Security Assembly for an ATM

The present invention relates to a security assembly for positioning between an outer door and a cash container of an ATM.

Automatic Telling Machines (ATMs) comprise an outer housing with a front door which provides access to a cash cassette stored in the ATM. Consequently, the lock of the front door of the ATM can be picked, or the door can be attacked by drilling the lock and grinding the hinges in order to break the door and gain unauthorised access to the ATM.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, including but not limited to, those set out above.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a security assembly for positioning between an outer door and a cash container of an ATM, the security assembly comprising:

a frame including securing means for securing the frame inside an ATM in use;

a security door pivotably attached to the frame;

locking means for locking the security door, the locking means positioned such that when the security assembly is installed in an ATM and the security door is closed, the locking means is inaccessible through the outer door of the ATM, wherein the locking means is operable by means of a signalling means disposed remote from the security assembly.

This provides the advantage that if unauthorised persons gain access through the front door of the ATM housing, the security assembly will help to prevent the unauthorised persons from accessing the cash cassette of the ATM. In particular, the security assembly presents no obvious point of attack since the locking means is positioned such that when the security assembly is installed in an ATM and the security door is closed, the locking means is inaccessible through the outer door of the ATM, i.e. the locking means is located behind the security door. This helps to increase the time it will take for unauthorised persons to access the cash cassette of an ATM which can act as a deterrent to theft.

The locking means may be controllable by timing means to lock and unlock the locking means at predetermined times.

In a preferred embodiment, the assembly further comprises at least one projecting portion disposed on the security door, wherein when the security assembly is installed in an ATM and the security door is closed, at least one said projecting portion is positioned to prevent the outer door of the ATM from being pushed inwardly towards the security door.

This provides the advantage that even if the outer door of the ATM is damaged, for example by drilling the lock or grinding the hinges, or the lock is picked, then the projecting portion of the security assembly prevents the outer door from being pushed inwardly.

In a preferred embodiment, the assembly further comprises an interlock operable by means of said signalling means and adapted to abut an end of at least one bolt of the outer door to selectively prevent opening of at least one said bolt when the security assembly is installed in an ATM and the security door is closed.

This provides the advantage of providing a further security feature that helps to prevent unauthorised persons opening the outer door of the ATM, and therefore increases the time taken to gain unauthorised access to the cash cassette of the ATM.

The locking means may be operable by means of a radio frequency signal .

Said radio frequency signal may be encrypted.

This provides the advantage of making it more difficult for unauthorised persons to gain access to the inside of the ATM.

The locking means may be operable by means of a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) signal.

The locking means may be operable by means of a GPRS (Global Packet Radio Service) signal.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ATM;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional schematic of the ATM of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional schematic of the ATM of Figure 2 showing a security assembly according to the present invention installed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from one side of a security assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from the other side of the security assembly of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from the rear of the security assembly of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective view from one side of the security assembly of Figure 4 with the inner door in the open condition;

Figure 8 is a perspective view from the other side of the security assembly of Figure 4 with the inner door in the open condition;

Figure 9 is a view from the top of the security assembly of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a view from the top of the security assembly of Figure 4 with the inner door in a partially open condition; and

Figure 11 is a view from the top of the security assembly of Figure 4 with the inner door in the fully open condition.

Referring to Figure 1, an ATM (Automatic Telling Machine) is designated by reference numeral 2. ATM 2 is of the type that is stand-alone and not built into a wall. This type of machine is generally disposed in bars, shops and in places such as exhibition sites and is generally bolted to the ground for security purposes. ATM 2 is powered by a mains electricity supply and comprises a control panel 4 for receiving a user's cash card and dispensing cash. The ATM is generally serviced (i.e. refilled with cash) by an authorised person opening outer door 6 by accessing lock 8 which disengages several bolts (not shown) . When outer door 6 is open the cash cassette 10 (Figure 2) can be removed and replaced.

Referring to Figure 2, a cash cassette 10 is disposed inside the ATM 2 and contains cash for dispensing to a user of the ATM. The cash cassette is accessible through outer door 6. Referring to Figure 3, a security assembly 12 disposed in a position between outer door 6 and cash cassette 10 to prevent access to cash cassette 10 even if outer door 6 is opened.

Referring to Figures 4 to 11, the security assembly 12 comprises a frame 14 and an inner door 16 connected to the frame by a hinge 18. The security assembly 12 is formed from a metal such as stainless steel. Other alloys, composites or ceramics may also be used. An aperture 20 is provided in the inner door 16 to allow cash to pass through the aperture 20 to be dispersed by the ATM in which the security assembly 12 is installed .

A plurality of brackets 22 are adapted to abut the inner surfaces of the ATM such that the security assembly 12 is held in the ATM in an interference fit only and no drilling of the ATM is required for the security assembly 12 to be installed. Brackets 22 may be adjustable to improve the tightness of the fit. The security assembly may also be prevented from removal by abutment against inner features integral to the ATM (e.g. inner flanges etc.) . For example, the security assembly can be installed by inserting it into the ATM at an angle past such inner features (not shown) , and then rotated until the security assembly 12 is parallel to front door 6 such that the security assembly 12 cannot be pulled past the inner features (not shown) .

A projection plate 24 and interlock assembly 26 are provided on the outer surface of inner door 16. The purpose of the projection plate 24 and interlock assembly 26 will be described below.

Referring to Figure 6, two bolts 28 are provided on the rear face of inner door 16 to enable the inner door 16 to be locked to frame 14, although it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that other bolt configurations could be used. Bolts 28 are operable by means of a radio receiver (not shown) disposed in the bolt assembly that causes the bolts 28 to open or closed on receipt of an encrypted radio signal . The radio receiver (not shown) is located inside inner door 16, and the bolts 28 and radio receiver (not shown) are powered by a battery (not shown) . The encrypted radio signal may be either a GSM signal or a GPRS signal. Since bolts 28 are disposed on the inner side of inner door 16, if an unauthorised person gains access to the ATM by removing outer door 6 (Figures 1 and 2), then the bolts 28 will still be inaccessible to the unauthorised person. This will increase the time it takes the unauthorised person to access the inner door therefore making the ATM more secure.

Projection plate 24 is an L-shaped piece of metal such as stainless steel that is either welded onto inner door 16 or formed integrally with inner door 16. Referring to Figure 3, when the security assembly 12 is installed inside an ATM 2, it can be seen that projection plate 24 is in such a position to abut outer door 6 if outer door 6 is opened inwardly to prevent the opening of outer door 6. On the other hand, if security assembly 12 and projection plate 24 were not installed in the ATM 2, then if the hinges of door 6 were removed by grinding, outer door 6 could be pivoted backwardly to disengage lock 8 and gain access to ATM 2.

Interlock assembly 26 comprises a moveable bolt portion 30 that can move in and out of the interlock assembly 26 and is controlled by a radio frequency signal in the same manner that bolts 28 are controlled by a radio frequency signal. The bolt portion 30 is positioned to abut an end of at least one of the bolts (not shown) of outer door 6 which is controlled by lock

8. Consequently, when the security assembly 12 is installed in an ATM as shown in Figure 3 and bolt portion 30 is extended out of the interlock assembly 26, the bolt portion 30 is in a position to prevent movement of the outer door bolts (not shown) . In order to open outer door 6, the user must therefore disengage bolt portion 30 of interlock assembly 26. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the interlock assembly 26 could be positioned differently to that shown in the Figures to selectively interfere with different types of ATM locking mechanisms.

In order to refill the cash cassette 10 of the ATM 2, a service person deactivates bolt portion 30 such that it retracts inside interlock assembly 26. This permits the bolts of the outer door G to be retracted such that the outer door 6 can be opened. The service person then deactivates bolts 28 of inner door 16 of the security assembly 12 to enable the inner door 16 to be opened as shown in Figure 7. This provides access to the cash cassette 10 of the ATM 2.

The operation of interlock assembly 26 and bolts 28 can be performed by transmitting an encrypted radio frequency signal from a high security key fob carried by the service person. Alternatively the transmission of the signal can be performed from a central control room and timed to coincide with a randomly generated timetable such that the security assembly is only openable when the service person is present at the respective ATM. The control room may have the capability to prevent the key fob from working in order to prevent hostage taking situations.

Bolts 28 may also be operable by means of a timing mechanism (not shown) either located on inner door 16 or a remote location such as a control room. The timing mechanism may be programmed to lock and unlock bolts at predetermined times.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In particular, other signals rather than a radio frequency signal could be employed to open inner door 16 such as ultrasound, sound or light signals provided that suitable sound and/or light sensors are provided. The security assembly described could be used to protect ATMs that are built into walls, vending machines, and any secure enclosure, whether it is fixed in a set location or fully portable.