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Patent US3559593A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3559593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security container
Assignee: Vigil Security Ltd
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Filing: 1969-07-15
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A portable security container adapted to contain valuable articles and comprising a lock which when opened permits access to the interior of the container, a security circuit comprising a plurality of gating circuits, means adapted to apply a voltage from a voltage source within the container to each gating circuit to render it conductive, a further circuit which can take more than one state and which is arranged to change state if the voltage is not applied to the gating circuits in a predetermined sequence, and if the lock is opened before a predetermined number of gating circuits have been rendered conductive, means adapted to destroy or characteristically mark the contents of the container upon said change of state of the further circuit, and voltage-sensing means to cause the further circuit to change state if the said voltage falls below a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A Munton
- 👤 Alan Birt Acres
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:35
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05G; E05G1/00; E05G1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A portable security container adapted to contain valuable articles and comprising a lock which when opened permits access to the interior of the container, a security circuit comprising a plurality of gating circuits, a voltage source within the container, means to apply a voltage from said source to each gating circuit to render it conductive, a further circuit which can take more than one state and which is adapted to change state if the voltage is not applied to the gating circuits in a predetermined sequence, and if the lock is opened before a predetermined number of gating circuits have been rendered conductive, means controlled by the further circuit and adapted to destroy or characteristically mark the contents of the container upon said change of state of further circuit, and voltage-sensing means to sense said voltage and adapted to cause the further circuit to change state if the said voltage falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A portable security container adapted to contain valuable articles and comprising a lock which when opened permits access to the interior of the container, a security circuit comprising a plurality of gating circuits, a voltage source within the container, means to apply a voltage from said source to each gating circuit to render it conductive, a further circuit which can take more than one state and which is adapted to change state if the voltage is not applied to the gating circuits in a predetermined sequence, and if the lock is opened before a predetermined number of gating circuits have been rendered conductive, means controlled by the further circuit and adapted to destroy or characteristically mark the contents of the container upon said change of state of further circuit, and voltage-sensing means to sense said voltage and adapted to cause the further circuit to change state if the said voltage falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a selector device having a plurality of outputs, some of which are selectable to apply respectively the said voltage to respective said gating circuits, other outputs being connected to the further circuit whereby if a said other output is selected and the said voltage applied thereto, the further circuit changes state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gating circuits are arranged in cascade, an input terminal of each gating circuit being respectively connected to one terminal of the voltage source, the input terminals of the gating circuits, with the exception of the input terminal of that gating circuit forming the first cascade stage, each also having a respective parallel connection to an output terminal of the gating circuit of the preceding cascade stage, the said predetermined sequence starting with the gating circuit forming the last cascade stage and finishing with the gating circuit forming the first cascade stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the input terminal of each gating circuit is an anode terminal, the output terminal being a cathode terminal, each gating circuit also having a respective control terminal, the control terminal being connected to the respective cathode terminal via a bias resistor and, except in the gating circuit forming the last cascade stage, being adapted to receive respectively the said voltage via a respective unilaterally conductive device adapted to conduct only if the potential at the control terminal is less than the potential at the anode terminal, and means to feed the said voltage, when the said device is nonconductive, to the said further circuit to change the state thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said further circuit comprises at least one silicon-controlled rectifier, the cathode terminal of the gating circuit forming the last stage of the cascade being connected to the other terminal of the voltage source, the further circuit comprising a silicon-controlled Rectifier, the cathode of which is also connected to the said other terminal via a Zener diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cathode of the said silicon-controlled rectifier of the further circuit is connected to the said one terminal of the voltage source via a further bias resistor, in parallel with its connection to the said other terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 4, comprising a selector device having a plurality of outputs, some of which are selectable to apply respectively the said voltage to respective gating circuits, other said outputs being connected to a control terminal of the further circuit, there also being connected to said terminal respective leads each adapted to receive the said voltage when the said respective unilaterally conductive device is nonconductive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 1 comprising means to provide a first voltage having a fixed relation to the voltage of the voltage source and means to provide a second substantially constant voltage, the sensing means being adapted to compare said first and second voltages, the sensing means comprising trigger means adapted to cause the further circuit to change state when the first voltage becomes less than the second voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 8 comprising a potential divider connected across the terminals of the voltage source to derive the first voltage, and a Zener diode, the second voltage being the Zener voltage of the said Zener diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A portable security container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the further circuit comprises an explosive fuse, means to explode said fuse when the further circuit changes state to release into the interior of the container an indelible dye or a corrosive substance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |