Seal

• US 4,826,027 A
• Filed: 03/02/1988
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arkotek Arkitekter AB
• Original Assignee: Tally Safe Systems AB
• Inventors: Nilson, Nils B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stucker, Nova
• Application Number:
  US07/166,785
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 116/200, 116/212, 116/214, 137/384, 292/307 R, 215/230, 215/265, 215/266, 206/221
• US Class Current: 215/230
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0317 having bolt like sealing means means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it F16B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0382 Seals with transparent casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals

Abstract

A seal for container locks and the like comprises two units (1,2,3;8,14,15) which are snapped into each other. The snap action is carried out by means of a plug (14) forming part of one of the units (8,14,15) and which normally closes a cavity (13) containing an indicating means (21). When the parts are separated the plug is drawn out from this position and allows the indicating means to leave said cavity. In one embodiment the plug (14) is hollow and is closed by means of a steel pin (15) which when inserted has put the indicating means under pressure and the plug has blocking vanes (18). In another embodiment the plug is not hollow but has a weak lower portion and supports a resilient blocking ring. A steel pin floats in the cavity and can break the weak wall when an attempt to brake the seal is made.

Claims

1. A signalling seal for containers and the like, comprising:

two interengaged units, each unit having a tubular portion, one said tubular portion, in the assembled condition of the seal, fitting into the other said tubular portion with a predetermined radial clearance whereby said units, to be separated, have to be drawn out of each other, the inner one of the tubular portions having one end thereof closed and containing a predetermined amount of an indicating means, the opposite end thereof being closed by means of a plug which closes the mouth of the inner tubular portion and being in contact with the outer tubular portion, one of said tubular means having one of a shoulder constituted by the end of said tubular portion thereof or the bore of said tubular portion and a recess provided in the end of said tubular portion, said plug being responsive to separation of said units to leave the position in which it closes said inner tubular portion to cause said indicating means to leave the inner tubular portion, thereby allowing said indicating means to signal any unauthorized attempt to separate said units, said plug further having plural resilient, obliquely extending vanes which, when the units are interengaged, pass through the tubular portion of one of said units and, at the end of said interengaging action, spring out and contact one of said shoulder which is constituted by the end of said tubular portion or between said bore of said tubular portion and said recess provided in said end of said tubular portion.

2. Seal as claimed in claim 1 further including steel plates in said head of one of the units to prevent drilling through said head.

3. A signalling seal for containers and the like, comprising:

two interengaged units, each unit having a tubular portion, one said tubular portion, in the assembled condition of the seal, fitting into the other said tubular portion with a predetermined radial clearance whereby said units, to be separated, have to be drawn out of each other, the inner one of the tubular portions having one end thereof closed and containing a predetermined amount of an indicating means, the opposite end thereof being closed by means of a plug which closes the mouth of the inner tubular portion and being in contact with the outer tubular portion, one of said tubular means having one of a shoulder constituted by the end of said tubular portion thereof or the bore of said tubular portion and a recess provided in the end of said tubular portion, said plug being responsive to separation of said units to leave the position in which it closes said inner tubular portion to cause said indicating means to leave the inner tubular portion, thereby allowing said indicating means to signal any unauthorized attempt to separate said units, said plug further having a through bore having a pin extending therein which, when inserted, places said indicating means contained in one of the units under pressure and which extends to the vicinity of one end of the inner tube shaped portion.

4. Seal as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said unit includes a head and said tubular portion contains said indicating means in axial direction and extends into the head of the units.

5. Seal as claimed in claim 4 further including steel plates in said head of one of the units to prevent drilling through said head.

6. A signalling seal for containers and the like, comprising:

two interengaged units, each unit having a tubular portion, one said tubular portion, in the assembled condition of the seal, fitting into the other said tubular portion with a predetermined radial clearance whereby said units, to be separated, have to be drawn out of each other, the inner one of the tubular portions having one end thereof closed and containing a predetermined amount of an indicating means, the opposite end thereof being closed by means of a plug which closes the mouth of the inner tubular portion and being in contact with the outer tubular portion, one of said tubular means having one of a shoulder constituted by the end of said tubular portion thereof or the bore of said tubular portion and a recess provided in the end of said tubular portion, said plug being responsive to separation of said units to leave the position in which it closes said inner tubular portion to cause said indicating means to leave the inner tubular portion, thereby allowing said indicating means to signal any unauthorized attempt to separate said units, each unit having a head portion, said inner tubular portion extending into said head portion, said plug further including a label positioned in said head in contact with said corresponding inner surface thereof, recesses in said inner surface constituting a substantially capillary space in which the indicating means flows from said inner tubular portion when an attempt is made to break the seal, said indicating means thereby being visible outside the label and in direct contact with said head.

7. A signalling seal for containers and the like, comprising:

two interengaged units, each unit having a tubular portion, one said tubular portion, in the assembled condition of the seal, fitting into the other said tubular portion with a predetermined radial clearance whereby said units, to be separated, have to be drawn out of each other, the inner one of the tubular portions having one end thereof closed and containing a predetermined amount of an indicating means, the opposite end thereof being closed by means of a plug which closes the mouth of the inner tubular portion and being in contact with the outer tubular portion, one of said tubular means having one of a shoulder constituted by the end of said tubular portion thereof or the bore of said tubular portion and a recess provided in the end of said tubular portion, said plug being responsive to separation of said units to leave the position in which it closes said inner tubular portion to cause said indicating means to leave the inner tubular portion, thereby allowing said indicating means to signal any unauthorized attempt to separate said units, each unit having a head portion, said inner tubular portion extending into said head portion, further including steel plated in said head of one of said units to prevent drilling through said head.

8. A signalling seal for containers and the like, comprising:

two interengaged units, each unit having a tubular portion, one said tubular portion, in the assembled condition of the seal, fitting into the other said tubular portion with a predetermined radial clearance whereby said units, to be separated, have to be drawn out of each other, the inner one of the tubular portions having one end thereof closed and containing a predetermined amount of an indicating means, the opposite end thereof being closed by means of a plug which closes the mouth of the inner tubular portion and being in contact with the outer tubular portion, one of said tubular means having one of a shoulder constituted by the end of said tubular portion thereof or the bore of said tubular portion and a recess provided in the end of said tubular portion, said plug being responsive to separation of said units to leave the position in which it closes said inner tubular portion to cause said indicating means to leave the inner tubular portion, thereby allowing said indicating means to signal any unauthorized attempt to separate said units, each unit having a head portion, said inner tubular portion extending into said head portion, a slotted resilient ring, said plug comprising an end closure for closing said inner tubular portion and supporting with a slight axial clearance said resilient ring slotted such that it, in a compressed condition, together with said end closure, is displaced through said inner tubular portion and, when leaving the same, springs out to prevent said end closure from being displaced back up through said tubular portion.

9. Seal as claimed in claim 8, a ring, said inner tubular portion having an upper end wall and said end closure having a flange and a cavity, further including a steel pin, extending almost to said upper end wall of said inner tubular portion, and having its opposite end portion guided in said cavity of said end closure in that part having a wall which is easily penetrated and the end closure having an end flange and a rib axially extending therefrom and having a length exceeding the height of said ring and provided to limit the insertion of said end closure into the inner tubular portion, said ring having a slot having a width considerably exceeding the width of the rib such that the ring located between the end portion of the inner tubular portion and the flange of the end closure with the slot receiving the rib is compressible and respectively expanded, said ring and end closure having interengaging guide means to prevent rotation of said ring relative to the end closure.