GB2079362A

GB2079362A - Sealable fastening device

Info

Publication number: GB2079362A
Application number: GB8022273A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cmcs Print & Colour Ltd
Current assignee: Cmcs Print & Colour Ltd
Priority date: 1980-07-08
Filing date: 1980-07-08
Publication date: 1982-01-20
Also published as: ATE11865T1; EP0043726A1; EP0043726B1; DE3169031D1; GB2079362B

Abstract

A sealable fastening device comprises a movable body (1), a body (2) (designated the fixed body) to which in use of the device the movable body (1) is to be fastened, and a seal device (3), the fixed body (2) comprising a housing (4) having a cavity (4a) within the housing (4), and the movable body (1) being shaped so that it can be fitted over said housing (4) so as to act as a cover for the housing (4), the fixed body (2), movable body (1) and seal device (3) being arranged to co-operate so that when the movable body (1) is fitted as aforesaid the seal (3) can be fitted so as to fasten said movable body (1) to said fixed body (2) in such a manner that in order to remove said movable body (1) from said fixed body (2) is will normally be necessary to break or otherwise detectably modify said seal device (3), at least part of the seal device (3) (viz. arrowlike head (24) plus part of a connecting portion (26)) then being retained in said cavity (4a), said housing (4) having an aperture (13) therein through which the seal device or part seal device retained in said cavity (4a) can be removed after removal of said movable body (1) from said fixed body (2), said aperture (13) being covered by said movable body (1) (by lip (22) thereof) when fitted as aforesaid.

Description

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SPECIFICATION Sealable fastening device

5 This invention relates to a sealable fastening device, and is primarily, although not exclusively, concerned with a device forfastening the runner of a zip fastener, especially the runner of a zip fastener which serves to close a container, such as a reusable 10 container, for example.

There are already know several types of sealable fastening devices which comprise a movable body, a body (herein referred to as the fixed body) to which in use of the device the movable body is to be ,15 fastened, and a seal device, the movable body, fixed body and seal device being arranged to co-operate : so that when the movable body is suitably attached to the fixed body the seal can be fitted so as to fasten the movable body to the fixed body in such a 20 manner that, in order to remove the movable body from the fixed body it will normally be necessary to break the seal device. The seal devices are expendable, and fresh supplies are only available to authorised persons, so that if an unauthorised person 25 removes the movable body from the fixed body, there will normally be evidence of this because the seal will have been broken. Examples of such fastening devices are disclosed in U.K. Patent Specifications Nos. 930,508,1,424,680,1,476,430 and 30 1,543,380.

Sealable fastening devices of the above described kind are often used to protect closure devices (e.g. zip fasteners) on containers, so that any unauthorised opening of the closure device can be detected. 35 A container which is commonly protected in this manner is what has become known as a reusable container. In its usual form, a reusable container comprises a pouch which is closed by a zip and has on its outside window through which the destination 40 address may be shown and optionally an additional window for postage stamps. When fitted with the above-described kind of fastening device, the runner of the zip is attached to the movable body, and the fixed body is attached to the container adjacent to 45 the position of the zip fastener when the zip is closed, so that the zip runner can be fastened via the movable body to the fixed body and the sealing device can then be fitted.

The sealable fastening devices hitherto employed 50 for such purposes have all suffered from one or more of thefollowing disadvantages:

1. They are generally of a relatively complicated construction, and so relatively expensive to produce.

2. In most designs, in order to enable the broken 55 part of the seal left inside the fixed body on opening the fastening device to be removed from the fixed body, it is arranged that the broken part passes through the base of the fixed body into the container. Unless the user regularly goes to the trouble of 60 searching in the pouch for such broken parts, this leads to an accumulation of broken parts within the pouch, with the possibility of contamination of, or damage to, the contents, as well as an unnecessary increase in the overall weight of the container. 65 3. In the few designs which permitthe broken part of the seal to be removed from the fixed body from outside the pouch (after opening of the seal-able fastening device), the broken part is generally difficult to extract. Also, in some such designs, the provision of this facility results in there being a substantial aperture in the fixed body through which the seal device can be probed when the sealable device is in its fastened condition, leading to the risk that the seal device can be undetectably released or at least to the temptation to try to do this.

4. Many designs are fiddly to operate in practice. For example, in many designs, it is difficult to attach the movable body to the fixed body prior to sealing and/or to remove it after breakage of the seal. In an attempt to rectify this problem there has been proposed a design in which the movable body projects substantially from the fixed body. However, such a design increases the risk that an accidental blow to the device will cause unintended breakage of the sealing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealable fastening device of the above-described kind which can be simple in construction and use and yet resistant to undetectable tampering.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sealable fastening device, the device comprising a movable body, a body (herein referred to as the fixed body) to which in use of the device the movable body is to be fastened, and a seal device, the fixed body comprising a housing having a cavity within the housing, and the movable body being shaped so that it can be fitted over said housing so as to act as a cover for the housing, the fixed body, movable body and seal device being arranged to co-operate so that when the movable body is fitted as aforesaid the seal can be fitted so as to fasten said movable body to said fixed body in such a manner that in order to remove said movable body from said fixed body it will normally be necessary to break or otherwise detectably modify said seal device, at least part of the seal device then being retained in said cavity, said housing having an aperture therein through which the seal device or part seal device retained in said cavity can be removed after removal of said movable body from said fixed body, said aperture being covered by said movable body when fitted as aforesaid.

It will be appreciated that with a fastening device in accordance with the invention, it is possible to arrange that the seal device or part seal device retained in the cavity of the housing after unfastening of the device can be removed from outside a container to which the fastening device may be applied, and yet the fastening device can be resistant to tampering when in the fastened condition. Also, the form of movable body employed in the device of the invention can lend itself to easy manipulation in use.

The seal device may comprise a head portion which is connected to a tail portion and be arranged to co-operate with said movable body and said fixed body so that, for fitting, it is inserted so that said head portion passes through said movable body and said fixed body into said cavity, leaving said tail portion projecting outside said movable body, said

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head portion then being held sufficiently securely within said cavity that an attempt to withdraw it from said cavity by manipulation of said tail portion will result in said head portion becoming detached from 5 said seal device ratherthan such withdrawal. Desirably, said tail portion is dimensioned so that it cannot enter said housing. Conveniently, said movable and fixed bodies are formed so that, when said movable body is fitted as aforesaid, there is a 10 passage through said movable body and said housing through which, in fitting the seal device, said head portion passes into said cavity, said head portion being shaped and dimensioned such that, having entered said cavity, it cannot be withdrawn 15 through it, but being resiliency deformable so as to permit its initial insertion through said passage into said cavity. In accordance with the form of design which we at present prefer, said head portion comprises a substantially V-shaped member, the 20 apex of the V-shaped member being connected to said tail portion through an end of a first one of the legs of the V, which end is remote from the apex of the V, the second of the legs of the V being capable of being resiliency urged towards said first leg to 25 permit said head portion to pass through said passage into said cavity; when in said cavity said first leg can spring back to its original position, so that if it is then attempted to withdraw the seal device, the free end of said first leg will catch on the 30 interior of the fastening device (e.g. on the interior wall of the housing) to resist such withdrawal. We particularly prefer that in this design the seal device should include a shoulder at the point of attachment of said first leg to the rest of the seal device, said 35 shoulder being in opposed relation to said tail portion; again, the shoulder can, by catching on the interior of the fastening device, resist withdrawal of the seal device.

We have found it advantageous that the housing 40 of the fixed body of the fastening device should be of substantially cuboid (rectangular parallelepiped) shape.

For many contemplated uses of the sealable fastening device of the invention, it is preferable for 45 the fixed body to be arranged for fitting to another body. For example, the fixed body may have a pair of outwardly projecting legs attached to the base of said housing in opposed relationship; or it may have a pair of donwardly projecting legs attached to the 50 base of said housing in opposed relationship. When arranged for fixing to another body, the fixed body may have an aperture (herein referred to as the base aperture) in its base, said base aperture being dimensioned so as to permit passage therethrough 55 of the seal device retained in said cavity. The provision of such a base aperture can be useful in circumstances where the fastening device is to be employed on a container, and it is preferred, in spite of the disadvantages mentioned above, to arrange 60 for the seal device or part seal device retained in the cavity (after the seal has been detectably modified to permit removal of the movable body from the fixed body) to be able to pass into the container. In such circumstances, the required object can be achieved 65 by fixing the fixed body with its base aperture over a suitably dimensional aperture in the container which aperture is in communication with the interior of the container.

In a preferred application of the fastening device of 70 the invention, the movable body is attached to the runner of a zip fastener so that, when the zip fastener is closed, the movable body, and thus also the runner of the zip fastener, can be fastened to the fixed body.

75 The present invention also comprehends a container, whenever fitted with one or more fastening devices in accordance with the invention in such a mannerthat the container can be closed using the fastening device or devices so that subsequent ; 80 opening of the container will normally result in breakage or otherwise detectable modification of the respective seal device or at one of the respective seaJ devices. The container may be arranged for closure by a zip fastener, the runner of the zip fastener being 85 attached to the movable body as described above.

In one embodiment of the invention, the container is in the form of a reusable container which is closed by a zip fastener situated in a side of the container and running adjacent to an edge of the container, the 90 fixed body of the fastening device having outwardly projecting legs as described above and being attached to said side of the container. With this embodiment, it is preferred that it is arranged that the seal is to be inserted so that after insertion it has 95 a tail portion projecting from the fastening device in a direction which is generally parallel to the plane of said side of the container and perpendicular to said edge of the container; we have found that with this arrangement the seal is generally less likely to be 100 accidentally damaged.

In another embodiment of the invention, the container is in the form of a reusable container which is closed by a zip fastener situated along an edge of the container, the fixed body of the fastening 105 device having downwardly projecting legs as described above and being attached to said edge of the container. With this embodiment, it is preferred that it is arranged that the seal device is to be inserted so that after insertion it has a tail portion projecting 110 from the fastening device in a direction which is generally parallel to said edge of the container and away from the zip fastener; again, we have found that with this arrangement the seal is generally less'? likely to be accidentally damaged. ^

115 In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments in accordance ? therewith will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a sealable 120 fastening device in accordance with the present invention, in an unfastened condition, the view additionally showing a backing plate and rivets which may be employed in fixing the fixed member of the fastening device to another body; 125 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sealable fastening device shown in Figure 1, when in its fastened condition;

Figure 3 is a view of the device shown in Figure 2, as seen from below;

130 Figure 4 is a side view of a reusable container in

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accordance with the invention, employing the fastening device, backing plate and rivets shown in Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the 5 line 5-5 of Figure 4, but with the seal device ommitted for clarity;

Figure 6 is a side view of another reusable container in accordance with the invention, employing a modified form of fastening device; and 10 Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6, again with the seal device omitted for clarity.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar parts. 15 Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the sealable fastening device shown therein comprises a movable body 1, a body 2 (designated the fixed body) and a seal device 3. The fixed body 2 is of a suitable structural plastics material and is in the form of a 20 hollow substantially cuboid-shaped housing 4 defining a cavity 4a, and having a pair of outwardly projecting legs 5 and 6, which are attached to the base of the housing 4 in opposed relationship, there being holes 7,8,9 and 10 formed through the legs. 25 Housing 4 has a rectangular slit 11 in a side walM2, an aperture 13 extending in the lower portion of the front wall 14 right down to the level of the bottom of legs 5 and 6, and a further aperture 15 (designated the base aperture) constituting the base of the 30 cuboid of the housing 4. It will be seen that apertures 13 and 15 abut each other.

Movable body 1 again is of a suitable structural plastics material, and comprises a hollow generally cuboid-shaped housing 16 having a tab 17 projecting 35 rearwardly therefrom, tab 17 having a hole 18 therethrough. Formed in side wall 19 of housing 16 is a rectangular slit 20, the rectangular dimensions of which are substantially the same as those of rectangular slit 11. It will be seen that the front wall 21 of 40 the housing 16 has a depending lip 22.

The housing of the fixed body 2 and the housing 16 of the movable body 1 are so dimensioned that the movable body 1 can be snugly fitted over the housing 4 to act as a cover for it, with the rectangular 45 slits 11 and 20 in alignment with each other so as to form a passage 23 of rectangular cross-section, and the front wall 21 together with its lip 22 fully covering the aperture 13 in the front wall 14 of the housing 4.

Seal device 3 comprises a head portion 24 and a 50 tail portion 25 connected to the head portion 24 by a short connecting portion 26. The head portion 24 consists of a substantially V-shaped member 27 and a length 28 which links V-shaped member 27 to the connecting portion 26. V-shaped member 27 con-55 sists of a first leg 29 and a second leg 30 joined together at the apex 31 of the V-shaped member 27, the length 28 serving to link the end 32 of the first leg 29 which is remote from apex 31 to the connecting portion 26. It will be seen that this arrangement 60 results in a shoulder 33 at the point of attachment of first leg 29 to the connecting portion 26, the shoulder 33 being in opposed relation to the tail.portion 25.

Connecting portion 26 includes a depression at 34 which reduces the amount of material required and 65 provides an additional point of weakness to ensure that the seal can be broken when required, although breakage of the seal normally occurs at the junction between the tail portion 25 and the connecting portion 26.

Tail portion 25 is of generally rectangular shape and includes a central depression 35 which reduces the amount of material required and also makes it easier to manipulate the tail portion 25.

Seal device 3 is monolithically constructed (by moulding, for example) of a plastics material which is of sufficient strength to enable to seal device to remain in its sealing position without breakage when subjected to the forces to be expected during normal use of the fastening device when in its sealed condition. However, the strength of the plastics material must not be sufficiently great as to prevent the seal from being broken, when required, by manipulation of the tail portion 25. Also, the plastics material employed must be such as to permit the second leg 30 to be resiliently urged towards the first leg 29.

Inspection of the drawings will show that the height of the passage 33 formed by the rectangular slits 11 and 20 is slightly greater than the thickness of the seal device, and that the width of the passage 23 is slightly greater than the maximum width of the head portion 24 when the second leg 30 has been urged fully towards the first leg 29 so that the free end 36 of the former is snugly accommodated in recess 37 formed between connecting portion 26 and the length 28. It will also be seen that the width of the tail 25 is substantially greater than that of the passage 23, so that the tail 25 cannot enter into the housing 4a.

Figure 1 shows a backing plate 38 and rivets 39, 40,41 and 42 which can be used for fitting the fixed body 2 of the sealable fastening device to another body, for example a reusable container as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Backing plate 38 has holes 7a, 8a, 9a and 10a positioned to be aligned with holes 9 and 10 in fixed body 2, and is shaped to provide a depression 43, which can accommodate excess material of the body to which the fixed body 2 is being fixed. In use, the fixed body 2 and the backing plate 38 are placed in position on the body in question so that the latter is sandwiched between them and the respective holes 7, la etc. are aligned, the body in question being bored at the appropriate places so that the shaft of rivet 39 can pass through holes 7 and 7a until the head of the rivet abuts the leg 5, and the remaining rivets 40,41 and 42 can be similarly inserted. The free ends of the rivets are then heat-deformed so as to enlarge them (e.g. as indicated at 44 and 45 in Figure 5), thereby affixing the fixed body 2 to the body in question.

We will now describe the manner of fastening and unfastening the sealable fastening device shown in Figures 1 to 3. First, the movable body 1 is fitted over the housing 4 of the fixed body 2 so as to act as a cover for the housing 4, as can best be seen in Figure 2, the front wall 21 together with its depending lip 22 fully covering the aperture 13 in the front wall 14 of the housing 4. Next, the seal device is fitted, by inserting the apex 31 of the V-shaped member 27 into the passage 23 and pushing the seal fully home

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so that the second leg 30 is gradually resiliency urged, by wedge action, towards the first leg 29 until its free end 36 fits snugly into the recess 37, and then, when the head portion 24 enters into the cavity 5 4a, the free end 36 springs away again and the head portion 24 takes up the position best shown in Figure 3, wherein the tail 25 abuts against the outside of wall 19 of housing 16, and shoulder 33 and/orfree end 36 of leg 30 abut against the inside of side wall 10 12 of housing 4. (Normally both shoulder 33 and free end 36 will so abut, but only one of these will do so if the seal device 3 is in either of its extreme lateral positions, i.e. if it is laterally slid within the passage 23 either as leftwardly or rightwardly as possible, as 15 viewed in Figure 3). It will be appreciated that in this position the seal device 3 prevents the removal of the movable body 1 from the fixed body 2, because to do this it would be necessary to lift the movable body 1 upwardly relative to the fixed body 2 and this 20 is prevented by the lower edge of the slit 20 fouling the seal device 3. Seal device 3 cannot be pushed further into the fastening device, because the tail portion 25 abuts the wall 19. Attempts to withdraw the seal are thwarted by the reaction of the shoulder 25 33 and/or the free end 36 of leg 30 against the inside of wall 12, so that such attempts will result in the tail portion 25 becoming detached from the seal device rather than such withdrawal. The aperture 13 in the front wall 14 of the housing 4 is covered by the 30 movable body 1 as explained above, and the normal manner of mounting the fixed body 2 is such that access cannot be gained from the outside to the base aperture 15, so that the head portion 24 of the seal 3 will, when the fixed body is so mounted, be pro-35 tected from prying, both physical and (so long as the structure of the fastening device is not transparent) visual.

When the fastening device is to be unfastened, the seal 3 is broken, conveniently by manipulating the 40 tail portion 25 upwards so that breaking occurs in the region of the junction of the tail portion 25 and the connecting portion 26, and the tail portion 25 generally together with part of the connecting portion 26 is withdrawn so that the remaining part of 45 the seal 3 (the head portion 24 generally together with part of the connection portion 26) falls or is pushed into the cavity 4a. The movable body 1 is then lifted off the housing 4 of the fixed body 2, thus unfastening the device and uncovering the aperture 50 13 to permit the portion of the seal device within cavity 4a to be removed. It will be appreciated that with this design in accordance with the invention, the aperture 13 can be made of substantial size so as greatly to facilitate the removal of this broken 55 portion of the seal 3. It will also be appreciated that, as the movable body 1 includes housing 16 which acts as a cover forthe housing 4 of the fixed body 2, it can be relatively large and accessible for ease of handling.

60 We will now describe the reusable container in accordance with the invention which is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The container comprises a pouch 46 the interior of which is, in use, closed by a zip fastener 47 and is fitted with a sealable fastening 65 device as described above with reference to Figures

1 to 3. Pouch 46 is constructed predominantly of plastics material, and has a transparent window 48 sealed around its periphery 49 to side 50 of the pouch. A slit 51 is provided in side 50 beneath 70 window 48 so that an address card can be placed in view from within the pouch 46. If the reusable container is to be used in the public mails, an additional window device may be provided for postage stamps. If the stamps are to be accessible 75 for cancellation, no slit in communication with the interior of the pouch 46 is provided under the additional window, but instead provision is made for inserting a card bearing the stamps from outside the pouch, and the portion of the window below which 80 the stamps are to appear will be left open, so that the. stamps will be accessible for cancellation.

Zip fastener 47 is situated in side 50, and runs adjacent to edge 52 of the pouch 46, and includes a runner 53 having a projecting finger 54 which passes 85 through hole 18 in the movable body 1. Thus,

movable body 1 acts as pull tab for runner 53. Fixed body 2 is attached to the side 50 of the pouch 46 in a position adjacent to the end of the zip fastener 47 at which the runner 53 is situated when the zip fastener 90 47 is closed. Backing plate 38 and rivets 39,40,41 and 42 are used for the attachment of fixed body 2 to pouch 46, in the manner described above. In a modification, the rivets 39,40,41 and 42 are replaced by heat-deformable spikes which are formed integ-95 rally with the fixed body 2 and project downwardly therefrom at locations corresponding to the positions of the holes 7,8,9 and 10 in the embodiment described above.

In use the zip fastener 47 is opened to permit the 100 insertion of the address card and the articles which are to be carried in the pouch 46, the zip fastener 47 is closed, and the movable body 1 is fastened to the fixed body 2 as described above, using the seal device 3. As will be seen from Figure 5, the base 105 aperture 15 is completely covered by the part of the side 50 which the fixed body 2 overlies, and the aperture 13 is covered by the front wall 21 together with its depending lip 22. It should also be noted that after insertion of the seal device 3, the tail portion 25 110 projects in a direction which is generally parallel to the plane of side 50 and perpendicular to edge 52. We have found that with this arrangement, manipulation of the seal device is easy, and yet the seal is considerably protected by the pouch 46 from 115 accidental damage. Unfastening of the movable body 1 is also as described above, and permits the zip fastener 47 to be opened so that the contents of the pouch 46 can be removed.

The reusable container shown in Figures 6 and 7 is 120 generally the same as that shown in Figures4and5, except that the zip fastener 47 is situated along edge 52 of the pouch 46, and the fixed body 2 is modified and repositioned accordingly. For this purpose, the outwardly projecting legs 5 and 6 of the previously 125 described fastening device are replaced by downwardly projecting legs 5a and 6a attached, in opposed relationship, to the base of the housing 4 of the body 2, and the fixed body 2 is fixed, in a manner entirely analogous to that described above, so that it 130 straddles the edge 52 at a position adjacent the end

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of the zip fastener 47 at which the runner 53 is situated when the zip fastener 47 is closed.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the seal device 3 is positioned so as to lie in a plane generally perpendi-5 cular to the plane of side 50. For many purposes, we prefer to modify the fastening device, by relocation of slits 11 and 20 to the front walls 14 and 21 respectively, so that the seal device can be inserted so that it will project from the fastening device in a 10 direction which is generally parallel to the edge 52 and away from the zip fastener 47. With this arrangement, manipulation of the seal is easy, and, provided that the fixed body 2 is sufficiently withdrawn from the edge 55 of the pouch 46, the seal is 15 considerably protected by the pouch 46 from accidental damage.

It will, of course be appreciated that the aperture 13 need not be located in the position shown; it can be located in any suitable position which will both 20 enable the removal of the broken portion of the seal device retained within cavity 4a after unfastening of the device, and be covered by the movable body 1 when the device is fastened. For example, provided that the rear wall 56 (see Figure 6) of the housing 16 25 is suitably extended downwardly, the aperture 13 could be located in the lower section of the rear wall of the housing 4.

Claims

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1. A sealable fastening device, the device comprising a movable body, a body (herein referred to as the fixed body) to which in use of the device the movable body is to be fastened, and a seal device,

35 the fixed body comprising a housing having a cavity within the housing, andthe movable body being shaped so that it can be fitted over said housing so as to act as a cover for the housing, the fixed body, movable body and seal device being arranged to 40 co-operate so that when the movable body is fitted as aforesaid the seal can be fitted so as to fasten said movable body to said fixed body in such a manner that in order to remove said movable body from said fixed body it will normally be necessary to break or 45 otherwise detectably modify said seal device, at least part of the seal device then being retained in said cavity, said housing having an aperture therein through which the seal device or part seal device retained in said cavity can be removed after removal 50 of said movable body from said fixed body, said aperture being covered by said movable body when fitted as aforesaid.

2. A fastening device according to claim 1, wherein said seal device comprises a head portion

55 connected to a tail portion and is arranged to co-operate with said movable body and said fixed body so that, for fitting, it is inserted so that said head portion passes through said movable body and said fixed body into said cavity, leaving said tail 60 portion projecting outside said movable body, said head portion then being held sufficiently securely within said cavity that an attempt to withdraw it from said cavity by manipulation of said tail portion will result in said head portion becoming detached from 65 said seal device.

3. Afastening device according to claim 2, wherein said tail portion is dimensioned so that it cannot enter into said housing.

4. Afastening device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said movable and fixed bodies are formed so that, when said movable body is fitted as aforesaid, there is a passage through said movable body and said housing through which, in fitting the seal device, said head portion passes into said cavity, said head portion being shaped and dimensioned such that, having entered said cavity, it cannot be withdrawn through it, but being resiliently deformable so as to permit its initial insertion through said passage into said cavity.

5. A fastening device according to claim 4, wherein said head portion comprises a substantially V-shaped member, the apex of the V-shaped member being remote from said tail portion, and the V-shaped member being connected to said tail portion through an end of a first one of the legs of the V, which end is remote from the apex of the V, the second of the legs of the V being capable of being resiliently urged towards said first leg to permit said head portion to pass through said pasage into said cavity.

6. Afastening device according to claim 5, wherein said seal device includes a shoulder at the point of attachment of said first leg to the rest of the seal device, said shoulder being in opposed relation to said tail portion.

7. A fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said housing is of substantially cuboid shape.

8. Afastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said fixed body is arranged for fitting to another body.

9. A fastening device according to claim 8, wherein said fixed body has a pair of outwardly projecting legs attached to the base of said housing in opposed relationship.

10. Afastening device according to claim 8, wherein said fixed body has a pair of downwardly projecting legs attached to the base of said housing in opposed relationship.

11. A fastening device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said housing has an aperture (herein referred to as the base aperture) in its base, said base aperture being dimensioned so as to permit passage therethrough of the seal device or part seal device retained in said cavity.

12. A sealable fastening device, substantially as herebefore described with reference to, and as schematically illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A fastening device according to claim 12, but modified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as schematically illustrated in. Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Afastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the movable body is attached to the runner of a zip fastener so that, when the zip fastener is closed, the movable body, and thus also the runner of the zip fastener, can be fastened to the fixed body.

15. A container, whenever fitted with one or

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more fastening devices in accordance with anyone of claims 1 to 14, in such a manner that the container can be closed using said fastening device or devices so that subsequent opening of the container will 5 normally result in breakage or otherwise detectable modification of the respective seal device or at least one of the respective seal devices.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the container can be closed by a fastening device in

10 accordance with claim 14.

17. A container according to claim 16,intheform of a reusable container which is closed by a zip fastener situated in a side of the container and running adjacentto an edge of the container, the

15 fixed body of the fastening device being in accordance with claim 9 and attached to said side of the container.

18. A reusable container according to claim 17, wherein it is arranged that the seal device is to be

20 inserted so that after insertion it has a tail portion projecting from the fastening device in a direction which is generally parallel to the plane of said side of the container and perpendicular to said edge of the container.

25 19- A container according to claim 16, in the form of a reusable container which is closed by a zip fastener situated along an edge of the container, the fixed body of the fastening device being in accordance with claim 10 and attached to said side of the

30 container.

20. A reusable container according to claim 19, wherein disarranged that the seal device is to be inserted so that after insertion it has a tail portion projecting from the fastening device in a direction

35 which is generally parallel to said edge of the container and away from the zip fastener.

21. A reusable container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as schematically illustrated in, Figures 1 to 5 of the

40 accompanying drawings.

22. A reusable container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as schematically illustrated in, Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

45 23. A reusable container, according to claim 22, but modified in that the head portion of the seal device projects in the direction defined in claim 20.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1982.

Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,

WC2A1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.