Closure security seal with time-recording feature

• US 6,933,844 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James William Hill
• Original Assignee: James William Hill
• Inventors: Hill, James W., Augspurger, Quent
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/385,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.1, 340/545.2, 340/568.8, 340/572.3, 340/525, 340/533, 292/320, 292/327, 292/317, 702/178
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/498 Rigid engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/51 Seal bolts

Abstract

A security seal for a freight car, freight container or other enclosure. The seal has an electronic timepiece which displays the time and date and is preset at an established reference time. A cut-resistant strap is secured at one end to the seal and has a latch at the other end. When the latch is passed through a lock and is engaged in a receiver in the seal, the strap is locked in place and the power to the timepiece is interrupted providing an indication of the time and date on which the lock was sealed. Other information may be applied to the seal at the time of sealing such as the identification of the individual responsible for the sealing.

Claims

1. A security seal for a closure having a locking member, said security seal comprising:

(a) an electronic timepiece having a power circuit and a time and date display which is preset, said timepiece being enclosed in a protective enclosure defining a receiver;

(b) said timepiece having a power switch disposed in said receiver;

(c) a flexible strap having a first end secured to said enclosure and the opposite end terminating at a latch, said latch and receiver being cooperative to retain said strap upon insertion of said latch into said receiver; and

(d) said power switch and latch being cooperative to interrupt the power to said timepiece upon insertion of the latch into the receiver thereby freezing said display to indicate the time and date of sealing.

2. The security seal of claim 1 wherein said retaining member is a barb-like member associated with one of said receiver and latch members.

3. The security seal of claim 1 wherein said protective enclosure is a polymer C material.

4. The security seal of claim 1 wherein said strap is a cut-resistant material.

5. The security seal of claim 1 wherein said seal is provided with a unique serial number.

6. The security seal of claim 1 further including an identification means for entering information concerning the use of the seal.

7. The security seal of claim 1 wherein said deactivating means includes power circuit means which are engaged by insertion of said latch.

8. The security seal of claim 7 wherein said power means comprises a switch in the timepiece power circuit.

9. The security seal of claim 1 wherein the time is displayed as GMT.