Electronically protected holder for valuable documefits.

The invention relates to an electronically protected holder, more especially a portable holder for valuable documents, which principally consist of a hollow body that is open on one side and a lid that can close this open side of the body.

It is known that valuable documents, such as cheques for example are usually carried around in holders which are easy to open so that no security whatsoever exists against theft of the valuable documents.

It is likewise known that it has already been suggested to strengthen and/or provide such holders with mechanical protections in order to render theft more difficult.

The disadvantage is however that such holders thus become too heavy and/or too large and therefore rather unmanageab1e.

The object of the invention then also consists in an electronically protected, more especially portable, holder for valuable documents which, although it can be produced lightweight and very manageable still offers a complete

protection for valuable documents.

For this purpose the holder according to the invention is provided with electro-mechanical means which allow the lid to be locked; electro-mechanical means which allow a destructive substance to be released into the holder and an electronic control for the activation of the aforementioned electro-mechanical means.

Such a holder has the great advantage that it need not be unreasonably robust and reinforced in order to obtain a complete protection of the valuable documents since, if an unauthorised person would attempt to open the holder, the electronic control will always release a destructive substance into the holder which renders the valuable documents worthless and/or unusable.

Indeed the term destructive substance must be understood in the widest possible sense, since hereunder must be included both a truly destructive substance, as well as a substance which provides the valuable documents with an identifying mark from which an unauthorised use can be deduced, as well as a substance which renders the valuable documents unusable, or similar. Such substance can be constituted by a dyestuff, for example ink; a chemical product; powder; etc.

The electronic control will preferably have a keyboard operated from outside for inserting a code.

The electronic control verifies the code introduced; with a correct code sends an impulse to the electro-mechanical means for locking the lid through which these unlock the lid and with the introduction of at least an incorrect code activates the electro-mechanical means for the release of the destructive substance into the holder, in order to render the valuable documents stored in the holder unusable by the destructive substance.

The electro-mechanical means will preferably be formed by a solenoid.

In a particular embodiment of the invention contacts will also be installed in the holder, to which the electronic control is also connected with the intention that the electronic control activates the electro-mechanical means for releasing the destructive substance into the holder by the breaking of at least one of these contacts, so that the valuable documents will be rendered unusable by breaking open or drilling through the holder or similar.

In order to show better the characteristics of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of a holder according to the invention is described hereafter, as example and without any restrictive character with reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

figure 1 shows in perspective a view of a holder according to the invention; figure 2 shows a section according to line II-II in figure 1 ; figure 3 shows a cross-section according to line

III-III in figure 1 whereby the lid is shown in opened position.

The electronically protected holder for valuable documents shown in the figures shows the form of a flat rectangular box that principally consists of a hollow body 1 and a lid 3 attached thereto by means of a hinge 2. On the top of the lid there is a keyboard 4 of an electronic control 5, for example a microprocessor, mounted undernea±h against the lid 3 for example.

In the middle against the front edge of the lid 3 an eye 6 is installed underneath with which the lid 3 can be locked in relation to the body 1. ^■ « ^»

The body 1 in the embodiment shown principally consists of a bottom plate 7; a rear wall 8; a double left-hand wall 9, 10, a double right-hand wall 11, 12 and a double front wall 13, 14.

In the double left-hand wall 9, 10 there is a battery 15 which is connected to the electronic control 5 by means of conductors not shown in the drawings.

On the left in the double front wall 13, 14 an electro¬ mechanical lock is installed consisting of a solenoid 16 of which the axial core 17 fulfills the function of an in and out sliding locking bolt which is in rest position, which under the influence of a spring not shown, is in the pushed out, respectively locked, position.

When the lid 3 is snapped shut the eye 6 first presses on the oblique edge 17A of the core 17 through which this is pushed in, against the pressure of the aforementioned spring, in order afterwards again to spring out and penetrate the eye 6 and thus to lock the lid 3. The solenoid 16 is connected to the control 5 via conductors not shown in the figures.

When the control 5 sends an impulse to the solenoid 16, an electric current will flow in there through which the locking piece 17 is pulled into the solenoid 16 so that the lid 3 can be opened.

In the double right-hand wall 11, 12 of the holder there are similarly, electro-mechanical locking means also operated by the electronic control 5 which principally consist of a solenoid 18 of which the core 19 fulfills the function of locking bolt.

On the right in the double front wall 13, 14 means are provided consisting of a hollow cylinder 20 with a piston 21 therein of which the piston rod 22 is provided with a

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spring 23 which is compressed between the piston 21 and a fixed support 24 in relation to the holder. The right-hand extremity of the piston rod 22 is also provided with a stop 25 which can work together . with the aforementioned locking bolt 1 .

The part of the cylinder 20 situated on the left of the piston 21 is filled with a dyestuff 26, for example ink, whereby in the cylinder 20 an opening 27 is provided which exits in the holder and along which the dyestuff can enter the holder. This opening 27 is normally for example closed by a valve not shown in the drawings which only opens under a specific pressure. Such valve can be formed in a simple embodiment by adhesive tape or similar.

In the outer walls 8, 10, 12 and 14 of the body 1 as well as in the lid 3 preferably a number of contacts can be installed scattered over the whole surface.

Underneath against the lid 3 for example a so-called membrane contact 28, 29 can be installed extending out over the whole surface of the lid 3, that consists of two layers of membranes 28 situated against each other with contacts 29 between them. With for example the drilling through of the lid 3 the drill will push both membranes towards each other and in so doing the contacts 29 will be closed, or conversely the membranes 28 can be pushed towards each other by such drilling treatment and close the contacts 29, which always results in aτι activation of the solenoid 18.

Such membrane contacts 28, 29 can also be' installed against the inside of the remaining walls (8/ 10, 12, 7, 14). The contacts 29 are connected to the control 3 5 such that these can detect the closing or breaking of the contacts 29.

The activation of both locking means 16, 17 and 18, 19 is

operated by the electronic control 5.

When the correct code is introduced on the keyboard 4, the control 5 will activate the locking means 16, 17 through which the bolt 17 is pulled out of the eye 6 so that the lid 3 can be opened.

With the introduction of an incorrect code the control 5 will however not do this. The control 5 will on the contrary count the number of consecutive incorrect introductions in order that after a specific number, for example after the third consecutive incorrect code, to activate the second locking means 18, 19 through which, as described above, the dyestuff or similar is released into the holder because the bolt 19 liberates the stop and thus the spring 23 pushes the piston 21 into the cylinder 20, through which the dyestuff 26 is pushed out and enters the holder through the opening 27.

The cylinder 20 can again be filled after the piston 21 is removed from the cylinder.

The control 5 will also activate the second locking means 18, 19 by the closing or breaking of one of the contacts 29.

It is therefore practically impossible to open or break open the holder without the substance 26 making the valuable documents unusable.

The holder may as a result be made out of light plastic which on the one hand facilitates the manufacture and renders the holder less expensive and through which on the other hand the holder remains lighter and more convenient in use.

The battery 15 will preferably be installed only

accessible from the inside, whereby preferably yraxning means for example a LED will be provided which _indicates when the battery 15 becomes too weak to activate the unlocking mechanism 6, 16, 17, in other words that it is due for replacement.

Finally the battery could be formed by a σhargeable battery which can be charged via exterior contacts. * .

The battery may be installed in all sorts of locations.

The invention is in no way restricted to the embodiment described for this purpose but may be developed in all kinds of forms and dimensions without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example in the walls of the holder other protective mechanisms can still be provided such as for example an electric contact making wiring connected to the control, whereby in the case of a holder in plastic, this wiring could easily be incorporated in the walls.

Likewise in the walls 8, 10, 12, 14 of the body 1 and in the lid 3 a reinforcement of fibreglass or similar can be provided.

Further the lid need not necessarily be attached to the body hingingly but it could also possibly be mounted to the body in a sliding open manner, whereby in such embodiment the solenoid 16 could for examp ¹ le ', ' be Minstalled between the walls 9, 10 and the bolt could work together with the eye 6 that is then provided parallel with the sliding direction of the lid. > _« -.