ELECTRONIC DETECTION AND TRACING MEANS

• US 3,618,059 A
• Filed: 06/19/1968
• Issued: 11/02/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milton F. Allen
• Original Assignee: Milton F. Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Milton F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trafton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US04/738,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 340/224,280,258 325/55,57
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

Electronic detection and tracing means including a tracing system embodying a miniature radio warning transmitter capable of being attached to a carrier such, primarily, as a package of money or other valuables within which it may be concealed, and the theft of which from a storage location may be anticipated, together with one or more radio-monitoring receives arranged remote from the package to detect unauthorized removal of the package, the escape route taken by the thief, and the location of the package and of the thief, the warning transmitter being controlled by means of a magnet concealed adjacent to the storage location to (automatically) broadcast from the package a continuous warning and detection signal when the package is removed from such location. Upon receiving such signal, monitor receivers, located at the scene of the theft or stationed along likely escape routes, provide an audible alarm, and may operate warning lights, cameras, coded alarms or the like. Such audible and visual alarms may continue until manually shut off so as to give continuous notice that the package has been removed or, in the case of more remotely located receivers, that the package had passed or come into range, even though no present signal was being received from the transmitter.

Claims

1. An electronic detection and tracing system for detecting and tracing the unauthorized removal of an article from a fixed location comprising in combination a radio transmitter housed within a substantially flat package for concealment within the article, said transmitter being tuned to provide an output signal of a fixed output frequency, storage means for said article defining the fixed location and providing access to said article, said transmitter being concealed within said article and fixed thereto such that said article becomes a carrier for said transmitter upon removal of the article from the storage means, a source of operating power for said transmitter, switch means adapted to be actuated between a normally closed position and a normally open position, said source of power and said switch means being disposed within said flat package, means connecting said switch means to said transmitter such that said transmitter is operatively connected to said power source when said switch means is closed, magnetic control means disposed at said fixed location adjacent to and external of said article such that the magnetic field of the control means is effective to maintain said switch open while said article is at the storage location and ineffective to maintain said switch open upon removal of the article outside the effective magnetic field of said control means, a plurality of remotely disposed monitor receivers each tuned to the output frequency of said transmitter, each said receiver having direction-finding characteristics for obtaining a directional fix on the output of said transmitter being operative upon reception of the transmitted signal to trace movement of said article away from said storage means and alarm means connected to said receiver and adapted to be energized upon operation thereof to provide an indication of the removal of said article from the fixed location.

2. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 1, said article being a package of banknotes, said storage location being a money drawer, and said control means being a permanent flat magnet positioned adjacent to said drawer and package.

3. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 1, said receiver-actuated alarm including a relay device to transmit a warning signal to one or more further remote locations.

4. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said remote monitor receivers is disposed on a mobile apparatus.

5. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 4, wherein another of said remote monitor receivers is disposed at a central control location, said receivers having direction finding characteristics for obtaining a fix on the location of the moved article.

6. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 5, wherein other of said monitor receivers are disposed in locations remote from the location from which the article has been removed said locations being out of reception range of the transmitted signal and adapted to receive the signal from the transmitter carried by the article when moved to a location the article is within the reception range of said other of said monitor receivers, whereby the route taken by the transporter of the article may be determined and law-enforcement officers alErted as to the identity of the transporter and his means of transportation.

7. In electronic detection and tracing means as defined in claim 1, said receiver means when initially activated serving to continuously energize said alarm means and further including manually operable switch means connected to said alarm whereby energization of said alarm may be manually interrupted.