Patent Abstract:
A safe is provided capable of destruction of stored materials upon occurrence of a theft indication. A storage part stores a recording medium by a retaining means or system, and a destroying means or system that is operative to destroy the recording medium upon an activation is also within the storage part. A theft detecting part detects unauthorized access and a driver drives the destroying means or system for destruction.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from International App. Ser. No. PCT/JP2012/077186 filed Oct. 22, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from JP Ser. No. 2012-086023 filed Apr. 5, 2012. 
     
    
     FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION 
       [0002]    
       FIG. 3 
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a safe for storing a recording medium, and more particularly to a safe with destroying means for destroying a recording medium upon detecting a theft. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Valuable information is recorded on a recording medium such as CD, DVD, a flash memory, film and card, and for such purpose, a safe for keeping such recording media recorded with valuable information is desired. Normally, safes are intended to keep papers such as cash, securities and bankbooks, but a recording medium can also be kept in a normal safe used for papers since they are often made light and thin. 
         [0007]    In a normal safe for keeping papers such as banknotes, a safe is known to prevent a theft by spraying ink to banknotes stored inside the safe to make the stored articles unusable when encountering a theft. An example of such a safe is disclosed in patent literature 1 noted below. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006-338218* 
       
     
       ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In response, it is now recognized that an improved safe and safe system is provided to address at least one of the concerns noted herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0010]    As conventional safes are solely intended for keeping papers such as banknotes, spraying of ink onto stored articles to make the articles unusable is employed for anti-theft purpose. However, in case of a recording medium, they do not always become unusable by spraying ink, and therefore information recorded on the recording medium cannot be said to be lost completely by such measures. Thus, such measures are considered insufficient as an anti-theft means. 
         [0011]    The present invention is provided reflecting on the above mentioned problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe that ensures the information stored in the recording medium is lost in case of theft occurrence. 
       Solution to the Problem 
       [0012]    To solve the above mentioned problem, a safe of the present invention comprises an openable and closable storage part for accommodating a recording medium retained by a retaining means and a destroying means capable of destroying the recording medium accommodated in the storage part along with the retaining means, wherein the safe further comprises a theft detecting means for detecting unauthorized access to the storage part and a driving means for driving the destroying means, and when unauthorized access to the storage part is detected, the theft detecting means activates the driving means to destroy the recording medium accommodated in the storage part together with the retaining means. 
         [0013]    Further, the destroying means of the safe of the present invention includes a shredder for rupturing the recording medium together with the retaining means. 
         [0014]    Still further, the retaining means of the safe of the present invention includes a plurality of retaining parts for the recording medium along a longitudinal direction, wherein the retaining parts are folded at both sides of the longitudinal direction to form a bellows and accommodated within the storage part. 
         [0015]    Still further, the storage part of the safe of the present invention includes a guiding part for guiding the retaining means toward the destroying means, with the retaining means arranged so as its end part is placed over the guiding means. 
         [0016]    Further, the guiding part of the safe of the present invention includes a communication part for communicating between the storage part and the destroying means, and a supporting part for supporting the retaining means heading toward the communication part. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the safe of the present invention further includes a lock means for locking the storage part, and when an abnormality of the lock means is detected, the theft detecting means determines it as unauthorized access to the storage part. 
         [0018]    Further, the lock means of the safe of the present invention includes an input part for entering a password, and when a wrong password is entered into the input part more than a prescribed number of times, the theft detecting means determines it as an abnormality of the lock means. 
         [0019]    Furthermore, the safe of the present invention further includes a horizontal or horizon detecting part for detecting inclination angle, and when the horizontal detecting part detects an inclination exceeding a prescribed angle, the theft detecting means or system determines this as an unauthorized access to the storage part. 
         [0020]    The safe of the present invention further includes a feeding part supplied with power externally and a power storage part charged by the feeding part, and when residual electric charge of the power storage part is reduced below a prescribed amount, the theft detecting means or system determines it as unauthorized access to the storage part. 
       Advantageous Effects of the Invention 
       [0021]    According to the safe of the present invention, as it comprises the theft detecting means or system for detecting unauthorized access to the storage part, wherein the theft detecting means or system activates the driving means or system to destroy the recording medium along with the retaining means or system accommodated in the storage part by the destroying means or system when detecting unauthorized access to the storage part, and by physically destroying the recording medium, it ensures that the information stored in the recording medium is lost upon theft occurrence and prevents information to be stolen. 
         [0022]    Further, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible for the recording medium to be destroyed for sure with a simple means or system by configuring the destroying means or system with a shredder for rupturing the recording medium along with the retaining means or system. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to accommodate the recording medium efficiently by the retaining means or system and also to destroy the recording medium continuously and efficiently, as the retaining means or system is formed with a plurality of retaining parts for the recording medium along the longitudinal direction, while the retaining parts are folded at both sides of the longitudinal direction to form a bellows and accommodated within the storage part. 
         [0024]    Further, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to start destruction of the recording medium immediately upon detecting a theft, as the storage part is formed with the guiding part to guide the retaining means or system to the destroying means or system and the end part of the retaining means or system is placed over the guiding part. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to guide the retaining means or system retaining the recording medium smoothly to the destroying means or system; as the guiding part is formed with the communication part for communicating the storage part and the destroying part, and the supporting part for supporting the retaining means or system heading toward the communication part. 
         [0026]    Further, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to detect a theft for sure; because the safe further includes the lock means or system for locking the storage part, when detecting abnormality in the lock means or system, the theft detecting means or system determines it as unauthorized access to the storage part, and the lock means or system has to be destroyed in order to fraudulently open the storage part. 
         [0027]    Still more, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a theft without fail even in cases when the lock means or system is not physically destroyed, as the lock means or system is formed with an input part for entering a password, and when an invalid password is entered into the input part more than a prescribed times, the theft detecting means or system determines it as an abnormality of the lock means or system. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to detect the safe to be carried out and thus more certainly detect a theft, as the safe further comprises a horizontal detecting part for detecting inclination angle, and when the horizontal detecting part detects inclination exceeding a prescribed angle, the theft detecting means or system determines it as unauthorized access to the storage part. 
         [0029]    Further, according to the safe of the present invention, it is possible to detect the safe being carried out and thus more reliably detect a theft, as the safe further comprises the feeder part supplied with power externally and the power storage part charged by the feeder part, and when residual electric charge of the power storage part is reduced below a prescribed amount, the theft detecting part is determines it as unauthorized access to the storage part. 
         [0030]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a safe according to the present embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a plane view of the safe. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view illustrating the inner structure of the safe. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the safe with its lid part opened. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the safe with its input part constructed of an exemplary smart phone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto. 
         [0037]    Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. It should also be understood that as used herein means or system language is effective a system language. 
         [0038]    Now, embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail along with the drawings. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a safe  1  according to the present embodiment is illustrated. The safe  1  of the present embodiment comprises a main body  2  provided with a lid part  3  attached openably/closably via a hinge part  3   a , and a power supply cord  4  to be connected to an external power supply extending from the main body  2 . The lid part  3  may be locked or unlocked to the main body  2 , and by locking the lid part  3  to the main body  2 , articles stored inside the safe  1  cannot be taken out. A gripping part  6  is provided on the top surface of the lid part  3 , and the lid part  3  can be opened by lifting up the gripping part  6  when the lid part  3  is in an unlocked state. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plane view of the safe  1  is illustrated. As shown in the drawing, an input part  5  for entering a password for unlocking the lock is provided on the lid part  3 . By entering a preset valid password to the input part  5 , the lock of the lid part  3  is released to enable opening of the lid part  3  to take out the articles stored inside the safe  1 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic sectional view illustrating the inner structure of the safe  1  is shown. In the main body  2  of the safe  1 , a hollow storage part  10  which is openable/closable with a lid part  3  formed on top is provided, and inside the storage part  10 , a recording medium retained by a retaining means or system  30  is accommodated. In the present embodiment, CDs (compact disks) are intended as the recording media to be stored. However, the recording media shall not be limited to CDs, and any other recording media, such as DVDs and other optical recording media, memory cards, magnetic cards and microfilms used as a means or system for recording information, can be stored. 
         [0041]    In the safe  1 , section below the storage part  10  is divided by a bottom surface part  11 . In the section below the bottom surface part  11 , a destroying means or system  12  for rupturing and destroying the recording medium retained by the retaining means or system  30 , a driving means or system  13  for driving the destroying means or system  12 , a horizontal detecting part  14  for detecting the inclination state of the safe  1  and a power storage part  15  for supplying power to electrical operations inside the safe  1  are provided. The power storage part  15  is connected to the power supplying cord  4  and charged by an external power source. 
         [0042]    A lock part  3   b  is formed on the distal end of the opening part of the lid part  3 , and a locked part  2   a  engageable with the lock part  3   b  is formed on the corresponding position of the main body  2 . The lock part  3   b  of the lid part  3  engages with the locked part  2   a  of the main body  2  when the lid part  3  is in a closed state, and locks so as to maintain the engaging state even when a force is applied. As described above, the lock is released only when the valid password is entered to the input part  5 . Further, a lock detecting sensor (not shown) for detecting the engaging state with the locked part  2   a  is provided to the lock part  3   b  to detect whether the lid part  3  is closed or not. 
         [0043]    The destroying means or system  12  is configured as a shredder which shreds an object inserted between cutting parts  25  arranged adjacently opposed to each other. In the present embodiment, 2 sets of cutting parts  25  arranged adjacently opposed to each other are provided on top and bottom as shown in  FIG. 3 , and they are rotated by the driving means or system  13  including a motor to shred the recording medium retained by the retaining means or system  30 . A shredded material receiving part  26  for accommodating shredded material is provided below the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0044]    Now, structure of the retaining means or system  30  is described in detail. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the safe with the lid part  3  in an opened state is illustrated. The retaining means or system  30  is provided with numerous retaining parts  31  for retaining recording media  40  along a longitudinal direction, and each retaining part is folded back at both sides in the longitudinal direction to form a bellows as a whole. Each retaining parts  31  is formed as a pocket to accommodate a single recording medium  40 . The retaining means or system  30  comprises a plurality of retaining parts  31  formed by adhering a transparent or translucent resin material on the surface side and a nonwoven fabric on the rear surface side. However, the material of the retaining means or system  30  is not limited to above. 
         [0045]    The retaining means or system  30  with numerous retaining parts  31  arranged along the longitudinal direction while folded back to form a bellows so that it becomes possible to accommodate numerous recording media  40  and the recording media  40  can be gathered in a single belt-like member, and therefore a shredding of the recording media by the destroying means or system  12  can be continuously conducted. 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a slit-like communication part  21  is formed on the bottom part dividing the storage part  10  and the lower section within the safe  1 , and the end part of the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40  is set at the cutting part  25  of the destroying means or system  12 . Within the storage part  10 , a supporting part  22  for supporting the proximity of the end part of the retaining means or system  30  is provided. A guiding part  20  for guiding the retaining means or system  30  smoothly to the destroying means or system  12  comprises the communicating part  21  and the supporting part  22  together. Upon detecting unauthorized access to the storage part  10  in the safe  1 , the retaining means or system  30  accommodating the recording medium  40  guided to the destroying means or system  12  by the guiding means or system  20  can be immediately initiated to be shredded. 
         [0047]    Multiple means or systems can be considered as a means or systems to detect unauthorized access to the storage part  10  in the safe  1 . A theft detecting means or system (not shown) is provided inside the safe  1 , and such theft detecting means or system monitors multiple states to determine presence or absence of unauthorized access to the storage part  10 . When the theft detecting means or system determines that unauthorized access to the storage part  10  is present due to the change in one of the multiple states under observation, it operates to conduct shredding of the recording medium  40  by the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0048]    As described above, the horizontal detecting part  14  is installed inside the safe  1 . Information on the inclination state of the safe  1  is sent from the horizontal detecting part  14  to the theft detecting means or system  12 . When the horizontal detecting part  14  detects the safe  1  to be inclined more than a prescribed angle, and the theft detecting means or system determines that the storage part  10  is illegally accessed by a theft, the theft detecting means or system activates the driving means or system  13  to shred the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40  by the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0049]    Further, the theft detecting means or system monitors residual electric charge of the power storage part  15 . In a normal state, the power storage part  15  maintains substantially full charge as the power supplying cord  4  is connected to the external power supply, but in occurrence of theft, the power supplying cord  4  is removed from the external power supply and the residual electric charge of the power storage part  15  gradually is reduced. When the residual electric charge of the power storage part  15  becomes less than a prescribed amount, the theft detecting means or system determines that the storage part  10  is accessed illegally by a theft, and activates the driving means or system  13  to shred the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40  by the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0050]    The theft detecting means or system also monitors the lock detecting sensor provided on the lock part  3   b  of the lid part  3 . When the lock detecting sensor detects that the locked state of the lock part  3   b  is released by other than the event of entering a valid password to the input part  5 , the theft detecting means or system determines that the storage part  10  is illegally accessed by a theft and then activates the driving means or system  13  to shred the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40  by the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0051]    Furthermore, the theft detecting means or system monitors entry of a password by the input part  5 . When an invalid password is entered to the input part  5  instead of the valid password more than prescribed times, the theft detecting means or system determines that the storage part  10  is illegally accessed by a theft and then activates the driving means or system  13  to shred the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40  by the destroying means or system  12 . 
         [0052]    As described above, by monitoring multiple states by the theft detecting means, and activating the driving means or system  13  to shred and destroy the retaining means or system  30  retaining the recording medium  40 , if any states indicate unauthorized access to the storage part  10 , it is possible to detect theft without fail and reliably erase the recorded information by destroying the recording medium  40  upon theft occurrence. It is thereby possible to surely prevent the information kept in the safe  1  from being stolen. 
         [0053]    According to the present embodiment, the input part  5  is provided to the lid part  3  of the safe  1  to enter a password to the input part  5 . On the other hand, a function of the input part  5  can be provided to a smartphone so that a safe with higher security performance can be provided. A perspective view of a safe  1  comprising a smartphone as the input part  5  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a recessed part  16  for accommodating smartphone  50  is provided on the lid part  3  of the safe  1 , and a connecting part  17  connectable with a connection terminal of the smartphone  50  is provided on the lower surface of the recessed part  16 . The smartphone  50  includes a connection terminal at the bottom, allowing to be retained in the recessed part  16  of the lid part  33  by inserting the connecting part  17  for connection. 
         [0055]    An application to function as the input part  5  is installed in the smartphone  50  in advance. By starting the application, a screen  51  constructed with a touch panel displays an icon  52  for input, and an input can be carried out by touching the screen. 
         [0056]    The smartphone  50  is assigned with a specific identification code, and the specific identification code assigned to the user&#39;s smartphone  50  installed with the application is stored in the safe  1  in advance. When the smartphone  50  is connected to the connecting part  17 , the application sends the specific identification code assigned to the smartphone  50  to the safe  1 , and the safe  1  discriminates whether the code is identical to the stored identification code or not. The safe  1  releases the locked state of the lid part  3  or locks the lid part  3  only when the identification code is identical to the recorded identification code and a valid password is entered from the smartphone  50 . 
         [0057]    From such structure, even if a smartphone other than the user&#39;s smartphone  50  is connected and the valid password is entered, the safe  1  cannot be locked and/or released unless the identification code meets to the stored identification code. Therefore, even if the password is leaked, the safe  1  could not be opened by anyone else without the smartphone  50  of the user, and it is possible to provide a safe  1  with even higher security. 
         [0058]    While the embodiments of the present invention are described above, application of the present invention shall not be limited to the present embodiment and various applications shall be construed within the scope of its technical aspect. For example, the destroying means or system  12  shall not be limited to a shredder and anything else capable of physically destroying the recording medium  40  along with the retaining means or system  30  can be used. Further, any means or system other than the described can be used as a means or system for detecting a theft. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCES 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Safe 
           2  Main body 
           3  Lid part 
           4  Power supply cord 
           5  Input part 
           6  Gripping part 
           10  Storage part 
           11  Bottom surface part 
           12  Destroying means or system 
           13  Driving means or system 
           14  Horizontal detecting part 
           15  Power charge part 
           20  Guiding part 
           21  Communication part 
           22  Supporting part 
           25  Cutting part 
           26  Shredded material receiving part 
           30  Retaining means or system 
           31  Retaining part 
           32  Folded part 
           40  Recording medium 
       
     
         [0080]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, while the word ‘means’ is used herein, the mechanical functional details would be sufficient upon consideration of the present application, for one of skill in the art to construct a functional and operative device. Thus, particular gearing, shredding, hinge construction, door handle arrangements, etc. are sufficiently enabled for one of skill in the art. For a similar example the ‘means’ for action will also be understood as a system or systems operative for conducting the action, without extending beyond the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8