AU686907B2 - Two part security seal - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: APPLICANT'S REF: COMPLETE-ASSOCIATED- WITH-PROVISIONAL PN 0066 Applicant(s): 4.

*0 0** 0 0 0 W.A. DEUTSHER PTY. LTD.

600 SOUTH ROAD, MOORABBIN, VICTORIA 3189,

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Peter SCHAEDE Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "TWO PART SECURITY SEAL" Our Ref: IRN 436154 The following statement is a full description of this invention, method of performing it known to applicant(s): including the best

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-2- TWO PART SECURITY SEAL The present invention relates to a security seal of the type comprising interengageable elements connected by a flexible band or filament such that when the elements are engaged the band or filament forms a complete ring which cannot be broken without breaking the band or filament or one or both of the engaging elements. The characteristic that the ring cannot be breached without destruction or partial destruction of the security seal device provides visible evidence of a breach. The invention relates in particular to a security seal comprising two assemblable parts.

Security seals of the above described type are used for a variety of purposes, one of which is to protect containers or bags containing valuable items such as coin, notes or documents against unauthorised access or tampering. Generally, a security seal is applied to a closure part or parts of the valuables containing container or bag such that the container or bag can not be opened without breaking the seal. One such purpose for which the present invention has been specifically designed is the sealing of note containing metal boxes or cassettes which are used in Automatic Teller Machines (ATM's). Such boxes or cassettes are normally filled with notes and then transported to and

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loaded into ATM's for the dispensing of cash to customers. Because space is 20 confined inside ATM's, the closure parts of ATM cash boxes or cassettes through which a security seal may be applied are quite small and often not easily accessed for application of a seal.

The present invention seeks to provide a security seal that is dimensionally acceptable for use on ATM cash boxes or cassettes which has 25 sufficient strength not to break accidentally. However, although the invention is particularly suited for this application, it is to be understood as having wider application, and in particular a security seal in accordance with the invention is not confined in a dimensional sense as may be dictated by its example use for sealing an ATM cash box or cassette.

In known security seals the interengageable elements may comprise a male part which is insertable into a hollow housing via a passage extending through the housing and having tangs for locking the male part therein so as to -3prevent the male part from being withdrawn from the housing. A requirement of such known security seals is that the tangs within the housing are not accessible for manipulation as may allow release of the male part without damage to the seal. While access to the tangs via the end of the passage containing the male element may be prevented by sizing the male element such that .it snugly fills that end of the passage, the tangs may still be accessible via the other end of the passage. It is known to avoid this problem by providing a cap to close the open end of the passage, but the integrity of the closure needs to be ensured and this may require the security seal to include additional locking elements or it may necessitate a two or more step manufacturing operation, for example to permanently fix the cap to the housing.

The present invention provides an alternative security seal construction in which access to the interengaging elements is rendered very difficult once the seal has been effected. The means for so hindering access include a two part construction for the seal that requires the interengaging elements to be presented into the housing in directions extending transverse to one another.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a security seal including, a hollow housing, a first opening in said housing forming an entrance to the interior of the housing, a retaining member insertable into said housing through said entrance and being confined to movement in a first direction during said insertion, locking means connected to said member, a second opening in said housing enabling access to said interior, a male element insertable into said housing through said access opening so as to be ~25 thereby engageable with said locking means, said male element being confined to movement in a second direction during that insertion, abutment means on said male element arranged to cooperate with said locking means so as to thereby prevent withdrawal of said male element through said access opening and also prevent withdrawal of said member through said entrance, and flexible means connecting said male element to said housing, wherein said first and second directions are transverse to one another a:,d said access opening and said member are relatively dimensioned such that said member -4cannot be withdrawn from said housing through said access opening.

Preferably the male element and the retaining member are insertable into the housing in directions substantially at right angles to each other.

The locking means of the retaining member may comprise a plurality of tangs, sectors of a circle or the like, which are arranged in a generally planar configuration, and the insertion direction of the retaining member is substantially normal to that said planar configuration. This planar configuration of the locking means results in a construction such that the retaining member is inserted into the housing parallel to the plane generally containing the locking means. That arrangement increases the difficulty of accessing and manipulating the locking means should an attempt be made to improperly tamper with the seal.

Preferably, the abutment means of the male element and the locking means of the retaining member are engaged when the retaining member is located wholly within the housing and that engagement renders the locking means inaccessible via the housing entrance. To ensure such inaccessibility, the retaining member is preferably locatable wholly within the housing such that an end surface thereof is spaced inwardly of the housing entrance. That end surface may be provided by an end wall of the retaining member which is 20 sized such that it snugly fills the cross sectional area of a passage extending from the housing entrance and through which the retaining member passes on insertion into the housing. By way of example, the end wall of the retaining

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member may be sized to be a sliding interference fit within the passage. The close fit between the end wall and the passage and the spacing of the end wall 25 (that is its end surface) inwardly of the entrance of the passage renders it very difficult for a person to manipulate the retaining member in such a way as to open the seal in a non detectable manner.

Preferably the male element is sized to snugly fill the access opening of the housing when the abutment and the locking means are engaged.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the specific form and arrangement of features as described and shown with reference to the drawings is not to be taken as limiting on the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a partially sectioned view of one part of a security seal according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of another part of the security seal intended for use with the part shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the security seal part shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the two parts of the security seal combined and also shows the seal in its locked operative condition.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises two parts 1 and 2. Part 1 (shown in Figure 1) includes a hollow housing 3 and a male element 4 connected together by a flexible elongate connection in the form of a filament 5. The housing 3 may be of any suitable shape such as square or rectangular in cross section, and the interior of the housing 3 is accessible through an entrance 6 and an access opening 7. The opening 7, which is circular in the embodiment shown, is defined by an annular collar 8 on bottom wall 9 of the housing 3. The terms "bottom", "side", "horizontal", 20 "vertical", and similar terms as used herein are not to be understood as limiting.

i Those terms are used with reference to the orientation of the parts as depicted in the Figures, but in use the security seal may adopt another orientation. A passage 10 extends from the opening 7 through. the collar 8 and the wall 9 into the interior of housing 3, and that passage allows insertion of the male element 25 4.

The entrance 6 enables insertion of the second part or retaining member 2 of the security seal, as will be described in detail below.

A passage 11 extends into the housing 3 from the entrance 6, and in the example shown that passage is generally square in transverse cross-section.

A portion 12 of the passage 11 which is adjacent to the entrance 6 may be of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and size so as to slidably receive the retaining member 2 as hereinafter described. A raised pad 13 provided on Its -6the inside of each of two opposite side walls 14 of the housing 3 protrudes into another portion of the passage 11 which is remote from the entrance 6 so as to thereby provide guide and locating means for the particular retaining member 2 shown by Figures 2 and 3. An edge 15 of each pad 13 forms a guide surface for the member 2, and another edge 16 of each pad 13 forms an abutment surface for the member 2. Other arrangements could be adopted for guiding and locating the member 2.

The male element 4 is preferably of elongate form as shown and has a tapered head 17 at an outer end and is connected to the filament 5 at an inner end. That connection is preferably a frangible connection and for that purpose may comprise a section 18 of reduced cross-sectional size. In the embodiment shown a recess or groove 19 is formed in the element 4 behind the head 17 so as to create an abutment surface 20 which functions as hereinafter described.

The particular retaining member 2 shown in the drawings comprises a base portion 21 and an end wall 22 arranged upstanding from an outer side of the base 21. The base 21 includes locking means for male element 4, and in the embodiment shown that locking means includes three plate-like sectors 23 which are separated by equally spaced slots 24 extending radially from a .o.central aperture 25. Each sector 23 is formed in such a way that it is angled slightly upwardly from where it is connected to the base 21. That angled disposition may be achieved by forming each section 23 so that it is of generally conical form and has a thickness less than that of the body of the e.

base 21. The sectors 23 are sufficiently flexible and the aperture 25 is sized such that the head 16 of the male element 4 may be pushed through the 25 aperture 25 by forcing deflection of the sectors 23. A position is thereby reached at which the sectors 23 spring back to seat within the recess 19 and engage with the abutment surface 20. Thus, as can be seen from Figure 5, the sectors 23 function as fingers which engage the abutment surface 20 to hold the male element 4 against withdrawal from the housing 3 through the opening 7.

Although the sectors 23 are angled slightly upwardly, their configuration is considered to be and is described herein as being generally planar. That is, -7the sectors 23 generally lie in a plane that is parallel to the direction of insertion of the retaining member 2 and is normal to the insertion direction of the male element 4 into the housing 3. Sectors 23 are preferably formed such that they do not extend above or below the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the base 21.

The transverse width of the base 21 of the retaining member 2 is slightly less than that of the entrance 6 and the passage 11 such that the base 21 will easily enter the passage 11. It is preferred that the maximum thickness of the base 21 is such as to be a sliding interference fit between the pad edges and the surface 26 of the passage 12. The end wall 22 of the retaining member 2 is also preferably sized to be a sliding interference fit within the passage portion 12. Also, the wall 22 preferably has a relatively large thickness for strengthening purposes.

Referring to Figure 5, the security seal is assembled by first pushing the member 2 into the housing 3 through the entrance 6 until the end wall 22 abuts against the pad edges 16. When thus fully inserted, the aperture 25 is aligned with the opening 7 and the outer facing end surface of the wall 22 is spaced inwardly of the entrance 6. The member 2 may be firmly held within the housing 3 because of the aforementioned sliding interference fits between the S 20 member 2 and the passage 11 of the housing 3.

o To establish a closed seal, the male element 4 is pushed through the opening 7 and then through the aperture 25 to resiliently deflect the sectors 23 until they allow passage of the head 16. The sectors 23 subsequently spring back to engage within the recess 19 and thereby engage against the abutment S" 25 20. Withdrawal of the male element 4 is then not possible without damaging or destroying the security seal. Should an attempt be made to withdraw the male element 4, it is intended that the connection 18 will break before any damage occurs to the parts of the male element 4 and the member 2 that are engaged within the housing 3.

A number of features of the above described embodiment serve to ensure the integrity of its sealing function. These features make it virtually impossible to access the locking sectors to release the male element, after the -8security seal has been established, The male element 4 is preferably sized such that it snugly fills the passage 10 thus making it practically impossible to access the sectors 23 through the opening 7 and between the facing surfaces of the male element 4 and the passage 10. Access to the sectors 23 via the entrance 6 is also practically impossible because of the snug fit of the wall 22 together with the generally planar configuration of sectors 23 lying substantially parallel to the insertion direction through the entrance 6. The orientation and sizing of the sectors 23 relative to the base 21 of the member 2 are also relevant factors.

Thus, a person using an appropriate penetration tool to bypass the wall 22 would find it virtually impossible to manipulate the sectors 23, for example by applying a levering action, as would allow release of the head 16 of the male element 4. The snug fit of the wall 22 of the member 2 within the housing 3, the thickness of the wall 22 and the spacing of the wall 22 inwardly of the entrance 6, also contribute towards making it virtually impossible to access the member 2 such as to lever or prize it out of housing 3 without damage to the member or the housing.

Part 1 is preferably of integral construction, as is the part 2, and both may be injection moulded from a suitable plastics material, such as for 20 example polypropylene. In an example embodiment for use in sealing ATM cash boxes or cassettes, the housing 3 may be about 8.0 x 8.5 x 14.5 mm, with entrance 6 about 2.6 mm diameter for receipt of a male element 4 about mm diameter, the overall length of part 1 being about 105 mm. The member 2 may have overall dimensions of about 10.0 mm long, 6.2 mm wide and 6.5 mm 25 height.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

Claims (9)

1. A security seal including, a hollow housing, a first opening in said housing forming an entrance to the interior of the housing, a retaining member insertable into said housing through said entrance and being confined to movement in a first direction during said insertion, locking means connected to said member, a second opening in said housing enabling access to said interior, a male element insertable into said housing through said access opening so as to be thereby engageable with said locking means, said male element being confined to movement in a second direction during that insertion, abutment means on said male element arranged to cooperate with said locking means so as to thereby prevent withdrawal of said male element through said access opening and also prevent withdrawal of said member through said entrance, and flexible means connecting said male element to said housing, wherein said first and second directions are transverse to one another and said access opening and said member are relatively dimensioned such that said member cannot be withdrawn from said housing through said access opening.

2. A security seal according to claim 1, wherein said flexible means is 2 formed integral with both said housing and said male element. 20 3. A security seal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a passage extends into said housing from said entrance and said retaining member is slidably located within said passage. S4. A security seal according to claim 3, wherein a portion of said passage adjacent said entrance is of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and 25 size. A security seal according to claim 4, wherein said member has an imperforate end wall which extends transverse of said passage and is located adjacent said entrance when said member is positioned within said passage, and said end wall has a shape and a size which is substantially complementary to the cross-sectional shape and size respectively of said passage portion.

6. A security seal according to claim 5, wherein said end wall is spaced inwardly from said entrance when said retaining member is correctly and fully located within said passage.

7. A security seal according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said end wall is an interference sliding fit within said passage portion.

8. A security seal according to any preceding claim, wherein said retaining member has a base which extends across the inner end of said access opening when said member is located within said housing, and a cavity for receiving at least part of said male member is provided at the side of said base remote from said access opening.

9. A security seal according to claim 8, wherein said locking means includes an aperture formed through to said base and a plurality of flexible fingers which surround said aperture. A security seal according to claim 9, wherein said male element has an inner end and an outer end, said abutment means is formed by an outwardly facing shoulder located between said inner and outer ends, and said flexible fingers are engageable with said shoulder to prevent withdrawal of said male element through said access opening.

11. A security seal according to any preceding claim, wherein a frangible connection is provided between said male element and said flexible means. .o.o

12. A security seal according to any preceding claim, wherein said locking means is formed integral with said retaining member.

13. A security seal substantially as herein particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 13 December 1995 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK ,Attorneys for: p I", W.A. DEUTSHER PTY. LTD. 6537b I 11 ABSTRACT A security seal of (he kind having a locking head connected to a hollow housing through an integral flexible strap or filament. The interior of the housing is accessible through a main entrance and also through an access opening, and the entrance and access opening are disposed substantially at right angles to one another. A retaining member having locking means associated therewith is insertable into the housing through the entrance, and the locking head of the seal is insertable into the housing through the access opening. The direction of insertion of the locking head is substantially at right angles to the direction of insertion of the retaining member. When the locking head is fully inserted it engages with the locking means of the retaining member and is thereby held against withdrawal through the access opening. That engagement also serves to prevent the retaining member being withdrawn through the housing entrance. S *o