Multi-purpose seal with lock

• US 20050210932A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: European Community, Rawell Group Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: European Community
• Inventors: Azzalin, Graziano, Korn, Christophe, Poucet, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 7,178,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/51
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/02 with destructible seal closures or paper closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/483 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/485 With seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/487 Parts, accessories, attachments and adjuncts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/491 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8108 Padlock

Abstract

A multipurpose seal with a lock, including a mobile closure apparatus of a casing containing a lock and an attachment element designed to be locked in the casing. The lock includes a barrel configured to move in the casing between a locked position and an unlocked position. A remote-interrogatable electronic component including a data-storage is maintained in a housing, which passes through part of the casing and part of the lock barrel when the lock barrel is in the locked position. Thus, any rotation of the barrel from the locked position causes the component to break.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A multi-purpose seal with a lock, comprising:

a mobile closure apparatus formed of a casing containing a lock;

an attachment element configured to be locked into the casing, said lock comprising a lock barrel configured to move in the casing between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

a remote-interrogatable electronic component that comprises a data-storage, said component being held in a housing that passes through part of the casing and part of the lock barrel when the lock barrel is in the locked position.

22. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the casing comprises a holding element configured to hold the electronic component in the housing.

23. A seal according to claim 22, wherein the holding element comprises a cavity configured to accommodate part of the electronic component, and wherein a spring is arranged between a bottom of the cavity and the electronic component.

24. A seal according to claim 22, further comprising a fixed pin configured to immobilize the holding element in the casing.

25. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the data-storage of the electronic component comprises a data-encryption mechanism.

26. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the data-storage of the electronic component is of programmable or multipage type.

27. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the electronic component comprises a passive transponder of injectable transponder type used for animals.

28. A seal according to claim 21, further comprising removable means for preventing the attachment element from being locked in the casing.

29. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the mobile closure apparatus comprises a padlock.

30. A seal according to claim 21, wherein the mobile closure apparatus comprises an antitheft device of bicycle lock type.

31. A method of manufacturing a multi-purpose seal including a mobile closure apparatus formed of a casing containing a lock and an attachment element, said lock including a lock barrel configured to move in the casing between a position at which the attachment element is locked and a position at which the attachment element is unlocked, the method comprising:

drilling an opening, said opening passing through part of the casing and part of the lock barrel when the lock barrel is in the locked position; and

installing, in said opening, a remote-interrogatable electronic component comprising a data-storage.

32. A method according to claim 31 further comprising:

machining a recess in the casing ahead of the opening; and

fixing a holding element for holding the electronic component in said recess.

35. A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

installing removable means for preventing the attachment element from being locked in the casing.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein the data-storage of the electronic component comprises a data-encryption mechanism.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein the data-storage of the electronic component is of programmable or multipage type.

38. A method according to claim 31, wherein the electronic component comprises a passive transponder of injectable transponder type used for animals.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein the mobile closure apparatus comprises a padlock.

40. A method according to claim 31, wherein the mobile closure apparatus comprises an antitheft device of bicycle lock type.

33. A method according to claim 33, wherein the holding element includes a cavity configured to accommodate part of the electronic component, and wherein a spring is arranged between a bottom of the cavity and the electronic component.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising:

fixing a pin to immobilize the holding element in the casing.