Security dye pack having flexible heat-resistant chemical pouch

• US 5,485,143 A
• Filed: 02/21/1995
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
• 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): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/391,838
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/539, 340/691, 116/2, 116/104, 116/211, 116/214, 116/217, 116/218, 116/219, 42/1.08, 42/1.13
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• 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 hollow chamber formed therein. A printed circuit board is disposed within the chamber for supporting electrical components which generate an actuating signal upon detecting removal of the security dye pack from the protected premises. A flexible pouch containing dye, tear gas, or other active chemicals, is secured at one end of the printed circuit board, and a squib extends into the pouch to ignite the chemical mixture when the actuating signal is generated. The flexible pouch is formed of a heat-resistant plastic film which is easily bendable. Foam cushions, protected by heat-resistant film, are disposed above and below the pouch and circuit board. Heat resistant plastic sheets extend about the foam cushions and are secured by an elastic thread to the housing to retain the components within the hollow chamber.

Claims

1. 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;

b. a substrate disposed within said hollowed inner chamber;

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

d. a squib coupled to said electronic circuit means and responsive to said actuating electrical signal for generating heat to ignite chemicals;

e. a heat resistant flexible container disposed within the hollowed inner chamber of said housing, said squib extending into said flexible container; and

f. a chemical mixture comprising active chemicals disposed within said flexible container and adapted to be ignited by heat generated by said squib for discharging active chemicals from said housing to assist in the apprehension of the assailant and in the recovery of stolen monies;

g. said flexible container being relatively soft and bendable by comparison with a rigid metal chemical canister.

2. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 further including a first layer of cushioning material disposed within the hollowed inner chamber below said substrate, and including a second layer of cushioning material disposed within the hollowed inner chamber above said substrate, each of said first and second layers of cushioning material being covered by a heat-resistant film to prevent said first and second layers of cushioning material from burning due to the ignition of said chemical mixture by said squib.

3. A security dye pack as recited by claim 2 including a first plastic sheet secured to said housing and extending across the hollowed inner chamber of said housing below said first layer of cushioning material to maintain said substrate, flexible container and first layer of cushioning material within the hollowed inner chamber of said housing, and including a second plastic sheet secured to said housing and extending across the hollowed inner chamber of said housing above said second layer of cushioning material to maintain said substrate, flexible container and second layer of cushioning material within the hollowed inner chamber of said housing.

4. A security dye pack as recited by claim 3 wherein said first and second plastic sheets have holes formed therein, and wherein said security dye pack includes elastic threads extending through the holes of said first and second plastic sheets to secure said first and second plastic sheets to said housing.

5. A security dye pack as recited by claim 3 wherein said first and second plastic sheets are heat-tempered to prevent said housing from burning due to the ignition of said chemical mixture by said squib.

6. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 wherein said flexible container is formed of a layer of a heat-resistant material to prevent said housing from burning due to the ignition of said chemical mixture by said squib.

7. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said printed circuit board is surrounded by a heat-resistant film.

8. A security dye pack as recited by claim 7 wherein said heat resistant film surrounding said printed circuit board is a continuation of the walls forming said flexible container.

9. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said flexible container is formed of a sheet of heat resistant film folded over itself and joined along overlapping edges to form a pouch.

10. A security dye pack as recited by claim 9 wherein the overlapping edges of said sheet of heat resistant film are joined by an adhesive strip of heat resistant tape.

11. A security dye pack as recited by claim 6 wherein said flexible container is sealed to an edge of said circuit board, and wherein said squib extends from said edge of said circuit board into said chemical mixture contained by said flexible container.

12. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board.

13. A security dye pack as recited by claim 12 wherein said squib has a pair of electrical leads, and wherein said electrical leads are connected to said printed circuit board.

14. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 wherein the hollowed inner chamber of said housing has a predetermined length, and wherein said printed circuit board has a length shorter than said predetermined length.

15. A security dye pack as recited by claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit means includes battery means secured to said substrate for supplying electrical power to said electronic circuit means.