EP0907157B1 - Pull-through security seal - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a security seal according to the preamble of claim 1.

Security seals, one of which with locking means provided tape or strip through a receiving opening, which are arranged at one end of the tape or strip is pierced and by means of in the receiving opening attached restraining devices prevented from pulling out are known for example from WO 95/27968. There among other things a seal shown, which a flat Basic body with a perpendicular to the surface Has through hole. A loop body in shape a flat tongue or flag is directly on the body trained perpendicular to the direction of penetration. The end of this tongue can now be in one direction Push-through opening inserted and pushed through. A loop is formed, the size of which, i.e. their Diameter influenced by the size of the piercing length can be. With increasing piercing length, this becomes Loop smaller. Since the restraint in the Prevent the tongue from retracting, must open the tongue to open the loop become. For this is in the mentioned publication Tear-off area provided in the tongue, which by two grooves running across the tongue surface, which as Tear grooves serve, is formed. At this The tear-off area is now a protruding area Gripping flag trained, on which the tear-off area to Tear off can be kept. To one It is now difficult to manipulate the seal provided that the retention means transverse to the Penetration direction of the tongue on the seal in one appropriately trained housing. This is to prevent the restraint, which is usually in a piercing direction arranged opening of the housing is introduced, simply torn out and reinserted afterwards can be.

This solution now has the disadvantage that the structure the housing is relatively complicated and also the use of the restraint, especially in the Large-scale production associated with additional effort is. If contrary to the one shown, with Retaining elements provided tongue a smooth tongue is used, this will be applied under tensile load break in the same place as described below and the same disadvantages also occur.

Similar seals are further from EP-A-0 398 562, the EP-A-0 073 633 and GB-2 106 840 are known. These seals all assign one or more as Tear-off chutes formed grooves, which when But tear open the seal of the seal open fully.

Such pull-through security seals are also further known in which the tongue with a flat band rectangular or dumbbell-shaped cross section. Such tongues can go to any position the through hole is pulled through, i.e. the Diameter of the loop formed by the seal leaves unlike the solutions with Latching means, for example in the form of notches. The The disadvantage of these solutions is that the tongue always breaks at the same place under tension, namely the location of the retention means of the through opening, because there the cross section of the tongue through these means, conventionally knife-like engaging in the tongue Medium that is weakened. This leads to such Seals are easy to manipulate. If this is namely are torn open after opening just close it by tearing the end of the tongue is inserted back into the through hole and that other end of the torn tongue part from the other Side also inserted back into the through hole becomes. By inserting the end of the tongue into the The original tear strength of the Seal closure restored, causing this Manipulation of a superficial review at any time can withstand.

The object of the present invention was now a such a continuously adjustable pull-through security seal to find which one is high Tamper-evident.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with a pull-through security seal solved with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments result from the features of dependent claims 2 to 10.

The one arranged between the seal body and the retaining element The predetermined breaking point causes the sealed seal when attempting tampering on the tongue in the through hole breaks first at this predetermined breaking point, which is a concealment of the Manipulation attempt impossible. The predetermined breaking point cannot be restored quickly and easily, after being ripped through. Next is also after after breaking the predetermined breaking point, the seal is still there closed and must now be deliberately further separated and to be destroyed with it.

One is preferably located above the predetermined breaking point extending unique identification mark attached. A This advantageously allows you to quickly check whether a manipulation attempt on the closed seal has been undertaken. This makes it impossible just the tongue part and retention part with new, replace intact parts and thus the manipulation conceal. In a simple way it can be optical determine whether such an attempt at manipulation or actual manipulation has taken place.

Fig. 1 die Aufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemässe Plombe;

Fig. 2 der Längsschnitt der Plombe von Figur 1;

Fig. 3 den Querschnitt durch den Rückhaltebereich der Plombe von Figur 1 mit eingesetzter Zunge;

Fig. 4 den Querschnitt wie Figur 3 nach einem Manipulationsvorgang, bei welchem die Sollbruchstelle aktiviert worden ist; und

Fig. 5 einen Detailbereich der Plombe beim Übergang zwischen Grundkörper und Zunge mit zusätzlichen Kennungselementen.

An embodiment of the security seal according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures in the accompanying drawing. Show it

1 shows the supervision of a seal according to the invention;

2 shows the longitudinal section of the seal from FIG. 1;

3 shows the cross section through the retention area of the seal from FIG. 1 with the tongue inserted;

4 shows the cross section as in FIG. 3 after a manipulation process in which the predetermined breaking point has been activated; and

Fig. 5 shows a detailed area of the seal at the transition between the base body and tongue with additional identification elements.

Figure 1 shows the top view of an inventive designed pull-through security seal with base body 1, sticking out tongue 2 and one Pull-through opening housing part 3. In the housing part 3 is a retaining insert 4, here for example in the form of one used in a housing Metal insert 5 with at an acute angle in the Pull-out direction bent tips. So that's it possible that the end of the tongue 2 in the pulling direction in the Insert and pull through 3. there the tips of the metal insert 5 become resilient spread out. When trying the tongue 2 withdraw, so the tips of the metal insert grip 5 into the surface of the tongue 2 at an acute angle and block a movement against the Pull-through direction. So that is only possible the tongue 2 to move in the pulling direction and thus by the Tongue 2 and the base body 1 formed loop downsize. This reduction can now be done continuously take place because the restraint insert 4 is not in certain Intervene beads, but in each any position of the tongue 2 in its smooth surface can intervene.

The cross section of the tongue 2, which preferably can be rectangular or dumbbell-shaped, can simply meet the required load of the closed seal formed loop can be adjusted. With a large load, the cross section can be larger, i.e. especially wider, with a smaller load be made narrower. The making of one, a tongue 2 with a smooth surface is easier than the production of tongues having beads 2, which is traditionally often a circular Have cross-sectional area.

According to the invention, there is now between the restraint insert 4 and the base body 1 respectively. the housing part 3 a Aufreissikikane 11 arranged as this from the Cross section in Figure 3 emerges. This tear-off chicane 11 is here preferably as one completely Restraint insert 4 formed predetermined breaking point. Preferably, the tear-open baffle 11 with the opening formed against the inside of the housing part 3. In Pulling direction (arrow), the tongue 2 through the Housing part are pulled through by the tips of the Rebound the metal insert 5 and the necessary Force is smaller than it is for breaking open the Aufreissikikane 11 would be necessary. The tongue 2 will now pulled through until the tongue 2 and the body 1 formed loop enough to do that sealing container has been created around. In order to there will also be another pull in that direction prevented and thus also the building of a large, the Breaking load of the tear-off chicane exceeding 11 Traction avoided.

If you now try to open this loop To expand the container must pull against the Direction of pull are applied as shown in dashed lines is indicated in cross section according to FIG. 4. Now will this Force increases, the breaking load of the Aufreissikikane 11 reached, which causes this and so that the retaining insert 4 freely against the upper end of the Brings housing part 3 to the stop. So that's the The sling is not yet open, but the retention insert 4 is now in the housing part 3 between the upper housing wall and the remaining edge part 12 of the Retention insert 4 movable. This can be done easily and apparently through a fleeting review of the Seal can be found. So that can be a Attempted manipulation can be determined.

It is clear that such a trained Retention insert 4 with groove 11 also for example with Knobs equipped tongues 2 resp. Seals are suitable and not is restricted to seals with a smooth tongue surface.

If now after tearing the groove 11 Retention insert 4 is completely removed and thus the Seal is opened, must now be closed again Seal the tongue 2 completely and one new tongue 2 and a new retaining insert 4 used to cover up the manipulation. The must Tongue 2 are welded back to the base body 1 and the retaining insert 4 inserted into the housing 3 and be connected to it. This already means a lot of effort, and can only be done with a good one Equipment can be accomplished at all.

So now such a cover-up has taken place Being able to detect manipulation continues preferably suggested using a unique identifier 11 to attach the area of the tear harness to the seal, as shown in Figure 5 in supervision. This The identifier is now preferably via the tear-off chicane 6 adequately attached. This identifier 11 can for example, from deeply attached clear There are numbers or strings. So it is possible to check whether there is a the lead body 1 and the tongue 2 actually matched, or whether the original Tongue 2 has been replaced by another tongue 2. This would be a clear indication of a success Tampering with the seal.

Between base body 1 and tongue 2 is now further preferably another tear-open baffle 6 is present, which serves as a removal aid. This tear-off chicane 6 can for example be designed as a V-shaped groove and causes a cross-sectional reduction in this area. This tear-open baffle 6 is now with respect to the longitudinal axis the tongue 2 arranged substantially at an acute angle, such as is clear from Figure 1. It also shows the transition to tongue 2 an arc and runs then essentially straight and parallel to the edge of the Basic body 1 or the continuation of the tongue 2.

Now around a closed seal over the tear-off chicane 6 to reopen, i.e. to separate is preferred provided a grip tab 7 on the base body 1 of the seal to attach. This grip tab 7 has a narrow, in band 7 'running essentially parallel to the tongue 2 and at the end an expanded attack surface 8, which. is preferably ribbed. This attack surface 8 can now be gripped particularly well and by the preferred configuration of the tear-open baffle 6 can simply by pulling on this surface 8 tear open and thus open the seal. Advantageously afterwards the opened seal remains in one piece, it will not be an additional, separate one Tear-off part generates, as is the case with known pull-through security seals with tear strips is the case with which of the tear strips on both sides with a Tear-off chicane is provided.

In Figure 2, the seal of Figure 1 is still in the Side view shown. Here you can also see that the tongue 2 preferably in the area of Aufreissikikane 6 has a stiffening rib 9. This Stiffening rib 9 serves among other things. to tear-open behavior in the area of he Aufreissikikane 6 to improve. Is further can be seen that the tongue 2 on its to be formed Loop facing side shaped to tips Holding cams 10 can have. These serve the Seal loop firmly with the object to be sealed connect.

Another advantage with the inventive Design of a pull-through security seal in that after the tear-off chicane is torn open at the Aufreissikikane 6 the free end of the tongue 2 in the tongue essentially the same cross-section over the entire length having. This is particularly advantageous if the Tongue through the loops of a container to be closed has been put through and now simply by train again can be removed through these eyelets. With conventional Pull-through security seals have this tongue area through the conventional arrangement of the tear strips larger cross section or a wider width than that remaining part of the tongue so that this is not easy can be withdrawn through the eyelets, but this First separate the area, for example using a Cutting device must be separated. Will such Container with a pull-through security seal according to the invention locked, this can be easily simply tear open at the tear-off chicane and advantageously without additional steps or Handles are removed from the container.

Claims (10)

1. A pull-through security seal with a main body (1) and a tongue (2) protruding from it and a retainer housing (3) having a pull-through opening, arranged at the main body (1), with retainers (4) for the tongue (2), a groove (11) being provided as a breaking point in the transition area between the retainer housing (3) and the retainers (4) in such a way that this breaking point breaks first under tension applied between the retainers (4) and the tongue (2), characterised by the fact that the retainer housing (3) encloses the retainers (4) in such a way that, after the groove (11) has broken, the retainers (4) engage against the wall of the retainer housing (3) in the direction of the pull-through opening.
2. A pull-through security seal according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the groove (11) is arranged around the whole retainer (4).
3. A pull-through security seal according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the hollow of the groove (11) faces towards the inside of the retainer housing (3).
4. A pull-through security seal according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that a single notch (6) in the form of a tear-off chicane is provided in the transition area between the main body (1) and the tongue (2), running at an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tongue (2) and preferably in a bend (6') over a certain area.
5. A pull-through security seal according to Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the tongue (2) has a strengthening rib (9) in the area of the notch.
6. A pull-through security seal according to one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterised by the fact that a fixing strap (7, 7', 8) is arranged at the main body (1), extending mainly parallel to the tongue (2) and having a ribbed surface (8) at its end.
7. A pull-through security seal according to one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterised by the fact that the tongue (2) has a square or a dumb-bell shaped cross-section and the surface is smooth.
8. A pull-through security seal according to one of the Claims 1 to 7, characterised by the fact that the retainers (4) consist of tooth-shaped pointed elements (5) which protrude into the edge area of the pull-through opening (3) at a sharp angle against the pull-through direction.
9. A pull-through security seal according to Claim 8, characterised by the fact that the retainers (4; 5) are of metal.
10. A pull-through security seal according to one of the Claims 4 to 9, characterised by the fact that the tongue (2) within the area of the chicane (6) is at most the same width or thickness as the remaining part of the tongue.

Images