GB2453757A

GB2453757A - A sealing device

Info

Publication number: GB2453757A
Application number: GB0720326A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Crisp
Original assignee: ITW Ltd
Current assignee: ITW Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-17
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2009-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-17
Also published as: GB0720326D0; GB2453757B

Abstract

A sealing device has an elongate tail 1 and head 2 through which the tail can be threaded, the head including means 4 to resist removal of the tail whereby the sealing device can be secured around an item, or plurality of items. The head comprises a chamber 7 to which the tail 1 is connected and a separate locking member 3 which includes the said resisting means 4, the locking member fitting in the chamber for receiving the tail and being breakable at tear/break line 5 to allow removal of the tail. The tail 1 engages through an aperture 13 in the head 2 and though a slot 10 of the locking member 3. Means 4 is a flexing tongue which engages ratchet teeth on the tail 1. To release the tail part 3a is pulled until it breaks off at line 5 and opens the top of the slot 10 to allow removal of part 3b.

Description

SEALING DEVICES

The present invention relates to sealing devices of the type having an elongate tail and a head through which the tail can be threaded, the head including means to resist removal of the tail whereby the sealing device can be secured around an item, or plurality of items.

Such sealing devices are used to provide visual evidence if removed, much in the same way as wax seals were and still are used to seal documents and containers of valuable or confidential information.

In use the tail or extension of the sealing device is threaded back through at least one opening in the head to form a complete ring, the tail having first been threaded through or around the item to be sealed. The head includes a trapping mechanism designed to permit entry of the tail but not its removal. Such seals have been known for a long time and are 5 shown in, for example US 3949449 and US 6347434.

Sealing devices of this type can also provide space for the display of an identity code or number. The elongate tail typically is formed with teeth or other forms of serration to provide positive engagement with the trapping mechanism. Removal of the seal is usually accomplished by breaking or tearing an integral weak point close to the head, often part of a flat surface designed to display the identity code or number.

While the size of a single seal of the type described above is not great, and the cost to produce relatively low, once used the seal cannot be reused and must be disposed of Since a great many such seals are in constant daily use globally, the total accumulative cost to produce, package, store and dispose of is significant. The invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a sealing device having an elongate tail and a head through which the tail can be threaded, the head including means to resist removal of the tail whereby the sealing device can be secured around an item, or plurality of items, wherein the head comprises a chamber to which the tail is connected and a separate locking member, the locking member fitting in the chamber, and wherein the locking member has means to receive and engage the tail so as to resist removal thereof, whereby the tail can be engaged by threading into the chamber and past the locking member and disengaged by breakage of the locking member.

Thus, with the present invention the costs associated with production storage and disposal can be greatly reduced by producing the seal in two parts, namely the chamber with the elongate tail which is reused, and a smaller (and much cheaper) replaceable disposable locking member which is used only once.

Preferably, the locking member is formed of two parts separated by a frangible section. The chamber may have a shoulder on which a part of the locking member in use rests. One part of the locking member is advantageously wider than the other, at the frangible section.

The resisting means can be formed as a flexible tongue. A slot in the locking member may at least partly define the tongue and the slot may communicate with the frangible section.

The chamber may have an aperture which extends there-through and registers in use with the slot. The locking member can be formed with lugs and the chamber can have a cavity shaped to receive the lugs. The resisting means is preferably arranged between the said Jugs. The tail may have teeth or serratloas which can engage the resisting means, as is conventional.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views an embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention in various stages of locking and opening As shown in Fig. 1 the sealing device has an elongate tail I and a head 2 through which the tail can be threaded. The head 2 comprises a chamber to which the tail I is connected and a separate locking member 3, the locking member fitting in the chamber for receiving the tail and being breakable to allow removal of the tail.

The locking member 3 is a substantially fiat member which includes a first part 3a, which has identity display surface, and a second part 3b which has a flexing tongue 4. l'his tongue 4 is an integral part of the disposable locking member and forms the resisting means designed to trap the free end of the elongate tail. The tail is formed with teeth or serrations 6.

The locking element has a tear/break line 5 and a slot 10 there-through which defines the profile of tongue 4 and extends to the tearfbreak line 5. The slot has an inverted "F" shape, the arms of the "F" forming the tongue 4. The first part 3a is wider than the second part 3b.

The second part 3b of the locking member also has raised lugs 8, 8a on either side of the tongue 4.

The chamber 2 is formed with a cavity 7 at a lower part thereof, which chamber is shaped so as to receive the lugs 8, 8a of the second part 3 of the locking member. The chamber has openings at both ends, to allow for insertion of the locking member and removal of part of the locking member, as described below.

The upper part of the chamber 2 is wider than the lower part so that at the upper end of the cavity, as seen in Fig 1, there is a shoulder 12. The chamber 2 also includes an aperture 13 which extends into the cavity 7, a corresponding aperture (not seen) being provided on the opposite side.

Fig 2 shows the locking member 3 inserted into the chamber 2 so that the sealing device is ready for use. Thus, the second part 3b locates within the cavity 7, the lugs 8, 8s ensuring proper fitting. Because the first part 3a is wider than the second part 3b, the locking member 3 rests in the desired location in the chamber 2 with the first part 3a locating against shoulder 12. In this position, the aperture 13 registers with the slot 10 of the locking member 3, at the extremity of the tongue 4.

Thus in Fig 2 the upper part of the chamber 2 provides a seat for the first part 3a of the locking member while the second part 3b is positioned through the cavity 7.

To close the sealing device, the free end of the elongate tail is threaded through or around the item(s) to be sealed and then through both the aperture 13 of the chamber 2 and the slot 10 of the locking member 3, as shown in Fig 3. The tail is thus inserted through the head in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the locking member and perpendicular to the plane of the locking member.

The force of threading the tail 1 through the chamber 2 and locking member 3 causes each inclined tooth 6 of the tail to bend tongue 4 of the locking member away from the direction of insertion (indicated by arrow A in Fig 3) into the space in cavity 7 of the chamber. Continued movement in the direction of arrow A allows the crest of a tooth to pass the deflected tongue 4 thereby allowing the tongue to spring back to its rest position in one of the spaces between teeth 6. In this condition the locking member 3 caimot move in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A because there is no space on the other side of the cavity 7 into which the tongue could flex (as is conventional, the teeth 6 are also shaped like ratchet teeth so as to resist reverse movement). The tail 1 is pushed through the chamber 2 as far as is desired for secure closing, so that in use plural teeth will pass over the tongue 4.

To open the sealing device, as shown in Fig 4, the disposable locking member 3 is broken or torn at the tear/breajc line 5, typically by pulling the first part 3a away from the chamber so that the locking member 3 flexes about the line 5. After the locking member breaks at line 5, the upper part 3a will easily be removed; the lower part 3b having the tongue 4 is also able to move free of the tail 1, through the lower end of the cavity 7, because slot 10 is now open at the point II where it previously met the tear/break line 5. In other words, the lower part 3b simply slides off the tail I, out of the chamber 2.

The chamber and tail may be formed of a suitable plastics material, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon and the disposable locking member may be formed of glass-fibre nylon, ABS, styrene or acetal.

Claims

I. A sealing device having an elongate tail and a head through which the tail can be threade1, the head including means to resist removal of the tail whereby the sealing device can be secured around an item, or plurality of items, wherein the head comprises a chamber to which the tail is connected and a separate locking member, the locking member fitting in the chamber, and wherein the locking member has means to receive and engage the tail so as to resist removal thereof, whereby the tail can be engaged by threading into the chamber and past the locking member and disengaged by breakage of the locking member.
2. A sealing device according to claim I, wherein the receiving and engaging means of the locking member, which forms the resisting means, comprises a flexible tongue.
3. A sealing device according to claim 2, wherein the locking member has a slot which at least partly defines the tongue.
4. A sealing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the chamber has an aperture which extends there-through and registers in use with the slot of the locking member.
5. A sealing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the locking member is formed of two parts separated by a frangible section.
6. A sealing device according to claim 5, wherein the slot communicates with the frangible section.
7. A sealing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking member is a substantially flat member arid the insertion direction of the tail is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the locking member.
8. A sealing device according claim 7, wherein the chamber has a shoulder on which a part of the locking member in use rests.
9. A sealing device according claim 8, wherein one part of the locking member is wider than the other, at the frangible section.
10. A sealing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking member has Jugs and the chamber has a cavity shaped to receive the Jugs.
11. A sealing device according to claim 10, wherein the resisting means is arranged between the said Jugs.
12. A sealing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the tail has teeth or serrations which can engage the resisting means.