Patent GB-1112934-A (GB)
Title: A device for transporting bank notes
IPC: A45C13/24
Filed: 1965-09-03
Abstract: 1,112,934. Preventing theft. G. OLIVIER. 3 Sept., 1965 [6 Nov., 1964; 17 June, 1965], No. 37681/65. Heading E2X. A device for transporting bank notes comprises a receptacle ignitable element 6 disposed in said receptacle to serve as supports for bundles of blank notes placed on edge, elements 10 for keeping the bundles in abutment under pressure on said ignitable elements, means 7 for igniting the ignitable elements and operating means for actuating the igniting means if the receptacle is snatched from a bearer. In the construction shown, the receptacle is lined with asbestos and small perforations are provided in the asbestos lining and in the receptacle to permit the escape of fumes. The elements 6 are arranged parallel to each other in the bottom of the receptacle and consist of sulphur or a pyrogenetic mixture adapted to burn very quickly with a high combustion temperature releasing abundant fumes which can be coloured, odorous, or suffocating when ignited. The igniting means 7 are electrical igniters which are connected to batteries contained in a compartment 11 of the receptacle. A push button switch 13 is provided the contacts of which are closed when the lid of the receptacle is closed but which prevents energisation of the igniters 7 when the lid is open. The operating means shown in Figure 2 comprises a striker member 16 which is biassed by a spring 17 and connected to the handle of the receptacle by means of a wire 18, so that as long as the receptacle is held by the handle, the striker compresses the spring; when the handle is released, the striker under the urge of the spring breaks a rupturable plate 21 and closes a pair of contacts 22 to complete the circuit to the igniters 7. In an alternative construction, a tube is provided having contacts at opposite ends connected to the batteries and the ignitors, the tube containing mercury. The arrangement is such that when the receptacle is upright, the mercury is at one end of the tube, but when the receptacle is horizontal the mercury bridges the contacts and energises the igniters. In a further construction, a wire is connected to a ring on the finger of the bearer of the receptacle, the wire holding two contacts apart, a spring being provided which closes the contacts when the wire is released to energise the igniters. A still further construction comprises cable containing two wires which connects a relay to the batteries, the relay being energised to hold its contacts open as long as the cable is not ruptured by snatching the receptacle; when the relay is deenergised, its contacts connect the igniters 7 to the batteries. An operating means consisting of a radio or ultrasonic transmitter and a receiver is also described; the transmitter is carried by the bearer and transmits a continuous signal which is picked up by the receiver in the compartment 11 of the receptacle and energises a relay so that the relay contacts are held open. If the receptacle is snatched from the bearer, the relay will close the contacts and connect the igniters to the batteries when the received signal is too weak to energise the relay.