Seal device

• US 7,878,561 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMARTRAC Investment B.V. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Smartrac IP BV (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Rietzler, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/593,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307.R, 292315-307 B, 340/539.1, 340/568, 340/542, 340/556, 340/572.9, 340/568.2
• US Class Current: 292/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0358 using a rigid hasp lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0394 with violation indication by generating a random number random number generators G06F7/58, G07C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/494 Interengaging shackle ends, inclosing housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/507 Tag type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/509 Encasing

Abstract

A seal device (20) with a seal body (21) and an attachment device (22) for the captive attachment of the seal body to an object to be sealed, wherein one end of the attachment device is connected in a single piece with the seal body while its other end comprises a joining device (26) for non-positive joining to a connection device (27) that is provided on the seal body, wherein the seal body comprises a data carrier that comprises a data transmission device (32), which data carrier is designed as a switching circuit (23), wherein the switching circuit comprises an external circuit bridge (25) which for the purpose of connecting two connection points (29) of the switching circuit leads through the attachment device.

Claims

1. A seal device comprising:

a seal body comprising a data carrier and an antenna device, the data carrier being designed as a switching circuit; and

an attachment device for the captive attachment of the seal body to an object to be sealed, one end of the attachment device being connected in a single piece with the seal body and another end of the attachment device comprising a joining device for joining to a connection device provided on the seal body;

the switching circuit of the seal body including an external circuit bridge lead through the attachment device for connecting two connection points of the switching circuit, the external circuit bridge being an open or closed circuit depending on whether the attachment device is joined to the connection device;

the antenna device being connected to the switching circuit to supply energy in a non-contact manner from outside the seal body to the switching circuit and to provide non-contact transmission of data from the switching circuit regardless of whether the external circuit bridge is an open or closed circuit.

2. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuit comprises an integrated circuit, and the external circuit bridge comprises a wire-shaped conductor.

3. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the external circuit bridge is connected in series with a second antenna device, the external circuit bridge being formed from a section of a winding of the second antenna device.

4. The seal device according to claim 3, wherein the external circuit bridge is formed from a section of a winding of the second antenna device.

5. The seal device of claim 3, wherein the external circuit bridge and the second antenna device are connected in parallel to the antenna device.

6. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the joining device on the attachment device and the connection device on the seal body form a contact device designed as a snap-in connection device.

7. The seal device according to claim 6, wherein the contact device is a one-time joining device.

8. The seal device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the joining device and the connection device comprises a deformation part.

9. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the contact device is constructed as a non-separable connection.

10. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is constructed as a wire conductor.

11. The seal device according to claim 10, wherein in order to form the circuit bridge the attachment device comprises a multitude of electrically conductive fibers.

12. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is made from a single-piece extension of the seal body.

13. The seal device of claim 12, wherein the attachment device comprises a circuit bridge that is formed from a conductive plastic.

14. The seal device according to claim 13, wherein in order to form the circuit bridge the attachment device comprises a multitude of electrically conductive fibers.

15. The seal device according to claim 12, wherein in order to form the circuit bridge the attachment device comprises a multitude of electrically conductive fibers.