Security case

• US 6,065,408 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safecash Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Safecash Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Moulder, Kevin Edward, Tillim, Anthony Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/149,584
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 109/25, 109/29, 109/20, 109/21, 109/31, 109/32, 109/38, 109/39, 109/43-45, 109/49, 109/50, 109/52, 70/63
• US Class Current: 109/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/14 with means for masking or destroying the valuables, e.g. in case of theft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A security case includes a body and a lid. The lid is manipulatable between a closed and an open configuration. The case further includes a controller and a configuration sensitive switch connected thereto. An electro-mechanical locking arrangement and an audible indicator are connected to the controller to be controlled thereby. The controller is responsive to the configuration sensitive switch to cause the indicator to provide a first indication while the case is open, and to cause the locking arrangement automatically to lock the case when the case enters the closed configuration.

Claims

1. A security case comprising:

a body;

a lid mounted on the body and the lid is manipulatable between a first position wherein the case is in an open configuration and a second position wherein the case is in a closed configuration;

an electronic controller located in the case;

configuration sensitive means connected to the controller and the configuration sensitive means is sensitive to whether the case is in the open or in the closed configuration;

locking means for locking the lid on the body in the closed configuration and the locking means is connected to the controller to be controlled thereby; and

indicator means also connected to the controller to be controlled thereby;

the controller being responsive to the configuration sensitive means to cause the indicator means to provide a first indication while the case is in the open configuration;

a handle; and

handle engagement sensitive means connected to the controller, the handle engagement sensitive means being arranged on the case to be actuated when the handle of the case is engaged to transmit a first signal to the controller.

2. A security case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicator means includes at least one of an audible alarm and a visible indicator.

3. A security case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body and lid are made of a resinous material and wherein the lid is hinged at one end thereof to the body.

4. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking means is located in the body and includes a locking member including a locking formation;

case further including electric drive means for driving the member to cause the locking formation to engage and disengage a cooperating formation on the lid, to thereby lock and unlock the lid from the body.

5. A case as claimed in claim 1 further comprising code receiving means connected to the controller, the code receiving means being operative to receive an authorized code and to forward data relating to the code to the controller to cause the locking means to unlock the lid from the body.

6. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one wall of the body and lid is associated with tamper sensitive means connected to the controller, the tamper sensitive means being operative in the event of tampering with the wall, to transmit a signal indicative thereof to the controller.

7. A case as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a canister arrangement holding at least one of an incineration agent and a dying agent, the canister arrangement including an electronically operable release mechanism which is connected to be operated by the controller, to release at least one of said agents.

8. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller includes a timer to cause the engagement sensitive means to be armed a predetermined time period after the handle has been engaged for a first time, and to transmit a second signal to the controller, when the handle is released.

9. A case as claimed in claim 8 wherein the controller is sensitive to the second signal and upon reception thereof is responsive to activate the indicator means to provide a second indication, indicating that the handle has been released.

10. A case as claimed in claim 9 wherein the controller is responsive to activate a release mechanism of a canister arrangement including at least one of an incineration agent and a dying agent, if the controller has not been reset within a further predetermined time period after the handle has been released.

11. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is responsive to the configuration sensitive means to cause the locking means to automatically lock the case when the case enters the closed configuration.

12. A case as claimed in claim 11 wherein the controller is further responsive to the configuration sensitive means to cause the indicator means to provide a third indication wherein the case enters the closed configuration, the controller causes the indicator to provide the third indication until the handle engagement sensitive means has been actuated.

13. A case as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a gauntlet defining an opening for protecting the handle of the case.

14. A security case system comprising:

a case as claimed in claim 1;

a host receptacle for removably receiving the case, the receptacle including a controller for resetting the controller of the case; and

battery charging circuitry to recharge a rechargeable battery onboard the case.

15. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the controller includes a timer which is operative to cause the handle engagement sensitive means to be armed a predetermined period of time after the handle has been engaged for a first time; and

the handle engagement sensitive means is operative to transmit a second signal to the controller when the handle is released.

16. A case as claimed in claim 8 wherein the controller is sensitive to the second signal and upon reception thereof is responsive to activate the indicator means to provide a second indication indicating that the handle has been released.

17. A case as claimed in claim 8 wherein the controller is further responsive to activate a release mechanism of a canister arrangement including at least one of an incineration agent and a dying agent, when the controller has not been reset within a further predetermined time period after the handle has been released.

18. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is responsive to the configuration sensitive means to cause the locking means to automatically lock the case when the case enters the closed configuration.

19. A case as claimed in claim 18 wherein the controller is responsive to the configuration sensitive means to cause the indicator means to provide a third indication when the case enters the closed configuration until the handle engagement sensitive means has been actuated.

20. A security case comprising:

a body;

a lid mounted on the body and the lid is manipulatable between a first position wherein the case is in an open configuration and a second position wherein the case is in a closed configuration;

an electronic controller located in the case;

a configuration sensitive switch, connected to the controller, the switch is sensitive to whether the case is in the open or in the closed configuration;

a lock for locking the lid on the body in the closed configuration, the lock is connected to the controller to be controlled thereby;

an indicator also connected to the controller to be controlled thereby;

the controller being responsive to the configuration sensitive switch to cause the indicator to provide a first indication while the case is in the open configuration;

a handle on the case; and

a handle engagement sensitive switch connected to the controller, the handle engagement sensitive switch being arranged on the case to be actuated when the handle of the case is engaged to transmit a first signal to the controller.

21. A case as claimed in claim 20 wherein the controller includes a timer to cause the engagement sensitive means to be armed a predetermined time period after the handle has been engaged for a first time, and to transmit a second signal to the controller, should the handle be released.

22. A case as claimed in claim 21 wherein the controller is sensitive to the second signal and upon reception thereof is responsive to activate the indicator means to provide a second indication, indicating that the handle has been released.

23. A case as claimed in claim 22 wherein the controller is responsive to activate a release mechanism of a canister arrangement including at least one of an incineration agent and a dying agent, if the controller has not been reset within a further predetermined time period after the handle has been released.

24. A case as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a gauntlet defining an opening for protecting the handle of the case.