Reusable security seal

• US 5,704,097 A
• Filed: 04/14/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avraham Rahav
• Original Assignee: Avraham Rahav
• Inventors: Rahav, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US08/422,562
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 24/16 PB, 24/30.5 P, 24/30.5 R, 24/16 R, 24/17 A, 24/17 AP, 292/317, 292/320, 292/321, 292/325, 40/633, 40/665, 40/306, 40/309, 40/310
• US Class Current: 24/16.0PB
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/141 Plastic bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/494 Interengaging shackle ends, inclosing housing

Abstract

A reusable security seal comprising a first member including a plurality of frangible sections, each frangible section having a first clasp portion and an identity associated therewith is provided. A housing is coupled to a first end of the first member and includes a second clasp portion disposed at least partially therein for cooperating with the first clasp portion. The first member and the housing form a closed loop extending between the cooperating clasp portions. The first clasp portion and the second clasp portion are adapted for substantially locking engagement, so that pressure applied to the closed loop will cause at least one of the frangible sections to break before the clasp portions will unlock.

Claims

1. A reusable security seal, comprising:

a first member, including a plurality of frangible sections, each frangible section having an aperture and an individual unique identity marked thereon;

a housing coupled to a first end of the first member and including a clasp portion disposed at least partially therein for cooperating with one of the apertures;

said first member and the housing forming a closed loop extending between the cooperating clasp portion and aperture; and

said aperture and said clasp portion being adapted for substantially locking engagement, so that pressure applied to the closed loop will cause at least one of said frangible sections to break before said locked aperture and clasp portion will unlock.

2. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first slot and a second slot at opposite ends thereof for inserting therethrough a second end of said first member.

3. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second end of the first member is inserted into the first slot in order to form the closed loop.

4. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said frangible sections that is locked within the housing may be removed through the second slot.

5. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a frangible arrest means associated with each of the frangible sections for engaging the housing proximate the first slot to prevent adjacent frangible sections from being inserted into the housing.

6. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein a window is provided on the housing between the first and second slots for displaying the identity of the frangible section located within the housing.

7. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clasp portion is a claw resiliently mounted in said housing.

8. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 7 wherein said claw is resiliently mounted to said housing facing said second slot, so that said aperture may ride over the claw when the said first member is inserted into the housing and the second end of the said first member is withdrawn therefrom, and so that said claw engages an internal edge of the aperture when tension is applied to a portion of said closed loop proximate said first slot of said housing.

9. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 8 wherein said clasp portion include a resilient plate mounted inside said housing.

10. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 9 wherein said resilient plate is fixed to a lower inside surface of said housing towards said first slot and a bulbous dome is formed in an upper surface of said housing towards the second slot for accommodating said claw.

11. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 9 wherein said resilient plate includes at least one leg for supporting said plate.

12. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first member and the clasp portion are co-anchored to the housing.

13. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first member and the clasp portion are riveted to the housing by a single rivet.

14. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member and said clasp portion are integrally formed.

15. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is completely closed except for a first slot and second slot located at opposite ends of said housing and being sized to receive said first member therethrough.

16. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identity is located on the surface of said first member.

17. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 16 further including cover means for hiding the identity of said frangible sections.

18. The reusable security seal as claimed in claim 17 wherein said cover means is selectively removable from each said frangible section.

19. A reusable security seal, comprising:

a first member including a plurality of frangible sections with each frangible section having an aperture and an identity associated therewith;

a housing coupled to a first end of the first member and including a clasp portion disposed at least partially therein for cooperating with one of said apertures,

said first member and housing forming a closed loop extending between the cooperating aperture and clasp portion;

each of said apertures and said clasp portion being adapted for substantially locking engagement so that pressure applied to the closed loop will cause at least one of said frangible sections to break before said aperture and clasp portion will unlock;

wherein said housing includes a first slot and a second slot at opposite ends thereof for inserting therethrough a second end of said first member such that the second end of the first member is inserted into said first slot in order to form the closed loop; and

wherein the frangible section that is locked within, the housing may be removed through the second slot.

20. A reusable security seal as claimed in claim 19, wherein a window is provided on the housing between the first and second slots for displaying the identity of the frangible section located within the housing.

21. A reusable security seal as claimed in claim 19, further including cover means for hiding the identity of each of said frangible sections.

22. A reusable security seal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said clasp portion comprises a claw resiliently mounted in said housing, and which selectively engages an internal edge of one of the apertures when tension is applied to a portion of said closed loop proximate said first slot of said housing.