Security seal apparatus

• US 4,425,999 A
• Filed: 09/24/1982
• Issued: 01/17/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher N. Macdonald, Vesta J. Crow
• Original Assignee: Christopher N. Macdonald, Vesta J. Crow
• Inventors: MacDonald, Christopher N., Crow, Vesta J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixson, Jr., William T.
• Application Number:
  US06/422,709
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 206/1.5, 206/312, 206/444, 206/459, 206/493, 229/77, 229/75, 292/310, 292/314, 292/307 R
• US Class Current: 206/308.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0305 characterised by the type of seal used
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0323 having clamp-like sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/49 Compressible rivets and eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/498 Rigid engaging means

Abstract

There is disclosed a security seal apparatus for securing information recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disc or recording tape which incorporates an aperture therein. The security seal apparatus includes a circular rigid pad projecting beyond the edges of such aperture and formed centrally with a post for projecting through such aperture. The post is formed on its free extremity with an enlarged-in-diameter conical lock head having its base of a cross-section less than the cross-section of the aperture. A fastener plate is provided with a central opening having a diameter slightly less than the base of such conical lock head so that such fastener plate may be pressed onto such lock head causing the base of the conical lock to be compressed radially inwardly whereby the lock will pass through such opening and expand radially outwardly to overlie the peripheral edges of such opening and lock the fastener in position. In certain embodiments, the bottom of the fastener is dished out slightly to form a somewhat annular conically shaped cavity opening downwardly toward the pad. Also, in one embodiment the fastener plate is dished outwardly away from the pad to engage under the base of the conical fastener.

Claims

1. A security seal apparatus for restricting access to an aperture formed centrally in a work piece carrying sensitive information thereon, said assembly comprising:

a rigid pad for covering said one side of said work piece and including a stem projecting from one side thereof for projecting through said aperture when said pad is positioned in covering position on said one side;

a fastener plate for overlying said pad, being of sufficient size to project beyond the peripheral edges of said aperture and being formed centrally with and opening; and

,

a lock formed on the free end of said stem, said lock being characterized in that it passes freely through said opening and is reponsive to projection beyond the periphery of said opening to non-releasably lock said pad and fastener plate together to seal said pad and plate in sealing engagement in said aperture whereby said stem must be severed to remove said pad from said one side thus leaving perceivable evidence that access has been had to said work piece.

2. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

code means on said pad; and

,

an opaque cover on said pad and covering said code means.

3. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fastener lock is constructed of resilient material and is conical in shape to define a flange which may be compressed to fit through said opening and is then expanded to lock against retraction through said opening.

4. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fastener plate is formed with tube means projecting therefrom to house said stem and form in the end thereof said opening.

5. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

code means on said pad.

6. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use with a two sided reel of information bearing tape or film and being formed centrally with said aperture and having a predetermined diameter and wherein:

said fastener plate is in the form of a bracket spanning said reel and including hooks on its opposite extremities for hooking over the diametrical opposite sides of said reel.

7. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said bracket is formed with a boss which closely fits the interior of said opening.

8. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said code means is in the form of a fingerprint.

9. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use with an information containing reel of a predetermind diameter and wherein:

said plate is incorporated in a cup shaped cover for covering one side and the edges of said reel.

10. A security seal apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fastener plate is dish shaped to space the edges of said opening away from said pad relative to the outer periphery of said plate when said pad and fastener plate are locked together.