GB2058194A

GB2058194A - Security Tie

Info

Publication number: GB2058194A
Application number: GB8026999A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Donner & Co Services Ltd Oswal
Current assignee: Donner & Co Services Ltd Oswal
Priority date: 1979-08-23
Filing date: 1980-08-19
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: GB2058194B

Abstract

A security tie, comprises a distinctive flexible tensile band having an apertured head for passage therethrough of one end of the band, the head having internal locking means preventing retraction of the band from the head, the tie being used by passing the band round a subject to be secured and forming the band into a loop by passing one end through the head, constricting the loop by pulling the band through the head until the band is stretched round the subject, and severing the stretched band adjacent the head so that the resilience of the band causes the severed end to retract into the head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security Tie This invention relates to a security tie and to a method and device for providing it.

It is often necessary to provide a security tie which will ensure that a subject being secured is not tampered with, or that any tampering can be easily detected. Examples of this are in banking, where cash bags are closed and distinctively sealed to ensure that the contents are not disturbed, and in international customs where items of freight must be similarly secured. At the present time this is generally achieved by passing a wire or the like round the subject, passing the ends of the wire through an apertured deformable block and compressing the block to entrap the wire. The compression may be carried out with a stamping device which embosses the block with a distinctive pattern.

There are several disadvantages in this previously-proposed method. For example, the embossed pattern is applied on the outside of the block and is therefore clearly visible. It can therefore be copied and applied to a replacement block after the subject has been tampered with; the wire is not applied under tension and does not therefore secure the subject itself; and the block is generally made of lead which is a health hazard.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of providing a security tie, comprising provided a distinctive flexible tensile band having an apertured head for passage therethrough of one end of the band, the head having internal locking means preventing retraction of the band from the head, passing the band round a subject to be secured and forming the band into a loop by passing one end through the head, constricting the loop by passing the band through the head until the band is stretched round the subject, and severing the stretched band adjacent the head so that the resilience of the band causes the severed end to retract into the head.

The band and the locking means can operate effectively in the form of a ratchet and pawl, allowing the band to pass through the head in one direction while preventing it from movement in the opposite direction, particularly once the band is in a stretched condition.

A preferable form of the band is of ladder construction, as this allows a locking means in the form of a pawl to locate positively between the "rungs" of the ladder and provide a secure lock against retraction of the band. An especially effective band for use in the present method is that sold under the Trade Mark "Bar-Lok" by Dennison Manufacturing Company Limited. This is a plastics ladder-form band. Nylon, for example Nylon 6:6, has been shown to have the required characteristics for use in the present method.

A practical method of providing the security tie is by pulling the band through the head by a device having movable jaws which grip the band, and severing the band by cutting means on the device actuated on achievement of a predetermined tension being exerted on the band by the jaws.

The band is distinctively marked, and this is preferably provided in an area of the band which is hidden from view when the band is stretched round the subject. In this way the marking on the band cannot be identified without first breaking the security tie; large numbers of different distinctive markings can be used on these bands thereby making it difficuit for a thief or other unauthorised person to replace the band with an identically-marked one after tampering. For example, when the band is of plastics material a series of letters, numbers or other marks may be applied to the band during moulding.

According to the invention there is also provided a device for use in providing a security tie by the method of this invention, the device having movable jaws for receiving and advancing the band, and a movable cutting blade for severing the band, the blade being mechanically connected with the jaws through an override arrangement whereby in use the blade is idle until a predetermined force is exerted by the jaws, the override arrangement comprising a detent mechanism which on achievement of said predetermined force actuates a cam which causes movement of the blade The detent mechanism is preferably in the form of a projection which is spring-loaded into engagement with a slot or recess, the tension in the spring dictating the force required to cause the projection to leave the slot or recess to actuate the cam.The slot or recess may be shaped to allow smooth disengagement of the projection, for example by "cutting away" the slot wall in the direction of disengagement of the projection.

The tool may be in the form generally of a gun, the security tie being fed into the gun from the extreme end of the barrel and the jaws being movable by actuation of the trigger.

Most preferably the tool has a plastics casing, for example, glass-filled nylon, for cheapness of manufacture and lightness of weight.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a device of this invention for providing a security tie, with the nearside casing removed for clarity; Figure 2 is a side view of a cash bag having a security tie of this invention; Figure 3 is a plan part-sectional view of the cash bag of Figure 2 showing the method of attachment of the security tie; and Figure 4 is a front view of a band for use in providing the security tie of Figure 2.

The device shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is generally in the form of a gun, having a glassfilled nylon moulded casing 1 in which are housed interconnected lever arrangements. A main arm 2 is retained on the casing 1 in the barrel of the gun by a pin 3 passing through a slot 4 in the arm 2, and is recessed at 5 to receive a pin 5a extending from a second arm 6. The arm 6 is pivoted on the casing 1 by means of a pin 7 in the handle of the gun passing through a slot in the arm 6. A coil spring 8 and hair spring 8a bias the second arm 6, and thus also the main arm 2, forwardly along the barrel.

A trigger 9 is pivotaliy mounted on the casing 1 on a pin 10 and is pivotally connected to the second arm 6 by means of a link 11.

The second arm 6 has a cylindrical abutment 12 extending from its side immediately above a lever 13 which is pivoted at 14 on the casing. The rearward end of the lever 1 3 is biassed upwardly by a spring 1 5, so that the forward end is biassed downwards. The forward end is upturned and terminates in a cutting blade 1 6. Adjacent the blade 1 6 is a serrated first jaw 17 pivoted on the main arm 2 at 18 and lightly spring-loaded to engage it with a plain second jaw 19 on the arm 2.

Figures 3 and 4 show a band having a ladder construction by virtue of a pair of parallel side members 20 interconnected at intervais by cross members 21. One end of the band terminates in a locking head 22. The band is made entirely of nylon 6:6.

The locking head 22 is in the form of a sleeve having a through hole 23 into and along which extends a tongue 24.

Such a band is sold under the Trade Mark "Bar Lok" by Dennison Manufacturing Company Limited.

On a face 25 of the locking head 22 is a distinctive marking, for example a code of numbers and/or letters, and in this particular case the marking is applied to the face 25 in the moulding process of manufacturing the band. The marking is therefore permanent.

In use, a band as shown in Figure 4 is passed around an article to be sealed, for example a cash bag (Figure 3) and through its locking head 22, and the free end of the band is then fed into the barrel of the gun between the jaws 1 7 and 19 of the main arm 2. The trigger 9 is then pulled causing the springs 8 and 8a to contract, the second arm 6 to pivot clockwise about the pin 7 and the main arm 2 to move axially to the right as viewed in the drawing. This movement pulls the band into the barrel as it is clamped between the jaws 17 and 19.

When the trigger 9 is released the jaws 17 and 19 relax as the main arm moves to the left under the action of the spring 8, thus releasing the band.

Repeated pulling of the trigger 9 therefore alternately pulls and releases the band until the band is tight around the article to be sealed. The band does not retract from the locking head 22 during release of the trigger as the tongue 24 engages one of the cross-members 21, locking the band against retraction.

When a predetermined tension in the band dictated by the strength of the springs 8 and 8a has been achieved, the action of pulling the trigger 9 produces a force which is sufficiently great to carry the pin 5a out of engagement with the recess 5. The recess 5 is tapered outwardly towards the rear of the barrel to allow this action to be achieved smoothly. This causes the second arm 6 to move downwards as the pin 5a engages the underside of the main arm 2, taking the abutment 12 into engagement with the lever 1 3 and forcing the lever downwards against the action of the spring 1 5. The blade 1 6 is thus pushed upwards and severs the band at the front of the barrel.

As the band is of resilient tensile plastics material, it becomes slightly stretched under tension so that when the blade 1 6 severs the band the severed end retracts into the locking head 22. The band cannot then be released without breaking.

Various modifications can be made to the embodiment of the invention described above; for example the blade can be secured to the casing by a screw so as to be removable for sharpening or replacement.

The method described in connection with this invention can be used for securing bands around cash bags, safe deposit containers, microfilm record containers and any other articles which it is important to protect from undetected tampering. The only way in which the tensioned band can be removed from around the cash bag etc. is by breaking or cutting it, and the distinctive marking on the face 25 of the head 22 ensures that the band once broken cannot be replaced by another without detection.

other modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A method of providing a security tie, comprising providing a distinctive flexible tensile band having an apertured head for passage therethrough of one end of the band, the head having internal locking means preventing retraction of the band from the head, passing the band round a subject to be secured and forming the band into a loop by passing one end through the head, constricting the loop by pulling the band through the head until the band is stretched round the subject, and severing the stretched band adjacent the head so that the resilience of the band causes the severed end to retract into the head.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the band and the locking means interact in the manner of a ratchet and pawl thereby allowing the band to pass through the head in one direction and providing automatic locking of the stretched band against retraction from the head on severance.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the band is of ladder construction.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the band is of plastics material.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the band is of nylon.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band is pulled through the head by a device having movable jaws which grip and advance the band, and secured by cutting means on the device actuated on achievement of a preset tension being exerted on the band by the jaws.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band bears distinctive marking hidden from view when the band is stretched round the subject.

8. A method of providing a security tie, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A security tie whenever provided by the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

1 0. A device for use in providing a security tie by the method of any one of the preceding claims, having movable jaws for receiving and advancing the band, and a movable cutting blade for severing the band, the blade being mechanically connected with the jaws through an override arrangement whereby in use the blade is idle until a predetermined force is exerted by the jaws, the override arrangement comprising a detent mechanism which on achievement of said predetermined force actuates a can which causes movement of the blade.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the detent mechanism is a projection on a first lever spring-loaded into engagement with a recess on a second lever, whereby achievement of said predetermined force causes the projection to come out of engagement with the recess.

12. A device according to claim 10 or 11, generally in the form of a gun, the jaws being disposed within the barrel for receiving the band through the muzzle and being movable by actuation of the trigger.

13. A device according to claim 10, 11 or 12, having a plastics casing.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the casing is of glass-filled nylon.

1 5. A device for use in providing a security tie, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.