This invention relates to a location-enabled keyless locking device housed within a container.

Some essential possessions may need to be securely stored or transported. Traditionally these may be stored in a container located at the premises of a safe deposit service provider. A user may move the container without any traceability of its location. Potentially, the container can be tampered with and its contents accessed, during either the storage or the transport, without traceability.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internal keyless locking device serving to allow opening of a container upon receipt of an appropriate wireless signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of opening a container comprising inactivating, by means of an appropriate wireless signal, a keyless locking device internal of the container.

Owing to those aspects of the invention, it is possible securely to transport and securely to access possessions held in a container.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising releasably connecting to a first container at a first location a device which has a relationship to a content of the container, transporting the container to a second location remote from said first location, opening said container to remove said content from said container or place said content in said container, returning said container to said first location, removing said device from said container and re-using said device by releasably connecting the same to said container or a second container at said first location.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention , there is provided a kit comprising a safe deposit box and any one or more of a battery, a location detection system and an information displaying screen releasably attachable to said box.

According to those aspects of the invention, re-use of the or each device renders the invention more commercially viable and more environmentally friendly. Within the container is a keyless locking device that can control, particularly remotely, the opening of the container at a specific location wirelessly, for example with a combination of a global positioning system (GPS) or a Wi-Fi antenna and a unique code (that can be entered text, quick response (QR) code or Barcode scan, Bluetooth or Near Field Communication, radio frequency identification (RFID) or other communication technology).

Advantageously, the container user(s) can control who can access the contents while in storage or transit, anywhere around the World with either a mobile 'phone or other Wi-Fi signal.

Thus, the control of the lock can be undertaken remotely without a physical key.

The position of the container is determined using location enabling technologies. The container size is variable depending on its use. The lock is housed within the container and cannot be detached and used separately.

Advantageously, the possibility of inactivating the locking device is dependent upon the location of the container. Moreover, the device may comprise means whereby the location of the container is traceable.

The default condition of the lock is preferably its 'lock' condition.

The locking device may be part of the container. The material of the container may be tamper-proof. There may be inside or outside the locking device, but within the container, means for producing visual and/or aural alert upon attempts at tampering with the container .

The physical lock itself guards against tampering, theft or other criminal activities.

The container may be one of a plurality of safe deposit boxes in a safe deposit room. Alternatively, the container may be a deposit box inside or outside a building for valuables to be received, with the deliverer being able to open the box by a coded wireless signal.

In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a container in an open condition; and

Figure 2 shows a view similar to Figure 1 but with the container in a closed, locked condition;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but of a modified version;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of the modified version;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the modified version; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of the modified version in an array.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a container 4 in the form of a portable, safe deposit box includes a lid 1 and an internal, rear hinge 8 connecting the lid 1 to the body of the container. On the lid is a locking latch 2 which co-operates with a locking mechanism 3 in the closed, locked condition of the container 4. Indicated at 5 is a controller of the locking mechanism 3. Indicated at 6 is an internal power supply, as well an antenna which receives a wireless signal to cause the controller 5 to release the locking mechanism 3 whereby an authorised person can open the lid 1 and access the contents.

The version shown in Figures 3 to 6 differs from that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 in the following respects:-

A screen 9, which is a removable module, adds a user interface to provide the user information on container location, battery charge state, lock/unlock status, wifi status, Near-field Communication (NFC) status, satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) connection and status alerts to the user and the operations centre at the safe deposit building. The power supply 6 is in the form of a battery, again a removable module, which can be either charged in situ or removed and replaced.

The controller 5 is in the form of a removable satellite location module comprising a GPS/Near-fieid Communication (NFC)/WIFI tracker.

The container 4 further comprises a pair of hingedly mounted carrying handles 10 of the container provided with respective magnetic elements 11 whereby the handles can be brought into carrying positions in which they are releaseably magnetically attracted to each other, as shown for the upper left-hand container 4 in Figure 6. This makes the container more readily grasped for carrying.

The top surface of the container 4 has a middle land and its bottom surface is formed with a corresponding recess 13 whereby an upper container 4 can be rested more securely on a lower container 4 in the vault.

The main reason for making the screen 9, the battery 6 and the controller 5 removable is to reduce storage cost. As the safe deposit box 4 will be received in a 'locked' state at a warehouse and placed in a safe deposit vault, these modules do not serve any purpose 'on the shelf and as their collective cost could be quite considerable, it could make the present scheme uneconomic. Therefore, by making the modules removable, it is possible to bring down the cost per unit and to re-use these removable modules with other customers. The boxes would be left in a locked state, and the customer would be informed that the boxes are located in the vault. It would also be much easier to replace a damaged screen or a faulty GPS component and upgrade them if required over time.

In more detail, a method of use of the modified embodiment is as follows:-

The customer wishing to place valuables in the safe deposit vault or to retrieve his valuables from the vault, or a courier acting on the customer's behalf, goes to the warehouse and staff there choose either an empty box or the customer's box containing the valuables and provide the box with the controller 5, the battery 6 and the screen 9. The customer or courier then takes the box to the customer's home (or other preferred destination), for example. As the person carrying the box leaves the warehouse, or beforehand, the operations centre at the warehouse automatically locks the box via the GPS module 5. As the carrier approaches the destination and, for example, gets within some metres of it, the operations centre automatically unlocks the box via the GPS module 5 on the customer's instruction. The customer can then retrieve valuables or place them in the box, whereafter the box is locked and returned to the warehouse. Between the previous destination and the warehouse, the box is unopenable. At the warehouse, the staff remove the modules 5, 6 and 9 for re-use and place the box in the vault.