GB2280056A - A security container - Google Patents

Abstract

A Security container for the transport or conveyance of valuables, having locking means (not shown) and timer means 59, 60 for triggering an alarm (120, 121, Fig. 1B) at the expiry of a time interval, in which the timer means include a sensor 61 for detecting motion of the container and operable to enable the timer means to run only when the container is in motion, and to halt the timing of the time interval when the container is stationary. The container may form part of a security system also incorporating a rack (not shown) for receiving a respective container, the container having inductive coupling means (15, Fig. 1D) for coupling power supply recharge means on the rack to the internal power supply (11, 12) of the or each said container when placed in position on the rack and for disabling the said timer means whereby to allow motion of the rack and container system, for example on board a motor vehicle. Means may also be provided to detect and set off the alarm upon attempted opening of the container eg forcing the lock and rupturing of the container walls. In addition to the alarm, means may be provided for releasing a contaminating smoke and/or dye into the container. <IMAGE>

Description

A SECURITY CONTAINER The present invention relates generally to a security container, particularly to a security container of the type suitable for use in transport and conveyance of valuables.

In this specification the term "valuables" will be understood to refer to any item of valuable property such as bank notes, documents, cheques, airline tickets or other securities which may be subject to theft, and which can be devalued by application of a contaminant dye of a type such as that known in the art.

One of the difficulties encountered in the regular collection and distribution of valuables is the risk of theft of the container, and various attempts to make the containers secure have been made in the past. An early attempt at such security comprises fitting a chain to connect the guard's wrist to the container. This put the guard at serious risk against violent criminals and was replaced by more sophisticated systems involving radio transmitters and receivers either carried on the person or in a vehicle used for travelling from side to side.

Such systems are liable to jamming by radio frequency interference and have other associated problems due to the fact that the container can be opened whilst still in radio range so that the alarm is not initiated.

The present invention seeks to overcome these difficulties by providing a security container in which the transport and conveyance personnel have no access, nor any connection to the container, but in which an alarm will automatically trigger if the container is removed from the guard or other authorised carrier, and which cannot be opened without triggering the alarm and/or contaminant dye. This has obvious advantages from the point of view of the guard since he is no longer at risk during an attempted theft. The guard has no control over the container so that there is no action which he can take which will corrupt the operation of the alarm or otherwise render it ineffective. Moreover, the guard has no means by which the container can be opened and, likewise, therefore is not at risk of coercion.

These objectives are achieved, according to the invention, by a security container for the transport or conveyance of valuables, having locking means and timer means for triggering an alarm at the expiry of a time interval, in which the timer means includes a sensor for detecting motion of the container and operable to enable the timer means to run only when the container is in motion, and to halt the timing of the time interval when the container is stationary.

This is achieved by means of a motion sensor which will be described in more detail below. By linking the timer to a motion sensor it is possible to arrange for the system to time out only that period during which the container is in transit, and since the authorised carrier will appreciate the constraints imposed by the timer, any delay or impedance to his journey can be accommodated simply by placing the container on the ground where, being stationary, the timer will no longer run. Although there is no obvious connection between the authorised carrier and the container it is nevertheless still secure since only the unelapsed portion of the time period remains available before the alarm is triggered.

The timer continues to run, when the container is in motion, until one of two normal events occurs, namely either the container is opened by use of the authorised key or the container is replaced in a storage rack within the vehicle or "home base" of the container. One embodiment of the invention may be adapted to sense the actual time taken for the journey from a delivery van to a collection or delivery site and to use this time as the limit for the return journey.

Preferably the alarm includes an audible warning device and/or contamination means operable to release a contaminating smoke and/or dye medium into the interior of the container when triggered. Hereinafter the term "contamination" will be understood to relate to any means by which the value of the contents can be nullified, and includes mechanical damage as well as the application of irremovable contaminant dye.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there are provided means for trigge ng the alarm and/or the contamination means in response to an attempt to open the container other than by use of an authorised locking means release device, including means for detecting attempts to force the lock and means for detecting rupture of the container walls.

Any attempt by an intending theft, therefore, to circumvent the contamination means by seeking to open the container before the expiry the timing period will nevertheless result in the triggering of the contamination means. In one application it is envisaged that such containers will conveniently be used for the collection and delivery of valuables, in which case the carrier will not be provided with authorised locking means release devices of any form, these being available only to the personnel at the destination or collection point of the valuables. The carrier may, however, be provided with means for extending the time period before the alarm and contamination means are triggered, and such means may be limited in application.For example, the system may be so arranged that the time period extension device may be operated only once between successive openings of the container or between the container being opened and returned to the rack.

The interaction between the rack and the container whereby the timing device is deactivated may be achieved in a number of ways. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the container includes a rechargeable power supply and there are provided inductively coupled recharging means (on the rack) for recharging the power supply without opening the container, the timing means being triggered to initiate a timing period by separation of the inductively coupled components of the said container power supply and the said recharging means.

The authorised locking means release device may include means for transferring an authorization code for enabling release of the container locking means to the said container. The container may thus include means for detecting or reading a first code stored on a first code storage device. Code reader or detector means, including means for detecting a second code on a second code storage device may also be provided. The said second code constitutes a timer reset code for enabling, as mentioned above, the timer means to be reset to commence a second successive timing interval without triggering the alarm or the contamination means.

The said timing interval timed by the said timing means may be stopped automatically upon opening of the container by the said authorised locking means release device, and preferably a fresh said timing interval is automatically initiated upon the act of closure of the said container. The security system is thus entirely automatic and does not rely on any act by the user which would be reliant on the user remembering to perform the act. Because the timer only operates when the container is in motion the container may be closed at, for example, a collection site, and left stationary for as long as may be required for any verbal communications between the carrier and the staff or personnel at the collection site, in relation to instructions concerning the contents, the route to be followed by the carrier, or other communication which it may be desired to make at the time. The timing interval, although set, only starts to run once the container is picked up and the motion sensor detects that movements of the container have commenced. Thereafter the timing interval will run until the container has been replaced in the rack provided movement continues.

In order to prevent forcible entry into the container, the container preferably includes container wall integrity sensor means for monitoring the integrity of the container walls, which means are operable to trigger the alarm and/or the said contamination means if any attack on the integrity of the container walls is detected.

The container wall integrity sensor means preferably includes a non-conductive member or substrate bearing at least one conductive track which follows a sinuous or meandering path over substantially the entire surface area of the membrane or substrate, and means responsive to a break in the continuity of the track and/or a change in its electrical properties, and operable to trigger the said alarm and/or the contamination means if such break or such changes detected. Any attempt to short circuit the track, therefore, by introducing a secondary conductor to emit subsequent rupture of the by-passed conductor will, therefore, nevertheless result in triggering the contamination means.

Preferably the said non-conductive membrane or substrate bears two substantially parallel sinuous or meandering conductive tracks and means sensitive to the electrical continuity of the tracks and operable to trigger the audible warning device of the alarm (but not contamination means) upon detection of a discontinuity in one but not the other of the said tracks.

It goes without saying that the automatic initiation of a timing period upon closure of the container is accompanied by automatic locking of the container upon closure thereof. At the end of the said timing interval the said audible warning device is preferably triggered in advance of the said contamination means and a further motion-enabled timing period allowed to elapse before the said contamination means are triggered. Thus, if the authorised carrier runs out of time, it is still possible for him to avoid damaging contamination of the contents once the alarm has been triggered simply by placing the container on the ground, and the audible warning serves as an indication of the eminent triggering of the contamination means not only for the discouragement of theft, but also as a useful guide to the authorised carrier.Use of the time delay extension device may then allow the carrier to continue the journey or, if this has already been used, it will be necessary for the carrier to make other arrangements for the transport of the container, either by contacting the authorised border of the lock release means, since opening and reclosing the container will automatically reset the time interval (although, of course, this can only be contemplated in circumstances where security against theft is insured by other means, for example the presence of guards or the absence of third parties, or by radio communication with colleagues to obtain other means for extending or renewing the timing interval.

For reasons which will be explained more fully below, there are preferably provided visual indicator means for indicating the status of the container locking device, that is whether the lock is released for open, or whether it is in a condition in which it can be opened.

The present invention also comprehends a security system incorporating one or a plurality of containers as herein before defined, together with a rack for receiving the or each said container, the rack having inductive coupling means for coupling power supply recharger means to the internal power supply of the or each said container when placed in position on the rack and for disabling the said timer means whereby to allow motion of the rack and container system, for example on board a motor vehicle.

In such a system, because the timing period of the or each container is initiated automatically upon removal of the container from the rack, thereby separating it from the inductive coupling which recharges the battery, there is no need for any separate action and a security container delivery and collection service can be operated without any need for trained personnel. Such a system will, of course, benefit from the provision of separate charger means allowing removal of the container or containers from the rack and storage thereof open without triggering the alarm and/or without discharge of the said internal power supply.

The rack may be provided with a plurality of chutes for receiving respective containers, each chute having an associated inductive coupling for a respective said container. The inductive coupling may be tuned so that only a specific container may be placed in a given rack, or may be so formed that any container may be placed in any rack.

There may further be provided means for monitoring the occupancy status of each rack, and means for determining allowable occupancy status patterns so as to permit the removal of one or more and one container at a time from the rack. An additional level of sophistication is achieved by providing the occupancy status monitoring means with a communication device operable to transmit signals from the rack to a remote location in the event of any anomalies. The system may also include means for storing one or a plurality of pre-recorded messages relating to the occupancy status of the said rack whereby to communicate to a user the required occupancy status to prevent or avoid triggering of the alarm and/or the contamination means.Thus, for example, if individual racks are adapted to receive specific containers, the recorded message may indicate that the container has been placed in the wrong rack, asking for it to be replaced in the correct rack without, of course, identifying which the correct rack is since this should be within the knowledge of the user. On a more basic level the recorded message may indicate that, with the maximum number of containers allowed to be removed from the rack any further attempt to remove a container will result in the message "please replace container". Once the number of containers removed has been reduced below the maximum allowable, then further removals can be permitted.

The power status of the racks may also be monitored, as may be that of the containers, so as to enable triggering of all of the contamination means immediately upon detection of the power failure of disconnection. Power failure detection can be used in this case since the power supply may be any integral part of the system so that failure of the power supply automatically indicates that tampering has taken place.

It is also possible to incorporate means for selectively energising the alarm triggering means or the audible warning device only thereof from a location remote from the container or containers and/or remote from the rack.

This may be of advantage, for example, in circumstances where there are separate two-way communication means between a vehicle having a rack system of the present invention and a central control station. If, for example, the vehicle is highjacked or commandeered communication by the personnel, either via a single alarm control, or by voice communication through radio telephone, can result in the triggering of audible warnings that the vehicle should be stopped or the containers will be contaminated.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la, b, c and d are circuit diagrams illustrating respective parts of the detector circuit in a container; and Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the relative positions of Figures la, lb, lc and Id.

Referring now to the drawings the security container includes two rechargeable batteries, a PP3 Alkaline battery 11 and a lead-acid battery 12. The lead-acid battery 12 is the main power source and its anode is connected to a switch 13 by which the whole circuit within the security container can be turned on and off.

Naturally, the switch 13 is located deep within the security container and only accessible from the inside after the container has been opened upon use of the appropriate authorisation code on a card presented to a card reader 14 the operation of which will be described in more detail below.

The power supply batteries 11, 12 are recharged via an inductor coil 15 when the container is placed in a rack (not shown) so that the inductor coil 15 is positioned in operative juxtaposition to a cooperating charging inductor coil (not shown) on the rack.

When the container is introduced into the rack the voltage induced in the coil 15, via a capacitor 16, diode 17, resistor 18 and two inverters 19, 20 causes the voltage on line 21 to go high which, via a resistor 22 is applied to circuit node 23 and from there, via a diode 24 to a cross connected gate latch comprising two Schmidt triggers 25, 26. The gate latch 25, 26 energises an opto-isolator 112 which opens a conductive path in the battery circuit holding off a HEXFET 27 which is connected to terminals 120, 121 to which contaminant dye canisters (not shown) are connected.

Line 21 also leads, via diode 28 to an inverter 29, and from there via inverters 30, 31 and diode 32 to the base of a transistor 33 which forms part of the lock control circuit.

The lock (not shown) is a spring-loaded latch which automatically closes and locks upon closure of the container. The lock has a latch bolt which can be retracted by a pulse of current through coil 34.

Sufficient energy to retract the bolt is accumulated by capacitor 35 which is charged by an oscillator comprising coil 36 and capacitor 37, via two diodes 38, 39. The charge on the capacitor 35 can build up to about 24 volts which, upon discharge of the capacitor by rendering transistor 40 conductive, causes the latch bolt to be withdrawn. Once withdrawn the bolt can be maintained withdrawn against the action of the closure spring by a lower voltage, which is timed out after, say ten seconds causing the bolt to be advanced by the closure spring.

If the container has been opened during this time it is now ready for reclosure and will lock automatically upon closure. If the box has not been opened it will be necessary to wait for capacitor 35 to recharge before trying again.

The transistor 40 is triggered via transistor 41 when a signal from the card reader 14 (which will be described in more detail below) is applied, line 41 via diode 42 and the voltage divider circuit comprising the resistors 43, 44. When a signal is received from the card reader 14 via the two inverters 45, 46 the output of the latter of which goes low, the transistor 41 is turned off thereby turning on the transistor 40 to complete a path through the lock coil 34 and so energising the lock to retract by discharging the capacitor 35 through it.Once retracted by discharge of the capacitor 35 the lock coil 34 has only the six volt voltage across it, applied via the pumping diodes 38, 39 from the capacitor 37 of the oscillator circuit, and this remains energised as long as the transistor 40 remains conductive, which is determined by a timing circuit comprising a timing resistor 47 and timing capacitor 48 connected via an inverter 49 to the base circuit of the transistor 41. The inverters 46 and 49 are reversed coupled to form a latch ring. As the capacitor 48 charges the latch ring eventually (after 7 or 8 seconds) causes the transistor 41 to turn off thereby turning on the transistor 40 and allowing the lock bolt to be returned to the closure position by the spring (not shown).

The lock can only be opened by introducing an appropriate coded card into the card reader 14 to generate a signal on the line 41. The card reader 14 simply detects the pattern of signals recorded on the card (which may be recorded in any suitable way) and provides an output to a decoder circuit 50 which can be factory preset to read a given code by selective removal of conductive tracks applied to pins 1 to 5 as is schematically shown at 51.

LED 91 is "on" when the lock oscillator is running to indicate that the lock cannot be released: the lock oscillator continues running until capacitor 35 is fully charged ready to operate the release coil 34. Until capacitor 35 is fully charged there is insufficient voltage to overcome the biasing spring of the latch bolt, and any discharge of capacitor 35 in the attempt would be unsuccessful in releasing the bolt. This would therefore cause further delay and require an additional attempt.

When capacitor 35 is fully charged the oscillator stops and runs only intermittently to top up the capacitor 35 as it discharges by leakage. This causes the LED 91 to flash on and off, indicating that the lock is in a condition for release. Of course, release can still only be effected by insertion of a card into the card reader to deliver the appropriate code thereby discharging capacitor 35.

The decoder circuit 50 also acts to detect when the lock is closed by de-energising coil 34, and produces in response an output signal from one of pins 12, 13, 14 which is gated with a pulse output on pin 11 via resistors 52 and diodes 53, 54 respectively. The gated pulse is output on lines 55, 56 respectively to feed a regenerative ring latch comprising oppositely connected Schmidt triggers 57, 58: the ring latch is connected via a capacitor 59 to a counter circuit 60 which determines the time period from closure of the lock upon deenergisation of coil 34 to triggering of the alarm whilst the container is in motion. Motion is detected by a tilt detector unit 61. In essence the tilt detector 61 comprises a capacitor having a liquid dielectric which can move so that the capacity is varied upon the slightest movement, but which remains constant when the container is stationary. The tilt detector 61 is connected via a resistor 62 and diode 63 to a pair of Schmidt triggers 64, 65 which lead, via a diode 66 to an oscillator circuit generally indicated 67 which feeds a gate input of the counter 60. In operation the output from the Schmidt 64 goes low, to allow the oscillator to run, when the tilt capacitor 61 experiences a change in capacity. When the tilt circuit 61 is stationary and there is no motion the output from Schmidt 65 goes high to block the oscillator thereby stopping the count in the counter 60.

If the container is not returned to the rack before the count has time elapsed, and is still in motion at the end of the count when pin 1 of the counter 60 goes high, an output signal is produced which, via diode 68 blocks the oscillator 67, and via Schmidt 69 leading to Schmidts 75, 76 sets the HEXFETS 81, 82 ready to trigger the contaminant dye canisters connected to terminals 120, 121. The output signal from pin 1 of counter 60 is also fed via resistor 71 to the base of transistor 70 to cause this to conduct triggering the audible warning device connected to terminal 72 and eventually triggering the dye canisters as will be described.

Triggering of the contamination device and audible warning device takes place as follows: first, when pin 1 of the counter 60 goes high this turns on transistor 70 via resistor 71 to energise a Besson siren via terminal 72. The Besson siren also has terminals 73 and 74 which will be described in more detail below.

The output from Schmidt 69 (upon delivery of the pin 1 output from counter 60) triggers the Schmidt circuits 75, 76 which have been put into threshold conditions by the pump circuits 77, 78 which are pumped down by the tilt circuit 61 until reaching the Schmidt thresholds. Two resistors 79, 80 of different values in the circuit ensure that there are different time delays for two differently coloured dye canisters, typically red and white. Of course, if, after the siren connected to terminal 73 has been triggered, the container is placed on the ground so as to be stationary, the tilt circuit 61 will no longer produce varying outputs so the filters 77, 78 will not be pumped down and the contaminant dye will not be released.If, however, the motion sensor continues to produce output signals the Schmidt triggers 75, 76 eventually fire the HEXFET transistors 81, 82 to trigger the release of the contaminating dye. The schmidt trigger 83 connected via diode 84 to the input of schmidt 76 introduces a further delay in the triggering of the HEXFET 82 which controls release of the red contaminant dye so that the white contaminant dye is released first.

A further safety feature, to ensure that the Besson alarm is sounding before the contaminant dye is released, is provided by the transistor 85 the collector of which is connected via diode 87 to the collector of the transistor 70. This so controls the biasing of the HEXFETS 81, 82 that they will not trigger unless the Besson is energised so that the risk of an authorised user continuing to carry the container after the timed period, and thereby triggering the contaminant dye unwittingly is entirely avoided.

When the container is introduced into a rack and the induction coil 15 energised by induction from the rack inductor (not shown) the counter 60 is reset. At the same time transistor 86 is turned off to isolate the power circuits to the contaminant dye triggers so that these are not connected to the main triggering circuits.

The circuit is also designed to trigger the contaminant dye canisters if the power from the charging unit is switched off. This is achieved by HEXFET 27.

Both the container body and the lid are provided with two sinuous track continuity membranes as described in our earlier Patent Application No. 9202808.3. In this case there is a further sophistication that each membrane comprises two tracks, the two tracks on the container body being identified 101 and 103 and the two tracks on the lid being identified 100 and 102. The lid tracks are connected by respective inductive coils 104, 105 the loading on which confirms that the tracks are continuous.

As far as the container body tracks 101, 103 are concerned these have simple DC applied to them.

Continuity is detected by circuits 106, 107. The outputs from these circuits are fed via a network of diodes 108 forming AND and OR gates the OR output of which is applied via Schmidt 109 to a sounder 110 which, therefore, provides an audible output if one of the two tracks of either the container body or the lid should lose continuity. This is, in effect, a fault condition indicating that the container requires attention. It does not, however, automatically initiate triggering of the contaminant dyes. If, on the other hand, the AND output, which is fed via Schmidt 111 should arise, this indicates that continuity of both tracks of either the container or the lid (or possibly both) have lost continuity and this initiates immediate release of the contaminant dye via Schmidt 25, the opto-isolator 112 and the HEXFET 27 as described hereinabove.

Thus, when the container is placed in a rack to couple the inductive coil 15 it can be triggered to cause immediate release of contaminant dye if the power supply should be cut or if it receives a further signal (by means not shown) to trigger all the containers in a rack, for example should too many containers be removed from the rack than is permissible.

Otherwise, once in the rack the timing system and alarms are isolated.

The timing period is initiated by the act of removal. At the end of the timing period first an audible alarm, and if movement continues after the audible alarm has been initiated, then the contaminant dyes are released. If the audible alarm starts to sound the container must be placed stationary so that the tilt detector is deactivated, and a card inserted into the card reader to reset the timer. If no card is available then obviously the authorised user must leave the container stationary and either acquire one from a fellow authorised user or from base. Insertion of a card into the card reader resets the timer to zero on the reset line allowing a further time out period before the alarm is retriggered.

Any attempt to force the lock is detected to cause immediate triggering of the dye. Likewise, any attempt to rupture the casing is detected by the track sensor circuits 100-103 to cause immediate triggering of the contaminant dyes.

The authorised person in control of the container may be provided with a time reset card. The lock-opening card may be in the possession only of the staff at the destination so that the carrier has no access to the interior of the container and is consequently not at risk.

The circuit shown may be modified so that the actual period for an outward journey is sensed, for example by partially changing a capacitor, and then this time period, derived for example by discharge of the capacitor or by matched changing of a balancing capacitor, is used to time out the return journey.

Claims (26)

1. A security container for the transport or conveyance of valuables, having locking means and timer means for triggering an alarm at the expiry of a time interval, in which the timer means include a sensor for detecting motion of the container, operable to enable the timer means to run only when the container is in motion, and to halt the timing of the time interval when the container in stationary.

2. A security container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the alarm includes an audible warning device and/or contamination means operable to release a contaminating smoke and/or dye medium into the interior of the container when triggering.

3. A security container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which there are provided means for triggering the alarm and/or contamination means in response to an attempt to open the container other than by use of an authorised locking means release device, including means for detecting attempts to force the lock and means for detecting rupture of the container walls.

4. A security container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the container includes a rechargeable power supply and there are provided inductively coupled recharging means for recharging the power supply without opening the container, the timing means being triggered to initiate a timing period by separation of the inductively coupled components of the said container power supply and the said recharging means.

5. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container includes means for detecting or reading a first code stored on a first code storage device, which code constitutes an authorisation code of the locking means release device for enabling release of the container locking means.

6. A security container as claimed in Claim 5, in which the code reader or detector means includes means for detecting a second code on a second code storage device, which c Me constitutes a timer reset code for enabling the timer means to be reset to commence a second successive timing interval without triggering the alarm or the contamination means.

7. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said timing interval timed by the said timing means is stopped automatically upon opening of the container by the said authorised locking means release device and a fresh said timing interval is automatically initiated upon the act of closure of the said container.

8. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container includes container wall integrity sensor means for monitoring the integrity of the container walls, operable to trigger the alarm and/or the said contamination means if an attack on the integrity of the container walls is detected.

9. A security container as claimed in Claim 8, in which the said container wall integrity sensor means includes a non-conductive membrane or substrate bearing at least one conductive track which follows a sinuous or meandering path over substantially the entire surface area of the membrane or substrate, and means responsive to a break in the continuity of the track and/or a change in its electrical properties, and operable to trigger the said contamination means if such break or such change is detected.

10. A security container as claimed in Claim 9, in which the said non-conductive membrane or substrate bears two substantially parallel sinuous or meandering conductive tracks, and there are means sensitive to the electrical continuity of the tracks and operable to trigger the audible warning device of the alarm (but not the contamination means) upon detection of a discontinuity in one but not the other of the tracks.

11. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said container locking means is operable automatically upon closure of the said container.

12. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at the end of the said timing interval the said audible warning device is triggered in advance of the said contamination means and a further motionenabled timing period is allowed to elapse before the said contamination means are triggered.

13. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are provided visual indicator means for indicating the locked or released status of the container locking device.

14. A security container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are provided means for determining the elapsed time period for the outward part of an anticipated out-and-return journey, and the timer is automatically set to use this as the said time interval for the return part of the journey.

15. A security system incorporating one or a plurality of containers as claimed in any preceding claim, together with a rack for receiving the or each said container, the rack having inductive coupling means for coupling power supply recharger means to the integral power supply of the or each said container when placed in position on the rack and for disabling the said timer means whereby to allow motion of the rack and container system, for example on board a motor vehicle.

16. A security system as claimed in Claim 15, in which the timing period of the or each container is initiated automatically upon removal of the container from the rack thereby separating it from the said inductive coupling.

17. A security system as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 15, in which there are further provided separate charger memo allowing removal of the container or containers from the rack and storage thereof often without triggering the alarm and/or without discharge of the said internal power supply

18. A security system as claimed in any of the Claims 15 to 17, in which the said rack has a plurality of chutes for receiving respective containers,and each chute has an associated inductive coupling for a respective said container.

19. A security system as claimed in Claim 18, in which there are further provided means for monitoring the occupancy status of each rack and means for determining allowable occupancy status patterns to permit the removal of one or more than one container at a time from the rack.

20. A security system as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 19, in which there are further provided means for storing one or a plurality of pre-recorded messages relating to the occupancy status of the said rack, whereby to communicate to a user the required occupancy status to prevent triggering of the alarm and/or the communication means.

21. A security system as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 20, in which there are further provided means for monitoring the power status of the racks and/or the containers, operable to trigger all of the communication means immediately upon detection of a power failure or disconnection.

22. A security system as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 21 further including manually operable or selectable alarm triggering means operable to trigger the audible warning device and/or remote from the rack.

23. The said manually operable triggering means in Claim 22, in which includes UHF or VHF radio transmitting means for transmitting an alarm triggered signal.

24. A computer interface for any of Claims 15 to 23 including tracking the movements of individual containers.

25. A security container substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

26. A security system substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.