SE542470C2

SE542470C2 - Container for carrying valuables and method of manipulating valuables in response of rapid movement of such container

Info

Publication number: SE542470C2
Application number: SE1651448A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Johan Marklund; Magnus Lindskog
Original assignee: Strongpoint Cash Security Ab
Priority date: 2016-11-03
Filing date: 2016-11-03
Publication date: 2020-05-12
Also published as: ES2973520T3; EP3535736B1; HUE065995T2; EP3535736A1; RU2019116850A3; SE1651448A1; HRP20240340T1; RU2758204C2; EP3535736C0; EP3535736A4; RU2019116850A; WO2018084781A1; PL3535736T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable security container (10) for carrying goods, such as valuables, the portable security container comprising a manipulation system for manipulating the goods in response to an unexpected handling of the portable security container. The portable security container further comprises a motion sensor (16) configured to register movement of the portable security container and a control unit (17) configured to activate the manipulation system in response to a registered movement of the portable security container of a velocity (V) exceeding a threshold velocity (V).

Description

CONTAINER FOR CARRYING VALUABLES AND I\/IETHOD OF I\/IANIPULATINGVALUABLES IN RESPONSE OF RAPID I\/|OVE|\/IENT OF SUCH CONTAINER TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a container for carrying valuables, the container beingarranged to manipulate said valuables in response to a rapid movement of said container.The invention also relates to a method of activating manipulation of valuables in a security container in response to an unexpected movement of said security container.

BACKGROUND

[0002] When money and other valuables are moved from stores, banks and othercommercial entities it is important that this is done in a safe manner that minimises the risks of thefts but that also minimises the risks of assaults on the personnel carrying the valuables.

[0003] Normally, security guards or the like are contracted to carry valuables in aportable security container, typically a briefcase, from the store, bank or other commercialentity to a security vehicle in which the container is safely received in a rack in a closedspace. The vehicle is then driven to the entity in which the valuables are to be received,typically a bank. The most vulnerable and exposed part of such practical money transfer isthe part where the security guard carries the portable security container to and from thesecurity vehicle. Therefore, many arrangements exist to minimize the risk of successful thefts and at the same time to minimize the risk of assault on a security guard.

[0004] A common way of protection is to manipulate the content of the portablesecurity container in response to a harsh handling thereof or any type of attempts of gettinghold of the contents. Often, such manipulation involves an explosion to tear up the bagsholding the valuables inside the portable security container and the emission of ink or the liketo stain the valuables and make them useless. This serves several purposes. Firstly, theknowledge of the security system will minimize the desire to steel such portable securitycontainers. Further though, a stolen portable security container that “goes off” will most likelybe left behind by the perpetrators, knowing that the contents of the portable securitycontainer will most likely be without value if they succeed in opening the portable securitycontainer. This minimises the damage to the owner of the valuables, since the valuables maybe counted and a correct value may be asserted so as to assure a correct evaluation of thevalue, which will be accepted and fully appreciated by any insurance company.

[0005] Numerous systems have been implemented to manipulate the contents inresponse to an unwanted or unexpected handling of the portable security container. ln EP 0 235 103 A2 a system is disclosed wherein a portable security container is provided with atimer. The portable security container is arranged to be moved from one security rack toanother security rack, wherein at least one of said racks is arranged in a security vehicle andwherein the timer is activated when the portable security container is released from the firstrack such that an action is taken when the portable security container has not been putinside the second rack within a certain time. An action may be to send an alarm or tomanipulate the contents.

[0006] A drawback with the above described timer system is that the portable securitycontainer may be taken quite a long way before the timer activates the manipulation system,thereby making it possible for the perpetrator(s) to travel quite a distance from the scene ofthe crime before the manipulation system is activated. ln such a case the portable securitycontainer may not be recovered, whereby it will not be possible to change the valuables,such as bank notes or bills, for new ones. A portable security container that undergoes anapparent manipulation, such as a dyeing of the bank notes, is often left behind and especiallyif the manipulation system activated close to the scene of the crime.

[0007] Therefore, timer activated systems for portable security containers are oftencomplemented by an additional system. Normally, such additional system involves manualremote activation by the security officer carrying the portable security container. This kind ofsystems however incur an unwanted risk for the security personnel, since it may urge the perpetrator(s) to put the security personnel out of action.

[0008] An alternative security system is disclosed in GB 2 359 890 A, in which apedometer is provided to recognize the walk of a specific security guard carrying the portablesecurity container. lf the walk is not considered to correspond to the walk of the specificsecurity guard an action may be taken.

[0009] Both the above systems may be useful but they also involve an uncertainty,which may lead to unwanted manipulation in response to unexpected circumstances notinvolving any criminal activity such that the expected carrying time is overdue or that theportable security container is for some reason carried by a deputy security officer with ahitherto unknown walk.

[0010] Therefore, there is a desire to guarantee security without undue risking that thevaluables are unintentionally manipulated in response to unexpected handling, not involving any criminal activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] lt is an object of the present invention to provide a portable security containerthat minimises the problems of the prior art but that provides optimal security for securitypersonnel and minimises the risk of successful thefts.

[0012] According to first aspect, the invention relates to a portable security containerfor carrying goods, such as valuables, the portable security container comprising amanipulation system for manipulating the goods in response to an unexpected handling ofthe portable security container, characterised in that the portable security containercomprises a motion sensor registering movement of the portable security container and acontrol unit configured to activate the manipulation system in response to a registeredmovement of the portable security container of a velocity exceeding a threshold velocity.

[0013] ln a specific embodiment the control unit is configured to activate themanipulation system in response to that a movement of a velocity exceeding a thresholdvelocity is upheld during a time interval exceeding a threshold time period.

[0014] With the inventive system of the portable security container the risk of asuccessful theft is minimal and likewise the risk of assault on the security officer carrying thecontainer may leave the portable security container to the perpetrators knowing that they arenot likely to flee the crime of the scene without activating the manipulation system of the security container.

[0015] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of manipulatinggoods, such as valuables, contained in a portable security container, characterised by thesteps of: registering a movement of the portable security container, and, in response to aregistered movement of the portable security container of a velocity exceeding apredetermined threshold velocity, activation of a manipulation system to manipulate thegoods inside portable security container.

[0016] ln a specific embodiment the manipulation system is activated in response tothat a movement of a velocity exceeding the predetermined threshold velocity is upheldduring a time interval exceeding a predetermined threshold time period.

[0017] ln another specific embodiment an alert signal is issued when thepredetermined threshold velocity has been surpassed.

[0018] ln yet another specific embodiment an alert signal is instead issued when anauxiliary threshold velocity has been surpassed, which auxiliary threshold velocity is lowerthan said predetermined threshold velocity.

[0019] ln a specific embodiment a first step of registering that the security container isin active mode precedes the other steps of the method. Preferably the portable securitycontainer is automatically set in the active mode whenever it is carried and in an inactive mode disabling the manipulation system, when located in a therefore adapted rack.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer programproduct comprising a computer program code which when executed enables a computer toperform the steps of the method described above.

[0021] Other embodiments and advantages will be apparent from the detaileddescription and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] An exemplary embodiment related to the invention will now be described withreference to the appended drawings, of which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic embodiment of a portable security container in accordancewith the invention in closed mode, Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of fig. 1 in an open mode,Fig. 3 shows a portable security container in normal use, andFig. 4 shows a portable security container in a use that triggers activation of an inherent manipulation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EI\/IBODII\/IENTS

[0023] ln Figures 1 and 2 a portable security container 10 for carrying goods 11, suchas valuables, is schematically shown. The portable security container 10 comprises a goodscompartment 12 for receiving goods 11 and a lockable opening mechanism 13. Further, theportable security container 10 comprises a manipulation system for manipulating the goods11 in response to an unexpected handling of the portable security container. ln the shownembodiment the manipulation system includes at least one explosive charge 14 and at leastone dye element 15 for staining the goods. Such dye may preferably include a DNA profilesuch that goods may be traceable to the specific portable security container.

[0024] The portable security container 10 further comprises a motion sensor 16registering movement of the portable security container and a control unit 17 configured toactivate the manipulation system. The motion sensor 16 may be of any type that registersmovement in a plane, e.g. a transponder, an accelerometer, a GPS-sender or a gyro.Preferably, the motion sensor 16 is of a type that is not in need of outer information, such assatellites. Hence, from that aspect, a gyro may be advantageous. ln the shown embodimentboth the control unit 17 and the motion sensor 16 are arranged on circuit board 18 that is tobe housed inside the portable security container 10.

[0025] The control unit 17 is arranged to receive a signal corresponding to themovement registered by the motion sensor 16. ln a preferred embodiment the control unit 17is arranged to activate the manipulation system, e.g. in response to a signal from the motionsensor indicating a registered movement of the portable security container 10 of a velocity Vexceeding a predetermined threshold velocity VTH.

[0026] ln figure 3, normal, intended use of the portable security container is shown,wherein a security officer A carries the security container 10 at a velocity V1, which is wellbelow the predetermined threshold velocity VTH. Normally, the officer A carries the securitycontainer 10 from a security rack 20, located for instance in a security vehicle in which thesecurity is transported over longer distances. The officer A may return to the rack 20 with thesecurity container 10 after a visit in bank or the like where the container has been emptied orfilled with valuables, or the container may be carried from one rack 20 to another. At allinstances the security container 10 is carried at about the velocity V1, below thepredetermined threshold velocity Vm.

[0027] ln figure 4, on the other hand, the security container 10 is first carried by asecurity officer A at a velocity V1 that is below the predetermined threshold velocity VTH,whereby a perpetrator B makes a hostile take-over of the security container 10 and takes offfrom the location at a velocity V2, which exceeds the predetermined threshold velocity Vni.Hence, in response thereto the manipulation system will be activated, whereby theperpetrator is likely to leave the security container 10 with manipulated content behind, closeto the location where it was retrieved.

[0028] Under normal circumstances the security guard carries the portable securitycontainer walking at speed of about 5 km/h.

[0029] However, as illustrated in figure 4, when the portable security container 10 isstolen from the security guard, the perpetrator(s) is/are likely to take off from the scene of thecrime as quickly as possible. ln accordance with the invention this will trigger the manipulation system. Namely, the control unit 17 is configured to activate the manipulationsystem in response to that a movement of a velocity V exceeding a predetermined thresholdvelocity VTH. Such a predetermined threshold velocity Vnn may be about 10 km/h, about 15km/h, 20 about 25 km/h, about 30 km/h, about 35 km/h etc. Hence a velocity that is above anordinary walking velocity but that is easily exceeded when carried by a running person, or atleast when moved by a vehicle.

[0030] ln a specific embodiment, the control unit 17 is configured to activate themanipulation system in response to that a movement of a velocity V exceeding thepredetermined threshold velocity VTH is upheld during a time interval T exceeding a thresholdtime period TTH. Typically, such a threshold time period TTH may be about 5 seconds, about10 seconds, about 20 seconds or about half a minute. The time should not be too long inorder to minimize the risk that the portable security container may be removed too far fromthe scene of the crime before the manipulation system is activated. On the other hand, thetime should not be too short, in order to avoid that the manipulation system of the portablesecurity container 10 is activated by mistake.

[0031] Further, the portable security container 10 preferably comprises an alarmsystem configured to alert that an alarm threshold has been surpassed, and the control unitmay be configured to activate the manipulation system in response to that a second,activation threshold has been surpassed. As an example an alarm threshold may be thepredetermined threshold velocity VTH and the activation threshold may be a threshold timeperiod TTH during which a velocity V exceeding a threshold velocity VTH is upheld. ln such anexample the security guard carrying the portable security container could be notified by analarm such as a sound, light or buzz signal that the portable security container is moving at avelocity that exceeds the predetermined threshold velocity Vnn such that the security guardwill have a chance to slow down in order to avoid that the velocity of the portable securitycontainer is upheld long enough to surpass the threshold time period TTH , which wouldothen/vise activate the manipulation system.

[0032] As an alternative the alarm threshold, at which an alert signal is issued may bean auxiliary threshold velocity Vw and the second threshold may be the predeterminedthreshold velocity VTH, the auxiliary threshold velocity VTH2 being lower than thepredetermined threshold velocity VTH. The auxiliary threshold velocity VTH2 may e.g. be about8km/h, 10 km/h, about 15 km/h, 20 about 25 km/h, about 30 km/h, about 35 km/h etc. as longas it is lower that the predetermined threshold velocity VTH. When an alert signal is issued inresponse to a lower, auxiliary threshold velocity Vmg is exceeded the manipulation system may either be activated directly when the predetermined threshold velocity VTH is exceeded,or when it has been exceeded for a time period exceeding the threshold time period Tfn.

[0033] The alarm may preferably be issued as signal in the form of a sound, buzz orlight intended to note the carrier of the security container 10. lt may however also be issuedto a central security centre, such that personnel may be alerted at early moment that a threathas been located, such that relevant security measures may be taken.

[0034] The control unit 17 is preferably configured to control the portable securitycontainer 10 between an active mode in which the manipulation system may be activatedand an inactive mode, in which the manipulation system may not be activated. Typically, thecontrol unit is configured to automatically control the portable security container 10 to anactive mode whenever it is carried and to an inactive mode when located in a thereforeadapted rack. Such a rack 20 is illustrated in figures 3 and 4 and may be located in a securityvehicle, such that the manipulation system will not be activated during transport in a therefore adapted security vehicle.

[0035] Above, the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments. The invention is however not limited to these embodiments. lt is obvious to aperson skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable security container (10) for carrying goods (11), such as valuables, theportable security container comprising a control unit (17) and a manipulation systemconfigured to manipulate the goods in response to an activation signal transmittedfrom the control unit (17), characterised in that the portable security containercomprises a motion sensor (16) configured to register movement of the portablesecurity container, wherein the control unit (17) is configured to activate themanipulation system in response to a registered movement of the portable securitycontainer of a velocity (V) exceeding a predetermined threshold velocity (Vw),wherein the control unit configured to activate the manipulation system in response tothat a movement of a velocity (V) exceeding the predetermined threshold velocity(Vmi) is upheld during a time interval (T) exceeding a predetermined threshold timeperiOd (TrHt).

2. The portable security container (10) according to claim 1, wherein the portablesecurity container further comprises an alarm system configured to alert that thepredetermined threshold velocity (Vml) has been surpassed.

3. The portable security container (10) according to claim 1, wherein the portablesecurity container comprises an alarm system configured to alert that an auxiliarythreshold velocity (VTH2) has been surpassed, said auxiliary threshold velocity (Vtnz)being lower than said predetermined threshold velocity (Vmi).

4. The portable security container (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims,wherein the control unit (17) is configured to set the portable security container (10) ineither an active mode in which the manipulation system may be activated or an inactive mode, in which the manipulation system may not be activated.

5. The portable security container (10) according to claim 4, wherein the control unit (17)is configured to automatically set the portable security container (10) in the activemode whenever it is carried and in the inactive mode when located in a thereforeadapted rack (20).

6. A method of manipulating goods (11), such as valuables, contained in a portablesecurity container (10), characterised by the steps of: - registering a movement of the portable security container (1' and in response to a registered movement of the portable security container (10) of a velocity (V) exceeding a predetermined threshold 10. 11. velocity (Vw), activation of a manipulation system to manipulate the goods insidejlågggportable security container, wherein the manipulation system is activated in responseto that movement of a velocity (V) exceeding the predetermined thresholdvelocity (Vw) is upheld during a time interval (T) exceeding a predeterminedthreshold time period (Twi). The method according to claim 6, wherein an alert signal is issued when thepredetermined threshold velocity (Vml) has been surpassed. The method according to claim 6, wherein an alert signal is issued when an auxiliarythreshold velocity (Vmg) has been surpassed, said auxiliary threshold velocity (Vfnz)being lower than said predetermined threshold velocity (Vml). The method according to anyone of the claims 6-8, wherein a first step of registeringthat the security container (10) is in active mode precedes the other steps of themethod. The method according to claim 9, wherein the portable security container (10) isautomatically set in the active mode whenever it is carried and in an inactive mode disabling the manipulation system, when located in a therefore adapted rack. A computer program product comprising a computer program code which whenexecuted enables a computer to perform the steps of the method according to anyoneof the claims 6-10.