Key box

Abstract

A key box (1) has a housing (10) and a cooperating door (11) which, in combination, form a secured space (9) when the door (11) is closed, wherein the door (11) is locked by means of an electric locking system. The locking system comprises an electric locking mechanism (21), an electronic control unit (22) and a wireless communication unit (23). The electronic control unit (22) is configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile unit (40) by means of the wireless communication unit (23). The electronic control unit (22) is configured to verify access rights relative to the mobile unit (40) and, if the access rights are authenticated, to cancel the locking effect of the locking mechanism (21). The control unit (22) and the wireless communication unit (23) are accommodated within the secured space (9).

Claims

1. A key box with a housing and a cooperating door which, in combination, form a secured space when the door is closed, wherein the door is locked by means of an electric locking system, which locking system comprises an electric locking mechanism, an electronic control unit and a wireless communication unit, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile unit by means of the wireless communication unit to verify access rights relative to the mobile unit and, if the access rights are authenticated, to cancel the locking effect of the locking mechanism, wherein wireless communication is in the radiofrequency (RF) range, wherein the housing and the cooperating door are made of an electrically conducting material, wherein the control unit and the wireless communication unit are accommodated within the secured space, and wherein a transition between the housing and the door, in a closed state thereof, is configured for transferring a wireless signal between the interior and the exterior of the key box, the transition including means for electrical insulation between the housing and the door.

2. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for electrical insulation are arranged at areas/points/abutment faces with mechanical contact between the housing and the door and/or between the housing and the locking mechanism and/or between the door and the locking mechanism.

3. A key box according to claim 2, characterised in that the electric locking mechanism comprises an electric strike plate that cooperates with a spring-loaded latch bolt to produce the locking effect.

4. A key box according to claim 2, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

5. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the transition is configured to at least partially form a gap between the housing and the door along the peripheral edge of the door.

6. A key box according to claim 5, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

7. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric locking mechanism comprises an electric strike plate that cooperates with a spring-loaded latch bolt to produce the locking effect.

8. A key box according to claim 7, characterised in that the electric strike plate is arranged on the housing, and the spring-loaded latch bolt is arranged on the door.

9. A key box according to claim 8, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

10. A key box according to claim 7, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

11. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

12. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric locking mechanism is powered by a power source that comprises one or more batteries.

13. A key box according to claim 12, characterised in that the power source is arranged within the secured space.

14. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric locking mechanism comprises an electric strike plate that cooperates with a spring-loaded latch bolt to produce the locking effect.

15. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric locking mechanism comprises an electric strike plate that cooperates with a spring-loaded latch bolt to produce the locking effect.

16. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

17. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the door is, in its closed state, spring-loaded in the opening direction, and the electric locking mechanism is configured to cancel the locking effect only in unloaded state.

18. A key box according to claim 1, characterised in that the transition is configured to at least partially form a gap between the housing and the door along the peripheral edge of the door.

19. A key box according to claim 1, wherein the housing is composed of a hardened material suitable for resisting break-ins into the key box by mechanical means or violent ingress into the secured space when the door is locked.

20. A key box with a housing and a cooperating door which, in combination, form a secured space when the door is closed, wherein the door is locked by means of an electric locking system, which locking system comprises an electric locking mechanism, an electronic control unit and a wireless communication unit, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile unit by means of the wireless communication unit to verify access rights relative to the mobile unit and, if the access rights are authenticated, to cancel the locking effect of the locking mechanism, wherein wireless communication is in the radiofrequency (RF) range, wherein the housing and the cooperating door are made of an electrically conducting material, wherein the control unit and the wireless communication unit are accommodated within the secured space, and wherein a transition between the housing and the door, in a closed state thereof, is configured for transferring a wireless signal between the interior and the exterior of the key box, the transition being configured to at least partially form a gap between the housing and the door along the peripheral edge of the door.

Description

(1) In the following, the invention will be described in further detail with reference to an advantageous embodiment as shown in the drawing, wherein corresponding reference numerals refer to corresponding elements. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the key box according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a key box according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from in front with open door; and

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows the key box shown in FIG. 2, seen from in front with closed door.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the key box 1 in wireless communication with a mobile unit 40, such as a mobile phone. The key box 1 has a housing 10 which, in combination with a door 11 in its closed state, forms a secure space 9 in which access items 99 can be kept, such as keys and access cards.

(6) The key box 1 is provided with an electric locking system that comprises an electrically actuatable locking mechanism 21, an electronic control unit 22, and a communication unit 23 for wireless communication e.g. via Bluetooth. The electric locking system is powered by a power source, in the shown example a battery supply 30. The electric locking system and the battery supply are arranged inside the secure space 9 of the key box and are hence safeguarded against manipulation. The electric locking system can be unlocked from the outside by means of a mobile unit 40 that has associated access rights. By means of the communication unit 23, a wireless connection is established, via a wireless signal 41, between the mobile unit 40 and the electric locking system, and items of access information are exchanged. The wireless connection may be e.g. a Bluetooth connection. Based on the exchanged items of access information, the control unit 22 verifies the access rights relative to the mobile unit 40. If the access rights for the mobile unit 40 are authenticated, the control unit 22 transmits a control signal 24 and actuates the electric locking mechanism 21 to cancel the locking effect. When the locking effect is cancelled, the door 11 can be opened, and the interior of the key box 1 becomes available to a user who wishes to deposit or collect an access item 99.

(7) The housing 10 and the door 11 are typically made of hardened steel and therefore form a Faraday cage around the communication unit 23. The Faraday cage may bring about a marked attenuation of the wireless radio signal 41 and hence prevent establishment of a wireless connection between the communication unit 23 and the mobile unit 40. The door 11 is consequently suspended in such a manner that there is a small distance in the transition 12 between the housing 10 and the door 11 along the round-going edge of the door 11. Thereby a small gap is formed in the transition 12 between the housing 10 and the door 11 through which the wireless signal 41 can be transmitted between the interior and the exterior of the key box 1.

(8) Preferably the housing 10 is, along the edge of the door opening, also provided with a rabbet 16 which, seen from the outside, sits behind the door 11 to prevent easy breaking open of the door by application of mechanical force from the outside in an inwardly oriented direction. In a direction in parallel with the plane of the door, the gap may be e.g. 1 mm, while the gap in a direction at right angles to the plane of the door, i.e. between the rear side of the door and the front side of the rabbet of the door opening, may be between about 1 mm and 3 mm. Thereby the attenuating effect of the Faraday cage is weakened sufficiently to obtain reliable wireless communication while simultaneously the mechanical security of the key box is not compromised. The gap may be proofed e.g. against the ingress of dust or humidity by means of a non-electrically conducting sealant, such as an elastic gasket of rubber or polyester foam.

(9) FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show a key box 1 from in front and in an open and a closed state, respectively. The key box 1 has a housing 10 and a door 11 with a hinge 14. Inside the key box 1, access items 99 can be accommodated. The door 11 is pivotal about the axis of rotation A of the hinge 14 for opening of the door 11 in an outwardly oriented direction. The key box 1 is provided with an electric strike plate 21A mounted in the housing 10 by means of a fitting 50. The electric strike plate 21A cooperates with a spring-loaded latch bolt 21B mounted on the inner side of the door 11 to produce a locking effect when the door 11 is closed. In its closed state, the door 11 is spring-loaded in the outwardly oriented direction by means of spring element 15. The electric strike plate 21A is of the type that allows cancellation of the locking effect in unloaded state only. Thus, to bring about opening of the door 11, it is to be pressed inwards while simultaneously the electric strike plate 21A receives signal to cancel the locking effect.

(10) The electric strike plate 21A is controlled from an electronic control unit 22 mounted in the housing 10 behind the fitting 50 on the basis of items of access information as described above. A sound emitter 25 may be coupled to the control unit to indicate, by sound signals, one or more different states to a user, such as that the electric locking mechanism of the key box has been (correctly) actuated or that a request for access is to be denied. The items of access information are exchanged via a wireless connection to a mobile unit 40 outside the key box 1 (see FIG. 1). The wireless connection is established by means of a communication unit 23 which is also mounted in the housing 10 behind the fitting 50. When the door 11 is closed, the wireless signal 41 is conveyed through the transition 12 between the housing 10 and the door 11 (see FIG. 1). In the transition 12 there is a gap along the round-going edge of the door 11 as described above. In the area where the wireless communication unit 23 is mounted, the fitting 50 is provided with openings 51 that reach into the rabbet 16 and hence into the transition 12. Those openings improve the coupling of the wireless signal between the communication unit 23 and the transition 12. To further improve the conditions for transfer of the wireless signal through the transition 12, points/areas with potential mechanical contact between the housing 10 and the door 11 may advantageously be insulated galvanically. Those points/areas comprise mechanical contact between spring element 15, the rear side of the door 11, abutment faces between the electric strike plate 21A and the spring-loaded latch bolt 21B or their mounting in the housing 10 and on the door 11, the hinge 14, and the rabbet 16, respectively.

(11) As shown in FIG. 1, the electric locking system comprising an electric locking mechanism 21, 21A/B, an electronic control unit 22, and a communication unit 23 may be powered by a battery 30. Alternatively or in supplement thereto, the electric locking system may also be powered by an external power source 31 as shown in FIG. 2. The external power supply may be conducted through e.g. a cable lead-in (not shown) on the rear side of the housing 10 of the key box 1. The key box 1 may be mounted e.g. on (or in) an element, such as a wall, by means of screws/bolts (not shown) through the rear wall of the housing 10.