Systems and methods for marking individuals with an indentifying susbstance

• US 9,920,565 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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 LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US14/951,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20160076297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 109 20, 109 25, 109 29, 109 31- 33
• 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 communicatively coupled to an activation device via a network and configured to release a pressurized substance in response to an activation signal, wherein the spray delivery device comprises a storage component, one or more transport conduits, and one or more actuators, wherein the pressurized substance is an ultra violet light powder that leaves an invisible film on a marked individual, and wherein the storage component is operably connected to the one or more transport conduits, and the one or more transport conduits are configured to connect the storage component to the one or more actuators;

an activation switch communicatively coupled to the activation device via a network, wherein the activation switch comprises a graphical user interface and is configured to trigger the activation device in response to a user command or an event; and

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

wherein the activation device is configured to automatically transmit the activation signal to the spray delivery device in response to the activation switch being triggered by the user command or event, via a control system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pressure release valve and a nozzle, wherein the actuator is configured to open the pressure release valve in response to the actuation signal received from the actuation device, activation switch and/or control system to release the pressurized substance in a specified direction, at a variable pressure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage component is a canister or vessel configured to hold the pressurized substance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage component is a refrigerated container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more transport conduits are pipes and/or valves that are selectively controllable using the control system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation device is an alarm panel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation switch further comprises a button.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive the user command via a user touching an appropriate icon on a screen, and/or icons on a touchscreen.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a detection of motion by one or more sensors.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a detection of a predetermined amount of heat by one or more heat sensors.

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

storing a pressurized substance in a spray delivery device communicatively coupled to an activation device via a network, wherein the pressurized substance is an ultra violet light powder that leaves an invisible film on a marked individual;

receiving, at the activation device, trigger data from an activation switch communicatively coupled to the activation device, wherein the activation switch comprises a graphical user interface and the trigger data is based on a user command or event received via the activation switch;

automatically transmitting an activation signal from an activation device to the spray delivery device in response to the trigger data, via a control system; and

releasing the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining an activation device within a retail establishment, the activation device coupled to the stored pressurized substance in a manner that enables the spray delivery device to release the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining an activation device within a financial institution, the activation device coupled to the stored pressurized substance in a manner that enables the spray delivery device to release the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining an activation device within a kiosk, the activation device coupled to the stored pressurized substance in a manner that enables the spray delivery device to release the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining an activation device within an automobile, the activation device coupled to the stored pressurized substance in a manner that enables the spray delivery device to release the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation device is an alarm panel.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation switch further comprises a button.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive the user command via a user touching an appropriate icon on a screen, and/or icons on a touchscreen.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the detected event comprises a detection of motion by one or more sensors.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the detected even comprises a detection of a predetermined amount of heat by one or more sensors.