Money spray apparatus for theft identification

Claim 1

Apparatus for applying a marking to the contents of a compartmented cash register drawer upon attempted unauthorized removal of such contents, comprising: an aerosol container of a marking fluid, the container having a valve which releases fluid from the container when depressed; a manifold connected to the container valve for receiving fluid therefrom, the manifold extending into at least one compartment of the drawer; at least one nozzle connected to the manifold for spraying the fluid onto the contents of the compartment; and actuating means for opening the valve of the container upon attempted unauthorized removal of the contents; the aerosol container being located in the drawer, and means including a lever arm pivotally mounted at one end in the drawer and contacting the valve of the container, and means for moving the lever about its pivot to depress the valve and including a compression spring, connecting means connecting the spring to the free end of the lever arm for biasing the arm into its valve actuating position, and releasable means normally retaining the spring in its compressed position whereby the valve is closed; and the connecting means comprising a rod attached at one end to the free end of the lever arm and having an enlarged collar at its second end for retaining the spring, a tubular sleeve slidably receiving the second end of the rod and having an inwardly directed flange for retaining the opposite end of the spring, the releasable means including a spring clip engaging the rod and contacting the flanged end of the sleeve to hold the spring in compressed position, and means for releasing the clip from the rod upon attempted unauthorized removal of the drawer contents.

Claim 4

A device for marking the contents of a cash register drawer in the event of unauthorized removal of such contents, comprising: a container housed in the drawer for holding a quantity of marking fluid under pressure and having a valve for releasing the fluid when depressed; a tube connected to the container valve and extending to at least one point immediately adjacent at least some of the contents of the drawer, the tube having a nozzle for spraying the marking fluid onto the adjacent contents; actuating means operative to open the valve upon unauthoRized removal of certain of the contents of the drawer; the drawer being provided with spring loaded currency holding fingers in at least certain of the compartments, the actuating means being connected to and operated by one of the fingers, and the actuating means comprising a spring biased member adapted to depress the valve of the container and a retaining member for holding the spring biased member in an inoperative position, the retaining member being connected to the finger to release the retaining member upon upward movement of the finger.

Claim 5

A device for marking the contents of a cash register drawer in the event of unauthorized removal of such contents, comprising: a container housed in the drawer for holding a quantity of marking fluid under pressure and having a valve for releasing the fluid when depressed; a tube connected to the container valve and extending to at least one point immediately adjacent at least some of the contents of the drawer, the tube having a nozzle for spraying the marking fluid onto the adjacent contents; actuating means operative to open the valve upon unauthoRized removal of certain of the contents of the drawer; the drawer being provided with spring loaded currency holding fingers in at least certain of the compartments, the actuating means being connected to and operated by one of the fingers, and the actuating means comprising a spring biased member adapted to depress the valve of the container and a retaining member for holding the spring biased member in an inoperative position, the retaining member being connected to the finger to release the retaining member upon upward movement of the finger.