Abstract:
A tamper-evident cargo seal is disclosed, comprising a pin that is passed through a hasp on a shipping container, a body member, a pair of parallel guide members, at least one security label blank, and a cover. One end of the pin is keyed. The body member has a slot through a side surface extending into the interior, and is keyed to receive the pin. Abutting the top surface of the body member are two parallel guide members, bounding an area comprising the top surface of the body member. One of the guide members also has a slot to allow the pin to engage the slot in the body member. One or two removable security label blanks are inserted between the guides after the pin is inserted into the slot, and a security label is affixed over the blanks. A cover engages the body and guide members to protect the label.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to closure fasteners and in particular, to a tamper-evident seal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Large cargo containers are widely used to transport cargo by sea, rail, and truck; and the significant value of this cargo requires that the cargo container be sealed from the time of loading until the container arrives at its destination. Typical cargo containers have a pair of doors that are secured with a locking pin through a hasp. Known in the art to secure cargo containers are simple padlocks, as well as strap and cable seals, some with RFID tags, such as those produced by the EJ Brooks Company. 
     Also known to persons skilled in the art are cargo bolt seals that enhance security by inserting and affixing a pin into a receiver with an adhesive. Removing the prior art pins requires cutting the bolt or pin part of the assembly with bolt cutting tools. The parts are not re-useable, and tampering attempts can be hidden within the plastic or metal housing of the permanent assembly. In addition, the pin is not easily customized for different applications and users. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,120,097 and 5,125,700, both entitled “SECURITY SEAL,” discloses a two-part security seal comprising a spear shaped member that engages a receiver to lock the two parts together. The locked assembly cannot be disassembled without cutting or breaking the spear shaped member. Also included in the security seal is a conductive path that can be continuously monitored for continuity or checked before opening a container secured with the security seal, since the conductive path will break if someone tampers with the seal. The present invention is not limited to a single use security seal and does not include a conductive path for checking continuity (seal) of the device. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,120,097 and 5,125,700 are hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,022, entitled “CARGO SEAL,” discloses a strap type cargo seal, with the strap having either one or, preferably, two coupling ends. The first end of the strap is inserted through a horizontal bar that holds the container doors shut, and the second end passes through the hasp. Each end is also serialized to deter tampering. As with all strap type seals, the strap must be cut to gain entry into the cargo container and is therefore not reusable. The present invention is not limited in this regard. U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,022 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,362, entitled “SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A CARGO CONTAINER,” discloses a cable type cargo seal, with the cable wrapping around the horizontal bars typically attached to the doors of a cargo container to restrain the doors in a closed position, and having one end inserted through the hasp end of the closure mechanism and the other retained inside the cargo container. As with most security seals, the cable is serialized to deter tampering and readily identify replaced seals. As with the prior art seals mentioned above, opening the container requires destructively (cutting) removing the cable. The present invention is not limited in this regard. U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,362 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. 
     There exists a need to securely lock cargo containers with a reusable cargo seal that also permits retention of serialized parts for forensic analysis of the sealing mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a reusable tamper indicating cargo seal to secure the opening to a container (bulk cargo container, door, back of truck) that uses a “hasp” method of closure. 
     After securing the hasp, a pin is inserted through the opening. The pin is positioned and slid into the body of the device of the present invention, and may be serialized. The body of the present invention includes guides for slideably inserting two removable security label blanks over the top surface of the body of the device. The removable security label blanks cover the pin and block the opening, thereby preventing the release of the pin from the body. If two removable security label blanks are used, each blank covers a portion of the area and the blanks interlock. A serialized tamper indicating label is placed over the removable security label blanks securing the removable security label blanks. A simple cover is placed over the body, the removable security label blanks and the tamper indicating label to offer protection from elements. When a user wishes to enter the container, the user may inspect the tamper indicating label for tampering, slit the label along the edge of the removable security label blanks (if two blanks are used), and slide the removable security label blanks out. The pin is then removed, and the doors may now be opened on the cargo container. The parts of the removable security label seal can now be inspected for detailed signs of tampering or substitution. Finally, the removable security label blanks can be flipped over and re-used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIGS. 1A-1F  depict the engagement of all the pieces of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the pin used in the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the body member of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the body member of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device to secure a cargo container or door of a truck against tampering. 
     The present invention is designed to be reusable while providing a high level of tamper protection. 
       FIGS. 1A-1F  show the engagement of all the pieces necessary for a reusable tamper-evident cargo seal  10  according to the present invention. The tamper-evident cargo seal  10  has a pin  12 , a body member  14 , two parallel guides  16 , two or more removable security label blanks  18 , a tamper indicating label  19 , and a cover  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pin  12  has a first end  22 , a second end  24 , and at least one identifier  28 . The first end  22  is separated from the second end  24  a user-definable distance, and the second end  24  has a user-definable keying pattern  26 . The at least one identifier  28  can include printed code, a holographic image, a Radio Frequency Identification tag, a magnetic strip, a capacitive sensor, a user-definable indicia, and any combination thereof. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the pin  12  is “L” shaped. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that in practice, the user-definable distance of the pin  12  is selected to be any length that is at least long enough to easily insert the pin  12  through the hasp. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the pin  12  is made of plastic. Other materials may be used to manufacture the pin  12 , such as steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, aramid fiber, acrylic resin, composite fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the body member  14  has one or more side surfaces  32 , a top surface  34 , and a bottom surface  36 . At least one of the one or more side surfaces  32  has one or more slots  38  through the side surface  32  extending from the top surface  34  to a user-definable distance from the bottom surface  36  and extending a user-definable distance into the interior of the body member  14 . The slot  38  extends into the interior of the body member  14  and is shaped to accept said second end  24  of the pin  12  which has a user-definable keying. 
     The body member  14  may be any geometric shape, however, square or rectangular shapes are preferred. A rectangular shape is shown in the illustrations, and using this example, the body member has four side surfaces  32 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the body member  14  is made of plastic. Other materials may be used to manufacture the body member  14 , such as steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, aramid fiber, acrylic resin, composite fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , a higher strength material insert  39  is added to the body member  14  to strengthen the body member  14  from high tension loads. Preferably, the higher strength material insert  39  is added around the user-definable keying, but it could also be added to the interior of the body member  14 . By way of example, if the body member  14  was made of plastic, a steel insert could be inserted during the molding process. 
     Abutting the top surface  34  of the body member  14  are two parallel guide members  16 , as shown  FIGS. 1A-1F , that are affixed to the body member  14 . The parallel guide members  16  abutting the top surface  34  of the body member  14  and a portion of the one or more side surfaces  32  form a user-definable area between the two parallel guide members  16  and the one or more side surfaces  32 . In the example of a rectangular body member  14 , the area formed is a rectangle bound by the two parallel guide members  16  and the two side surfaces  32  perpendicular to the two parallel guide members  16 . 
     One of the two parallel guide members  16  must lie directly over the at least one slot  38  through the side surface  32  of the body member  14  and have a slot for the pin  12  to pass through the guide member  16 . In use, the user will insert the pin  12  into the body member  14 , and thus the parallel glide member  16  must have a slot sized to permit the pin to pass through the guide member  16  and into the body member  14 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the two parallel guide members  16  are joined together with perpendicular members extending along a portion of the tops of the guide members  16 . In this way, the connected two parallel guide members  16  are easier to affix to the body member  14 , but still permits application of the tamper indicating label  19  described below. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the tamper-evident cargo seal is made as a single piece. Those persons skilled in the art will recognize that injection molding, casting, or machining can be used to make the body member  14  and the two parallel guide members  16  as a single piece. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the body member  14  further comprises one or more identifiers, such as a printed code, a holographic image, a Radio Frequency Identification tag, a magnetic strip, a capacitive sensor, a user-definable indicia, and any combination thereof. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1A-1F , at least two removable security label blanks  18 , having a user-definable thickness and a user-definable shape, are slideably positioned on top of the body member  14  and between the two parallel guide members  16 , and cover substantially the entire area bound by the two parallel guide members  16  and the one or more side surfaces  32 . 
     In an embodiment using two removable security blanks  18  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F , each of the removable security blanks  18  are identical and cover approximately half of the area bound by the two parallel guide members  16  and the one or more side surfaces  32 . Additionally, each of the two removable security blanks  18  have one or more protrusions  50  on the abutting surface  52  of the two removable security blanks  18 . In this embodiment, the two removable security blanks  18  are designed to “snap” together. This feature keeps the halves from sliding out before the tamper indicating security label (described below) is applied. Using this embodiment of the present invention, one removable security blank  18  is slideably inserted in one direction between the parallel guide members  16  and then the second removable security blank  18  is inserted from the opposing longitudinal direction (the second removable security blank is flipped end for end) between the parallel guide members  16  such that it ‘snaps’ the second removable security blank  18  in place. 
     Preferably, a tamper indicating label  19  is affixed to the removable security label blanks  18  after being inserted between the two parallel guide members  16 , securing the removable security label blanks  18  in place. 
     After the first use, the removable security label blanks  18  may be reversed, permitting a second, subsequent use of the removable security label blanks  18 . Used removable security label blanks  18  may be discarded after use, saved for a user-definable time period, or cleaned of the old tamper indicating label  19  and reused. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the security label blank  18  is made of plastic. Other materials may be used to manufacture the security label blank  18 , such as steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, aramid fiber, acrylic resin, composite fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     In another alternate embodiment, the two parallel guide members  16  have a user-definable keying and the one or more removable security label blank  18  has a corresponding keying to permit one-way insertion of the one or more removable security label blanks  18 . 
     Finally, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F , the cargo seal  10  of the present invention includes a cover  20 , which slideably extends over the top surface  34  of the body member  14  with its abutting two parallel guide members  16 , a portion of the one or more side surfaces  32 , and substantially covering the removable security blanks  18 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cover  20  is made of plastic. Other materials may be used to manufacture the cover  20 , such as steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, aramid fiber, acrylic resin, composite fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a portion of the bottom surface  36  is removed and the cover  20  extends a user-definable distance over the bottom surface  36 . 
     To use the cargo seal  10  of the present invention, cargo is loaded into the container or truck and the doors closed. After securing the hasp, the pin  12  is inserted through the opening in the hasp. The pin  12  is positioned and slid into the body member  14  of the device, which may be serialized. Note that this sliding action is perpendicular to the axis of the rod, which is different from prior art methods. At least two removable security label blanks  18  are inserted between the parallel guides  16  abutting the top surface  34  of the body member  14 . The removable security label blanks  18  cover the pin  12  and block the opening preventing the release of the pin  12  from the body member  14 . When two removable security label blanks  18  are used, each covers half of the area and the removable security label blanks  18  interlock. A serialized tamper indicating label  19  is placed over the removable security label blanks  18  securing the removable security label blanks  18 . A simple cover  20  is placed over the body  14 , removable security label blanks  18 , and tamper indicating label  19  to offer protection from elements. When a user wishes to enter the container, the user slits the tamper indicating label  19  along the edge of the removable security label blanks  18  and slides the removable security label blanks  18  out. The pin  12  is then removed from the body member  14 . The parts may then be inspected for tampering or substitution. The removable security label blanks  18  can then be flipped over and re-used if desired. 
     In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the present invention is reusable, completely inspectable (nothing hidden) when inspecting for tampering or substitution, uses a cover  20  for protection, allows customizing the pin  12  for different users and applications, can be designed so the pin  12  can rotate or designed so it cannot rotate, can be designed so only one (like a key) or if desired so two or more differing pins  12  (like a master key) can be used with the same body member  14 , does not require bolt cutting tools to gain access to the inside of the container, provides layers of tamper indicating products, and finally, does not need to be retrofitted—the present invention uses existing hasps found on all trucks and containers. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.