CA2419386C - Security device - Google Patents

Security device Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2419386C
CA2419386C CA2419386A CA2419386A CA2419386C CA 2419386 C CA2419386 C CA 2419386C CA 2419386 A CA2419386 A CA 2419386A CA 2419386 A CA2419386 A CA 2419386A CA 2419386 C CA2419386 C CA 2419386C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
closure member
security device
locking element
slider
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA2419386A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2419386A1 (en
Inventor
Barry Hudson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tebco International Inc
Original Assignee
TEBCO Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TEBCO Pty Ltd filed Critical TEBCO Pty Ltd
Publication of CA2419386A1 publication Critical patent/CA2419386A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2419386C publication Critical patent/CA2419386C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44BBUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B19/00Slide fasteners
    • A44B19/24Details
    • A44B19/26Sliders
    • A44B19/30Sliders with means for locking in position
    • A44B19/301Sliders with means for locking in position at the end of their upward travel with any suitable device, e.g. pull member combined with a press-button, a hook, a key-operated lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a security device (24) for a slide fastener (12). The security device (24) has including a housing (24) adapted to be fitted to an object (10) to which the tapes (14) of the slide fastener (12) are attached or to the tapes (14) themselves. The housing (24) substantially surrounds the slider (18) of the slide fastener (12) in its fully closed position. A closure member (46) is adapted to co-operate with housing (24) which, in use, covers slider (18) to prevent access thereto. A frangible locking element (64) is adapted to link housing (24) to closure member (46) with locking element being resiliently yieldable and slidably insertable into closure member (46) but not retractable therefrom without fracturing the frangible locking element (64).

Description

SECURITY DEVICE

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a security device for a slide fastener and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a security device for re-useable security envelopes typically used for cash, currency and document transport.
Background of the Invention Re-useable security envelopes are commonplace for the transportation of documents or articles between various offices of a business or government departments. The envelope is made from a sturdy material e.g. plastics, canvas, etc which is sealed around the edges. A slide fastener closes an opening in the envelope to allow entry to the envelope. Articles are placed in the envelope and the slider is drawn across the chain of teeth fitted to the tapes of the slide fastener to close the envelope. In order to prevent tampering of the contents of the envelope a security device is fitted to both the chain and the security envelope to prevent, or make evident, any unauthorised access to the envelope. Typically, the security device is fitted to secure the slider and includes a disposable numbered identification tag which must be broken to release the slider. Any tampering is clearly visible if the tag has been broken. It is not possible to substitute a tag that has been broken to avoid suspicion that the security of the envelope has been compromised as each tag has its own unique number with a no repeat in six million numbered combinations.
Examples of such devices are shown in US Patent Nos.
4112990, 4008914, 4602405 and 3955842. These devices have proved popular as the disposable tags or plugs that provide visual evidence of tampering are cheap to mass produce and provide a certain degree of security. Unfortunately these devices can be easily manipulated using dexterity and lock picks to release the disposable tag or plug without damage thereto. The slide fastener can then be released and the contents of the envelope taken or substituted. The tag or plug can then be re-inserted in the usual manner and there will be no evidence of tampering. The applicant has determined that the major problem is the external exposure of both the slider and the security device. This allows the thief ready access using lock picks and similar tools.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device for a slide fastener that provides enhanced security over the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a security device for a slide fastener where the slider of the slide fastener is hidden when in use.

More particularly, there is provided a security device for a slide fastener, said security device including a housing adapted to be fitted to an object to which the tapes of said slide fastener are attached or the tapes themselves, a closure member adapted to co-operate with said housing and a frangible locking element adapted to link said housing to said closure member, said locking element being resiliently yieldable and slidably insertable into said closure member but not retractable therefrom without fracturing said frangible locking element, wherein said housing and said closure member surround and cover said slider in its fully closed position to prevent access thereto.

With these objects in view the present invention provides a security device for a slide fastener, said security device including a housing adapted to be fitted to an object to which the tapes of said slide fastener are attached or to the tapes themselves, said housing substantially surrounding the slider of said slide fastener in its fully closed position, a closure member adapted to co-operate with said housing which, in use, covers said slider to prevent access thereto and a frangible locking element adapted to link said housing to said closure member, said locking element being resiliently yieldable and slidably insertable into said closure member but not retractable therefrom without fracturing said frangible locking element.

DOCSTOR: 1519929U

2a Preferably said closure member is attached at one end to a puller and said puller is attached to said slider. In a preferred embodiment said closure member can pivot about said housing and block exit of said slider from said housing in its closed position.

In a practical embodiment said housing includes a guide member which aligns with a slot in said closure member in its closed position and said frangible locking element includes barbs which lock behind said guide member to prevent extraction of said frangible locking element from said housing and said closure member.

DoCSTOa: 1519929v Preferably said housing includes a spreader which spreads said barbs apart during insertion of said frangible locking element into said closure member to further assist in preventing extraction of said frangible locking element from said housing and said closure member.
Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a security envelope having lo attached thereto a security device made in accordance with the invention shown in the locked position;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the security device shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the security device shown in Fig. I in the open position;
Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 3 in the almost closed position;
Fig. 5 is a similar view to that of Fig. 3 in the closed position prior to insertion of the locking element;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 6-6 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 is a similar view to that of Fig. 6 with the locking element being broken;
Fig. 8 is a similar view to that of Fig. 7 in the open position with part of the locking element still inside;
Fig. 9 is a plan view of the housing of the security device shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 10-10 shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the locking element shown in Fig. 5.
Detailed Description of the Invention In the drawings there is shown a security envelope 10 which is closed by a conventional slide fastener 12. Slide fastener 12 has tapes 14 with respective chains of teeth 16. A slider 18 slides along the chains of teeth 16 to either close or open the slide fastener. A puller 20 is swingably or pivotally attached at one end to slider 18 by bridge 22. A
housing 24 is fixed to security envelope 10 using studs, glue, screws or other suitable fixing means. In the preferred embodiment illustrated fixing holes 25 are located in the floor of housing 24 for studs (not 1o shown). For additional security, a base member 30 is provided which matches the shape of the floor of housing 24. Base member 30 is located on the inside of security envelope 10 and has co-operating fixing holes 32 to receive the studs (not shown). Housing 24 is basically rectangular in shape but can be any desired shape to suit the application. A rectangular cut out 26 extends a certain distance along the floor of housing 24 to allow slider 18 to enter housing 24. The rectangular cut out 26 will end adjacent the top end piece (not shown) of slide fastener 12 which prevents slider 18 from being pulled from teeth 16 when at its closed position. Cut out 26 has a peripheral U-shaped wall 28 extending upwardly into housing 24.
Housing 24 has a pair of guide members 34 mounted on the floor and each guide member 34 has a groove 36 therein. A small front wall (not shown) links guide members 34. A gap 37 is left between guide members 34 and U-shaped wall 28. A pair of side walls 38 run the length of housing 24. A pair of arcuate bearing surfaces 40 are provided on end walls 41 to join U-shaped wall 28 and close off one end of the housing 24 whilst the other end 42 is open to provide a ledge 44.
A lid or closure member 46 is adapted to fit on housing 24. Lid 46 has a pair of longitudinal side walls 48 and an end wall 50. At the other end there is an intermediate end wall 52 located between a pair of offset hinge members 54. Hinge members 54 have a complementary shape to arcuate bearing surfaces 40 to provide a hinging action when assembled. The other end of puller 20 is pivotally secured to intermediate end wall 52 to join lid 46 to slide fastener 12. A roof 56 completes the external construction of lid 46. A flange 58 will, in the locked position, abut ledge 44. For additional security a U-shaped interior wall 60 fits within the confines of U-shaped wall 28. A slot 62 in end wall 50 co-operates with grooves 36, when aligned, for reception of a frangible locking element 64.
Frangible locking element 64 has a rectangular tab 66 with a pair of arms 68 attached thereto. Arms 68 are of a width that they can be readily fractured along the join line with rectangular tab 66. Barbs 70 on arms 68 are adapted to engage behind guide members 34 to prevent withdrawal of locking element 64 when fitted. A further set of arms 72 are attached to a head member 74 and angle downwardly relative to arms 68. Arms 68 will also assist in preventing withdrawal of locking element 64.
The use of security device will now be described. The sequence of operations can also be seen in Figs. 3 to 8. The open position is shown in Fig. 3. In order to lock the security envelope 10, the slider 18 is pulled to the right (Fig. 3) by grasping lid 46. Slider 18 enters cut out 26 and abuts, or is adjacent, the base of U-shaped wall 28 of housing 24. Lid 46 is pulled backwardly to cause puller 20 to pivot backwardly.
Offset hinge members 54 of lid 46 are then mated with the arcuate bearing surfaces 40 of housing 24 as shown in Fig. 4. Lid 46 is then closed over housing 24 to be flush therewith as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Thus slider 18 will not be visible and intermediate wall 52 of lid 46 will prevent withdrawal of slider 18 from housing 24. Slider 18 will also be surrounded by the U-shaped wall 28 of housing 24 and the U-shaped interior wall 60 depending from underneath roof 56 which will be located within the U-shaped wall 28. Access to slider 18 is prevented ensuring that lock picks cannot be used. Flange 58 will overly ledge 44 and slot 62 will be aligned with grooves 36. It is preferred that the height of both grooves 36 and slot 62 are the same as the thickness of locking element 64. This will leave no gap through which lock picks can be inserted. Arms 68 of locking element 64 are pushed through slot 62 and along grooves 36. It is preferred that arms 68 are flexed inwardly as they travel along grooves 36 and will spring open to allow barbs 70 to lock behind the ends of guide members 34 in gap 37. Arms 72 will flex upwardly to lie inside arms 68 during initial insertion of locking element 64.
Once the free ends of arms 72 are inside housing 24 they will spring downwardly as shown in Fig. 6 and fall behind the front wall linking guide members 34. Tab 66 will sit on ledge 44 and occupy the full 1 o length and width of ledge 44. It will not be possible to pull the locking element 64 from the security device as barbs 70 will prevent such action, as will arms 68 abutting the front wall linking guide members 34.
Any substantial tug of locking element 64 will fracture arms 68 from tab 66 which will clearly indicate tampering has occurred. It will also not be possible to pull lid 46 from housing 24 because of the hinging action of hinge members 54 at one end and the interference fit of locking element 64 at the other end. Any attempt to prise open lid 46 by forcing a pick between flange 58 and ledge 44 will also cause fracturing of locking element 64. To open the security device tab 66 is simply bent upwardly to fracture locking element 64 as shown in Fig. 7. Lid 46 can then be pivoted to the open position as shown in Fig. 8. Arms 72 and 68 can then be simply removed and thrown away to enable re-use of the security envelope.
The invention provides a simple but effective solution to ensuring the security of such envelopes. It will be extremely difficult to tamper with the security device as there is no access to the slider. Although the preferred embodiment has been described with reference to its use with security envelopes the invention is not so restricted. The invention can be used on any application using a slide fastener e.g. suitcases. For 3o additional security a spreader 76 may be used between guide members 34 to outwardly spread apart arms 68 to ensure that barbs 70 will be forced behind guide members 34 in a wedging action. The number, shape and orientation of guide members 34 can vary to suit other types of locking elements 64 other than the one depicted in the preferred embodiment.
Locking element 64 may have a smaller tab 66 which does not fully cover ledge 44. The numbers and positions of arms 68 and barbs 70 may vary as well. The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment shown as the shape and configuration can be readily changed to suit requirements.
The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.

Claims (10)

1. A security device for a slide fastener, said security device including a housing adapted to be fitted to an object to which the tapes of said slide fastener are attached or the tapes themselves, a closure member adapted to co-operate with said housing and a frangible locking element adapted to link said housing to said closure member, said locking element being resiliently yieldable and slidably insertable into said closure member but not retractable therefrom without fracturing said frangible locking element, wherein said housing and said closure member surround and cover said slider in its fully closed position to prevent access thereto.
2. The security device of claim 1, wherein said closure member is attached at one end to a puller and said puller is attached to said slider.
3. The security device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said closure member can pivot about said housing and block exit of said slider from said housing in its closed position.
4. The security device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said housing includes a guide member which aligns with a slot in said closure member in its closed position and said frangible locking element includes barbs which lock behind said guide member to prevent extraction of said frangible locking element from said housing and said closure member.
5. The security device of claim 4, wherein said housing includes a spreader which spreads said barbs apart during insertion of said frangible locking element into said closure member to further assist in preventing extraction of said frangible locking element from said housing and said closure member.
6. The security device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said closure member and said housing in the closed position form a barrier to limit movement of said slider.
7. The security device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said closure member includes an aperture through which a part of said frangible locking element passes to engage with said housing.
8. The security device of claim 7, wherein said housing includes a ledge which in the closed position is overlaid by an abutting flange which projects from an end wall of said closure member and said aperture is located in said end wall of said closure member.
9. The security device of claim 8, wherein said frangible locking element includes a tab which in inserted position overlays said flange of said closure member.
10. The security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure member and said housing each include a barrier for substantially surrounding said slider.
CA2419386A 2000-08-15 2001-08-14 Security device Expired - Lifetime CA2419386C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPQ9432A AUPQ943200A0 (en) 2000-08-15 2000-08-15 Security device
AUPQ9432 2000-08-15
PCT/AU2001/001009 WO2002013650A1 (en) 2000-08-15 2001-08-14 Security device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2419386A1 CA2419386A1 (en) 2002-02-21
CA2419386C true CA2419386C (en) 2010-06-01

Family

ID=3823489

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2419386A Expired - Lifetime CA2419386C (en) 2000-08-15 2001-08-14 Security device

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1311170B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE389336T1 (en)
AU (1) AUPQ943200A0 (en)
CA (1) CA2419386C (en)
DE (1) DE60133293D1 (en)
DK (1) DK1311170T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2307636T3 (en)
PT (1) PT1311170E (en)
WO (1) WO2002013650A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006020693A1 (en) * 2004-08-10 2006-02-23 A. Rifkin Co. Collapsible, wheeled security luggage
WO2009112078A1 (en) * 2008-03-13 2009-09-17 Stoba Ag Safety closure
DE102010002166A1 (en) * 2010-01-25 2011-07-28 IVU Apostelmühle GmbH, 66976 Container i.e. folding box, for accommodating e.g. clinical damp wastes in hospital, has bands joined by slider, where slider is positioned in end position and/or is displaced into end position such that slide fastener is not opened
SG11201607913WA (en) * 2014-03-28 2016-10-28 Harcor Security Seals Pty Ltd Tamper evident device with an improved cover and frangible seal
GB2541891B (en) * 2015-09-01 2018-07-11 Versapak Int Ltd Sealing device

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1424680A (en) * 1972-12-13 1976-02-11 Envopak Ltd Locking device
BR7501943A (en) * 1975-04-01 1976-10-05 Lima Castro Netto E De UNIQUE PIECE SECURITY SEAL AND LACRAR SYSTEM
GB2079362B (en) * 1980-07-08 1984-07-11 Cmcs Print & Colour Ltd Sealable fastening device
BR8200276A (en) * 1982-01-19 1983-09-27 Lima Castro Netto E De SEALING SYSTEM FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS RELATIVELY MOVABLE
DE3369900D1 (en) * 1982-11-10 1987-04-09 Bond Rsc Ass Ltd Containers provided with sealable sliding clasp fasteners
CA2003937C (en) * 1988-12-02 1994-06-21 Ykk Corporation Security sealing mechanism
GB2246164B (en) * 1990-07-20 1994-02-16 Envopak Group Ltd A locking device
GB9201280D0 (en) * 1992-01-21 1992-03-11 Envopak Group Ltd A locking device
GB2355233B (en) * 1999-10-13 2003-08-27 Envopak Group Ltd Closable container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AUPQ943200A0 (en) 2000-09-07
CA2419386A1 (en) 2002-02-21
EP1311170A4 (en) 2004-04-14
DK1311170T3 (en) 2008-07-14
WO2002013650A1 (en) 2002-02-21
EP1311170A1 (en) 2003-05-21
DE60133293D1 (en) 2008-04-30
EP1311170B1 (en) 2008-03-19
ATE389336T1 (en) 2008-04-15
ES2307636T3 (en) 2008-12-01
PT1311170E (en) 2008-06-27

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MKEX Expiry

Effective date: 20210816