Abstract:
The invention concerns a protective device for valuable documents, including a volume capable of being closed and divided into two compartments, one of the compartments being used to receive the documents to be protected while in the second compartment caps contain a pyrotechnic mixture which, when the device is wrongly manipulated, will burst into a flame and penetrate the documents in the first mentioned compartment.

Description:
This application is a Division of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 09/147,728 filed Feb. 25, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,897 which is a 371 of PCT/BE97/00095, filed Aug. 26, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns a device for protecting securities such as shares, bonds, bank notes and the like whereby this device consists of a unit which can be closed, and which is divided in at least two spaces, whereby the first space is designed to hold the papers to be protected, whereas pyrotechnical means are provided in the second space which, when the device is manipulated in an unwanted manner, make the above-mentioned papers worthless. 
     In particular, the present invention concerns a device of the type which is mounted in a fixed or portable manner in a private or public building, in a bank, in a means of transport or the like. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     Devices of this type are already known which, when they are used in the wrong manner, for example in case of a burglary, or when the latter or similar devices are opened in an unwanted manner, the content is exposed to ink, smoke or another material so as to damage or destroy the securities. 
     However, it was found that when the papers provided in these known devices so as to protect them are not always entirely damaged and/or destroyed after somebody has attempted to open the device in an unwanted manner or after somebody has entered the wrong code in case of combination locks or such. 
     It was found that in those cases, a relatively large number of securities remains nevertheless undamaged, such that it is still worth while to force these devices. 
     Another type of device for protecting securities is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,463. This known device consists of a case which is divided in at least two spaces, whereby the first space can hold the papers to be protected, whereas the second space is entirely filled with a non-explosive thermite load which closes off the first space and which, when the device is manipulated in an unwanted manner, will become overheated up to over 1649° C. as a result of a chemical reaction, as a result of which the papers contained in the first space will carbonize. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims a device for protecting securities, in particular a device which makes these papers completely useless when the device is opened in an unwanted manner or when the device is manipulated by someone who does not know the code, but in such a manner that data provided on these papers, such as identification numbers or such remain intact. 
     To this aim, according to the present invention, the pyrotechnical means which are situated in the second space are capsules which each contain a pyrotechnical mixture which, when the device is manipulated in an unwanted manner as mentioned above, will inflame so as to produce a flame which transpierces the papers contained in the first space. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the device according to the present invention will be equipped with at least one maze or labyrinth through which the produced gases can escape, such that flames nor gases under pressure can in no way whatsoever escape from the device when the security system is activated. 
     In a similar manner, retardation mechanisms can be provided on the means causing the destruction of the securities, such that the latter are destroyed at short intervals, so as to avoid that the destruction is too brutal at a given moment and that flames and/or gases under pressure escape from the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following two devices according to the invention are described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of a device according to the invention, made in this case in the shape of a portable briefcase; 
     FIG. 2 shows a section according to line II—II in FIG. 1 to a larger scale; 
     FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5  and  6  respectively show sections according to lines III—III, IV—IV, V—V and VI—VI in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 shows a connection diagram of the ignition device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 8 shows a connection diagram of the same type as in FIG. 7, but for another embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 shows a cross section of an ignition capsule as used in the device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 10 represents a table of possible pyrotechnical mixtures; 
     FIG. 11 shows a front view of a device according to the invention, but in relation to another embodiment, namely in the shape of a safety box; 
     FIG. 12 shows a section according to lines XII—XII in FIG. 11; 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 show sections according to lines XIII—XIII and XIV—XIV in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 shows the part indicated by F 15  in FIG. 13 to a larger scale. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although by a device is understood a portable briefcase or safety box in the examples described hereafter, it is clear that the present invention may also apply to fixed as well as moveable devices such as for example a safe or such. 
     A portable briefcase  1  is represented in FIGS. 1 to  6  which mainly consists of a base  2  and a lid  3  which is connected to the base  2  by means of appropriate hinges and locks  4 - 5  which are not represented here, and whose base is equipped with a handle  6 . 
     This portable briefcase  1  can be made in any material whatsoever. 
     In general, the volume of the portable briefcase  1  is subdivided in three separate spaces, namely a first space  7  in which the securities  8 , for example banknotes, can be safeguarded, a second space  9  in which the ignition and fire destruction mechanism  10  is mounted and a third space  11  in which one or several flues forming a labyrinth shaped path are provided through which the flames or gases which are released during the ignition or destruction by the fire, provoked by the ignition and fire destruction mechanism  10 , are diminished before leaving the device. 
     The above-mentioned spaces  7  and  9  are separated from one another by means of a first partition comprising a metal plate  12 , for example made of aluminium, in which a small hole  13  is provided on the spot where a wad of securities  8 , for example banknotes, will be placed, whereby a capsule  14  is provided in the space  9  opposite each small hole  13 , each filled with a pyrotechnical mixture. 
     All the capsules  14  are electrically connected to an electronic security system which, as represented in FIG. 7, can be built as follows: 
     Each capsule  14  is electrically connected to the ground consisting in this case of the first partition  12 , and it is further connected to an electronic switching mechanism  15  which is placed in the electric circuit of a battery  16  situated between the switching mechanism  15  and the first partition, whereby a reversing switch  17  is provided in the above-mentioned electric circuit which makes it possible to put the security device under tension. 
     The third space  11  of the portable briefcase  1  is in this case confined by a second partition comprising a metal plate  18  forming a division between said third space  11  and the first space  7 , whereby, relatively large holes  19  are provided in said second partition plate  18 , opposite each wad of papers  8 , in particular coaxially in relation to the holes  13  provided in the first partition  12 . 
     Moreover, the third space  11  is subdivided in one or several flues, in this case one flue having a labyrinth shaped path  20  per capsule  14 , whereby these flues  20  open into the atmosphere via a passage  21  provided to this end in the external wall of the third space  11  and in the adjacent walls of the base  2  and the lid  3 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a variant of the diagram according to FIG. 7, whereby, in this case, certain capsules  14  are equipped with what is called a retardation device  22  which forms a barrier between the ignition mechanism  23  and the pyrotechnical mixture of the capsule  14  so as to obtain a retarded ignition of the pyrotechnical mixture. These retardation devices may be identical to one another or they may be divided in groups or they may also be all different so as to obtain discharges going off at different moments. 
     Naturally, also other embodiments of the electronic security system are possible. 
     Thus, FIG. 9 represents a capsule  14  made of steel, whereby this capsule  14  is coupled to the retarding mechanism  22  via an opening  24 , to the ignition mechanism  23  respectively, and whereby a pyrotechnical mixture is put in said capsule  14  consisting of what are called pyrotechnical charges, in this case an ignition charge  25  and three fire destruction charges  26 ,  27  and  28  which may have an appropriate composition, the whole being sealed by a small plate  29  made of nonflammable material. 
     The pyrotechnical mixture may have any composition whatsoever; as an example only, a table of materials which can be used in any combination whatsoever, in compliance with the indicated proportions, in order to form an ignition charge  25 , a fire destruction charge  26 - 27 - 28  respectively, is represented in FIG.  10 . 
     The ignition charge may consist of magnesium, strontium peroxides and bonding materials, whereas the pyrotechnical mixture may consist of iron oxides, magnesium, aluminium, barium nitrate, graphite and synthetic phenol resin. 
     The use and working of the device according to the invention is very simple and as described below. 
     When a certain number of securities  8 , for example bank notes, are put in a portable briefcase  1  according to the invention, for example in order to transport papers of this sort, these papers are placed exactly over the holes  13  provided in the first partition  12 , in the first space  7  whose dimensions preferably correspond to those of the papers. 
     Then, the device  1  is closed such that the papers  8  are perfectly protected, whereby the reversing switch  17  is switched off in an appropriate manner as the briefcase is closed. 
     The reversing switch  17  can be provided at any place whatsoever, for example between the base  2  and the lid  3 , in either of the locks  4 - 5 , combined with a combination lock or combined with a keyboard for entering a code or via which one has to enter a code at regular intervals so as to switch off the reversing switch  17 . 
     The reversing switch  17  or the electronic security system may also be remotely controlled, in which case the tripping of the security system does not need to coincide with the portable briefcase  1  being closed. 
     When someone wants to break into a portable briefcase  1  of this type, either by twisting the lid  3  or by distorting the locks  4  or  5 , or also, in the case of a keyboard, by damaging this keyboard or by entering the wrong code, the reversing switch  17  will be switched on in the appropriate manner and, via the electronic switching mechanism  15 , it will send a message to the capsules  14  ordering the ignition mechanism  23  to provoke the ignition of the ignition charge  25 , and consequently of the fire destruction charges  26 - 27 - 28 , such that, through the holes  13  provided in the first partition  12 , a flame is lit transpiercing the wads of papers  8 , whereby this flame and the produced gases are then led through a flue  20 , where they are diminished before leaving the portable briefcase  1 , such that flames and/or gases under pressure can by no means escape from the portable briefcase  1 . 
     The thus realised piercing of the papers  8  may cause a conical, flattened burn hole in the wad of papers  8 , having a diameter of about 3 to 4 cm in the base and of about 1 cm at the top, with a total height of at least 5 cm. 
     In this way, the papers  8  are made useless, but they remain as such, such that they can still be examined in one way or the other. 
     FIG. 8 shows another connection diagram in which is applied a retarding device  22  on certain capsules  14  so as to program the discharge of the capsules  14  such that, for example in the example represented in FIG. 8, three capsules  14  will flare up together, igniting a second series of three capsules  14  a few seconds later and finally igniting a third series of capsules  14  after another few seconds, such that the force of the ignition is spread in time. 
     FIGS. 11 to  15  represent another embodiment of the invention in which the device is made in the shape of a security box  30 . 
     The construction is analogous to that of the portable briefcase  1 , but the lid  3  is replaced by a door  31  in a narrow side wall of the security box  30 , whereas the fourth space  11 , in which are provided one or several flues having a labyrinth shaped path  20 , is made in the shape of a movable shutter  32 . 
     FIGS. 11 to  15  represent identical or analogous elements or spaces having the same reference numbers as used in FIGS. 1 to  6 . 
     In this embodiment, the first partition  12  forms a tray, such that the second space  9  in which is mounted the ignition and fire destruction mechanism  10  extends all around the first space  7 , with the exception of the front side where the door  31  is provided. 
     The door  31  can be bolted by means of a lock  5  with an electronic key. 
     The fourth space  11  which forms one or several flues  20  is not provided directly against the door  31 , but it is provided against the inside at a certain distance of the latter in the movable shutter  32  which can glide over guides  33  in the second space  9 . 
     The sections  32 ′ of the movable shutter  32  are double-walled and are made of metal, and they each have an aperture  34  near one end. Each section  32 ′ is divided in two in its longitudinal direction by means of a second partition  35  which is connected at one end to the far end of the section alongside which the aperture  34  are provided, whereby the other end remains at a short distance from the other far end of the section  32 ′. 
     Thus, a flue having a labyrinth shaped path  20  is formed in each section  32 ′ through which the ignition gases coming in via the aperture  34  must cover a long distance before they come out of the aperture  34  against the outer side of the section  32 ′ in the space provided between the movable shutter  32  and the door  31 . From this space they can escape into the atmosphere through the clearance of the door  31 . 
     Successive sections  32 ′ of the movable shutter  32  are provided such that the apertures  34  are provided alternately on either side of the movable shutter  32 . 
     By closing the door  31  or after it has been closed via a remote control, the reversing switch  17  is switched off or the security system is activated in one way or another. 
     In case of violation, the security box  31  works in the same manner as described above for the portable briefcase  30 . 
     Thanks to the design of the movable shutter  32  described above, neither flames nor gases under pressure can escape from this security box  30 . 
     It is clear that the present invention is in noway limited to the embodiments described as example and shown in the annexed drawings; a device according to the invention may be realised in all sorts of shapes and dimensions without falling outside the scope of the invention.