FR2707411A3 - Method for anti-theft protection of objects, and object thus protected - Google Patents

Abstract

The method according to the invention makes it possible to provide anti-theft protection for objects present in premises such as production premises, depots or shops. It is characterised in that it consists in incorporating into the objects a radioactive material which is harmless for humans and has reducing radioactivity, during the period of protection sought, down to a minimum threshold below which it is no longer detectable in the premises containing the objects. This method allows effective anti-theft protection of objects such as banknotes, postage stamps, cheques, payment cards, phone cards, controlled-access cards, etc.

Description

"Method of protecting objects against theft and objects thus protected"

  The present invention relates to a method of protection against theft of objects present in premises such as

  production workshops, warehouses or shops.

  Many solutions have been proposed so far to prevent theft of objects by malicious consumers or employees. These solutions generally consist in affixing anti-theft devices to objects comprising, for example, magnetic tracks, inductive circuits,

transmitters / receivers, etc ...

  Current anti-theft devices are not fully satisfactory, however. They are indeed often bulky, expensive and unattractive. They are also generally unsuitable for small objects. Current devices can also be removed most of the time relatively easily, so that the objects ultimately only benefit from illusory protection. When they are integrated into objects to the point of not being able to be separated from them, they provide permanent protection, on the other hand, prohibiting that legally acquired objects can be reintroduced later on.

places they come from.

  Finally, when the objects on which the current devices are affixed are intentionally placed inside a garment, a document holder, etc., or packed in any case, these devices are generally ineffective, the material in which the objects are placed constituting a screen preventing any possibility of detection. The present invention proposes to remedy these various drawbacks and, to do this, it relates to a method of protection against theft of objects, which is characterized in that it consists in incorporating into the objects a radioactive material harmless for the man and having radioactivity decreasing, during the protection period sought, up to a minimum threshold below which it

  is no longer detectable in the premises containing the objects.

  The method according to the invention makes it possible to protect objects of any shape and size against theft, while avoiding the installation on these objects of

  bulky and unsightly identification devices.

  It also makes it possible to ensure protection for a predetermined duration corresponding to the period of time during which the objects are likely to remain in a given room, which authorizes the subsequent reintroduction into the room of objects lawfully acquired previously. It also makes it possible to detect objects when they are hidden, for example in clothes, briefcases, cases, etc ... or wrapped in

very diverse materials.

  It will be noted here that the radioactive material can be incorporated into the material constituting the objects, during their manufacture, or subsequently during a

additional treatment.

  When the objects to be protected against theft are printed using one or more printing materials, the radioactive material can advantageously be introduced into

at least one printing material.

  In the case where the objects to be protected are coated with a layer of protective material, the radioactive material could then be introduced only into the protective material. According to a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the radioactive material incorporated into the

  objects to be protected are in the form of a powder.

  Advantageously, the radioactive material is a short-lived radionuclide which can be chosen from the group comprising 99T, 90Y, 198AU, 186RE, 111In, 201Th, 67Ga, 133Xe, 69Er,

32p 51Cr, 192Ir, 170Tm, 57Co.

  The period of the above-mentioned radionuclides is given in the table below:

RADIONUCLEIDES PERIOD

  Technetium 99T 6.02 hours Yttrium 90Y 64.1 hours Gold 198At 64.7 hours Rhenium 186Re 90.6 hours Indium 1llIn 2.8 days Thallium 201Th 3.04 days Gallium 67Ga 3.25 days Xenon '33Xe5.24 days Erbium 169Er 9.4 days Phosphorus 32P 14.3 days Chromium 51Cr 27.7 days Iridium 192Ir 74.0 days Thulium 170Tm 127.1 days Cobalt 57Co 271 days Of course, it would not be departing from the scope of the present invention if the we used a short-lived radionuclide with a different period from those indicated in the table, so as to be able to provide protection

  for a different predetermined duration.

  The implementation of the method according to the invention can be easily ensured by installing, in the room in which the objects are likely to stay for a predetermined period of time, at least one detection device provided with means of radioactivity measurement allowing the emission of a detection signal only if the radioactivity value remains

  greater than or equal to the minimum threshold provided.

  The measuring means used could of course be adjustable as a function of the minimum threshold chosen so as to provide protection the duration of which would depend on the time of

  objects stay in a predetermined room.

  It is easily understood that the method according to the invention makes it possible to protect any objects against theft. Among the objects concerned, banknotes, postage stamps, fiduciary values, checks, credit cards, payment cards, telephone cards, access cards will be given as non-limiting examples. controlled, etc ..., this list not being

obviously not exhaustive.

Claims (7)

  1. A method of protection against theft of objects present in premises such as production workshops, warehouses or shops, characterized in that it consists in incorporating into the objects a radioactive material harmless to humans and having a radioactivity decreasing, during the protection period sought, up to a minimum threshold below which it can no longer be detected in the premises containing the objects.   2. Method according to claim 1, implemented in the case of objects printed using one or more printing materials, characterized in that it consists in introducing the radioactive material into at least one material printing.   3. Method according to claim 1, implemented in the case of objects coated with a layer of protective material, characterized in that it consists in introducing the   radioactive material in the protective material.   4. Method according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that the radioactive material   present in the form of a powder.   5. Method according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that the radioactive material is a short-lived radionuclide.   6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the radionuclide is chosen from the group comprising 99T, 90Y, 198AU, 186RE, ll'In, 201Th, 67Ga, 133Xe, 169Er '32p, 51Cr, 192Ir, 170Tm, 57Co.   7. Object protected against theft by the implementation of the   method according to any of the claims previous.