Patent Publication Number: US-10329830-B2

Title: Portable security box with a solar panel and improved lock that attaches to a fixed object to secure valuables

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of Application No. 61/981,656 filed on Apr. 18, 2014 and application Ser. No. 14/253,338 filed on Apr. 15, 2014 which is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 13/413,017 filed on Mar. 6, 2012, now abandoned. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     In general, examples of the concept of having a lock box that attaches to a fixed object are known. The following patents and Patent applications are illustrative of the known prior art in this area. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,395 issued to Boole in 1977 for “Portable Drawer Assembly”. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,858 issued to Wu in 2007 for “Security box” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,332 issued to Ma in 1986 for “Portable Security box” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,933 issued to Shai in 2009 for “Portable tool box locker” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,671 issued to Kerr in 2000 for “Lock box” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,082 issued to Wolk in 1996 for “Portable Security Case” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,390 issued to McGinley in 1990 for “Safety Locker Drawer for use with a chair” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,491 issued to Lokken in 1987 for “Portable Travel Safe” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,279 issued to Curcio in 2010 for “Storage Compartment for a Chair” 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a self-contained safe, lockable container, or lock box for securing valuables and more particularly to a portable, lockable security box that may be secured to a fixed object. It has long been known that when people are at a place of relaxation or recreation (beach, pool, camp, park, or other outdoor activity) people are concerned that their valuables are safe and secure. This invention is a simple way to secure valuables to a fixed object in a stylish, universal fit, with a specially designed lockable container. This invention will greatly reduce the worry a person has concerning the security of their valuables when they use the invention, such as when they go for a swim, wherein previously one would hide objects in sneakers or under a towel. 
     The present invention relates to a portable, lockable security box such as a security box, self-contained safe, lockable container, portable security safe or similar device. The above examples are all similar in concept but lack the simplicity and features which are important elements which the present invention provides. Cable locks, Sliding trays, complex mounting mechanisms, multiple component assemblies, and materials subject to degradation are all embodied in the prior innovations. The present invention utilizes innovative features to solve the prior problems by providing a novel solution. 
     The traditional safe is used to store objects in such a way as to restrict access to these objects. Typically, safes are meant to be permanent objects which are highly impregnable except to users with access to the safe&#39;s inner contents by way of a key or knowledge of a combination. However, in order to keep the safe, and its contents, from being easily removed, traditional safes have been intentionally designed to be heavy, bulky, and difficult to move. In certain instances, individuals may desire to restrict access to objects, such as their wallet, keys, phone, firearm, or other items, while they are somewhere in which it would be impractical to bring a traditional safe. Thus, one may desire to have a portable safe to store valuables while temporarily out of view of the valuables, such as when swimming, enjoying recreational activities, or relaxing on beach or pool lounge chairs. However, because it would be undesirable for the portable safe to be portable while the user is using the safe to restrict access to the safe&#39;s contents, it is also desirable to provide a lockable storage container that is self-contained and removably attachable to a variety of other fixed or secure elements such as patio chairs, strollers, bikes or structural members. People commonly carry valuables such as cell phones, watches, wallets, glasses, room keys, etc. with them. When a person decides to do an activity where it is not convenient or where they cannot take all of their valuables with them, the person must decide what to do to make sure their valuables are not stolen when they are temporarily out of view of them. Prior to this invention, one had to use a complex lock box with a chain or mounting brackets to store their valuables. Alternatively, locking boxes were placed on door knobs or were limited to use on the non-supporting areas of a specific type of chair, but did not have the flexibility to be secured to any desirable elongate object nor the space to store valuables from multiple people. Prior to this invention, there was no safe capable of true portability combined with the ability to attach to structural elements in a truly removable fashion. Without a portable safe, the only option is to hide valuables out of sight, such as under a towel, and hope the valuables are there when one returns. Despite market demand, prior attempts to address this problem have fallen short as a result of a failure to address the problem in the novel manner disclosed herein. A simplified design of the type disclosed herein with innovative features exemplifies an invention that has been desired in the marketplace and is more fully described herein. 
     In addition to the foregoing, the improved invention disclosed herein preferably includes a solar panel to allow the user to charge their electronics while they are securely stored in the lockable container. Additionally, an improved locking mechanism that utilizes existing RFID technology is disclosed herein such that the present invention is particularly desirable for use at public or hotel pools wherein the user may use a hotel card or wrist band with RFID technology to open or close the lockable container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable, lockable security box of the present invention is specifically designed to store valuables at a variety of locations, such as the beach, pool or other recreation area. The unique, one of a kind security box of the present invention self-fastens to an elongate object, including a support member such as on a lounge chair or stroller, a boat or golf cart safety rail, a secured rope, or even a bicycle frame. The security box opens up and closes over a bar of a lounge chair frame, stroller or other support element and can then be securely locked. In order to accommodate a variety of support element shapes or sizes, the security box ingeniously includes a versatile support cavity. 
     The support cavity is made up of an arcuate portion, a corner lip, and a straight portion on each of two side openings in the security box. In an example of one generally preferred form of the invention, the support cavity fits on a wide variety of support elements, such as a square support with a diameter approximately 1.5 inches square or a round bar with a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches or less, such as lounge chair support bar frames or stroller frame. This unique security box is self-contained and completely portable. Unlike prior attempts to solve the problem addressed by the present invention, this security box does not require permanent fixation to the support element, such as being bolted on or screwed down, and does not require assembly, such as the insertion of a pivotable arm or a pawl. The present invention is ideal for use at the beach, park or pool, wherein the security box can be filled with any valuables of allowable size that the owner would like to secure, enclosed over any elongate object that is part of the lounge chair, stroller or structural member and then locked using the locking mechanism that comes with the lockable security box (ex. Integral Briefcase Lock) or external padlock. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism consists of an RFID arrangement where the owner is able to activate the lock by using a RFID chip on a bracelet or a key type card to activate an RFID powered switch on the lockable container. 
     The present invention is designed to provide a level of security at the beach, park, or pool so that the owner can leave the stored items unattended and not have to worry about them as they would if the same items were left out in the open. This security box is a theft deterrent device which, if used properly, should decrease the probability that valuables are stolen at the beach, park or pool. It is submitted that a potential thief is less likely to attempt to break open the present invention and potentially draw attention to themselves rather than quickly search unattended towels and shoes that are likely hiding places for valuables. Additionally, the nature of the materials of the present invention do not allow the thief to see what, if anything is located in the portable, lockable security box, thereby further reducing the likelihood that a thief will target the lockable security box rather than searching for easier targets. 
     In a preferred form of the present invention, the security box is specifically designed to be temporarily affixed to lounge chairs by use of integral side openings which surround the elongate support bar on the back of a lawn or beach chair. Placing the security box on the back of a chair, wherein it would not be easily visible from the front of the chair, has aesthetic utility as well as providing an additional level of security due to the decreased visibility, especially if the chair were situated against a wall or sand dune. Furthermore, the exterior shape of the lock box is generally a 3D ellipse, ovoid or bulbous shaped and has multiple rounded edges so as to not interfere with the operation of the device to which it is attached while maximizing the internal storage space. Furthermore, the top and bottom components are designed to close flush with each other, as opposed to one being larger than the other, which decreases the likelihood of a snag or injury by the user of the security box. The support cavity is configured with two versatile side openings to engage a variety of cross-sectional shapes of elongate support members to which it can attach. As described more fully below, the security box preferably includes a greater length between the side openings of the support cavity than the front to back dimension. 
     The present invention relates generally to a simplified, portable, universally fit, lockable container that attaches to a fixed object to store valuables that includes a top component that connects to the bottom component by means of a hinge which has a built in support cavity that will fit a variety of different sized fixed objects such as the metal frame supports of a beach lounge chairs with an integral compartment that will store valuables such as cell phones, wallets, watches, glasses, room keys, and other valuables which is secured by an integrated locking system under which the fixed object is also clasped. The locking system may include a hook type member that is retained in an opposite recess wherein the movement of the hook type member is actuated by a combination lock or an RFID system which will prevent unauthorized entry to the lockable container while the user is swimming or enjoying recreational activities. 
     A further improvement for the present invention includes a solar panel on the top surface of the lockable container to allow the user to charge their cellphone or other electronic device while it is stored in the lockable container. In one form of this improvement, the solar panel is affixed in a recessed cavity on the top surface of the lockable container. The charging cord extends into the interior of the lockable container through the side opening or more preferably may extend down through the recessed area to the interior surface of the lockable container. The user may then connect their cellphone or other electronic device to the universal connector on the cord and their electronic device will charge while it is securely located in the lockable container. The solar panel of this embodiment provides additional charging power for the user&#39;s electronic devices to enable the user to apply an additional charge their electronic device during a day at the beach or pool such that the user does not need to be concerned that the charge in their electronic device will run down before the day is over. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective front view of the two main components of the security box and the side openings. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view from the back of the two main components of the security box and the side openings. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of both main components when assembled. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of both main components when assembled. 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear view of both main components when assembled. 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of both main components when assembled. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional view of a security box taken generally along the plane generally bisecting the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the present invention attached to the support bar of a lawn chair. 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of both main components of an alternate embodiment when assembled. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional view of a security box taken generally along the plane bisecting the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows an open view of both main components when assembled to demonstrate how the embodiment of  FIG. 9  will be used to charge an electronic device. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the invention shown in  FIG. 9  attached to the support bar of a lawn chair. 
         FIG. 13  shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention with a RFID locking mechanism for use with an activating wrist band to activate the RFID locking mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the security box  10  of the present invention has a top component  12  which connects to the bottom component  30  through an integrally attached hinge  50 . The hinge  50  operates by tapping a tapered pin  52  into each side of the hinge extensions  54 . The top component  12  is hinged and movable relative to the bottom component  30  to close the top component  12  onto the top of the bottom component  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the hasps  62  of the locking mechanism  60  come together so they may be locked with a padlock to secure the user&#39;s valuables inside. Alternately, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the lockable security box  10  may have a self-contained locking mechanism  60 , such as an integral briefcase style locking mechanism as described more fully below. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 , the top component  12  includes opposed side openings  14  and  16 . In a preferred form of the present invention, the side openings  14  and  16  are formed by the combination of the upper arcuate portion  18 , corner lip  68 , straight side portions  20  of the top component  12  and the generally straight sides and generally rectangular shape of the side openings  14  and  16  of the bottom component  30 . The combination of the arcuate portion  18 , the corner lip  68 , and the straight side portions  20  allows the side openings  14  and  16  to engage a variety of cross sectional shapes of elongate support bars. When the support bar has a circular cross section, the support bar will typically contact the upper arcuate portion  18  of the side openings  14  and  16 . When the support bar has a rectangular, oval or other shaped cross section, the support bar will contact either the corner lip  68  or both the upper arcuate portion  18  and the corner lip  68  of the side openings  14  and  16  to reduce the movement of the lockable security box  10  relative to the support bar when the lockable security box  10  encloses the support bar. In this configuration, the security box cannot be removed from the support bar without cutting through the support bar or breaking the hinge or locking mechanisms of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 , the top component  12  includes an inner surface  22  and an outer surface  24 . In a preferred form of the present invention, the inner surface and the outer surface of the top component  12  are preferably of general uniform thickness, although, it is anticipated that the thickness may vary to reinforce certain sections of the top component or to accommodate various manufacturing processes. The top component is preferably manufactured of an ABS material, although a variety of other strong and durable materials such as Poly Carbonates, nylon composites, carbon fibers or certain other high strength materials may be used to provide the attributes desired in the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 , the top component has a generally elongate lengthwise dimension between the side openings  14  and  16  and is generally u-shaped in cross sectional shape between the front surface  26  and back surface  28  of the top component. The height of the top component is generally chosen to be sufficient to accommodate the majority of cross sectional sizes of intended support bars in the side openings  14  and  16 , while providing sufficient structural integrity around the support bar S and in combination with the bottom component  30  to provide secure engagement with the support bar. The back surface  28  of the top component  12  preferably includes a plurality of outwardly extending hinge extensions  54  having circular openings there through to securely retain the tapered pins  52  therein when the lockable security box is assembled. The front surface  26  of the top component  12  includes at least a portion of the locking mechanism  60  thereon. A shown in  FIG. 1 , a hasp member  62  forms an extension that projects forwardly from the front surface  26  of the top component  12  in a manner to allow the side by side positioning of the hasp  62  from the bottom component  30  to allow the insertion of a portion of a lock through each of the hasps to securely close the lockable security box  10 . As also described in the application and as shown in  FIG. 7 , the locking mechanism may also consist of a self-contained lock similar to the types of locks used for bicycles, storage units or similar devices. In this form of the locking mechanism  60 , a combination lock type feature extends or retracts to engage a hasp member  62  that is in a recessed portion located along the inner surface  22  of the top component  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 , the bottom component  30  includes an inner surface  32  and an outer surface  34 . In a preferred form of the present invention, the inner surface and the outer surface of the bottom component  30  are preferably of generally uniform thickness, although, it is anticipated that the thickness may vary to reinforce certain sections of the bottom component or to accommodate various manufacturing processes or even to provide an internal support surface for the valuables of the user. The bottom component  30  is preferably manufactured of an ABS material, although a variety of other strong and durable materials such as Poly Carbonates, nylon composites, carbon fibers or certain other high strength materials may be used to provide the attributes desired in the present invention. As shown, the bottom component  30  has a generally elongate lengthwise dimension between the side openings  14  and  16  and is generally ovoid, elliptical or u-shaped in cross sectional shape between the back surface  36  and front surface  38  of the bottom component  30 . In the preferred form of the present invention, the inner surface  32  of the bottom component preferably forms a recessed area that has sufficient size to retain the valuables from multiple people. The height of the bottom component  30  is generally chosen to provide sufficient interior volume to accommodate the majority of the valuables typically carried by beach, park or pool goers. As with the top component  12 , the bottom component  30  preferably includes a greater lengthwise dimension than the width dimension to provide a bottom component which extends along the lengthwise dimension of an elongate support bar. The bottom component  30  includes the bottom portions of the side openings  14  and  16 . In the preferred form of the side openings  14  and  16 , the shape on the bottom component is preferably rectangular to accommodate a variety of sizes of cross sectional shapes of the typical elongate support bar while providing sufficient structural integrity around the support bar and in combination with the top component  12  to provide secure engagement with the support bar. The back surface  36  of the bottom component  30  preferably includes a plurality of outwardly extending hinge extensions  54  having circular openings there through to securely retain the tapered pins  52  therein when the lockable security box  10  is assembled. As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom surface of the bottom component  30  may include a plurality of drainage holes  64  to allow for drainage if the interior compartment of the lockable security box  10  gets wet.  FIG. 2  also shows the back surface  36  of the bottom component as including a plurality of square box shaped openings  66  which are carved out and can be punched through to create a place where fasteners may be affixed if deemed necessary by a consumer. 
     The front surface  38  of the bottom component  30  includes at least a portion of the locking mechanism  60  thereon. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a hasp member  62  forms an extension that projects forwardly from the front surface  38  of the bottom component  30  in a manner to allow the side by side positioning of the hasp  62  from the top component  12  to allow the insertion of a portion of a lock through each of the hasps to securely close the lockable security box  10 . As also described in this application and shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the locking mechanism  60  may also consist of a self-contained lock similar to the types of locks used for bicycles, storage units or similar devices. In this form of the locking mechanism  60 , a combination lock type feature engages a hasp member  62  that extends upwardly from the outer surface  34  of the bottom component  30  and engages a similar hasp member  62  extending downwardly from the front surface  26  of the top component  12 . Also, as shown in the drawings, a handle type member H may extend from the front surface  26  of the top component  12  to provide the user with an element to grasp as the security box  10  is opened or closed. An example of a preferred form of the present invention, the bottom of the interior surface area of the bottom section  30  and top section  12  of the lockable security box  10  is approximately 60 square inches to securely accommodate phones, wallets, sunglasses etc. from the typical user. A preferred form of the lockable security box preferably has a general dimension of approximately 10.5 inches between side openings  14  and  16 , by 6.5 inches between the top and bottom of the lockable security box  10  and by 5.5 inches between the front surface  38  and back surface  36  with an approximate size of 375 cubic inches. 
       FIGS. 6 and 8  are illustrative of the top and perspective views of a preferred form of the present invention.  FIG. 8  shows the ability of support bar S running all the way through the invention through the side openings  14  and  16  to allow for the fixed object, such as the support bar, to center the gravitational pull of the bottom component  30  of the lockable security box  10  and its contents to the middle of the invention eliminating lopsidedness. As shown in the drawings, this feature is accomplished through the combination of the arcuate portion  18 , corner lip  68  of the top component  12  and the generally straight sides and generally rectangular shape of the side openings  14  and  16  of the bottom component  30 . Because the lockable security box  10  encloses around the support bar and the support bar has no free ends, the lockable security box  10  is retained on the desired structure until the present invention is opened by the user. Similarly, because the components of the lockable security box  10  are formed of a material that does not allow the contents of the box to be visible there through and the side openings of the box are shaped to minimize the ability to see into the box through the side openings, thus the contents are not readily viewable without opening the lockable security box. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention is provided with all of the features described above and further includes a solar panel  70  having the features described herein. The outer surface of the top component  12  preferably includes a solar panel  70  mounted thereon. As shown, the top charging surface  72  of the solar panel  70  is preferably flush along the outer surface of the top member and extends downwardly through the top component  12  to a position generally adjacent to the interior surface storage container. As further shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the solar panel is preferably relatively flat or slightly curved to conform to the outer surface of the lockable container. The solar panel  70  has a generally rectangular shaped configuration with a top charging surface  72  and a bottom surface  74  that includes a charging cable  76  extending therefrom which is adapted to be connected to a device D to be charged. A plurality of ridges or tabs are shown to retain the solar panel in the top component  12  although adhesives or other methods of retaining the solar panel in the desired position may be used. The solar panel  70  is preferably embedded in the top component  12  to be fixedly retained in the top component and extends between the inner surface  22  and outer surface  24  of the top component  12 . As shown, the charging surface  72  of the solar panel  70  is arranged to be positioned along the front and top surface of the top component  12  to maximize the exposure of the solar panel to the sun when the invention is attached to a lawn chair or is otherwise in its preferred orientation. 
     The solar panel  70  of the present invention is generally commercially available with little or no modification from a variety of commercial vendors. In a preferred form of the solar panel, the solar panel is preferably a monocrystalline solar panel with a capacity of about 12000 mAh and general dimensions between about 1 to 3 inches wide and about 5 to 7 inches in length with the exact dimensions depending on the efficiency, durability and a variety of other factors of the selected solar panel. The battery type is preferably a Lithium polymer battery with a lifetime charging capacity in excess of 800 times. One form of the solar panel has a full charging time of about 6 hours at 5.5V/1.7 W. The input of the solar panel when used as a phone charger is preferably 5V DC/IA with the output being preferably about 5V DC/2*1 A and includes a variety of internationally recognized certifications. The charging cord  76  is shown in the drawings and preferably includes a USB or mini USB connector to plug into the electronic device for charging. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13  an improved locking mechanism is disclosed that utilizes many of the components described in more detail above The front surface  26  of the top component  12  includes at least a portion of the locking mechanism  60  thereon and preferably consists of a combination lock type feature that extends or retracts to engage a hasp member  62  that is engaged in a recessed portion located along the inner surface  22  of the top component  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 13 , the hasp member  62  extends along the front surface  38  of the bottom component  30  includes at least a portion of the locking mechanism  60  thereon. In the form of the locking mechanism  80  shown in  FIG. 13 , a RFID actuated lock includes a RFID powered switch  82  to movably cause the hasp member  62  that extends upwardly from the inner surface  32  of the bottom component  30  to engage in a recessed portion located along the inner surface  22  of the top component  12 . The operation of the RFID locking mechanism is ideal for hotel or public pools where the use of the lockable container is on a rental or temporary basis to their patrons. In this embodiment, the RFID powered switch  82  responds to the presence of an RFID card or wrist band which, when properly recognized, allows the user to depress the switch button  84 . When the switch button  84  is allowed to be depressed by the RFID switch, the hasp member  62  is movable from the recessed portion of the top component to allow the user to open the lockable container. If no RFID card or wrist band is detected in close proximity to the RFID powered switch, the user is unable to unlock the lockable container. The general function of this type of locking mechanism is best understood by analogy to a hotel room key where the card key activates a switch in the door which then allows the user to turn the door handle. In the present invention, the wristband or card activates the switch to allow the user to depress the button and unlock the lockable container. 
     In addition to the added convenience for the users of the lockable containers, the administration and trackability of the use of the lockable containers is greatly improved with the use of the RFID technology for the hotel managers or a rental group. As is standard with RFID technology, the use of the RFID cards or bracelets allow for the rapid reprogramming of the RFID powered switch  82  such that users may be added or deleted as needed and access to the contents of the lockable container may be monitored or controlled. Similarly, if there are issues with lost cards or bracelets, a manager may reprogram or open the lockable container for the guests. 
     The general standards for commonly used RFID technology allow for the opening of the lock in excess of 500,000 times. The battery life for common RFID switches allows the lock to be opened more than 10,000 times and even allows for an additional 150 openings after a low battery alarm is signaled. In a preferred form of this invention, the operating frequency may be in various bands within a frequency range of 125 KHz to 13.56 MHz and includes a sensing range of about 1 to 3 inches. In this embodiment, the user is allowed to place their wristband or card adjacent to the RFID switch  82  to activate the mechanism to allow the switch button  84  to be depressed thus opening the lock.