WO1996005586A1 - Dispositif d'etancheite verrouillable - Google Patents

Dispositif d'etancheite verrouillable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996005586A1
WO1996005586A1 PCT/GB1995/001939 GB9501939W WO9605586A1 WO 1996005586 A1 WO1996005586 A1 WO 1996005586A1 GB 9501939 W GB9501939 W GB 9501939W WO 9605586 A1 WO9605586 A1 WO 9605586A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bolt
passage
tapered
shaped member
limbs
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1995/001939
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bernard Edwin Taylor
Frank Henry Arthur
Original Assignee
Envopak Group Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Envopak Group Limited filed Critical Envopak Group Limited
Priority to GB9703519A priority Critical patent/GB2306192A/en
Priority to AU32284/95A priority patent/AU3228495A/en
Publication of WO1996005586A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996005586A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
    • G09F3/03—Forms or constructions of security seals
    • G09F3/0305—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used
    • G09F3/0317—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used having bolt like sealing means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a lockable seal.
  • Lockable seals are used in particular in connection with the transportation of goods, such as in containers.
  • the container is locked immediately after loading, and may then pass through customs without the need for the container to be opened, provided the seal is seen to be intact.
  • Such seals have both indicative and barrier functions.
  • An indicative seal is one which will immediately indicate to an inspector if an unauthorised attempt has been made to break open the seal.
  • a barrier seal is one which is sufficiently robust and strong to deter unauthorised attempts to force it open.
  • Conventional lockable seals for use with containers and the like consist of a cylindrical bolt and a housing having a passage therein for slidingly receiving the bolt. Locking means are provided within the passage, such that the end of the bolt can be slid into the passage but is thereafter locked and cannot be withdrawn.
  • the forward portion of the bolt is conically tapered towards the end, and the tapered portion is immediately preceded by a circumferential shoulder.
  • the passage is substantially cylindrical for receiving the bolt, and has a circumferential channel between its ends, the channel holding a resilient split ring locking member. As the bolt is inserted into the passage, the forward taper slidingly cooperates with the split ring so as to gradually enlarge the ring in diameter, this enlargement being accommodated within the circumferential channel.
  • the split ring will then spring back to a smaller diameter and settle behind the shoulder of the bolt.
  • the outer diameter of the split ring is still greater than the internal diameter of the passage, but the ring is still accommodated within the circumferential channel.
  • the split ring abuts against the side of the circumferential channel and the shoulder of the bolt, and thus prevents such withdrawal.
  • the locked seal can then only be opened by physically destroying it, which is normally done by cutting the bolt with heavy duty cutters.
  • the present invention provides an alternative form of lockable seal which is simpler in construction than the conventional seal, and hence less expensive to manufacture, whilst retaining acceptable robustness and strength. Moreover, the present seal has improved security, in that the bolt cannot be released by twisting.
  • the present invention thus provides a lockable seal comprising a bolt and a housing having a passage therein for slidably receiving an end portion of the bolt, the end portion of the bolt being slidably insertable into the passage but not thereafter slidably withdrawable therefrom, the end portion of the bolt being tapered towards the end and the tapered portion being followed by a shoulder, characterised in that the passage has an outer portion and a broader inner portion separated from the outer portion by a step, a resilient U-shaped locking member is present in the inner portion of the passage so as to receive the tapered end of the bolt between the limbs of the U, the limbs of the U being resiliently biased towards each other and each having a step on the inner side of the U facing away from the free end, whereby the tapered end of the bolt is insertable through the outer portion of the passage and into the inner portion, whereupon it passes between the free ends of the U-shaped member, the tapered end of the bolt cooperating with the free ends of the U-shaped member to force them apart until the
  • the bolt is tapered on opposite sides thereof so that it has two shoulders opposite each other. Each shoulder then can interlock with a respective step on the two limbs of the U-shaped member.
  • the bolt is preferably flat rather than cylindrical, with the tapers and shoulders on opposite edges.
  • Figure 1 is a side view showing a bolt and a housing in longitudinal section according to an embodiment of the invention with the bolt not yet inserted into the housing;
  • Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows partial insertion of the bolt
  • Figure 3 corresponds to Figures 1 and 2, and shows complete insertion of the bolt
  • Figure 4 corresponds to previous figures and shows the arrangement when an attempt is made to withdraw the bolt
  • Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line V-V of Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of seal according to the invention, in the locked position
  • Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line VII-VII of Figure 6.
  • the lockable seal includes a bolt 1 and a housing 2.
  • the bolt 1 is of flat rectangular cross section. Its forward end has a tapered portion 3, of arrow head shape, followed immediately by a pair of shoulders 4. These shoulders 4 present a substantially flat face directed towards the rear of the bolt.
  • the housing 2 has a passage therein for receiving the bolt 1, the passage having an outer portion 5 and a broader inner portion 6. There is an intermediate portion 7 of the passage and the boundary between the intermediate portion 7 and the outer portion 5 is marked by a pair of flat steps 8.
  • the outer portion 5 of the passage is dimensioned to receive the bolt 1 including the broadest part of the tapered portion 3.
  • a resilient U-shaped locking member 9 is positioned in the inner portion 6 of the passage.
  • the U-shaped member is, for example, of spring steel and is formed by bending a flat strip through 180°.
  • the two limbs of the U- shaped member are biased towards each other.
  • Each limb is folded back on itself at the end, to create a pair of steps on the respective inner faces of the U, the steps presenting flat faces directed away from the rounded free ends 11 of the U.
  • the side wall of the inner portion 6 of the passage is shaped to form a ridge 12 which, in the initial position shown in Figure 1, maintains the ends of the U-shaped member spaced somewhat apart, but which does not in any way " obstruct the passage of the bolt as described below.
  • the tapered end 3 of the bolt is inserted into the outer portion 5 of the passage, and through into the inner portion 6 until it engages with the free ends of the U-shaped member, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the sloping faces of the tapered portion 3 then cooperate with the free ends of the U- shaped member, so that the free ends of the U-shaped member are resiliently forced apart as the bolt is inserted further into the passage.
  • the dimensions of the bolt and the U-shaped member are such that, in this position, the forward end of the bolt meets the rounded bottom of the U-shaped member. Further forward movement of the bolt is prevented by abutment between the bottom of the U-shaped member and the end wall of the internal portion 6 of the passage.
  • the U-shaped member On attempted withdrawal of the bolt 1 from the housing 2, the U-shaped member remains attached to the bolt, and is dragged into the intermediate portion 7 of the passage.
  • the width of the intermediate portion is such that it can just accommodate the bolt with the U- shaped member clipped around it.
  • the rounded ends 11 of the U-shaped member which project from the recessed portion of the bolt, abut against the steps 8 at the boundary of the intermediate portion 7 and outer portion 5 of the passage.
  • the bolt In view of the corresponding abutment between the shoulders 4 of the bolt and the steps 10 of the U-shaped member, the bolt cannot be withdrawn from the housing. In this position, as shown in Figure 4, the side walls of the intermediate portion 7 of the passage prevent the free ends of the U-shaped member from being opened to release the bolt.
  • the bolt 1 is generally made of mild steel although any other suitably strong material could be used.
  • the housing 2 may suitably be made of a strong plastics material, such as ABS. This facilitates manufacture, in that the housing can be made in two halves, the U-shaped member inserted, and then the two halves joined together by ultrasonic welding.
  • the housing can also be made of other suitably strong materials, such as metal.
  • the housing is manufactured in two parts. There is an inner part 15, which defines the passage as before. This is encased within an outer sheath 16, which also defines the end wall 17 of the passage. At the opposite end, the sheath is formed to provide sloping side walls 18, leaving an opening sufficient to receive the bolt into the passage.
  • the outer casing may be constructed in two parts, consisting of an end wall and a lateral surrounding wall. This may facilitate construction and does not affect the operating of the internal locking components as described above.
  • the lockable seal described permits a container or similar article to be locked under secure conditions.
  • the seal is sufficiently robust to deter any unauthorised attempt at interference. If any such attempt is made, then this is immediately apparent from the state of the seal. Once it has been locked, the seal can only be opened by physical destruction thereof. This is normally effected by authorised personnel who will use heavy duty cutters to cut the bolt.

Abstract

Dispositif d'étanchéité verrouillable qui comprend une cheville (1) et un boîtier (2). Une partie terminale de la cheville (1) est introduite par coulissement dans un passage (5, 6) ménagé dans le boîtier (2). Un élément (9) de verrouillage souple en forme de U est placé dans une partie interne (6) du passage. Ledit élément (9) vient s'emboîter sur la partie terminale de la cheville (1) pour éviter que la cheville ne puisse être enlevée du passage.
PCT/GB1995/001939 1994-08-16 1995-08-16 Dispositif d'etancheite verrouillable WO1996005586A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9703519A GB2306192A (en) 1994-08-16 1995-08-16 Lockable seal
AU32284/95A AU3228495A (en) 1994-08-16 1995-08-16 Lockable seal

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9416482.9 1994-08-16
GB9416482A GB9416482D0 (en) 1994-08-16 1994-08-16 Lockable seal

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996005586A1 true WO1996005586A1 (fr) 1996-02-22

Family

ID=10759897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1995/001939 WO1996005586A1 (fr) 1994-08-16 1995-08-16 Dispositif d'etancheite verrouillable

Country Status (5)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH0858783A (fr)
AU (1) AU3228495A (fr)
GB (1) GB9416482D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996005586A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA956841B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1503092A2 (fr) * 2003-07-30 2005-02-02 ITW Limited Dispositif d'étanchéité

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2504423A1 (de) * 1974-02-05 1975-08-07 Preben Michael Remark Einmalverschluss
DE9200110U1 (fr) * 1992-01-07 1992-03-26 Czewo Plast Kunststofftechnik Gmbh, 8402 Neutraubling, De

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2504423A1 (de) * 1974-02-05 1975-08-07 Preben Michael Remark Einmalverschluss
DE9200110U1 (fr) * 1992-01-07 1992-03-26 Czewo Plast Kunststofftechnik Gmbh, 8402 Neutraubling, De

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1503092A2 (fr) * 2003-07-30 2005-02-02 ITW Limited Dispositif d'étanchéité
EP1503092A3 (fr) * 2003-07-30 2006-01-25 ITW Limited Dispositif d'étanchéité
US7226095B2 (en) 2003-07-30 2007-06-05 Itw Limited Sealing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9416482D0 (en) 1994-10-12
ZA956841B (en) 1996-03-28
JPH0858783A (ja) 1996-03-05
AU3228495A (en) 1996-03-07

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