Self-locking fiber optic seal
First Claim
1. Fiber optic seal apparatus comprising an elongated fiber optic bundle having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, each of the end fittings being provided with fiber end light communicating openings for permitting passage of light through said fiber optic bundle, wherein the first end fitting is provided with a generally V-shaped groove having open top and bottom ends on opposite sides thereof and the second end fitting is provided with a flat longitudinally extending portion having a thickness slightly larger than the width of said open bottom end and smaller than the width of said open top end, said flat portion passing into the top end and out of the bottom end of said V-shaped groove and being held within the groove by engagement between said flat portion and said bottom end of the groove, the first end fitting being further provided with pathways on opposite sides of the V-shaped groove, a first portion of the fibers in said bundle extending through one of the pathways and the remainder of said fibers in said bundle extending through the other of said pathways.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seal has a fiber optic bundle which passes through a fastening device. One end of the bundle is exposed to a light source and the light pattern emitted from the other end is observed to determine whether anyone has tampered with the bundle or the fastening device. The bundle has end fittings which are received in intersecting passageways formed in a block and which pass through each other at the intersection. A flat portion of one end fitting passes through a one-way push nut integrally formed in the other end fitting to interlock the fittings. Alternatively, one fitting is press fit in the block and the other fitting is engaged by a one-way push nut mounted in an enlarged portion of its respective passageway. The shapes of the passageways correspond to the shapes of their respective fittings to prevent rotation of the fittings and to align the fittings for intermeshing with each other. The fibers in the bundle are divided and extend through divided passageways formed in one of the end fittings. The block is unitary or is formed of two mirror image halves. A hanger receiving hole is formed in the block.
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Citations
41 Claims
- 1. Fiber optic seal apparatus comprising an elongated fiber optic bundle having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, each of the end fittings being provided with fiber end light communicating openings for permitting passage of light through said fiber optic bundle, wherein the first end fitting is provided with a generally V-shaped groove having open top and bottom ends on opposite sides thereof and the second end fitting is provided with a flat longitudinally extending portion having a thickness slightly larger than the width of said open bottom end and smaller than the width of said open top end, said flat portion passing into the top end and out of the bottom end of said V-shaped groove and being held within the groove by engagement between said flat portion and said bottom end of the groove, the first end fitting being further provided with pathways on opposite sides of the V-shaped groove, a first portion of the fibers in said bundle extending through one of the pathways and the remainder of said fibers in said bundle extending through the other of said pathways.
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8. Fiber optic seal apparatus comprising an elongated fiber optic bundle having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, each of the end fittings being provided with fiber and light communicating openings for permitting passage of light through said fiber optic bundle, wherein the second end fitting passes through the first end fitting at said intersection.
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9. Fiber optic seal apparatus comprising:
an elongated fiber optic bundle having first and second ends provided with first and seocnd interlocking end fittings respectively, each of the end fittings being provided with fiber and light communicating openings for permitting passage of light through said fiber optic bundle, and wherein the first end fitting is provided with a one-way locking means for receiving the second end fitting and for preventing said received second end fitting from being withdrawn therefrom.
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10. Sealing apparatus comprising:
a block, first and second passageways intersecting within the block, each passageway having and inlet opening on the surface of the block for receiving an end fitting, and link means having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, wherein the first and second end fittings are received in said first and second passageways respectively, the first and second end fittings interlocking with each other at the intersection of first and second passageways, and wherein the first end fitting is provided with a one-way locking means for receiving the second end fitting and for preventing said second end fitting from being withdrawn therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Sealing apparatus comprising
a block, first and second passageways intersecting within the block, each passageway having an inlet opening on a surface of the block for receiving an end fitting, and link means having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, wherein the first and second end fittings are received in said first and second passageways respectively, the first and second end fittings interlocking with each other at the intersection of the first and second passageways, further comprising means for aligning the end fittings in the block to enable locking interconnection of said first and second end fittings, wherein said passageways have cross-sectional shapes related to the cross-sectional shapes of their respective end fittings, wherein the cross-sectional shape of said first passageway differs from the cross-sectional shape of the second passageway.
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21. Sealing apparatus comprising
a block, first and second passageways intersecting within the block, each passageway having an inlet opening on a surface of the block for receiving an end fitting, and link means having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, wherein the first and second end fittings are received in said first and second passageways respectively, the first and second end fittings interlocking with each other at the intersection of the first and second passageways, further comprising means for aligning the end fittings in the block to enable locking interconnection of said first and second end fittings, wherein said passageways have cross-sectional shapes related to the cross-sectional shapes of their respective end fittings, wherein the first passageway has a generally T-shaped cross-section and the first end fitting has a generally triangular cross-section, the base of said triangular cross-section being held within the first passageway perpendicular to the leg of said T-shaped cross-section.
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22. Sealing apparatus comprising
a block, first and second passageways intersecting within the block, each passageway having an inlet opening on a surface of the block for receiving a link end, link means having first and second ends received in the first and second passageways respectively, the second end passing through the first end at the intersection of the first and second passageways, and wherein the second passageway is provided with locking means for preventing withdrawal of the second link end from the block.
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39. A method for making an end fitting on a fiber optic bundle comprising
providing a cylindrical tubular member, shaping the cylindrical member to form divided passageways therein, dividing the fiber optic bundle, inserting the bundle into the member, a portion of the fibers entering one passageway and the remainder of the fibers entering the other passageway, crimping an end of the member onto the fiber optic bundle, and flatening the cylindrical member.
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41. Sealing apparatus comprising
a block, first and second passageways intersecting within the block, each passageway having an inlet opening on a surface of the block for receiving an end fitting, and link means having first and second ends provided with first and second interlocking end fittings respectively, wherein the first and second end fittings are received in said first and second passageways respectively, the first and second end fittings interlocking with each other at the intersection of the first and second passageways, wherein the second end fitting passes through the first end fitting at said intersection.
Specification