GB2168654A - Security seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A security seal comprising a capsule and an element 22 to be retained within the capsule, as well as resilient means operable between the capsule and the element to permit insertion but to prevent removal of the element from the capsule. The capsule comprises two distinct inner 21 and outer 20 parts which, when assembled, define a cavity having an inlet aperture for receiving the element 22. The inner part includes a detent 30 which cooperates with a formation or opening 25 in the outer part to maintain the capsule in its assembled condition. In such condition and with the element inserted in the capsule, the element prevents retraction of the detent and thus also separation of the two capsule parts from each other. The inner capsule part may be transparent to permit inspection, through an opening 25 in the outer part of the region where the capsule cooperates with said element so as to permit one visually to check the physical integrity of the internal structure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPEC!FICATIDN Security seal The present invention refers to security seals, and is particularly concerned with improved visual inspection of security seals.

Security seals are widely known having a capsule and an element to be retained within the capsule by resilient engagement. In those types of seal in which a sealing filament is held between the capsule and an insert element, there have been many attempts to violate seals by simply breaking the filament, and subsequently replacing the filament within the filament entrance apertures using adhesive.

The only way of detecting this type of violation is by a rigorous inspection, involving sectioning the seal to detect adhesive residues.

In order to combat this type of violation, and to make it immediately apparent, it is possible to fabricate the seal from transparent plastic material which permits a visual inspection of the interior of the seal to check for the presence of adhesives. However, the production of completely transparent seals has the disadvantage that the mechanism by which the element is inserted and capsule interengaged is cleariy shown, and this facilitates the use of instruments in attempts to manipulate the seal to dislodge the insert.

There is also the disadvantage that the more transparent types of plastic material tend to be more brittle, and resilient engagement is more difficult to achieve.

One of the objectives of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a security which may have specific transparent areas, which permit visual inspection of those parts of the seal important to verify the integrity thereof, but preventing visual access to the engagement mechanism. Preferably, the seals are injection moldable in simple molds to facilitate protection.

Security seals of the type having a capsule and an insert, such as described in Brazilian patent No PI 6793500 have been produced by injection molding from plastics material. To form the capsule of the seal, it is necessary to use an expanding core of complicated construction in the mold cavity to form the interior of the capsule with the necessary surfaces to cooperate with the insert. These expanding cores have two or more parts, operated by a complicated mechanism subjected to wear and mechanical failure. The use of expanding cores also slows down the molding cycle, since the core must be removed from the capsule before ejection of the capsule from the mold.

Another objective of the present invention, therefore,is to provide a security seal construction which affords high resistance to unauthorised opening, but at the same time has a con figuration which may be simply produced in a mold preferably without expanding cores.

Another characteristic with the construction of the present invention is that the seal comprises three distinct parts, two parts cooperating to form a capsule and a third part functioning as the element to be retained within the capsule. The configuration of the parts forming the capsule is preferably such that insertion of said element within the capsule serves not only to define a sealed configuration but also inviolably to unite the parts forming the capsule to each other.

In accordance with the present invention, a security seal includes a capsule and an element to be retained within the capsule, resilient means operative between the capsule and the element to permit insertion but to prevent removal of the element from the capsule, and is characterised in that the capsule is formed from two distinct outer and inner parts which, in an assembled con dition, define a cavity having an entrance aperture and capable of receiving the said element, the inner part including a resiliently inwardly deflectable detent which engages in a formation in the outer part to maintain the capsule parts in their assembled condition, inward deflection of the detent being obstructed by the said element when in its inserted position.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the inner part of the capsule is formed of resilient transparent material, and the detent which is housed in the above mentioned formation or aperture of the outer capsule part serves as a window to permit visual inspection of the desired part of the cavity interior.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security seal; Figure 2 is a second embodiment of the invention, also shown in perspective; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment of figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the seal of figure 2 in its closed position, partially sectioned to show the interior; Figure 5 is a section of a third embodiment of the invention, showing internal details; Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views showing two modifications of the embodiment of figure 5; and Figures 8 and 9 are exploded and assembled views, respectively, of a further embodiment of the invention, the outer capsule part being partially cut away to show the internal detail.

Referring now to figure 1 the seal comprises three distinct parts: an insert 1, an outer capsule part 2 and an inner capsule part 3. The outer capsule part 2 has upper and lower walls 4 and 5 and side walls 6a and 6b, defining a passage 7. The side walls 6a and 6b have openings 8 communicating with the passage 7.

The inner capsule part 3 has a first enlarged end 9, with external dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of the outer capsule part 2. The inner capsule part 3 has a "drawer" portion 10 dimensioned to be received within the passage 7, this drawer portion having a recess 11 formed therein. The recess has an access opening 12 at the end remote from the first end 9, and has two internal surfaces 13 facing towards the first end.

The inner capsule part has lateral detents 14, situated to enter the openings 8 when the inner housing part is associated with the outer housing part 2.

The insert 1 comprises a leading end 15, including a central shaft 16 and two flexible arms 17 extending outwardly and backwardly from the leading end of shaft 16. The shaft is formed with a longitudinal groove 18 extending along its length, about its leading end, and returning along the length of the shaft. The shaft is fixed at its rear end to one side of a base 19, whose dimensions correspond to those of the outer capsule part 2, so that the base completely closes one end of the outer capsule part 2.

Preferably, an identification tag 200 extends from one of the parts of the seal.

The above seal is used with a sealing wire or filament, the filament passing around the object or objects to be seal ed. The filament is then passed, in the groove 18, along the length of the shaft 16, about its front end, and returns along the length of the shaft 16.

The inner housing part is inserted within the outer housing part 2, in the direction indicated by the arrow A in figure 1, and the insert is inserted into the capsule in the direction of arrow B.

In the closed position, the drawer part 10 of the inner housing part completely fills the passage 7 of the outer housing part, and the end 9 prevents the inner housing part from passing through the passage 7 by contacting the end of the outer housing part to close it.

The detents 14 of the inner housing part cooperate with the lateral apertures 8 of the outer housing part, effectively preventing regressive movement of the inner housing part 3.

The insert 1 is then inserted into the capsule. The leading end 15 enters the recess 11 in the inner housing part, via the access opening 12. The flexible arms 17 engage the surfaces 13 to prevent subsequent removal of the insert 1. It should be em phasised that, although not shown in the figure, the groove 18 may be formed either in the insert element, or in the other parts of the seal.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in figures 2 to 4. Referring to figure 2, the seal comprises three parts, an outer capsule part 20, and inner capsule part 21, and an insert 22.

The outer housing part 20 is similar to the outer housing part of the previous embodiment, but has one important difference: the passage 23 which penetrates the outer housing part has two internal surfaces 24 facing towards a first end of the outer capsule part.

Two circular openings 25 penetrate the upper and lower walls 26 and 27 of the outer capsule part, and their function will be described below.

The inner capsule part 21 comprises a rectangular wall 28 of the same shape as the transverse section of the outer housing part, to include the first end of the passage 23.

The inner housing part comprises further two plates 29, perpendicular to the rectangular wall 28 and spaced by a predetermined distance. On the external surfaces of these plates there are formed circular protuberances 30.

The distance between the outer surfaces 29a of the plates 29 is equal to the height of the passage 23 in the outer capsule part, so that the inner capsule part may be introduced within the passage in the direction of arrow C.

By moans of a pressure on the plates 29, the inner capsule part is inserted until the pro tuberances 30 are aligned with the apertures 25. Due to the resilience of the inner capsule part, the protuberances 30 engage with in the apertures 25 to retain the inner capsule part in its position. To use the seal, to seal a filament or wire, the filament is passed about the insert element 22 in the manner described in relation to the first embodiment above. The insert element is then inserted within the capsule in the direction of arrow D. The insert passes along passage 23 to the position shown in figure 3, resilient arms 31 engaging the internal surfaces 24 of the outer capsule part to prevent withdrawal of the insert 22. It should be noted that the thickness E of the insert 22 is at least equal to the distance F between the internal surfaces of the plates 29. Thus, the insertion of the insert 22 between the plates 29 effectively locks all the parts of the seal, since in order to withdraw the inner capsule part 21 from the outer capsule part 20 it is necessary to deflect the plates 29 inwardly to disengage the protuberances 30 from the apertures 25.

A further characteristic of this seal is that it is possible for the user to visually inspect the seal to detect violations. This characteristic is due to the fact that the inner capsule part 21 may be made of transparent material, the protuberances 30 thus acting as "windows" to permit the user to see into tie seal. With this characteristic, the seal is made even more secure as the subsequent use of adhesive to "repair" an opened seal is made impossible. It is easily verified that the sealing filament still passes around the end of the insert 22, and has not been withdrawn and replaced using adhesive.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in figure 5. In this type of seal, the seal comprises a housing having a passage open at its ends, and extending from the walls of the passage there are a plurality of resilient inclined fingers which define a cone.

An insert may pass along the passage between the fingers in a first direction, but detent surfaces on the extremities of the fingers contact a cooperating surface on the insert to prevent movement in the opposite direction.

This type of seal has been used in applications which require a lower level of security, since this type of seal is considered easy to open. Using the present invention, seals of this type can be made as high security seals.

Referring now to figure 5, the seal comprises a tubular housing 50, having resilient fingers 51 extending from the internal surface 50a of the housing. The fingers 51 are inclined re lative to the axis of the housing 50, and have radial surfaces 52 at their free ends.

Two circular lateral openings 53 are formed in the housing 50, above the free ends 52 of the fingers 51as shown in the drawing.

At the upper part of the seal, there can be seen a cap 54 in the form of a hollowed cylinder having a closed end 55. The diameter of the cap is equal to the internal diameter of the housing 50, and the cap has two cylindrical radial protuberances 56 positioned and dimensioned to cooperate with the lateral apertures 53 of the housing. Two longitudinal slots 57 are formed in the cap, to permit a diametral contraction in the plane of the protuberances 56, to facilitate insertion of the cap into the upper end of the housing to close that upper end.

To close the seal, the insert is simply introduced into the housing in an upward direction as shown in figure 5. The insert has a conical leading end 58, having a rearwardly facing detent surface 59. Below the detent surface 59, there extends the body 60 of the insert which includes a weakened section 60a and a blocking ring 61 to fill the lower end of the housing and thus prevent access. Generally, the housing and the insert are integrally connected by a filament of plastic material 62.

To use this seal, the cap 54 is simply inserted into the upper end of the housing, so that the protuberances 56 enter the lateral apertures 53 of the housing. The insert is then introduced into the housing, to reach the position shown in figure 5.

In this position, the leading end of the insert is positioned within the hollow part of the cap 54, and thus prevents deflection of the cap to remove the protuberances 56 from the apertures 53, and thus prevents removal of the cap 54 from the housing 50. The closed end 55 of the cap 54 thus inviolably closes the upper end of the housing (as shown in the drawings), and access to the insert is prevented. The seal is therefore transformed into a high security seal.

Once the surfaces 52 of the resilient fingers 51 engage the detent surface 59 of the insert, the three parts of the seal are then irreleasably blocked together, the insert serving to lock together the two parts of the capsule, i.e. the housing and the cap.

It is emphasised that, as well as preventing physical access to the upper end of the housing 50, the cap may be made from transparent plastic material so that the protuberances 56 serve as windows to permit visual inspection of the interior of the seal, particularly of the weakened portions 60a of the insert.

Figure 6 shcws a modification of the seal illustrated Figure 5. In this case, the housing 50 of the capsule is connected by means of a thread 62 to an insert part in the form of a series of blocking portions, interconnected by weakened regions 60a, four such portions, 63a, 63b, 63c and 63d being illustrated by way of example. In the case of figure 6, inner part 54 of the capusle is no longer a cap as in the case of figure 5, but rather a transparent sleeve, formed with two protuberances 56 in a manner similar to those shown in figure 5. On introducing the insert into the capsule, three sequential blocking portions 63a, 63b and 63c ensure the integrity and inviolability of the seal.Portion 63a fills the cavity outlet opening; portion 63b prevents inward reflection of protuberances 56, and further provides detent surface 59 which is caught behind the resilient fingers 51 formed on housing 50 of the capsule; and blocking portions 63c fills the capsule inlet opening. It will be understood that the closed loop defined by thread 63 may only be opened by breaking one of the weakened region 60a between portions 63b and 63c.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the seal illustrated in figure 6. This seal differs only in the fact that sleeve 54 is cylindrical and is not provided with the protuberances 56 of figures 5 and 6. This obviously does not in any way influence the possibility of visual inspection for checking the integrity of the seal, the insert of which may be seen through openings 53. In this embodiment, however, the outer surface of sleeve 54 is formed with a peripheral ridge 64 which cooperates in a groove 65 in the internal surface of the housing 50. Clearly, the slot and ridge may alternatively be formed in the cap and housing respectively.

The seal of figure 6 or figure 7 is opened by breaking the weakened section 60a, and with current seals there exists the possibility of opening the seal and replacing the parts within the capsule using an adhesive. As in figure 5, these seals permit visual inspection of their interior which totally prevents this type of violation.

In all other aspects, the operation and secu rity of the seals shown in figures 6 and 7 are identical to those of the seal shown in figure 5.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in figures 8 and 9. The seal is of the type shown in figure 5, having a hollow cylindrical housing 150 with the wall of the housing penetrated by two diametrically opposite openings 153a and 153b, adjacent respective ends of housing 150. Two resilient fingers 151 extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper portion of the internal surface of housing 150, fingers 152 terminating approximately level with the center of aperture 153a.

At the lower part of figure 8, there is shown an inner capsule part 154 which is received within the housing or outer capsule part 150. The inner capsule part 154 comprises a circular base 155 having a peripheral annular wall 190. A part of the wall 190, situated between two longitudinal slots 157, carries an outwardly extending tooth 156. Diametrically opposed to the tooth 156, the wall 190 is upwardly extended to form an extension or screen 190a, whose axial extent is sufficient to cover the opening 1 53a when the inner capsule 154 part is placed within the housing 150. In that condition, the tooth 156 is located in the opening 153b. The slots 1 57 provide the necessary resiliance to the tooth 1 56 so that the inner capsule part may enter the housing 150 axial ly in the direction of arrow E in figure 8.The inner capsule part 154 is made from transparent plastic material, so that the screen 1 90a serves as a window to permit inspection of the seal. The upper part of figure 8 shows the insert 160 having a first blocking portion 163a, with a conical leading end 158 and a rearwardly facing circular detent surface 159 connected by a weakened region 160a to a second blocking portion 163 of the insert, portions 160a, 160b having diameters substantially equal to the inner diameter of the upper part of housing 150. To arrive at the closed position, shown in figure 9, the inner capsule part 154 is inserted within the outer capsule part 150, the tooth 156 extending outwardly into the aperture 153b. This cooperation serves to maintain the inner and outer capsule parts in their assembled condition, prior to the introduction of the insert to close the seal.

The insert is introduced in the direction of arrow F of figure 8 to close the seal. As may be seen from figure 9, the presence of the blocking portion 163a of the insert 160 within the inner capsule part 154 prevents the radial retraction of the tooth 156 from the opening 153b, and thus prevents the removal of inner capsule part 154 from the outer capsule part 150. The resilient fingers 151 cooperate with the detent surface 159 to prevent withdrawal of the insert. The opening 153a of the outer capsule part is physically closed by the screen 1 90a of the inner capsule part 154, preventing physical access to the cooperating parts of the insert and outer capsule part 150, but permitting visual inspection of the weakened section 160a due to the fact that the cap is made of transparent material.

Since the second blocking portion 1 63b has a diameter equal to the inner diameter of housing or outer capsule part 150, access through the upper end of the housing is prevented in the closed position of the seal.

In the most preferred embodiment, the outer capsule part 150 and the insert 160 are formed at the free ends of two hin ged arms, the inner capsule part being pre-assembled within the outer capsule part and retained therein by the cooperation of the tooth 156 and the opening 153b.

Preferably, the cap or inner capsule part of each of the embodiments herein described is made of a brittle material, further to increase the degree of security of the seals.

The invention also provides a security seal comprising a capsule and an element to be retained within the capsule and means capable in use of permitting insertion of the element into the capsule but preventing its withdrawal therefrom, the capsule comprising inner and outer parts which, when assembled, define a cavity having an entrance aperture and capable of receiving the element , one of the parts comprising a resiliently deflectable portion which, when the inner and outer parts are assembled engages a formation on the other part to maintain the inner and outer parts in their assembled condition, deflection of the deflectable portion being obstructed by the element when, in use, the element is received in the cavity. The invention further provides a seal when assembled, and a capsule and an element for use in such a seal.

Claims (20)

CLAiMS

1. Security seal comprising a capsule and an eleent to be retained within the Capsule, resiiient ineans operative between the capsule and said element to permit insertion but to prevent removal of the element from the capsule, characterized in that the capsule is formed from two distinct outer and inner parts which, in an assembled condition, define a cavity having an entrance aperture and capable of receiving the said element, the inner part including a resiliently inwardly deflectable detent which engages a formation on the outer part to maintain the two capsule parts in their assembled condition, inward deflection of the detent being obstructed by said element when in its position inserted in the cavity.

2. Seal according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of said capsule parts is formed from transparent material to permit visual inspection of the inner part of the cavity.

3. Seal according to claim 2 characterized in that the transparent material is brittle.

4. Seal according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that said resilient means comprise resilient fingers formed on said element, which cooperate with a detent surface in the interior of the cavity.

5. Seal accordin to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that resilient means comprise resilient fingers extended from one of said capsule parts and cooperable with a detent surface on said element.

6. Seal according to claim 5 characterized in that said element includes a weakened portion situated adjacent to the detent surface thereof.

7. Seal according to claim 5 characterized in that the cavity defined by the capsule parts when in their mounted condition, is formed with an outlet aperture, said element being formed to include a blocking portion whose size corresponds to that of said outlet aperture and which is disposed in said aperture, when the element is in its assembled condition.

8. Seal according to claim 7 characterized in that said element includes a plurality of blocking portions interconnected by weakened portions each blocking portion comprising a conical leading end, a cylindrical intermediate portion and a circular rearend surface, said end surface of one blocking portion defining the detent surface of the element.

9. Seal according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer part of the capsule is in the form of a sleeve defining, at one of its ends, said inlet aperture, from the edge of which said resilient fingers extend backwardly and inwardly, said outer part also having two lateral apertures, one of which covers a region substantially aligned with the free ends of said resilient fingers and the other of which covers a region spaced therefrom in the direction of the other end of the sleeve, the inner part of the capsule comprising a transparent cap which fits into the outer end of the sleeve and is cup-shaped with a resilient lateral tooth adjacent its upper edge for fitting within and totally blocking said second-mentioned aperture, and their region of the upper edge of the cup being extended to a height sufficient comeletely to close said first-mentioned aperture; and said element comprises two blocking portions interconnected by said weakened portion whereby, on introducing said element into the cavity through said inlet aperture, the first blocking portion is engaged by the ends of the resilient fingers in a position adjacent said first-mentioned aperture, and said second blocking portion substantially fills said inlet aperture.

10. Seal according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 9 characterized in that said element and the outer part of the capsule are integrally joined.

11. A security seal comprising a capsule and an element to be retained within the capsule and means capable in use of permitting insertion of the element into the capsule but preventing its withdrawal therefrom, the capsule comprising inner and outer parts which, when assembled, define a cavity having an entrance aperture and capable of receiving the element, one of the parts comprising a resiliently deflectable portion which, when the inner and outer parts are assembled engages a formation on the other part to maintain the inner and outer parts in their assembled condition, deflection of the deflectable portion being obstructed by the element when in use the element is received in the cavity.

12. A security seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, which is in an assembled condition.

13. A security seal comprising a capsule and an element retained within the capsule, the capsule comprising outer and inner parts which define a cavity having an entrance aperture, the cavity housing the element, and one of the said parts including a resiliently deflectable detent which engages a formation on the other part to maintain the two capsule parts in their assembled condition, deflection of the detent being obstructed by the element inserted in the cavity.

14. A capsule suitable for use in a security seal, comprising distinct outer and inner parts which define a cavity capable of receiving an element and having an entrance aperture through which the element may be inserted, one of said parts including a resiliently deflectable detent which is capable of engaging a formation on the other part to maintain the two capsule parts in their assembled condition, deflection of the detent being obstructed in an assembled seal by the element inserted in the cavity.

15. An element suitable for use in a security seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, which element can be inserted in the capsule to obstruct deflection of the detent or deflectable portion.

16. An inner part of a capsule suitable for use in a capsule as claimed in claim 14.

17. An outer part of a capsule suitable for use in a capsule as claimed in claim 14.

18. A kit for constructing a security seal as claimed in claim 10 or claim 13, comprising the inner and outer parts of the capsule, the inner part being assembled in the outer, and the element.

19. A seal substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1, or Figures 2 to 4, or Figures 5, 6 or 7 or Figures 8 and 9.

20. Any novel feature described herein, or any novel combination of herein described features.