Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Including component designed to receive a disparate article...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-07-31
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Including component designed to receive a disparate article...
C070S058000, C109S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266930
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to structures, and more particularly to a safeguard structure that is connected to an object device and protects the object device against external/internal influence (e.g., centroidal unbalancing, seismic or other vibration, and burglary). The present invention is suitable, for example, as a safeguard structure for automatic transaction devices (vending machines, ATMs, etc.).
A variety of security and burglarproof mechanisms have conventionally been proposed, especially to those automatic transaction devices which carry cash, such as vending machines and ATMs, for preventing cash in the device from being reached immediately only by destroying its facade. In setting up those standing apparatuses vending machines, one has been secured them on a foundation via anchor bolts or by stretching tension rods from the ceiling and/or pillars to prevent overturning by centroidal unbalancing, seismic or other vibration.
However, due to the development of the burglarproof mechanisms, burglars tend to prefer stealing a vending machine entirely and then taking time in discomposing the machine, to taking apart the machine in the place and picking up cash out of the machine. In particular, the recent trend in miniature equipment has facilitated to carry the entire machine.
In the meantime, those (i.e., customers) who attempt to install a vending machine in a building and a store are not always an owner of the building etc., but usually merely a tenant of the building etc. In addition, even when the customers wish to secure the vending machine onto the floor by anchor bolts, the owners of the building etc. often do not allow the building alteration, including by anchor bolts and tension rods, for the reason that such and alteration would damage the strength of the floor or result in bad appearance. This accounts for an insufficient fixation of a vending machine, increasing risks of overturning and theft. Moreover, a vending machine when installed onto the floor would often exceed the permissible weight per unit area on the floor, and thus the customers hesitate to install a vending machine on a high floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general and exemplified object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful safeguard structure in which the above disadvantages are eliminated.
A more specific and exemplified object of the present invention is to provide a safeguard structure that prevents burglary of the entire object device.
Another exemplified object of the present invention is to provide a safeguard structure that enables fixing an object device onto the floor without damaging the installment site.
Moreover, it is another exemplified object of the present invention to provide a safeguard structure that allows installing a vending machine onto a floor by dispersing its weight so that it may not exceed the permissible weight of the floor.
In order to achieve the above objects, a safeguard structure of one aspect of the present invention comprises and installation board which comes into surface contact with an installation place onto which an object device is to be installed, and has an area wider than that of a bottom area of the object device, and a fixture mechanism for fixing the installation board with the object device, wherein the installation board exists in a closed space having a frontage having a predetermined size, and the installation board may not exit the frontage. According to the above safeguard structure, the installation board comes in surface contact with the installation place onto which the object device is to be installed, thereby dispersing the weight of the object device and transmitting it to the installation place (such as, a floor). The installation board has the area wider than the bottom area of the object device, and prevents overturning of the object device. An addition of the installation board to the object device makes the object device large, and the structure including the object device and the installation board is larger than the frontage of the closed space, rendering it impossible to burglar the entire device.
A safeguard structure of another aspect of the present invention comprises a bottom plate fixed onto a bottom of an object device having an openable housing shape, and a fixture mechanism for fixing the bottom plate onto an installation place inside the object device by opening the housing of the object device. According to the above safeguard structure, the object device is fixed onto the installation place from inside the object, requiring one who attempts to carry the entire object device without opening the housing, to open the housing in order to access the fixture mechanism.
A safe guard structure of another aspect of the present invention comprises a fixture structure for fixing an object device onto an installation place, and a skirt, incorporated with the object device and located between the object device and the installation place, which shields the fixture mechanism. According to the above safeguard structure, the skirt has an exemplified function of hiding the structure of the fixture mechanism from the outside. The skirt also has another exemplified function of prohibiting access to the fixture mechanism that releases the fixation by the fixture mechanism for fixing the object device onto the installation place from the outside. The skirt incorporated with the object device has an improved security function in comparison with the conventional skirt that is detachably provide. The skirt is provided typically at, but not limited to, the bottom of the object device.
A safeguard structure of another aspect of the present invention comprises an installation board located on an installation place onto which an object device is to be installed, said installation board having an area wider than a bottom area of the object device, and fixture mechanism which fixes said installation board with the object device. According to the above safeguard structure, the installation board has an area wider than the bottom area of the object device, preventing overturning of the object device. Moreover, an addition of the installation board is added to the object device makes the object device large, rendering it impossible to steal the entire device.
A transaction device of one aspect of the present invention which performs monetary transactions in response to user's manipulation comprises a housing, an installation board which comes into surface contact with an installation place onto which the housing is to be installed, and has an area wider than a bottom area of the housing, and a fixture mechanism for fixing the installation board with the housing, wherein the installation place exists in a closed space having a frontage having a predetermined size, and the installation board is dimensioned so that a structure including the object device and the installation board may not exit the frontage. Such a transaction device has effects similar to those of the safeguard structure.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.
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Brown Peter R.
Fujitsu Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Tran Hanh V.
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