GB2150531A

GB2150531A - Devices for use in closing bags

Info

Publication number: GB2150531A
Application number: GB8429491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henri Morel; Gilbert Ambal
Original assignee: ITW de France SAS
Current assignee: ITW de France SAS
Priority date: 1983-11-28
Filing date: 1984-11-22
Publication date: 1985-07-03
Also published as: JPS60138588A; GB2150531B; GB8429491D0; JPH053592B2; FR2561209B1; FR2561209A1

Abstract

A device for use in closing a bag comprises a reusable casing 1 formed of two shells 2,3 connected by a hinge. One shell 2 has a finger 11 which enters openings in the bag adjacent the bag mouth and then passes through an opening 13 in the other shell 3 when the casing 1 is closed. A dissuasive seal 22 can be secured through an eye 14 formed at the end of the finger 11 and through another eye 17 provided on the shell 3. A flat dissuasive seal can also be secured through a bridge 5 on shell 2 to prevent a hook formed on the shell 3 being unlatched. A handle may be provided on the casing 1. The bag 10 can be formed with eyelets to assist threading onto the finger 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Devices for use in the protection of bags of valua- bles This invention relates to devices for use, in combination with at least one dissuasive seal, in the protection of bags of valuables, such as money, jewels or documents.

Generally, locking systems protect such bags from robbery because they are visible. A bag not closed with a locking system is vulnerable. This is the reason why the provision of locking systems for such bags is desirable.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which, when forming part of a locking system, can be violated only by destroying it as well as the seal or seals applied thereon, and from its structure resists any access between the device and the bag, and thus resists any picking into the bag.

In accordance with the present invention a device, for use in the protection of a bag of valuables, comprises: a reusable hinged casing formed from two shells connected by a hinge; one of the shells including a finger having an eye extending therethrough; and the other of the shells including an opening through which the eye-containing part of the finger projects, when the shells are brought together to close the casing, as well as including an outer catch having an eye extending therethrough; whereby, in use of the device, an inlet part of a bag can be hooked onto the finger when the casing is open, and a dissuasive seal can be secured through the two eyes when the casing is closed.

Preferably, a lateral snapping system is provided for interlocking the shells.

Preferably, the lateral snapping system has a passage through which a dissuasive seal can be secured to resist unlocking of the lateral snapping system.

Therefore, the invention has the advantage of providing two types of locking, i.e. introduction of a seal across the finger and the outer catch, or introduction of a seal in the lateral snapping system.

The invention will now be exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view thereof; Figures 3 and 3A show details of the lateral snapping system of the casing; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the casing in an open position provided with a carrying handle; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the casing ready to be mounted on a portion of the inlet section of a bag; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the casing and a portion of the bag during the mounting thereof; Figure 7 is a view of the casing in its closed position provided with a front seal; and Figure 8 is a view of the casing in its closed position provided with a lateral seal.

The device according to the invention is preferably made in one piece of plastics material comprising a casing 1 formed of two shells 2 and 3.

The shells are connected through a hinge 4 to permit in paticular the casing 1 to be closed on the inlet section of a bag 10 which is formed with eyelets 12 as described hereinafter.

The shell 2 or base of the casing, on the side furthest from the hinge 4, is provided with a bridge 5 and a stop 6 for receiving a hook 7 and a stud 8 provided on the shell 3 or cover of the casing, and for interlocking therewith when the casing is snapped shut.

Within the base 2, a chamber 9 for receiving the inlet section of the bag 10 is formed, comprising a central finger 11 on which the eyelets or other openings 12 of the bag 10 are mounted. The cover 3 is perforated to provide an opening 13 therein for passing the finger 11 therethrough when the casing 1 is closed. The end of the finger 11 is formed with an eye 14, and a catch 15 formed outwardly of the cover 3 comprises an eye 17. Circular protection ribs 18 are provided on the base 2 and the cover 3. The chamber 9, as well as an internal volume 19 in the cover 3, are surrounded on three sides by respective flanges 20 for enabling the shells to nest with one another.

Two dissuasive seals, the one being denoted by 21 and the other by 22, complete alternative locking systems embodying the device according to the invention.

Upon utilisation, the person in charge folds the inlet section of the bag 10 manually to make the eyelets 12 face each other. It is then sufficient to make the eyelets 12 slide or hook on the finger 11.

Another solution obviously consists of making the eyelets 12 slide one after the other on the finger 11. The inlet section of the bag 10 is thus disposed in the chamber 9. In a second step, the cover 3 is pivoted about the hinge 4 until the cover 3 abuts the base 2, and the flanges 20 nest. In the same operation, the finger 11 passes through the opening 13 in the cover 3, and the hook 7 provided with its stud 8 slides in the bridge 5 so as to become locked on the stop 6.

The casing 1 is thus locked and constitutes a sheath completely encasing the inlet section of the bag 10 thereby preventing any access thereto.

Moreover, the ribs 18 tend to increase the squeezing of the bag 19 and prevent any passages of a hand or fingers therethrough.

In order to make sure that nobody could dismount the casing while carrying the bag and get access to the inside thereof, the casing can have a dissuasive seal or seals of any suitable material and construction applied thereto. When the casing 1 is closed the finger 11 projects beyond the cover 3 so as to show the eye 14. The eye 17 of the catch 15, which might be double or of any other shape made integral with the cover, then faces the eye 14. This permits to slip thereinto a seal 22 (Figure 7) for dissuasion against theft and the casing 1 becomes inviolable. A second dissuasive solution can be provided by making a flat seal 21 (Figure 8) of a thickness "X" slide between the bridge 5 and the hook 7, an equivalent clearance "J" remaining between both of these parts. In this case, it becomes impossible to in lock the hook 7 thereby still rendering the casing inviolable and hence giving no access to the inside of the bag 10.

When the person in charge must open the bag 10, it is sufficient to cut off the dissuasive seal provided in either one of the dissuasive solutions, which was placed upon closing the casing 1 onto the bag 10.

When the seal is removed the hook 7 is manually unlocked and the cover 3 is then released, thereby permitting the person to pivot the cover 3 on the hinge 4 and remove the bag 10 from the finger 11.

The casing 1 can advantageously be reused.

The casing 1 can also be provided with a handle 23 made by moulding preferably together with the base 2 which permits the person to carry the bag in a practical way.

Claims

1. A device, for use in the protection of a bag of valuables, comprising: a reusable hinged casing formed from two shells connected by a hinge; one of the shells including a finger having an eye extending therethrough; and the other of the shells including an opening through which the eye-containing part of the finger projects, when the shells are brought together to close the casing, as well as including an outer catch having an eye extending therethrough; whereby in use of the device, an inlet part of a bag can be hooked onto the finger when the casing is open, and a dissuasive seal can be secured through the two eyes when the casing is closed.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which a lateral snapping system is provided for interlocking the shells.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the lateral snapping system has a passage through which a dissuasive seal can be secured to resist unlocking of the lateral snapping system.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the shells has a rib for urging the bag to an increased pinched condition which resists any passage of a hand or fingers into the bag.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the casing has a handle for providing a practical way of carrying the bag.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the shells are constituted by a base shell which is of greater thickness than a cover shell, and the finger is formed on the base shell.

7. A device according to claim 5 and claim 6, in which the handle is formed on the base shell.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the shells include flanges which nest with one another when the casing is closed.

9. A device according to any preceding claim which is moulded in one piece of a plastics material.

10. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 3A, 7 and 8, or those Figures as modified by Figures 4, 5 and 6, of the accompanying drawings.

11. A device according to any preceding claim in combination with a bag hooked onto the finger and at least one dissuasive seal securing the casing in its closed position.