GB2251958A

GB2251958A - A light box for checking banknotes

Info

Publication number: GB2251958A
Application number: GB9200811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ray Brown; Kevin Harrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-15
Filing date: 1992-01-15
Publication date: 1992-07-22
Also published as: GB9100838D0; GB9200811D0

Abstract

An illumination device comprises a rigid box-like container 1 housing an electric lamp 3 connected to a battery 2 or other source of electricity through a normally open contact 6. The container 1 is closed at its upper end by a cover 9 of transparent or translucent material which incorporates a depressible pad 12 overlying the contact 6 and operable in response to light downward pressure to close the contact against the action of a spring 7 to direct a beam of light through a bank note or other translucent item placed on the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

ILLUMINATION DEVICE This invention relates to illumination devices and is principally concerned with the provision of a small, lightweight, portable device which is readily operable to illuminate large-denomination bank notes to check their authenticity.

It is the usual practice in retail and other establishments, where money changes hands, for the proprietor to hold up such notes to allow the light from a natural or artificial source to shine through them and this practice can cause annoyance to a customer and embarrassment to the proprietor or assistant.

It is a principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an unobtrusive device which will transmit a beam of light through a bank note or other printed item applied to it without attracting attention and to this end, according to the invention, such a device essentially comprises a rigid boxlike container housing an electric lamp for connection to a source of electricity through a normally open contact, said container being closed at its upper end by a cover of transparent or translucent material which incorporates a depressible pad overlying the contact and operable in response to light downward pressure to close the contact against the action of a spring to direct a beam of light through a bank note or other translucent item placed on the cover.

One embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, a rigid housing 1 contains an electric battery 2 connected by leads 5 to a lamp 3 surrounded by a reflector 4. The supply of electricity to the lamp 3 is controlled by a movable contact 6 which is normally maintained in an open position, in which no current flows to the lamp, by a leaf spring 7 and retainer 8. The housing is closed at its upper end by a cover 9 having a peripheral flange 10 which overhangs and engages beneath the outwardly turned rim 11 of the housing to provide a water-tight joint when closed.The cover 9 consists mainly of transparent or translucent material and is cut away above the contact 6 to accommodate a depressible pad 12 which rests on the spring 7 and is operable in response to the application of minimum downward pressure to close the contact and thus light the lamp 3 which then shines through a bank note or other translucent item placed on the cover until the pressure on the pad is relaxed.

Access to the battery 2 may be gained through an aperture in one end of the housing which is normally closed by a removable cover 13, or by removing the top cover 9.

Instead of employing a battery the device may be supplied with power from an outside source through a transformer and external lead (not shown).

The device is preferably of a size to be accommodated on or in close proximity to a cash till so that the operator merely has to apply a bank note to it with minimum pressure and without drawing attention to his or her action.

While the invention has been described for use in checking the authenticity of bank notes it is readily apparent that its use is not so limited and can extend to the illumination of many kinds of documents and other printed matter which requires to be illuminated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An illumination device comprising a rigid box-like container housing an electric lamp for connection to a source of electric power through a normally open contact, said container being closed at its upper end by a cover of transparent or translucent material which incorporates a depressible pad overlying the contact and operable in response to light downward pressure to close the contact against the action of a spring to direct a beam of light through a bank note or other translucent item placed on the cover.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said power source is an electric battery mounted in said container.

3. A device according to claim 1 for connection to an external source of electric power through a transformer.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said lamp is surrounded by a reflector for directing a beam of light in an upward direction through said cover.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said cover is provided with a peripheral flange which overhangs and engages beneath an outwardly turned rim at the upper end pf the container.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said flange and rim cooperate to provide a liquid-tight joint between the cover and container when closed.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container is provided at one end with an aperture having a displaceable cover for insertion and removal of the battery.

8. An illumination device substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.