WO2004084151A2 - Containers with means for protecting against attack - Google Patents

Abstract

A container comprising a means for sensing when a surface of the container is attacked, comprising a sensing means distributed over at least part of the surface of the container and responsive to attack at that part to generate an alarm. The system may comprise a pressurised double-skin (5, 6) which ruptures upon attack, a grid of electrically or optically wires (40) or other means.

Description

CONTAINERS

This invention relates to containers.

In particular, the invention relates to the protection of containers against unauthorised access or attack.

Valuable items are often carried in portable containers. For example, money or other valuable goods are often carried in strong boxes or other containers when being transported between the shop and bank for example. Personal belongings are also frequently carried in portable containers such as bags or boxes. Such containers often have locks and can offer fairly good protection against unauthorised opening of the box but they can be physically vulnerable to attack by cutting or penetrating the walls, top or base of the box or bag to access their contents.

While such bags, boxes or other containers can be strengthened by using materials which are resistant to penetration such as metal sheets, these all add undesirable weight to the container.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an improved portable container which is resistant to penetration through a surface thereof.

According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a container comprising a means for sensing when a surface of the container is attacked, comprising a sensing means distributed over at least part of the surface of the container and responsive to attack at that part to generate an alarm.

According to the present invention there is further provided a container comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, means for pressurising the space between the inner and outer skin, and pressure detection means for detecting loss of pressure between said skins caused by rupture of the outer skin and for providing an alarm.

Preferably, a bladder is provided between the inner and outer skin, which bladder is pressurisable.

Most preferably, the invention further comprises an ambient pressure compensation means. This may comprise a vessel at ambient pressure connected to the pressure sensor means whereby changes in ambient pressure are automatically compensated by the pressure compensation means.

Preferably, the inner and outer walls comprise at least all the side walls of the container and most preferably these also comprise the base and also a lid or an openable part, in the case of a bag for example.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a container comprising a means for detecting and providing an alarm where the surface or face of the container is attacked. In a further aspect, the invention provides a container comprising an array of electrically or optically conductive wires or conduits provided across at least part of one or more surfaces of the container; means for providing electric or optical signals across the conductors and means for detecting when said electrical or optical signal is interrupted by breakage or deformation caused by attack on the surface.

The apparatus may comprise an array of parallel wires or cables or a grid of intersecting wires and cables spaced apart by a suitable distance which is small enough that penetration by a knife or blade is likely to break or deform at least one of such wires or cables.

The invention may be applied to any type of container such as boxes, bags, sacks, valises, suitcases or any other types of containers. Most preferably, the invention is useful for portable containers.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section through a container; Figure 2 shows an air pressure sensing system; Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of part of a container showing a wall and a lid; and

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a container in the form of a box 1. This comprises side walls 2 integral with a base 3 and a lid 4 which may be removable or hinged for example to access the boxes contents.

At least some, and preferably all external surfaces, which may include the lid, comprise a double layer comprising an outer skin 5 and an inner skin 6. The material from which these are made will depend upon the nature and type of container. For example, for a bag the outer skin may be of leather, a textile material or a plastics material and the inner may also be of a textile or plastics material. For a box, it may be more appropriate to make at least one of the skins out of a metal or other rigid material and indeed, for a bag either skin may be made of a rigid material. The space between the inner and outer skins is pressurised, either directly or by means of a bladder which is inserted between the inner and outer skins and which is filled with air or with another gas so as to increase its pressure to that above ambient pressure. This may be done through means such as valves 7, 8, or through other means of pressuring the space between the inner and outer skins. If valves are used then a simple manual- or electrically-operated pump may be used to pressurise the space. Either in the vicinity of the valve or elsewhere, the or each bladder or pressurised space between the skins is connected to a pressure sensor 9.

Figure 1 does not show, for clarity, the lid being connected to a pressure sensor but this will be done in practice. A common pressure sensor may be used, or separate sensors.

In operation, the space between the skins is pressurised to a suitable pressure. A steady state pressure is then monitored by the pressure sensor. Upon an attack on the container, for example with a blade, if the attacker penetrates through the outer surface (and through the optional bladder) this will cause a change in pressure between the skins because of gas escaping. This pressure change is monitored at the pressure sensor 9 which is connected to an alarm mechanism 10. The alarm mechanism can be arranged to generate an audible and/or visual alarm, eg by ringing a sounder or buzzer or by causing a light to be emitted. It may also actuate a means for releasing a noxious substance or staining material, or other means, as are well known in the art. An alarm signal may also be transmitted to a remote source using a radio link or otherwise.

Accordingly, the system can react to attacks on the bag and provide an appropriate alarm or defence procedure.

A problem may arise, however, when the ambient pressure varies. If the ambient pressure changes then this may be detected by the sensor as a change in pressure between the skins and therefore an alarm may be triggered. An example of this is a pressurised aircraft or simply if the container changes altitude substantially.

Preferably, therefore, the apparatus includes a means for automatically compensating for changes in ambient pressure or pressure within the bag itself.

Figure 2 shows schematically one such system. In this embodiment, one or more bladders 20 and 21 (for example to a first bladder 20 encompassing the walls and base of a box and a second bladder 21 for the lid). These are connected by respective tubes 22, 23 to one side of an air pressure sensor 24. This is connected by electrical connection 25 to an electrical control unit 26 which would generally include a processor and software for detecting when a pressure change has taken place so as to generate an alarm at an audible and/or visual alarm unit 27 and/or other alarm means as described above.

The air pressure sensor may include a sensing element which may be in the form of a diaphragm or other element having a first face acted upon by pressure along tubes 22 and 23. A further tube 24 is opposing to the other main face of the diaphragm and this is open to ambient pressure. It may either be open to the outside of the box or to the inside of the box. If open to the outside of the box, one or more seals 25 will be provided aroimd the tube where it exits from the container.

Alternative ways of causing ambient pressure to act upon the sensor, as a compensation means, may be utilised.

As ambient pressure increases then pressure on the face of the sensor opposite to that upon which bladder pressure exerts increases. The pressure sensor provides a signal representative of the differential in pressures between the two and thus automatically compensates for such ambient changes.

In practice, more than one sensor can be used if necessary. One sensor can measure bladder pressure and another can measure ambient pressure, each providing a signal which is applied to a differential monitoring circuit. In order to avoid false alarms, the control unit 26 may be arranged to provide an alarm only if the pressure differential exceeds a threshold amount and may include means for varying this threshold. It may also include means for distinguishing between different types of events. For example, a momentary change in pressure differential between the part of the box between the skins and ambient may simply be the result of the box being dropped or otherwise subject to impact. The control unit 26 may include software, hardware or other means for distinguishing this. This may include, for example, a memory, or a timer which causes an alarm signal to be generated only if the pressure drop is maintained for more than a predetermined time period. By utilising signal processing technology, the rate of pressure change can be monitored and used to generate a pressure 'signature' which can be compared with one or more known signatures representative of different types of events. In this way, known false alarms can be allowed for and/or different types of attack distinguished.

Figure 3 shows part of a box in a little more detail. This shows a top of a wall having outer skin 5 and inner skin 6. Between the two skins in this example is a bladder 28 which is pressurised (by a means not shown). Instead of the bladder, as discussed the entire volume between the skins may be pressurised. The figure also shows part of a lid 4 including an outer skin 29 and an inner skin 30. The gap between these is also pressurised. Tube 22 and 23 extend respectively from the gap in the wall and in the lid to act upon a pressure sensor 24. The pressure sensor is connected to a control unit (not shown in figure). The other side of the pressure sensor 24 is connected to a tube 34 which opens to the outside of the box at an opening 35. Seals 36, 37 are provided in the vicinity of the opening where the tube passes through it to prevent loss of pressurisation of the space between the two skins of the wall. If a bladder is used, then a further seal will be needed to seal an orifice 39 in the bladder where the tube 36 passes through it. If the container is bag, then the lid will be replaced by an opening section of the bag such as an opening front portion.

The bag, box or other container includes an opening mechanism, preferably incorporating a lock, which is arranged to disengage the sensor or the alarm system when the bag is opened or unlocked validly. This may comprise a simple micro switch which causes the pressure sensing mechanism to disengage, or may be a more complicated electronics system which is actuated or disengaged when the lock is properly operated. Alternatively, a numerical keypad may be included so that if the correct code entered, the alarm system is turn off. Alternatively, or additionally, finger print recognition, retina identification, smart card reading, or other identification methods may be used.

Note that although it is preferable to protect the whole container, in some embodiments, only certain parts of it may be protected by a pressurised double-skin method.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention which may be used as an alternative or indeed as an additional security measure to the pressurised one or Figures 1 to 3. fri this embodiment, a container, which need only be single skinned but could comprise more than one skin, is provided with an array of electrically or optically conductive wires 40 (eg optical fibres). These are provided upon a major surface of at least one wall and preferably all surfaces of the container. Alternatively, they may only be provided around an area of the container which it is particularly desired to protect. The array of wires or optically conductive means are connected to a processing circuit 41 which can detect breakage or deformation of one or these. Such processing is known in itself. The array is provided with a spacing between adjacent elements sufficient that any attack by a knife or other blade is likely to break or at least significantly deform one of the elements of the array. When this occurs, the processing means 41 detects this and can issue an alarm, release noxious or staining gas and/or take other action.

In its most general aspect, the invention comprises any method in which a sensing means, responsive to attack to generate an alarm, is distributed over at least part of a surface of the container.

Claims

1. A container comprising a means for sensing when a surface of the container is attacked, comprising a sensing means distributed over at least part of the surface of the container and responsive to attack at that part to generate an alarm.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, means for pressurising the space between the inner and outer skin, and pressure detection means for detecting loss of pressure between said skins caused by rupture of the outer skin and for providing an alarm.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, comprising a pressurisable bladder between the inner and outer skin.

4. A container as claimed in any of Claims 2 or 3, comprising an ambient pressure compensation means.

5. A container as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the compensation means comprises a means for applying ambient pressure to the pressure sensor means whereby changes in ambient pressure are automatically compensated by the pressure compensation means.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the means is a tube open to the exterior or interior of the container.

7. A container as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the inner and outer walls comprise at least the side walls of the container.

8. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the walls also comprise the base and/or lid.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an array of electrically or optically conductive wires or conduits provided across at least part of one or more surfaces of the container; means for providing electric or optical signals across the conductors and means for detecting when said electrical or optical signal is interrupted by breakage or deformation caused by attack on the surface.

10. A container as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises an array of parallel wires or cables or a grid of intersecting wires and cables spaced apart by a suitable distance which is small enough that penetration by a knife or blade is likely to break or deform at least one of such wires or cables.

11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alarm comprises one or more of; an audible signal; a visual signal; a signal to a remote station; emission of a noxious or staining substance.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim including means for distinguishing different types of attack and/or of distinguishing an attack from a benign situation.

13. A container as claimed in Claim 12, including means for comparing an attack signature with one or more pre-stored signatures.

14. A container substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.