    The top attachment strip  124  may additionally include end flaps  124   e  on opposite sides of the central portion  124   c.  Each end flap  124   e  may be configured to extend beyond an edge of the surface of the container  50  over which the central portion  124   c  of the top attachment strip is configured to be positioned. Accordingly, each end flap  124   e  may be configured to fold over onto another surface of the container  50 , which surface may be adjacent to both the surface  60  ( FIG. 3 ) over which the concealment panel  120  is positioned and the adjacent surface to which the central portion  124   c  of the top attachment strip  124  has been secured (e.g., a front, top portion of a side of a safe, etc.). Each end flap  124   e  may be secured in place to the container  60  by one or more suitable securing elements  21 . When the cover  110  is laid flat—the orientation shown in FIG.  3 —each end flap  124   e  may be positioned adjacent to, but be separate from, the top edge of a corresponding side attachment strip  126 . 
         [0035]    The side attachment strips  126  may, as depicted by  FIG. 4 , be located on opposite sides of the concealment panel  120  of the cover  110 . Each side attachment strip  126  may comprise a side portion of the concealment panel  120 , or it may be secured to (e.g., sewn to, etc.) a corresponding side edge of the concealment panel  120 . In any event, when the concealment panel  120  is positioned over a surface  60  ( FIG. 3 ) of a container  50  ( FIG. 3 ) (e.g., a door of a safe, etc.), each side attachment strip  126  may be folded over onto a portion of an adjacent surface of the container (e.g., onto a front portion of a corresponding side surface of the safe, etc.). One or more suitable securing elements  21  may secure each side attachment strip  126  to its corresponding surface of the container  50 . 
         [0036]    Collectively, the top attachment strip  124  and the side attachment strips  126  may secure the cover  110  to a container  50  ( FIG. 3 ), and secure the concealment panel  120  of the cover  110  in place over the surface  60  ( FIG. 3 ) of the container  50 . In some embodiments, the cover  110  may include a design, like those illustrated by  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which may, in some embodiments, impart a container  50  with the appearance of one or more other items, which may further conceal the container  50 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, a cover may lack a top or sides. Such a cover may simply comprise a single panel that has a shape and dimensions that enable it to cover and conceal the identity of one surface (e.g., a door, etc.) of a container, as well as securing elements for holding the panel in place on the surface of the container. 
         [0038]    Although the foregoing description sets forth many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments and variations of elements or features of the disclosed subject matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.