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EP0347091A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

A security system

Assignee: AstraZeneca NV SA
•
Filing: 1989-06-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A security system for protecting the contents of a security container such as a safe or strong box (11) from attack comprises detector means (33, 48, 121) for detecting any attempt to move the container (11) or to enter it other than by authorised means, and the apparatus includes trigger means (118) fired in response to signals generated by the sensors (33, 48, 121) when such signals are identified by trigger control circuits (51, 52, 107, 130) as constituting an alarm event. Firing of the trigger (118) causes release of dye, smoke or other contaminants whereby to render the contents of the safe or strong box valueless and to mark the perpetrators of the crime for ease of subsequent identification.

Inventors

  • 👤 Barry Alfred Morgan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:55
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B15/00; G08B15/02; E; E05; E05G; E05G1/00; E05G1/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 60 words
Apparatus for protecting the contents of a security container such as a safe or strong box from attack, comprising detector means for detecting any attempt to move the container or to enter it other than by authorised means, operable in response to such an attempt to trigger means for contaminating the contents of the container whereby to render them valueless.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 60 words
Apparatus for protecting the contents of a security container such as a safe or strong box from attack, comprising detector means for detecting any attempt to move the container or to enter it other than by authorised means, operable in response to such an attempt to trigger means for contaminating the contents of the container whereby to render them valueless.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the detector means includes a single motion and forced entry sensor device for detecting any movement of the container and any attempt to open it by mechanical means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which there is provided a further sensor for detecting a rise in temperature within the container beyond a predetermined threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which there are further provided light sensitive means for detecting when the container is open, operable to disable the motion and forced entry sensor or sensors when the ambient illumination thereof exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 when dependent on Claim 3, in which the said illumination detector is isolated from the temperature detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 64 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the said single motion and forced entry sensor device is an acoustic transducer connected to a first detector channel having a high pass filter and a first trigger circuit having trigger control means acting to delay attainment of the triggering threshold thereof until the transducer output signal has been produced continuously for a predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the acoustic transducer has a movable element relatively movable with respect to a casing thereof directly connectable to the container, and the apparatus includes a second detector channel including a low pass filter, a trigger circuit and means for accumulating signals from the low pass filter to fire the trigger when a firing threshold value of the trigger circuit is reached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the acoustic transducer is further connected to a third detector channel having a third trigger circuit and trigger control means therefor including capacitive elements connected in a circuit causing the capacitive element to be charged by the acoustic transducer signal more rapidly than it discharges when no acoustic transducer signal is present whereby to acquire a charge up to the trigger firing threshold when the acoustic transducer is activated to produce a plurality of sequential signals such as by a sequence of blows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 43 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the said means for contaminating the container contents comprises means for releasing into the container a non-drying ink dye in a penetrating excipient when any of the trigger circuits is fired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 56 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the sensor element of the detector is a piezo-electric transducer mounted on a casing secured to the interior of the container and mechanically connected through an opening in the casing to the interior of the container whereby to detect relative movement between the casing and the container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 43 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, in which static biasing of the piezo-electric element is effected by mechanical biasing means whereby to cause initial static stressing of the piezo-electric element such that relative movement in any direction causes generation of a transducer signal.

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