The present invention relates to a security system and a security device for securing goods in a container.

Today large amounts of goods are transported in containers all over the world and the goods may be transported over long distances. A significant amount of the goods are valuable and, therefore, potentially exposed to theft. Such valuable goods may be electronics, noble metals, and money, e.g. bank notes.

In particular transportation of bank notes raises several security issues. Large amounts of bank notes are transported between banks, e.g. for cash dispensers and between banks and business for daily trade activities. Bank notes are transported in containers with sizes that range from a size of a handbag to big size containers with volumes of several cubic meters.

To secure the transport of bank notes it is a common procedure to place cartridges with dyestuff in the containers in which the bank notes are transported. In case of theft and unauthorised opening of the containers the cartridges will explode and spread the dyestuff over the bank notes and, thereby, making them easy identifiable and useless for the thieves. Such a device comprising cartridges with unwashable dye or strong-smelling chemical is e.g. disclosed in European patent application EP 0 692 596 Al.

Alternatively a security device for securing bank notes may be equipped with a cartridge that may release an irreversible paper destruction product in case of an unauthorised attempt to open the container in which case the bank notes are held. An example of such a device is disclosed in US patent application US 2004/0216651.

However, the disclosed methods are only suitable for paper based goods such as bank notes. Moreover, cartridges are difficult to us in larger containers and may only mark a part of the goods present in the container.

Consequently, there is a need for a security system that can be used with all sorts of valuable goods, including goods wrapped in e.g. plastic folio and packed in large containers. The object of the present invention is to provide a security system and a security device with great flexibility and which may be used for securing goods in both small and large containers. According to the invention there is provided a security system that is highly suitable for protecting goods stored in containers. Such containers may be standard containers or specially adapted containers having outer dimensions allowing them to be stacked in truck or rail wagon.

The present invention also provides a security device that can release a large amount of a component in a container comprising goods and enclose the goods in the container and, thereby, make it extremely difficult to remove the goods from the container. Moreover, the security device may be adapted for use for protecting goods in small handbags as well as for use for protecting goods in large containers, which goods may be packed in boxes and wrapped in plastic folio.

Thus, in a first aspect the present invention provides a security system for securing goods which system comprises at least one security device including a first component in a first vessel and a second component in a second vessel and a release device for releasing the first component and the second component from the first vessel and the second vessel

respectively, and a mixing device to mix the first component and the second component into a third component. The security device of the system according to the invention is able of releasing large amounts of a third component that will adhere and glue together the goods that are secured by the system. The third component may be a polymer glue formed from a polyol and isocyanate, which may be kept in the first vessel and the second vessel, respectively. Depending on the nature of the polyol and the rates between the polyol and the isocyanate the properties of the third component can be adjusted as desired for a specific container and use.

The security system for securing goods according to the present invention further comprises a container for housing goods, which container is adapted to cooperate with a least one security device. The container is adapted in such a way so in the case use of the security device is necessary the spreading of the third component in the container is optimized.

In an embodiment of the security system the container is assembled from one or more modules. By use of this embodiment it is easy to assemble one or more containers in a desired configuration and for a specific purpose.

To facilitate the use of the security system, the system may comprise a container assembled from modules, which modules comprises at least a bottom module, a top module or lid module and a side wall module. Thus all module parts for assembling a container are available and a container may easily be assembled. Naturally, it is possible to use one, two, three or more side wall modules stacked between a bottom module and a top module, whereby it is possible to build a box with a desired height and volume.

In yet an embodiment of the security system for securing goods according to the invention at least a part or the modules comprises double walls, said double walls consist of two walls being preferably parallel and forming a cavity between the two walls. Thus, in the case that unauthorized personal try to open a container assembled by the modules, this may activate the security device within the container causing it to release the third composition which will glue the container together and make it difficult to open. A major part of the third composition may be lead to the cavities in the double walls and make the modules adhere together. In some embodiments all of the third composition is lead to the cavities between double walls, thereby forming a shield of glue around the goods.

Although the security device may be located anywhere in the container according to the security system, it is preferred that one or more of the security devices are mounted in the top module of the container. Thus, one or more security devices are mounted in the top module or lid part of the container and the goods may be stacked in the container before the top part and the one or more security devices are mounted. Thereby any accidental activation of a security device may be avoided.

However, embodiments where the security device is placed in other parts of the container are also possible. Thus, one or more security device may be located in the bottom module or alternatively in the side wall module. An embodiment wherein the security devices are placed in both the bottom module and the top module may also be realized.

Moreover, the present invention also relates to a security device for securing goods in a container wherein the security device comprises a first component in a first vessel and a second component in a second vessel and a release device for releasing the first component and the second component from the first vessel and the second vessel respectively, and a mixing device to mix the first component and the second component into a third component. The security device is adapted to be activated if any unauthorised action occurs, such as thieves trying to break into the container. In this context "container" should be construed very broad and should comprise a handbag, a plastic bag, a cassette, a metal container etc.

Normally the valuable goods in the container is packed or wrapped in a plastic folio and forming a package and the third component will adhere to the plastic foil and glue packages together and to the walls of the container.

The terms "first vessel" and "second vessel" should be construed as comprising one or more bottles or container, preferably pressurized bottles or containers. Each bottle or container may include a source for pressurized air or C0 ₂ . The source may be an inner receptacle within the bottle or container or the pressurized air or C0 ₂ may be delivered from a further bottle or container. The sizes of the bottles comprised in the terms "the first vessel" and "the second vessel", may range from about 0,1 litres to about 5 litres, conveniently in the range from about 1 litres to 3 litres. In an embodiment the source for pressurized gas or C0 ₂ may simple be a single-use pressure container, e.g. pressure containers used for filling life jackets with air. The pressure containers may be attached to the one or more bottles of the first vessel and the second vessel, respectively. A single-use pressure container may contain from about 10 to 60 gram of pressurized gas, which has appeared to be sufficient to spread the the third component in a container.

When an event occurs that activates the security device the release device releases the first and second component to the mixing device. The first component may be isocyanate and the second component a polyol. The two components can be kept in two separate vessels with compressed air. Consequently, when the contents from the two vessels are mixed a thicker and harder and optional foamy component appears which is the third component. The third component will in most cases have an appearance as sticky foamy glue.

According to the invention the mixing device disperses the third component in the container. The third component will then adhere to and encapsulate the goods in the container. If the container is a large container, more security devices may be placed in the container and be activated at the same time.

The third component is dispersed into the container rather rapidly and fills the cavities in the container. Typically, the cavities are filled with the third component from about 5 seconds and up to about 2 minutes depending on the size of the container. The viscosity of the third component may also influence the time for filling the cavities in the container. However, the viscosity and the consistency of the third component depend on the mixture proportion between the first component and the second component. Preferably the mixture proportion is chosen in such a way that the third component becomes a relatively thick flowing sticky component so that when the security device is activated the third component sticks to the goods in the container and/or glue the goods together.

When the third component sticks to the goods and glue the goods together it becomes extremely difficult to remove the goods from the container. In case of attempted robbery, the security device will be able to slow down the removal of goods so much that the robbers will be unable to remove the goods in time before the authorities, such as the police, reach the location of the attempted robbery. A further security device may alert the police and inform about the location of the attempted robbery.

In preferred embodiment of the security device the third component may comprises a dyestuff and/or a smelling agent. When the third component is released a gets in contact with an optional thief or robber the third component will stick to the clothes and skin and if the third component comprises a dyestuff or a smelling agent it will be easier to identify the thief or robber. Moreover, it will also be possible to include a DNA tracer or a similar tracer in the third component.

According to a preferred embodiment of the security device the mixing device is a nozzle and/or a helix mixer or a conveyer. Both a nozzle and a helix mixer are capable of providing an intense and rapid mixing of the first and the second component.

For the purpose of improving the mixing of the first and second component and facilitate the dispersion of the third component in the container it is preferred that the security device further comprises a source for compressed gas. The source for compressed gas may be a pressure tank with compressed air.

Preferably the release device is adapted to release the first component and the second component in response to a signal from a signal device. The signal device may be a radio signal sender or a telephone. The signal device may be connected with an alarm system, and in case of an alarm due to unauthorised opening of the container the alarm will affect the signal device to send a signal to the release device causing it to release the first and second component. The security device according to the invention may be adapted to the needs for the user. The size of the security device may vary and the mixing proportions between the first and the second component may vary to obtain a desired consistence and appearance of the third component. However, the signal device can also be manually operated, or operated via a remote control or adapted to automatically release a signal in case of a predetermined event as described above.

The present invention will now be described with reference to an example and a figure in which :

Fig. 1 schematically depicts a security device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a bottom module for a container according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a side wall module for a container according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a container according to the invention without the lid; and Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a container according to the invention.

In figure 1 is seen a security device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 comprises two pressure vessels 2 and 3. The pressure vessel 2 which may have a volume of 6 liters contains 3 liters of isocyanate and 3 liters of air at a pressure of maximum 15 Bar. The pressure vessel 3 may also have a volume of 6 liters and contain 3 liters of a polyol and 3 liters of air at a pressure of maximum 15 Bar.

When the security device 1 is activated the liquids in the vessels 2 and 3 are released and feed to the static mixer 6 via the pipes 4 and 5. The liquid in the vessels 2 and 3 are released simultaneously and pressed through the static mixer 6 for intense mixing and reaction to form a sticky foamy glue that are lead via pipe 7 to the nozzle 8 which disperses the sticky foamy glue over the goods that are intended to be secured by the security device 1. The release of the liquids in the pressure vessels 2 and 3 may be manually or electronic controlled. However, it is important that the liquids are released simultaneously. The pressure vessels 2 and 3 are preferably made from steel and in this example they have a volume of 6 liters, but in other embodiments they may have other volumes depending on the intended use. The pipes 4, 5 and 6 may preferably be made from plastic or rubber. The security device 1 may also comprise more than one nozzle 8. Several security devices 1 may be incorporated in a top module of lid for a container for securing goods in accordance with the invention. Embodiments suitable for such containers are disclosed in the following figures. Figure 2 shows a bottom module 10 for container for securing goods. The bottom module 10 comprises a bottom 11 having recesses 12 having along the edges 13. The recesses 12 are intended for receiving a side wall module.

Figure 3 shows side wall module 20. The side wall module 20 comprises an outer wall 21 and an inner wall 22 with a cavity 23 between them. Between the walls 21 and 22 are mounted reinforcement ribs 24. The outer walls 21 are assembled by their edges by means of profiles 25.

Figure 4 shows the bottom module 10 and the side wall module 20 assembled to form a container box having double walls 21 and 22.

Finally figure 5 shows an embodiment in which a bottom module 10 and two side wall modules 20 are assembled to form a larger container box in accordance with the invention. The box modules 10 and 20 are very easy to assemble to suitable configurations in desired shape and sizes. The box modules may be made from stainless steel or aluminum. It is also possible to manufacture the modules from suitable plastic material.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to only a few embodiments, it will easily be envisaged by a skilled person that several other embodiments and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.