Security seal

• US 5,120,097 A
• Filed: 10/18/1990
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: REL Corp.
• Original Assignee: REL Corp.
• Inventors: Fattori, James G., Fattori, Paul L., Fattori, Lazzaro A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US07/599,631
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307 R, 292/318, 292/319, 292/320, 292/321-331, 70/440, 425/271, 425/587, 425/307 A, 40/626, 385/138, 385/139
• US Class Current: 292/318
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/037 having tie-wrap sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0382 Seals with transparent casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/496 Resilient engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/507 Tag type

Abstract

A security seal includes a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion. A second seal member has a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion. The first locking portion is engageable to the second locking portion to engage and irretrievably lock together the first seal member to the second seal member. Engagement of the first seal member to the second seal member operatively connects the first detection circuit portion to the second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit throughout the security seal. The first seal member preferably includes a spear having the first locking portion, and the second seal member includes a sleeve having the second locking portion. The spear is insertible into the sleeve to engage the first locking portion to the second locking portion, and to thereby engage the first seal member and the first detection circuit portion to the second seal member and the second detection circuit portion. Breaking of the security seal will break continuity of the combined detection circuit portions, which continuity is checked for evidence of tampering. In an alternative embodiment, a conductive strip is embedded within an elongated stem extending from the first seal member. The stem is engageable to the second seal member to form the security seal. Contact points allow testing of the continuity of the conductive strip as evidence of tampering. The seal members are preferably formed from a clear material with embedded indicia to provide a visual indication of tampering.

Claims

1. A security seal, comprising:

a first seal member having a base portion and an elongated stem portion extending outward from said base portion, a first locking portion being provided substantially at an end of said stem portion distal to said base portion, and a conductive strip embedded within said stem portion and extending substantially from said base portion to said end of said stem portion; and

a second seal member having a second locking portion, said second locking portion being engagable to said first locking portion to secure said first seal member to said second seal member, contact portions of said conductive strip being provided substantially at opposite ends of said conductive strip for application of leads of a suitable continuity testing apparatus, whereby said continuity testing apparatus can be used to evidence breaking of said conductive strip and thereby tampering with said security seal.

2. The security seal of claim 1, wherein said conductive strip is embedded within said stem portion, openings in said first seal member being provided substantially at opposite ends of said conductive strip to expose contact portions of said conductive strip for application of said continuity testing apparatus.

3. The security seal of claim 2, wherein said first locking portion of said first seal member is formed substantially as a spear, and said second locking portion is female, said spear being insertable into said female locking portion to secure said first seal member to said second seal member, said opening in said first seal member for accessing said conductive strip being aligned with an opening in said second seal member when said spear is fully inserted into said female locking portion to permit access of the continuity testing apparatus to said conductive strip through said opening in said female locking portion and said spear opening.

4. The security seal of claim 3, wherein said first locking portion and said second locking portion comprise interlocking one-way catch portions.

5. The security seal of claim 4, wherein said interlocking one-way catch portions comprise a plurality of ratchet portions arranged sequentially on said spear, and flexible catch members in said female locking portion, said ratchet portions of said spear being insertible past said flexible catch members to secure said first seal member to said second seal member.

6. The security seal of claim 1, wherein said first seal member and said second seal member are formed from a rigid, transparent material.

7. The security seal of claim 6, further comprising indicia embedded within said transparent material.

8. The security seal of claim 7, wherein said indicia comprise alpha-numeric indicia.

9. The security seal of claim 7, wherein said identification indicia comprise bar code indicia.

10. A security locking mechanism for a container door having a pair of aligned openings adapted to receive a lock, said locking mechanism comprising:

a first member having a stem and a base connected to one end of said stem, said stem including conductive means wholly embedded therein;

a second member having a receptacle for lockably receiving said stem so that said conductive means is partially within said receptacle;

wherein one of said first or second members has identifying indicia wholly embedded therein;

a first access port within said first member for permitting electrical contact with said conductive means, and

a second access port within said second member permitting electrical contact with said conductive means when said stem is lockably engaged with said receptacle.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said conductive means is metal.

12. The invention according to claim 11:

wherein said first member is fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said conductive means is between a molded and overmolded portion of said stem.

13. The invention according to claim 10:

wherein said first member is fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said conductive means is between a molded and an overmolded portion of said first member.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said first and second access ports are sized to receive probes from a continuity tester.

15. The invention according to claim 10:

wherein said one member is fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said identifying indicia is between a molded and an overmolded portion of said one member.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said one member is formed of rigid transparent plastic material.

17. The invention according to claim 10:

wherein said first and second members are fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said conductive means and said identifying indicia are between a molded and an overmolded portion of said first member.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said first and second members are formed of rigid transparent plastic material.

19. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said first and second members are sized such that said stem will fit through said aligned openings when inserted into said receptacle, said base and second member further being sized so that said stem is prevented from being removed from said aligned openings without visually noticeable destruction.

20. A security locking mechanism for a container door having a pair of aligned openings adapted to receive a lock, said locking mechanism comprising:

a first member having a stem and a base connected to one end of said stem, said stem including conductive means therein;

a second member having a receptacle for lockably receiving said stem so that said conductive means is partially within said receptacle;

wherein said stem includes said first access port at said one end and a third access port at the other end thereof, said second and third access ports being positioned to be aligned with one another when said receptacle lockably receives said stem.

21. The invention according to claim 20 wherein said conductive means is wholly embedded within said stem.

22. The invention according to claim 21 wherein said first and third ports are openings extending inward from the surface of said stem to said conductive means.

23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein said second port is an opening entirely through said second member.

24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein one of said first or second members has identifying indicia wholly embedded therein.

25. The invention according to claim 24:

wherein said one member is fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said identifying indicia is between a molded and an overmolded portion of said one member.

26. The invention according to claim 25 wherein said one member is formed of rigid transparent plastic material.

27. The invention according to claim 24:

wherein said first and second members are fabricated by molding techniques; and

wherein said conductive means and said identifying indicia are between a molded and an overmolded portion of said first member.

28. The invention according to claim 27 wherein said first and second members are formed of rigid transparent plastic material.