Security seal assembly

• US 8,733,805 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NIC Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NIC Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Nazzari, Ian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US13/191,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307.R, 292/307.B, 292/320, 292/322, 292/327, 292/317
• US Class Current: 292/317
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/494 Interengaging shackle ends, inclosing housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/509 Encasing

Abstract

A security seal using a captured lock wire for sealing a device in a manner revealing tampering with the seal includes a locking insert that fits closely within a central cavity of an outer body and is locked within the outer body against removal without visible damage to the insert or the outer body using locking fingers on the insert that cooperate with locking abutments in the cavity that permit insertion of the locking insert into the central cavity but not removal there from. A free end of the lock wire is captured by being threaded through apertures and grooves in the insert and outer body after being secured to a device to be sealed.

Claims

1. A security seal body assembly comprising

a locking insert;

an outer body;

said outer body having an upper end, a central cavity having an opening facing said upper end, and a cavity bottom, and a central guide having opposed sides located centrally within the cavity arising upwardly from the cavity bottom;

said central guide having along a side thereof at least an upper and a lower locking abutment vertically spaced apart from each other and projecting distally from said one side, said locking abutments having locking finger engaging surfaces on lower sides thereof;

said locking insert including a first and second downwardly extending leg and a central opening between the legs;

a first and second locking finger each having a distal end and being connected in a cantilever manner at an end opposite said distal end to the second leg in spaced apart relationship along said second leg, and extending from the second leg in an upwardly diagonal direction toward the central opening;

said locking fingers being configured to be resiliently bendable laterally to a sufficient extent under lateral applied force to permit lateral movement of their respective distal ends from at-rest positions and to return to said at-rest positions after removal of said lateral applied force;

said locking insert having a main body central wall to which the first and second legs are attached and from which the first and second legs extend downwardly;

said central wall, first and second legs and locking fingers being configured to be received and to fit closely within said central cavity with the first and second legs disposed on opposite sides of said central guide in juxtaposed relationship;

the distal ends of said first and second locking fingers being configured to be respectively juxtaposed said locking finger engaging surfaces from below said upper and lower locking abutments when the locking insert is fully received in said central cavity, thereby resisting any motion of the locking insert in a direction of withdrawal upwardly from the central cavity.

2. The security seal body assembly according to claim 1, said locking insert including a lock wire head receiving socket, a first lock wire groove and a lock wire first aperture on a front side of the first leg, said socket, first lock wire groove intersecting said lock wire first aperture.

3. The security seal body assembly according to claim 2, including a fourth lock wire groove on a rear side of the first leg intersecting said first lock wire aperture, and extending parallel with and opposite said first lock wire receiving groove on the front side of the first leg.

4. The security seal body assembly according to claim 3, said locking insert including a second lock wire aperture and a third lock wire groove intersecting said second lock wire aperture on a front side of said second leg.

5. The security seal body assembly according to claim 4, said locking insert including a second lock wire groove on a rear side of said second leg that extends parallel with and opposite from said third lock wire groove on the front side of the second leg and intersecting said second lock wire aperture.

6. The security seal body assembly according to claim 3, said locking insert including a cover at an upper end thereof, said cover including at least one depending locking cover projection and a lock wire notch in said projection aligned with said fourth lock wire groove.

7. The security seal body assembly according to claim 1, said cover including aligned front and rear lock wire apertures located so as to be opposite said second lock wire aperture in said second leg of said locking insert when the locking insert is fully received within said central cavity of the outer body.

8. A security seal assembly comprising the security seal body assembly recited in claim 1, and including an elongated lock wire having one end embedded and fixed within said outer body, and an opposite free end.

9. A security seal assembly comprising the security seal body assembly recited in claim 1, and including an elongated lock wire having one end embedded and fixed within the central body of said locking insert, and an opposite free end.

10. The security seal body assembly according to claim 6, said outer body having projection mating depressions at an upper end thereof adjacent the opening of said central cavity.

11. The security seal body assembly according to claim 1,

said central guide having an upper end, and said locking insert having at an upper end of said central opening between the first and second legs;

a transverse upper abutment located at said central opening upper end;

said central guide upper end being juxtaposed said transverse upper abutment when the locking insert is fully receive in said central cavity to thereby limit transverse movement of the central guide upper end within the central opening of the locking insert.

12. A security seal assembly comprising the security seal body assembly recited in claim 1, and including an elongated lock wire having one end removeably affixed to said insert before the insert is fully received within the central cavity of said outer body, and an opposite free end.