GB2230884A

GB2230884A - Hotel checking systems

Info

Publication number: GB2230884A
Application number: GB8909895A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rudolf Theodor Felix Plaut
Original assignee: Northmace Ltd
Current assignee: Northmace Ltd
Priority date: 1989-04-28
Filing date: 1989-04-28
Publication date: 1990-10-31
Also published as: GB8909895D0

Abstract

An automatic checking system for determining whether any of the cabinets in hotel rooms have been opened comprises a main control panel linked by wiring, or encoded transmission through the mains cabling, or by radio to each cabinet in each hotel room, together with a respective indicator, which will register the opening of the cabinet. The control panel will ideally be situated in a nearby service room and a repeater panel can be provided at the check-out. The hotel owner or staff member can then readily check the main control panel to determine whether any cabinets have been opened and immediately will know which rooms to check to determine whether any available materials have been consumed.

Description

"Improvements Relating to Checking Systems" Hotels often provide the service of consumables stored in a cabinet in each hotel room to enable the occupier to serve himself with a drink or possibly light snacks at a time to suit himself. However, there is then the need to check the cabinets on a regular basis to determine whether any guest has consumed the consumable materials provided, for which he will then be charged. The physical checking of every cabinet in every hotel room by a member of staff is time-consuming and if the check is omitted then a problem is created because some guests may not be charged for the items which they have consumed, or the next guest may be charged for, or accused of, taking items which he has not had.

A visual seal mechanism is a deterrent to a guest to open the cabinet door, although it is accepted that many more guests will take items if they can see them. The present invention aims to provide a checking mechanism to be operated without the guest being aware so that there will be no deterrent effect to prevent the guest from opening the door to investigate the contents, thereby being tempted.

According to the present invention there is provided an automatic checking system which will determine whether any one or more of the cabinets in the hotel rooms have been opened, the checking system comprising a main control panel linked by wiring, or encoded transmission through the mains cabling, or by radio to each cabinet in each hotel room, together with a respective indicator, which will register the breaking of a circuit in the wiring by the opening of the cabinet, for each cabinet in the system. The control panel will ideally be situated in a nearby service room and a repeater panel can be provided at the check-out or other situation.

The hotel owner or staff member can then readily check the main control panel to determine whether any cabinets have been opened and immediately will know which rooms to check to determine whether any available materials have been consumed. Ideally, the control panel will have an automatic resetting mechanism which enables all the indicators to be set back to the normal condition for all cabinets which are closed at that time.

The cabinet may, with advantage, be a refrigerated cabinet for storing chilled drinks, for example.

The device for creating a break in the circuit on opening the cabinet will ideally comprise a magnetic switch (e.g. a reed switch), which will be actuated when a magnetic member carried by the door is moved by opening of the door. Alternatively, there could be a pressure switch which is normally maintained closed by a part of the door rim, but which is released when the door is opened.

Claims

1. An automatic checking system which will determine whether any one or more of the cabinets in hotel rooms have been opened, the checking system comprising a main control panel linked by wiring, or encoded transmission through the mains cabling, or by radio to each cabinet in each hotel room, together with a respective indicator, which will register the breaking of a circuit in the wiring by the opening of the cabinet, for each cabinet in the system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein a repeater panel is provided at a region separate from that incorporating the main panel.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control panel has an automatic resetting mechanism which enables all the indicators to be set back to the normal condition for all cabinets which are closed at that time.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cabinet is a refrigerated cabinet.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device for creating a break in the circuit on opening the cabinet comprises a magnetic switch, which will be actuated when a magnetic member carried by the door is moved by opening of the door.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device for creating a break in the circuit on opening the cabinet comprises a pressure switch which is normally maintained closed by a part of the door rim, but which is released when the door is opened.

7. An automatic checking system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.