Covert actuation system for electric device

• US 5,995,004 A
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John D. Pellowski
• Original Assignee: John D. Pellowski
• Inventors: Pellowski, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US09/065,530
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/570, 439/4, 439/32, 439/40, 439/917
• US Class Current: 340/570
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0027 Details of drawer or money-box
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/917 Alarm circuit, e.g. window affixed foil

Abstract

There is provided a covert actuation system (50) adapted for incorporation within a housing structure. The system (50) includes a storage assembly (20) displaceably coupled to a frame assembly (10) for covertly actuating an electric device (30a, 30b) coupled to the housing structure. Covert actuation system (50) comprises an attachment mechanism (100) coupled to the frame assembly (10); an electric connector mechanism (300) also coupled to the frame assembly (10) adapted for the electrical connection thereto of at least one electric device (30a, 30b); at least one actuation device (400) coupled to the storage assembly (20); and, a conductor assembly (200) which electrically couples actuation device (400) to electric connector mechanism (300). Conductor assembly (200) includes a flexible intermediate section (210) along which a plurality of adherent devices (220) are disposed in a predetermined spaced manner. Adherent devices (220) are adapted to releasably adhere to attachment member (100) such that intermediate section (210) is retained substantially against attachment member (100) when the storage assembly (20) is displaced to a first position relative to the frame assembly (10), and is progressively drawn away from attachment member (100) responsive to the displacement of the storage assembly (20) toward a second position relative to the frame assembly (10).

Claims

1. A covert actuation system, adapted for incorporation within a housing structure having a storage assembly displaceably coupled to a frame assembly, for covertly actuating an electric device coupled to said housing structure comprising:

(a) an attachment member coupled to said frame assembly, said attachment member having a substantially planar attachment surface;

(b) electric connector means coupled to said frame assembly at a location displaced from said attachment member and adapted for the electric connection thereto of at least one said electric device;

(c) at least one actuation device coupled to said storage assembly, said actuation device being re-configurable between first and second operational states responsive to a predefined triggering event to selectively actuate said electric device;

(d) a conductor assembly coupled to said storage assembly and said frame assembly, said conductor assembly being electrically coupled to said actuation device and including a flexible intermediate section extending between said storage assembly in proximity to said attachment surface and said electric connector means;

(e) a plurality of adherent devices coupled to said conductor assembly in a predetermined spaced manner along said intermediate section thereof, said adherent devices being adapted to releasably adhere to said attachment surface;

whereby substantially all of said intermediate section is retained substantially against said attachment surface when said storage assembly is displaced to a first position relative to said frame assembly and is progressively drawn away from said attachment surface responsive to displacement of said storage assembly toward a second position relative to said frame assembly.

2. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adherent devices include a plurality of magnetic members.

3. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 2 wherein said magnetic members are spaced one from the other in substantially equidistant manner along said intermediate section of said conductor assembly.

4. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 3 wherein said conductor assembly includes a multi-conductor flat ribbon cable.

5. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuation device includes a bill trap alarm triggering device.

6. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein said bill trap alarm triggering device is an electromechanical device including:

(a) a retaining block having a base portion and a clamping portion;

(b) a contact plate displaceably retained within said retaining block to be displaceable relative thereto between a first position and a second position, at least a portion of said contact plate, in said first position, opposing said clamping portion;

(c) bias means coupled to said retaining block and said contact plate for resiliently biasing said contact plate toward said second position;

(d) clamp means coupled to said retaining block adjacent said clamping portion, said clamp means being adapted to resiliently retain said contact plate in said first position responsive to engagement thereof by an article of predetermined configuration; and

,

(e) switching means coupled to at least one of said retaining block and said contact plate, said switching means being toggled responsive to said displacement of said contact plate between said first and second positions.

7. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 6 wherein said switching means includes reed relay means.

8. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein said bill trap alarm triggering device is an electro-optical device.

9. The system for covertly actuating an electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein said connector means of said frame assembly is adapted for the simultaneous electrical connection thereto of a plurality of electric devices including an alarm and a surveillance camera.

10. A system for covertly triggering an electronic security system comprising:

(a) a frame assembly having a substantially planar attachment surface defined therein, said frame assembly including electric connector means adapted for the electric connection of said security system thereto;

(b) at least one drawer assembly displaceably retained within said frame assembly, said drawer assembly being reversibly displaceable relative to said frame assembly along a displacement direction between an open position and a closed position;

(c) at least one actuation device coupled to said drawer assembly, said actuation device being reconfigurable between first and second operational states responsive to a predefined triggering event to selectively actuate said electric device;

(d) a conductor assembly coupled to said drawer assembly and said frame assembly, said conductor assembly being electrically coupled to said actuation device and including a flexible intermediate section connecting said drawer assembly and said electric connector means of said frame assembly, said intermediate section extending along a direction parallel to said displacement direction of said drawer assembly for reversible reconfiguration responsive to said displacement of said drawer assembly relative to said frame assembly;

(e) a plurality of magnetic members coupled to said conductor assembly in spaced manner along said intermediate section thereof, said magnetic members being adapted to releasably adhere to said attachment surface of said frame assembly;

whereby substantially all of said intermediate section is retained substantially against said attachment surface of said frame assembly when said drawer assembly is in one of said open and closed positions and is progressively drawn away therefrom responsive to said displacement of said drawer assembly toward the other of said open and closed positions.

11. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 10 wherein said conductor assembly includes a multi-conductor flat ribbon cable.

12. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 10 wherein said actuation device includes a bill trap alarm triggering device.

13. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 12 wherein said bill trap alarm triggering device is an electromechanical device including:

(a) a retaining block having a base portion and a clamping portion;

(b) a contact plate displaceably retained within said retaining block to be displaceable relative thereto between a first position and a second position, at least a portion of said contact plate, in said first position, opposing said clamping portion;

(c) bias means coupled to said retaining block and said contact plate for resiliently biasing said contact plate toward said second position;

(d) clamp means coupled to said retaining block adjacent said clamping portion, said clamp means being adapted to resiliently retain said contact plate in said first position responsive to engagement thereof by an article of predetermined configuration; and

,

(e) switching means coupled to at least one of said retaining block and said contact plate, said switching means being toggled responsive to said displacement of said contact plate between said first and second positions.

14. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 13 wherein said switching means includes reed relay means.

15. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 12 wherein said bill trap alarm triggering device is an electro-optical device.

16. The system for covertly triggering an electronic security system as recited in claim 12 wherein said connector means of said frame assembly is adapted for the simultaneous electrical connection thereto of a plurality of electric devices including an alarm and a surveillance camera.

17. A method of electrically coupling in concealed manner an electric device disposed outside a frame assembly to an automatic actuation device disposed within a drawer assembly displaceably retained within said frame assembly comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing connection means on said frame assembly for electrical connection thereto of at least one said electric device;

(b) establishing a conductor assembly electrically coupled to said actuation device and having a flexible intermediate section extending between said drawer assembly and said connection means;

(c) establishing a magneto-attractive attachment surface within said frame assembly;

(d) coupling to said intermediate section of said conductor assembly a plurality of magnetic members, said magnetic members being disposed in spaced manner along said intermediate section and being adapted to releasably attach to said attachment surface; and

,

(e) orienting said intermediate section of said conductor assembly to substantially align with the direction of displacement of said drawer assembly relative to said frame assembly, whereby said intermediate section of said conductor assembly is drawn against said attachment surface during a first portion of said drawer assembly displacement and drawn away from said attachment surface during a second portion of said drawer assembly displacement.

18. The method of electrically coupling as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of establishing said conductor assembly includes:

(a) coupling a multi-conductor flat ribbon cable between said actuation device within said drawer assembly and said connection means;

(b) passing said multi-conductor flat ribbon cable through a bottom panel of said drawer assembly; and

,

(c) affixing a first intermediate portion of said multi-conductor flat ribbon cable to said drawer assembly to extend therebeneath in substantially flush contacting manner, a second intermediate portion of said multi-conductor ribbon cable extending between said drawer assembly and said connection means.

19. The method of electrically coupling as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of establishing said attachment surface within said frame assembly includes locating said attachment surface to remain above at least a portion of said drawer assembly over the full range of said drawer assembly displacement.

20. The method of electrically coupling as recited in claim 19 wherein said second intermediate portion of said multi-ribbon cable extends responsive to displacement of said drawer assembly toward said frame assembly and bends responsive to displacement therof away from said frame assembly.