Security seal

Abstract: A security seal of high security and which is not easily defeatable by a tamperer. According to this invention a security seal comprises a housing (48, 166) including a cavity (50, 168) having an opening (52, 170) to the ambient. A shackle (12, 14, 16) having opposing ends is secured to the housing (48, 166) at on shackle end. A male locking means (24) is secured to the other shackle end comprising a given bard configuration of at least one bard (40). A female locking means selected from a group of interchangeable different members (84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120') is secured to the housing (48, 166) within the cavity (50, 168), through a further opening (54, 180) thereof. The female locking means comprising any one of a plurality of different tang locking arrangements each including at least one tang for locking engagement with the at least one barb and the male locking means being received through th housing opening (52, 170) for locking engagement of the at least one barb with the at least one tang regardless the arrangements of the further tangs. An auxiliary plug (78, 190) having a recess is used for receiving and securing the selected female locking means (84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120') within the cavity (50, 168) of the housing (48, 166).

Description: Technical field This invention relates to security seals, and more particularly to high security molded thermoplastic seals for providing tamper evidence. Background Of interest are copending commonly owned patent applications US-A-5 522 627 entitled Security Seal filed July 8, 1994 in the name of Allan W. Swift and US-A-5 533 767 entitled Seal filed December 16, 1994 in the name of George Georgopoulus which is a continuation-in-part application of US-A-5.441.316. In US-A-4.319.776 issued in 1982, a security seal is disclosed comprising a single piece molded thermoplastic member having a pair of resilient legs mounted on a base and carrying on their free ends respective locking stud and socket members adapted to be locked when engaged when the legs end is fixed together. An additional spring is between the legs and not securely locked, the spring and flex forces of the flexed legs separates the legs. A similar arrangement is disclosed in US-A-4.506.921 wherein in place of resilient legs, a movable leg is hinged to a rigid base from which extends a non-movable leg. A tension spring extends around the outside of the hinge and is joined at the ends to adjacent portions of the hinge leg as not securely. The spring forces the legs apart when the stud is not securely locked opening the seal. In both of the above structures the stud is unlocked by severing the stud from its associated leg providing tempering evidence. In the US-A-4.506.921 patent, the stud has an arrowhead shaped tip with a transverse shoulder adjacent to a reduced cross section area attached to the associated leg. A manual force applied to the legs to separate them causes the arrowhead tip to break free from the rest of the stud. Once this happens the seal is no longer useful, providing tamper evidence. In an alternative embodiment described in said US-A-4.319.776 thoroughly disclosed in US-A-4.229.031 said security seal comprises a housing open at both ends and a shackle, said housing and a shackle end having means for locking engagement when the shackle end is inserted into one end of the housing. A plug for closing by snap fitting insertion the other end of the housing has been also provided said plug having resilient legs for extending into said other end. The legs form a central cavity which is dimensioned to receive the extreme end of a stud when the seal is closed so as preventing withdrawal thereof. US-A-4.229.031 and US-A-3.717.369 show seals configurated somewhat similarly to the above noted patents. US-A-3.712.655 discloses a somewhat different arrangement in which an all plastic seal has a socket for receiving a locking head connected to a strap. The socket is open at both ends and access to the inserted locking head is precluded. Other kinds of seals are also widely used, such as for example, as disclosed in commonly owned US-A-5.441.316 in which flat locking tangs are tethered at the end of a strap which is secured to a locking socket at the strap other end. US-A-5.337.503 describes a manually lockable seal including a flexible band of metal and locking members for non realisably holding a first end of said flexible band, the locking members comprising two spring steel tongues projecting from opposite sides into a channel receiving the flexible band. US-A-3.146.012 show a snap-type seal with a flat body with interlocking slotted portion at one end, a strap being secured to the other end, said slot portion being provided with a longitudinal disposed opening forming several front and rear walls for locking engagement of a male locking portion with several barbs. US-A-5.535.491 concerning a tag fastener also discloses an elongated male member with a plurality of arrow-head projections aimed to be received in a socket. US-A-428.462 show a binding and sealing strip comprising a flexible cord with locking members at the ends thereof. Said locking members comprise a locking frame and a latch member which has a forward portion shaped like an arrow head. All of the above comprise in general arrow head type male locking member insertable into a female socket. Because the configurations of all of the above seals are similar, a tamperer knows how to pick and defeat the sealing action of these seals. In some instances it is desired to provide a high security seal wherein the tamperer does not have access to the locking configuration. Unfortunately, because all of the typical prior art seals are made similarly, a tamperer can learn particular locking mechanism and defeat the seal lock. None of the above references suggest providing an identical housing with different female locking means comprising several tang configurations, each female locking means being received in a recess of a sealing plug for insertion of the assembly into a cavity of said housing, wherein said female locking member is intended for mating and locking engage with a given barb configuration on a male locking means. Thus according to the prior art, in case a plurality of housings, a plurality of female and male locking means and a plurality of shackle means are provided, they would all be identical and then once one of them being tampered the other would also easily be removed. Brief disclosure of the Invention The present inventors recognize a need for a seal having an arrangement wherein the seal is of high security and which is not easily defeatable by a tamperer. A security seal according to the present invention comprises a housing having a cavity having an opening to the ambient. A shackle having opposing ends is secured to the housing at one shackle end. A male locking means is secured to the other shackle end comprising a given barb configuration of at least one barb. A female locking means is secured to the housing within the cavity by being received into a sealing plug snap-fitting by insertion through a further opening of the housing The female locking means comprising any one of a plurality of different tang locking arrangements with different spaced orientations and relationships each including at least one tang for locking engagement with the at least one barb, the male locking means being received through the housing opening for locking engagement of the at least one barb with the at least one tang regardless the arrangements of the further tangs. Referred auxiliary plug having a recess is used in all the embodiments of this invention for receiving and securing the selected female locking means within the cavity of the housing. In one embodiment, the shackle comprises first and second legs each having proximal and distal ends and means for coupling the proximal ends and for positioning the distal ends in spaced relation forming a one piece molded thermoplastic construction with the legs, the means for coupling and the legs being arranged so that the distal ends cab be manually displaced toward each other. In a further embodiment, the male locking means comprises a stud secured to the shackle and extending in a longitudinal direction, the stud being substantially rectangular transverse and opposing broad surfaces, the width being greater than the stud width and formed in one of the surfaces. In a further embodiment, the stud includes a further barb formed in a surface opposing the one surface and of like dimensions as the at least one locking barb. In a still further embodiment, a fist pair of barbs is arranged in tandem and formed in the one surface, at least one of the first pair of barbs for engagement with the at least one tang. In a further embodiment, the barbs are rectangular transverse the longitudinal direction and are separated by a linear recess therebetween extending along the width. In a further embodiment, the cavity opening receives the at least one barb in a longitudinal direction, the female locking means including a metal member secured in the cavity and including the at least one tang depending from the member. In a further embodiment, the metal member includes a pair of tangs depending from the member in tandem order in the longitudinal direction. In a still further embodiment, the cavity has a depth value in the longitudinal direction, the depth value being sufficient for the cavity to receive at least a pair of tandem arranged spaced barbs in the longitudinal direction, the metal member being selected from a group of members each including one or more tangs which depend from a given member in any one of a plurality of different spaced orientations and relationships in the longitudinal direction. The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. Drawings FIGURE 1 is an elevation side view of a seal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmented partially in section isometric view of the female socket portion of the seal of Fig. 1 showing referred housing with two openings to the ambient and the sealing plug securing a selected female locking member FIGURE 2a is an isometric view of a female locking member used in the embodiment of Fig. 1; FIGURE 3 is a top plan sectional view of the seal of the present invention with the male and female locking members engaged; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the embodiment of Fig. 3 taken in region 4; FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the male locking member of Fig. 1; FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of a socket according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 6a is an exploded side elevation sectional view of a plug and female locking member of the embodiment of Fig.6; FIGURE 6b is an exploded side elevation sectional view of plug and locking member of Fig. 6a assembled and the female locking socket taken along line 6-6; FIGURE 6c is an exploded side elevation view of the assembled plug of Fig. 6b and sectional side elevation view of the socket; FIGURE 7 is an elevation sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 6 taken along line 7-7; FIGURE 8 is a plan sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 6 taken along line 8-8; FIGURE 9 is a side elevation view of male locking member and several female locking members which can be used with that male member in different seals; FIGURES 10 and 11 are side elevation schematic views of tandem locking male member configurations and a pair of different female member arrangements which can be used with either of the male members; FIGURES 12-14 illustrate side elevation views of different male locking members for use with any of the illustrated female locking members; and FIGURE 15 illustrates a further male locking member configuration and a further female locking member arrangement. Detailed description of preferred embodiments In Figs. 1 and 2, seal 10 comprises a rigid base 12 including a flag 13, a relatively non-movable rigid leg 14 upstanding from one end 15 of the base 12 and a movable flexible leg 16 hinged to the base 12 other end by living hinge 18. The leg 16 normally diverges from the fixed leg 14 in its quiescent state as shown in Fig. 1. An arcuate tension spring 20 is external hinge 18 and is coupled at its ends to leg 16 and base 12. The spring 20 urges the legs to the state shown. The spring 20 and hinge 18 are molded thermoplastic material with the leg 16, base 12, flag 13, leg 14 and stud 24. The legs are manually resiliently forced toward each other into the locking state of Fig. 3, to be described below. This hinge structure is generally shown and described in cited US-A-4.506.921. The legs 14 and 16, base 12 and stud 24 together form a shackle. Extending cantilevered from the end 22 of leg 14 distal the base 12 is a relatively stiff flat generally rectangular in transverse section stud 24. The stud 24 is attached to leg 14 and reinforced with gusset 26. A circular cylindrical projection 28 is on each side of member 24 at the junction with the leg 14. The projection 28 provides tamper evidence should a tamperer attempt to sever the stud 24 at leg 14 across its junction with the gusset 26. An attempt to cut the projection 28 will leave an observable seam midway therein. A cut through the gusset other than at the junction with the leg 14 also leaves an observable seam. A cut at the seam between the leg 14 and stud 24 without projections 28 may not be otherwise noticeable. Thumb engaging serrations 30 are on the leg 14 to enable firm gripping of the leg 14 during locking of the seal 2. Other gussets further rigidify the leg 14 relative to the base 12. In Fig.5, stud 24 has a rectangular stem portion 32 and a triangular transverse through hole 34 forming a weakening section in the stamp portion 32. Portion 32 has a width "w" transverse directions 44 and thickness "t". The width "w" is substantially greater than the thickness "t" providing opposing broad surfaces 31 and 33. An anti-picking rectangular blocking flange 36 surrounds the stem portion 32. The hole 34 is between the flange 36 and leg 14, Fig. 1. The stem portion 32 on either side of the flange 36 transverse the longitudinal directions 44 and extending toward leg 14 is of generally uniform rectangular cross section. The hole 34 permits the stem portion 32 to be manually transversely broken at this location. The stem portion 32 tapers on the broad surfaces 31 and 33 and the narrower lateral edges 35 to a narrower width and reduced thickness section 37 to arrow head-like tip 38. The reduced thickness forms shoulders 40 and 42 upstanding normal from the respective opposing broad surfaces 31 and 33. The shoulders 40 and 42 are planar and extend linearly fully across the stem portion 32 of stud 24 normal to longitudinal directions 44 forming locking barbs. The transverse stem portion 32 width w' at shoulders 40 and 42 is substantially greater that the thickness t' at the shoulders 40 and 42. For example, the transverse width w' may be approximately 0,140 inches (3'5 mm) at the shoulders as compared to a thickness t' of approximately 0'035 inches (1 mm). These relative dimensions provide a relatively stronger locking barb as compared to significantly narrower width locking male barbs in prior art seals, especially those that are generally circular cylindrical. The increased strength is provided because the shoulders 40 and 42 have a significantly increased contact dimension with the mating female locking tangs to be described below as compared to prior art seals. A socket 46, Fig. 2, is attached to the end of the leg 16 distal the base 12 and hinge 18. Socket 46 comprises a housing 48 having a generally rectangular cavity 50 whose broad sides are formed by housing side walls 62 and 64 (see Fig. 4). The housing 48 has a generally rectangular stud receiving opening 52 at housing end 58 in communication with the cavity 50. A second generally rectangular opening 54 is at the other end 65 of the housing 48 in communication with the cavity 50. An annular rectangular in transverse section rib 56 is recessed in the opening 52 spaced from the housing end 58. The rib 56 forms an annular shoulder 60 in the cavity 50. The rib 56 and shoulder 60 need not be annular, but may be formed as two parallel opposing ribs and shoulders in the cavity 50 on opposite side walls 62 and 64 of the housing 48. At the housing 48 other end 65, Fig. 4 an annular rib 66 forming a rectangular opening to the cavity 50 extends about the cavity 50 recessed slightly from housing end 65. The rib 66 has an externally facing inclined wall 68 which enlarges toward end 65 and an interiorly facing planar shoulder 70 normal to the longitudinal axis 72 of the cavity 50. An inclined further annular wall 74 is interior the rib 66 wall 70 spaced from the wall 70 by cylindrical groove 76. The rib 66 forms an enlarged opening as compared to the transverse dimensions of the cavity 50 interior thereof. A plug 78 has peripheral outer diametrical dimensions which closely match the interior dimensions of the cavity 50, rib 66, shoulder 70, groove 76 and wall 74 in mirror image relationship. The plug 78 is formed of molded somewhat resilient but relatively rigid thermoplastic material. Plug 78 has a rectangular recess 82, Fig. 4, which is in communication with the cavity 50 when the plug is locked to the housing 48, Fig. 4. The plug 78 snap fits into place by insertion in the direction 80, Fig. 2, into the cavity 50. Once the plug 78 is inserted into position, it locks in place and can not be easily removed from the housing 48 without damaging the plug and /or housing 48. A female locking member 84, Figs. 2 and 2a, is U-shaped stamped spring steel. A pair of locking tangs 86 and 88 in mirror image relation are formed from respective corresponding legs 90 and 92. Legs 90 and 92 are interconnected by cross member 94. Legs 90 and 92 are planar sheet material as are tangs 86 and 88. The tangs depend inwardly toward each other as shown. The locking member 84 has a relatively broad width "w" as compared to its thickness "t" to fit closely within the rectangular cavity 50. The member 84 cross member 94 and legs 90 and 92 are closely received within the recess 82 of the plug 78, Fig. 4. This produces a subassembly comprising the plug 78 and locking member 84, Fig. 2. The extended edges of the legs 90 and 92 abut the corresponding inner surfaces of the shoulder 60 of rib 56, Fig. 2. locking the legs 90 and 92 between the housing 48 and the plug 78. Because the plug is locked to the housing 48, the locking member 84 is locked immobile in the cavity 50. The plug is locked in place to the housing by snap engagement with the mating surface features of the housing 48 upon insertion of the plug into the cavity 50, direction 80, Fig. 2. In operation, with the plug 78 and locking member 84 in place as shown in Fig. 3, the stud 24 is pushed into engagement with the cavity 50 until the shoulders 40 and 42 of the stud, Fig. 5 engage the locking tangs 86 and 88 of the locking member 84, Fig. 3. In this position, the blocking flange 36 of the stud 24 is closely received in the opening 52 to the cavity 50. The blocking flange 36 assists in protecting the seal 10 from picking by precluding easy entrance of picking tools into the tang portion of the cavity 50. The relatively broad surfaces of the stud locking shoulders 40 and 42 and mating tangs 86 and 88 of the locking member 84 provide relatively strong resistance top an attempt to disengage the locked engagement of the stud to the socket 46. In Fig. 9, the female locking member is fabricated in assorted arrangements illustrated by members 96 and 98 in comparison to member 84. Members 96 and 98 are merely reversed mirror images of one another. Member 96 has a locking tang 100 which depended upwardly from leg 102. Member 98 has a locking tang 104 which depends downwardly from leg 106. In essence, the members 96 and 98 are the same except for their relative orientation when assembled to the housing 46. The legs of these members are dimensioned identically except for the number of locking tangs. The locking members 84, 96 and 98 are interchangeable to form a given seal socket. The locking members are assembled to various plugs 78 in random and in random orientations. The plug-locking member assemblies are then assembled to the housings randomly so that the locking member tang arrangement is different for different seals. This provides increased security because a tamperer does not know which tang arrangement and orientation is present in a given seal. Regardless which locking member is used, it installs identically to the plug 78 and into the cavity 50 of the housing 48. To provide even further increased security the locking members may employ still further tangs. In Fig. 10, for example, locking member 108 comprises two pairs of tandem tangs 110 and 112. This arrangement may be used with the stud 24 of Fig. 5. The stud tip 38 may be dimensioned from the blocking flange 36 so as to engage either the pair of tangs 110 or the pair of tangs 112. This provides further different engagement possibilities to the seal 10. In this case the stud 24 as fabricated may be fabricated of different lengths so as to engage a selected pair of tangs. To provide the seal of Fig. 2 with the additional capability to receive the locking member 108 while using an embodiment of the locking member 84, different stud lengths are fabricated to match a given socket length an locking member length. However, the arrangements of Fig. 9 for the locking member may be provided the locking members having a length of member 108, Fig. 10. That is the tangs 112 may be omitted in Fig. 10. In this arrangement, the stud tip has a length from the blocking flange to engage the forward tangs 110 at least one of which is always present. Also, while opposing pairs of tangs are present in Fig. 10, single tangs only one side of variations as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, regardless which locking members of Figs. 9 and 10 are used the same thermoplastic molded socket and stud configuration is employed. In Fig. 10, to provide a further possible locking arrangement, the configuration of the locking stud may also differ from seal to seal. In this configuration, the locking stud 114 employs two arrow head tips 116 and 118 arranged in tandem. The tip 116 engages the tangs 110 ant the tip 118 engages the tangs 112. It will be apparent that the stud 114 may also be used to engage the tangs of members 84, 96 and 98 of Fig. 8. Here, the forward tip 118 does not engage any tang. The tip 118 is blunt circular cylinder segment, but is elongated as illustrated for stud 84, Fig. 5. In Fig. 11, a further locking member 120 arrangement is shown in which there are a pair of forward tangs 122 but only one rearward tang 124. The rearward tang may be oriented in two opposing relations when installed into a socket as shown for member 96 and 98, Fig. 9, and as illustrated in Fig. 15, locking member 120'. The difference between locking members 120 and 120' is their relative orientation in the socket 46 cavity 50. The locking member 120 can also received and lock to the stud 114 of Fig. 10 and the stud 24 of Fig. 5. Further a stud 126 of a different configuration may be provided in which two pairs of tapered tips 128 and 130 are provided in tandem. Further stud configurations are illustrated in Figs. 12-14. These are not different embodiments of the stud, but are different configurations usable on different seals each with a socket of the same dimensions. In Fig. 12 the tip 132 has a locking shoulder 132' on only one side of the stud 136. Tip 133 has two locking shoulders 134, 134' in opposing relation on opposite sides of the stud 136, with shoulder 134 in tandem with the tip 132 locking shoulder 132'. Fig. 13 illustrates a stud 138 with one pair of opposing locking shoulders on tip 140 which is of the same shape as the tip 118, Fig. 10. In Fig. 14, a further stud locking tip configuration includes a stud 142 with a pair of tandem locking tips 144 and 146. The tips 144 and 146 are rectangular in profile normal to the longitudinal directions 44. Tip 144 has a locking shoulder 148 on one broad surface of the stud 142 whereas the tip 146 has a pair of locking shoulders on the opposing broad surfaces of the stud 142. The end wall 150 of the tip 144 is planar and normal to directions 44. The tips 144 and 146 are spaced by a transversely extending rectangular channel on one stud broad surface. In Fig. 15 the stud 152 has two pairs of tips 154 and 156, each of similar rectangular transverse shape as the tips 144 and 146, Fig. 14, except the locking shoulders are on opposite surfaces of the stud 152. The various stud configurations of Fig. 5 and 9-15 are all useable with the various different locking member arrangements of Figs. 2a, 9-11 and 15 and usable with a commonly dimensioned housing 48 thus providing a security seal kit. In practice the locking seal 10 socket 46 is molded with the various stud configurations illustrated in the different figures. The sockets 46 are all dimensioned identically for receiving a plug 78 and a female locking member. The female locking members are dimensioned with peripheral dimensions that are identical for seating snugly within the cavity 50 of the different seals and for attachment to plunge 78 randomly in the factory. This results in the various seal sockets having different locking member arrangements in different orientations as illustrated. This is done by feeding the locking members 84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120' into a feed hopper in mixed arrangements. The fed locking members are then assembled to a corresponding plug 78 and the resulting subassemblies then fed automatically to the thermoplastic molded seal bodies comprising the socket, legs and base of the seal 10 of Fig. 2 and assembled thereto. The resulting assembled seals 10 have randomly arranged locking members and random stud configurations. Consequently, the seals so assembled have a relatively high security in that while identical externally, they differ from seal to seal randomly when locked. A temperer does nor know the internal locking arrangements of the locked stud and locking tangs and this further resists tempering. In Figs. 6-8, a further embodiment is disclosed comprising a seal 160 having a socket 162 secured to a movable leg 164. The remainder of the seal 160 includes the same construction as the seal 10, Fig. 1 comprising the base 12, flag 13, leg 14 and stud 24. The socket 162 is different than the socket 46 of the seal 10, Fig. 1. The socket 162 comprises a housing 166, Figs. 6 and 6b which is elongated and rectangular ins transverse section. The housing 166 has a rectangular in transverse section cavity 168. An opening 170 of reduced transverse dimensions is in communication with the ambient atmosphere through a larger rectangular opening 175. The opening 170 is partially formed by rectangular in section rib 172. The larger rectangular opening 175 is external opening 170 for closely receiving the blocking flange 36 of the stud 24. The opening 170 is dimensioned to closely receive the stud 24 stem portion 32 adjacent to the flange 36 (Fig. 5) between the flange 36 and the tip 38. This is somewhat similar to the socket 46 opening 52 and the opening formed by rib 56, Fig. 2. The rib 172 has a shoulder 174. The housing 166, Figs. 6, 6c, 7 and 8 has opposing broad side walls 176 and 178. A generally rectangular annular recess opening 180 is formed in the side walls of the housing 166, Fig. 6c. A pair of opposing parallel ribs 182 project inwardly from housing 166 into cavity 168. The ribs 182 are inwardly of the opening 180 at the egress of the cavity 168, each rib 182 being on an opposite side wall of the housing. The ribs 182 being on an opposite side wall of the housing. The ribs 182 each have an inclined inner face 184 forming an inwardly decreasing transverse width opening. A rectangular in transverse section linear channel 186 is between each rib 182 ant he side wall 176. The cavity 168 has a flat face on side 176. The inward sides of the ribs 182 form a locking shoulder 188. In Fig. 6a, a thermoplastic molded plug 190 has a hollow core 192. An opening 194 is formed at one end of the core 192 to permit the locking member 84 to be inserted into the core 192, direction 193. An annular rib 196 is at the other end of the core 192 forming annular shoulder 198. Shoulder 198 serves as a stop for the member 84 in the core 192. An annular flange 200 surrounds the plug 190 and mates with opening 180 in the housing 166, Fig. 7. The plug 190 has a pair of linearly extending recesses 202 having inclined bottom walls, Fig. 6c, and ribs 206. The recess 202 snap fit receives a housing 166 rib 182 ant the plug rib 206 mates with the housing channel 186. The ribs 206 snap fit over the housing rib 182 into channel 186. This locks the plug assembly of Fig. 6b in the housing cavity 168. The plug 190 ant the locking member 84 form a subassembly 191, Fig. 6b. The subassembly 191 is inserted into the housing 166 cavity 168 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6b, until the plug snap locks into position, Fig. 7. The resulting assembly forming seal 160 is highly secure. The plug 190 has a greater snap fit rib length dimensions with the housing 166 as compared to the embodiment of Fig. 1. Because the plug assembly 191 is inserted from the side of the housing 166, the locking member 84 is secure and difficult to remove by tempering without leaving tampering damaging evidence. All of the stud configurations and locking member arrangements of Figures 9-15 are useful with the embodiment of stud locking configurations make it difficult for a tamperer to disassemble the locked stud without damaging the seal assembly. It will occur to one of ordinary skill that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The description given herein is by way of illustration and not limitation. For example, the shackle disclosed herein is a preferred embodiment. For example, the shackle may be in the form of a strap, a tether or other connecting arrangement between the stud and the socket. Also, the shackle may be free at both ends and the female socket member may be free at both ends and the female socket member may be arranged with multiple locking recesses to lock the shackle at both shackle ends with randomly arranged barbs and tangs corresponding to each end. Other shackle designs may also be used with the locking socket arrangements and stud configurations as described herein. These arrangements and configurations are also given by way of example. By way of further example, the locking member need not be U-shaped, but may be formed from separate flat sheet material legs or even a single flat leg with one or more tangs. The depending arrangement of the tangs is also by way of example. Other types of tangs may also be used. The important aspect is that various combinations of tangs and stud barbs are interchangeable in a common seal housing and shackle arrangement for providing a series of seals or kit having multiple locking configurations which are not detectable externally when locked. What is disclosed is a simple sheet metal locking tang construction of numerous different arrangements which can be used with one or more different stud barb configurations in a seal that is substantially externally identical when locked to other seals with different locking tang arrangements and barb configurations.

Claims: A security seal comprising: a housing (48, 166) having a cavity (50, 168) including an opening (52, 170) to the ambient; a shackle (12, 14, 16) having opposite ends and secured to the housing (48, 166) at one shackle end; male locking means (24), secured to the other shackle end and comprising a given barb configuration of at least one barb (40), for locking engagement through insertion into said opening (52, 170); a sealing plug (78) snap-fitting by insertion into a further opening (74) provided in said housing; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said sealing plug (78, 190) comprises a recess for receiving and securing a female locking means for locking engagement with the at least one barb of said male locking means (24) and for insertion of said received female locking means coupled to said plug (78, 190) into said cavity (50, 168) of said housing (48, 166), said female locking means being selected from a group of interchangeable different members (84,96, 98,108, 120, 120') each member comprising any one of a plurality of different tang locking arrangements with different spaced orientations and relationships, each arrangement including at least one tang for mating and locking engagement with said given barb configuration of said male locking means (24). A security seal according to claim 1 wherein each said male locking means comprises a stud (24) secured to one end of said corresponding shackle (14)and extending in a longitudinal direction, said stud (24) being substantially rectangular transverse the longitudinal direction and having a width "w" and a thickness "t" and opposing broad surfaces (31, 33), said width "w" being greater than said thickness "t", said at least one locking barb (40) extending along said stud (24) and formed in one (31) of said surfaces. A security seal according to claim 2 wherein said stud (24) includes a further barb (42) formed in a surface (32) opposing the one surface (31) and of like dimensions as said at least one locking barb (40). A security seal according to claim 2 wherein each said male locking means comprises a stud (114) including a first pair of barbs (116, 118) arranged in tandem on the stud (114) and formed in said one surface, at least one of said barbs (116, 118) of the first pairs of barbs for engagement with said at least one tang (86, 88, 110, 112, 122, 124). A security seal according to claim 4 wherein the barbs (146, 144) are rectangular when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and are separated by a linear recess there between extending in said transverse direction. A security seal according to claim 5 wherein the stud (152) has opposing surfaces, said barbs (154, 156) being formed in one of said surfaces, said stud including a further pair of tandem barbs (154', 156') formed in the stud surface opposing the one surface an in mirror image to the first pair of barbs. A security seal according to claim 1 wherein each said cavity opening (52, 170) receives said at least one barb (40) in a longitudinal direction, said corresponding female locking means including a metal member (84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120') secured in said cavity (50, 168) and said metal member including said at least one tang (86, 88, 110, 112, 122, 124) depending from the member, said cavity having a depth value in said longitudinal direction, being sufficient for the cavity to receive at least a pair of tandem arranged spaced barbs in said longitudinal direction. A security seal according to claim 7 wherein the male locking means with at least one barb comprises a plurality of barbs (116, 118), said at least one tang (110, 112) being positioned on the metal member (108) for engagement with at least one of said plurality of barbs. A security seal according to claim 7 wherein the metal member (84) is U-shaped having a pair of overlying spaced further legs (90, 92) for receiving the male member there between, said U-shaped locking means having at least one tang (86, 88) on at least one of said spaced further legs (90, 92) depending toward the other of said further legs, said U-shaped member comprising a cross member (94) interconnecting said further legs (90, 92), A security seal according to claim 1 wherein the cavity (168) of said housing (166) extends in said longitudinal direction the housing (166) including a side wall (178) extending in said longitudinal direction and said further opening (180) being in said side wall (178). A security seal according to claim 9 wherein the at least one tang comprises a pair of tangs (122, 124) on one of said further legs and at least one tang (124) on the other (92) of said further legs. A security seal according to claim 1 wherein each of the female locking means is selected from the group consisting of a single locking tang, a first tandem arrangement of like locking tangs, a further locking tang opposing one of said tandem arrangement of like tangs, a pair of locking tangs in spaced relation, and a second tandem arrangement of like locking tangs in spaced opposing relation to the first tandem arrangement. A security seal kit comprising a plurality of security seals according to claim 1, wherein each of said seals differs from the others only by the selected female locking means out of said group of interchangeable different members (84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120'), whereby the corresponding selected tang arrangement is adapted for lock engagement with at least one barb (40) of said given barb configuration of the male locking means. A security seal kit comprising a plurality of security seals according to claim 1, wherein each of said seals differs from the others only by the barb configuration of the male locking means (24, 114, 126, 136, 138, 142, 152), whereby said barb configuration in each seal is adapted for locking engagement with the tang locking arrangement of the selected female locking means. A security seal kit comprising a plurality of security seals according to claim 1, wherein each of said seals differs from the others by both the tang arrangement of the selected female locking means out of said group of interchangeable different members (84, 96, 98, 108, 120, 120'), and by the barb configuration of the male locking means (24, 114, 126, 136, 138, 142, 152) whereby each different tang arrangement of one of the seals is adapted for locking engagement with every other barb configuration of the other seals. A seal arrangement according to any one of claims 14 or 15 wherein each of the male locking means configurations (24, 114, 126, 136, 138, 142, 152) comprises a stud extending in a longitudinal direction from a corresponding shackle (12, 14, 16), said stud being rectangular in section transverse the longitudinal direction and having opposing broad surfaces and at least one barb extending across at least one of the broad surfaces, said at least one barb (40) being selected from the group consisting of a single barb (38), a first tandem arrangement of like barbs (116, 118) on one of said surfaces a further barb on a surface opposite the one surface with said first tandem arrangement, a further tandem arrangement of barbs on said opposite surface, and at least one barb on each said opposing broad surfaces. A seal arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said barbs have a given shape when viewed in a direction transverse the longitudinal direction, said shape being selected from the group consisting of rectangular, square, rounded tip and tapered tip. A method of making a security seal comprising: forming a housing with a cavity having an opening in communication with the ambient atmosphere external to the housing; forming a shackle having opposing ends; securing one shackle end to the housing; forming a male locking means with a given barb configuration of at least one barb on the other shackle end; forming a plurality of female locking means each with a different locking tang configuration, each tang configuration including at least one tang locking engagement with the at least one barb; selecting one of said female locking means and assembling to various plugs in random and in random orientations; and securing the selected one female locking means, coupled to said plug, to the housing within said cavity such that passing the male locking means through said housing opening into the cavity locking engages the at least one barb with the at least one tang.

Inventors: LEON JEREMY PHELPS, RUTH DONALD ARTHUR, LEON, JEREMY PHELPS, RUTH, DONALD ARTHUR
Applicants: BROOKS CO E J, E.J. BROOKS COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F3