U.S. patent application number 14/463976 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-25 for flexible vault.
The applicant listed for this patent is William McMurray. Invention is credited to William McMurray.
Application Number | 20160053525 14/463976 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55347845 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160053525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McMurray; William |
February 25, 2016 |
FLEXIBLE VAULT
Abstract
The invention is a bag, suitcase, wallet, money belt, purse or
briefcase; a flexible vault of the present invention includes an
outer pouch having a multilayer construction. The multilayer
construction includes at least an inner layer, an outer layer, a
first middle layer, and a second middle layer. In addition to the
outer pouch, the flexible vault can also include an inner pouch
having an extendable roll up portion which extends through an
opening in the outer pouch when the outer pouch and the inner pouch
are in an open position. The front panel, back panel, and fold over
panel of the outer pouch each include an aperture. When the outer
pouch is in a closed position the apertures align, enabling a
locking mechanism to be threaded through all the apertures which
secures the pouch in the closed position.
Inventors: |
McMurray; William; (Detroit,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McMurray; William |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55347845 |
Appl. No.: |
14/463976 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05G 1/10 20130101; A45C
13/36 20130101; G01S 19/42 20130101; G01S 19/16 20130101; A45C
13/18 20130101; E05B 65/0075 20130101; E05G 1/005 20130101; E05G
1/02 20130101; E05G 1/024 20130101; E05G 1/04 20130101; E05G 1/06
20130101; A45C 3/001 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E05G 1/00 20060101
E05G001/00; A45C 13/18 20060101 A45C013/18 |
Claims
1. A flexible vault comprising: an outer pouch; the outer pouch
including a front panel, a back panel, and a fold over panel, the
front panel and back panel being secured to each other along a
bottom edge and side edges of the outer pouch thereby creating an
opening in the outer pouch along a top edge, the fold over panel
being secured to the back panel along the top edge, the fold over
panel operable to cover the opening and create a closed position;
the front panel and the back panel each having a multilayer
construction, the multilayer construction including at least an
inner layer, an outer layer, a first middle layer and a second
middle layer, wherein the outer layer is a rubberized layer, the
first middle layer is a Kevlar layer, and the second middle layer
is a woven steel layer; the front panel, back panel and fold over
panel each including an aperture, wherein the apertures align when
the pouch is in the closed position thereby enabling a lock to be
threaded through the apertures to secure the pouch in the closed
position.
2. The flexible vault of claim 1, the multilayer construction
including a third middle layer; wherein the third middle layer is a
metal foil layer.
3. The flexible vault of claim 1 further comprising: the multilayer
construction including a third middle layer; wherein the third
middle layer is a RFID blocking layer.
4. The flexible vault of claim 1 further including a GPS tracking
unit.
5. The flexible vault of claim 4 wherein the GPS unit is disposed
within the outer pouch.
6. The flexible vault of claim 3 further including a GPS tracking
unit, the GPS tracking unit being disposed between the outer layer
and the RFID blocking layer.
7. A flexible vault comprising: an outer pouch; the outer pouch
including a front panel, a back panel, and a fold over panel, the
front panel and back panel being secured to each other along a
bottom edge and side edges of the outer pouch thereby creating an
opening in the outer pouch along a top edge, the fold over panel
being secured to the back panel along the top edge, the fold over
panel operable to cover the opening and create a closed position;
the front panel and the back panel each having a multilayer
construction, the multilayer construction including at least an
inner layer, an outer layer, a first middle layer, a second middle
layer and a third middle layer, wherein the outer layer is a metal
mesh layer, the first middle layer is a rubberized layer, the
second middle layer is a Kevlar layer, and the third middle layer
is a woven steel layer; the front panel, back panel and fold over
panel each including an aperture, wherein the apertures align when
the pouch is in the closed position thereby enabling a lock to be
threaded through the apertures to secure the pouch in the closed
position.
8. The flexible vault of claim 7 further comprising: the multilayer
construction including a fourth middle layer; wherein the fourth
middle layer is a metal foil layer.
9. The flexible vault of claim 7 further comprising: the multilayer
construction including a fourth middle layer; wherein the fourth
middle layer is a RFID blocking layer.
10. The flexible vault of claim 7 further including a GPS tracking
unit.
11. The flexible vault of claim 7 wherein the GPS unit is disposed
within the outer pouch.
12. The flexible vault of claim 9 further including a GPS tracking
unit, the GPS tracking unit being disposed between the outer layer
and the RFID blocking layer.
13. A flexible vault comprising: a pouch; the pouch including a
front panel, and a back panel, the front panel and back panel being
secured to each other along a bottom edge and side edges of the
pouch thereby creating an opening in the pouch along a top edge;
the front panel and the back panel each having a multilayer
construction, the multilayer construction including at least an
inner layer, an outer layer, a first middle layer and a second
middle layer, wherein the outer layer is a rubberized layer, the
first middle layer is a Kevlar layer, and the second middle layer
is a woven steel layer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a vault for the safekeeping
of valuables. More specifically, it relates to a portable,
lightweight, flexible vault being easy to manufacture, transport
and to secure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Vaults for safekeeping of property have been known in the
art for quite some time. These vaults can often have properties
which include a resistance to outside forces and elements, for
example, an impact resistance, a fire resistance, a water
resistance, etc. These vaults have also been known to be lockable
to provide safekeeping of valuables within the vault.
[0003] Vaults that are currently known can also be mounted to a
more secure structure such as a floor or wall of a building, for
example by the use of lag bolts through attachment holes in the
feet of a vault.
[0004] To achieve these desired properties vaults currently known
feature construction of heavy and robust materials such as sheet
metals, concrete, and the like. Construction in this nature has
presented a common problem to vaults in that while being able to
provide security for valuables, these vaults are relatively
immobile thereby only providing security in a single location. In
addition the current construction methods and materials can be
relatively high in cost.
[0005] As such, it is an object of the present invention to solve
the above problems and provide a vault for the safekeeping of
valuables which is both relatively low cost in manufacture and
portable while at the same time providing safety for storage of
valuables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A flexible vault of the present invention includes an outer
pouch. The outer pouch has a front panel, a back panel, and a fold
over panel. The front panel and back panel are secured to each
other along a bottom edge and a side edge of the outer pouch
thereby creating an opening in the outer pouch along a top edge.
The fold over panel is secured to the back panel along the top edge
and the fold over panel is operable to cover the opening and create
a closed position.
[0007] The front panel and the back panel each have a multilayer
construction. The multilayer construction includes at least an
inner layer, an outer layer, a first middle layer, and a second
middle layer. This multilayer construction can further include a
third middle layer and a fourth middle layer.
[0008] The layers of the multilayer construction can be made from
various materials to provide the desired security characteristics
to the flexible vault. For example, a rubberized layer can be used
to provide water resistance, a Kevlar layer can be used to provide
impact resistance, a woven steel layer can be used to provide
further impact resistance as well as cut resistance and fire
resistance, an RFID blocking layer such as metal or aluminum foil
can be used to provide scanning resistance and security to
electronics and magnetically coded items, such as credit cards,
contained within the vault, and a metal mesh layer, such as
chainmail, can also be utilized to provide even further security to
the pouch.
[0009] The front panel, back panel, and fold over panel each
include an aperture. When the outer pouch is in a closed position
the apertures in the fold over panel, front panel, and back panel
align, enabling a locking mechanism to be threaded through all the
apertures which secures the pouch in the closed position. The
locking mechanism is a unit which is secured to a fixed object such
as the floor or the wall. The locking mechanism includes a shaft
which is threaded through the apertures and a head which is placed
on top of the shaft and locked with a key to prevent the flexible
vault from being removed from the shaft, the head being sized such
that it cannot pass through the apertures. The apparatus detailed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,211 could be modified to for use to secure
the flexible vault, and is incorporated herein by reference.
[0010] To help strengthen the apertures, metal grommets may be used
within the apertures. These metal grommets have an inner diameter
large enough to receive the lock. The grommets could also be made
from plastic, fabric, or any other material suitable for
reinforcing apertures known to those skilled in the art.
[0011] To provide a higher level of security for storing item
within the flexible vault, the lock used with the present invention
is capable of withstanding 4,700 pounds of force, for example by
being made of steel and having a shaft diameter of about 3/4 of an
inch. The metal grommets also having an inner diameter of at least
3/4 of an inch to receive the lock.
[0012] The flexible vault of the present invention in certain
embodiments also include a GPS unit, the GPS unit being operable to
provide tracking and location data information so that the owner of
the flexible vault can track the flexible vault if it is ever lost
or stolen.
[0013] The GPS unit in the present embodiment is disposed within
the outer pouch. If the outer pouch includes a RFID blocking layer
in the multilayer construction, then the GPS tracking unit is
disposed underneath at least the outer layer but on top of the RFID
layer.
[0014] In addition to the outer pouch, the flexible vault of the
present invention can also include an inner pouch, the inner pouch
being disposed within the outer pouch, the inner pouch having an
extendable roll up portion which extends through the opening in the
outer pouch when the outer pouch and the inner pouch are in an open
position. This inner pouch can be fixedly attached to the outer
pouch and can further include a Velcro.RTM. strip with hooks and a
Velcro.RTM. strip with loops attached to the extendable roll up
portion so that the roll up portion can be rolled up to create a
closed position, the Velcro.RTM. strip with hooks securing to the
Velcro.RTM. strip with loops to secure the inner pouch in a closed
position. In addition the inner pouch can include a longitudinally
oriented Velcro.RTM. strap secured to the extendable roll up
portion at a midpoint of the Velcro.RTM. strap, the Velcro.RTM.
strap having a first free end and a second free end, the first free
end having Velcro.RTM. hooks and the second free end having
Velcro.RTM. loops, the first free end being attachable to the
second free end to help secure the inner pouch in an alternate
closed position.
[0015] When an inner pouch and an outer pouch are utilized along
with a GPS tracking unit, the GPS tracking unit can be disposed
between the inner pouch and outer pouch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the
flexible vault;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows an elevational side view of an embodiment of
the flexible vault;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a plan top view of an embodiment of the
flexible vault;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows an elevational front view of an embodiment of
the flexible vault;
[0020] FIG. 5 shows an elevational back view of an embodiment of
the flexible vault;
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a plan bottom view of an embodiment of the
flexible vault;
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a elevational front view of an embodiment of
the flexible vault in an open position;
[0023] FIG. 8 shows an elevational back view of an embodiment of
the flexible vault in an open position;
[0024] FIG. 9 shows an elevational side view of an embodiment of
the flexible pouch in an open position;
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a section view of a top portion of an
embodiment of the flexible pouch;
[0026] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the
multilayer construction;
[0027] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of
the multilayer construction;
[0028] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of still another embodiment
of the multilayer construction; and
[0029] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the
flexible vault on an embodiment of a lock.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a
flexible vault 30 includes an outer pouch 35, the outer pouch 35
being formed from a front panel 40, a back panel 45, and a fold
over panel 50.
[0031] The front panel 40 and back panel 45 are constructed using a
multilayer construction. In the preferred embodiment this
multilayer construction includes an inner layer 55, an outer layer
60, a first middle layer 65, and a second middle layer 70. To
produce the multilayer construction the inner layer 55, outer layer
60, first middle layer 65, and second middle layer 70 are stacked
upon each other and then secured to one another using stitching or
adhesive means or any other method known to those skilled in the
art.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment the outer layer 60 is a
rubberized layer, for example being made of a flexible, moldable,
polymer based material known to those skilled in the art. The first
middle layer 65 in the preferred embodiment is an interwoven Kevlar
layer. The manufacturing process for an interwoven Kevlar layer is
known to those skilled in the art. The third middle layer of the
preferred embodiment is a woven steel layer preferably made of
small diameter stainless steel.
[0033] In addition to the preferred embodiment discussed above,
numerous other embodiments exist to help achieve the desired
characteristics and problem solutions described above. One such
alternative embodiment includes a third middle layer 100 in the
multilayer construction. In this alternate embodiment the outer
layer is a metal mesh type of layer such as chainmail, for example
that type used in shark safety suits. The first middle layer 65 is
a rubberized layer, the second middle layer 70 is a Kevlar and/or
Dyneema layer, and the third middle layer 100 is a woven steel
layer. All of these layers are similar to those manufactured and
having materials similar to those discussed above. This alternative
embodiment featuring an outer layer 60 made of a metal mesh
material provides additional impact and puncture resistance as
compared to the preferred embodiment.
[0034] In yet another alternative embodiment the multilayer
construction includes a fourth middle layer 105. This fourth middle
layer is made of an RFID blocking material such that the fourth
middle layer protects certain electronics, credit cards, and the
like from being scanned or detected by apparatus outside of the
flexible vault 30. One type of material that can be used for the
RFID blocking layer is a metal foil layer, for example a layer of
aluminum foil.
[0035] Once the multilayer construction is completed, the outer
pouch 35 having the front panel 40 and the back panel 45 is formed.
To form the preferred embodiment, the front panel 40, the back
panel 45, as well as the side panels 52 are formed from a single
piece of the multilayer constructed material. In this preferred
embodiment, the front panel 40 is folded up over the back panel 45.
The side panels 52 extend from the back panel 45, and are folded up
to mate with the front panel 40. The side panels 52 are then
stitched to the front panel 40 along the side edges 80 of the outer
pouch 35. Other methods could also be used, such as, having
individual sheets of the multilayer constructed material for both
the front panel and the back panel. The front panel could then by
overlaid on the back panel. After this overlaying, the front panel
could be stitched to the back panel along the side edges and a
bottom edge to form the outer pouch. Other methods known to those
skilled in the art could be utilized, so long as the front panel
and back panel are secured to each other to form the outer pouch.
The securing of the front panel 40 to the back panel 45 is achieved
by securing in any method known to those skilled in the art, for
example by stitching along a bottom edge 75 of the outer pouch as
well as securing along side edges 80 of the outer pouch. After the
securement of the front panel 40 to the back panel 45 along the
bottom edge 75 and side edges 80, an opening in the outer pouch 85
is thereby created along a top edge 90 of the outer pouch 35.
[0036] The fold over panel 50 having a multilayer construction as
described above is attached along the top edge 90 of the outer
pouch. This attachment along the top edge secures the fold over
panel 50 to the back panel 45. After securement the fold over panel
50 is operable to cover the opening 85 along the top edge 90
thereby creating a closed position of the outer pouch 35. In the
preferred embodiment, the front panel 40 and fold over panel 50 are
secured to each other when in the closed position by at least one
Velcro.RTM. tab 92. It is appreciated that instead of being a
separate piece which is attached to the back panel 45, the fold
over panel 50 could be part of the same piece of multilayer
constructed material used for the back panel 45. For example by
having an additional extended portion be the fold over panel 50,
this additional extended portion originally manufactured with the
back panel 45.
[0037] The front panel 40, back panel 45, and the fold over panel
50 also each include an aperture 95. The apertures 95 in the front
panel 40, back panel 45, and fold over panel 50 align when the
outer pouch 35 is in the closed position.
[0038] In addition to the features previously described, the
preferred embodiments and alternate embodiments can further include
a metal grommet 110 disposed in each aperture 95. This metal
grommet helps to strengthen and reinforce the multilayer material
of the various panels around the apertures 95. In addition the
metal grommet 110 has an inner diameter 115. This inner diameter is
large enough to accept a lock 120 to maintain the flexible vault 30
in the closed position.
[0039] The lock 120 of the preferred embodiment includes a lock
shaft 125, a lock head 130, and a lock key 135. In operation the
grommets 110 slide over the lock shaft 125. To enable this, the
inner diameter 115 of the metal grommet is larger than a diameter
of the lock shaft 125. To secure the flexible vault 30 to the lock
120, the lock head 130 is sized such that it cannot pass through
the apertures 95 or the inner diameter of the metal grommet 115. To
operate the lock of the preferred embodiment the lock key 135 can
be used to unlock the lock head 130 wherein the lock head 130 can
then be removed from the lock shaft 125 allowing the flexible vault
30 to be positioned onto the lock 120 by threading the lock shaft
125 through the apertures 95 or the metal grommet 110 of the
preferred embodiment.
[0040] The lock 120 is utilized to fixedly attach the flexible
vault to a relatively immovable object. For example, the lock 120
can be bolted to a secure part of a structure, such as the framing
in a building. In another example, the lock 120 is bolted to an
vehicle, such as to the inside of a car trunk. Numerous similar
uses exist, wherein the lock 120 is secured with bolts, or welding,
or any other suitable method known to those skilled in the art, to
another heavy or fixed article, thereby rendering the lock 120, and
the flexible vault secure to it, immobile.
[0041] In the preferred embodiment the lock 120 has a lock shaft
capable of withstanding at least a pull force of 4,700 pounds. The
preferred embodiment lock shaft 125 has a diameter of 3/4 of an
inch and is made of steel to achieve this result.
[0042] In addition, the preferred embodiment and alternate
embodiments can include a GPS tracking unit 140, for example an
electronic unit known to those skilled in the art which is used to
track the location of an object to which the GPS tracking unit 140
is attached from a remote location. The GPS tracking unit 140 is
disposed within the outer pouch 35. If the panels of the outer
pouch 35 include an RFID layer, the GPS tracking unit 140 is
disposed between the outer layer 60 and the RFID blocking
layer.
[0043] The flexible vault 30 of the preferred embodiment further
includes an inner pouch 145. The inner pouch is manufactured of
water resistant material such as nylon or vinyl as is known to
those skilled in the art. The inner pouch 145 is disposed within
the outer pouch 35. The inner pouch 145 includes an extendable roll
up portion 150. The extendable roll up portion extends through the
opening 85 in the outer pouch 35 when the outer pouch 35 and the
inner pouch 145 are both in an open position.
[0044] To create a closed position of the inner pouch 45, the
extendable roll up portion 150 is rolled up and then disposed
within the opening 85 of the outer pouch 35 as is shown in FIG. 10.
The extendable roll up portion 150 of the preferred embodiment
further includes a Velcro.RTM. strip with hooks 155 and a
Velcro.RTM. strip with loops 160. The Velcro.RTM. strip with hooks
155 and Velcro.RTM. strip with loops 160 are attached to the
extendable roll up portion 150 in a manner such that when the
extendable roll up portion 150 is rolled up to create the closed
position of the inner pouch 145, the extendable strip with hooks
155 secures to the Velcro.RTM. strip with loops 160 to maintain the
inner pouch 145 in a closed position.
[0045] In the preferred embodiment the inner pouch 145 is fixedly
attached to the outer pouch thereby preventing the inner pouch from
being removed from the outer pouch. In this preferred embodiment
when a GPS tracking unit 140 is included, the GPS tracking unit 140
is disposed between the inner pouch 145 and the outer pouch 35.
[0046] In an alternate embodiment the extendable roll up portion
150 includes a Velcro.RTM. strap 165. The Velcro.RTM. strap has a
first free end 170 and a second free end 175. The Velcro.RTM. strap
165 is attached to the extendable roll up portion 150 at a midpoint
180 of the Velcro.RTM. strap 165. The first free end 170 and second
free end 175 have Velcro.RTM. hooks and loops respectively thereby
enabling the extendable roll up portion to be folded down over
itself and the Velcro.RTM. strap 165 to be wrapped around the
extendable roll up portion 150 to create an alternate closed
position of the extendable roll up portion 150.
[0047] It is understood and appreciated that the multilayer
construction described herein may be used to create flexible vaults
of various sizes and shapes beyond the above described pouch. For
example, the pouch of the present invention includes bags,
suitcases, wallets, money belts, purses or briefcases made from the
multilayer construction. These items having the multilayer
construction will prevent scanning and x-ray from reading or
detecting the contents of contained therein, such as hard drives,
memory chips, magnetic strips, passports, driver's license codes,
etc. Further security is provided by the items being waterproof and
including a GPS chip.
[0048] The present invention has been described in an illustrative
manner. It is understood that the terminology which has been used
is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
limitation. As such, many modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.
* * * * *