Cash Drawer Burglary Alarm

Abstract

A cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal from a cash drawer of a bill of currency lying between a plate with an opening therein and a switch biased to extend through the opening will cause an alarm to be actuated.

Description

This invention relates to a burglary alarm system. More particularly, this invention relates to a burglary alarm system that is designed to be placed in a cash drawer. The invention is further directed to a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal of currency will trigger the alarm.

Prior art cash drawer burglary alarm systems have suffered from serious disadvantages. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,406,447, an alarm system is disclosed wherein the removal of currency having a definite thickness will trigger an alarm. Thus, currency of the desired thickness must be maintained on hand. U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,770 discloses a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal of currency actuates a photocell thereby triggering an alarm. However, these photocells have not been found to be reliable. Due to their extreme sensitivity to variations in light, the photocells are sometimes actuated even though the currency is not removed from the cash drawer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,271 discloses a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal of currency having a sufficient weight will trigger the alarm. This system suffers from the disadvantage that currency of a sufficient weight must always be maintained on hand.

In addition, there are cash drawer burglary alarm systems wherein the removal of currency will cause two wires to make contact thus actuating an alarm. This system is entirely unsatisfactory for today's needs. This is because the contacting of the two wires usually causes a spark. Although this spark is usually small, a robber will notice this spark and will realize that an alarm has been actuated. Since such an event will place the cashier or teller in extreme peril, it is important that no spark be generated to inform the robber of the actuation of the alarm.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cash drawer burglary alarm system of improved design.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal of currency will trigger an alarm.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein currency of sufficient weight or thickness need not be maintained on hand to prevent the alarm circuitry from being actuated.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein there is no need to rely upon a photocell to detect the removal of currency from a cash drawer.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a cash drawer burglary alarm system wherein the removal of currency from a cash drawer will actuate an alarm without signalling to a robber that the alarm has been actuated.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. In accordance with the present invention, a plate is provided with an opening therein. The plate is pivotally mounted to a support. A switch is biased so that a portion of the switch is positioned to actuate the alarm when the switch extends through the opening in the plate. Means are also provided to deactuate the alarm when the switch is prevented from extending through the opening in the plate. The opening is of such a size that a bill of currency placed between the switch and the opening in the plate will prevent the switch from extending through the opening thereby preventing the actuation of the alarm.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the cash drawer burglary alarm unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the unit of FIG. 1 along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the alarm switch of the present invention in a deactuated position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the alarm switch of the present invention as it would appear in normal operation.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the alarm system of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a top view of the cash drawer burglary alarm unit of the present invention designated generally as 20. The unit is dimensioned to fit into one of the currency compartments of a cash drawer. Accordingly, the length and width of the unit are substantially equal to the length and width of a bill of currency.

FIG. 2 shows the unit of FiG. 1 taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1. The unit contains three major components, i.e., alarm switch 36, battery 72 and transmitter 60. The unit is covered by cover 30. Attached to the top of cover 30 is top plate 24. Top plate 24 is preferably comprised of a leaf spring for reasons which will appear hereinafter. Top plate 24 has opening 34 therein. Opening 34 of top plate 24 is aligned with opening 32 of cover 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, alarm switch 36 is comprised of pivot 40, plunger 42, bar 44, pin 46, roller 48, circuitry housing 50 and output conductors 52, 54 and 56. Pivot 40 is biased to exert an upward rotational force on bar 44. If bar 44 with pin 46 and roller 48 connected thereto is allowed to rotate upwardly, biased plunger 42 will similarly move in an upward direction. Movement of plunger 42 in an upward direction will cause switch 36 to be actuated.

A downward force exerted on roller 48 will cause bar 44 to pivot downwardly about pivot 40. This will cause plunger 42 to be displaced in a downward direction. The downward displacement of plunger 42 will deactuate alarm switch 36.

FIG. 3 illustrates alarm switch 36 of the present invention in a deactuated position. Pivot 40 is biased to extend roller 48 through opening 32 in cover 30 and through opening 34 in top plate 24. When roller 48 is permitted to extend through opening 34 in top plate 24, upwardly biased plunger 42 will be permitted to rise. This will cause actuation of the alarm. In FIG. 3, currency bill 28 prevents roller 48 from extending into opening 34 of top plate 24. This prevents alarm 36 from being actuated.

FIG. 4 illustrates alarm switch 36 of the present invention as it would appear in normal operation. As was explained with reference to FIG. 3, currency bill 28 prevents roller 48 from extending into opening 34 of top plate 24. A stack of currency 22 is placed directly above currency bill 28 and top plate 24. This stack of currency is then used in normal cash drawer operation. It is only necessary that one bill of currency always remain above top plate 24 in order to conceal the presence of the switch from a robber. If the cashier or teller is instructed by a robber to remove the currency, it is only necessary that the cashier or teller remove currency bill 28 along with the rest of the currency comprising stack of currency 22. This removal of all currency in that compartment under the precise instructions of the robber will cause the alarm to be actuated.

FIG. 2 illustrates the alarm switch of the present invention in an actuated position. In FIG. 2, currency bill 28 has been removed. It is to be noted that currency bill 28 can be readily removed from between top plate 24 and cover 30 without the occurrence of any ripping or tearing. This is because top plate 24 is preferably comprised of a smooth nonfrictionless surface. In addition, switch 36 offers no resistance to the removal of currency bill 28 because roller 48 will rotate about pin 46 as currency bill 28 is removed. The removal of bill 28 will allow biased pivot 40 to extend roller 48 into opening 34 of plate 24. This will cause an upward rotation of bar 44. The raising of bar 44 will allow upwardly biased plunger 42 to rise. The upward displacement of plunger 42 will actuate alarm switch 36.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the alarm system of the present invention. In copending application, Ser. No. 742,672, filed July 5, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,657, assigned to the present assignee, there is disclosed an alarm system that utilizes the telephone lines to summon aid. In Ser. No. 742,672, an alarm system is disclosed wherein an individual is equipped with a wireless transmitter that is capable of generating signals when actuated. These signals are detected by a receiver. In response thereto, the receiver actuates a mechanism which automatically dials a telephone number to connect the alarm system with a source of assistance. This source of assistance may be the police or an other source of aid. As disclosed in Ser. No. 742,672, the alarm is sounded by a tape recorder which has a prerecorded alarm message thereon. This alarm message identifies the location of the premises and indicates that assistance is desired.

The alarm system disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 742,672 has particular application with respect to a cash drawer burglary alarm system. Since no wires are needed to conduct the signal from the transmitter to the receiver, there are no wires to become frazzled and worn by the constant opening and closing of the cash drawer.

As shown in FIG. 5, the signal from switch 36 is transmitted over conductor 58 to transmitter 60. Transmitter 60 is powered by a small replaceable battery 72. Battery 72 is connected to transmitter 60 by conductor 74. The transmission from transmitter 60 to receiver 62 is a wireless one. Accordingly, receiver 62 may be placed in a convenient position where there is access to a telephone. The signal transmitted by transmitter 60 and detected by receiver 62 is transmitted over conductor 64 to alarm 66. The block in FIG. 5 designated as alarm 66 performs two functions. It broadcasts a prerecorded alarm message. It also connects the broadcast of this prerecorded alarm message to a source of assistance. Alarm 66 may comprise a portion of the alarm system disclosed in Ser. No. 742,672. The source of assistance may be a police station or any other source of aid. Since the alarm system utilizes a conventional telephone, connector 68 shown in FIG. 5 will take the form of conventional telephone lines.

The operation of the system is as follows.

The alarm switch of the present invention is placed in a deactuated position by inserting a currency bill between the roller and the opening in the top plate. A stack of currency that is used in the day to day transactions is placed above the top plate. Thus, a robber viewing the open cash drawer, will not be aware of the alarm system therein. The teller or cashier may actuate the transmitter in response to a robber's demand for money by removing the stack of currency above the top plate along with the bill below the top plate.

The actuation of the transmitter will cause a signal to be generated to actuate an alarm. This alarm may take the form of a prerecorded alarm message. This prerecorded alarm message may be communicated to a source of assistance via telephone lines as is disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 742,672.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central attributes thereof.

Claims

It is claimed:

1. An alarm system comprising a transmitter, means to actuate said transmitter, said transmitter actuating means comprising a plate with an opening therein, a switch, a portion of said switch being positioned so as to extend through said opening, means for selectively actuating said transmitter when said portion of said switch extends through said opening and for deactivating said transmitter when said portion of said switch is prevented from extending through said opening, said opening being a size such that a bill of currency placed between said portion of said switch and said opening in said plate will prevent said portion of said switch from extending through said opening and thereby prevent said transmitter from being actuated.

2. An alarm system comprising a cash drawer, said cash drawer having a bottom wall with an aperture therein, a plate, said plate defining an opening and being coupled to said bottom wall in overlying relation thereto with said aperture and said opening being aligned, a switch, said switch being coupled to said bottom wall below said cash drawer, said switch having a portion movable between a first position where it extends through said opening and a second position where it is disposed on one side of said plate, means for biasing said switch portion through said opening, an energizeable alarm, means for energizing said alarm when said switch portion extends through said opening and deenergizing said alarm when said switch portion is on said one side, and said opening is of a size such that a bill of currency disposed between said switch portion and said opening will retain said switch portion on said one side so that said alarm is normally deenergized.

3. An alarm system comprising a plate, said plate defining an opening, a switch, said switch comprising a plunger, biasing means for moving said plunger in an upward direction, said switch being disposed on one side of said plate and having a switch portion movable between a first position where it extends through said opening and a second position where it is on one side of said plate, said switch portion including an elongated arm having one end coupled to said switch, an intermediate portion in engagement with said plunger and its other end biased to extend through said opening, an energizeable alarm, means for energizing said alarm when said other end extends through said opening and deenergizing said alarm when said other end is on said one side, said opening being of a size such that a bill of currency disposed between said other end and said opening will retain said switch portion on said one side so that said alarm is normally deenergized, and said alarm is energized when said other end of said elongated arm is urged through said opening by said plunger.