EP1371797A1 - Multi-purpose seal with a lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The seal comprises a mobile fastening (1) consisting of a housing (2) containing a lock and a fastening element (3) which is locked in the housing. The lock comprises a cylinder (7) able to move in the housing between locking and unlocking positions. A remotely queried electronic component (6) storing data is held in a housing (21) which passes through part of the first housing and part of the lock cylinder when the latter is in the locking position. Any rotation of the cylinder from the locking position causes the component to break. An Independent claim is included for a method of making a multi-purpose seal.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a sealing device for closing and mark objects. More particularly, the invention relates to seal devices which use electronic means Identification.

Prior art

Many types of seals are currently used to control the routing or storage of products or materials which have more or less security or control needs important, such as, for example, nuclear material, certain types waste or money.

The technologies used to make the seals are very varied and depend mainly on the use and the degrees of security requested.

So when you want to simply check the integrity of an object, such as a bag or chest, the function of the seal is to ensure that the object was not opened without authorization. In this case, little devices expensive, like simple plastic or metal collars affixed to the opening members of the object can be used. A simple visual inspection of the integrity of the structure of the collars is then sufficient to find that the seal has been breached or not.

On the other hand, there are more and more areas in which seals must not only fulfill their basic function, which is to be able to attest to the inviolability of the object, but also be able to provide information during use. So there are currently devices which include mechanical sealing means which are associated with electronic or optical means which allow to store and transmit information.

However, current seal devices which include electronic means are complex and expensive. They are usually designed for a specific use and cannot be used with any type of object. In addition, they have a structure fragile mechanics which makes them very sensitive to handling and transport which further limits their use.

Subject and brief description of the invention

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to realize a low cost multipurpose seal device which is mechanically robust and contains searchable information from quick and easy way. The device must also allow safe control and easy to seal integrity.

These goals are achieved with a multi-use lockable seal, comprising a movable closure device formed by a housing containing a lock and a fastening element intended to be locked in the housing, the lock comprising a movable cylinder in the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic component remotely searchable which includes a means of memorizing data, the component being held in a housing which crosses a part of the housing and part of the lock cylinder when the latter located in the locked position.

Thus, thanks to the seal according to the invention, the electronic component which makes it possible to memorize and transmit information becomes also witness the integrity of the seal. Checking the integrity of the component is performed by remote interrogation of it, which does not requires no dismantling of the seal.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the housing comprises a holding element for retaining the electronic component in the housing.

More specifically, the holding element comprises a cavity intended to receive a part of the electronic component, a spring being disposed between the bottom of the cavity and the electronic component.

In order to strengthen the fixing of the retaining element in the housing, the seal may further include a fixed pin which blocks the element maintenance in the case.

The data storage means of the electronic component may include means for encrypting data. It can also be programmable or multi-page type.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the electronic component is a passive transponder of the injectable transponder type for animals.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the seal comprises removable means for preventing locking of the fastener in the case.

The mobile closing device can be a padlock or an anti-theft device anti-theft type for cycle.

a) perçage d'une ouverture qui traverse une partie du boítier et une partie du cylindre de serrure lorsqu'il est dans la position de verrouillage, et

b) installation, dans l'ouverture, d'un composant électronique interrogeable à distance comprenant un moyen de mémorisation de données. Selon un aspect particulier de l'invention, le procédé comprend en outre les étapes suivantes:

c) usinage d'un évidemment dans le boítier en amont de l'ouverture et

d) fixation d'un élément de maintien du composant électronique dans ledit évidement.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a multi-purpose seal comprising a movable closure device formed by a housing enclosing a lock and an attachment element, the lock comprising a cylinder movable in the housing between a locking and unlocking position of the fastening element, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a) drilling an opening which crosses part of the housing and part of the lock cylinder when it is in the locking position, and

b) installation, in the opening, of an electronic component that can be interrogated remotely comprising a data storage means. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the following steps:

c) machining of an obviously in the housing upstream of the opening and

d) fixing of an element for holding the electronic component in said recess.

More particularly, the holding element comprises a cavity intended to receive a part of the electronic component, a spring being disposed between the bottom of the cavity and the electronic component.

The method may further comprise a step e) of fixing a pin to lock the holding element in the housing.

It can also include an additional installation step f) removable means to prevent locking of the fastener in the case.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the storage means electronic component data includes means for data encryption. It can also be of programmable type or multipage.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the electronic component is a passive transponder of the injectable transponder type for animals.

The movable closing device can be a padlock or else a anti-theft device of the anti-theft type for cycle.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un scellé à serrure en position déverrouillée conformément à un premier mode de réalisation selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un scellé à serrure en position verrouillée selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une partie du scellé selon un premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique de côté du scellé selon un premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe selon le plan V de la figure 2 selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de lecteur portable,
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail agrandie d'une partie VII de la figure 1, et
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'un scellé selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a lock seal in the unlocked position in accordance with a first embodiment according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a lock seal in the locked position according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of the seal according to a first embodiment,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the seal according to a first embodiment,
• FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view along the plane V of FIG. 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of a portable reader,
• FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of part VII of FIG. 1, and
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a seal according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention

In order not to unnecessarily complicate the description, the present invention will essentially be described in relation to an apparatus for mobile lock of the padlock type. However, it will appear clearly that the present invention applies to any type of closing device mobile which includes a housing containing a lock mechanism actuated by rotation of a cylinder using a key or the like.

Figures 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a seal according to the invention.

In this first embodiment, the seal is made from a padlock 1 which mainly comprises a housing 2 and a fastening element 3 such as a metal hoop. The housing 2 contains a lock mechanism intended to lock at least one of the ends of the attachment element 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment element 3 comprises a free end 33 provided with a notch 31 intended to receive a breakdown (not shown) of the locking mechanism for locking. The other end 34 of the element 3 is held in the housing 2 so as to allow the rotation of the element 3 around this end when the padlock is unlocked. As for the end 31, the end 34 may also include a notch 32 intended to receive a locking failure. In known manner, the locking means of the lock mechanism of the housing 2 are actuated in the unlocking direction by rotation of a cylinder 7 about its axis using a key 8 previously introduced into a slot (71) of the lock cylinder 7 (figure 5). It is also known that this type of padlock can be locked without having to use the key, that is to say without rotation of the lock cylinder. Indeed, when no force is applied to the cylinder by the key 8, the padlock is provided with a return mechanism which maintains the cylinder 7 in a rest position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, the or the purlins intended to engage in the notch (s) of the fastening element 3 are also mounted with return springs which keep them in the locking position of the fastening element as long as no action is taken not the lock cylinder rotating in the unlocking direction S (figure 5). In certain types of padlocks, the lock cylinder can be actuated in both directions to cause the unlocking of the fastening element. To close the padlock, simply press the element 3 to move it in translation towards the housing 2 and thus lower its ends into the housing and this without movement of the cylinder. The lock mechanism which consists in blocking or releasing the ends of the fastening element 3 is well known per se and will not be described in more detail.

According to the invention, the housing 2 is modified to be able receive an electronic component 6 which can be broken mechanically. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, a bore 21 is machined on the side of the housing 2 in order to form a housing for the component 6. In this embodiment, the component 6 is held in the bore 21 by a element 4 which includes a cavity 41 in which are arranged a spring 5 and part of the component 6. For this purpose, obviously 22, whose shape corresponds to that of element 4, is also machined in the housing 2 upstream of the bore 21. Thus, once the element 4 fixed in the housing, component 6 is held in abutment against the bottom of the bore 21 by the spring 5, itself in abutment against the bottom of the cavity 41 of element 4. Element 4 can be fixed in the recess 22 of the housing by means of a simple bonding. The fixing of element 4 in the housing can however be reinforced by a pin 9 arranged in a passage 23 pierced in the housing and in a portion of the element 4 which does not does not include the cavity 41 (Figure 4).

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the bore 21 extends both in a part of the housing 2 and in a part of the cylinder 7 of the lock padlock. The portion of bore 21 located in the housing and the portion of the bore 21 located in the cylinder 7 are aligned only when the latter is in the locked position. In other words, bore 21 forms a common housing in the housing and the cylinder for the component 6 only when the cylinder is in the locking position, ie its rest position.

What is important is that the depth of bore 21 in the cylinder 7 does not exceed the length of component 6 to ensure that the latter, once kept in abutment at the bottom of the bore 21, will be present both in the cylinder 7 and in the housing 2 (Figure 5). As for example, in the embodiment described here, the depth of the bore 21 in the cylinder 7 is approximately 2 mm. So component 6 is in opposition to any rotational movement of the cylinder 7 by report to the housing 2 which forms a stator. Due to its mechanical fragility, any attempt to unlock the padlock by actuating the cylinder will cause the component to break. Therefore, the integrity of the seal according to the invention is ensured by mechanical integrity and, therefore, component electronics.

An electronic component which can be used in the seal according to the invention is a passive electronic component that can be interrogated remotely as a transponder of the type of those injected or implanted in the pets for identification. A transponder is a device that transmits the information it has in memory when activated by a transceiver. Optionally, it can store new information.

More specifically, such an electronic component includes a electronic circuit which includes antenna means, such as a coil wound around a ferrite core, and a part electronics essentially composed of storage means. The antenna means serve not only for the transmission of data but also to receive an activation field for power in electrical energy of the electronic circuit.

An example of a passive transponder that can be used in the present invention is a model (B T-IS 6110 with a code industrial and non-animal identification in accordance with ISO standard 11784) from DATAMARS SA. This transponder model includes a miniature electronic circuit that is wrapped in a very small glass cylinder, namely 14 mm in length for 2 mm in diameter. The electronic circuit includes a memory 128 bit capacity which can be programmable or multi-page (Full Duplex (FDX) type transponder).

Reading the data stored in the transponder, such as that the identity of the seal, or information about the sealed content, may be performed for example using a portable reader 50 shown in Figure 6. Such a reader may in particular include a display screen 51, a keyboard 52 and / or data storage means respondents. The reader activates the radio frequency (RF) transponder, by example at a frequency of 134.2 kHz. This wave charges a capacity present in the transponder circuit. When the latter discharge, it returns to the reader a code or information, entered in the transponder's memory.

The code and / or information of each transponder questioned are thus sent to the reader 50 and displayed on its screen 51 and / or stored in its memory, or transferred, via a serial link, to a computer. Software can help correlate the identification number of the seal (the transponder code) and various data such as for example the place, and / or the name of the inspector who installed the seal, and / or the date the seal was applied. The system thus constituted allows the reading of the data of the seal at a distance of up to approximately 30 cm, which is sufficient for most uses.

The type of transponder described above is particularly suitable for the present invention. Indeed, such components have a very small footprint which allows them to be accommodated easily in small mobile locking devices such as padlocks. Moreover, the circuit protection jacket being made of glass, it can be broken easily and thus allow the destruction of the electronic circuit with little resistance, in particular with respect to the shear force applied to the component during the rotation of the lock cylinder.

Thus, thanks to this seal design specific to the invention, the integrity of the latter can be checked very simply and fast although it is not apparent. Indeed, any attempt to violation of the seal by opening the padlock is sanctioned by the mechanical destruction of the component. Thus, the integrity of the component, and therefore that of the seal will be checked using a reader. If the component does not respond to a query from the reader it means that the electronic circuit of the latter was damaged and that the integrity of the sealed is questionable.

According to the principle of the seal, it can only be affixed once without compromising its integrity. The seal according to the invention responds to the same requirements. The seal is supplied in the configuration shown in the figure 1, i.e. with the fastening element 3 unlocked to allow pass the latter for example in pitons or rings closed with a bag or other that you want to close inviolably. Once the padlock locked, the seal according to the invention is in the configuration shown in Figure 2 where the fastener is locked in the housing 2. This configuration corresponds to the seal affixed and any attempt opening the padlock will destroy the component and by therefore that of the seal.

In order to prevent any untimely closing of the padlock and therefore the loss of the seal during its transport or its manipulation before its use, there may be provided removable means on the fastening element, the housing or both. An example of such a means is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this figure, the free end 33 of the fastening element 3 is covered with a cap 35 whose width L ₂ is greater than the width L ₁ of the orifice 24 of the housing 2 in which the end 33 is housed in order to be locked. Thus, as long as the end of the attachment element is covered with the cap, the latter cannot be introduced into the orifice 24. Alternatively, the untimely closing of the padlock can be prevented by removable means present on the housing. 2 such as an adhesive or a seal which obstructs the orifice 24. The removable means may also consist of a spacer, removable or breakable, disposed between the housing and the upper part of the fastening element 3 to maintain the latter at a determined distance which prevents the free end from entering the housing.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a multi-use seal according to the invention. In this embodiment, a seal is made from a mobile locking device 100 of the anti-theft type for cycle. The fastening element 103 is constituted by a steel cable or a chain, possibly covered with a plastic sheath, including one end 134 is fixed to a housing 102 containing a mechanism for lock. The other end 133 of the attachment element 103 is left free when it is not locked in the casing 102. In the same way as for the previous embodiment, the housing 102 is modified to receive a component 106 of the same type as that previously described, the latter being maintained between a part of the housing 102 and the cylinder of lock 107 by means of an element 104 and a spring 105. Any rotation of the cylinder 107 using a key 108 will cause the destruction of the component 106.

The embodiment presented in FIG. 7 works in a way similar to that described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 5 and can clearly understand all of the special features previously described. For the sake of simplification, it will therefore not described in more detail.

The seal according to the invention has the following advantages.

Information, such as an identification code, can be read without dismantling or altering the seal when it is affixed. Thanks to the glass envelope which protects the electronic circuit, the transponder is waterproof and resistant to chemical attack. Through therefore, the information can be read even under conditions special storage. So, for example, the data stored in the seal can be read when it is submerged.

The use of a reader to identify and interrogate the sealed facilitates the control work. Just carry the player on each of the sites to be checked. It is not necessary to take everyone seals to a laboratory or analysis center to obtain special means of opening and reading.

The data stored in the seal can be easily stored, thanks to a simple serial computer link. We can then quickly process extracted data, which speeds up and lowers cost of identification.

It is possible to use multi-page transponders in order to store various information, such as information on nature, the provenance, the stages of the journey or the place of departure of the sealed material or product, which further increases the possibilities of sealed. During a multi-stage routing, for example, information may be useful in determining the place or date of a possible rape of the seal.

When the transponder circuit includes means programmable or encryptable, it is possible to encode or encrypt the data stored in the seal, resulting in an increased level of security.

The seal has a low manufacturing cost (around 10 Euros depending on the quantity produced for a seal made from a padlock).

Verification of the integrity of the seal is carried out in a simple and fast: if the reader cannot read the stored information, the sealed was violated.

The seal has significant mechanical robustness which allows it to be used as a reliable closing device. In addition, once installed, the seal does not require any special precautions to protect its integrity. Indeed, the integrity witness, namely the component, is protected inside the closing device against any destruction which could intervene when handling the sealed object.

It is also possible to have a unique key for a plurality closing devices used as seals according to the invention. What further simplifies their use.

Claims (20)

Multipurpose seal with lock, comprising a movable closing device (1) formed by a housing (2) containing a lock and by a fastening element (3) intended to be locked in the housing, said lock comprising a cylinder (7) movable in the housing between a locking position and an unlocking position, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic component (6) which can be interrogated remotely which comprises a data storage means, said component being held in a housing (21) which passes through a part of the housing (2) and a part of the lock cylinder (7) when the latter is in the locked position. Seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises a holding element (4) for retaining the electronic component (6) in the housing (21). Seal according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining element (4) comprises a cavity (41) intended to receive a part of the electronic component (6), a spring (5) being disposed between the bottom of the cavity and the electronic component (6). Sealed according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it further comprises a fixed pin (9) for locking the holding element (4) in the housing (2). Seal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data storage means of the electronic component (6) comprises data encryption means. Seal according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the data storage means of the electronic component (6) is of the programmable or multi-page type. Seal according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic component (6) is a passive transponder of the injectable animal transponder type. Seal according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a removable means (35) to prevent the locking of the fastening element in the housing. Seal according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mobile closing device (1) is a padlock. Seal according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mobile closing device (100) is an anti-theft device of the anti-theft type for cycles. Method for manufacturing a multi-use seal comprising a mobile closing device (1) formed by a case (2) closing a lock and an attachment element (3), said lock comprising a cylinder (7) movable in the housing between a locking and unlocking position of the fastening element, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) drilling an opening (21), said opening passing through part of the housing and part of the lock cylinder when it is in the locking position, and b) installation, in said opening, of an electronic component (6) which can be interrogated remotely comprising a data storage means. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: c) machining of a recess (22) in the housing (2) upstream of the opening (21), and d) fixing of an element for holding the electronic component in said recess. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the holding element (4) comprises a cavity (41) intended to receive a part of the electronic component (6), a spring (5) being disposed between the bottom of the cavity and the electronic component (6). Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it further comprises a step e) of fixing a pin (9) to block the holding element (4) in the housing (2). Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it further comprises a step f) of installation of a removable means (35) to prevent the locking of the fastening element in the housing . Method according to any one of Claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the data storage means of the electronic component (6) comprises data encryption means. Method according to any one of Claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the data storage means of the electronic component (6) is of the programmable or multi-page type. Method according to any one of Claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the electronic component (6) is a passive transponder of the injectable animal transponder type. Method according to any one of Claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the mobile closing device (1) is a padlock. Method according to any one of Claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the movable closing device (100) is an anti-theft device of the anti-theft type for cycles.

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