Tamper resistant shackle seal

• US 4,946,210 A
• Filed: 06/20/1988
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stoffel Seals Corporation (Tyden Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stoffel Seals Corporation (Tyden Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuehrer, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US07/209,056
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 292/318, 292/320, 292/321, 292/307, 292/319, 292/322, 292/DIG. 60
• US Class Current: 292/318
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/60 Adjustment provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/496 Resilient engaging means

Abstract

A shackle seal housing has a separate plug that is snugly received in its entirety within one end of the housing, the housing having an inwardly extending circumferential ridge and the plug having a groove in its outer wall which receives the ridge when the plug is seated. The inner end of the plug has a cavity which snugly receives the shackle end thereby preventing inward compression of the plug when it is seated within the housing. The housing may have a non-circular configuration, to prevent twisting of the shackle within the housing. The shackle strap may have a variable width border provided by an opening to permit selection of its breaking strength.

Claims

1. A resilient seal housing open at both ends and a resilient shackle, said housing and a shackle end having means for locking engagement when the shackle end is inserted into one end of the housing, and means for closing the other end of the housing, comprising a resilient plug having an end wall at one end and having an outer wall of a size to be frictionally received within the housing, said housing having an inwardly extending ridge spaced from said one end and said plug having groove means adapted to receive said ridge and spaced from said end wall of said plug, said plug having a cavity in its other end of a configuration closely to receive the extreme end of said shackle to prevent inward compression of said plug within the portion thereof having said groove means, said plug being entirely received within said housing so that no portion thereof extends outside of said housing.

2. The invention of claim 1, in which the end wall of said plug is recessed within said housing.

4. The invention of claim 1, in which said one end of the housing has a non-circular opening and said shackle end has a base portion of a size and shape to be snugly received within said opening.

3. A seal housing open at both ends and a shackle, said housing and a shackle end having means for locking engagement when the shackle end is inserted into one end of the housing, and means for closing the other end of the housing, comprising a plug having an end wall at one end and having an outer wall of a size to be frictionally received within the housing, said housing having an inwardly extending ridge spaced from said one end and said plug having groove means adapted to receive said ridge and spaced from said end wall of said plug, in which said one end of the housing has a non-circular opening and said shackle end has a base portion of a size and shape to be snugly received within said opening.

5. The invention of claim 3, said shackle having a non-circular opening between its sides.

6. The invention of claim 3, in which said opening is diamond-shaped.

7. The invention of claim 3, in which said non-circular opening is oriented so that the width of the border of the shackle outside of the opening is a maximum.

8. The invention of claim 3, in which said non-circular opening is oriented so that the width of the border of the shackle outside of the opening is a minimum.

9. The invention of claim 3, in which said non-circular opening is oriented so that the width of the border of the shackle outside of the opening is between a minimum and a maximum.