Abstract:
A web accessed security box includes a web server that can communicate with a web browser to control access and account for asset events that occur when the box is used. A personal identifier must be satisfied to open a drawer of the box. A latching system uses both an access solenoid for normal opening and closing in response to the personal identifier, and an emergency release solenoid having a separate power supply to open the box when the access solenoid is disabled. Several features make the box secure against weather and tampering.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/421,635, filed Jun. 1, 2006 entitled “Multipurpose Interface and Control System”, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/644,383, filed Aug. 19, 2003, entitled “Tangible Security Asset Management System and Methods Thereof”, a non-provisional application to provisional application No. 60/686,181, filed Jun. 1, 2005, entitled “Multipurpose Interface and Controller”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Controlled access to security assets in boxes 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A box containing a security asset, such as a key, must be secure. It should not easily yield to forced entry, and it should reliably open only to authorized people. A secure box should also be readily adaptable to many different locations and mounting arrangements. These often include, but are not limited to, walls structured in various ways. Security boxes should also be weather resistant so that they can be mounted in outdoor locations. Finally, security boxes should have emergency opening systems so they can admit access to a security asset during a fire, power failure, or other calamity. As these requirements suggest, security boxes can made in many different sizes and shapes that can be characterized as enclosures, containers, safes, compartments, etc. This application uses “box” as a simple term covering all these possibilities. 
         [0004]    Previous suggestions for security asset boxes have failed to meet these requirements. The invention aims to remedy the shortcomings of prior art suggestions and to make available a security asset box that meets all of the above requirements at an affordable price. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The inventive security box is made mechanically strong and resistant to weather and tampering. It includes a personal identifier that can actuate a solenoid to release an openable closure. For emergency access, the box includes an emergency solenoid actuatable by an emergency voltage to release a latching system and allow the box to be opened when its access solenoid is inoperable. 
         [0006]    The box preferably includes a web server that can be accessed by a web browser. This allows information to flow into and out of the box, and such information can include changing or adding to the personal identifiers that can open the box, and generating and transmitting information about asset events that occur during normal operation of the box. These features allow information to be gathered remotely and allow remote instructions to be implemented to protect the ongoing security of the box. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away and partially exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive security box. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a drawer portion of the box of  FIG. 1  with a side wall removed to show internal components. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line  3 - 3  thereof. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an oblique rear perspective view of the box of  FIG. 1  with the drawer closed and a trim disk positioned on a front face. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5-7  are fragmentary views of a latching and emergency opening system preferred for the box of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment shown without a housing to reveal a different latching system for the box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The security box  10  as illustrated uses an openable closure such as a drawer, door, or lid that can open from a housing  50  to afford access to a security asset. A drawer  20  such as illustrated is convenient for several reasons as a way of accessing contents of box  10 . Closure  20  contains a security asset such as a key ( FIG. 8 ), but things other than keys can also be secured within box  10 . These can include smart cards, special tools or anything of security importance that can fit within box  10  and deserves the expense of controlled access. 
         [0014]    Access to box  10  is controlled by a personal identifier so that only authorized persons can gain access to box  10 . One simple way that this can be done is with number pad  25  that can be conveniently arranged on a front face of closure  20 . Biometric devices such as thumb or fingerprint readers, eye image readers, and possibly others, can all be used. The basic idea is to restrict access to box  10  to only the person or people who are authorized. 
         [0015]    Box  10  preferably uses an access solenoid  30  arranged in box  10  or in drawer  20  to unlatch closure drawer  20  for opening in response to entry of an authorized personal identifier. Box  10  preferably also has an emergency opening system using an emergency release solenoid  40  that can be arranged in housing  50 . A preferred latching system operable with solenoids  30  and  40  uses a sliding latch bar  41  having a hole  42  that can be engaged by emergency release solenoid  40 , and having another hole  43  that can be engaged by access solenoid  30 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 5-7  show how the access and the emergency release latching system works. The closed position is illustrated in  FIG. 5  with solenoid  30  mounted on closure drawer  20  inside of housing  50  where emergency release solenoid  40  is mounted. Each of the solenoids engage slidable latch bar  41  at holes  42  and  43 . 
         [0017]    When access solenoid  30  is actuated, its pin retracts from hole  43  so that drawer  20  can open while access solenoid  30  moves with it to the position of  FIG. 6 . If access solenoid  30  is disabled, emergency release solenoid  40  can be actuated, as shown in  FIG. 7 . This allows sliding latch bar  41  to release and move with access solenoid  30 , allowing closure drawer  20  to open. 
         [0018]    An emergency disabling access solenoid  30  is often a power failure, so emergency release solenoid  40  has a different power supply, preferably from a source remote from box  10 . This can be as simple as a 12-volt battery connectable to contacts wired to emergency release solenoid  40  at a location some distance away from box  10 . 
         [0019]    Another preferred aspect of the opening of drawer  20  is a push-to-release feature. This involves one or more springs  51  preferably arranged in a rear of housing  50  to bias drawer  20  toward an opening position. When access solenoid  30  is actuated, the pressure of springs  51  pushing forward on drawer  20  frictionally holds pin  44  of access solenoid  30  in place within hole  43  of slide bar  41 . Pushing back on the front  26  of drawer  20  overcomes the spring pressure and allows solenoid pin  44  to release which then allows drawer  20  to move forward under the urging of springs  51 . Drawer  20  can then be pulled out as far as necessary to reach the security asset that it contains. 
         [0020]    Box  10  preferably includes a web server  60 , which is conveniently arranged within closure drawer  20 . This makes it accessible if repairs or replacement become necessary. Mother board  61  and other electronics are preferably also mounted in drawer  20 . Power for the electronic components in drawer  20  is preferably derived from a power over ethernet (POE) connection which preferably enters housing  50  via a rear opening  52  from which it can be plugged into a top of receptacle  70 . A similar plug  71  on wiring tray  75  automatically plugs into receptacle  70  to power drawer components when drawer  20  is moved into a closed position. Wiring tray  75  then detents into housing  50  by means of a projection  73  entering an opening  74  in wiring tray  75 . This holds wiring tray  75  in place as drawer  20  moves in and out, while a flexible cable  76  conveys power between receptacle  70  and components in moving drawer  20 . ( FIG. 3 ) 
         [0021]    Housing  50 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is designed for secure emplacement within a wall or other permanent structure. A rear end  55  has opening  52  for wiring purposes, and a front face of housing  50  preferably includes a circular trim disk  56  surrounding drawer front  26 . This arrangement allows a circular hole to be drilled in a wall to receive housing  50  with disk  56  fitting tightly over and enclosing the opening. 
         [0022]    Securing housing  50  within a wall can be done in several ways. One preferred way is to fill a cavity around housing  50  with an adhesive foam material that strongly resists any removal of housing  50 . This can be enhanced by fixture blocks  57 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 4 . Trim disk  56  can be secured to fixture block  57  by a screw extending through disk hole  58  and into block  57 . Many other arrangements of fasteners, set screws, adhesives, welding, and other expedients can be used to secure housing  50  solidly in place. 
         [0023]    The front opening  60  of housing  50  is preferably stepped and flared slightly outward to receive front perimeter  61  of drawer  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Front face  26  of drawer  20  preferably fits flush with front rim  60  of housing  50  when drawer  20  is closed. This affords no purchase for a pry bar to get a hold of drawer  20  and force it outward. Also, since moisture may enter the preferably thin gap between housing rim  60  and drawer perimeter  61 , their confronting surfaces are preferably covered or coated with a non-stick material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. This helps prevent drawer  20  from freezing shut. 
         [0024]    An alternative box  80 , illustrated in  FIG. 8 , is similar to box  10  except for a different latching arrangement. Access solenoid  30  still moves with drawer  20 , and emergency release solenoid  40  is still fixed in housing  50 , the rear plate  55  of which is shown in  FIG. 8 . Instead of sliding bar latch  41 , box  80  has a pivoting latch  90  normally engaged and disengaged by access solenoid  30  for opening and closing of drawer  20 . Pin  91  of solenoid  40  holds latch arm  90  in place by passing through latch arm  90  and into fixed bracket  92 , which is secured to rear housing wall  55 . In an emergency, solenoid  40  actuates to retract pin  91  and release latch arm  90  from housing rear plate  55  so that latch arm  90  is free to move with drawer  20  even though access drawer solenoid  30  is disabled.