Abstract:
A single-use security bar seal assembly for shipping containers, comprising an elongated bar member having first and second ends, a support assembly, and a receiving bracket. The single-use security bar seal assembly has matching identification codes on all individual parts and electrical means for determining severance of the elongated bar member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to security systems and more particularly, to security bar seals for shipping containers. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Millions of shipping containers flow through ports all over the world on a daily basis. It is imperative to keep the contents of those shipping containers secure and not have them compromised. In addition to theft of contents, there is a need to ensure that shipping containers are not used as vehicles to transport illegal narcotics, illegal weapons, and otherwise unauthorized matter. 
   Several designs for bar seals have been designed in the past. Applicant, however, is not aware of any bar seal that includes a single-use security bar seal system comprising identification matching codes on all individual parts and electrical means for determining severance of the bar assembly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A single-use security bar seal assembly for shipping containers, comprising an elongated bar member having first and second ends, wherein the first end has a protrusion. The elongated bar member has a first aperture of a predetermined depth between the first and second ends and a second aperture of the predetermined depth between the first aperture and the second end. The elongated bar member further has at least one through hole in between the second aperture and the second end and electrical means for detecting severance of the elongated bar member. 
   A support assembly has a first U-shaped member that has first and second slots to receive the second end therethrough. A receiving bracket has a second U-shaped member connected to a housing. The second U-shaped member has third and fourth slots to receive the second end. The housing comprises locking means to lock the elongated bar member to the support assembly and the receiving bracket. 
   The locking means comprises the receiving bracket having a third aperture with a snap ring to receive a locking pin. The locking pin has at least one groove to receive the snap ring when the locking pin is aligned with the at least one through hole and presented into the third aperture with sufficient force to overcome the snap ring. 
   The electrical means comprises the first and second apertures connected to each other by an element capable of an uninterrupted succession or flow of electrical current. The first and second apertures may be tested with a continuity testing assembly to detect if the elongated bar member has been severed. The element is a metallic strip embedded within the elongated bar member between the first and second apertures. 
   The elongated bar member, the support assembly, and the receiving bracket have matching identification codes and secret codes. 
   The continuity testing assembly comprises a wand and an insert connected to one another by a wire. The continuity testing assembly is used to detect if the metallic strip has been severed. 
   The continuity testing assembly comprises a light emitting or sound producing alarm for negative electrical continuity and/or light emitting or sound producing alarm for positive electrical continuity. 
   The first and second U-shaped members snugly fit around door bars of a container and in the preferred embodiment the container is a shipping container. 
   It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a bar seal for shipping containers that is effective against tampering. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a bar seal for shipping containers that is durable. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
   Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of the instant invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a first perspective view of the receiving bracket. 
       FIG. 3  shows a second perspective view of the receiving bracket locking the bar member with a pin. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows the first perspective view of the receiving bracket with the bar member in position to be locked with the pin. 
       FIG. 3   b  shows the first perspective view of the receiving bracket locking the bar member with the pin. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a cut view of the receiving bracket locking the bar member with the pin taken along the lines  3   c — 3   c , as seen in  FIG. 3   b.    
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the support assembly. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the support assembly supporting the bar member. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the bar member. 
       FIG. 6   a  is a cut view of the bar member taken along the line  6   a — 6   a , as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  represents a perspective view of the instant invention mounted onto a shipping container. 
       FIG. 7   a  represents a close-up perspective view of the instant invention mounted onto the shipping container bars. 
       FIG. 7   b  represents a perspective view of the instant invention mounted on a shipping container bars and being tested for severance of the bar member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , the instant invention comprises receiving bracket  20  and support assembly  60  locking bar member  80 , whereby receiving bracket  20  and support assembly  60  have slots of cooperative characteristics to receive bar member  80  therethrough. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , receiving bracket  20  comprises receiving assembly  22  and support  40 . Receiving assembly  22  comprises wall  24  having aperture  32  to receive pin  50 . Within aperture  32  is face  34 , and aperture  36  of a smaller diameter than aperture  32  to receive shank  54 , seen in  FIG. 3   a . Perpendicularly from face  24  are walls  26 ,  28 , and  30 , which form receiving assembly  22 . It is noted that the walls opposite from walls  28  and  30 , not seen, are a mirror image of walls  28  and  30 . 
   Support  40  is connected to receiving assembly  22 . Support  40  comprises walls  42  and  48  parallel and equally spaced apart from each other by curved wall  46 . Wall  42  has slot  44  of cooperative characteristics to receive bar member  80  therethrough. 
     FIG. 3  shows elongated member  90  secured through slots  44  and  38 , and locked by pin  50  having head  52 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 3   a , elongated member  90  has been secured through slots  44  and  38 . Pin  50  comprises head  52 . Extending from head  52  is shank  54  having groove  56  and terminating at end  58 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c , pin  50  has been snapped into position within aperture  32 , thus locking bar member  80 . As best seen in  FIG. 3   c , ring  59 , within aperture  36 , snaps and locks around groove  56  of shank  54 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 4 , support assembly  60  comprises walls  64  and  70  parallel and equally spaced apart from each other by curved wall  66 . Walls  64  and  70  have slots  68  and  72  respectively of cooperative characteristics to receive bar member  80  therethrough. Extending at a predetermined angle from wall  64  is lip  62 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , slots  68  and  72  have received bar member  80  for support. 
   As seen in  FIG. 6 , bar member  80  comprises elongated member  90  having ends  82  and  84 . Extending from end  84  is wall  86  of a predetermined length. Extending at a predetermined angle from wall  86  is wall  88 . It is noted that walls  86  and  88  are shaped to lock end  84  with support assembly  60 . Elongated member  90  comprises contact points  92  and aperture  94 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 6 , bar member  80  has metallic strip  96  extending to each of contact points  92 . In the preferred embodiment, bar member  80  has at least two contact points  92  positioned near ends  82  and  84 . Electrical means, seen in  FIG. 7   b , are used with contact points  92  for determining severance of the bar member  80 . More specifically, electrical continuity testing may be conducted to ensure metallic strip  96  has not been severed. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 7   a , instant invention  10  may be mounted upon a standard shipping container  150  having doors  152  with bars  154 . As seen in the present illustration, curved walls  46  and  66  of receiving bracket  20  and support assembly  60  respectively, snugly fit around bars  154 . Other embodiments of the present invention may include curved walls  46  and  66  of different sizes to accommodate various bar  154  circumferences of doors  152 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 7   b , continuity testing assembly  160  comprises wand  162  and insert  166  connected to one another by wire  164 . With continuity testing assembly  160 , a person may determine if bar member  80  has been severed. More specifically, electrical continuity testing is performed by inserting insert  166  into a contact point  92  while inserting the tip of wand  162  into another contact point  92  to detect if metallic strip  96  has been severed. Continuity testing assembly  160  may include a light emitting or sound producing alarm for negative electrical continuity and/or light emitting or sound producing alarm for positive electrical continuity. 
   It is noted that the receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  have matching identification codes, wherein each of the components have matching codes. The receiver may inspect each of receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  to ensure that they do in fact have matching codes. In the event the receiver determines that the matching identification codes do not match, the receiver is on notice that the contents of the shipping container  150  may have been disturbed or otherwise tampered with. 
   Furthermore, in addition to the matching identification codes, instant invention  10  may comprise random secret codes made up of number(s), word(s), and/or any symbol that may be stamped on receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80 . The secret codes are stamped on any of receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  and are known only by the sender and receiver in the preferred embodiment. Before severing bar member  80  to open the shipping container  150 , the receiver, knowing the secret codes, can determine if any of receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and/or bar member  80  were replaced after being sent by the sender. In the event the receiver determines that the secret codes do not match those originating from the sender, the receiver is on notice that the contents of the shipping container  150  may have been disturbed or otherwise tampered with. 
   The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.