GB2149845A - Anti-theft device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device, primarily for milk bottles, operates on the lobster-pot principle. A receptacle 1 comprises a lockable cap (6) which has an aperture obstructed by downwardly and inwardly projecting barbs 13. A bottle can be lowered through this, the barbs moving aside but springing back over the top of the bottle when fully inserted. The bottle can then be removed only by unlocking the cap. The base 2 of the receptacle is partially open to drain the interior. Versions for two or more bottles can be made and insulation may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to anti-theft devices This invention relates to anti-theft devices, and is concerned with the problem of milk bottles left on doorsteps or outside flats.

In some areas, milk bottles are a regular target for thieves, for they stand open and unprotected, often for many hours. The delivery system would not work if the milkman had to deliver personally at each call, and it is essential for him to be able simply to leave a bottle or two outside, and move on.

The aim of this invention is to provide a receptacle which will allow the milkman to place a bottle in it easily, without opening any door or operating any lock, which will prevent the casual thief from lifting the bottle, and which will allow the proper recipient to retrieve it fairly easily.

According to the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for bottles, comprising a receptacle having a base spanning its lower end to support a bottle therein but allowing moisture to drain, means for securing the receptacle to a wall or other fixed structure, and a removable cap, which can be locked in position over the upper end of the receptacle, the cap having an aperture surrounded by inwardly and downwardly projecting barbs which allow a bottle to be inserted through said aperture, (moving aside on such entry) but which revert to a position convergent over the bottle when the latter rests on the base.

Preferably, the receptacle is a cylindrical tube with a closed lower end perforated for drainage. Conveniently it will be in plastics material, although there can be many variations on the form and material; for example it could be a wire cage. The receptacle may have apertured lugs or flanges by which it can be screwed or bolted to a wall or other fixed structure.

The lid may be hinged or may be completely removable. The lock can be integrated with the cap and receptacle, or there can be mating lugs which can be padlocked together.

The barbs will preferably be triangular tongues of stiff plastics material, such as polypropylene. A disc of this material may be cut in radial lines almost to the circumference and then secured to a bevelled formation around the underside of the aperture so that it assumes a shallow conical configuration, apex downwards, with the tongues slightly separated and pointing downwardly and inwardly.

When a bottle is passed down through the aperture, these will flex to allow it passage, but will spring back to overlie the top of the bottle when the latter is resting on the base.

To try to extract the bottle up through the aperture will be at least extremely difficult and painful, if not impossible.

Various other barbs are possible; for example, sprung metal leaves.

This specification is primarily concerned with a single bottle receptacle, but it will be understood that the idea can be extended to encompass receptacles for two or more bottles.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an anti-theft milk bottle receptacle, Figure 2 is a plan view of the receptacle of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the receptacle of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is a vertical section of part of the cap for the receptacle.

The receptacle has an upright cylindrical body 1 with a substantially closed lower end 2, this haring perforations 3 to drain moisture from within. The body can be secured to a wall or other fixed structure by arms 4 which have holes 5 at their ends to receive screws or bolts. The body 1 will generally be made in moulded plastics and the arms 4 may be integral with it. However, it is probably more convenient to form them separately and attach them to the rear side of the body 1.

A cap 6 can be fitted over the upper end of the body 1 and locked in position. In this example, it has a lug 7 which registers with a lug 8 fixed to the body 1, and a padlock 9 secures them. However, it would be possible to build in a lock to the cap and body. The cap is in fact a squat cylindrical ring with a thickened upper portion 10 as best seen in Fig. 4 with a bevelled undercut shoulder 11.

This provides a seat for the outer periphery of a plastics disc 1 2 which, in its relaxed state, would be flat. It is cut as best seen in Fig. 2 with radial slices almost to the periphery, forming six triangular tongues. When the disc 1 2 is pressed up against the shoulder 11 it is distorted to a shallow conical formation, and the tongues part to form downwardly and inwardly projecting barbs 1 3. The disc 1 2 is secured in this position by a clamping ring 14, which may be fixed by screws through to the thickened portion 10 or by adhesive to the inner wall of the cap 6.

The cap therefore does not provide a complete cover; there is an aperture through which a milk bottle may be lowered, fiexing aside the barbs 1 3 until it reaches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, resting on the base 2. The barbs 1 3 spring back and provide an effective barrier against removal back through the cap.

The householder will of course have a key to the padlock, and can retrieve the bottle by removing the cap.

The overlap of the cap with the body will be sufficient for it not to allow hinging up using the padlock loop as the pivot.

An indicator can be incorporated on the cap or body to show whether delivery is required or not.

A more sophisticated version may incorporate insulation to prevent the milk freezing in winter or going off too quickly in summer.

As well as being an anti-theft device, it offers several other advantages. For example, it is an aid to hygiene in that the top of a bottle within the receptacle is not accessible for birds to peck at. Also, it offers safety against accidents. Milk bottles left on or near doorsteps can easily be knocked over and broken, especially by children rushing out of the house. Empties are of course left in such a position and not put in the device, but they are more expendable than full bottles, and in any event they are generally only placed outside late at night when the local traffic is confined to the cat.

Claims (6)

1. An anti-theft device for bottles comprising a receptacle having means for securing it to a wall or other fixed structure and a removable cap lockable over its upper end, the cap having an aperture surrounded by inwardly and downwardly projecting barbs which allow a bottle to be inserted through said aperture, moving aside on such entry, but which revert to a position convergent over a bottle fully within the receptacle.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a base spanning its lower end to support a bottle therein but allowing moisture to drain.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receptacle is cylindrical.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the barbs are pointed tongues of plastics material with a stiff flexible resilience.

5. A device as claimed in Claims 3 and 4 wherein the lid has a disc of said material cut in radial lines almost to the circumference and anchored by that circumference so that it assumes a shallow conical configuration, apex downwards, the tongues formed thereby being slightly separated and pointing downwardly and inwardly.

6. An anti-theft device for bottles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.