Patent GB-916797-A (GB)
Title: A handbag or case incorporating means for preventing thefts
Inventor: FISHER JOHN WALTER
IPC: A45C13/18
Filed: 1960-02-29
Abstract: 916,797. Means for preventing theft. TRANSIT Ltd., C. S. Oct. 7, 1960 [Feb. 29, 1960], No. 7045/60. Class 44. A handbag or case for transporting money or other valuable articles is provided with a handle 1 constructed to operate automatically if seized by an unauthorized person, to grip and retain the hand of that person and prevent his escape together with means for preventing passage of said person through a door, window or other aperture. As shown, the handle 1 is carried by two parallel posts 6 which are movable inwardly of the bag or case towards a recess or cup 4 in the top of the bag or case. The handle is coated with resilient rubber 3 and the recess or cup 4 is lined with soft rubber 5. Mounted in the upper part of the handle is a release button 7 which is normally held depressed by the thumb of the person carrying the bag or case. The release button is surrounded by a shroud 8. Relaxation of pressure on the button causes the button to move upwardly under the pressure of a spring 9 and this movement releases a locking arm 11 through a Bowden cable 10 to free a spring-loaded piston 12. The piston carries a central striking pin 13 which detonates a blank cartridge 14 and the explosion of this moves a second piston 15 which carries a striking-pin 16 and causes it to pierce the sealing element 17 of a container 18 of liquid carbon dioxide. The escape of gas from the cartridge 13 down an exhaust tube 19 makes a noise loud enough to attract the attention of persons nearby. Gas from the cylinder 18 passes through a passage 20 to a cylinder 21 surrounding a piston 22 which is connected to a crosshead 23 fixed to the handle posts 6 ; the downward movement of the piston causes the handle to be drawn down on to the top of the bag or case and trap the hand of the person gripping the handle between the handle and the cup or recess 4. Gas also passes through three pipes 24, 25, 26 to extend three steel telescopic arms 27, 28, 29. These arms are arranged to extend in directions 120 degrees apart and the maximum extension of each is 8 ft. Hence when the arms are extended the person whose hand is trapped between the handle 1 and the cup 4 cannot pass through a door or other opening. When the arms have been fully extended the pressure of the gas opens a valve 30 which permits the gas to pass to a police whistle 31 in arm 28 to give further warning. The arms are provided with rubber buffers at their outer ends for protection of passers-by. When the bag or case is not in use the button 7 is held in its depressed position by means of a safety-pin 35. To prevent a thief cutting himself free, the bag or case is made of a material such as glass fibre. In the bottom of the bag or case is a spring-loaded release button 36. This is normally locked in the retracted position by a lever 37 controlled by a key 38 but when the bag or case is left on the counter of a bank, for example, the lever is withdrawn by turning the key and any attempt to lift the bag or case moves the arm 11 through a second Bowden cable 39 and the previous sequence of operations results. A short time delay in the withdrawal of the locking arm 11 is achieved by means of a dashpot 40. In a modification the release buttons 7 and 36 can complete a circuit through a battery to fire the cartridge 14 in which case the delay is provided by a thermally-operated relay.