Systems and methods for marking individuals with an identifying substance

• US 9,228,388 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: Bolden, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne
• Application Number:
  US14/100,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20140158027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 109/20, 109/25, 109/29, 109 31- 33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/12 with fluent-material releasing, generating or distributing means, e.g. fire-retardant or fire extinguishing means E05G1/14 takes precedence; identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders with smoke, gas, powder or liquid G08B15/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid

Abstract

The present application discloses systems and methods for marking an individual with an identifying substance. The system includes a spray delivery device configured to release a pressurized substance in response to an activation signal, an activation device configured to transmit an activation signal to the spray delivery device, and a power supply, configured to provide power to at least one of the activation devices and the spray delivery devices. The method includes storing a pressurized substance, receiving an activation signal at a spray delivery device, and releasing the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

Claims

1. A system for marking an individual with an identifying substance, comprising:

a spray delivery device configured to release a pressurized substance in response to an activation signal, wherein the pressurized substance is an ultra violet light powder that leaves an invisible film on a marked individual;

an activation device configured to transmit an activation signal to the spray delivery device;

a power supply, configured to provide power to at least one of the activation device and the spray delivery device; and

a sensor communicatively coupled to the activation device, the sensor being configured to detect the proximity of an activator communicatively coupled to an activation switch, and cause the activation device to activate the activation switch by automatically transmitting the activation signal based on the detected proximity of the activator.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control system that controls the spray delivery device and activation device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch communicatively coupled to the activation device.

4. A method for marking an individual with an identifying substance, comprising:

storing a pressurized substance;

receiving an activation signal at a spray delivery device;

releasing the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal, wherein the pressurized substance is an ultra violet light powder that leaves an invisible film on a marked individual;

detecting the presence of an activator within a predetermined distance; and

causing an activation device to activate an activation switch by automatically transmitting the activation signal based on the detected presence of the activator communicatively coupled to the activation switch.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether a manual switch has been activated; and

causing an activation device to transmit the activation signal based on a determination that the manual switch has been activated.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pressurized substance is stored within a bank counter.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

maintaining one or more actuators within a retail establishment, the one or more actuators being coupled to the stored pressurized substance in a manner that enables the one or more actuators to release the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.