US2041577A - Protective packet - Google Patents

Description

" 19, 1935 L c. R. SUTHERLAND 2,041,577

PROTECTIVE PACKET Filed Deo. 22, 195o 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1936 w UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE PROTECTIVE PACKET Clarence R. Sutherland, Dayton, Ohio Application December 22, 1930, Serial No. 504,063

9 Claims. (Cl. 177-314) This invention consists of a protective device With the above primary and other incidental against robbery which will automatically disobjects in view as will more fully and clearly apcharge tear gas or other repellant substance upon pear in the specification, the invention consists disturbance by the robber. of the features of construction, the parts and Many gas discharge devices for protective purcombinations thereof and the mode of operation,

poses are available, such as gas bombs to be or other equivalents, as hereinafter described and` thrown, gas discharge devices located in walls or set forth in the claims. the ceiling of a room or elsewhere to be dis- Referring to the accompanying drawings charged by a button or switch at a distant point, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not 10 devices mounted in watchmens night sticks and necessarily the only form of embodiment of the 10 even gas discharge devices disguised as fountain invention, Fig. l is a perspective view of a dummy pens or the like. Such devices, however, depend packet of currency within which are concealed for operation upon action by the person being two gas discharge bombs or shells with electrical `robbed or by someone in the vicinity other than means for controlling their discharge upon disthe robber himself. Ordinarily the person disturbance of the packet. Fig. 2 is a similar perl5 charging the gas bomb or other gas discharge spective view wherein a portion of the packet has device and the persons being robbed are more been removed to disclose the-gas discharge shells seriously aected by the gaseous discharge than and their control means. Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic is the robber for whom the discharge was in- View of the electrical control circuit and gravity tended. operated mercury switch. Fig. 4 is a detail view 20 'Ihe present device is automatic in its action of a mechanically operated discharge device. and may be deposited in a vault or safe or in Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a jewelry display a desk where in the event of an attempted robtray within which the protective gas shells or bery it will operate to disable the robber even bombs and the control circuit may be concealed.

though he may not have been discovered.Y In a Like parts are indicated by similar characters 25 l simple and convenient form the present device of reference throughout the several views.

comprises a dummy packet simulating a pack- Referring to the drawings, I indicates a dummy age of currency within which is concealed the packet simulating a package of currency which bomb or other gas discharge device together with may be placed upon the cashiers desk or in the gravity or disturbance operated means for distellers cage with other currency being used in 30` charging the gas upon disturbance or tilting transaction of the days business. This packet movement of the packet as would occur when a comprises a series of sheets or leaves having size robber picks the packet up. identical with that of paper currency. These 'Ihe object of the invention is to afford a proleaves are stacked one upon the other and the tectve device against robbery which will not only central portions of the leaves are removed to pro- 35 be cheapened in construction but will be efficient vide a cavity within the packet within which the in operation, inexpensive, Which will be portable gas shells and operating means are concealed. and which may be placed inacash drawer, on the In the present instance such apparatus is concounter or within the tellers cage during the day tained within a very light sheet metal housing 2,

40 and be deposited in a vault or safe at night, and embedded and enclosed within the stack of sheets 40 which upon disturbance will automatically disor leaves I, one end of the housing or enclosure 2 charge a repellent gas or other substance, and being cut away to provide for the free escape of which will not easily get out of order. the discharged gas. Located within the case or A further object of the invention is to provide housing 2 are shown two gas shells 3 3 held a robbery protective device which will be operin spring clips 4 secured to the bottom of the case 45 ated orA setl in action by the robber himself and or housing 2. These gas loaded shells 3 3 illushence will not be dependent upon discovery of trated, are commercial gas shells identical with the robbery or upon action of the persons being standard shot gun shells. Such gas loaded shot robbed. gun shells are now readily available upon the A further object of the invention is to provide market. In the present instance, however, these 50 such device of compact form and of light weight shells 3 are provided with electrically operated which may be readily and easily concealed within ignition or discharge means in lieu of the usual a dummy packet simulating a package of curpercussion cap. Also located within the case or rency, or within a jewelry display tray or other housing 2 and hence concealed with the packet easily movable article. is a dry cell battery 5 and a gravity operated elec- 55` tric control switch. In the present instance this control switch is shown as comprising a substantially V shaped tube B disposed in substantial perpendicular position and containing a body of mercury 1 normally positioned at the bend of the tube. This body of mercury is free to flow into either of the upturned arms of the bent tube B when the packet is tilted in either direction. Electric terminals 8 extend within the arms of the tube 6 and are electrically interconnected by the body of mercury 'I when it flows into such arms upon tilting the packet. These terminals 8 are electrically connected with the battery 5 and with the ignition devices of the explosive gas shells 3-3 as illustrated in the diagrammatic view Fig. 3. A switch 9 is preferably though not necessarily included in the circuit whereby thecircuit may be opened and the device rendered safe for handling. The same switch is utilized to connect a signalA lamp IIl in a shunt circuit I I with the batltery and through the terminals of the mercury switch'so that the device vmay be safely tested from time to time to ascertain the condition of the battery. n

The explosive gas shel1`3 and the battery andV control switch with the electrical connection are concealed within the packet by vone or more overlying sheets, the top sheet of winch is preferably a genuine piece of paper currency of any desired denomination. To further disguise the packet andincrease its resemblance to a package of genuine currency, the usual strap I3 bearing indicia commonly employed by banks and nancial institutions is employed about the dummy packet.

The dummy packet thus prepared with the swtch49 adjusted to connect the electrical circuit with the ignition devices of the gas shell 3 K is laid with the packages of genuine currency 'Y on the cashiers desk or inside the tellers cage or it may be placed in the cash drawer or in the safe. Such packet would ordinarily be placed in a position most convenient to the robber in the g event of an attempted robbery. f In grabbing the cuit and discharge the gas shells 3. 5o

packet from the desk or from -thegtellers cage, any decided movement of the packet causes the mercury to flow into one arm or the other of the switch tube 6 and thereby close the electric cir- The robber having the package in his hands at such time receives the full eifect of the discharged gas. Y The V type mercury switch is such that the packet maybe slidingly moved aboutrupon the desk or A, counter and a cash drawer may be pushed to and 55` fro without disturbing the mercury body or causing it to flow into the arms and thereby discharge the gas bombs or shells. The packet may even be tilted to a limited extent in a direction transversely to the planerof the V shaped tube without effecting the discharge of the shell, but any tilting movement such as would occur by the removal of the packet from the desk or counter by a robber and its placement in a pocket or in a Satchel would cause an instant gaseous discharge.

While primarily designed for protection of nancial institutions and for the protection of the cashier rof stores, factories or mercantile establishments and hence preferably embodied in the dummy simulating a package of currency, the invention is not limited to such embodiment. In Fig. V5 there is shown a display tray for jewelry or the like in whichVV the gas shells 3-3 together with the energizing battery Sand switch, may be enclosed and concealed. It is not infrequent that jewelry and diamond robberies are attempted by pseudo customers who may grab a tray of gems or jewelry being displayed and make away with it. By enclosing and concealing within such tray Iii, as illustrated in Fig. 5, one or more gas bombs or shells 3 with the necessary discharge system, such type of robbery can be eifectually prevented and the robber be made to gas himself.

While the mercury type of switch is to be preferred, whether it be of the particular V type as illustrated or of other form, mechanically operated ignition devices may be employed in lieu thereo-f. In Fig. 4 there is shown a gas bomb or shell 3 provided with the usual percussion type of ignitor and a spring actuated iiring pin I5 which is normally held retracted against the tension of its actuating spring I6 by a pivoted detent I'I. This detent I1 is held in operative position by a reciprocatory slide element I 8. A pendulum or Yvibratory weighted arm I9 extends in proximate relation with the reciprocatory member I8 and when moved in one'direction is adapted to engage an arm 20 upon the reciprocatory slide I8 to withdraw such slide out of the path of the de` tent I1. Upon movement of the weighted arm in the opposite direction, such arm has engagement with a lever 2|, which in turn engages a second arm or projection 22 upon the reciprocatory slide to shift such slide I8 out of engagement with the detent II and thereby release the firing pin. Thus the firing pin is released by the movement of the pendulum or the vibratory weighted arm in eitherA direction. This mechanical construction has been shown merely for illustrative purposes and as an indication that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific mercury control switch in an electrical circuit controlling the gas shells or bombs. The safety switch 9 is easily accessible by removing or turning up thetopmost leaves of the packet. While tear gas or chloracetophenone is the preferred material for loading the shells or bombs and to be discharged by disturbance of the packet, other repellant gaseous or liquid materialmay be employed in lieu thereof.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modication in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is there-l fore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a robbery protective device, a dummy packet simulating a package of currency, a gas discharge device concealed within the package and automatically operated discharge means for the gas device also concealed Within the package and energized by tilting movement of the packet.

2. In a robbery protective device, a dummy packet simulating a packet of currency, an electrically operated gas discharge means concealed 7 5J within the package, an electrical circuit including a source of electrical energy and a gravity operated electric switch in said circuit for discharging the gas discharge means upon tilting motion of the packet.`

3. In a robbery protective device, a dummy packet simulating a package of currency, an electrically operated gas discharge device concealed within the packet, an electrical circuit therefor including a source of electrical energy, and a mercury switch also concealed in said packet operating to close the circuit and discharge the gas device said switch being more susceptible to movement of the packet in one direction than in another direction.

4. In a robbery protective device, the combination with a movable decoy packet, and an electrically operated gas discharge device concealed therein, of a normally upright substantially V shaped tube also concealed in said packet, a body of mercury therein normally positioned in the bend of the tube, and an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy and having electrical terminals in the arms of the tube closed by the mercury upon movement into an arm of said tube to eiect the discharge of the gas device.

5. In a protective device of the character described, a movable decoy packet, a gas discharge device concealed therein and a directional disturbance operated control means including a source of energy for said gas discharge device more susceptible to movement of the packet in one direction than in a transverse direction.

6. The combination with a decoy packet and an electrically operated gas discharge device therein, of an electric circuit including a source of energy and a directional disturbance operated electric switch controlling said gas discharge device said switch including a mobile body confined to a single plane of movement and highly susceptible to movement of the packet in approximately the plane of movement of the mobile body, and electric terminals closed by the movement of said body, said body being less susceptible toi movement in a direction transversely to its plane of operation.

7. The combination with a decoy simulating a valuable package, a gas discharge device concealed therein, and energizing means including gravity controlled means for setting in operation the gas discharge means upon tilting movement of the packet.

8. In a protective device of the character described, a movable decoy packet, an electrically operated repellent gas discharge device concealed therein, an electrical circuit therefor including a source of electrical energy, and a mercury operated switch therein including a vessel having contacts mounted above the level of the mercury, said mercury closing the circuit when the packet is moved to cause the mercury to close the contacts.

9. In a protective device of the character described, a movable decoy packet, an electrically operated repellentl gas discharge device concealed therein, an electrical circuit therefor including a source of electrical energy and a mercury operated switch including a V-tube having contacts in the ends of the legs thereof and mercury in the bend of the tube below the contacts, said mercury closing the circuit when the packet is moved to cause the mercury to flow into either leg to close the contacts therein.

CLARENCE R. SUTHERLAND.

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