AU651819B2 - Security seal - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 5 181 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Int. Class a Priority 0e Sae Related Art: 0 o Accepted: Published: APPLICANT'S REF.: CAP of PK 0573

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555S 00o 0* a *a a se Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): W.A. DEUTSHER PTY. LTD.

600 South Road Moorabbin, Victoria 3189 Melbourne, Australia Actual Inventor(s): saCC a a a. aP 5 as Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "SECURITY SEAL" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): PI9/3/84 SECURITY SEAL This invention relates to security devices and particularly such devices which provide observable evidence of improper access to or tampering with whatever is intended to be protected by the device. Such devices are typically such that they cannot be breached without destruction or partial destruction of the device, and it is that characteristic which provides visible evidence of the breach.

Security devices of the foregoing kind are well known and are used for a variety of purposes. They may provide high level or low level security depending upon the use situation. One typical use is to protect cash bags and document pouches against unauthorised access or tampering, and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to that example use.

Most bag or pouch seals are arranged to either encircle the neck or mouth of the bag, or pass through apertures in the bag walls. Some bags are held closed by a closure, and that closure may need to be protected by a security seal if improper access to or tampering with the bag is to be avoided. The closure may take various forms. For example, it may be a zip fastener, or it may be a rigid stud having a shank, a head at one end of the shank and a cap removably attached to the opposite end of the shank.

Security devices as known prior to the present invention do not adequately cater for bags or pouches having a primary closure such as zip fastener or a stud as described above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved security seal which is of relatively simple construction and which is effective in use. It is an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide such a security seal which is particularly suited for holding against relative movement two relatively moveable parts of a primary closure such as a zip fastener, or a two part 39 fastening stud. It is yet another object of the invention 9 *9 *990 5.5 .9

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2 to provide an improved assembly including a bag or pouch, a primary closure which is operative to hold that bag or pouch in a closed condition, and a security seal which coacts with the primary closure to hold that closure against movement.

The invention will be hereinafter described with particular reference to use with zip fasteners and stud-type closures, but it is to be understood that a security seal according to the invention has other uses.

According to the invention there is provided a security seal formed as a single piece from a plastics material, including a substantially rigid elongate locking pin which is operative to cooperate with each of two relatively moveable parts and thereby provide a relatively rigid barrier to such relative movement, detent means at one end of said pin, latching means arranged for cooperable engagement with said detent means, means connecting said latching means to the end of said pin opposite to said one end, said connecting means includes a flexible strap and an identity tag and is arranged such that the seal is formed into a closed loop when said detent means and said latching means are in said cooperable engagement, said cooperable engagement operates to resist separation of said detent means and said latching means such that breaking said loop causes visible damage to said seal, and a zone of weakness provided in i' said connecting means to facilitate breakage of said loop.

The closed loop formed by interengagement of the detent means and the latching means, can be broken by cutting part of that loop or by breaking the loop at the zone of weakness. By way of example, the zone of weakness may be formed at the junction of the locking pin and the identity tag.

According to another aspect of the invention the 35 security device is in combination with a zip fastener docking device having two upstanding laterally spaced posts. Each post has a transverse passage extending therethrough which is in substantial alignment with the 39 passage of the other post, and which is of a size to 3 receive the aforementioned locking pin. The zip slider has a transverse opening which is adapted to be aligned with the two passages to receive the locking pin when the zip slider is closed.

In use, the docking m.mber is secured to a bag, or other member, having a zip closure so as to be at one end of that closure. That end is the end at which the zip slider is positioned when the zip is closed. The docking member is arranged so that the slider locates within the recess of the docking member when the zip is fully closed. In a typical arrangement, the slider has a finger engageable plate attached to it in a nown fashion so as to be movable relative to the slider body, and the outer end portion of that plate has an aperture through it.

Sealing of the closure is effected by moving zip slider into the recess. The two upstanding posts are located on either side of the recess and when the slider is in the recess the transverse opening through the slider is aligned with the passages through the posts. That is only possible when the slider is at the fully closed position of the zip fastener. The locking pin of the sealing device is then able to be passed through the passages and transverse opening, and in so doing locks the zip slider in position in the recess. Securement of the sealing device into a closed loop then completes the operation, after which the zip closure cannot be opened without either breaking the sealing device or breaking some other component such as the zip slider.

e The security device described is usable with 30 closures other than zip fasteners. The invention extends to a combination of a security device and a closure in the form of a two part stud comprising a shank and a cap. The security device can hold the two parts against separation if the locking pin is passed through aligned passages formed in the stud shank and the cap respectively. In 00..*that case, the passages are aligned when the cap is suitable positioned on the stud shank. The cap may include a recess for receiving the latching means of the 9 security device.

4 An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following passages of the specification which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the various features as shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a security seal according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view taken along line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a similar view to that shown in Figure 4, but with the housing closed by a cap; Figure 6 shows a part plan view of the device in a closed loop configuration; Figure 7 shows a part sectional view of the end of the pin locked within the housing; Figures 8 to 10 show perspective views of a zip fastener being docked with a docking device, and held docked by a security seal according to the invention; Figure 11 shows a part-sectional side view of a security seal according to the invention in assembly with a two part stud-type closure; and Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view along line XII-XII of Figure 11.

eeoc Figure 1 of the drawings shows one form of the sealing device 1 which is moulded, or otherwise formed, from a suitable plastics material, and which includes an identity tag 2. That tag 2 might be omitted in other forms of the device, but when provided is useful for 35 bearing code numbers and other indicia which can enhance the security function of the device. Figure 1 shows the device 1 in the as-moulded condition, and that device 1 comprises a locking pin 3, a detent 4, a latching member 9 5, a latching member cap 6, and a connector 7. The device 5 1 is preferably moulded in one piece.

The latching pin 3 of the embodiment shown is an elongate relatively rigid member of generally circular cross-sectional shape. Other cross-sectional shapes could be adopted. The pin 3 is sufficiently large in cross-section to provide a relatively rigid barrier in the operative condition of the device, and in particular resist bending or flexing to a suitable degree. The detent 4 is of cone-like form and is connected to the outer end of the pin 3 through a neck 8 of reduced cross-section so as to provide a locking shoulder 9 which faces towards the adjacent end of the pin 3.

A conical form is not essential for the detent 4, nor is the provision of a locking shoulder 9. Such a shoulder 9 however, is particularly suited for use with the latching means hereinafter described. Thus, the form of the detent 4 is dictated, at least to some extent, by the nature of the cooperative latching means, and there are numerous possibilities available.

The identity tag 2 is of generally plate-like form in the arrangement shown, but again that is not essential.

It will be evident from Figures 1 to 7 that the particular latching member 5 shown has a substantially cylindrical body 10 and a passage 11 extending axially through that body 10. Forms other than cylindrical could be adopted. A plurality of flexible fingers 12 are disposed within one end 13 of the passage 11, and each a finger 12 slopes in towards the axis of the passage 11 and away from the passage end 13. The fingers 12 form the *000 S 30 latching means previously referred to, and it is to be

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understood that other forms of latching means could be adopted for use with the particular detent 4 as shown, or for use with any other suitable form of detent.

The latching member body 10 is formed with an open

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35 ended passage 11 in the first instance so as to facilitate formation of the flexible fingers 12 as an integral part of the body 10. Other techniques may be available for achieving the same result, but for the particular S39 arrangement shown it is convenient to initially form the 6 passage 11 as an open ended passage. The cap 6 is provided so as to permit one end of that passage 11 to be closed, and in a preferred arrangement it is connected to the latching member body 10 through a flexible hinge piece 14 as shown.

In order to condition the device 1 for use, the cap 6 is hinged into a position at which it closes the end of the passage 11, and that condition is shown in Figure The cap 6 may be then secured in the passage closing position by heat sealing, ultra-sonic welding, or any other suitable means.

The connection 7 between the latching member 5 and the tag 2 preferably functions as a flexible strap for a reason hereinafter made clear. Any suitable cross-sectional shape could be adopted for the connector 7.

Figure 8 shows one end portion of a zip closure having a docking member 16 which is particularly suited for use with the securing device 1 as described. The member 16 may be formed of a suitable plastics material, or any other suitable material, and may be secured in any appropriate fashion to the article which is to be closed by the zip fastener 17. In the arrangement shown, the docking member 16 has two upstanding posts 19, which are laterally spaced apart. A passage 20 extends transverse through each of the posts 19, and those passages 20 are in substantial axial alignment as shown. The posts 19 are 0 located on opposite sides of a docking recess 22 formed in tc the member 16.

:When the slider 21 of the fastener 17 is moved to ooo S 30 the closed position as shown in Figure 9, it locates within the docking recess 22. The zip slider 21 is provided with a transverse opening 34 which, when the slider 21 is in the recess 22 the opening 34 is aligned eoc* to t with the pasages 19. For added security, a central web

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to 35 section 23 of the docking member 16 overlies the front part of the slider 21 when it is within the recess 22, and '"that is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The finger engagable plate 24 of the slider 21 has an aperture 25 which locates 39 over an upstanding notched lug 18 on the docking member 16 7 and this lug 18 holds the plate 24 against the docking member 16 by clipping into the aperture The locking pin 3 of the security device 1 can then be passed through each of the post passages 20 as shown in Figure 10, and in so doing the pin 3 passes through the transverse opening 34 provided in the zip slider 21 thereby retaining the zip slider 21 in the recess 22 and preventing opening of the zip closure. The latching member 5 can then be moved to a position at which the detent 4 is inserted into the passage 11. Continued movement of the detent 4 into the passage 11 is resisted by the fingers 12 which partially close the passage 11, but as those fingers are flexible they are deflected radially outwards under suitable pressure. As a result, the detent 4 can be moved further into the passage 11 to a position, as shown in Figure 7, at which the detent 4 is fully contained in the latching member 5 and the fingers 12 snap behind the locking shoulder 9. At that condition of the device I, removal of the detent 4 through the passage end 13 is no longer possible, and the device is effectively sealed in a closed loop as shown in Figures 6 and It is preferred, but not essential, to provide the security device 1 with a zone of weakness so that the loop can be broken by hand when desired without the need for cutting or shearing by use of special tools. In the arrangement shown, that zone of weakness comprises a line *eeof weakness 26 as seen in Figures 1 and 2. It is preferred that the zone of weakness 26 is adjacent one end of the locking pin 3 so that, once broken, the pin 3 can be easily disengaged from the docking member or other closure with which the security seal 1 is used.

Figures 11 and 12 show one form of a stud-type closure which is usable with the security device of the *o 0 35 invention. That particular stud-type closure 27 includes a shank 28, a head 29 at one end of the shank 28, and a cap 30 which is removably mounted on the opposite end of the shank 28. In the preferred arrangement shown, the cap 39 30 is a sliding fit on the shank 28, and the security 8 device 1 is used to attach the cap 30 to the shank 28 against removal. The method of attachment is described below. In the operative condition of the closure 27 as shown in Figure 11, the folds of a bag or pouch may be captured between the opposed surfaces of the head 29 and the cap 30. Unfolding the folds of the bag or pouch to obtain access to the contents of the bag or pouch will only be possible by first removing the cap 30 from the shank 28.

In the cross-sectional view of Figure 12, the security device 1 is omitted for convenience of illustration. That view shows a transverse passage 31 through the shank 28, and another transverse passage 32 through a barrel section 33 of the cap 30. The passages 31 and 32 must be placed in alignment as shown in Figures 11 and 12 in order to enable use of the security device i. The cap 30 cannot be removed from the shank 28 when the pin 3 of the security device 1 is located through the passages 31 and 32 as shown in Figure 11.

The cap 30 preferably has a cup shaped housing formed on one side thereof. The housing 35 has a recess 36 therein, the recess 36 forming an extension of the transverse passage 32 through the cap 30. The recess 36 preferably has a configuration which conforms to the outer 25 surface of the latching member 5. When the security *ea device 1 seals the stud and cap together, as shown in Figure 11ii, the latching member 5 nests within the recess

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O36 thereby providing an improved security for the device.

It is to be understood that the stud-type closure 30 could have a form different to that shown in Figures 11 and 12. By way of example, the shank 28 and cap 30 may cooperate through complimentary screw threads to provide means of attachment secondary to the attachment and sealing function of the security device i. Other forms of secondary attachment could be employed.

As previously stated, a security device according to the invention is usable with primary closures other than C zip fasteners and stud-type closures. It is also usable 9 to directly hold something against opening or tampering, 9 rather than to do that through the agency of a primary closure.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the prevent invention provides an effective and conven- ient to use security device which has a wide range of possible uses. The device is of such a form that it is inexpensive to manufacture, and it is substantially tamper proof.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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Claims (14)

1. A security seal formed as a single piece from a plastics material, including a substantially rigid elongate locking pin which is operative to cooperate with each of two relatively moveable parts and thereby provide a relatively ffid barrier to such relative movement, detent means at one end of said pin, latching means arranged for cooperable engagement with said detent means, means connecting said latching means to the end of said pin opposite to said one end, said connecting means includes a flexible strap and an identity tag and is arraiyed such that the seal is formed into a closed loop when said detent means and said latching means are in said cooperable engagement, said cooperable engagement operates to resist separation of said detent means and said latching means such that breaking said loop causes visible damage to said seal, and a zone of weakness provided in said connecting means to facilitate breakage of said loop.

2. A security seal according to claim 1, wherein said strap is connected to said pin through said identity tag.

3. A security seal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said zone of w-akness is located at or adjacent the junction of said pin and said connecting means.

4. A security seal according to any preceding claim, 25 wherein there is provided a latching member which includes a hollow body, said latching means being located within said body, and the body has an opening through which the detent means is insertable for engagement with the latching means.

5. A security seal according to claim 4, wherein said hollow body is of substantially hollow cylindrical form having said opening at one end of said cylindrical form and an end cap at the other end thereof.

6. A security seal according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 35 said latching means comprises a plurality of radially inwardly directed fingers spaced circumferentially around the interior of the hollow body, said fingers being resiliently flexible and arranged to deflect on insertion 39 of said detent means into said body and engage behind said es.. 0 0** 0 0 0 00 0.0 00 .e 000 0 *0 00 00 9 e 0 0*0 0 0 I 11 detent means to hold said detent means within said hollow body.

7. A security seal according to claim 5, wherein said end cap is heat sealed or otherwise welded to said body.

8. A combination of a zip fastener and a security seal according to any preceding claim, wherein said two relatively movable parts are formed by a docking member and a slider respectively of said zip fastener, said docking member being located at one end of the fastener and said slider being operative to open and close the fastener, and said seal is operative to engage said slider to prevent separation of said slider and said docking member and thereby prevent movement of said slider relative to said docking member.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said docking member includes an upstanding post, an opening is provided in said slider, a passage extends transversely through said post, and said pin extends through said passage and said opening to thereby prevent movement of the slider away from the docking member. A combination according to claim 9, wherein there are two posts side by side upstanding from said docking member on respective opposite sides of a recess in said docking member, a said transverse passage extends through 25 each said post, said slider being located in said recess 'e when said fastener is closed, and said pin extends through G@ e C C o •the transverse passage of each said post and the opr!. ng in the slider.

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11. A combination of a closure and a security seal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said two relatively movable parts are formed by a shank and a cap respectively of said closure, said cap locates over an end of said shank, a passage extends transverse through said shank end and is aligned with a further passage extending S 35 through said cap, and said pin extends through said eeo transverse passage and said further passage so as to thereby prevent separation of said cap from said shank.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein said 39 cap has a housing to one side thereof, a recess being 12 V7&' formed in said housing which is in communication with said further passage, said recess being configured to receive said latching member such that said 3 hing member nests within said recess and is protected by said housing.

13. A security seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A combination substantially as herein described with reference to what is shown in Figures 8 to 10, or Figures 11 and 12, of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 23 May, 1994 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: W.A. DEUTSHER PTY. LTD. 1765F G*o% *000 00 :00 .000 SO 13