Robbery deterrent system for convenience stores

• US 5,655,461 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RDS Family Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: RDS Family Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gilbert, Wayne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/356,897
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 109/20, 109/29, 109/21, 109/25, 109/30-34, 340/522, 340/540, 340/691
• US Class Current: 109/20
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid

Abstract

A robbery deterrent apparatus and method is provided for convenience stores or other businesses vulnerable to armed robbery, in which a would-be armed robber is incapacitated by an aerosol agent that is delivered in a predetermined pattern within the store. In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol incapacitating agent is delivered immediately upon the detection of a firearm discharge, or after a short delay in response to an employee activated trigger. The aerosol incapacitating agent may be accompanied by a marking agent, such as ultraviolet dye, to assist authorities in capturing and identifying the would-be armed robber in the event he or she is able to escape the store after the robbery attempt.

Claims

1. A method for deterring robbery of a convenience store building or other building having a doorway and a transaction area where transactions are effected, comprising:

electronically sensing the sound of a gunshot, said sound having a frequency and amplitude content;

electronically processing the frequency and amplitude content of said sound to discriminate said gunshot from other sounds, and generating a detection signal in response thereto;

discharging, in response to said detection signal, a non-lethal aerosol incapacitating agent in an amount sufficient to deliver an effective dose to substantially all of a region proximate to said transaction area; and

directing said agent into said region to incapacitate persons located therein.

2. An apparatus for deterring robbery of a convenience store building or other building in which cash transactions are carried out with an employee, said building being accessible through a doorway and having a counter or other table across which said cash transactions are effected, said apparatus comprising:

a first quantity of a non-lethal incapacitating agent in an amount sufficient to deliver an effective dose to substantially all of a region proximate to said counter;

a reservoir for containing said first quantity of incapacitating agent under pressure, said reservoir having an outlet;

a manifold having an inlet in fluid communication with said reservoir outlet, said manifold terminating in a plurality of discharge nozzles capable of being located proximate to said counter;

a normally closed electrically actuated solenoid valve operatively connected between said reservoir outlet and said manifold inlet;

an electronic controller having a plurality of input signal ports for receiving a plurality of input signals, said controller further including an output port operatively connected to said electrically actuated solenoid valve, said controller being capable of receiving an input signal and, in response thereto, producing a signal at said output port capable of opening said electrically actuated solenoid valve; and

a plurality of switches capable of providing controller input signals to said input signal ports, one of said plurality of switches comprising electronic means for detecting a gunshot and generating a controller input signal in response thereto, said electronic means for detecting a gunshot comprising sound detection means having amplitude and frequency waveform processing for discriminating a gunshot from other sounds.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a second quantity of a non-lethal incapacitating agent in an amount sufficient to deliver an effective dose to substantially all of a region proximate to said doorway;

a second reservoir for containing said second quantity of incapacitating agent under pressure, said second reservoir having an outlet;

a second manifold having an inlet in fluid communication with said second reservoir outlet, said second manifold terminating in a plurality of discharge nozzles capable of being located proximate to said doorway;

a second normally closed electrically actuated solenoid valve operatively connected between said second reservoir outlet and said second manifold inlet; and

said electronic controller further including a second output port operatively connected to said second electrically actuated solenoid valve, said electronic controller further capable of producing a signal at said second output port capable of opening said second electrically actuated solenoid valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said waveform processing comprises bandpass filtering.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said waveform processing comprises fast fourier transform analysis.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a photodetector for sensing an infrared signature of a gunshot.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of said plurality of switches comprises a switch responsive to opening of a cash register.

8. An apparatus for incapacitating an individual present within a predetermined target area comprising:

a pressurizable container having an outlet;

an electrically actuated solenoid valve operatively attached to and in fluid communication with said outlet;

a manifold having an inlet end, said manifold terminating in a plurality of nozzles, the inlet end of said manifold being attached to and in fluid communication with said valve, said plurality of nozzles being aimed at said predetermined target area;

a first quantity of a non-lethal incapacitating agent in an amount sufficient to deliver an effective dose to said predetermined target area;

an electronic controller responsive to a plurality of input signals, said controller operatively connected to said electrically actuated solenoid valve and capable of generating an electrical signal for opening said valve; and

a plurality of switches for providing input signals to said electronic controller, one of said plurality of switches comprising electronic means for detecting a gunshot and generating a controller input signal in response thereto, said electronic means for detecting a gunshot comprising sound detection means having amplitude and frequency waveform processing for discriminating a gunshot from other sounds.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said non-lethal incapacitating agent further includes an ultraviolet dye.