Methods and apparatus for facilitating security and tamper control

• US 7,360,806 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Kong Sun Ching
• Original Assignee: Henry Kong Sun Ching
• Inventors: Ching, Henry Kong Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/964,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307.R, 292/308, 292/208, 292/282, 292317-323, 292/315, 292/325, 292/329, 292/330, 292/DIG.38, 24/16.PB, 24/16.R, 411/82, 411/388, 411/910, 411/913
• US Class Current: 292/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0311 having arrow-like sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0364 having rotary sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/38 Plastic latch parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/491 Distorted shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/494 Interengaging shackle ends, inclosing housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/496 Resilient engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/50 Single piece, spring catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/516 Sliding catch, seal

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a wire having a proximal end and a distal end; and a body being fixedly coupled to the proximal of the wire and having at least two apertures, each aperture for receiving and locking the distal end of the wire at different times such that when the wire is locked in one of the apertures it cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein the distal end of the wire is operable to pass through one or more apertures of an object and lock in each of the apertures at different times such that the body retains the wire in engagement with the one or more apertures of the object and maintains the apparatus locked to the object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locking to an object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one elongate member having (i) at least two shafts, each having a first end and a second end coupled together at a stop member; and

(ii) a head disposed at each of the first ends of the shafts, each head being oppositely directed from one another; and

a body having at least two apertures, each aperture for receiving and locking a respective one of the heads at different times such that, when locked, the heads cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein;

the heads are non-deformable and include a maximum diameter that is not larger than a diameter of the apertures of the body,

the elongate member is operable to pass through one or more apertures of the object,

a first of the heads is operable to lock in a first of the apertures of the body such that the body retains the elongate member in engagement with the one or more apertures of the object and maintains the apparatus locked to the object,

the first head is detachable from its respective shaft after insertion into the first aperture of the body such that a second of the heads is operable to lock in a second of the apertures of the body for a second opportunity to lock the apparatus locked to the object, and

at least one of;

(i) the elongate member includes a plurality of separate shafts, each having one of the heads at the first end thereof and one of the stop members at the second end thereof; and

(ii) the elongate member includes a plurality of shafts, each having one of the heads at the first end thereof and one of the stop members at the second end thereof, and each being coupled together.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second heads are disposed at first ends of two of the shafts and the two shafts are coupled together at a first stop member; and

a distal end of the second head is coupled to the stop member of another of the shafts.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

each of the heads define a respective insertion direction;

the other shaft includes a third head at an end opposite to the stop member thereof and the third head is oriented such that the insertion direction thereof is coaxial in the same direction with the second head; and

at least the first and second heads are oriented such that the insertion directions thereof are coaxial in opposite directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

each of the apertures of the body define a respective receiving direction for the heads;

at least two of the apertures of the body are oriented such that they share a common receiving direction;

at least two of the apertures of the body are oriented such that they share a common receiving direction and are laterally offset from one another; and

at least two of the apertures of the body are oriented such that their receiving directions are coaxially aligned in opposite directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the apertures of the body is disposed at opposing ends of the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

one or more of the apertures of the body may each include an input to receive one of the heads into a cavity and a split ring in axial alignment with the input, the cavity including a channel operable to engage an outer edge of the split ring such that the split ring is prevented from moving in an axial direction; and

one or more of the heads may each include a first end having a beveled forward portion and a second end, the split ring being operable to permit the beveled forward portion of the head to pass therethrough in an insertion direction and the split ring being operable to prevent the beveled forward portion from being removed after the beveled forward portion passes therethrough.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein one or more of the apertures of the body may each further include a stop surface oppositely disposed within the cavity from the input and spaced away from the split ring such that the stop member limits axial movement of the head into the cavity and the split ring limits axial movement of the head out of the cavity, but the head is permitted some degree of axial movement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two apertures of the body are oppositely directed.

9. An apparatus for locking to an object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one elongate member having (i) at least two shafts, each having a first end and a second end coupled together at a stop member; and

(ii) a head disposed at each of the first ends of the shafts, each head being oppositely directed from one another; and

a body having at least two apertures, each aperture for receiving and locking a respective one of the heads at different times such that, when locked, the heads cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein;

the heads are non-deformable and include a maximum diameter that is not larger than a diameter of the apertures of the body,

the elongate member is operable to pass through one or more apertures of the object,

a first of the heads is operable to lock in a first of the apertures of the body such that the body retains the elongate member in engagement with the one or more apertures of the object and maintains the apparatus locked to the object,

the first head is detachable from its respective shaft after insertion into the first aperture of the body such that a second of the heads is operable to lock in a second of the apertures of the body for a second opportunity to lock the apparatus locked to the object,

the first and second heads are disposed at first ends of two of the shafts and the two shafts are coupled together at a first stop member, and

a distal end of the second head is coupled to the stop member of another of the shafts.

10. An apparatus for locking to an object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one elongate member having (i) at least two shafts, each having a first end and a second end coupled together at a stop member; and

(ii) a head disposed at each of the first ends of the shafts, each head being oppositely directed from one another; and

a body having at least two apertures, each aperture for receiving and locking a respective one of the heads at different times such that, when locked, the heads cannot be removed without destroying the apparatus, wherein;

the heads are non-deformable and include a maximum diameter that is not larger than a diameter of the apertures of the body,

the elongate member is operable to pass through one or more apertures of the object,

a first of the heads is operable to lock in a first of the apertures of the body such that the body retains the elongate member in engagement with the one or more apertures of the object and maintains the apparatus locked to the object,

the first head is detachable from its respective shaft after insertion into the first aperture of the body such that a second of the heads is operable to lock in a second of the apertures of the body for a second opportunity to lock the apparatus locked to the object,

one or more of the apertures of the body may each include an input to receive one of the heads into a cavity and a split ring in axial alignment with the input, the cavity including a channel operable to engage an outer edge of the split ring such that the split ring is prevented from moving in an axial direction, and

one or more of the heads may each include a first end having a beveled forward portion and a second end, the split ring being operable to permit the beveled forward portion of the head to pass therethrough in an insertion direction and the split ring being operable to prevent the beveled forward portion from being removed after the beveled forward portion passes therethrough.