GB1594207A - Security seals - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SECURITY SEALS (71) I, WILLIAM REGINALD COLEING, a British Subject of 212 Ladyshot, Harlow, CM20 3ET, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns security seals.

In the context of this application a security seal comprises a device for indicating whether a package or container to which the seal has been applied has been tampered with. Although the application of the security seal to a container will inhibit ready access to the container it is not a primary function of a security seal to prevent such access but merely to indicate that such access has been gained.

Various security seals of this nature are known and are commonly used by companies and authorities who require a security system to be seen to be operated with regard to their goods when in transit or in storage.

To this end it is known to use lengths of metal or wire or plastics material and to thread such a device through a pair of lugs associated with the fastening of a door or doors to a container and to seal the two ends of the device so that one end cannot be pulley away from the other end without leaving some form of damage which can be readily seen upon inspection thereby indicating that the seal has been tapered with. One of the lugs would typically be formed on the door frame and the other on the door or alternatively one lug may be on one door and the other on another door of a double-door unit.

Such security seals are only generally capable of being used once and whilst this is of no great disadvantage where packages are being shipped for example by the Post Office from one point to another this does represent a disadvantage where the same type of security seal is being used to indicate that a load in a container lorry has not been tampered with between ports of call. Here it is necessary to provide a supply of fresh security seals at each port of call so that when the first security seal is broken at the first port of call, and either goods taken from the container or added to the container on the lorry, the latter can be resealed with a fresh security seal by an authorised person to allow the lorry to proceed to the next port of call.

In the event that the stock of fresh security seals is lost or run down at any one port of call or for some reason is unavailable, the lorry would be delayed until a fresh security seal could be obtained from elsewhere.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved security seal for indicating whether containers or packages have been interfered with or broken open during transit or storage and which can be used more than once.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a security seal which is not only capable of being used more than once, but which will permanently indicate how many times it has been broken and re-made.

According to the present invention a security seal comprises a first member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a second member which can be introduced into the passage so that its leading end extends through the exit end thereof and can be introduced into an aperture in the other end of the first member to complete the seal, the second member being formed at its leading end and at intervals along its length with barbs and the said aperture into which the second member is introduced including a shoulder for engaging the barbs to prevent the second member from being pulled in a backward direction out of the aperture after it has been introduced thereinto.

Breaking this type of seal involves severing the second member. Thereafter it is possible to push the severed leading end of the second member completely into the first member, to allow the next barbed section of the second member to be pushed into the said aperture to re-make the seal.

The severed barbed ends may be retained in the first member. The life of such a seal is limited to the number of barb assemblies on the second member.

In one embodiment the first member may be tubular and may be formed with a window along some of its length to allow the barbed section which is contained within the tubular member to be seen. Alternatively the first member may be formed at least in part from transparent material for the same purpose.

In use the leading end of the second member is withdrawn from the exit end of the tubular member, the latter having been threaded through the holes in the lugs or doors or other members which are not to be disturbed, and the leading end is inserted into the entrance end of the tubular member and pushed in until the barbs on the leading end of the second member have cleared the entrance and have sprung apart to engage the shoulder behind the entrance of the tubular member. A complete ring is thereby formed and by providing a stop member on the second member which cannot pass through the exit end of the tubular member, the second member cannot be withdrawn from the tubular member either from the exit end or from the entrance end thereof.

When the sealed container or package arrives at its destination, the seal is broken by cutting the length of the second member which extends between the entrance and exist of the tubular member.

The seal can be reused by pushing the cut leading barbed end of the second member through the entrance fully into the tubular member, trimming the leading end of the remainder of the second member which protrudes from the exit of the tubular member, pulling this from the exit until the new leading end can be inserted into the entrance of the tubular member and thereafter pushing this new leading end into the entrance until the next barbed section has been pushed completely through the entrance and is trapped behind the shoulder at the rear of the entrance.

Since the severed barbed sections will be contained within the tubular member after it has been used, a check can be made to see how many times the seal has been broken and resealed when the package or container arrives at its final destination or back at the base depot or the like.

A preferred embodiment of the invention allows the severec barbed ends to be retrieved and to the. by allow the said first member to be reusci many times.

According to this preferred embodiment of the invention a security seal comprises a first member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a second member having barbs formed thereon at the leading end and at intervals along its length and being adapted to be introduced into the first member to extend from the exit thereof for insertion into the entrance to form a seal which can only be broken by severing the second member where it extends between the exit and the said aperture of the first member, wherein there is an aperture in the wall of the passage in the first member and guide means therewith in through which a severed end of the second member (containing the last barb to be pushed into the aperture in the first member) can pass, to allow the severed end thereof to be removed from the first member.

A security seal constructed as the said preferred embodiment allows the leading end of the introduced member to be removed from the first member after it has been severed, thereby allowing the next barbed section on the introduced member to be introduced into the first member to remake the seal. After all the barbed sections have been severed, a fresh barbed member can be introduced into the first member so that the latter has a virtually indefinite life.

The said second member (which is introduced into the first member) may have a cross section which is symmetrical about its length axis (e.g. circular), or non-symmetrical (e.g. elliptical or flattened). It will be appreciated that the non-symmetrical crosssectional shape will resist bending of the member in a plane containing the longer dimension of the cross section but allow bending of the member in a plane at right angles thereto. Where the passage in the first member is of non-symmetrical cross-sectional shape and the first member is curved (for example C-shaped) and the longer dimensions of its non-symmetrical cross section is parallel to the plane containing the curve, the introduced member must also possess a complementary curve. Where the longer dimensions of the non-symmetrical passage cross section is perpendicular to the plane containing the said curve, the introduced member may be straight provided it is formed from flexible material.

In any event a stop member is required to anchor the tail end of the second member when the last barbed section is used, and to this end the tail end of the second member may be formed with a ball or other enlargement to engage in a groove or channel contained within the first member, which latter includes a shoulder or restriction at the exit end through which the ball or enlargement cannot pass.

The first member may be formed for example from metal or plastics and where the introduced member need not be flexible, it can also be formed from metal or plastics but where it must be flexible to a high degree, it is preferably formed from a flexible and resilient plastics material.

In order to reduce the risk of fraud, a unique marking such as the name of a company or the like may be stamped or formed in the surface of the said first member and a similar name or colour or marking may be provided on or in the second member which is introduced into the first member.

Also the sections of the latter between barbs are preferably marked to denote each such section uniquely, such as by numbering.

Although reference has hitherto been made to the first member being curved it is to be understood that the members need not be curved, but may be of any convenient shape.

It is also to be understood that the first member into which the second member is introduced may itself form part of another member.

Preferably the first includes an aperture in the wall thereof to allow the enlarged end of the second member to be removed from the first member.

According to a preferred feature of the invention an apertured disc is threaded onto the second member or the cross section of the latter is enlarged between successive barbs, the outside diameter of the discs or enlargements being such that they can pass through the exit end of the first member but cannot pass through the entrance aperture thereof.

In a seal which incorporates the preferred feature of the invention it is impossible for a second barb to be introduced into the entrance end of the first member without first removing the disc or enlargement located in front of that barb and this can only be done by cutting the second member in advance of that barb.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in cross section of a tubular member forming one part of a seal embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a half section on B B in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an end view of the exit end in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a half section through the tubular member in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a half section through the entrance end of the tubular member on the line D-D of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a side view of part of a spike assembly for inserting into the tubular member of Fig. 1 to form a seal, Fig. 7 is a cross section through the spike assembly of Fig. 6 on the line A-A in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a plan view of the main part of a security seal, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the subsidiary member of the security seal shown in Fig. 8 and is adapted to be introduced into the member shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is an edge view of the first member in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 8, and Fig. 11 is an edge view of the member shown in Fig. 8 viewed in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 8.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and comprises a tubular member 10 having an entrance end 12 and an exit end 14. The tube is curved round to form part of a circle for convenience.

A window 16 is formed along part of the length of the tubular member and a second window 24 (see Fig. 2) is formed diametrically opposite on the other side of the tubular member. Alternatively the tubular member may be formed wholly or in part from transparent material.

A sleeve 18 is inserted into the end 12 and is fused into position after the spike shown in Fig. 6 has been inserted into the tubular member through the entrance end 12 (pointed end 30 first). The sleeve 18 includes an external cylindrical section which is fused to the wall of the tube 10 and an externally tapering section 20. The taper produces an annular cavity 22 within the tubular member into which flared barbs 32 (see Fig. 6) on the spike will spring when the pointed end 30 is reintroduced into the tubular member 10 through the sleeve 18.

Fig. 2 is a half section on the line B-B of Fig. 1 and shows the second window 24 formed diametrically opposite the window 16.

Fig. 3 shows the exit end of the tubular member in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1 and shows how the interior cross section of the tube (shown by the dotted line 26) reduces down to the exit cross section 27.

Fig. 4 is an internal view of the entrance end of the tube taken in the direction of the arrow C in Fig. 1. This shows part of the annular cavity 22 formed as a result of the tapering external surface 20 of the sleeve 18 and Fig. 5 also shows by way of cross section on the line D-D in Fig. 4 how this cavity is formed.

Turning now to Figs. 6 and 7, the second part of the seal comprises a spike 28 which is of rectangular cross section as shown in Fig.

7. At one end (the left hand end as shown in Fig. 6) the spike 28 is formed with a pointed end or nose 30 from which rearwardly protrude four flared barbs 32 having a natural resilience which causes them to spring out as shown but which can be overcome to cause the barbs to lie flush against the surface of the spike 28 to allow the barb to be pushed through a small hole such as the entrance passage 34 in the sleeve 18 of Fig. 1. Typically the barbs are splayed out at an angle of 8" to the spigot 28. The spigot is formed with similar barb assemblies at intervals along its length one of which is shown at 36 and at its far end is formed first of all with a cylindrical enlargement of its cross section as denoted by reference numeral 38 and finally by a plug 40 in the form of a truncated cone, the part conical surface of which is complementary to a part conical surface formed on the inside of the exit end of the tube denoted by reference numeral 42 in Fig. 1. The plug 40 cannot therefore be pulled through the exit end 14 of the tubular member 10.

Between successive barb assemblies 36 are located rings or discs 44 one of which is shown in Fig. 6. These may be formed around the spigot after the spigot and barbs have been moulded and the hole in the centre of the disc or ring 44 is too small to allow the nose 30 or folded-down barbs 32 to be forced therethrough.

Weakening notches 29 and 31 are provided around the spigot 28 slightly in advance of the nose, and some distance behind the splayed apart barbs 32 of each barb assembly 36.

The seal is closed by inserting the leading end 30 of the spigot 28 into the passage 34 in the entrance end 12 of the tubular member 10 until the barbs 32 splay out within the tubular member behind the entrance sleeve 18. In this position the leading end of the spigot cannot be withdrawn i.e. pulled backwards through the entrance sleeve 18 because of the interaction between the barbs 32 and the annular cavity 22.

The seal is broken by cutting the spigot 28 at the two notches which are visible the one near the entrance end 12 of the tubular member and the other near the exit end of the tubular member so that the elongate section of spigot bearing one of the rings or discs 44 can be removed.

The seal can be resealed by withdrawing the end of the spigot protruding from the exit 14 and inserting the nose of the next barb assembly into the entrance 12 until its barbs are trapped behind the sleeve 18.

It will be seen that by making the diameter of the rings or discs 44 greater than the aperture 34 through the entrance sleeve 18, so only one barb assembly can be pushed into the entrance sleeve 18 at any one time. If an attempt is made to push the next following barb towards the passage 34 the intervening ring or disc 44 prevents the nose end of the next barb to enter the passage 34.

All the parts of the seal assembly may be formed from a plastics material, preferably from the ABS range.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 11, a security seal comprises a main tubular member 110 which in accordance with the invention has an exit aperture 112 for used barbed sections of the inserted member shown in Fig. 9.

An opening 116 communicates with a passage 118 which extends around a substantial portion of the member 110 and terminates at 120. The wall of the member 110 is cut away at 122 to form an entrance for the member 140 shown in Fig. 9.

A second passage shorter than the first passage is formed at the other end of the Cshaped member and is denoted by reference numeral 130. The passage 130 communicates between an entrance 132 formed at the entrance end of the main member 110 and extends between the entrance 132 and the aperture 112 formed in the wall of the tubular member 110 and through which the leading end of an introduced member can be pulled after it has been severed in order to break the seal as will hereinafter be described.

Immediately behind the entrance 132 the cross-section of the passage 130 is reduced to form shoulders as denoted by reference numerals 136 and 138.

The closure member is shown in Fig. 9 as comprising an elongate member 140 the leading end of which is formed with a barb or arrowhead generally designated 142 having barb extensions 144 and 146. Similar barbs such as 143 are formed at intervals along the length of 140. The material forming the member 140 is cut away to form an internal slot 148 the extreme ends of which are widened as at 150 and 152 so as to allow the member 140 to collapse thereby closing the slot 148 as it is introduced into the entrance 132 and through the narrowing passage section. As soon as the barbs 144 and 146 are beyond the shoulders 136 and 138 the two barbs 144 and 146 spring outwardly and by virtue of their construction prevent the leading end of the introduced member from being withdrawn in a rearward direction from the entrance 132 into which it has been pushed.

The rear end of the member 140 is formed with a ball 114 to assist in guiding the rear end of the member 140 around the interior of the member 110.

The member 140 is introduced into the member 110 by pushing the leading end 142 into the passage 118 through the slot 122. By feeding the member 140 through the slot 122 the barbed leading end 142 finally appears through the exit 116 whereafter it can be pulled out of the exit, and the member 140 can by pulled further round the passage 118 until the leading barbed end 142 can be introduced into the opening 132. As has hereinbefore been mentioned, on pushing the barbs 144 and 146 beyond the shoulders 138 and 136, the leading end 142 is locked into this end of the member 110 and the seal can only be broken by severing the member 140 at the point denoted by the necking 162.

An enlargement of the cross section in the form of a disc 162 prevents the next barb 143 from being introduced into the aperture 132 until it has been severed, and the inserted member 140 cannot be pulled back through the member 110 by virtue of the engagement of the barbs with the exit 116.

The members making up the seals may be formed from a plastics material or the like and where the member does not have to be flexible, may alternatively be formed from or reinforced with metal.

An exit 164 allows the last tail and the ball 114 to be removed.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A Security Seal comprising a 1st member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a 2nd member which can be introduced into the passage so that its leading end extends through the exit end thereof and can be introduced into an aperture in the other end of the 1st member to complete the seal, the 2nd member being formed at its leading end and at intervals along its length with barbs and the said aperture into which the said 2nd member is introduced including a shoulder for engaging the barbs to prevent the 2nd member from being pulled in a backward direction out of the aperture after it has been introduced there into, and the tail end of the said 2nd member is formed with an enlargement so as to prevent it from being pulled through the exit end of the 1st member.

2. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 1 in which the seal is broken by severing the 2nd member and in which the severed barbed ends are retained in the 1st member.

3. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 2 in which the 1st member is tubular and is formed with a window along some of its length to allow the barbed sections which are contained within the tubular member to be seen.

4. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 2 in which the 1st member is formed at least in part for transparent material.

5. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 1 comprising a 1st member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a 2nd member having barbs formed thereon at a leading end and at intervals along its length and being adapted to be introduced into the 1st member to extend from the exit thereof for insertion into the said aperture to form a seal which can only be broken by severing the 2nd member where it extends between the exit and the said aperture of the 1st member wherein there is an aperture in the wall of the passage in the 1st member and guide means therewithin through which a severed end of the 2nd member (containing the last barb to be pushed into the aperture in the 1st member) can pass, to allow the severed end thereof to be removed from the 1st member.

6. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which the exit end of the 1st member is formed with a restriction through which the enlarged tail end of the 2nd member cannot pass.

7. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which a unique marking is stamped or otherwise formed in the surface of the 1st member.

8. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a unique marking is stamped or otherwise formed in the surface of the 2nd member.

9. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which an apertured disc is threaded onto the 2nd member or the cross section of the latter is enlarged between each two successive barbs, the outside diameter of the discs or enlargements being such that they can pass through the exit end of the 1st member but cannot pass through the entrance aperture therof so that it is impossible for a second barb to be introduced into the entrance of the 1 sot member without first removing the disc or enlargement located in front of that barb.

10. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 6 in which the 1st member includes an aperture in the wall thereof to allow the enlarged end of the 2nd member to be removed from the 1st member.

11. A Security Seal constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 7 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A Security Seal constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with refernce to and as illustrated in Figs. 8-11 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. form of a disc 162 prevents the next barb 143 from being introduced into the aperture 132 until it has been severed, and the inserted member 140 cannot be pulled back through the member 110 by virtue of the engagement of the barbs with the exit 116. The members making up the seals may be formed from a plastics material or the like and where the member does not have to be flexible, may alternatively be formed from or reinforced with metal. An exit 164 allows the last tail and the ball 114 to be removed. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A Security Seal comprising a 1st member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a 2nd member which can be introduced into the passage so that its leading end extends through the exit end thereof and can be introduced into an aperture in the other end of the 1st member to complete the seal, the 2nd member being formed at its leading end and at intervals along its length with barbs and the said aperture into which the said 2nd member is introduced including a shoulder for engaging the barbs to prevent the 2nd member from being pulled in a backward direction out of the aperture after it has been introduced there into, and the tail end of the said 2nd member is formed with an enlargement so as to prevent it from being pulled through the exit end of the 1st member.

2. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 1 in which the seal is broken by severing the 2nd member and in which the severed barbed ends are retained in the 1st member.

3. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 2 in which the 1st member is tubular and is formed with a window along some of its length to allow the barbed sections which are contained within the tubular member to be seen.

4. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 2 in which the 1st member is formed at least in part for transparent material.

5. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 1 comprising a 1st member having an internal passage extending from an entrance to an exit and a 2nd member having barbs formed thereon at a leading end and at intervals along its length and being adapted to be introduced into the 1st member to extend from the exit thereof for insertion into the said aperture to form a seal which can only be broken by severing the 2nd member where it extends between the exit and the said aperture of the 1st member wherein there is an aperture in the wall of the passage in the 1st member and guide means therewithin through which a severed end of the 2nd member (containing the last barb to be pushed into the aperture in the 1st member) can pass, to allow the severed end thereof to be removed from the 1st member.

6. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which the exit end of the 1st member is formed with a restriction through which the enlarged tail end of the 2nd member cannot pass.

7. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which a unique marking is stamped or otherwise formed in the surface of the 1st member.

8. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a unique marking is stamped or otherwise formed in the surface of the 2nd member.

9. A Security Seal as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which an apertured disc is threaded onto the 2nd member or the cross section of the latter is enlarged between each two successive barbs, the outside diameter of the discs or enlargements being such that they can pass through the exit end of the 1st member but cannot pass through the entrance aperture therof so that it is impossible for a second barb to be introduced into the entrance of the 1 sot member without first removing the disc or enlargement located in front of that barb.

10. A Security Seal as claimed in claim 6 in which the 1st member includes an aperture in the wall thereof to allow the enlarged end of the 2nd member to be removed from the 1st member.

11. A Security Seal constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 7 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A Security Seal constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with refernce to and as illustrated in Figs. 8-11 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.