Safety sealing device

• US 6,050,622 A
• Filed: 12/24/1996
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
• Original Assignee: Ake Gustafson
• Inventors: Gustafson, Ake
• Primary Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US08/774,319
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307 A, 292/307 R, 292/325, 292/DIG. 65, 292/331, 70/57.1, 70/440, 24/30.5 R, 24/30.5 P, 24/DIG. 11, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572
• US Class Current: 292/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• 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: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0341 having label sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

A safety sealing device includes a support. An electronic safety circuit is glued to one face of the support. The electronic safety circuit includes a winding of fine wire connected to an electronic component. The electronic component is activated and interrogated by outside checking means via the winding, which acts as an antenna. The electronic component may be coded so that it responds to the interrogation with its code. The safety sealing device may further comprise differentiated gluing means. When attempting to tamper with the support to which the safety circuit has been glued in order to unseal a receiving article, the attempt at ungluing or a tearing causes a break in the continuity of the electronic circuit. As a result, the electronic component no longer responds to an interrogation with its code, thus assuredly indicating that the safety sealing device has been tampered with.

Claims

1. A safety sealing or marking device attachable to at least one of itself and a receiving article and comprising:

a flexible support member;

at least one adhesive film disposed on one side of the support member; and

an electronic circuit disposed on the one side of the support member, the electronic circuit being remotely interrogatable and comprising;

at least one electronic component, and

a conductive path forming a coil and electrically connected to the at least one electronic component to form a closed circuit;

wherein, when the safety sealing or marking device is attached to at least one of itself and the receiving article by the at least one adhesive film, an adhesion between the at least one adhesive film and the electronic circuit or an adhesion between the at least one of the safety sealing or marking device and the receiving article is such that an attempt to tramper with at least a part of the safety sealing or marking device causes a break in the electronic circuit, the break in the electronic circuit preventing the electronic circuit from responding to a remote interrogation.

2. A safety marking device attachable to a receiving article and comprising:

a flexible support member;

at least one adhesive film disposed on one side of the support member; and

an electronic circuit disposed on the one side of the support member, the electronic circuit being remotely interrogatable and comprising;

at least one electronic component, and

a conductive path forming a coil and electrically connected to the at least one electronic component to form a closed circuit;

wherein, when the safety marking device is attached to the receiving article by the at least one adhesive film, an adhesion between the at least one adhesive film, the electronic circuit and the receiving article is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device causes a break in the electronic circuit, the break in the electronic circuit preventing the electronic circuit from responding to a remote interrogation.

3. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the support member is formed from at least one of paper, plastic and fabrics.

4. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein the conductive path is formed by at least one conductive is wire.

5. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit is provided over only a portion of the support.

6. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the support by the at least one adhesive film.

7. The safety marking device of claim 6, further comprising a second adhesive film provided over the electronic circuit.

8. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the electronic circuit is protected on at least one face by a protection film.

9. The safety marking device of claim 8, wherein the protection film is formed from one of varnish and plastic.

10. The safety marking device of claim 8, wherein a mechanical strength of the protection film is insufficient to prevent the electronic circuit from breaking due to tampering.

11. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit is a transponder.

12. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one adhesive film comprises a first adhesive film having a first adhesive strength and a second adhesive film having a second adhesive strength greater than the first adhesive strength, a first portion of the electronic circuit and the first adhesive film positioned on a first portion of the support member and a second portion of the electronic circuit and the second adhesive film positioned on a second portion of the support member, and

detaching the safety marking device from the receiving article causes at least portions of one of a) the first adhesive film and the first portion of the electronic circuit, and b) the second adhesive film and the second portion of the electronic circuit to detach from the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

13. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device includes attempting to detach the safety marking device from the receiving article.

14. The safety marking device of claim 2, wherein the adhesion between the support member, the at least one adhesive film, the electronic circuit and the receiving article is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device causes a break in the electronic circuit.

15. The safety marking device of claim 2, further comprising a detaching structure for detaching at least a portion of the safety marking device from the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

16. The safety marking device of claim 15, wherein the detaching structure comprises a detaching portion of the support member which is folded under and adhesively attached by the adhesive layer to another portion of the support member before the support member is attached to the receiving article, the detaching portion remaining unattached to the receiving article.

17. The safety marking device of claim 2, further comprising:

a second support member; and

at least one second adhesive layer disposed on one side of the second support member;

wherein the at least one second adhesive layer is attached to the at least one adhesive layer, the receiving article adapted to be positioned between the at least one second adhesive layer and the adhesive layer.

18. A safety marking device attachable to itself for encircling a portion of a marked article and comprising:

a flexible support member;

at least one adhesive film disposed on at least a portion of one side of the support member; and

an electronic circuit disposed on the one side of the support member, the electronic circuit being remotely interrogatable and comprising;

at least one electronic component, and

a conductive path forming a coil and electrically connected to the at least one electronic component to form a closed circuit;

wherein, when the safety marking device is adapted to be attached to itself about the portion of the marked article by the at least one adhesive film, an adhesion between the at least one adhesive film and the electronic circuit is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device causes a break in the electronic circuit, the break in the electronic circuit preventing the electronic circuit from responding to a remote interrogation.

19. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of at least the support member is formed from at least one of paper, plastic and fabric.

20. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the conductive path is formed by at least one conductive wire.

21. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit is provided over only a portion of the support.

22. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one adhesive film is disposed over only the portion of the support member, the portion of the support member comprising the portion of the support member on which the conductive path is disposed; and

the safety marking device is adapted to be placed around the portion of the marked article and a second portion of the support member is placed in contact with the at least one adhesive film to seal the safety marking device around is the marked article.

23. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over the entire one surface of the support member, the safety marking device is adapted to be placed around the portion of the marked article and the at least one adhesive film is placed in contact with itself over at least a portion of the support member on which the conductive path is disposed to seal the safety marking device around the marked article.

24. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over only a portion of the support member, the safety marking device is adapted to be placed around the portion of the marked article and a second portion of the support member is placed in contact with the at least one adhesive film to seal the safety marking device around the marked article.

25. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the support by the at least one adhesive film.

26. The safety marking device of claim 25, further comprising a second adhesive film provided over the electronic circuit.

27. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the electronic circuit is protected on at least one face by a protection film.

28. The safety marking device of claim 27, wherein the protection film is formed from one of varnish and plastic.

29. The safety marking device of claim 27, wherein a mechanical strength of the protection film is insufficient to prevent the electronic circuit from breaking due to tampering.

30. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit is a transponder.

31. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the at least one adhesive film comprises a first adhesive film having a first adhesive strength and a second adhesive film having a second adhesive strength greater than the first adhesive strength, a first portion of the electronic circuit and the first adhesive film positioned on a first portion of the support member and a second portion of the electronic circuit and the second adhesive film positioned on a second portion of the support member, and tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device causes the electronic circuit to break.

32. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device includes attempting to detach the safety marking device from itself.

33. The safety marking device of claim 18, wherein the adhesion between the at least one adhesive film, the electronic circuit and the support member is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety marking device causes a break in the electronic circuit.

34. The safety marking device of claim 18, further comprising a detaching stricture for detaching at least a portion of the safety marking device from around the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

35. The safety marking device of claim 18, further comprising:

a second support member; and

at least one second adhesive layer disposed on one side of the second support member;

wherein the at least cone second adhesive layer is attached to the at least one adhesive layer, the marked article is adapted to be positioned between the at least one second adhesive layer and the adhesive layer.

36. A safety sealing device attachable to at least two relatively movable portions of a receiving article and comprising:

a flexible support member;

at least one adhesive film disposed on at least a portion of one side of the support member; and

an electronic circuit disposed on the one side of the support member, the electronic circuit being remotely interrogatable and comprising;

at least one electronic component, and

a conductive path forming a coil and electrically connected to the at least one electronic component to form a closed circuit;

wherein, when the safety sealing device is attached to the receiving article by the adhesive film, an adhesion between the adhesive film, the electronic circuit and the receiving article is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes a break in the electronic circuit, the break in the electronic circuit preventing the electronic circuit from responding to a remote interrogation.

37. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the support member is formed from at least one of paper, plastic and fabric.

38. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the conductive path is formed by at least one conductive wire.

39. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the electronic circuit is provided over only a portion of the support.

40. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over only a portion of the support member, the portion comprising at least a portion of the support member on which at least a portion of the electronic circuit is disposed, the portion of the support member is attachable to the at least two portions of the receiving article to seal the receiving article.

41. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over the entire one surface of the support member and substantially the entire one surface of the support member is attachable to the at least two portions of the receiving article to seal the receiving article.

42. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the support member by the at least one adhesive film.

43. The safety sealing device of claim 42, further comprising a second adhesive film provided over the electronic circuit.

44. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the electronic circuit is protected on at least one face by a protection film.

45. The safety sealing device of claim 44, wherein the protection film is formed from one of varnish and plastic.

46. The safety sealing device of claim 44, wherein a mechanical strength of the protection film is insufficient to prevent the electronic circuit from breaking due to tampering.

47. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the at least two portions of the receiving article comprise a first part and a second part movable relatively to the first part, wherein at least a first portion of the adhesive film carrying a first portion of the electronic circuit is attachable to the first part of the receiving article and a second portion of the adhesive film carrying a second portion of the electronic circuit is attachable to the second part of the receiving article.

48. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the electronic circuit is a transponder.

49. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the at least one adhesive film comprises a first adhesive film having a first adhesive strength and a second adhesive film having a second adhesive strength greater than the first adhesive strength, a first portion of the electronic circuit and the first adhesive film positioned on a first portion of the support member and a second portion of the electronic circuit and the second adhesive film positioned on a second portion of the support member, and wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes at least portions of one of a) the first adhesive film and the first portion of the electronic circuit, and b) the second adhesive film and the second portion of the electronic circuit to detach from the at least two portions of the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

50. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device includes attempting to detach the safety sealing device from at least one of the at least two portions of the receiving article.

51. The safety sealing device of claim 36, wherein the adhesion strength between the support member, the at least one adhesive film, the electronic circuit and the receiving article to which the device is adapted to be attached to is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes a break in the electronic circuit.

52. The safety sealing device of claim 36, further comprising a detaching structure for detaching at least a portion of the safety sealing device from the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

53. The safety sealing devise of claim 52, wherein the detaching structure comprises a detaching portion of the support member which is folded under and adhesively attached by the adhesive layer to another portion of the support member before the support member is attached to the receiving article, the detaching portion remaining unattached to the receiving article.

54. The safety sealing device of claim 36, further comprising:

a second support member; and

at least one second adhesive layer disposed on one side of the second support member;

wherein the at least one second adhesive layer is attached to the at least one adhesive layer, the receiving article is adapted to be positioned between the at least one second adhesive layer and the adhesive layer.

55. A safety sealing device attachable to itself about at least relatively movable two portions of a receiving article and comprising:

a flexible support member;

at least one adhesive film disposed on at least a portion of one side of the support member; and

an electronic circuit disposed on the one side of the support member, the electronic circuit being remotely interrogatable and comprising;

at least one electronic component, and

a conductive path forming a coil and electrically connected to the at least one electronic component to form a closed circuit;

wherein, when the safety sealing device is attached to itself about the receiving article by the adhesive film, an adhesion between the adhesive film and the electronic circuit is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes a break in the electronic circuit, the break in the electronic circuit preventing the electronic circuit from responding to a remote interrogation.

56. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein at least a portion of the support member is formed from at least one of paper, plastic and fabric.

57. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the conductive path is formed by at least one conductive wire.

58. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the electronic circuit is provided over only a portion of the support.

59. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over only a first portion of the support member, the first portion comprising at least a portion of the support member on which at least a portion of the electronic circuit is disposed, the at least one adhesive film attachable to a second portion of the support member about the at least two portions of the receiving article to seal the receiving article.

60. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the at least one adhesive film is disposed over the entire one surface of the support member, the at least one adhesive film attachable to itself about the at least two portions of the receiving article to seal the receiving article.

61. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the electronic circuit is attached to the support by the at least one adhesive film.

62. The safety sealing device of claim 61, further comprising a second adhesive film provided over the electronic circuit.

63. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein at least a portion of the electronic circuit is protected on at least one face by a protection film.

64. The safety sealing device of claim 63, wherein the protection film is formed from one of varnish and plastic.

65. The safety sealing device of claim 63, wherein a mechanical strength of the protection film is insufficient to prevent the electronic circuit from breaking due to tampering.

66. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the electronic circuit is a transponder.

67. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the at least one adhesive film comprises a first adhesive film having a first adhesive strength and a second adhesive film having a second adhesive strength greater than the first adhesive strength, a first portion of the electronic circuit and the first adhesive film positioned on a first portion of the support member and a second portion of the electronic circuit and the second adhesive film positioned on a second portion of the support member, and wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes the electronic circuit to break.

68. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device includes attempting to remove the safety sealing device when it is attached around the at least two portions of the receiving article.

69. The safety sealing device of claim 55, wherein the adhesion strength between the at least one adhesive film, the electronic circuit, the receiving article to which the device is adapted to be attached to and the support member is such that tampering with at least a part of the safety sealing device causes a break in the electronic circuit.

70. The safety sealing device of claim 55, further comprising a detaching structure for detaching at least a portion of the safety sealing device from the receiving article to break the electronic circuit.

71. The safety sealing device of claim 55, further comprising:

a second support member; and

at least one second adhesive layer disposed on one side of the second support member;

wherein the at least one second adhesive layer is attached to the at least one adhesive layer, the receiving article is adapted to be positioned between the at least one second adhesive layer and the adhesive layer.