GB2381364A

GB2381364A - Security system for recording the duration of time a gate is open

Info

Publication number: GB2381364A
Application number: GB0109306A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher James Horton
Original assignee: CELLARSMART Ltd
Current assignee: CELLARSMART Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-17
Filing date: 2001-04-17
Publication date: 2003-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-17
Also published as: GB0109306D0; GB2381364B

Abstract

A security system for use in a cellar of a licenced premises comprises an electronically operated gate 3 for entry into the cellar, a monitoring means electronically connected to the gate, and information transmittal means, whereby when the electronically operated gate is opened, the monitoring means formulates a report, which is sent by the transmittal means to a receiver. The report provides information regarding the duration of time for which the electronically operated gate remains open. The gate may be operated by nominated personnel from the inside of the cellar to enable delivery of beer products. The monitoring means comprises means for detecting damage or tampering. The system may have scanning means to record the number of kegs entering and or leaving the cellar, swiping means for controlling access to the cellar and interconnected with the electronically operated gate 3. The gate 3 may comprise a plurality of laths 11 that are slidably movable in a track.

Description

Title: Security System DESCRIPTION This invention concerns security systems, particularly but not exclusively cellar security systems.

In the licensed trade, it is common for the tenant of a licensed premises to enter into a contract with a pub company, in which they agree to buy all beer products, which they intend to sell, exclusively from that particular pub company.

When a tenant wishes to purchase beer products from the pub company, they may place their order using various methods, for example, via telephone or by using a posted order form. The beer products may be paid for by the tenant either on delivery, or alternatively, the tenant may have an account with the pub company, to enable them to pay for the beer products in a more convenient manner.

However, if the tenant runs out of beer products before the next delivery from the pub company is due, then it is relatively expensive to request an extra delivery from the pub company. Accordingly, the tenant may decide to purchase the beer products themselves from someone other than the pub company, for example, a wholesaler, which would often be cheaper than requesting an extra delivery from the pub company. This may be in breach of the contract with the pub company.

If the pub company finds out that a particular tenant has breached their contract by purchasing beer products from someone other than themselves, more than three times, then it is known for them to cancel the contract with the tenant. As a result, some distribution companies employ"cellar police", or private investigators, to video the offending tenant purchasing the beer products from the wholesaler, or "buying in"as it is often termed.

Alternatively or in addition, the pub company may install an Elect Point of Sale (EPOS) system in a licensed premises, which monitors beer product stock by way of a cash register system, whereby each time beer products are purchased from the licensed premises, the amount and type thereof is inputted into the cash register. In this way, the pub company may monitor whether the tenant has been"buying in" by way of checking the amount of beer products sold and the amount of beer products delivered by them, and checking to see if they correspond.

Alternatively, the distribution company may install a Brewlines system, which is basically a flotation system, whereby a flowmeter is installed on the pumps dispensing the beer products. As with the EPOS system, the amount of beer products sold and the amount of beer products delivered by the pub company should correspond. If the amount dispensed from the pumps is greater than the amount sold to the tenant by the pub company, then the tenant has been"buying in,"and the pub company may take further action.

However, with the above-mentioned systems, there is nothing in place to monitor the actual delivery of the beer products to the cellar of the licensed premises.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved security system for use in the cellar of a licensed premises.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security system for use in the cellar of a licensed premises, comprising an electronically operated gate for entry into the cellar, which may be operated by nominated personnel from the inside of the cellar to enable delivery of beer products, a monitoring means electronically connected to the gate, and an information transmittal means, whereby when the electronically operated gate is opened, the monitoring means formulates a report, which is sent by transmittal means to a receiver, the report providing information

regarding the duration of time for which the electronically operated gate remained open.

It is preferable that the receiver is the modem of a computer, which may be located at the distribution companies premises. The report may be examined by an employee of the pub company, such as a designated Senior Manager, who may then take the appropriate action.

The nominated personnel may be an employee of the pub company, for example, a drayman or a business manager.

In this way, if the designated Senior Manager receiving the report suspects that the scheduled delivery of beer products to the licensed premises does not warrant the electronically operated gate being open for the recorded time, then he can take the necessary action, which may include further investigation.

It is further preferable that the monitoring means comprises means for detecting damage or tampering, whereby if any part of the security system is damaged or tampered with in any way, a damage report is formulated and is transmitted to the computer at the distribution companies premises, for examination by the designated Senior Manager.

It is further preferable that the security system also comprises a scanning means, whereby full kegs of beer product entering the cellar are scanned. In this way, the number of full kegs of beer product entering the cellar is recorded, and sent to the computer at the distribution companies premises. Further, it is preferred that the scanning means also scans the empty kegs of beer leaving the cellar. In this way, the number of empty kegs of beer product leaving the cellar is recorded, and sent to the computer at the distribution companies premises. In this way, the designated

Senior Manager at the pub company can ensure that the number of empty kegs leaving the cellar corresponds with the number of full kegs entering the cellar.

Accordingly, the activities of the tenant, the draymen delivering the beer products, and also of the business managers employed by the pub company to keep a check on the cellars of their contracted tenants, may be monitored.

Preferably, the security system further comprises an electronic swiping means electronically connected to the monitoring means, the electronic swiping means being located at the interior entrance to the cellar, for example, at the stairwell inside the licensed premises, whereby an employee of the pub company swipes an electronic card to gain access to the cellar of the licensed premises from the interior of the licensed premises. When the electronic swipe card is swiped through the electronic swiping means, then it is preferable that the electronically operated gate is also unlocked.

It is preferable that the security system also comprises a disabling means, whereby the nominated person only has a specific amount of time, for example, forty seconds, in which to get from the swiping means to the electronically operated gate in order to open the electronically operated gate from the inside of the cellar to enable a delivery to be made. If the electronically operated gate is not opened within the specified time, then the electronically operated gate is locked again, and an alarm is activated, which prompts an alarm report to be formulated and sent to the computer at the distribution companies premises.

It is preferred that the monitoring means further comprises a reminder means, whereby if the electronically operated gate is closed and the swipe card not removed from the swiping means, then an alarm is activated.

Preferably, the electronic swipe card may only be removed from the swiping means when both the electronically operated gate and the cellar door interior of the licensed premises, have been closed.

It is preferred that the electronically operated gate comprises a plurality of laths movable in a track, which are interconnected such that, when the gate is in the open position, the laths at least partially overlap each other, and when the gate is in the closed position, the laths abut each other side by side. It is preferable that each lath has a sliding member attached at each end thereof, which preferably comprises a disc member attached to the inside face of an L-shaped member, which is itself is attached to the end of the lath. It is preferred that the track is an inverted U-shaped member having upwardly turned edges, and it is further preferable that the disc member of the sliding member slidably locates between the upwardly turned edge and a side of the U-shaped track. In use, the track is securable to the brickwork of the cellar by means of rivets or the like.

Preferably, the electronically operated gate has two layers of laths, whereby the base of the L-shaped member is sandwiched between the two layers.

It is further preferable that the electronically operated gate of the security system comprises a solenoid mechanism, whereby when the electronically operated gate is opened, the solenoid mechanism prompts the monitoring means to start timing how long the electronically operated gate remains open for.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows schematically a security system, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an electronically operated gate, according to the present invention; and Figure 3 shows an end-on view of an electronically operated gate in situ in a track, according to the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a monitoring means 1 is located in the cellar of a licensed premises. A recording means 2 records the time for which a cellar door 3 is open, and this information is transmitted via an information transmittal means 4 to a centrally located computer 5, which may be located at the premises of the pub company. An employee of the company can then examine the information sent to the computer 5, and take the appropriate action. A damage detecting means 6 detects if any part of the security system 100 has been damaged or tampered with in any way, for example, if unauthorized access to the cellar is attempted. If damage or tampering is detected, then a damage report is sent to the computer 5 by the information transmittal means 4, to be examined by the employee of the pub company, who can then take the appropriate action.

Scanning means 7 scans and records the number of full kegs of beer products, which have entered the cellar, and it also scans and records the number of empty kegs removed from the cellar. The scanning means 7 makes a comparison between the two figures, and if the numbers do not tally, then a report is formulated and sent by the information transmittal means 4 to a computer 5 at the distribution companies premises.

A swiping means 10 is used to enable access to be gained to the cellar via the interior of the licensed premises, whereby a nominated person in possession of an electronic swipe card swipes the card through the swiping means 10. This also unlocks the electronically operated gate 3. The nominated person has a specified

period of time in which to get from the electronic swiping means 10 to the electronically operated gate 3 to open it. If the gate 3 is not opened in the specified time, then the electronically operated gate 3 is locked again by disabling means 22, and a report is sent to the computer 5 at the distribution companies premises.

A reminder means 8 activates an alarm 9 if the electronically operated gate 3 is closed and the electronic swipe card is not removed from the swiping means 10.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the electronically operated gate 3 comprises a plurality of laths 11, interconnected by means of a plurality of connecting members 12 lying athwart of each other. The gate 3 comprises two layers A and B of laths 11.

The gate 3 is movable in a track 13, which comprises an inverted U-shaped member 14 having upwardly turned edges 15. The track 13 is attachable to, for example, the ground or brickwork by a suitable means. Sandwiched between the two layers A and B of laths 11 is the base 21 of a sliding member 17, which comprises an L-shaped member 18 having a disc member 19 attached to the inside face 20 thereof.

In use, the disc member 19 locates in between the upwardly turned edge 15 of the Ushaped member 14, to enable the laths 11 to slide along the track 13 when the gate 3 is to be opened and closed. The U-shaped member 14 is attachable to a channel guide 24 by means of a bolt 23, which is in turn attachable to a cover plate 16. The channel guide 24 is then attachable to brickwork 25 by means of bolts 26. In this way, the gate mechanism is securably attached to the brickwork of the cellar.

Using the system of the invention, the time for which the electronically operated gate 3 at a particular licensed premises is open may be monitored by the pub company, which may highlight possible instances of unauthorized purchasing of beer products, in that, if the gate 3 is left open for too long, then extra, unauthorized beer

products may be being"bought in"by the tenant. Alternatively, the drayman or business manager of the pub company may be using time inefficiently. Furthermore, the system of the invention prevents access to the cellar of the licensed premises to all but a number of nominated personnel. Each time the electronically operated gate 3 is opened, a report is sent to the computer 5 at the premises of the pub company, for monitoring. Further still, the system of the invention enables the number of barrels entering and leaving the cellar to be monitored, which further enables distribution companies to find out if tenants have been breaching the contract by "buying in"beer products.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A security system for use in the cellar of a licensed premises, comprising an electronically operated gate for entry into the cellar, a monitoring means electronically connected to the gate, and an information transmittal means, whereby when the electronically operated gate is opened, the monitoring means formulates a report, which is sent by transmittal means to a receiver, the report providing information regarding the duration of time for which the electronically operated gate remained open.
2. A security system as claimed in claim 1 in which the gate is operated by nominated personnel from the inside of the cellar to enable delivery of beer products.
3. A security system as claimed in claim 2 in which the nominated personnel is an employee of the pub company.
4. A security system as claimed in claims 1,2 or 3 in which the receiver is the modem of a computer.
5. A security system as claimed in claim 4 in which the modem is located at the distribution company's premises.
6. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the monitoring means comprises means for detecting damage or tampering.
7. A security system as claimed in claim 6 in which if any part of the security system is damaged or tampered with in any way, a damage report is formulated and is transmitted to the computer at the distribution company's premises.

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8. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the security system also comprises a scanning means, whereby full kegs of beer product entering the cellar are scanned.
9. A security system as claimed in claim 8 in which the number of full kegs of beer product entering the cellar is recorded, and sent to the computer at the distribution company's premises.
10. A security system as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the scanning means also scans the empty kegs of beer leaving the cellar.
11. A security system as claimed in claim 10 in which the number of empty kegs of beer product leaving the cellar is recorded, and sent to the computer at the distribution company's premises.
12. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further comprising an electronic swiping means electronically connected to the monitoring means, the electronic swiping means being located at the interior entrance to the cellar, whereby an employee of the pub company swipes an electronic card to gain access to the cellar of the licensed premises from the interior of the licensed premises.
13. A security system as claimed in claiml2 in which when the electronic swipe card is swiped through the electronic swiping means the electronically operated gate is unlocked.
14. A security system as claimed in claim 13, comprising a disabling means, whereby the nominated person only has a specific amount of time in which to get from the swiping means to the electronically operated gate in order to open the electronically operated gate from the inside of the cellar to enable a delivery to be made.

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15. A security system as claimed in claim 14 in which, if the electronically operated gate is not opened within the specific time, then the electronically operated gate is locked again, and an alarm is activated, which prompts an alarm report to be formulated and sent to the computer at the distribution companies premises.
16. A security system as claimed in claims 13,14 or 15 in which the monitoring means further comprises a reminder means, whereby if the electronically operated gate is closed and the swipe card not removed from the swiping means, then an alarm is activated.
17. A security system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 in which the electronic swipe card can only be removed from the swiping means when both the electronically operated gate and the cellar door interior of the licensed premises, have been closed.
18. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the electronically operated gate comprises a plurality of laths movable in the track, which are interconnected such that, when the gate is in the open position, the laths at least partially overlap each other, and when the gate is in the closed position, the laths abut each other side by side.
19. A security system in claim 18 in which each lath has a sliding member attached at each end thereof.
20. A security system as claimed in claim 19 in which each sliding member comprises a disc member attached to the inside face of an L-shaped member, which is itself is attached to the end of the lath.
21. A security system as claimed in claims 18,19 or 20 in which the track is an inverted U-shaped member having upwardly turned edges.

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22. A security system as claimed in claim 20 in which the disc member of the sliding member slidably locates between the upwardly turned edged and a side of the U- shaped track.
23. A security system as claimed in claim 19 in which the electronically operated gate has two layers of laths, whereby the base of the L-shaped member is sandwiched between the two layers.
24. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the electronically operated gate of the security system comprises a solenoid mechanism, whereby when the electronically operated gate is opened, the solenoid mechanism prompts the monitoring means to start timing how long the electronically operated gate remains open for.
25. A security system constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.