FR2556868A1 - Security seal - Google Patents

Abstract

The seal consists of a band 12 bearing at one end two organs 14, 16 able to be locked into one another, and separated by a slot 24 constituting both a weakening and bending line. The band comprises one or more openings 20, 22 which can engage on one 16 of the organs, while the free end of the band passes through the slot 24. It is thus possible to obtain a wider or narrower loop, according to the opening chosen.

Description

i

"; SAFETY CAUTION

  In the American patent application no. 461 731 filed on January 31, 1983., a security seal is described and claimed which comprises an elongated fastener having a first fixing part at one end and a second fixing part at a middle part of 1 fastener, the fastener part extending beyond the fastening parts having an opening intended to be placed on a fastening part, so that said end is locked on the fasteners after they have been assembled , the attachment part thus forming a loop intended to be trapped

  in a ring or the like of an object to be sealed.

  Although said seal has been found satisfactory

  for many applications it has been found that some

  some applications require a longer tie, and that any user of the seal could

  have applications in which a fastener

  is suitable for you, and other applications in which

  a longer tie is required. In either application, it is often necessary that an identification number is placed on the clip and that

  this number will be visible immediately.

  The invention relates to a security seal

  molded plastic material which is special

  suitable for use with objects with ring and hasp fastenings, as shown

  used on mail bags or cons doors

cargo contents.

  This seal includes an elongated flat strip having

  a first fixing part at one end, a sec-

  this fixing part in a middle part, a part

  strip tie extending from the second fixing part, at least two openings provided in this strip part being spaced from each other at a predetermined distance, a slot being provided between the

  two fixing parts, through which the former

  end of the strip part can be passed when the seal is assembled, the fixing parts attached

  to each other. crossing one of the openings.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention

  tion, there are at least two openings, spaced

  such that numbers or letters of identification

  fication may be affixed to the part of the strip located between the openings, and said openings are positioned in such a way that said numbers or

  letters are exposed to view regardless of the opening-

  re engaged in the assembled fasteners.

  The invention will now be described in more detail.

  tail with reference to the attached figures, which represent

  present only one embodiment.

  Figure 1 is a top plan view of a

  seal produced in accordance with the invention.

  Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the

  seal shown in Figure 1, in which a pre-

  miter opening of the clip was engaged on the lug.

  and the sleeve is in a position ready for final assembly. Figure 3 is a view of the seal of Figure 2

  after the final assembly has been completed.

  Figure 4 is a view of the seal shown on

  Figure 1, in which a second opening of the att-

  stain was engaged on the lug and in which the man-

  chon is in a position ready for final assembly.

  Figure 5 is a view of the seal of Figure 4

  after the final assembly has been completed.

  The figures show a seal 10 which comprises

  te an elongated flat strip 12 having a snap-fastening sleeve 14 at one of its ends, and a lug 16 projecting from the strip, this lug being located at a distance from the sleeve. The snap-on sleeve 14 constitutes a first attachment part

  and the lug 16 a second attachment part. We notice-

  ra that the sleeve 14 extends in one direction from the surface of the strip 12 and that the lug 16 extends in the opposite direction. The part of the strip 12 on which the sleeve 14 and the lug 16 are located forms a first part of the band referenced 13 in FIG. 1, also called the band support part. The part 13 of the strip extending beyond the lug is narrower than the part 13 carrying the lug and the sleeve, and has at least two openings which are spaced apart from one another by predetermined distance for a reason to be given later. Part 18 of

  the strip forms a second part of the strip. An open-

  re 20 is located relatively close to the lug, (that is

  that is, in other words, the junction with the support strip 13), and a second opening 22 is located near the free end of the strip. The part of the fastener 18 located between the openings 20 and 22 forms

  its middle part. Numbers or letters of identity

  tification forming benchmarks or identifying marks

  tion can be provided on the part of the strip if-

killed between openings 20, 22.

  A slot 24 is provided in the strip between the lug and the sleeve, this slot being wide enough to receive the narrow part 18 of the strip when the seal is assembled using the first

  opening, as will be described later.

  The existence of the elongated attachment or loop portion 18 and of the two sets of separate and widely spaced openings makes it possible to use the seal with closure fasteners of different dimensions, and, whatever the opening used , allows the

  identification marks or marks are visible.

  As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the seal is assembled using the opening 22, placing the part of the seal having the opening 22 on the lug 16 and then folding the part 13 of the strip 12 located between the lug and the sleeve of such

  so that the sleeve can be locked by snap

  with the lug, a relatively large loop 26 is formed. which allows the seal to be used with a closure attachment in which the parts of

  the fastening closure to be sealed are relatively es-

paced from each other.

  As illustrated in Figure 3, we see that the

  identification numbers are clearly visible when

  that the seal is assembled in this way.

  When the seal is to be assembled with a fi-

  closing closure whose parts are closer

  each other, the free end of the game

  18 of the clip can be folded over and inserted

  in slot 24 until opening 20 can-

  placed on the lug, which forms a small ball

  key 28. The sleeve is then snapped onto the lug as described above. The free end of the fastener then projects from the loop 30 formed by the part of the fastener located between the lug and the sleeve, the identification numbers still being

visible immediately.

  It is of course possible to provide for

  vertices located in other positions in the strip portion 18. However, it has been found that openings

  located in the positions shown will adapt to most

  part of the fasteners and will allow exposure

  view of the identification numbers.

  Slot 24, in addition to the fact that it receives

  the end of the clip, fulfills still other functions

  tions. It provides a weakened part which facilitates the

  folding of the strip to effect the engagement of the

  fixing ties. When folding, most of the curvature is at the level of the slot. For this reason, the slot is positioned between the fasteners, so that as a result of folding, the fasteners are exactly aligned and automatically come into the engagement position when the strip part 13 12

is folded back on itself.

  In the embodiment of the invention shown, the sleeve includes resilient tabs dimensioned to lock behind the shoulder.

  ergot. However, other forms of spurs

  rusting and other achievements of the sleeve can

  be used without departing from the scope of this in-

vention.

  If desired, the tabs on the sleeve may

  wind constitute a separate element and be fixed in the sleeve by hot welding or other means, as described and claimed in a US application

  n 546,952 co-pending filed on October 31, 1983 and

  given to the same assignee as the present invention.

  In addition, in certain embodiments of the seal described above, it may be desirable for the lug to have a weakened part at its base, as described and claimed in the aforementioned US application.

461 731.

  Since certain other modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made

  to the embodiments of the invention described above

  without departing from its framework, it is understood that the

  this description should be interpreted in a way

  illustrative and by no means in a limiting sense.

Z556868

Claims (8)

  1. Security seal characterized in that it comprises an elongated strip <12), a first fixing part (14). located in a first position on the strip (12) and a second fixing part (16) located in a second position on the strip (12), said strip comprising a part forming a loop (18) extending beyond '' at least one of the fixing parts (14,16), said loop part (18) comprising at least one opening (22) which can be mounted on one of the fixing parts before the parts are assembled fastening (14,16) with each other, such   so that the loop portion (18) having the   the groove (22) is trapped between the fixing parts   tion (14,16) and a slot (24) provided in the strip (12) between the fixing parts (14,16), this slot being intended to receive the end of the part forming buckle (18).   2. Security seal according to claim 1.   characterized in that said strip (12) has a pair of spaced openings (20,22) located in the   loop part (18), and identification marks   tion located on the strip (12) between the openings (20.22).   3. Security seal, characterized in that it comprises a first strip portion (13) having   a pair of spaced fixing parts (14,16) if-   killed thereon and intended to come into mutual engagement when said first strip portion (13) is   folded in on itself in order to superimpose the ditgs by-   fixing ties (14,16), a second strip portion (18) extending from said first strip portion (13), and having at least one opening (20) positioned so as to be passed over the one of said attachment parts (14,16), in order to trap a part   end of the second part of the strip when the   fixing ties (14,16) are assembled, and a slot   (24) located in the first strip portion (13), di-   of. so as to receive the end of the se-   as part of the strip (18) when said opening (20)   is passed over said fixing part (16).   4. Security seal, characterized in that it comprises a portion of support strip (13) having a snap-fastening sleeve (14) and a snap-fastening lug (16) located thereon at a distance l 'from each other, said sleeve (14) and said lug <16) being able to be locked by engagement   mutual, a transverse slot (24) formed in the par-   support strip tie (13) between the sleeve {14) and the lug (16), said slot (24) weakening said strip part in such a way that, when bending said strip part (13) , it bends at the location of the slot (24), said slot (24) being placed in such a way that, at the time of folding, the sleeve (14) and the lug (16) come into the alignment of each other   in order to be locked by mutual commitment.   5. Seal according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve (14) extends in a direction from the surface of the strip (12) and the lug (16) in the opposite direction.   6. Seal according to claim 5, characterized in that a fastener (18) extends from the support strip portion (13), said fastener (18) having an end portion which is dimensioned so as to   pass through the slot (24) and having an open   ture spaced from the fasteners (14,16) and dimensioned to be passed over one of the fasteners (14,16) before locking by engagement of said fastening parts   (14,16), so that the fastener (18) is imprinted   sounded by the assembled fixing parts and forms a loop (28) and that its end extends through the slot (24).   7. Security seal characterized in that it is   made of a single piece of plastic and com-   taking a support strip (13). a fixing sleeve   snap-on located on one end of the support strip (13) and extending from the plane of the support strip (13) in one direction, at least one opening for receiving a lug (16 ) directed   in the opposite direction, a fixing lug by-   click (16) located on the other end of the support strip (13) and extending from the strip in a direction opposite to that of the sleeve (14), and a transverse slot (24) located in the strip support (-13) between the lug (16) and the sleeve (14). this slit   forming a weakened part in the strip (13), such   so that when the strip (13) is folded back on itself, it folds mainly near the slot (24,). said slot (24) being located such that, at the time of folding, the lug (16) and the sleeve (14) are aligned to be locked by mutual engagement, and a fastener (18) extending from the support strip 113), said fastener comprising at   at least one opening (20) located at a distance from the rod   tion with the support strip (13). by an amount such that the fastener can be folded back to form a loop (28), the opening (20) being passed over the lug (16) and the part of the fastener which has the opening being trapped between the fasteners assembled, the end   of the clip extending through the slot (24).   8. Seal according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastener has at least two openings   spaced (20,22) with an average part between these or   green, intended to receive identification marks   tion, a first opening (22) being located near   mite from the free end of the fastener (18), a wide loop (26) being formed in the fastener with the identification marks g visible on the outside of the loop when said first opening is passed over the lug (16). the second opening (20) being located near   of the lug (16) so that when said   as opening (20) is passed over the lug (16), a small loop (28) is formed and the free end of the fastener ('18) extends through the slot (24), the marks of identification being visible on the part of   the clip (18) which extends from the slot (24).