Security seal

• US 5,125,700 A
• Filed: 07/30/1990
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• 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:
  US07/559,688
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307 R, 292/318, 292/319, 292/320, 292/321-331, 292/307 A, 70/440, 439/271 X, 439/587, 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 292/50 Single piece, spring catch
• 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 engagable 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. In a preferred embodiment, the first seal member includes a spear having the first locking portion, and the second seal member includes a sleeve having the second locking portion. The spear is insertable 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.

Claims

1. A security seal, comprising:

a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion; and

a second seal member having a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion, said first locking portion being engagable to said second locking portion, and structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion when said first locking portion is engaged to said second locking portion;

wherein said structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion is operatively connected to said first locking portion and said second locking portion such that engagement of said first seal member to said second seal member operatively connects said first detection circuit portion to said second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit throughout said security seal;

wherein first and second detection circuit portions comprise an electrical conductor, engagement of said first locking portion to said second locking portion making electrical contact between said first and second detection circuit portions, said first and second detection circuit portions further comprising electrical contacts for the application of an electrical continuity testing means;

wherein said first seal member and said second seal member each comprise a base portion and a stem portion;

wherein the stem of said first seal member comprises a male locking portion, and the stem of said second seal member comprises a female locking portion, said male locking portion being insertable into said female locking portion to secure said first seal member to said second seal member;

wherein said female locking portion and said male locking portion comprise interlocking one-way catch portions; and

wherein said female locking portion is substantially in the form of an elongated sleeve, and said male locking portion is substantially in the form of an elongated spear.

2. The security seal of claim 1, wherein leads of said first detection circuit portion extend substantially the length of said spear, contact portions of said leads distal to said base portion making contact with contact portions of leads of said second detection circuit portion within said sleeve.

3. The security seal of claim 2, further comprising spring means within said sleeve adapted to bias said contact portions of said second detection circuit portion with contact portions of said first detection circuit portion.

5. The security seal of claim 1, where each of said first seal member and said second seal member are formed from a rigid, transparent material, and identification indicia are embedded within said transparent material.

4. A security seal, comprising:

a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion; and

a second seal member having a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion, said first locking portion being engagable to said second locking portion, and structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion when said first locking portion is engaged to said second locking portion;

wherein said structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion is operatively connected to said first locking portion and said second locking portion such that engagement of said first seal member to said second seal member operatively connects said first detection circuit portion to said second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit throughout said security seal;

wherein first and second detection circuit portions comprise an electrical conductor, engagement of said first locking portion to said second locking portion making electrical contact between said first and second detection circuit portions, said first and second detection circuit portions further comprising electrical contacts for the application of an electrical continuity testing means;

wherein said first seal member and said second seal member each comprise a base portion and a stem portion;

wherein the stem of said first seal member comprises a male locking portion, and the stem of said second seal member comprises a female locking portion, said male locking portion being insertable into said female locking portion to secure said first seal member to said second seal member; and

wherein said stem of said first seal member comprises a frangible break-away portion.

6. A security seal, comprising:

a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion; and

a second seal member having a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion, said first locking portion being engagable to said second locking portion, and structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion when said first locking portion is engaged to said second locking portion;

wherein said structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion is operatively connected to said first locking portion and said second locking portion such that engagement of said first seal member to said second seal member operatively connects said first detection circuit portion to said second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit throughout said security seal; and

wherein said first seal member and said second seal member are formed from a rigid, transparent material.

7. A security seal, comprising:

a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion; and

a second seal member having a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion, said first locking portion being engagable to said second locking portion, and structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion when said first locking portion is engaged to said second locking portion;

wherein said structure for connecting said first circuit portion to said second circuit portion is operatively connected to said first locking portion and said second locking portion such that engagement of said first seal member to said second seal member operatively connects said first detection circuit portion to said second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit throughout said security seal; and

wherein said first seal member and said second seal member are secured to one another by frangible attachment means, whereby said frangible attachment means can be broken prior to locking said first locking portion to said second locking portion.

8. A method for indicating unauthorized access to the closure of a container, comprising the steps of:

providing a first seal member having a first locking portion and a first detection circuit portion;

providing a second seal member having a second locking portion and a second detection circuit portion;

securing said first seal member and said second seal member to one another and across said closure, said securing of said first locking portion to said second locking portion operatively connecting said first detection circuit portion and said second detection circuit portion to provide a combined detection circuit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of providing embedded seal-member identification indicia in each of said first seal member and said second seal member, and recording said indicia of said first seal member and said second seal member with an identification of the container to which the respective seal member is applied, whereby removal and replacement of said first seal member or said second seal member can be detected.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first seal member and said second seal member are attached by frangible attachment means, and further comprising the step of separating said first seal member from said second seal member by breaking said attachment means prior to interlocking said first locking portion to said second locking portion.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said first detection circuit portion and said second detection circuit portion comprise substantially embedded electrical conductors and electrical contacts for said conductors, and further comprising the step of applying a continuity tester to said contacts to determine whether said continuity has been destroyed through tampering.

12. A security seal comprising first and second members lockably engagable with one another, at least one of said members having electrical conductive means in at least that portion thereof engaged with the other member, at least one of said first and second members including an access to permit electrical contact with said conductive means to determine a compromise of said engaged members.

13. The invention according to one of claim 12 wherein said first member and said second member are formed from a rigid, transparent material.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said transparent material.

15. The invention according to claim 12 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said seal.

16. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said access is provided substantially at opposite ends of said conductive means.

17. The invention according to one of claim 16 wherein said first member and said second member are formed from a rigid, transparent material.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said transparent material.

19. The invention according to claim 16 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said seal.

20. The invention according to claim 16 wherein said access permits a determination of an open circuit condition in said conductive means as a manifestation of the compromise of said security seal.

21. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said access permits a determination of an open circuit condition in said conductive means as a manifestation of the compromise of said security seal.

22. The invention according to claim 21 wherein said first member and said second member are formed from a rigid, transparent material.

23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said transparent material.

24. The invention according to claim 21 wherein identifying indicia are embedded wholly within said seal.