PLASTIC SEAL

• US 3,712,655 A
• Filed: 11/16/1970
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Fuehrer
• Original Assignee: Charles Fuehrer
• Inventors: Fuehrer, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/089,542
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 292/37R,27A,317,318,319,320,321,322 24/16,16PB,3.5P,26A
• US Class Current: 292/321
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/071 the socket being integrally formed with a component to be fasted, e.g. a sheet, plate or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/505 including additional fastener structure linking parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/494 Interengaging shackle ends, inclosing housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/499 Resilient engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/50 Single piece, spring catch

Abstract

An all plastic seal in which the socket receiving the locking head of a strap connected to the seal body is provided with a housing open at both ends that is of such a ratio in its length to the opening in the housing at the end opposite where the locking head is inserted that access to the locking fingers is substantially precluded; additionally, the housing may be provided with inwardly projecting fluke-like projections minimizing the freedom of movement of the head in its locked condition in a direction transverse to the axial dimension of the housing.

Claims

1. A seal which includes a housing means, a locking socket means, a tie-member operatively connected to the housing means, and a locking head means provided at the free end of the tiemember for insertion into the socket means to lock the seal, the socket means including inwardly projecting prong-like locking elements and the head means including a head portion with a shoulder and of such dimension as to elastically expand the prong-like locking elements during insertions thereof so that the shoulder formed between the head portion and an adjoining section with smaller cross section snaps in behind the end surfaces of the prong-like locking elements when the head portion is inserted into said socket means, the housing means being provided with internal longitudinally extending bore means open at both ends thereof, the socket means being located near one end of the housing means and being enclosed by said bore means, and wherein the housing means is provided in said bore means with inwardly projecting means at least in the area behind the end surfaces of the locking element substantially minimizing the freedom of movement of the head portion in the bore means, when in the locked position thereof, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing means.

2. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said bore means is of substantially circular cross-section.

3. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said bore means is of substantially rectangular cross-section.

4. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of said shoulder and of the adjoining section of smaller cross-section are so chosen that the connection of the head portion with said adjoining section foRms a place of intentional failure in case of tampering with the seal.

5. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said inwardly projecting means is formed by substantially longitudinally extending flutes provided on the inside of the bore means.

6. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said tie-member and said housing means are of substantially circular cross-section.

7. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said tie-member, said head means, and said housing means are substantially flat with an approximately rectangular cross-section of relatively slight thickness.

8. A seal according to claim 5, characterized in that the tie-member is connected to one side of a seal body, and the housing means is located at the other side thereof.

9. A seal according to claim 8, characterized in that said body is relatively flat while said tie-member, head means and housing means are of substantially circular cross-section.

10. A seal according to claim 8, characterized in that said body, said tie-member, said head means, and said housing means are substantially flat.

11. A seal according to claim 4, characterized by further means in the form of at least one additional cut-out constituting an intentional place of failure in case of tampering with the seal.

12. An all-plastic seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the inwardly projecting means are constructed as flute means extending longitudinally from the area of said socket toward said other end and substantially preventing any wiggling of the head when in the locked position.

13. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said seal is of a unitary construction.

14. A seal according to claim 13, characterized in that said seal is constructed entirely of homogenous plastic material.

15. A seal according to claim 5, characterized in that said flutes have a uniform cross-section throughout their length, and in that said flutes extend from the other open end up to a position immediately adjacent the prong like locking elements of the socket means.

16. A seal according to claim 15, characterized in that said seal is of a unitary construction.

17. A seal according to claim 16, characterized in that said seal is constructed entirely of homogenous plastic material.

18. An all plastic seal according to claim 12, characterized in that the ratio of the dimension of said housing in the longitudinal direction to the maximum dimension of the cross-section of said passage is at least 5:

2.

19. An all-plastic seal according to claim 18, characterized in that said seal is of a unitary construction.

20. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that said head means includes a stop member spaced from said shoulder a distance corresponding to the distance between the end surfaces of the prong-like elements and the end surface of said housing means immediately surrounding the bore means at the one end of the housing means whereby longitudinal movement of said head means is precluded by engagement of said stop means with said end surface of said housing means once the head portion is snapped in position by the prong-like locking elements.

21. A seal according to claim 20, characterized in that the end surface of said housing means and the end surfaces of said prong-like elements extend substantially transversely to said longitudinally extending bore means.

22. A seal according to claim 21, characterized in that the seal is of a unitary, homogenous plastic construction.

23. A seal according to claim 15, characterized in that said head means includes a stop member spaced from said shoulder a distance corresponding to the distance between the end surfaces of the prong-like elements and the end surface of said housing means immediately surrounding the bore means at the one end of the housing means whereby longitudinal movement of said head means is precluded by engagement of said stop means with said end surface of said housing means once thE head portion is snapped in position by the prong-like locking elements, the end surfaces of said housing means and the end surfaces of said prong-like elements extending substantially transversely to said longitudinally extending bore means.

24. A seal according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the dimension of the bore means in the longitudinal direction to the smallest cross-sectional dimension of the bore means at the other open end opposite the socket means is such as to substantially preclude access to the locking elements from the said other open end of the housing means when the head portion is lockingly inserted into the socket means.

25. A seal according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of the dimension of the bore means in the longitudinal direction to the smallest cross-sectional dimension of the bore means at the other open end opposite the socket means is such as to substantially preclude access to the locking elements from said other open end of the housing means when the head portion is lockingly inserted into the socket means.

26. A seal according to claim 17, wherein the ratio of the dimension of the bore means in the longitudinal direction to the smallest cross-sectional dimension of the bore means at the other open end opposite the socket means is such as to substantially preclude access to the locking elements from said other open end of the housing means when the head portion is lockingly inserted into the socket means.

27. A seal according to claim 24, characterized in that said ratio is at least 5:

2.

28. A seal according to claim 27, characterized in that the smallest cross-sectional dimension is at most of the order of 0.2 inch.

29. A seal according to claim 24, characterized in that said inwardly projecting means is formed by substantially longitudinally extending flutes provided on the inside of the bore means.

30. A seal according to claim 25, characterized in that said ratio is at least 5:

2.

31. A seal according to claim 26, characterized in that said ratio is at least 5:

2.

32. A seal according to claim 27, characterized in that said bore means is of substantially uniform cross-section from said other open end up to a position adjacent the prong-like elements.