Bendable currency security dye pack

• US 5,196,828 A
• Filed: 01/14/1992
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3SI Security Systems, Inc. (3SI Holdco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: U.S. Currency Protection Corp. (3SI Holdco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keniston, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/820,367
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/574, 340/568, 340/693, 340/691, 109/31, 109/29, 109/25, 109/36, 109/38, 42/1.13, 42/1.08, 116/5, 116/76, 116/83, 116/2, 116/104
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid

Abstract

A security dye pack disguised as a bundle of currency for deterring robberies includes a housing formed from a stack of currency bills sewn together and having a hallow chamber formed therein. A substrate disposed within the chamber has a flexible central region through which electrical conductors extend for making electrical interconnections between opposing ends of the substrate. Electrical components are mounted on both sides of the flexible central region to generate an actuating signal upon detecting removal of the security dye pack from the protected premises. Canisters containing dye or other active chemicals are secured at opposing ends of the substrate to emit dyed or other active chemicals in opposing directions when expended. The flexible central region of the substrate allows the security dye pack to be bent into a U-shape. Batteries are arranged in a side-by-side relationship in an elongated narrow case to facilitate bending of the security dye pack.

Claims

1. A security dye pack disguised as a bundle of currency bills for expending dye or other active chemicals to assist in the apprehension of an assailant and in the recovery of monies stolen from a protected premises, said security dye pack comprising in combination:

a. a housing resembling a bundle of currency bills and having a hollowed inner chamber, said housing including first and second opposing ends, each of said first and second opposing ends being permeable to passage therethrough of dye or other active chemicals;

b. a first container disposed within said hollowed inner chamber and having an opening disposed proximate to and facing the first end of said housing;

c. a second container disposed within said hollowed inner chamber and having an opening disposed proximate and facing the second end of said housing;

d. first chemical means stored within said first container for being discharged through the opening of said first container and through the first end of said housing when expended to contact stolen monies and/or the assailant;

e. second chemical means stored within said second container for being discharged through the opening of said second container and through the second end of said housing when expended to contact stolen monies and/or the assailant; and

f. actuating means for expending said first chemical means and said second chemical means following removal of said security dye pack from said protected premises.

2. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes first and second pyrotechnic means disposed within said first and second containers, respectively, and responsive to an electrical current for causing said first and second chemical means to be discharged from said first and second containers, respectively.

3. A security dye pack as recited by claim 2 wherein said actuating means further includes electronic circuity for passing an electrical current through each of said first and second pyrotechnic means following removal of said security dye pack from said protected premises.

4. A security dye pack as recited by claim 3 including a substrate having a central portion and opposing first and second end portions, said central portion of said substrate being flexible to permit said security dye pack to bend in the middle thereof to form a U-shape, each of said first and second end portions of said substrate having a thickened portion proximate said flexible central region and a thinner flexible portion spaced apart from said flexible central region by said thickened portion, said thickened portion of said first end portion of said substrate forming a first circuit board upon which are mounted a first grouping of said electronic circuitry of said actuating means, and said thickened portion of said second end portion of said substrate forming a second circuit board upon which are mounted a second grouping of said electronic circuitry of said actuating means, said first container being secured to the thinner flexible portion of the first end portion of said substrate, and said second container being secured to the thinner flexible portion of the second end portion of said substrate.

5. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 including a substrate having a central portion and opposing first and second end portions, said first and second containers being secured to said first and second end portions, respectively, of said substrate, said central portion of said substrate being flexible to permit said security dye pack to bend in the middle thereof to form a U-shape.

6. A security dye pack disguised as a bundle of currency bills for discharging active chemicals to assist in the apprehension of an assailant and in the recovery of monies stolen from a protected premises, said security dye pack comprising in combination:

a. a housing resembling a bundle of currency bills and having a hollowed inner chamber, said housing having a central portion and opposing first and second ends;

b. a substrate disposed within said hollowed inner chamber, said substrate having a flexible central region and opposing first and second ends;

c. electronic circuit means disposed upon said substrate outside the central region thereof for detecting removal of said security dye pack from the protected premises and generating an actuating electrical current in response thereto;

d. canister means disposed within the hollowed inner chamber of said housing proximate to said substrate outside the central region thereof and responsive to said actuating electrical current for discharging active chemicals from said housing;

e. battery means secured to said substrate outside the central region thereof for supplying electrical power to said electronic circuit means; and

f. said substrate permitting said security dye pack to be bent about the flexible central region thereof into a U-shape to help avoid detection by an assailant while supporting said electronic circuit means, said canister means, and said battery means within said hollowed inner chamber.

7. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said substrate includes a plurality of electrical conductors extending through said flexible central region thereof to effect electrical connections between said electronic circuit means, and to said battery means.

8. A security dye pack as recited by claim 7 wherein each of said first and second ends of said substrate has a thickened portion proximate said flexible central region and a thinner flexible portion spaced apart from said flexible central region by said thickened portion, said thickened portion of said first end of said substrate forming a first circuit board upon which a first grouping of electronic components of said electronic circuit means are mounted, and said thickened portion of said second end of said substrate forming a second circuit board upon which a second grouping of electronic components of said electronic circuit means are mounted.

9. A security dye pack as recited by claim 8 wherein a first canister of said canister means is secured to the thinner flexible portion of the first end of said substrate.

10. A security dye pack as recited by claim 9 wherein a second canister of said canister means is secured to the thinner flexible portion of the second end of said substrate.

11. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said flexible central region of said substrate has a generally U-shaped loop formed therein for allowing said security dye pack to be bent into both a U-shape and an inverted U-shape.

12. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said electronic circuit means includes at least a first electronic component secured proximate the first end of said substrate and at least electronic component secured proximate the second end of said substrate, said substrate including a plurality of electrical conductors extending through said flexible central region thereof to effect electrical connections between said first and second electronic components.

13. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said battery means includes:

a. a plurality N of button-like batteries each having a circular periphery and a predetermined diameter D and thickness T, said plurality of batteries being arranged side-by-side in a row in abutting relationship, the circular periphery of each such battery adjoining the circular periphery of another such battery;

b. an elongated case having a chamber for supporting said plurality of batteries, said chamber having a length approximately equal to the number N of batteries multiplied by the diameter D of such batteries, a height approximately equal to diameter D, and a width approximately equal to thickness T for supporting said plurality of batteries within said chamber in the form of an elongated, thin package; and

c. connector means for electrically connecting said plurality of batteries in serial connection for supplying electrical power to said electronic circuit means.

14. A security dye pack as recited by claim 13 wherein each of said batteries includes an insulated coating formed about the circular periphery thereof to insulate each such battery from the other adjoining batteries.

15. A security dye pack as recited by claim 13 wherein said canister means includes at least one canister having a predetermined length L, and wherein the length of said battery case is approximately equal to the length of said canister.

16. A security dye pack as recited by claim 15 wherein said security dye pack has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said battery case is disposed substantially adjacent and parallel to said at least one canister, and wherein the length direction of said canister and the length direction of said battery case are each oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said security dye pack.

17. A security dye pack disguised as a bundle of currency bills for expending dye or other active chemicals to assist in the apprehension of an assailant and in the recovery of monies stolen rom a protected premises, said security dye pack comprising in combination:

a. a housing resembling a bundle of currency bills and having a hollowed inner chamber, said housing being permeable to passage therethrough of dye or other active chemicals;

b. a first container including first chemical means stored therein, said first container being disposed within said hollowed inner chamber and having an opening directed in a first direction for expelling dye or other active chemicals from said housing generally in said first direction to contact stolen monies and/or the assailant;

c. a second container including second chemical means stored therein, said second container being disposed within said hollowed inner chamber and having an opening directed in a second direction for expelling dye or other active chemicals from said housing generally in said second direction, said second direction being generally opposite said first direction; and

d. actuating means for expending said first chemical means and said second chemical means in generally opposing directions following removal of said security dye pack from said protected premises.

18. A security dye pack as recited by claim 17 wherein said actuating means includes first and second pyrotechnic means disposed within said first and second containers, respectively, and responsive to an electrical current for causing said first and second chemical means to be discharged from said first and second containers, respectively.

19. A security dye pack as recited by claim 18 wherein said actuating means further includes electronic circuitry for passing an electrical current through each of said first and second pyrotechnic means following removal of said security dye pack from said protected premises.

20. A security dye pack as recited by claim 19 including a substrate having a central portion and opposing first and second end portions, said central portion of said substrate being flexible to permit said security dye pack to bend in the middle thereof to form a U-shape, each of said first and second end portions of said substrate having a thickened portion proximate said flexible central region and a thinner flexible portion spaced apart from said flexible central region by said thickened portion, said thickened portion of said first end portion of said substrate forming a first circuit board upon which are mounted a first grouping of said electronic circuitry of said actuating means, and said thickened portion of said second end portion of said substrate forming a second circuit board upon which are mounted a second grouping of said electronic circuitry of said actuating means, said first container being secured to the thinner flexible portion of the first end portion of said substrate, and said second container being secured to the thinner flexible portion of the second end portion of said substrate.

21. A security dye pack as recited by claim 17 including a substrate having a central portion and opposing first and second end portions, said first and second containers being supported by said first and second end portions, respectively, of said substrate, said central portion of said substrate being flexible to permit said security dye pack to bend in the middle thereof to form a U-shape.