EP2701985B1

EP2701985B1 - A closure and security device for closing and sealing mailbags and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2701985B1
Application number: EP12722669.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: André DE LIMA CASTRO
Original assignee: ELC Produtos de Seguranca Industria e Comercio Ltda
Current assignee: ELC Produtos de Seguranca Industria e Comercio Ltda
Priority date: 2011-04-27
Filing date: 2012-04-27
Publication date: 2015-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-04-27
Also published as: EP2701985A1; WO2012145810A1; BRPI1101616A2; BRPI1101616B1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a closure and security device for closing and sealing bags, which may serve as a security seal for sealing label-holders used for closing bags and/or may be applied to the mouth of a sack or bag for its closure and sealing. The invention also relates to a label-holder assembly with the device in the form of a security seal.

Background of the invention

Label holders for closing bags are already known, which may be sealed in a closed configuration by means of a security seal that has to be destroyed upon opening the label holder which itself can have multiple uses. A label holder of this type comprises first and second parts that are substantially rectangular (base and cover) and have corresponding shapes when viewed from above, being linked to each other at end edges by means of a hinge line to define a single piece of plastic material, preferably polypropylene. A cord extending from inside the label holder is fastened at its other end to a small lever that is received in a recess in the base part of the label holder, so that it will be accessible when the label holder is in its closed configuration. In use, the cord is passed around mouth or neck of the bag to be closed, and an end of the lever is placed in the recess and articulated around this end until it rests therein, thus tightening the cord around the mouth of the bag by a lever action. The cover of the label holder is then folded around the hinge line to assume the closed configuration.
With the label holder in closed configuration, a security seal is applied to seal it in this configuration.
Brazilian Patent PI9501030-0 (see corresponding WO9628804 ) discloses one way of sealing the label holder. In the label holder of that patent, the base part, at its end remote from the hinge line, is formed with respective upstanding bridges adjacent its side edges, which, in the closed configuration, pass through corresponding openings in the cover part. The security seal has a blade that is longer than the distance between the bridges, the blade being inserted beneath and between the two bridges, and the seal is closed with the blade in this position, thereby ensuring that the label holder will be kept totally closed throughout its width at the end remote from the hinge line.
The safety seal of Brazilian patent PI9501030-0 and still other seals designed for the same purpose have a sealing mechanism that closes the seal securely in the region of one of the bridges of the label holder, and furthermore a certain configuration at the end of the blade which serves to effect closure near the other bridge. This, however, has the risk of an unauthorized person managing to liberate the free end of seal blade from the corresponding bridge, thus prejudicing the degree of security, or - alternatively - creating considerable difficulty for the user to apply the seal properly, which may also result in a similar risk.
Apart from this, the sealing system of the seals found in the prior art tends to make it difficult manually to break the seal when opened by an authorized person.
Finally, the seals of the prior art serve only for closing a label holder, in the absence of which they have no use.
US 4 514 882 discloses an initially planar device for retaining flexible tying means, comprising two portions hinged together and lockable, when the device is folded, by a tooth formed at one end of the device which penetrates an opening located at the other end.

2. Objects of the present invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide a security seal for sealing a label holder of the above-mentioned type, which is easy to apply and easy to break when the label holder is opened.
Another object is to provide such a security seal that can also be used in closing and sealing mailbags and the like, without the use of a label holder.
The present invention relates to a closure and security device (or a security seal) for closing and sealing Ibags and the like, comprising an elongate body that has, at one end, a cavity that receives a locking tooth and, at the other second end, a locking pin capable of being introduced and becoming locked inside the receiving cavity.
According to the present invention, the device is characterised in that:

the body comprises a first elongate portion, which is inextensible in the direction of its length and generally planar, a second elongate portion, which is inextensible in the direction of its length and generally planar, and a third hinge portion between the first and the second portions, so that on initial embodiment of the device, prior to use, the first, second and third portions define a generally planar elongate element, with said cavity at one end on the first portion, and said locking tooth at the second end, on the second portion;
the said cavity has an entry opening for the locking tooth, which faces orthogonally with respect to the planar element;
in the initial configuration, the locking element is extended in the longitudinal direction of the elongate element, away from the receiving cavity;
the locking tooth is foldable so as to be extended in a direction orthogonal to the planar element; and
in a use configuration of the device, the second portion of the body is folded by means of the third hinge portion over the first portion, and the locking tooth is folded to its orthogonal position in preparation for its introduction to the receiving cavity through said entrance opening.

A device that presents the above characteristics brings the great advantage that it has two parts that can be folded around the hinge portion, one of the parts passing beneath the bridges of the label holder and the other being folded over the bridges and sealed or locked at its end away from the hinge portion. This means that the label holder is securely closed in the region of one bridge close to the seal-hinge portion, and also closed in the region of the other bridge where the two seal ends are sealed to each other.
In addition, since the locking teeth are foldable, they do not create any obstacle at the time of introducing the second portion of the seal beneath and between the two bridges of the label holder, and are then folded over before closing the seal, when they enter the locking cavity on the first portion.
Preferably, the cavity has two openings, spaced-apart in the direction of the width of the first portion of the seal body and, at the second portion, there are two locking teeth that are equally spaced from each other in the direction of the width of the second portion. This increases the degree of security provided by the device.
Another advantage of the device of this invention is that it can be used for application directly to the mouth of the bag or sack, squeezing the material thereof between the two portions of the body. Preferably and with a view to improve the fixation of the device at the bag mouth, one of the two portions of the body may have a central longitudinal formation in the form of saw-teeth, which in the configuration of use faces the other portion of the body. In the preferred embodiment, the other portion of the body is formed with an elongate opening corresponding to the central formation, so that, in the configuration of use of the device with the teeth already received in the corresponding openings in the cavity, the saw-teeth extend at least partially into the elongate opening.
Further in the preferred embodiment and in order to fix the device securely when applying it to the mouth of a plastic sack, without any risk of slipping, one of the portions of the body has a locking pin and the other part of the body is formed with a corresponding bore. Thus, when the device is closed at the mouth of a plastic sac, the lock pin perforates the sack material and is received in the bore on the other side.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a label holder assembly in association with a device or closure seal of the type defined above.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will better understood in the following description, given by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a label holder suitable for use with a security seal of the present invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of a security seal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
figure 3 is a side view of the seal illustrated in figure 2;
figure 4 is a top view of the same security seal;
figure 5 is a perspective view of the label holder of figure 1, already closed at the time of applying the security seal of figures 2 to 4;
figure 6 is a perspective view of the label holder at an intermediate moment of application of the security seal;
figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the label holder in use, closing the mailbag mouth and already sealed by the safety seal; and
figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of bag already closed and sealed by a security seal of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the drawings, figures 1 and 5 to 7 show, in perspective, a label holder 1 comprising first and second parts 2 and 3, which are substantially rectangular and of the same shape when viewed from above, linked to each other at first external edges by means of a hinge 4. Both parts 2 and 3 and the hinge 4 comprise a single piece of plastic material, preferably polypropylene.
Parts 2 and 3 have also second external edges 5, opposite the first, third and fourth side edges, inner surfaces 8 and outer surfaces 9.
Edges 5, 6 and 7 of the part 3 of the label holder 1 are flanged downward so as to receive part 2 in engagement relationship when folded around hinge 4 to the closed position (see figures 5 and 7). In addition, part 2 is formed with an elongate cavity 10 for receiving a lever 11, to which one end of a length of cord (not shown) may be fastened, while the other end of the cord is provided with a fastener that is fixed in a cylindrical cavity 12 in part 2. Since the aspects relating to the lever and cord are known from the prior art, they will not be described in detail herein.
Part 2 of the label holder 1 is formed with first and second bridges 12 and 14 defining first and second openings 15 and 16. The bridges 13 and 14 are located adjacent the second external edge 5, at the corners with the third and fourth side edges 6 and 7, their axes being parallel to the border 5.
The part 3 of the label holder 1 is formed with third and fourth rectangular openings 17 and 18 corresponding to bridges 13 and 14 in part 2, so that, upon folding part 3 over part 2, the bridges pass through openings 17 and 18, projecting beyond the outer surface 9 of part 3.
The outer surface 9 of part 3 is formed with a pair of opposed side stops 19, extended between openings 17 and 18, the function of which will be mentioned later.
Figures 2 to 4 show a security seal 20 according to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The seal 20 is a closure and security device comprising first and second elongate portions 21 and 22, both being generally planar and inextensible in the direction of their length, as well as third portion or hinge portion 23 between the first and second portions 21 and 22.
The first portion 21 of the seal is formed, at its free end remote from the other two portions, with a cavity 24 that is closed, with the exception of two entrance openings 24' (see figure 5), substantially in the plane of portion 21. The inside of cavity 24 is formed with locking elements which cooperate, in use, with two locking teeth 27 which will be mentioned later. With the exception of the fact that there are two entrance openings and two corresponding locking teeth, the cavity and the locking system are similar to those described and shown in patent PI 9201127-6 ( EP 0632783 ; US 5,542,724 ) and will not be described herein because they do not form part of the concept of the present invention.
One face of first portion 21 -intended to be an outer visible face when the seal is in use - is identified with codes in the form of algorithms letters, bar codes or the like for the purpose of security control.
The opposed side of portion 21 is formed with two longitudinal series of saw-teeth 25, the utility of which will be apparent later, on either side of a locking pin or locator 26.
The second portion 22 of the security seal 20 has, at its free end remote from the other two portions, two locking teeth 27 parallel to each other, which extend longitudinally from the seal. The teeth 27 have a common base 28, to which they are linked by means of respective weakened links 29 that may be broken at the time of opening (breaking) the seal. The base 28 is connected to the end of portion 22 by means of a hinge line 30 and includes three protrusions 31 of reduced height (approximately the maximum dimension of the thickness of the portion 22).
The second portion 22 of the security seal 20 is further formed with two elongate openings 32 on either side of a locating bore 33.
When portion 21 is folded over portion 22 about hinge portion 23, the two series of saw-teeth 25 are received in openings 32 and the locking pin or locator 26 is received in the locating bore 33.
Laterally along almost its entire length, the second portion 22 has a pair of parallel walls 34, one on each side of the elongate openings 37. The function of the two walls 34 will be apparent later.
In the initial configuration of the seal 20, prior to use, the first, second and third portions 21, 22 and 23 provide an elongate element, which is generally planar, with cavity 24 at one end, on the first portion 21, and the locking teeth 27 at the second end, on the second portion 22. The label holder 1 is closed around a mailbag (see figure 8) and the portion 22 of the seal 20 is then introduced beneath bridges 13 and 14, as shown in figure 5. By manipulating protrusions 31, the two locking teeth 27 are then folded up around the hinge line 30, after which the whole first portion 21 is folded around hinge 23 (figure 7) until it rests on portion 22, over the bridges 13 and 14 (figure 8). Teeth 27 then penetrate the capsule 23 through the respective openings 24, where they remain securely locked inside the capsule.
The parallel side walls 34 on the second portion 22 remain engaged between the two side stops 19 on the label holder and their height protects and hides the saw-teeth 27 on the first portion 21 that pass through the openings 32 in the second portion 22.
At the time of authorized opening of the label holder 1, it is enough to break the weakened links 29 of the locking teeth 27, forcing up a short extension at the free end of first portion 21.
Figure 8 shows schematically a bag 36 closed by a label holder 1, which in turn is sealed by the seal 20.
The security seal 20 further has another utility, namely closing mailbags and the like without using a label holder. Figure 9 shows schematically a bag 37 closed and sealed directly by the seal 20, that is, without label holder. In this case, the seal 20 is closed directly around the neck of the mailbag 37, the saw teeth 25 "biting" the material of the bag and applying pressure that prevents tampering with the mailbag mouth, in a way that is very similar to that of a label holder. In the case of sacks or bags made of plastic material or furthermore bags with eyelets, locking pin 26 perforates or passes through the material of the bag, being received in bore 33 on the other side. This positively prevents the device from sliding off the mouth of the bag.
It will further be understand that the security seal illustrated in the drawings is the presently preferred embodiment for carrying out this invention, structural modifications embraced by the claims being considered to fall within the inventive concept.

Claims

A closure and security device for closing and sealing bags and the like, which comprises an elongate body having, at one end, a cavity for receiving a locking tooth and, at the other end, a locking tooth capable of being introduced and locked into the receiving cavity, characterised in that:
- the body comprises a first elongate portion (21), which is inextensible in the direction of its length and generally planar, a second elongate portion (22), which is inextensible in the direction of its length and generally planar, and a third hinge portion (23) between the first and second portions, so that in an initial configuration of the device (20), prior to use, the first, second and third portions (21, 22, 23) provide a generally planar elongate element with said cavity (24) at one end, on the first portion (21), and said locking tooth (27) at the other end, on the second portion (22);

- said cavity (24) has an entrance opening (24') for the locking tooth (27), which faces a direction orthogonal to the planar element;

- in the initial configuration, the locking tooth (27) extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongate element, away from the receiving cavity (24);

- the locking tooth (27) is foldable so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the planar element; and

- in a configuration of use of the device (20), the first portion (21) of the body is folded, by means of the third hinge portion (23), over the second portion (22), the locking tooth (27) being folded to its orthogonal position in preparation for its introduction into the receiving cavity (24) through said entrance opening (24').
A closure and security device according to claim 1, characterised in that said cavity (24) has two openings (24'), spaced apart in the direction of width of the first portion (2') of the body and, on the second portion (22), there are two similar locking teeth (27), spaced apart in the direction of width of the second portion (22).
A closure and security device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that one of the first and second portions (21, 22) of the body has a longitudinal central portion in the form of saw-teeth (25), which, in said configuration of use, faces the other of said body portions.
A closure and security device according to claim 3, characterised in that the other body portion (22, 21) is formed with an elongate opening (32) corresponding to said central formation of saw-teeth (25), so that, in the configuration of use of the device with said locking tooth (27) already received in the corresponding opening (24') in the cavity (24), the saw-teeth (25) are received at least in part in the elongate opening (32).
A closure and security device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the body portion that has the longitudinal central portion in the form of saw-tooth (25) is said first portion (21).
A closure and security device according to claim 3, 4, or 5, characterised in that said body portion (21) that has the formation of saw-teeth (25) is further formed with a locating locking pin (26), the other body portion (22) being formed with an orifice (33) for receiving said locating locking pin (26) in the configuration. of use of the device.
A closing and securing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first body portion (21) has two longitudinal formations in the form of saw-teeth (25), separated by a locating locking pin (26), and the second body portion (23) is formed with a bore (33) which, in said configuration of use of the device, receives the locating locking pin (26).
A closing and securing device according to claim 7, characterised in that the second body portion (22) is formed with two longitudinal elongate openings (32) corresponding to said central formations in the form of saw-teeth (25), so that, in the configuration of use of the device, the saw-teeth (25) are received at least in part in the elongate openings (32).
A closure and sealing assembly for bags and the like comprising:
- a label holder (1), which comprises first and second substantially planar parts (2, 3), hinged to each other to fold over in overlapping relationship, the first part (2) being formed with first and second bridges (13, 14) projecting in the direction of the second part (3), aligned and spaced from each other by a distance of the same order as the width of the overlapping parts, the second part (3) being formed with first and second openings (17, 18), through which said bridges (13, 14) pass when the parts (2, 3) are hinged, one over the other; and

- a safety seal (20) having a portion that, in the closed and sealed configuration of the label holder, extends through and between said bridges (13, 14;
characterised in that:
the safety seal (20) is a closure and security device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the portion that is adapted to extend through and between said bridges (13, 14) is the second portion (22) of the closing and securing device, so that, in the closed configuration of the closing and securing device with said locking tooth (27) received and locked in said cavity (24), the two bridges (13, 14) rest between said cavity (24) and the third hinge portion (23) and are covered and sandwiched between the first and second portions (21, 22) of the device (20).