Beaches and poolside areas have the problem that no storage facilities are available for valuables in the direct vicinity of the user. This is inconvenient to beach or pool users, as they need to make their way to their hotel room or a storage facility such as a locker room to retrieve valuables such as cameras, sunglasses, etc. in order to use these.

Often, the user therefore takes his/her valuables to the beach or pool side. As these valuables may be stolen if left unattended, the presence of these valuables consequently limits the user's freedom to enjoy the sun, sea or pool.

EP 0649968 (Weigl) discloses a safe box which is mounted on beach or pool furniture. This safe box has the disadvantage that it is intrusive as it extends from the furniture and e injuries to the user or other people when they accidentally come into contact with the safe box. The goods that are located in the safe box are difficult to retrieve, particularly when seated on a sun bed or chair as the lid of the safe box is located on the outside of the safe box furthest away from the beach or pool furniture. Also, as the safe box is mounted on the beach or pool furniture such as a sun bed, chair or table, there are important limitations to the size and weight of the safe box.

The present invention aims to provide an improved furniture

unit which obviates or at least mitigates the above described problems and/or which provides improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a furniture unit according to any of the accompanying claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a furniture unit comprising a securable storage compartment, the unit comprising a hollow body adapted to receive a filling substance for weighting down the unit, characterised in that the unit comprises a hand hold aperture in connection with the hollow body.

The hollow body is adapted to receive a filling substance for loading or weighting down the unit. The load increases the weight of the unit to prevent it from being lifted and removed by an opportunist thief. The hollow body may be adapted to contain sand, water or any other suitable liquid or solid.

The hand hold aperture facilitates lifting and transport of the furniture unit when no filling substance is present in the hollow body. As the hand hold aperture is in open connection with the hollow body, the hollow body can be filled with the filling substance to weight down the unit through the aperture. The hand held aperture is configured in such a way that the aperture is adapted to drain excess filling substance from the hollow body. This prevents the hollow body from overflowing.

The furniture unit may comprise a securable storage compartment or container, the storage compartment being integrated within the furniture unit.

As the storage compartment is integrated within the furniture unit, the user has full use of the furniture unit whilst the goods are securely contained within the unit.

Also, the storage compartment is located in the direct vicinity of the user to allow direct access to the goods stored in the storage compartment.

At pool sides and on the beach, generally, uniform furniture units are provided. In the event a furniture unit is carried out of the pool side or beach area, it is therefore immediately obvious to supervising staff or to pool or beach users that this is unauthorised removal of the unit. In this way the furniture unit prevents that any valuables are stolen by opportunist thieves.

To enhance the distinctiveness of the furniture unit, the unit may comprise a distinctive shape and/or a distinctive colour to identify the furniture unit as being part of the pool side or beach furniture and to differentiate the unit from conventional beach or poolside furniture units.

The furniture unit may further comprise promotional information such as advertising, the name of a hotel or beach resort or any other information in any format. The promotional information may be provided on the unit by a surface pattern or decoration.

In a preferred embodiment, the furniture unit forms a table and/or a seat and/or a bed. In this way, the furniture unit can be fully utilised by the user in any desired way as a table, sun bed, or chair whereby goods and valuables are securely stored within the storage compartment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment may be securable by means of a cover lid. The

unit may comprise first means for securing the cover lid.

The first securing means may comprise means for receiving a lock such as an eyelet. The first securing means may also comprise a lock. The lock may be integrated in the compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, the lock comprises a padlock and/or a coin operated lock. The lock may be hired for example from pool or beach staff. Alternatively, the lock may comprise a coded lock. A coded lock has the important advantage that the user does not need to safe-keep a key.

The code for the lock can be selected and changed for different users.

The unit may comprise means for protecting the lock from the ingress of sand and/or water. The protection means may comprise a lock cover.

The unit may further comprise further securing means for securing the unit to a structure such as a tree, a chair, a sun bed or a table. The further securing means may comprise a further padlock, code lock, coin operated lock, chain and lock or any other suitable securing means. In this way, the unit may be secured to any item in the direct vicinity of the user. In some cases, this obviates the need for weighting down the unit by filling the hollow body with an appropriate filling substance. Howeverr the unit may still be weighted down to serve as a further deterrent to opportunist thieves.

The storage compartment may comprise a suitable reinforcement material such as metal. The storage compartment may also be reinforced with such material. The reinforcement material is preferably located inside the storage compartment and/or cover lid to prevent the

reinforcement material from getting hot in the sun.

Preferably, the reinforcement material is provided in the form of lining.

In yet another embodiment, the furniture unit may comprise a support surface, the support surface being adapted to form a seat and/or a table surface. The support surface preferably comprises one or more holders for receiving various items such as a camera, glasses, sun lotion, cigarettes and other items.

Preferably, the holders are formed so as to adequately support the items from the surface to prevent the items from falling off the support surface. The holders may partially enclose the items so as to hold the items securely in place.

In a preferred embodiment, the support surface comprises holders in the form of a book holder, a camera holder, a drinks can or bottle holder and a mobile phone or cigarettes holder. In another embodiment the holder may be adapted to receive a parasol or an umbrella. This has the advantage that the items on the support surface can be kept cool or dry or protected from the sun.

In another embodiment the unit comprises a trash can or a trash bag holder or a rubbish holder. The trash bag holder may be adapted to hold a bag for receiving trash. The trash can or trash bag holder may be removably connected to the unit.

The furniture unit may further comprise a member for receiving a sun protection device such as an umbrella or a parasol.

In another embodiment, the body comprise a filling aperture for filling the body, and the filling aperture is provided in the storage compartment. This prevents unauthorised filling or emptying of the hollow body when the storage compartment is secured. Preferably, the body further comprises a drainage opening for allowing the hollow body to be emptied. During emptying and/or filling, air can enter either the filling opening or the drainage opening.

In yet another embodiment, the support surface may comprise one or more filling or drainage apertures for filing the body with a filling substance and/or draining the support surface. Preferably the filling or drainage apertures are provided in the holder. This has the advantage that the holders remain free of substances such as sand or water and that there is no need to provide a separate filling aperture. The filling apertures may also function as a drainage aperture for draining the filling substance from the holder.

As the filling or drainage apertures are of a small cross- section, the hollow body can be drained via these apertures. However this takes considerable time and this is therefore unlikely to be conducted by opportunists who plan to remove or steal the unit. The drainage or filling apertures obviate the need for a separate drainage opening in the unit or storage compartment. Additional drainage openings may also be provided in the support surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the hand hold aperture is adapted to drain excess filling substance from the hollow body. The drainage or filling apertures thus remove and drain any substance in the holders directly into the hollow body and the hand hold apertures prevent the body from overflowing which would otherwise overflow the holders with

the substance such as sand or water.

In another embodiment of the invention, the furniture unit is portable. The unit may comprise handles to facilitate lifting and transporting of the unit. The handles are preferably in the form of indentations which are provided in the external surface of the furniture unit.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hand hold aperture is adapted to receive a handle. This handle is preferably located in the hand hold aperture after the hollow body is filled via the hand hold aperture and/or via the filling apertures or drainage apertures of the holders. The handles are preferably located in the hand hold apertures without tools in a snap fit fashion. This secures the unit and prevents the unit from being easily emptied and removed by opportunist thieves.

The handle is preferably configured to prevent it from being removed from the hand hold aperture without the use of tools. The handle may comprise one or more drainage openings for draining excess filling substance from the hollow body to prevent the hollow body from overflowing and filling the holders.

In this way, at the start of the season, the operator can locate the units in the desired locations and fill the units with a suitable filling substance such as water or sand via the hand hold apertures. After filling of the units, the handles are located in the hand hold apertures to prevent rapid emptying of the units. At the end of the season, with the aid of a suitable tool, the handles are removed and the filling substance is drained from the hollow bodies via the handle aperture to empty the hollow bodies and to allow the units to be transported.

In a preferred embodiment, the furniture unit is moulded in one piece or in two pieces. The unit is preferably moulded from a thermoplastics material. The furniture unit may comprise a polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polyester material or combinations of the aforesaid materials. The materials may be reinforced by any suitable reinforcement material such as a fibrous material.

In another embodiment, the unit may comprise handles which are integrally moulded. The moulded unit may comprise an embossed or indented surface decoration or surface pattern which provides advertising or a logo.

The thermoplastics material is resilient and may comprise tamper proof material to deter opportunist thieves from entering the secured storage compartment to retrieve any goods or valuables stored therein. The unit itself may also be lined with a suitable reinforcement material such as metal.

In another embodiment of the invention, the furniture unit may comprise an insulated storage compartment or an additional insulated compartment to allow goods and foodstuffs to be kept cool.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the unit may comprise a sealable opening for draining the filling substance from the hollow body, the opening being provided towards the bottom of the unit. Preferably, the salable opening is provided on the underside of the unit so that the opening is not immediately visible to the user and/or opportunist thieves.

In another embodiment of the invention, the furniture unit

may comprise a member for receiving at least part of an elongated item such as a parasol stock or an umbrella stock. The receiving member may enable the elongated item to be contact with the ground. The receiving member may be configured such that the elongated item is in contact with the ground. The receiving member may further comprise a support member for supporting the elongated item off the ground.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cover lid is provided in a side of the furniture unit.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing valuables comprising the steps of providing a furniture unit comprising a securable storage compartment, the storage compartment being integrated in the furniture unit, locating valuables in the storage compartment and securing the storage compartment.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the method may comprise the step of weighting down the furniture unit by providing a load inside the furniture unit to prevent opportunist thieves from removing the furniture unit.

The furniture unit has important advantages over known safe boxes in that it is usable both as a piece of furniture and as a storage facility and that they allow the goods to be stored in the direct vicinity of the user to provide unobstructed access to the goods stored therein without limiting the user's freedom of movement.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 presents a diagrammatic side view of

a furniture unit according to an embodiment of the invention ; Figure 2 presents a diagrammatic side view of the furniture unit of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 presents a diagrammatic end view of the furniture unit of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 presents a diagrammatic plan view of the furniture unit of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 presents a diagrammatic perspective view of a furniture unit according to another embodiment of the invention ; and Figure 6 presents a diagrammatic plan view of the furniture unit of Figure 5.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the furniture unit (10) comprises a securable storage compartment (7) which is integrated within the furniture unit (10). The furniture unit (10) is adapted to form a table.

The unit (10) comprises a support surface that forms the table surface. The support surface is formed by the lifting lid (l) , and holders (4,5,6) in the form of a drinks can/bottle holder (4) g a mobile or cigarettes holder (5) and book/camera holders (6).

The unit (10) comprises a hollow body (8) which can be filled with a suitable substance such as sand or water for weighing down the unit (10). The body (8) comprises a filling aperture (not shown) for filling the body (8). The filling aperture is provided in the storage compartment (7)

(not shown). In addition, filling apertures (20) are located in the holders (4,5, 6) for filling the hollow body (8).

The storage compartment (7) is covered by a lockable lifting cover lid (1) to securely lock the storage compartment (7) to prevent unauthorised access. The lifting lid (1) is connected to the unit (10) by means of a lid hinge (2) which is integrally moulded with the unit (10).

The lid (1) comprises a handle (3) to incorporate a shrouded padlock point for securing the lid (1) in place, thereby securing the storage compartment (7) to prevent unauthorised access to the storage compartment (7).

The unit (10) comprises further securing means in the form of a cable or chain hole (9) which is adapted to receive a cable or lock to secure the unit (10) to a suitable structure such as a piece of furniture, a tree or another fixed structure. This allows the unit (10) to be additionally secured to prevent it from being removed.

The unit (10) is moulded in two pieces from a thermoplastics material. The first piece forms the outer cover, lid and storage compartment ; whereas the second piece forms the bottom or base. The thermoplastics material is resilient and tamper proof. The unit (10) has a distinctive colour and can comprise advertising (not shown) or other information to distinguish the unit (10) from conventional pieces of furniture that are located at pool sides or on the beach. This deters opportunist thieves from removing the unit (10) from the pool side or beach area, as it is immediately evident that the removal of the unit is unauthorised if it is seen outside the appropriate areas.

In use, the unit (10) can be locked or chained to a suitable structure by feeding a chain or lock through the cable or chain opening or hole (9). The lid (3) is opened to allow access to the storage compartment (7). If desired, the hollow body (8) can be filled with sand or fluid such as water to further weight down the unit. After securing the unit (10), the goods or valuables are located inside the compartment (7) and the lid (1) is closed. The lid (1) is then padlocked in the closed position by means of a padlock which is fed through the padlock point in the lid handle (3). The padlock can be hired from pool or beach staff. The lock preferably comprises a code lock as this obviates the need for the user to carry a key.

The unit (10) is further usable as a fully functional table. Drinks can be placed in the appropriate holders (4), the mobile phone may be readily accessible from the mobile phone holder (5) and books or cameras can be stored in the appropriate holders (6).

If the user decides to remove himself/herself from the unit, for example to go for a swim, any valuables or goods can be stored in the storage compartment (7) as it is sufficiently spacious to contain the goods which are provided in the holders. The padlock is removed to open the lid (1) and the goods are placed inside the compartment (7) and the lid (1) is padlocked again.

After user the valuables are retrieved from the storage compartment (7) by unlocking and opening the compartment (7), and the padlock is removed from the lid handle (3).

The padlock may then be returned to the supervising staff. To remove the unit (10) altogether, the unit is unlocked by removing the cable or chain from the chain hole (9) and the substance that is located inside the hollow body (8) is

removed to allow the unit (10) to be uplifted and moved.

The furniture unit (100) as shown in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a securable storage compartment (120) and a hollow body (121) adapted to receive a filling substance for weighting down the unit (100). The unit (100) further comprises hand hold apertures (114) in open connection with the hollow body (121).

The unit (100) further comprises a support surface that forms a table surface. The support surface comprises holders (111), (112), (119) for receiving one or more items in the form of a drinks can/bottle holder (111), a mobile phone or cigarettes holder (112), and a book/camera holder (119). The holders (111), (112), (119) comprise drainage apertures (110) for draining substances such as water or sand from the holders (111), (112), (114) into the hollow body (121).

Any overflow of the hollow body (121) is removed via the hand hold apertures (114). The hand hold apertures ( (14) are adapted to receive handles (not shown). The handles are snap fitted into the apertures (114) without the use of tools. However, the handles cannot be removed without a special tool. The handles are adapted to drain any overflow of substance from the hollow body.

The storage compartment (120) is located inside the unit (100). It consists of a steel structure in the form of a container. Access to the compartment (120) is provided by means of a cover lid (116) which is provided in the side of the unit (100). The cover lid (116) is connected to the unit (100) by means of a hinge (117). The cover lid is integrally moulded with the unit (100). The cover lid (116) can also be formed of steel as part of the storage

compartment (120).

Similar to the unit (10) as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the storage compartment (120) is covered by a lockable lifting cover lid (116) to secure the storage compartment (120) to prevent unauthorised access. The lifting lid (116) is connected to the unit (100) by means of a lift lid hinge (117). The lid (116) comprises a lip or eyelet (118) which engages with a slot (122) provided in the lid (116) to secure the lid (116) by means of a padlock or other locking means which engages with the lip (118).

The drainage apertures (110) in the central compartment or eyelet or holder (119) are arranged such that any substance in the holder (119) is drained into the hollow body and not retained on top of the storage compartment (120).

The holder (119) also comprises a receiving member (115) for receiving an elongated item such as an umbrella stock or a parasol stock. The receiving member (115) is in the form of a tube which extends across the height of the unit (100) in an approximate vertical direction. The receiving member (115) can be closed with a closure member (not shown) which is provided in the bottom of the receiving member (115) to support the elongated item so that the item is not supported from the ground but by the unit (120).

The unit (100) further comprises a securing means in the form of a cable or chain hole (113) which is adapted to receive a cable or lock to secure the unit (100) to a suitable structure such as a piece of furniture, a tree or some other fixed structure. This further secures the unit (100) to prevent it from being removed.

In use, the unit (100) can be locked or chained to a suitable structure by feeding a chain or lock through the cable or chain opening (113). In addition, or alternatively, the hollow body (121) of the unit (100) is filled with a filling substance through the hand hold apertures (114) to weight down the unit (100). After the unit (100) is filled, handles are placed in the hand hold apertures (114) (not shown). These handles cannot be removed without the aid of a special tool so that swift emptying of the hollow body (121) is prevented thereby considerably slowing down any actions of opportunist thieves and discouraging them from removing the unit in the first place. The user, may open the lid (116) to allow access to the interior of the storage compartment (120).

The goods or valuables are located inside the compartment (120) and the lid (116) is closed. The lid (116) is then padlocked in the closed position by means of a padlock which is fed through the lip (118).

Similar to the unit (10) of Figs 1 to 4, the unit (100) is usable as a fully functional table. Drinks can be placed in the appropriate holders (111) and other items can be stored in the appropriate holders (112), (119). After use, valuables are retrieved from the storage compartment (120) by removing the padlock and opening the compartment (120) to access the valuables.

To remove the unit (100) altogether, the unit (100) is unlocked by removing the cable or chain from the chain hole and the substance that is located inside the hollow body (121) is removed by firstly removing the handles by means of a special tool and subsequently draining the filling substance from the hollow body (121) via the hand hold apertures (114) that are provided in the sides of the unit (100). As the removal of the handles is complicated, this

is conducted infrequently, for example at the end of the beach season when the unit (100) as a whole is removed for maintenance and/or storage.

It is evident that the furniture unit (100) may be provided in different forms or shapes such as a sun bed, a table, or it may be integrated in any other suitable pieces of furniture or equipment that are commonly found in beach or poolside locations. The unit (100) has the important advantage that it serves a dual purpose on the beach or poolside locations. It allows valuables to be stored and in addition, it serves as a piece of furniture.