Package having opening detection

• US 9,404,944 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sagemcom Energy & Telecom SAS (Sagemcom Holding SAS)
• Original Assignee: Sagemcom Energy & Telecom SAS (Sagemcom Holding SAS)
• Inventors: Rolland, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCANDREW, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US13/579,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 324/156, 324/207.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/005 Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/24 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers

Abstract

A box comprising at least one portion that is closed by a movable cover and that contains an electronic detection circuit for detecting opening of the cover, the cover being provided with means for locking it in the closed position, said means comprising a screw that is mounted on the cover to pivot between a locking position and an unlocking position, and having an end provided with at least one tooth for meshing with teeth of a code wheel mounted to pivot in register with pads of the detection circuit, wherein the screw is mounted so that said end of the screw presents positioning with radial clearance relative to the box in such a manner that the pivoting of the code wheel has an amplitude that depends on the positioning of said end as authorized by the radial clearance.

Claims

1. A box comprising at least one portion that is closed by a movable cover and that contains an electronic detection circuit for detecting opening of the cover, the cover being provided with means for locking it in the closed position, said means comprising a screw that is mounted on the cover to pivot between a locking position and an unlocking position, and having an end provided with at least one tooth for meshing with teeth of a code wheel mounted to pivot in register with pads of the detection circuit, wherein the screw is not coaxial with the code wheel and is mounted on a pin with radial clearance so that said end of the screw presents positioning relative to the box with the radial clearance allowing a variation of the radial distance between said end of the screw and the code wheel so that the pivoting of the code wheel has an amplitude that depends on the radial distance between said end of the screw and the code wheel, wherein a gap is provided between an inner circumferential surface of the screw and an outer circumferential surface of the pin such that the variation of the radial distance between the end of the screw and the code wheel is resulted from the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the screw and the outer circumferential surface of the pin.

2. The box according to claim 1, wherein a pawl is secured to the box in order to mesh with the teeth of the code wheel.

3. The box according to claim 2, wherein the screw and the box are fitted with means for emitting a plurality of audible clicks, which means are actuated by pivoting the screw between its two positions.

4. The box according to claim 3, wherein the means for emitting audible clicks comprise a spring blade secured to the screw or to the box to co-operate with portions in relief of the box or of the screw.

5. The box according to claim 1, wherein the tooth is secured to a resilient arm to extend radially and project from said end of the screw.

6. The box according to claim 1, wherein the screw includes a shank that is subdivided into a first portion having a drive head held captive in the cover and a second portion that forms the end provided with a tooth and that is held captive in the box, the two shank portions being provided with means enabling them to be releasably connected together in rotation, and the second shank portion is pivotally disposed on the pin with the radial clearance.

7. The box according to claim 6, wherein the second portion is provided with a socket arranged to co-operate with a tool so as to pass through the box after the cover has been removed and turn the second shank portion.

8. The box according to claim 6, wherein said end of the second shank portion of the screw is provided with a radially-projecting index for holding the screw in an assembly position.