Abstract:
A wall-mounted cabinet that is especially adapted for use as a security cabinet in a security system includes the cabinet and the equipment secured by the cabinet in such a manner that the system does not rely on surveillance by security personnel. The cabinet includes a housing with a back support panel securely fastened to a wall of the building that is being monitored. The panel fits around cables used to power or otherwise electrically service the equipment. The housing also has top, bottom and side panels projecting outwardly from the back panel, and shelves are located within the housing defining an upper and lower compartments. Upper and lower doors are mounted on the housing for movement between open and closed positions over the compartments, and locks on the doors secure the doors in their closed positions. Fasteners join the panels of the housing together so that access from the exterior of the cabinet when locked is prevented short of destroying the cabinet. The monitoring equipment includes a TV monitor or display secured to the top of the housing; recording equipment supported on an upper shelf in the upper compartment; video tapes supported on lower shelves in the lower compartment; electrical connections enclosed by the cabinet and including cables extending from the equipment out of the cabinet through the back and either extending through the wall or connected to power outlets in the wall; and a cooling fan mounted in the cabinet for cooling the equipment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a cabinet a wall-mounted cabinet that is especially adapted for use as a security cabinet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A small business, such as a convenience store, a market, a hardware store, or other retail business, usually cannot afford security personnel and must rely solely upon various types of monitoring equipment to record activities detrimental to the security of its business including its merchandise and records. Without attending personnel, however, the components of security systems currently in use for small businesses are often vulnerable to tampering or theft. 
     Commonly used security systems typically include video cameras mounted at various locations around an establishment and connected by coaxial cables to monitoring equipment located at some convenient place in the building, which for a small business usually is a corner of the manager&#39;s office, a closet, or sometimes even fully exposed on a shelf behind the cash register. The monitoring equipment generally includes a video monitor, a video tape recorder, a multiplexer, a power source or supply, a storage area for videotapes, and the necessary electrical connections. As stated, such monitoring equipment will most likely not be under the surveillance of security personnel, such as might be stationed in the lobby of a larger commercial or industrial enterprise, but must depend on the owner&#39;s or manager&#39;s infrequent inspections for the integrity of the system. 
     Efforts are sometimes made to protect the monitoring area by placing the video tape recorder in a box that is locked and rests on a table. The video monitor is usually placed on top of the box, and the videotapes are often stored on some shelf or simply placed on the table next to the box containing the videotape recorder. Experience shows that these measures offer no security at all since the power cord or cables leading to the VCR and other equipment can readily be unplugged or cut, and the locked box, including its contents, can be stolen. Of course, the exposed videotapes, perhaps containing damaging evidence of illegal activities, can likewise be stolen or compromised. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wall-mounted cabinet is disclosed that is especially adapted for use as a security cabinet in a security system. System includes a cabinet and the equipment secured by the cabinet in such a manner that the system does not rely on surveillance by security personnel. The cabinet includes a housing with a back support panel securely fastened to a wall of the building that is being monitored. The panel fits around cables used to power or otherwise electrically service the equipment. The housing also has top, bottom and side panels projecting outwardly from the back panel, and shelves are located within the housing defining an upper and lower compartments. Upper and lower doors are mounted on the housing for movement between open and closed positions over the compartments, and locks on the doors secure the doors in their closed positions. Fasteners join the panels of the housing together so that access from the exterior of the cabinet when locked is prevented short of destroying the cabinet. The monitoring equipment includes a TV monitor or display secured to the top of the housing; recording equipment supported on an upper shelf in the upper compartment; video tapes supported on lower shelves in the lower compartment; electrical connections enclosed by the cabinet and including cables extending from the equipment out of the cabinet through the back and either extending through the wall or connected to power outlets in the wall; and a cooling fan mounted in the cabinet for cooling the equipment. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a wall-mounted cabinet that is especially adapted for use as a security cabinet. 
     An object of this invention is to provide an improved security system, particularly suited for use by small businesses. 
     Another object is to provide a more effective security system for an establishment where security personnel are not employed or at least are not in constant attendance to the security equipment. 
     An additional object is to provide a security system for monitoring the activities in a retail business establishment, or other small enterprise, wherein tampering with the security equipment or stealing it is made much more difficult. 
     A specific object is to make it much more difficult to steal the most crucial equipment of a security system, i.e., the videotape recorder and videotapes. 
     Yet another object is to house the monitoring equipment of a security system in such a manner that it is concealed, locked, and fastened to the building in which it is used. 
     A further object is to provide a security cabinet for the critical monitoring equipment of a security system that is so difficult to enter when closed and locked that would-be thieves will either be discouraged from tying or will fail and perhaps be noticed if attempts at entry are made. 
     An added object to house the critical equipment of a video monitoring security system in a common secure housing that is securely attached to the building being monitored so that the equipment cannot simply be carried away or easily compromised. 
     A still further object is to conceal in a secure locked cabinet all of the critical parts of the recording equipment of a video monitoring system including a VCR, video tapes, cables, and power sources and to attach the TV monitor of the system to the cabinet so that the monitor cannot be separated from the cabinet from the outside of the cabinet without destruction of the installation. 
     A further object is to provide a secure enclosure for the monitoring equipment of a security system while allowing convenient access to this equipment for servicing or other attention. 
     Yet an additional object is to provide a security cabinet for the monitoring equipment of a security system that has the appearance of another piece of furniture, thereby to compliment the accessories in the office or building. 
     An additional object is to secure the monitoring equipment of a security system so that it will withstand earthquake or accidental bumping, thereby to protect the equipment housed and also to avoid injury from falling objects. 
     A still further object is to provide a security cabinet that can be shipped in disassembled condition but that can be quickly and easily assembled and installed, ready for use. 
     These and other objects will become apparent upon reference to the following description and claims and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front isometric view from a vantage point looking down on the right upper front corner of the security cabinet of the present invention shown with all three of its doors closed. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the security cabinet shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the security cabinet of FIG. 1 with a part broken away to show a fastener. 
     FIG. 4 is top plan view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 1, with the top door closed. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the left side of the security cabinet as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the right side of the security cabinet as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7A is an isometric view of a side panel insert also seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7B is a isometric view of one of the lower door mounts also seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the security cabinet with both front doors closed. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the security cabinet with all three doors closed. 
     FIG. 9A is an exploded isometric of the two parts of the upper front door of the cabinet. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the security cabinet with both front doors open, with the cabinet empty, and with the upper front door supported by the lower front door in its horizontal position, thereby showing the back panel with its two openings. 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 6 but with the front doors opened and with the lower front door supporting the upper front door as seen in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 5 with the lower front door closed or open and in fully retracted position but in any event not seen and with the upper front door hanging from its e in pendent open position. 
     FIG. 13 is a front isometric view of the security cabinet with all three doors closed and from a vantage point looking up at the right lower front corner of the cabinet. 
     FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 except that the lower door front door is open and in its horizontal position, it being noted that the lower compartment is shown empty except for shelves. 
     FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIGS. 13 and 14 except that both front doors are open and in their horizontal positions, with the lower front door partially extended enough to support the upper front door as in FIGS. 10, and  11 , and with both the upper and lower compartments empty except for the shelves. 
     FIG. 16 is a rear isometric view of the cabinet from a vantage point looking down on the rear upper right corner of the cabinet with all three doors closed but with the right side wall being broken away to show interior parts of the cabinet and with the cabinet being empty except for the three shelves. 
     FIG. 17 is a right front isometric view of the security system of the present invention including the security cabinet of FIGS. 1 through 16 with all three doors closed and locked and with the cabinet shown attached to the wall of a building with a TV monitor secured to the top wall of the cabinet, and with one of the side walls broken away to show interior parts of the security cabinet and certain monitoring equipment of the subject security system positioned in the cabinet. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The security cabinet of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  20  in the drawings and is shown in its painted condition in all the views, the significance to be subsequently explained. The cabinet is made of metal, preferably steel, although other strong, rigid materials could be used. As best seen in FIG. 1, the cabinet includes a housing having a back panel  24 , a top panel  26 , side panels  28  and  30 , and a bottom panel  32 . Although the subject invention is not limited to any particular dimensions, the preferred embodiment of the cabinet is about twenty-six inches high by about twenty-one inches wide by about twenty-one inches deep at the top and about twelve inches deep at the bottom. 
     The back panel  24  (FIGS. 2 and 3) is substantially square in shape and has a height and width the same as the housing  22 . The back panel includes a flat central portion  40  having a rectangular upper cable opening  42 , a rectangular lower cable opening  44 , and a series of mounting holes  46 , preferably four, adjacent to the opposite sides of the cable openings. As best seen in FIG. 2, the back panel has horizontal, inwardly extending top and bottom flanges  48  and  50  and vertical, inwardly extending side flanges  52  and  54 . A vertical locking flange  49  extends down from the top flange centrally thereof on the inside of the panel. Both the top and bottom flanges as well as the central portion of the back panel have assembly holes  56 , although not all the assembly holes are shown for illustrative convenience. 
     The top panel of  26  (FIGS. 2 and 4) is also substantially square in shape and has a depth and width the same as the depth and width of the top of the housing  22 . The top panel has a flat central portion  58 , a plain rear edge  60 , plain side edges  62 , a downwardly extending front flange  64 , and a stop flange  66  (FIGS. 11 and 12) extending downwardly from the central portion  58  in rearwardly adjacent, closely spaced relation to the front flange  64 . The central portion  58  (FIG. 2) of the top panel has a rectangular access opening  70  adjacent to the rear edge and semicircular cable holes  72  adjacent to the front corners of the access opening. L-shaped doorstops  74  extend downwardly from the central portion on opposite sides of the access opening. The central portion also provides four sets of venting slots  76  in a square relationship in front of the access opening. 
     The side panels  28  and  30  are best shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  5  and  6 . The side panels are mirror images of each other so only one will be described in detail with the same reference numerals applying to the other side panel. Thus, each side panel has a central portion  80 , a vertical inwardly extending rear flange  82 , a horizontal inwardly extending top flange  84 , inside and outside surfaces  86  and  88 , and a horizontal inwardly extending bottom flange  90 . The length, i. e., depth, of the top flange is the same as the depth of the top panel  26 , and the length or height of the rear flange is equal to the height of the back panel  24 . 
     Each side panel  28  and  30  (FIG. 2) also has upper and lower, front, reversely bent flanges  92  and  94 , respectively. The upper front flange extends vertically downwardly from the top flange in generally parallel relation to the rear flange of the side panel, and the lower front flange extends downwardly and rearwardly from the upper front flange to the bottom flange in obtuse angular relation to the bottom flange. The angle between the bottom flange and the lower front flange in the preferred embodiment is approximately one hundred eighteen degrees, although this angle is not critical. It is important, however, that the lower front flange extends downwardly and rearwardly as shown in the drawings for both functional and aesthetic reasons, namely, to provide a more compact structure of reduced weight, to facilitate use of the cabinet  20  as will be seen, but also to enhance the design of the cabinet as a piece of furniture. The central portion  80  and the flanges of the side panels have a plurality of assembly holes, several of which are indicated by the numeral  96  in the figures, although not all are shown since an explanation of how a few are used will suffice for those not shown. 
     The bottom panel  32  (FIGS. 2 and 8) is rectangular in shape and has a depth and width the same as the bottom of the housing  22 . The bottom panel includes a flat central portion  100 , a plain rear edge  102 , plain side edges  104 , and a front flange  106  that extends upwardly from the central portion and then rearwardly in a reverse or wrap-around bend like flanges  92  and  94 . The central portion also has a rear fan hole  108  and an auxiliary cable hole  110  in one of the rear corners. As with the other panels described above, the bottom panel also has a plurality of assembly holes  112 , in this panel being located in the central portion along the rear and side edges and around the fan hole. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7A, a triangular side panel insert  120  is fastened to the inside surface  86  of each side panel  28  and  30 , only one of these inserts being shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, but with the other insert being a mirror image of the insert shown and bearing the same numerals. Each insert includes a horizontal, outwardly extending, upper spacer flange  122 , a vertical inwardly extending rear flange  124  that serves as a door stop in a manner to be described, and a plain front edge  126  that is complementary to the angular relationship between the bottom and lower front flanges  85  and  94  of its side panel  28  or  30 . Also, this insert has a rear upper cutout  128  at the juncture of its upper spacer flange and rear flange for a purpose to be described. A plurality of assembly holes  130  are provided in the central portion along the front edge  126  and along the rear flange. 
     The security cabinet  20  also includes a top shelf  140  (FIGS. 2 and 16) that is approximately square in plan view and has a depth and a width approximately the same as the depth and width of the top of the housing  22 . This shelf has a central portion  142 , vertically downwardly extending side flanges  144  each having mounting notches  146 , vertically downwardly extending front and rear flanges  148  and  150 , and a rear rectangular access opening  152  in the central portion alongside the rear flange. 
     In addition, the cabinet  20  includes a smaller but rectangular intermediate shelf  160  (FIGS. 2 and 16) that has a vertically upwardly extending rear flange  162 , downwardly extending side flanges  164  each providing hanging apertures  166 , and a downwardly extending front flange  168 . The width of the intermediate shelf is approximately the same as the width of the housing  22  or the top shelf  140 , but the depth of the intermediate shelf is approximately one-third the depth of the top shelf. 
     Still further, the cabinet includes a bottom shelf  172  (FIGS. 2 and 16) similar in size and shape to the intermediate shelf  160 . The bottom shelf has a vertically upwardly extending rear flange  174 , downwardly extending side flanges  176 , and a downwardly extending front flange  178 . The central portion has a front locking slot  180  adjacent to the front flange and centrally located in the bottom shelf. 
     Elongated door mounts  190  (FIGS. 2,  7 B,  14 , and  16 ) are secured to the inside surfaces  86  of each side panel  28  and  30  preferably by welding. Only one of these door mounts is shown in FIG. 2, but from FIG. 16 it will be understood that another door mount is similarly attached to the inside surface of the other side panel. Each door mount includes an elongated block  192  approximately one-third the depth of the top of the housing  22  and having an elongated slot  194  that serves as a track extending fore and aft in the cabinet  20 . Further, an elongated ledge  196  is secured to the block immediately below and in parallel relation to the track. Each block and its attached ledge is secured to the inside surface of its side panel so that the track is aligned with the cutout  128  of the insert  120  attached to its associated side panel and rearwardly of the cutout. The tracks and the ledges are thus horizontally disposed, are parallel to the top and bottom flanges  84  and  85  of the side panels  26  and  28  and are disposed midway of the front and rear flanges  92  and  82  of the side panels  28  and  30 . 
     The security cabinet  20  is easily assembled from the parts described above and shown in FIG. 2 into the condition shown in FIG.  1 . The side panels  28  and  30  are assembled with the back panel  24  so that the side flanges  52  and  54  are fitted inside the rear flanges  82  of the side panels. These overlapping side and rear flanges are interconnected by fasteners  197  extending through the assembly holes  56  and  96  in the central portion  40  and in the rear flanges  82 , respectively. The fasteners used for this purpose are screws having shanks extending through the overlapping flanges, heads that are flush with the outside surfaces  88  of the side panels, and nuts threaded on the shanks inside the cabinet. It is important to note here that the heads of these fasteners are flat, plain and smooth without slots and are in intimate engagement with the outside surfaces  88  so that upon painting, they are obscured and cannot be seen except upon very close inspection. For this reason, none of the views show the fasteners since in its completed condition, the fasteners are virtually invisible under the paint; however, to illustrate a fastener, the back panel is broken away in the top left corner in FIG.  3 . Not only are the heads obscured, they are not accessible and could only be engaged by bending in the side walls of the cabinet and destroying the same, if an attempt were made to break into the cabinet. 
     The top panel  26  (FIGS. 1 and 2) is assembled with the back panel  24  by placing the rear edge  60  in overlapping relationship to the top flange  48  whereupon these overlapping parts are again secured with the fasteners  197 . In this regard, it is noted that the locking flange  49  is located along the rear edge of the top panel adjacent to the access opening  70  and midway between the doorstops  74 . Also, the top flanges  84  of the side panels  28  and  30  fit under the side edges  62  of the top panel and are fastened thereto by the fasteners  197 . 
     The bottom panel  32  (FIGS. 1 and 2) is assembled to the back panel  24  and the side panels  28  and  30  so that the side edges  104  of the bottom panel are above and in overlapping relationship to the bottom flanges  85  of the side panels, whereupon these overlapping flanges are connected by the fasteners  197 . The rear edge  102  of the bottom panel overlaps the bottom flange  50  of the back panel  24  and is secured thereto by the fasteners  197 . As thus assembled, the back, top, side and bottom panels are all securely interconnected to form the cabinet  20  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The top shelf  140  (FIGS. 2 and 16) is positioned within the housing  22  in a horizontal position in spaced parallel relation to the top and bottom panels  26  and  32  although located relatively closer to the top panel and above the blocks  192 . The side flanges  144  of the top shelf are in flat engagement with the inside surfaces  86  of the side panels  28  and  30  and are secured thereto by fasteners, not shown, extending through the side panels and into the mounting notches  146  of the top shelf The fasteners for the top shelf are preferably of the type having male and female shanks threadably interconnected with flat, plain and smooth heads on both ends so that the heads against the outside surfaces of the side panels are flat, plain and smooth as with the fasteners  197 . It is noted that the top shelf occupies the entire horizontal cross-sectional area of the housing so that its rear flange  150  is in contact with the inside surface of the back panel  24  and its front flange  148  is generally in alignment with the junction between the upper and lower front flanges  92  and  94  of the side panels. However, as noted, the top shelf is above the tracks  194  and ledges  196 , although the latter are immediately underneath the top shelf, as best seen in FIGS. 14 through 16. 
     The cabinet  20  also includes upper and lower front doors  200  and  202  (FIGS. 1 and 2) respectively. The upper front door includes an outside rectangular panel  202 , preferably of solid construction and of a thickness greater than the various panels  24  through  32 . The upper front door has an upper edge  204 , side edges  206 , and a lower flange  208  serving as a hinge plate. The upper front door also includes a rectangular inside cover  210  (FIG. 9A) having peripheral flanges  212 . The outside panel and the inside cover are assembled so that the flanges  212  fit around the upper, side and lower edges of the outside panel and so that the lower flange projects below the cover. The upper front door has a locking hole  214  extending through both the outside panel and the inside cover adjacent to the upper edge  204 . An upper door hinge  220  preferably includes a fixed plate attached to the central portion  142  of the top shelf  140  along the front flange  148  and a moveable plate attached to the lower flange  208  of the upper front door. Eyelets, not shown, on these plates are interfitted and aligned, and an elongated pin, not shown, extends through the aligned eyelets to establish the hinge. Other hinge constructions well-known in the art may be employed. A lock  236  in the hole  214  enables the upper front door to be locked with its locking member engaging the back of the stop flange  66  in the locked position. The top, side and back panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  24 ; the top shelf  14 ; and the upper front door form an upper compartment  230 . 
     The lower front door  201  (FIGS. 1 and 2) is of generally rectangular shape and has a height two to three times as high as the upper front door  200 . Both doors have a width substantially the same as the width of the housing  22  between the side panels  28  and  30 . The lower front door has an upper edge  240 , side edges  242 , and a lower edge  244 , and trunnions  246  project outwardly from the side edges of the lower front door adjacent to its upper edge, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 14. The lower front door also has a locking hole  246  adjacent to its lower edge and centrally located between its side edges. 
     The trunnions  246  (FIGS. 2 and 14) project outwardly from the lower front door  201  and slidably fit in the tracks  194  of the door mounts  190 . As such, the lower front door is mounted for movement manually both forwardly and rearwardly in the housing  22  along the tracks while slidably engaging and being supported on the ledges  96 . The lower front door is also mounted or hung for pivotal movement between open and closed positions when the trunnions are within the cutouts  128  at the front of the tracks. When these trunnions are so disposed in the cutouts, the front door, if manually released, will swing down into a pendent position and enclose a lower compartment  250  in the cabinet  20 . In this closed position, the side and lower edges  242  and  244  of the lower front door mate against the rear flanges  124  of the inserts  120  and against the front flange  106  of the bottom panel  32 , respectively, all serving as doorstops. 
     Thus, the lower front door, when closed (FIGS. 1,  13 ,  16  and  17 ), is in a firm position in parallel relation to the back panel  24 . A lock  256  is positioned in the lock hole  246  and has a locking member, not shown, engageable with the bottom shelf  172  in the locking slot  180  to lock the lower front door closed. When unlocked, however, the lower front door can be pivoted upwardly into a horizontal position where it can be slid rearwardly along the tracks  194  and the ledges  196  back within the housing  22  to its rearwardmost retracted position as can be visualized in FIGS. 11,  14  and  15 . Rearward sliding movement of the lower front door is limited by engagement of the trunnions with the rear ends of the tracks  194 . From its rearwardmost position, the lower front door can be manually pulled forwardly on the ledges and tracks until the side edges  242  are forwardly of the ledges and in the cut-outs  128 , whereupon the door can be pivoted downwardly into its closed position. When the lower front door is in its open position and supported by the ledges  196  and pulled partially out from its rearwardmost position, it serves as a support for the upper front door  200  when the latter is in its open position, as illustrated in FIG.  11 . 
     The upper front door  200  is thus mounted for pivotal movement between a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1,  13  and  14  and an open position, as shown in FIGS. 10,  11 ,  12 , and  15 . In its closed position, the upper front door engages the stop flange  66  (FIG. 15) so as to locate the upper front door in a firm parallel relationship to the back panel  24 . 
     In its open position, the upper front door  200  can hang down from the hinge  220  or be supported by the lower front door  201 . To allow the upper front door to hang down in a pendent position (FIG.  12 ), the lower front door must either be in its rearwardmost retracted position or closed. Otherwise, the upper front door will be stopped in a horizontal position and rest on, and be supported by, the lower front door. 
     The cabinet  20  also includes a rectangular top door  260  (FIGS. 1,  2  and  4 ) having a downwardly and forwardly extending front flange  262 , downwardly extending side flanges  264 , a rear edge  266 , and a locking hole  268 . The top door is hinged to the top panel  26  by a hinge  270  so that the top door can pivot between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, and an open position lying back, flat against the top panel  26 , not shown, but easily visualized from the various figures. In the closed position, a lock  272  in the locking hole  268  has a locking member, not shown, that extends under the locking flange  49  on the back panel  24  in order to secure the top door in its closed position. 
     The security system of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  300  in FIG.  17 . The system includes the cabinet  20  plus various items of security equipment housed within or mounted on the cabinet. That is, the security system includes a TV monitor or display  302  secured on the top panel  26  by fasteners, not shown but of various types and well known, extending through the vent slots  76  into threaded sockets in the bottom of the monitor. As such, these fasteners are inaccessible to unauthorized persons when the upper and top doors  200  and  260  are closed and locked. The security system also includes a videotape recorder or VCR  304  supported on the top shelf  140  in the upper compartment  230 , a multiplexer  306  rested on the VCR, a 24-volt power supply  308  supported on the back panel  24  by bracket  309  in the lower compartment  250  and thus under the top shelf, and videotapes  310  stored on the intermediate and bottom shelves  160  and  172  and thus also within the lower compartment. 
     The cabinet  20  is secured to the wall  320  (FIG. 17) of the building in which the security system  300  is used by extending fasteners  322  through the mounting holes  46  of the back panel into studs  324  of the wall or by using anchor or toggle bolts if studs are not available. When mounted in this manner, the top and bottom panels  26  and  32  as well as the three shelves  140 ,  160  and  172  are all horizontal. A power cable  330  extends from the VCR  304  through the upper cable opening  42  of the back panel so as to plug into a 110-volt outlet  336  in the wall of the building. Coaxial and power cables, generally indicated at  340 , extend from the multiplexer and the 24-volt power supply, respectively, through the upper cable opening  42  and in the wall for connection to video cameras, not shown, located at strategic positions around the building. A cooling fan, not shown, is mounted in the fan hole  108  of the bottom panel  100  in order to blow cooling air up through the cabinet for exhaust through the vent slots  76 . 
     In use, the security cabinet  20  (FIG. 17) of the subject security system  300  is located in a convenient place in the building to be monitored, usually in the corner of an office or in a separate room not generally accessible to customers but only to employees of the business and perhaps only key employees, such as the manager. The overall design of the cabinet allows it to be used as a piece of furniture that compliments an overall office plan and arrangement. Before attaching the cabinet to the wall  320 , the 110-volt outlet  336  is installed at a height of about five feet off the floor, and the coaxial and power cable  340  from the video cameras, not shown, are brought out of the wall adjacent to and at about the same elevation as the 110-volt outlet. The housing  22  is then secured to the wall  320  as above described, so that the 110-volt outlet and the cables  340  are disposed within the upper opening. 
     With the upper and lower front doors  200  and  201  open, the VCR  304  and multiplexer  306  are positioned in the upper compartment on the top shelf  140 , as shown in FIG.  17 . The power supply  308  is mounted on the back panel  24  in the lower compartment. Then, the intermediate shelf  160  is releasably supported in the lower compartment. Also, the TV monitor  302  is mounted on and secured to the top panel  26 . The necessary connections are made with the cables  330  and  340 , the VCR is loaded with a videotape, and a supply of videotapes  310 , both those already recorded as well as unrecorded tapes, are located on the intermediate and bottom shelves  160  and  172 . Thereafter, the upper front door  201 , the lower front door  201 , and the top door  260  are closed and locked. 
     In the described condition of the security system  300  (FIG.  17 ), theft of or tampering with the TV monitor  302 , the VCR  304 , the multiplexer  306 , the power supply  30 , the videotapes  310 , or the cord  330  or cables  340  is extremely difficult and practically impossible. The TV monitor is bolted to the cabinet  20  from within the cabinet, and the other equipment, cables, and cord are accessible only within the upper or lower compartments  230  and  256 , which are locked by the upper and lower front doors  200  and  201 . Without the keys to the locks, it would be necessary for a thief or unauthorized user to use a crowbar or a sledge hammer to try to remove the cabinet from the wall  320  or to open the doors  200 ,  201  or  260 . Usually, this security equipment is placed in such a location or the business is small enough that such an obvious attempt to remove it would be noticed. Moreover, one of the video cameras, not shown, in the system would be trained on the cabinet so that anyone attempting such an action would be recorded. The top panel  260  may be opened to afford easy access to the compartment for servicing and maintenance. 
     In summary, the various items in the security system  300  that are protected from theft or tampering include the twenty-four-hour VCR  304 , the multiplexer  306  which feeds the VCR with information from one to sixteen remote cameras, not shown, the 110-volt power outlet  336 , the 24-volt power supply  308  that supplies the remote cameras with power, the coaxial and power cables  340  that feed information to the multiplexer from the remote cameras, the VCR tapes  310 , and the TV monitor  302 . The security system has several advantages apart from its basic advantage of providing real security for the monitoring equipment in a security system that does not involve security personnel continually watching the equipment. These other advantages include ease of assembling the cabinet  20 ; the removable intermediate shelf  160  that allows access for mounting and servicing the 24-volt power supply  308 ; the top door  260  that allows access to the rear of the multiplexer  306  as well as the VCR  304  for installation and any required maintenance; the convergence of the upper and lower front doors  200  and  201  for ease of accessibility during installation and maintenance; the use of the upper front door when supported by the lower front door as a shelf to assist during maintenance; the mounting of the housing  22  either to the studs, as  322 , inside a cavity of the wall  320 , or to the drywall itself with toggle or anchor bolts; the wide openings  42  and  44  in the back panel  24  that allow the housing to fit over the coaxial and power cables  340  as well as the 110-volt outlet  336 ; and the hole  110  in the bottom panel  32  that allows for retrofit of cables or for accommodating a power or camera cable should the need arise. Still further, the attachment of the back panel  24  to the wall  320  serves as a fulcrum for the top panel  26 , acting as a cantilever and supporting the heavy monitor  302 , and also the top shelf  140 , acting as a cantilever and supporting the heavy VCR. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.