GB2079847A - Security containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A security container for stacks of paper articles has a device comprising at least one hollow punch operated by at least one explosive cartridge 32 whereby a hole(s) is punched through the stack(s) if the container is tampered with. The cartridge(s) 32 are detonated in response to the removal of a cotter pin 36 from a spring-loaded firing device by pulling a wire 38 or by the operation of an electromechanical device connected to a sensor incorporated in a lock or hinge of the container. Alternatively, a switch automatically closed by tampering with the container, or a time-switch, can be provided to actuate the cartridge(s) directly. The punch(es) are relieved internally and/or externally to facilitate punching. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security container for safe keeping of paper articles The present invention relates to a security container for sake keeping of paper articles, for example bank notes.

A wide variety of security containers are known for the sake keeping of paper articles of value.

Mostly the container includes a door or lid which can be securely locked. Some are portable such as a cash security box or the like whilst others are fixed in position such as a wall mounted safe or the like. Still others, for example, brief cases which are carried out of doors, are fitted with a chain for attachment to the person. Many are provided with additional ant-theft devices of one sort or another, such as alarm systems responsive to tampering with locks of fixed containers.

Although-providing a valuable visible or audible alert signal such an alarm system on its own is ineffective against a thief who is able to achieve access to the container's contents and to escape before any preventative action can be taken. Another example of anti-theft device particularly suitable for use with portable containers involves the release of a coloured staining smoke which provides a visible alarm in addition to staining the container and its contents. However if the contents are in sealed packs or are densely packed (e.g. closely stacked bank notes) a thief may be able to remove the contents unmarked or at least whilst some of the contents (e.g. bank notes near the centre of a stack) remain unmarked by the smoke.Moreover should the device be triggered inadvertently the container (in addition to its contents) may be permanently stained and of no further use to their rightfui owner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for paper articles having a security device which, when triggered, permanently marks the container's contents. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of security storage of paper articles in a container which upon triggering of a security device marks those articles in a way which can be selected so as to be distinctive.

According to the invention, there is provided a security container adapted to hold paper articles and fitted with a security device for marking the articles if any attempt is made to open the container in an unconventional manner and/or in the event of the container being stolen or snatched from its rightful owner, in which the container is fitted with a security device comprising cutting means arranged to cut paper articles held in the container, the cutting means being constituted by at least one hollow punch; activation means to activate the cutting means; And control means to control the activation means, the cutting means, when activated by the activation means, cutting the paper articles so as to mark the articles by punching a hole therethrough.The or each hollow punch may be internally relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge, the arrangement being such that the portions of the paper articles which are punched out of said articles are able to pass with minimal resistance into the relieved portion of the punch. In addition, or instead of this the hollow punch may be externally relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge, the arrangement being such that the punch is able to pass with minimal resistance through the paper articles concerned. The punch may be internally sharpened or may be externally sharpened or indeed may be sharpened both internally and externally. The hollow punch may have a cutting edge which is other than of plain annular form, that is to say having an undulating or serrated form.

The activation means may be constituted by at least one explosive cartridge. In this case, a single explosive cartridge may be arranged to power a plurality of hollow punches. On the other hand, the container may be provided with two or more spaces for holding stacked bundles of the paper articles, respective hollow punches being provided for punching holes through the bundles of articles when activated by the activation means, said activation means being constituted by respective explosive cartridges for powering said hollow punches.

The control means may include a pull wire formed with a wrist loop, the arrangement being such that the pull wire cannot be cut without breaking an electric circuit to cause the activation means to activate the cutting means. On the other hand, the control means to control the activation means may include sensor means which can detect abnormal handling of the container and/or can receive a signal sent from outside the container.

The term paper articles is used herein to include other thin sheet material articles susceptible to cutting like paper e.g. film, goat skin parchment, cloth whether woven or non-woven and whether of natural materials or synthetics and other like any of the foregoing.

For paper articles arranged in stacked bundles the punches are preferably positioned so as to penetrate perpendicularly through each sheet of the bundle. Each punch can be of a distinctive shape for example its cross section can be a polygon or circle of known dimensions or in the form of a number or letter. Alternatively a plurality of punches can be arranged in a distinctive pattern so as to mark a recognisable pattern of holes in the paper articles. In addition to a punch the cutting means can include one or more guillotines arranged to cut paper articles at a distinctive angle or in a characteristic shape and/or at a aistinctive location.

An example of a sensor means which can receive a signal sent from outside the box is a radio receiver which can either be arranged to operate the activation means on receipt of a signal or it can be adapted to operate the activation means when a continuously transmitted signal is no lqnger picked up by the receiver. The latter arrangement can be employed in combination with a short range radio transmitter kept in the same place as the container so that removal of the container from the vicinity of the transmitter causes the activation means to activate the cutting means.

In addition to or instead of the sensor means the control means can include a time switch. The time switch can be set to a predetermined time of day or can be set to run for a predetermined period of time and if not turned off within the limit set can be arranged to operate the activation means.

Such an arrangement could be useful if the container is lost, rather than stolen, and remains undiscovered for a long period or if the container is stolen but not opened by the thief very soon after.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the interior of a first f6rm of container embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the container of Fig. 1 with a portion of the container cut away to show a control mechanism; Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan view of a portion of the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional scrap view drawn to a somewhat larger scale than Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through a second form of container; Figs. 7 to 11 are views which will presently be referred to when describing a further form of container embodying the invention; and Figs. 12 to 14 are views which will be referred to when describing various possible modifications.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 5 the container 10 there illustrated is a portable rectangular security box having a lid 12 which can be locked closed by a lock 14. The outer part of the box is divided into four compartments 1 6 each of which holds an edge-stacked bundle 1 8 of bank notes. The box is fitted with carrying handles (not shown).

Cutting means in the form of four hollow punches 20 having a circular cross section radiate outwardly at 90 intervals from the centre of the box. Each punch 20 is guided in a barrel 22 and terminates, in a rest position, with its sharpened cutting end 24 adjacent and normal to the surface of the nearest end sheet in a bundle 1 8 through which it will be driven if activated as will be described. In the present embodiment each punch is arranged normal to one respective bundle 1 8.

As shown in Fig. 4, each hollow punch is relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge, that is to say widens out somewhat from the drawn down size resulting from the fact that the conical ground surface by which it is sharpened is on the inside, the arrangement being such that if the punch is activated, the portions of the paper articles which are punched out of said articles are able to pass with minimal resistance into the relieved portion of the punch. In addition, it will be seen that the punch is provided with a plurality of holes 21 along its length, these being for the escape of air displaced from the interior of the punch as it is driven through the bundle of bank notes.

The radially inner end portion 26 of each punch 20 acts as a piston in its respective barrel 23. The radial end surface 28 of each end portion 26 faces a common explosion chamber 30. A cartridge 32 is located centrally above the chamber 30 in a breech so as to fire into the chamber 30 when detonated by a firing device 34 into the form of a firing pin. A helical spring (not shown) urges the firing device 34 toward the cartridge 32. A cotter pin 36 holds the device 34 back to prevent it from firing the cartridge 32 so long as the cotter pin 36 remains in its seating as shown in Fig. 2. Control means in the form of a pull wire 38 is attached to the cotter pin 36 and will remove the pin from its seating thereby triggering the firing device when a force is applied to the wire sufficient to overcome the grip of the cotter pin in its seating.In the present embodiment the pull wire 38 is attached to a safety chain (not shown) which the carrier can attach to his person (e.g. to his wrist or round his waist). Alternatively the cotter pin could be made removable by an electromechanical device (e.g. a motor or solenoid assembly) connected by electrical wiring to sensors associated with the lock 14 such that abnormal tampering with the lock would provide a signal leading to removal of the pin 36 from its seating. Instead of, or as well as, having a sensor associated with the lock of the container, one or more sensors could be associated with, for example, the hinge or hinges of the container or to any portion of the container which an unauthorised person may attempt to breach.

In use the container 10 and its contents 1 8 are arranged as described above. A live cartridge 32 is placed in the breech and the lid 1 2 is closed and locked, the cotter pin 36 and pull wire 38 being arranged in a triggering position. Whilst the box is used in a normal fashion the cotter pin 36 will not be unseated and the firing device 34 will not be activated. If however, an attempt is made to snatch the container from the person carrying it, a force is applied to the pull wire 38 by the safety chain and the cotter pin 36 is removed from its seating. The firing device 34 detonates the cartridge 32 and the explosion which occurs in the chamber 30 forces each of the punches 20 radially outwards so as to penetrate completely through its respective bundle 1 8 to the outer wall of the compartment 1 6. Air compressed in front of the advancing end portion 26 of the punch 20 can escape from the barrel 22 through holes 40 A circular hole is thus punched in each btnk note of each bundle 18 so as to mark the notes permanently. As the position of the punch relative to its cross sectional dimensions are known an identifiable hole has been made in each bank note.

The position of the punch relative to its compartment could be made different for different containers or for different prospective purchasers of the containers and/or the cross sectional characteristics of the punches could be made different, enabling the bank notes to be identified with the container in which they were marked or at least with the purchaser of the box.

Referring now to Fig. 6 in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, a container 10 is equipped with a contents tray 42 which holds two bundles 44 of flat stacked bank notes. A vertically disposed hollow punch 20 of circular cross section is located above and normal to each bundle 44, the punches being relieved rearwardly of their cutting edges as in the case of the first described embodiment. Each punch 20 is carried in a respective barrel 22, the two barrels being connected to a common explosion chamber 30. A cartridge 32 is arranged to fire into the chamber and its breech is located in a space saving manner between the two punches 20. As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 the cartridge 32 is arranged to be fired by a firing device 34 when operated by an appropriate control means.The explosion in the chamber 30 forces the punches 20 downwardly cutting through their respective bundles 44. As in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 each sheet in each bundle thus receives a permanent identifiable mark in the form of a hole of known dimensions in a known position.

In the illustrated embodiments the cartridge and firing device employed can force the punches through their respective bundles in a fraction of a second. The speed at which each and every one of the paper articles can be marked once the control means has received an input to operate the activation means can thus prevent a thief obtaining any unmarked paper articles.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 11, in a further form of container embodying the invention and made in the form of an attache case the container 10 is a double walled container provided with a carrying handle 11 and with a lid 12 which can only be unlocked by means of an electronic keyboard 13 on which the user must tap out a particular coded signal. A central part of the container is occupied by a solid metal block 1 5 so that the container can withstand a heavy compressive load (for if a thief attempted to open the container by putting it under a heavy press). Spaces to each side of said metal block 1 5 form compartments 1 6 for holding edge-stacked bundles of bank notes.

Cutting means in the form of respective hollow punches 20 guided in respective barrels as in the first described embodiment, are in this case associated with respective actuation means, that is to say with respective electrically detonated explosive cartridges 33 (see Fig. 10).

: In Fig. 11 there is illustrated an electrical circuit including a battery 35 which will be housed within the container, one of the explosive cartridges 33 and an element constituting a switch 37 shown in open condition. It will be understood that the closure of the switch may in fact be brought about by any one of several actions by a thief trying to open the box, for example by the incorrect code being tapped out on the keyboard (possibly after a suitable time delay to guard against a mistake made by the rightful user), by any other tampering with the lock, or by the electrical connection of inner and outer metal skins of the container by a thief trying to break into the box.

Various modifications may of course be made to the containers specifically described above. For example, in Fig. 1 2 there is illustrated a form of a hollow punch 20 generally similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 but which, in addition to being internally relieved. is externally relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge so that it is better able to pass with minimal resistance through the paper articles concerned. Similarly, in Fig. 13 there is illustrated a form of hollow punch the cutting edge of which is of undulating form rather than of plain annular form (but it will be understood that the cutting edge could be of a serrated form if preferred). The hollow punch could be of various other forms.For example, it may be found sufficient to provide only the external relief referred to, especially if the punch is externally sharpened rather than internally sharpened. Although the punches illustrated in the drawings have all been shown to be internally sharpened it will be understood that they could if preferred be externally sharpened, that is to say by the application of an external ground chamfer forming the cutting edge, or by a combination of both internal and external ground chamfers. It is in fact found that external sharpening allows the portions of the paper articles which are punched out of said articles to pass through the hollow punch more easily and to be subsequently extracted from the punch with relative ease after the cutting means have been activated.A further point of interest in relation to the design of the or each hollow punch is that it can be of a distinctive shape, so that the source of any subsequently recovered damaged bank notes or other paper articles can be determined. Alternatively, the or each hollow punch, whether of cylindrical shape or otherwise, can be provided with one or more longitudinal grooves along its external surface, or perhaps with merely a notch or notches in its cutting edge, arranged to produce recognisable punched out holes in the paper articles concerned.

The cut can be distinctive of the security container (or security device) or to identify a group of such containers (or devices) associated for example with a particular owner or user thereof.

Referring now to Fig.14, this illustrates a possible modification of the control means for controlling the activation means, that is to say the forming of the pull wire 38 from insulated cable and with a wrist loop 39, the opposite ends of the wire being connected to electrical connections and the arrangement being such that the pull wire cannot be cut without breaking an electric circuit to cause the activation means to activate the cutting means.

It will be appreciated that many other modifications may be made to the forms of container specifically described above. Some modifications will be self evident from what has been said in the introduction. Others now envisaged include e.g a mechanical connection between the hinges or the container and the firing device, to trigger the latter upon dislodging of the hinge pins. It will also be understood that it will be well within the ability of a skilled electronics engineer to devise an electronic circuit including transistors and an electric fuse for activating the or each explosive cartridge.

Unlike many earlier anti-theft devices, the use of a container embodying the invention need not be concealed. The mere knowledge of its use is likely to act as a deterrent. If a prospective thief knows in advance that his intended haul will be worthless to him he may well be discouraged from attempting the robbery. It will of course be understood that the invention is not only applicable to containers for the sake keeping of bank notes but to other paper articles of value.

Indeed, the term paper articles is used herein to include other thin sheet materials susceptible to cutting like paper, for example film, goat skin parchment, cloth whether woven or non-woven and whether of natural materials of synthetics and other like any of the foregoing.

Claims (13)

1. A security container adapted to hold paper articles and fitted with a security device for marking the articles if any attempt is made to open the container in an unconventional manner and/or in the event of the container being stolen or snatched from its rightful owner, in which the container is fitted with a security device comprising cutting means arranged to cut paper articles held in the container, the cutting means being constituted by at least one hollow punch; activation means to activate the cutting means; and control means to control the activation means, cutting the paper articles so as to mark the articles by punching a hole therethrough.

2. A security container according to claim 1, in which the or each hollow punch is internally relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge, the arrangement being such that the portions of the paper articles which are punched out of said articles are able to pass with minimal resistance into the relieved portion of the punch.

3. A security container according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the hollow punch is externally relieved a short distance rearwardly of its cutting edge, the arrangemint being such that the punch is able to pass with minimal resistance through the paper articles concerned.

4. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hollow punch is internally sharpened.

5. A security container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the hollow punch is externally sharpened.

6. A security container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the hollow punch is sharpened both internally and externally.

7. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hollow punch has a cutting edge which is other than of plain annular form, that is to say having an undulating or serrated form.

8. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which activation means are constituted by at least one explosive cartridge.

9. A security container according to claim 8, in which a single explosive cartridge is arranged to power a plurality of hollow punches.

10. A security container according to claim 8, in which the container is provided with two or more spaces for holding stacked bundles of the paper articles, respective hollow punches being provided for punching holes through the bundles of articles when activated by the activation means, said activation means being constituted by respective explosive cartridges for powering said hollow punches.

11. A security container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means includes a pull wire formed with a wrist loop, the arrangement being such that the pull wire cannot be cut without breaking an electric circuit to cause the activation means to activate the cutting means.

12. A security container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the control means to control the activation means include sensor means which can detect abnormal handling of the container and /or can receive a signal sent from outside the container.

13. A security container constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5 or Fig. 6 or Figs. 7 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.