Timed Security Box And Method Of Use

Abstract

Timed security box comprising a housing, where the housing contains a plurality of items; a door attached to the housing, where the door opens on a hinge; a locking mechanism fastened to the door wherein the locking mechanism locks the door and allows access into the housing on a date and a time inputted by a user. To use the timed security box the user places an item into the housing, then closing the door. Next they enter the date and time into the locking mechanism. A recipient is then informed of when the date and time will arrive. On the date and time the timed security box may be opened automatically by the recipient or by using a pass code.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a security box that includes a locking mechanism that allows a user to set a date and time upon which the locking mechanism will allow access into the security box. Before the entered date and time no access into the security box will be granted.

2. Description of Related Art

Protecting personal items is a passion that many people share. Some may choose to keep their items secure in a household closet or safe while others opt to place their items in vault or safe deposit box. Along with the variety of locations where a person may place their valuables so is the range of items that people find valuable. For example, many people may place jewelry, family heirlooms, identification documentation, wills or deeds, or more obscure items like collections, childhood memorabilia, autographs or rare items.

Regardless of the items protected all of them hold some sort of meaning or value and there stems the desire to place them in a safe place. Because of the desire for protection, some users may desire higher protection standards placed on where they store their items. Most often the storage items have a key or lock that protects entry. Alternatively a keypad may require a code or password to gain access into the storage item.

Still some people may want a way to protect their items for a predetermined period of time before permitting access to the inner contents. Therefore, it would be beneficial in the art to provide a lockbox that includes a timer to deny access until a predetermined time has arrived. It would also be desirable in the art for the lockbox to also include multiple methods of entry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a security box that includes a locking mechanism that allows a user to set a date and time upon which the locking mechanism will allow access into the security box.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety box with a locking mechanism that allows a user to enter a date and time wherein the locking mechanism will keep the safety box locked until the date and time arrive.

Another object of the present invention is to allow access into the safety box by the locking mechanism automatically opening on the entered date and time, requiring the recipient to enter a pass code or an override code that allows access before the entered date is reached.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a timed security box is disclosed comprising a housing, where the housing contains a plurality of items; a door attached to the housing, where the door opens on a hinge; a locking mechanism fastened to the door wherein the locking mechanism locks the door and allows access into the housing on a date and a time inputted by a user. To use the timed security box the user first places an item into the housing, and then closes the door. Next they enter the date and time into the locking mechanism. A recipient is then informed of when the date and time will arrive. On the date and time the timed security box may be opened automatically by the recipient or by using a pass code.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a timed security box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a security box that includes a locking mechanism that allows a user to set a date and time upon which the locking mechanism will allow access into the security box. The present invention provides a timed safety box as an alternative protection device for valuables. The timed safety box comprises a housing with a locking mechanism attached to the door of the housing. The locking mechanism enables a user to input a time and date upon which the locking mechanism will prevent access into the housing until the date and time is reached. Once the date and time is reached the recipient may be required to enter a password or code into the locking mechanism to open the door and access the inner contents. The timed safety box may provide piece of mind for the user knowing that their valuables are protected and that extra security measures are taken to guard their items.

Tuning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a timed security box (10) is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The timed security box (10) includes a housing (12) that encompasses the structure and body of the timed security box (10). The housing (12) includes top (14) and bottom walls, a pair of side walls (16), a front end (18) and a back end (not shown). As illustrated, the housing (12) has a rectangular shape but the housing (12) may also comprise other geometric shapes. The housing (12) may be made from a lightweight stainless steel for easy transportation while still having the security of impenetrable walls. Alternatively, the housing (12) may be made from a thick metals or metal alloys similar to those used to make safe deposit boxes.

Attached to the front end (18) may be a door (20). The door (20) enables a user to gain access to the inner contents of the housing (12). The door (20) is made from the same material as the housing (12) to ensure the same security through all surfaces of the timed security box (10). The door (20) may open on a hinge (22) or pair of hinges attached on a side of the door (20) or potentially on a top or bottom edge of the door (20). Fastened to an opposing end of the door (20) from the hinge (22) may be a handle (24). The handle (24) facilitates opening and closing the door (20) during operation. The door (20) may also be placed on the top wall (14) or the side wall (16) depending on the likes and preferences of the users. Additionally, the door (20) may encompass a portion of the front end (18) (as shown) or the door (20) may be the entire wall (14, 16) or end (18) wherein the whole wall (14, 16) or end (18) opens rather than merely a portion.

Attached to the door (20) may be a lock mechanism (30). The lock mechanism (30) may include a display screen (32) and a keypad (34). The lock mechanism (30) is an electronic lock that controls access to the inner contents of the housing (12). The lock mechanism (30) may be programmed to only allow access on a specific date and time set by an initiating person or a facility worker (hereinafter initiator). A receiving person (or recipient) may enter an access code on the keypad (34) which in turn shows on the display screen (32) to gain access to the inner contents on the date programmed by the initiator.

The timed security box (10) may be used at home, in the office or at a facility that houses many timed security boxes. To use the timed security box (10) the initiator may place one or more items into the housing (12). The items may be valuables like jewelry, coins, family heirlooms, keepsakes and the like or important paper documents like deeds, wills, birth certificates, vehicle/house titles, stock certificates etc. Next, the initiator closes the door (20). The initiator may then input a time and a date into the locking mechanism (30) using the keypad (34) for when the locking mechanism (30) will open the door (20). Once the date and time are inputted, the locking mechanism (30) locks the door (20) until the date and time arrive. Access into the timed security box (10) may not be granted before the date and time inputted by the initiator. An override code may be available for emergencies or times of necessity wherein the override code unlocks the locking mechanism (30) before the date and time are reached.

Around the time when the date and time are near, a notice may be sent to the recipient at a predetermined date to alert them that the date and time entered into locking mechanism (30) is about to arrive. The notice may be received via text, email, letter, automated phone call or the like to inform the recipient that the timed security box (10) may be opened. The predetermined date may be a time period chosen by the initiator and may be a specific amount of months, weeks, days or even hours before the inputted date and time. The notice may inform the recipient of the location of the timed security box, the date and time for opening, and a pass code to unlock the locking mechanism (30) and open the door (20). The recipient may alternatively be informed of the pass code directly by the initiator if the initiator elects to inform the recipient of the pass code themselves rather than have it sent through the notice.

The predetermined time may correlate with the amount of time the items remain within the housing (12) wherein the longer the items remain in the timed security box (10) the more time given for notice to the recipient. For example, if a deed is placed in the timed security box (10) and the initiator inputs a date 3 years from the present then the recipient may receive a notice two months in advance to prepare themselves. Alternatively, if the initiator inputs a date that will arrive within a week then the notice may be sent days or even hours before the opening date.

Once the inputted date arrives, the recipient may open the door (20) by entering the pass code send to them into the locking mechanism (30). The recipient will them gain access to the items stored within the housing (12). The pass code may not be necessary if the initiator elects not to have a pass code. In this way the locking mechanism (30) may open the door (20) automatically without any additional safety measures being taken.

Examples of usage for the timed safety box may be when a father wishes to put money aside for his child but only once the child reaches a certain age. He may place the money in the housing, set the date for when the child reaches the desired age. Alternatively, a company may lock a bonus or award in the housing and after an employee has been working for the predetermined amount of time they may access the contents of the housing. These are just a fraction of the possible uses for the timed security box but present examples of potential options.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A method of using a timed security box comprising the steps of:

closing a door on a housing of said timed security box;

entering a date and time into a keypad of a locking mechanism attached to said door, where said date and time indicates when said locking mechanism enables access into said housing, wherein said locking mechanism locks the door upon entry of the date and time into the keypad;

alerting a recipient of said date and time entered into the keypad;

transmitting a pass code to the recipient; and

unlocking said door when said date and time is reached.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The method of using the timed security box according to claim 9 further comprising the step of unlocking said locking mechanism by said recipient upon entry of the pass code.