Security seal and lock with enhanced bore sleeve
First Claim
1. A seal comprising:
- a housing made of a first material and having a tapered first chamber with opposing first and second ends, the housing having a first opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere and with the chamber at the chamber first end;
a sleeve in the chamber having a tapered bore in communication with the opening and made of a second material different than the first material, the bore tapering in a first direction from a large transverse dimension adjacent to the chamber second end to a relatively smaller transverse dimension adjacent to the first chamber first end;
a shackle having a free end for insertion into the sleeve tapered bore through the first opening in an insertion direction opposite the first direction; and
a locking member in the tapered bore and free to displace in response to insertion of the shackle into the first chamber and tapered bore and being arranged to wedge against and between the sleeve and the shackle in the tapered sleeve bore when the shackle is displaced in the first direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One end of a stranded steel cable is attached to a cast zinc seal housing having a chamber in which a steel sleeve with a tapered bore is positioned. The sleeve in one embodiment is fixed to the housing in the chamber or may be displaceable and captured in the chamber in a further embodiment. A serpentine clip locking member captured in the housing chamber resiliently radially grips the a second end of the shackle inserted into the sleeve bore and wedges and locks to the cable and sleeve when the shackle is withdrawn. The sleeve precludes damage to the softer zinc housing by the locking member when the locking member is displaced in the housing chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the one end of the cable exits the housing in a plane different than where the second end enters the chamber to enhance ease of insertion of the second end into engagement with the locking member.
18 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A seal comprising:
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a housing made of a first material and having a tapered first chamber with opposing first and second ends, the housing having a first opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere and with the chamber at the chamber first end;
a sleeve in the chamber having a tapered bore in communication with the opening and made of a second material different than the first material, the bore tapering in a first direction from a large transverse dimension adjacent to the chamber second end to a relatively smaller transverse dimension adjacent to the first chamber first end;
a shackle having a free end for insertion into the sleeve tapered bore through the first opening in an insertion direction opposite the first direction; and
a locking member in the tapered bore and free to displace in response to insertion of the shackle into the first chamber and tapered bore and being arranged to wedge against and between the sleeve and the shackle in the tapered sleeve bore when the shackle is displaced in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A seal comprising:
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a housing having first and second ends lying in respective first and second spaced planes, the housing having a first chamber terminating at the first end at a first opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere and a second chamber terminating at a third housing end at a second opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere, the second opening at the third end lying in a third plane medial the first and second spaced planes;
a shackle having a first end secured to the housing in the second chamber and having a free end exiting the second chamber through the second opening at the third plane in a first direction, the free end for insertion into the housing first chamber through the first opening at the first plane in an insertion direction opposite the first direction; and
a locking member in the first chamber arranged to wedge against the inserted shackle and against the housing on a plane generally normal to the insertion direction in the chamber when the shackle is displaced in a withdrawal direction opposite the insertion direction, the locking member being locked to the shackle solely by static friction forces between the locking member and shackle created by a wedge force on the locking member in a direction generally normal to the insertion direction, the shackle forming a locking loop that can only be reduced in size and can not be enlarged. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A seat comprising:
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a housing having first and second ends lying in respective first and second spaced planes, the housing having an outer peripheral wall and a first chamber terminating at the first end at a first opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere and a second chamber terminating at a third housing end at a second opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere, the second opening at the third end lying in a third plane medial the first and second spaced planes;
a shackle having a first end secured to the housing in the second chamber and having a free end exiting the second chamber through the second opening at the third plane in a first direction, the free end for insertion into the housing first chamber through the first opening at the first plane in an insertion direction opposite the first direction; and
a locking member in the first chamber arranged to wedge against and between the inserted shackle and the outer peripheral wall of the housing in the chamber in a plane generally normal to the insertion direction when the shackle is displaced in a withdrawal direction opposite the insertion direction, the shackle being locked solely by static friction forces between the locking member and shackle created by a wedge force on the locking member in a direction generally normal to the insertion direction, the shackle forming a locking loop that can only be reduced in size and can not be enlarged.
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27. A seal comprising:
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a housing having first and second ends lying in respective first and second spaced planes, the housing having a first chamber terminating at the first end at a first opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere and a second chamber terminating at a third housing end at a second opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere, the second opening at the third end lying in a third plane medial the first and second spaced planes;
a shackle having a first end secured to the housing in the second chamber and having a free end exiting the second chamber through the second opening at the third plane in a first direction, the free end for insertion into the housing first chamber through the first opening at the first plane in an insertion direction opposite the first direction;
a locking member in the first chamber; and
a sleeve captured in the first chamber, the locking member and sleeve being arranged to wedge the locking member against and between the sleeve and the shackle in response to displacement of the shackle in a withdrawal direction. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification