GB2494262A

GB2494262A - Tamper evident fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2494262A
Application number: GB1214894.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alexander Mcgrouther
Original assignee: VIP System Ltd
Current assignee: VIP System Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-30
Filing date: 2012-08-21
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Also published as: GB201214894D0; GB201114916D0

Abstract

A fastener 128 has a head portion 130 containing an aperture 138 adjacent a first end 133 and a tail portion 132 pivotally connected to the head portion 130 at a distance D from an end 133. The head portion 130 includes an aperture 138 with one or more resilient pawls 140, while the tail portion 132 includes a plurality of teeth 136. In use, the pawls 140 and teeth 136 co-operate to allow the tail portion 132 to pass through the aperture 138 in one direction but not in the opposite direction. In securing a licence plate to a vehicle, the head portion 130 covers apertures (24,26; figure 2) in the components (10,16; figure 2) which the fastener 128 is fastening together, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the fastened components (10,16). The application also describes a vehicle identification system and a method of securing components of such.

Description

An Improved Fastener The present invention relates to fasteners, and in particular tamper-evident fasteners for securing one component to another.

When it is desired to secure one component to another, it is known to use tamper-proof or tamper-evident fasteners. A tamper-proof fastener is one which cannot be removed with conventional tools without damaging either the fastener or the attached components. A tamper-evident fastener is one which clearly shows when it has been damaged in some way in order to detach the components. Such fasteners are used in a number of applications but are particularly useful in the licensing of taxis and private hire mini-cabs, where a valid license must be displayed on a vehicle at all times to show that is it licensed to operate by a particular local authority or council. This licence is usually displayed to the public in the form of a licence plate mounted on the outside of the vehicle.

To prevent fraud and misrepresentation, the licence plates are mounted by the local authorities. Tamper-proof or tamper-evident fasteners are used for the mounting so that plate has to be broken to be removed, or else the fastener can be broken but it is immediately evident that this has been done. In this way, drivers cannot remove or swap licence plates between vehicles without it being immediately evident upon inspection.

Most tamper-proof fasteners have unique shapes which correspond with similarly-shaped apertures in licence mounts so as to secure a licence plate to the mount Once attached, the fastener or plate must be broken in order to remove the plate) thereby giving immediate visual evidence that the plate has been removed or re-attached. This type of fastener requires a special tool to engage or disengage the fastener and the mounting plate, and/or the mounting plate must have specifically-shaped apertures which correspond with the fastener. Having to secure the fastener with a special tool and/or utilise a mounting plate with apertures shaped to co-operate with those particular fasteners is both inconvenient and restrictive for the authorities mounting the licence plates.

There is therefore a need for a universal fastener which can be secured in any size or shape of aperture in the mounting plate, and which still immediately indicates to an observer when it has been removed. A solution to this problem has been to use "one-way" fasteners such as zip-or cable-ties, which are coloured or printed with an identifier which is unique to a particular licensing authority. A "one-way" fastener is a fastener in which an elongate tail portion of the fastener is provided with a series of detent portions (e.g. ratchet teeth) and the free end of the tail portion is pulled through an aperture in the head of the fastener which has one or more hinged and/or resilient pawls or catches. The catches allow the detent portions and tail to pass through the aperture in one direction, but prevent them from returning back through the aperture in the opposite direction. As a result, wrapping the tail portion about a number of components and then passing it through the aperture will secure the fastener to the components and the components to one another.

Whilst these one-way fasteners are beneficial in that they can fit through any shape of aperture, they are usually relatively thin and often only fill a small portion of the aperture in a licence plate or other component that they are intended to secure.

This can mean that access can be made to the rear of the component via the mounting aperture in that componenL Such a situation is shown schematically in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a detail section view through one corner of a prior art licence plate and mounting assembly. The assembly comprises a mounting or backing plate 10, which has a planar base 12 and a lip portion 14 extending around the perimeter of the base 12 and projecting in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to that of the base 12. Between them) the base 12 and lip 14 define a substantially square or rectangular recess for housing a licence or identification plate 16. The base 12 has a number of first apertures 18 through which mechanical fixtures such as screws 20 are inserted so as to secure the mounting plate 10 to a corresponding number of mounts 22 on a vehicle. Alternatively, the screws 20 or other fixtures may be inserted directly into a suitable area on the vehicle, such as the rear bumper

for example.

The base 12 has a number of second apertures 24, whose locations correspond with those of a number of third apertures 26 provided in the licence plate 16. When the licence plate 16 is located in the recess in the mounting plate 10 each pair of second and third apertures 24,26 are preferably co-axia' with one another or, as in Figure 1, are at least aligned to a sufficient extent that a portion of a one-way fastener 28 can be threaded through both apertures 2426.

The conventional one-way fastener 28 comprises a head portion 30 and an elongate tail portion 32 having a first end connected to the head portion and a second free end 34 remote from the head portion 30. A plurality of detent portions or teeth 36 are provided along at least part of the length of the tail 32. The head portion 30 includes an aperture 38 adapted to receive the free end 34 of the tail 32. Inside the aperture 38 are one or more resilient pawls or catches (not shown in Figure 1).

To secure the licence plate 16 to the mounting plate 10, the free end 34 of a one-way fastener 28 is threaded through the second and third apertures 24,26 to the rear of the mounting plate 10. The head portion 30 of the fastener 28 remains on the licence plate side of the assembly, lying in a slot cut out of the lip 14. The free end 34 of the tail 32 is then brought back around the side of the plates 10,16 and inserted through the aperture 38 in the head portion 30. As the free end 34 is pulled through the aperture 38 the pawls therein allow the teeth 36 on the tail 32 to pass through in the direction in which the tail 32 is being pulled. However, once the tail 32 has been pulled as far as it can through the aperture 38, the tail 32 is locked in position as the teeth 36 cannot return past the pawls in the aperture 38 in the opposite direction. This process is repeated at each corner at least of the hcence plate and mounting plate.

Thus, the two plates 10,16 are secured together and can only be detached by breaking the fastener 28. However, the relatively thin tail 32 of the fastener 28 leaves a gap through the apertures 26 of the licence plate 16, through which someone could access the non-tamper proof screws 20 securing the mounting plate 10 to a vehicle. If someone could access those screws 20, the whole assembly could be removed without having to break the one-way fasteners 28.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage with existing fasteners.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastener comprising a head portion having an aperture adjacent a first end thereof, and a tail portion pivotably connected to the head portion at a longitudinal distance from the first end; wherein the aperture contains one or more resilient pawls and the tail portion includes a plurality of teeth, the pawls and teeth co-operating to allow the tail portion to pass through the aperture in a first direction but prevent the tail portion returning back through the aperture in a second, opposite direction.

The longitudinal distance between the first end of the head portion and the tail portion maybe less than the distance between the first end and a second end of the head portion.

The head portion may be an elongate member. The head portion may be planar.

The aperture may contain a single pawl and the tail portion may comprise first and second sides, with the plurality of teeth located on either the first or second side of the tail portion. Alternatively, the aperture may contain two resilient pawls facing one another across the aperture, and the tail may comprise first and second sides, with the plurality of teeth located on both the first and second sides of the tail portion.

The fastener may be formed from a plastics material.

S

The head portion and the tail portion maybe integrally formed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle identification system, comprising a licence plate, a mounting plate adapted to mount the licence plate to a vehick, and one or more fasteners according to the first aspect of the invention securing the licence plate to the mounting plate.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of securing at least two components together, where the components each have at least one securing aperture therein, the method comprising the steps of: forming a fastener comprising a head portion having an aperture adjacent a first end thereof, and a tail portion pivotably connected to the head portion at a longitudinal distance from the first end; wherein the aperture contains one or more resilient pawls and the tail portion includes a plurality of teeth; positioning the components such that at least one securing aperture in each component is at least partially aligned with the at least one securing aperture in the other components; passing a free end of the tail portion of the fastener from the front of the components through the securing apertures to the rear of the components; returning the free end of the tail portion around the outside of the components to the front; passing the free end of the tail portion through the fastener aperture; positioning the head portion so that it covers the securing apertures at the front of the components; and pulling the free end of the tail portion tight through the fastener aperture) where the pawls and teeth co-operate to allow the tail portion to pass through the aperture in the direction of pull but prevent the tail portion returning back through the aperture in a second direction opposite to the direction of pull.

The at least two components may be a vehicle licence plate and a mounting plate for the vehicle mounting plate.

Each plate may have a securing aperture adjacent each corner thereof.

The method may further comprise an initial step of securing the mounting pkte to a vehicle using mechanica' fixtures.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 is a schematic detail section view of two components secured together with a fastener according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fastener shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a vehicle identification phte secured to a mounting plate using a fastener according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a detail section view of two components secured together with a one-way fastener. The fastener maybe used in order to secure any two components together, but is shown here securing one corner of a licence p'ate and mounting assemlMy of the type described above with respect to figure 1. The various elements of the vehide mount, mounting plate and licence plate are the same as described above and will not be described in detail again here.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, a one-way fastener 128 according to the present invention comprises a head portion 130 and an elongate tail portion 132 having a first end connected to the head portion 130 and a second free end 134 remote from the head portion 130. A plurahty of detent portions or teeth 136 are provided along at least part of the length of the tail 132. The head portion 130 comprises a planar member 131 having a first end 133 and a second end 135. An aperture 138 adapted to receive the free end 134 of the tail 132 is located at the first end 133 of the planar member 131. Inside the aperture 138 are one or more resilient pawls or catches 140. The first end of the tail portion 132 is attached to the second end 135 of the planar member 131 ata longitudina' distanceD from the aperture 138.

The fastener 128 is preferably formed from a suitable plastics material, such as nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene, for example.

Referring to Figure 2, to secure the licence plate 16 to the mounting plate 10, the free end 134 of a one-way fastener 128 is threaded through the second and third apertures 24,26 to the rear of the mounting p'ate 10. The head portion 130 of the fastener 28 remains on the licence plate side of the assembly with the planar member 131 lying within a s'ot 15 cut in the lip 14 of the mounting plate 10, as seen best in figure 4. The free end 134 of the tail 132 is then brought back around the side of the plates 10,16 and inserted through the aperture 138 in the head portion 130. As the free end 134 is pulled through the aperture 138 the pawls 140 therein allow the teeth 136 on the tail 132 to pass through in the direction in which the tail 132 is being pulled. However, once the tail 132 has been pulled as far as it can through the aperture 138, the tail 132 is locked in position as the teeth 136 cannot return past the pawls 140 in the aperture 38 in the opposite direction.

As can be seen in Figure 2, providing the aperture 138 and first end of the tail 132 at opposite ends of the planar member 131 allows the planar member 131 to lie along the exposed face of the licence plate 16 and cover the second and third apertures 24,26. Thanks to the location of the first end of the tail 132 at the opposite end of the planar member 131 from the aperture 138, the tail 132 and planar member 131 do not move to the outer edges of the apertures 24,26 as the fastener 128 is tightened, unlike with the prior art arrangement shown in Figure 1. Instead, the planar member 131 maintains its position as the fastener 128 is tightened. As a result, any mounting screws 20 in the vicinity of the second and third apertures 24,26 cannot be accessed from the front of the licence plate assembly without breaking the fastener 128 and detaching the licence plate 16 from the mounting pkte 10.

Figure 4 shows the licence plate and mounting assemNy with a pair of fasteners attached down one side thereof. As can be seen, the apertures 26 in the licence plate 16 cannot be seen or accessed due to the planar member 131 when the fasteners 128 are tightened.

As stated above, the fastener of the present invention may be used in any application where two components are to be secured together, and one of the compDnents is secured to another body using conventional fixtures. For example, instead of a licence plate and mounting plate the two components could be a photographic identification card and mounting plate for wearing on a chain around one's neck. Again, missing or broken fasteners would immediately identify that the identification card had been tampered with by someone other than the issuing authority.

Although the fastener is preferably formed from a plastics material, it is also suitable for forming from a relatively thin gauge sheet metal, such as stainless steel for example. In addition, whilst it is preferable that the head and tail portions are integrally formed, they may alternatively be formed separately and then attached together.

Whilst the head portion of the fastener is preferably an elongate, planar member the present invention is not limited to this preferred arrangement. The head portion may be rectangular or square shaped, for example, and may be corrugated rather than flaL The aperture of the head portion may have a single pawl instead of a pair of pawls.

In such a case, the tail portion need only have teeth on one side thereof if desired.

These and other modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS: 1. A fastener comprising a head portion having an aperture adjacent a first end thereof, and a tail portion pivotably connected to the head portion at a longitudinal distance from the first end; wherein the aperture contains one or more resilient pawls and the tail portion includes a plurality of teeth, the pawls and teeth co-operating to allow the tail portion to pass through the aperture in a first direction but prevent the tail portion returning back through the aperture in a second, opposite direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal distance between the first end of the head portion and the tail portion is less than the distance between the first end and a second end of the head portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The fastener of either preceding claim, wherein the head portion is an elongate member.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The fastener of any preceding daim, wherein the head portion is planar.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The fastener of any preceding claim, wherein the aperture contains a single pawl and the tail portion comprises first and second sides, with the plurality of teeth located on either the first or second side of the tail portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The fastener of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aperture contains two resilient pawls facing one another across the aperture, and the tail comprises first and second sides, with the plurality of teeth located on both the first and second sides of the tall portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The fastener of any preceding claim, the fastener formed from a plastics material.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The fastener of any preceding claim, wherein the head portion and the tail portion are integrally formed.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A vehicle identification system, comprising a licence plate, a mounting plate adapted to mount the licence plate to a vehicle, and one or more fasteners according to any of claims 1 to 8 securing the licence plate to the mounting plate.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A method of securing at least two components together, where the components each have at least one securing aperture therein, the method comprising the steps of: forming a fastener comprising a head portion having an aperture adjacent a first end thereof, and a tail portion pivotably connected to the head portion at a longitudinal distance from the first end; wherein the aperture contains one or more resilient pawls and the tail portion includes a plurality of teeth; positioning the components such that at least one securing aperture in each component is at least partially aligned with the at least one securing aperture in the other components; passing a free end of the tail portion of the fastener from the front of the components through the securing apertures to the rear of the components; returning the free end of the tail portion around the outside of the components to the front; passing the free end of the tail portion through the fastener aperture: positioning the head portion so that it covers the securing apertures at the front of the components; and pulling the free end of the tail portion tight through the fastener aperture, where the pawls and teeth co-operate to allow the tafi portion to pass through the aperture in the direction of pull but prevent the tail portion returning back through the aperture in a second direction opposite to the direction of pull.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least two components are a vehicle licence pkte and a mounting plate for the vehicle mounting plate. lii</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The method of claim 11, wherein each plate has a securing aperture adjacent each corner thereof 13. The method of either claim 11 or 12, further comprising an initial step of securing the mounting plate to a vehicle using mechanical fixtures.</claim-text>