Abstract:
A lockbox for attaching to a surface including a housing, a lid that is selectively coupled to the housing and includes a lid lock that is arranged to selectively maintain the lid coupled to the housing and to inhibit removal therefrom. An anchoring mechanism is positioned at least partially within the housing and is moveable between an engaged position in which the lockbox is attached to the surface and a disengaged position in which the lockbox is removable from the surface. The anchoring mechanism includes an anchoring mechanism lock which inhibits movement between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention is directed to lockboxes for securely storing medical supplies and medicine. More particularly, the invention is directed to lockboxes which may be secured to a surface such as a table or wall. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a lockbox for attaching to a surface. The lockbox includes a housing, a lid that is selectively coupled to the housing and includes a lid lock that is arranged to selectively maintain the lid coupled to the housing and to inhibit removal therefrom. An anchoring mechanism is positioned at least partially within the housing and is moveable between an engaged position in which the lockbox is attached to the surface and a disengaged position in which the lockbox is removable from the surface. The anchoring mechanism includes an anchoring mechanism lock which inhibits movement between the engaged position and the disengaged position. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides an anchoring mechanism for attaching a work piece to a surface. The anchoring mechanism is associated with the work piece and includes a base mounted to the surface, and an engagement element coupled to the work piece and selectively engageable with the base. The engagement element is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement element is attached to the base and a disengaged position in which the engagement element is removable from the base. An anchoring mechanism lock is coupled with the engagement element and inhibits movement between the engaged position and the disengaged position. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a lockbox for attaching to a surface. The lockbox includes a housing that defines an interior space and a silo. The silo extends substantially from a bottom surface of the housing to a top surface of the housing. A handle is coupled to the housing and is configured to support the weight of the lockbox. A lid is rotatably coupled to the housing and is movable between a closed position wherein the lid inhibits access to the interior space and an open position wherein the lid allows access to the interior space. The lid defines an aperture substantially aligned with the silo when the lid is in the closed position. A lid lock is actuatable between a lid locked position wherein the lid is inhibited from moving between the open position and the closed position, and a lid unlocked position wherein the lid is free to move between the open position and the closed position. An anchoring mechanism is positioned substantially within the silo and includes an anchoring mechanism lock positioned adjacent a top of the silo, accessible via the aperture in the lid, and actuatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and an engagement element that is coupled to the anchoring mechanism lock and is movable with the anchoring mechanism lock between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The engagement element includes a lower flange that defines a first mounting feature and a shaft that connects the flange to the anchoring mechanism lock. A base is mounted to the surface and includes a second mounting feature arranged to be engaged by the first mounting feature. When the anchoring mechanism lock and the engagement element are in the engaged position, the first mounting feature engages the second mounting feature to attach the medical lockbox to the surface. When the anchoring mechanism lock and the engagement element are in the disengaged position, the first mounting feature does not engage the second mounting feature to allow the medical lockbox to be removed from the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and features, aspects and advantages other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such detailed description makes reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lockbox. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lockbox of  FIG. 1  with a lid in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the lockbox of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the lockbox of  FIG. 1  with the lid removed. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a portion of an anchoring mechanism of the lockbox of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the lockbox of  FIG. 1  taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another lockbox. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the lockbox of  FIG. 7  with a lid removed. 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of the lockbox of  FIG. 7  taken along the line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of yet another lockbox with a lid removed. 
         FIG. 11  is a section view of the lockbox of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a medical lockbox  10  that includes a housing  14 , a lid  18 , and an anchoring mechanism  22 . The housing  14  includes a housing bottom  26 , four upstanding side walls  30 , and a housing lip  34  atop the side walls  30  that defines an open top of the housing  14 . The four side walls  30  and the housing bottom  26  define an interior space  38  of the housing  14 . 
     A silo  42  is defined in the center of the housing  14  extending from the housing bottom  26  to a plane above the side walls  30 . The illustrated silo  42  includes an upper portion  46  that is generally cylindrical or frustoconical with a slight taper and an enlarged base portion  50 . The upper portion  46  defines a flange  54  near the upper extremity of the silo  42 . The enlarged base portion  50  includes a protruding groove  58 , but is otherwise generally cylindrical or frustoconical with a slight taper and defines a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper portion  46 . The silo  42  is hollow and is open at a top and bottom such that an aperture is formed through the silo  42 . In other constructions the silo  42  may be another shape (e.g. cone, square, rectangular, etc.), may not extend the full height of the sidewalls, or may be located in a different position within the interior space  38  (e.g., adjacent a sidewall  30 ), as desired. 
     The housing  14  also includes ribs  62  between the sidewalls and the silo  42 . The ribs  62  provide rigidity to the structure and separate storage areas for various items. In the illustrated construction, some ribs  62  may be removable. For example, two ribs  62  are removed from the front area of the lockbox  10  and only holding brackets  66  are visible. The housing  14  further includes a latch structure  70  with a latch aperture  74 . A handle  78  is pivotably coupled to the housing  14  and is sized such that it can support the weight of the lockbox  10  for carrying. In other constructions, the ribs  62  may be absent or may be shaped differently, as desired. 
     The lid  18  includes a lid top  82 , a lid lip  86  formed around a perimeter of the lid top  82 , and a lid aperture  90  formed through the lid top  82 . The lid  18  is coupled to the housing  14  with a hinge  94  and is rotable relative to the housing  14  between an open position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a closed position (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The lid lip  86  is shaped to engage the housing lip  34  in a secure manner. In the illustrated construction (see  FIG. 6 ), the housing lip  34  includes a projection and the lid lip  86  includes a groove sized to receive the projection. In other constructions, an o-ring or another type of seal can be positioned between the housing lip  34  and the lid lip  86  to provide additional sealing (e.g., against moisture). The lid aperture  90  is positioned such that it aligns with the silo  42  when the lid  18  is in the closed position. The flange  54  formed on the silo  42  engages the lid top  82  of the lid  18  when the lid  18  is in the closed position. Again, an o-ring or other seal may be provided between the flange  54  and the lid top  82  to seal the interface between the silo  42  and the lid  18 . 
     A latch  98  is rotatably coupled to the lid  18  via a hinge  102  and is movable between a latched position (see  FIG. 1 ) and an unlatched position. The latch  98  includes a lid lock  106  that is actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. With the lid  18  in the closed position, the latch  98  in the latched position, and the lid lock  106  in the locked position, the latch  98  engages the latch structure  70  on the housing  14  and the lid lock  106  engages the latch aperture  74  to inhibit the latch  98  and lid  18  from moving. In other words, the lid  18  is locked in the closed position. The illustrated lid lock  106  is a keyed lock that is actuated with a lid key  110 . In other constructions, another type of lock may be used (e.g., code, keypad, etc.). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , the anchoring mechanism  22  is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and includes an anchoring mechanism lock  114 , an engagement element  118 , and a base  122 . The anchoring mechanism lock  114  is mounted in the upper portion  46  of the silo  42  adjacent the upper extremity of the silo  42 . The illustrated anchoring mechanism lock  114  is a keyed lock similar to the lid lock  106  but requiring a anchoring key  126  for actuation. The anchoring key  126  is different from the lid key  110 . In other constructions, another type of lock may be used (e.g., code, keypad, etc.), and/or the anchoring key  126  could be the same as the lid key  110 . 
     The engagement element  118  is rigidly coupled to the anchoring mechanism lock  114  such that the engagement element  118  rotates with the anchoring mechanism lock  114  when the anchoring mechanism lock  114  is actuated between the engaged position and the disengaged position. Turning to  FIG. 5 , the engagement element  118  includes a circular flange  130  that defines a first mounting feature in the form of two apertures. Each aperture is a keyhole slot  134  arranged radially about the circular flange  130 . A shaft  138  extends from the circular flange  130  to a top portion  142  that is shaped to engage the anchoring mechanism lock  114 . The illustrated shaft  138  defines a hollow interior and is generally frustoconically shaped. In other constructions, the shaft  138  may be solid or shaped differently, as desired. 
     The base  122  defines a substantially flat bottom surface  146 , a side projection  150 , two bosses  154 , and a top projection  158 . Two fasteners  162  in the form of screws pass through the bosses  154  and secure the base  122  to a surface  164 . The fasteners  162  and the bosses  154  combine to form a second mounting feature. In other constructions, the second mounting feature may be a separate projection and fasteners or other means may be used to attach the base  122  to the surface  164  (e.g., glue, welding, etc.). The side projection  150  is sized to be received in the protruding groove  58  of the silo  42  to inhibit rotation of the housing  14  when mounted on the base  122 . The top projection  158  is sized to be received within the hollow interior of the engagement element  118  to aid in alignment of the housing  14  with the base  122  during installation. 
     In operation, with the lockbox  10  not attached to the surface  164 , the base  122  is positioned as desired on the surface  164  and the fasteners  162  are driven into the surface  164  to secure the base  122  in place and complete the formation of the second mounting feature. Then, with the lid  18  in the closed position, the housing  14  is positioned over the base  122  and the top projection  158  is used to align the housing  14  with the base  122 . The housing  14  is then lowered onto the base  122  such that the tops of the fasteners  162  pass into the keyhole slots  134  of the engagement element  118 . The user then actuates the anchoring mechanism lock  114  with the anchoring key  126  by accessing the anchoring mechanism lock  114  through the lid aperture  90 . The user actuates the anchoring mechanism  22  from the disengaged position to the engaged position. The engagement element  118  turns with the anchoring mechanism lock  114  such that the tops of the fasteners  162  are trapped in the keyhole slots  134  and the housing  14  is secured to the surface  164 . When the housing  14  is secured in the engaged position, the anchoring key  126  is removed and the anchoring mechanism  22  is locked in the engaged position. 
     The lockbox  10  can then be used for storage. The user can use the lid key  110  to actuate the lid lock  106  and open/close the lid  18  to access the interior space  38  of the housing  14 . If desired, the user can lock the lid  18  in the closed position, then use the anchoring key  126  to move the anchoring mechanism  22  from the engaged position to the disengaged position and remove the lockbox  10  from the surface  164  without opening the lid  18 . Subsequently, the user can replace the lockbox  10  on the base  122  and reattach it to the surface  164  without ever opening the lid  18 . 
     Alternatively, the lid  18  might not include the lid aperture  90  and the silo  42  may not extend above the side walls  30 . In such a construction, the anchoring mechanism lock  114  could be positioned within the interior space  38  of the housing  14  such that the lid  18  would be in the open position when the anchoring mechanism  22  was actuated. 
     In the illustrated construction, the housing bottom  26  is substantially flush with the surface  164  when attached to the surface  164  such that access to the underside of the lockbox  10  is inhibited. This provides a situation wherein the only realistic or intended means for removal from the surface  164  is by use of the anchoring mechanism lock  114 . 
       FIGS. 7-11  show alternative lockboxes and are numbered with like numbers to  FIGS. 1-6  but with prime numbers.  FIG. 7  shows a lockbox  10 ′ similar to the lockbox  10  of  FIGS. 1-6  but defining no lid aperture  90  and including any of the anchoring arrangements discussed with respect to  FIGS. 8-11 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a housing  14 ′ with no silo  42  and no ribs  62 . Further, the anchoring mechanism  22 ′ does not include the anchoring mechanism lock  114 . Rather, the anchoring mechanism  22 ′ includes a base  122 ′, and a manually operated engagement element  170  that includes a circular flange  174  with keyholes  178 , a depression  182  sized to receive the top projection  158 ′ of the base  122 ′, and finger holds  186  that provide a place for the user to grasp the engagement element  170  and actuate it between the engaged position and the disengaged position. In light of the above description with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 , one of skill in the art will understand the operation of the construction shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a lockbox  10 ″ that does not include an anchoring mechanism  22  and wherein the housing  14 ′ does not include a silo  42  or ribs  62 . This lockbox  10 ″ is not intended to be attached to a surface  164 . 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.