GB2062083A

GB2062083A - Re-usable Security Closure for the Neck of a Bag

Info

Publication number: GB2062083A
Application number: GB7937411A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Envopak Ltd
Current assignee: Envopak Ltd
Priority date: 1979-10-29
Filing date: 1979-10-29
Publication date: 1981-05-20
Also published as: GB2062083B

Abstract

A re-usable security closure the neck of a bag comprises a flexible strap (S) intended to embrace the neck and having terminals (A, B) respectively shaped so as to define when fitting one upon the other a chamber (5, 6, 10) adapted to receive a part (13, 13a) of a disposable locking and sealing element (C) which holds the strap terminals (A, B) together until a part (12) of the element outside the chamber is broken from the part (13, 13a) of the element within the chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Re-usable Security Closure for the Neck of a Bag This invention relates to a re-usable security closure for fitting around the neck of a bag to prevent unauthorised interference with the contents of the bag.

Traditionally it has been the custom to secure the gathered neck of a bag by means of a tightly applied and knotted cord or by a loop of wire having its ends twisted together the knot or the twisted ends as the case may be being then sealed against unauthorised interference. Each expedient is time consuming, and unecononic, since the cord, the wire and the sealing means are all expendable. Each expedient is moreover unreliable owing to the difficulty of ensuring adequate tightness of the cord or wire around the neck which is vital for security.

The present invention has been devised with the general object of satisfying a demand for a security closure which does not have the abovementioned disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention a re-usable security closure for the neck of a bag comprises a flexible strap intended to embrace the neck and having rigid terminals respectively shaped so as to define, when fitting one upon the other, a chamber adapted to receive a part of a disposable locking and sealing element which holds the strap terminals together until a part of the element outside the chamber is broken from the part of the element within the chamber.

Preferably the chamber is shallow and the locking and sealing element is flat, one part of the element being irreversibly slidable through an entrance in the side of the chamber whereafter the remainder of the element is contained in a shallow channel formed laterally of the chamber.

Preferably the chamber has three inner side wall portions formed on one rigid terminal of the strap and three outer side wall portions and a top formed on the other rigid terminal of the strap.

Also, one terminal of the strap may be adapted to receive means for permanently securing it to the neck of a bag.

These and other features of the invention and its mode of use should however become more clearly apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side of an extended security closure before use; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the other side of the security closure; Fig. 3 is a section on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on line IV--IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows the closure surrounding the neck of a bag before assuming its final position; Fig. 6 similar to Fig. 5 shows the closure in its final security sealing.

Referring now to the drawings, the closure is made of moulded synthetic plastics material, such as for instance polyvinyl chloride, and comprises a flexible strap S having integral rigid end parts or terminals A and B. The strap S is intended tightly to embrace the bunched up neck of a bag to enable the terminals A and B to be brought into juxtaposition, in the manner of a clasp, and be locked and sealed in that position by a disposable seal C as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The configurations of the terminals A and B which enable the closure to operate in this manner are most clearly apparent in Figs. 1 to 4.

Thus the rigid terminal A is formed with a mouth 1 defined between a pair of jaws 2 for embracing and gripping the neck of a bag. Behind the mouth 1 is a part-cylindrical surface 3 which is spaced between two lugs at the base of the jaws so as to form a pair of guide recesses 4. The base of the terminal A is formed to one side with a shallow three sided enclosure 5. Adjacent the open side of this enclosure is an arch 6. The enclosure 5 constitutes three inside walls, and the arch 6 an entrance, to a chamber of which the remainder can be defined by the other strap terminal B when the latter is brought into juxtaposition as hereafter described.

The base part of the terminal A is formed with two holes 7 for accommodating the stems of rivets (not shown) by means of which the closure can be permanently attached, if required, to the neck of a bag.

The rigid terminal B at the other end of the strap S is formed with a pair of aligning shoulders 8, a shallow channel 9 which is open to one side of the closure and a laterally adjacent platform 10 which lies in the general plane of the extended closure. A hole 11 in the centre of the channel 9 is for the purpose of accommodating the head of any rivet used for securing terminal A to the neck of a bag.

The disposable locking and sealing element or seal C, as shown ready for use in Fig. 5, is essentially the same as that which is illustrated in Fig. 4 of our British Patent 1,424,680. It is made of synthetic plastics material and comprises a substantially rectangular plaque 12 connected to a plug 1 3 which is of arrow-head formation with resiliently deformable barbs 1 3a. The dimensions of the plug are such as to enable it to be passed non-reversibly by inward deflection of the barbs 1 3a through the rectangular opening of the arch 6.

To use the closure device, the terminal B is moved in the general direction of the arrow in Fig.

1 towards the terminal A so that the bunched folds of the neck of the bag are constrained by the strap S to enter and be gripped by the mouth 1 and the jaws 2. The strap 6 is pulled tight on the neck and is passed between the jaws 2 and around the surface 3 so that the shoulders 8 can be engaged in the guide recesses 4 (Fig. 5) whereupon the terminal B is finally closed onto the terminal A (Fig. 6). In this final position a chamber is formed for the admittance of the plug 13 of the disposable seal. The top and three outer walls of this chamber are formed by the platform 10 and its dependent sides which cover and envelop the three sided enclosure 5.The platform 10 is open on its fourth side so that when the underside of the channel 9 of terminal B is held onto the flat bed 14 beside the arch 6 on terminal A the opening of the arch constitutes an entrance to the chamber through which the plug 13 of the seal C is non-removably passed so that the plaque 12 is located by and within the channel 9 (Fig. 6).

The bag is now closed and sealed against unauthorised interference.

The closure can be removed by first breaking the seal. This is done by levering up the plaque 12 away from the base of the channel 9 so that it breaks away from the plug 13 and ceases to hold together the terminals A and B. The strap S can then be unwrapped from around the neck of the bag.

It is to be understood that the closure can be made with various lengths of strap S to suit bags with necks of various sizes and will usually be permanently attached to the bag by rivets as previously mentioned so as to be readily available for use when required. A multiplicity of disposable seals C will normally be supplied to each authorised user of the bag and the plaque 1 2 of each seal may be engraved or otherwise marked with the name and/or logo of the user and perhaps also or alternatively may bear a serial number.

The seal may if required possess an integral stud to retain a tag or label and secure its retention against unauthorised removal.

Claims

1. A re-usable security closure for the neck of a bag comprising a flexible strap intended to embrace the neck and having rigid terminals respectively shaped so as to define, when fitting one upon the other, a chamber adapted to receive a part of a disposable locking and sealing element which holds the strap terminals together until a part of the element outside the chamber is broken from the part of the element within the chamber.

2. A re-usable security closure according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is shallow and the locking and sealing element is flat, one part of the element being irreversibly slidable through an entrance in the side of chamber whereafter the remainder of the element is contained in a shallow channel formed laterally of the chamber.

3. A re-usable security closure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the chamber has three inner side wall portions formed on one rigid terminal of the strap and three outer side wall portions and a top formed on the other rigid terminal of the strap.

4. A re-usable security closure according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein one terminal of the strap is adapted to receive means for permanently securing it to the neck of a bag.

5. A re-usable security closure according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the part of the locking and sealing element which enters the chamber is of resiliently deformable arrow-head formation.

6. A re-usable security closure according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein one of the terminals is shaped so as to embrace and grip the neck of the bag when the strap is tightened against the neck and the terminals are lockingly engaged with each other.

7. A re-usable security closure for the neck of a bag constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.