The invention has been devised for use by persons taking part in activities such as swimming, to enable valuables or personal items safely to be stored during such activities. Swimmers rarely have any waterproof carrying device to enable them to take items such as money, jewellery or identity documents and the like with them whilst swimming, but to leave them with other items such as clothes or towels on a beach or beside a swimming pool carries the risk of loss by theft. Some swimming pools provide lockers or other storage facilities for use by swimmers, but such things rarely are provided on beaches.

It has been proposed in published patent applications GB-2181781-A and W096/19632 for example, that a portable container or safe may be provided with a connecting means such as a strap or chain which is able to be engaged with a fixed (or not readily) movable structure. Valuables can be locked in the container which is then secured to the structure, for temporary safe storage. However, the disclosed devices utilise mechanical combination locks which by their nature are extremely vulnerable to having their functioning impaired by ingress of sand: obviously this is a significant disadvantage if the device is to be used on a beach.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable security container for use generally as described above.

Particular features of the invention, and their advantages, will be described hereafter.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a portable security container-comprising an enclosure having an openable lid member; securing means operable temporarily to secure said enclosure to an article or structure; at least one locking means for locking said lid member in a closed position and said securing means in an operative condition; and electrically operable means for releasing said locking means.

The securing means preferably comprises a flexible elongate element which is able to be passed around an article or structure or a part thereof, and which in its operative condition, in which it can be locked, forms either alone or in combination with the enclosure a closed loop.

Preferably a single locking means effects said locking of both said lid member and of said securing means in said operative condition.

To resist cutting, the flexible element may comprise or include one or more metal elements, e. g. cables or flexible strips.

The flexible element may comprise a first end which is permanently fixed to the enclosure and a second end which is releasably securable to the enclosure by the locking means.

The flexible element may be of a length suitable for use as a shoulder strap for carrying the container.

Preferably the electrically operable means for releasing the locking means requires the inputting of a code in order to release the locking means.

Such a code may be input by means of a keypad. The inputting of a code may also be required to lock the locking means.

Preferably the facility is provided whereby a user may himself set the code for releasing the locking means. This enables the user to select, for example, a combination of numbers and/or letters which has some personal significance and therefore can easily be remembered. Further, security is enhanced since a particular one of the devices in accordance with the invention does not have a particular operating code permanently associated with it (although it will be appreciated that a"default"operating code may be provided in case a uses does not wish to assign a particular code).

For additional security, if an incorrect code is entered (for example) three consecutive times, one or more further security measures may be brought into effect, for example the locking means may be prevented from being released unless further measures are taken, and/or an alarm which may be audible may be operated. Sensors may also be provided for causing such security measures to be brought into effect if an attempt is made to interfere with or force open the device.

The electrically operable means for releasing the locking means may include electrical storage means, preferably rechargeable for example one or more batteries of the Nicad or other rechargeable type. Preferably also it includes charging means in the form of a photo-voltaic cell or cells for trickle charging of the battery or batteries.

The keypad, battery (s), locking means and photo-voltaic cells (where provided) conveniently are carried by the lid member, the arrangement being such that said second end of the securing means has to be passed through an opening in the enclosure to engage the locking means carried by the lid member, thereby to secure the lid member in its closed position on the enclosure.

The enclosure conveniently is of a suitably strong and rigid plastics material, possibly fibre-reinforced, to render it sufficiently resistant to being broken open whilst light enough to be readily carried when required.

Preferably the enclosure is thermally insulated, and provides sufficient storage volume to enable one or more containers, e. g. cans, of drink to be accommodated. For use on a beach or elsewhere in a hot climate, the ability to store a cool drink is highly desirable. A removable liner, which may be of thermally insulating material, may be provided.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention, in the closed condition; Figure 2 is a perspective view as Figure 1, in the open condition; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the lid member of the device showing certain internal components thereof.

Referring to the drawings, a portable security container in accordance with the invention comprises an enclosure 10 which has a body 11 and an openable lid member 12. The body 11 is somewhat rectangular in elevation and plan views, with slightly outwardly curved end walls 13,14 and side walls 15,16. The lid member 11 is pivotally connected to the base 11 of the enclosure by hinges 17,18 which hinges may provide, if required, for total removal of the lid member. The lid member is in the form of a hollow structure for accommodating the components to be described hereafter, and when closed fits closely to the base 11. The underside of the lid member is closed by a cover 26.

The enclosure preferably is of a suitably strong and damage-resistant plastics material, possibly fibre-reinforced, and the parts which constitute the enclosure conveniently are made by suitable moulding of such material. It would, however, be within the broadest scope of the invention if the enclosure were to be made of some other material, e. g. metal. The container may be thermally insulated and preferably provides an internal space sufficient to receive, for example, one or more containers of food or drink. Such thermal insulation may be provided by a removable liner (e. g. of expanded polystyrene or other insulating material) fitting closely within the enclosure. The container may thus be used to keep food or drink cool before consumption thereof, in addition to its function in terms of providing security for personal possessions.

The portable security container further comprises a securing means which is in the form of an elongate flexible element 19 which preferably comprises, of includes one or more metal cables or flexible strips of metal within a covering of, e. g. a plastics material. The flexible element is thus strong and resists cutting except by the use of specialist tools. One end of the flexible element as indicated at 20 is held captive to the lid member 12 of the enclosure by engaging a formation 45 shown in Figure 3, while the other end indicated generally at 21 is able to be passed through an aperture 22 in the end wall 14 and enter an aperture 23 in the lid member 12 to cooperate with locking means to be described hereafter and carried within the lid member. The elongate flexible element 19 is preferably of a length sufficient for it to be used as a shoulder strap for carrying the container, and approximately mid-way along its length is provided with a shoulder pad 24.

Figure 3 shows the lid member 12, in a perspective view from underneath with the cover 26 which faces the interior of the container removed to reveal some of the components disposed within the lid member. Figure 3 shows a number of bosses 27 spaced around the periphery of the lid member and to which the cover 26 may be secured by suitable fastening means. The aperture 23 is provided in the internal cover 26 and Figure 3 shows the locking means 28 with which the second end 21 of the flexible element 19 is engageable. Specifically the end 21 of the flexible element 19 comprises a somewhat cylindrical ferrule 29 with a fiusto-conically tapered head 30 behind which is an annular groove 31 with which a locking member 32 can engage.

The locking member 32, which may be pivotally mounted, is spring biased for movement transversely of the ferrule 29 into engagement with the groove 31, and is able to be displaced against such spring biasing by the frusto-conically tapered head 30 when the ferrule is pressed lengthwise through the aperture 23, until the head 30 has moved past the locking member 32 and the latter enters the groove 31, thus preventing removal of the ferrule. A spring loaded plunger 33 abuts the end of the head 30 when this condition has been reached, for causing some initial movement of the ferrule 29 in the direction to eject it from the locking means when the locking member 32 is moved out of engagement with the groove 31 as now described.

For such releasing of the ferrule 29 when required, a small low voltage electric motor 34 is connected by way of a multi-stage reduction gear train indicated generally at 35 to a rotary cam member 36 having angularly spaced projections which are cooperable with an operating arm 37 extending from the locking member 32. Rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor 34 is transmitted by the gear train 35 to produce rotation of the cam member 36 at a sufficiently slow speed and with sufficient torque for one of the projections on the cam member to disengage the locking member 32 from the recess 31 under the axial force exerted on the ferrule 29 by the plunger 33 and any external forces which may be exeuted on the flexible elongate element 19.

For supplying electrical power to the motor 34 when required, batteries 39 are indicated within a battery compartment 40 within the lid member 12.

The batteries 39 may be consumable or may be rechargeable, e. g. of Nicad or other type, and in this case one or more photo-voltaic (solar) cells may be carried by the container, e. g. on the upper surface of the lid member thereof, for generating electricity to trickle charge such batteries.

For causing the locking means to release the end 21 of the securing means when required, the user has to control the supply of electrical power to the motor 34 and for this purpose a microprocessor-based control circuit is provided whose operation is commande by a user by way of a keypad, e. g. of membrane type, indicated generally at 42. The keypad may comprise the same buttons as appear on a conventional telephone keypad, namely the digits 1 to 9, 0, * and #. Also visible in Figure 1 is a display panel 43, e. g. of LCD type.

The display panel 43 may indicate a code which has been input by the keypad, and/or other information relating to operation of the device, e. g. the state of charge of the batteries.

If a photo-voltaic panel is provided for charging batteries, this may be mounted on the lid of the device where indicated at 44.

It is envisaged that the user of a device in accordance with the invention will, on acquiring the device, e. g. by hiring it from the operator of a hotel, resort or leisure facility, initially be able to set up a desired code to be used to operate the device. Thereafter, inputting of that code on the keypad will enable the locking means to be operated for opening the container. The ability of the user to set the required code for operating the locking means has a beneficial effect in terms of security in that one particular device does not have only one operating code associated with it: thus it is not possible to learn a code associated with the particular device and use it to gain unauthorised access to its contents. Nevertheless a"default"code facility may be provided, to be used in case a user does not set a personal code and, in addition, a"master key"code facility may be provided, enabling a number of devices to be opened by a person having suitable authority.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made whilst remaining within the general scope of the invention as described above. For example, a different configuration of enclosure may be provided, or a different type of locking means. A locking means requiring the inputting of a code for locking the device may be provided. In this case, the user may be required to input the default code or a personally set code, followed by a * or # to unlock or lock the container, respectively.

For maximum security, the elongate element 19 of the device is preferably secured to a fixed structure, e. g. a fence, railings, or a handrail, or a lamppost, by being passed through or around such a structure. However, a measure of security is still provided if the container is secured to, for example, a sun-lounger, since such a thing is relatively bulky and thus not easy to remove from its position without drawing the attention of onlookers.

The container may include further security measures. For example, an alarm, e. g. audible, may be provided, which is arranged to be operated if the container is physically tampered with in an attempt to open it, and/or if an incorrect code is entered several times consecutively. A sound generator for such an alarm may be mounted in the lid member. Although the flexible elongate element 19 preferably resists cutting by incorporating a metal element or elements, a means for detecting such cutting may be provided. To this end, when the container is locked a small electrical current may be passed along the element 19 from end to end thereof, and any interruption of such current may be detected by the control circuit and cause the alarm to be operated.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.