Electronic multipurpose seal with passive transponder

• US 6,888,241 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: European Community
• Original Assignee: European Community
• Inventors: Korn, Christophe, Alvares Morte, Javier, Van Paemel, Francis, Guilmain, Pierre, Vilaseca, Joan, Azzalin, Graziano
• Primary Examiner(s): COLEMAN, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US10/070,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 257/710, 257/728, 257/730, 257/731, 340/572.1, 156/213
• US Class Current: 257/728
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0323 having clamp-like sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0347 having padlock-type sealing means padlocks in general E05B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0364 having rotary sealing means

Abstract

The invention provides a system for sealing, comprising:

• • a first capsule (20);
  • a second capsule (30);
  • electronic means (23, 33), for placing in at least one of the capsules, and capable of containing an electronic identity that is remotely interrogatable; and
  • closure means (25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 25-4; 35-1, 35-2, 35-3, 35-4) to seal the two capsules together.

Claims

1. A system for sealing, comprising:

a first capsule (20);

a second capsule (30);

electronic means (23, 33), for placing in at least one of the capsules, and capable of containing an electronic identity that is remotely interrogatable; and

closure means (25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 25-4;

35-1, 35-2, 35-3, 35-4), to seal the two capsules together, comprising at least a male portion situated at the periphery of one of the capsules, and at least a female portion situated at the periphery of the other capsule, the two portions snap-fastening together.

2. A system according to claim 1, the capsules being provided with indicators to indicate breakage or deformation.

3. A system according to claim 1, said male portion (25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 25-4) and female portion (35-1, 35-2, 35-3, 35-4), co-operating in such a manner as to form an assembly that can be opened only by force.

4. A system according to claim 1, the closure means including at least one tenon and mortise assembly.

5. A system according to claim 1, the two capsules are being substantially cylindrical in shape, one of the capsules (20) having a rib (26) which co-operates with a groove (36) formed in an inside surface of the other capsule (30).

6. A system according to claim 1, the closure means of the two capsules defining a single closure position.

7. A system according to claim 6, the closure means being separated around the two capsules and defining angles between one another, at least two of the angles being different.

8. A system according to claim 1, the electronic means (23, 33) being passive electronic means.

9. A system according to claim 1, the electronic means (23, 33) being programmable electronic means.

10. A system according to claim 1, the electronic means (23, 33) comprising at least one electronic transponder capable of being encoded digitally.

11. A system according to claim 10, including two passive electronic transponders capable of being encoded digitally.

12. A system according to claim 1, the electronic means (23, 33) including one or more wires (52) suitable for being broken by the system being opened after the system has once been closed.

13. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means (32) enabling the system to be fixed to an external device.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising means (40) for fixing it to an external device.

15. A system according to claim 1, including at least one opening (82-84) for passing a cord (40) and cord-locking means for locking the cord inside the system once it has been inserted therein and the system has been sealed.

16. A system according to claim 15, the cord-locking means comprising at least one rib (86, 88) formed in one of the capsules.

17. A system according to claim 1, one of the capsules including first and second orifices (82-85) for inserting a cord, the other capsule including first and second ribs (86, 88) which press against the cord when the two capsules are sealed together.

18. A system according to claim 17, the first and second ribs defining a groove (24) for receiving electronic means suitable for containing an electronic identity and suitable for being interrogated remotely.

19. A system according to claim 1, including first and second cord-insertion orifices (82-85) and first and second internal ribs which press against the cord when the capsules are sealed together.

20. A system according to claim 1, the capsules (20, 30) being made of plastics material.

21. A system according to claim 1, the capsules (20, 30) being made of a material that presents plastic deformation characteristics.

22. A system according to claim 21, the material comprising at least 25% ABS.

23. A seal system comprising a first capsule (20) and a second capsule (30), and electronic means (23, 33) disposed in at least one of the capsules, the electronic means containing at electronic identity and being suitable for being interrogated from outside the seal system, the two capsules being sealed together by means of at least a male portion situated at the periphery of one of the capsules, and at least a female portion situated at the periphery of the other capsule, the two portions snap-fastening together.

24. A seal system according to claim 23, the electronic means (23, 33) comprising at least one passive electronic transponder.

25. A system according to claim 24, including a passive electronic transponder in each of the capsules.

26. A system according to claim 25, the two transponders being disposed perpendicularly relative to each other.

27. A seal system according to claim 23, the system including first and second orifices (32, 82, 83) for passing a cord (40).

28. A seal system according to claim 23, further comprising a cord (40) for fixing the seal system.

29. A seal system according to claim 28, the cord being locked in a system of without using a knot.

30. A system according to claim 28, the cord being locked in the seal system between a wall of one of the capsules and a rib (86, 88) or a shoulder (86-1, 86-2, 88-1, 80-2) of a rib (86, 88) formed in the other capsule.

31. A method of inspecting a seal system according to claim 23 in which a reader device (42) is brought up to the seal, a wave is sent to the system, and a wave transmitted by the system is received, which wave contains information concerning the electronic identity.

32. A method according to claim 31, the reader device including a storage means, and means for manually inputting data.

33. A method according to claim 31, the data concerning the electronic identity information being transferred to a computer (70).

34. A method according to claim 31, the seal system being attached to a container (72) containing nuclear material, or electrical material, or foodstuff.