Patent Publication Number: US-10766677-B2

Title: Tamper-evident attachment for cable tie

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/549,257, filed Aug. 23, 2017, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie, and a cable tie including the tamper-evident attachment to form a tamper-evident security seal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Cable ties are commonly used to secure two or more components together, for example, by extending around and/or through the components. In one example, cable ties may be used as part of security seal to securely close (e.g., seal) a lid of a ballot box containing ballots. Generally, security seals are designed to indicate tampering if the ballot box is opened. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect, a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie includes a cover sized and shaped to fit on a ratchet head of a cable tie. The cover is configured to inhibit access to a head opening and/or a deflectable pawl of the cable tie when the cable tie is used as a security seal. 
     In another aspect, a security seal includes a cable tie and a tamper-evident attachment coupled to a ratchet head. The attachment may be a separate component that is slidably or otherwise received on the ratchet head. Alternatively, the attachment and the cable tie may be integrally formed as a one-piece component, such as by molding or other techniques. 
     In another aspect, a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie of the type including a ratchet head defining a head opening, a deflectable pawl in the head opening, and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head, includes a ratchet head cover configured to couple to the ratchet head of the cable tie such that the ratchet head cover covers at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl. The ratchet head cover defines at least one slot-shaped opening positioned to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. The at least one slot-shaped opening being sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough. 
     In another aspect, a tamper-evident security seal includes a cable tie and a tamper-evident attachment. The cable tie includes a ratchet head defining a head opening with a deflectable pawl in the head opening and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head. The tamper-evident attachment is configured to couple to the ratchet head of the cable tie such that the tamper-evident attachment covers at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl. The tamper-evident attachment defines at least one slot-shaped opening positioned to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the tamper-evident attachment is coupled to the ratchet head. The at least one slot-shaped opening being sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough. 
     In another aspect, a tamper-evident security seal includes a cable tie and a tamper-evident attachment. The cable tie includes a ratchet head defining a head opening with a deflectable pawl in the head opening and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head. The tamper-evident attachment is coupled to the ratchet head of the cable tie and covers at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl. The tamper-evident attachment defines at least one slot-shaped opening aligned with the head opening of the ratchet head that is sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of one embodiment of a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side elevation of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of one embodiment of a cable tie; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective illustrating the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 1  being coupled to the cable tie; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 1  coupled to the cable tie to form a tamper-evident security seal; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective of the formed tamper-evident security seal of  FIG. 7  locking a lid of a ballot box to inhibit opening the ballot box. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective of another embodiment of a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie; 
         FIG. 10  is a left side elevation of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom plan of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective illustrating the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 9  being coupled to the cable tie; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective of the tamper-evident attachment of  FIG. 9  coupled to the cable tie to form a tamper-evident security seal; and 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective thereof. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an illustrated embodiment of a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie is generally indicated at reference numeral  10 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a suitable conventional cable tie for use with the tamper-evident attachment  10  is generally indicated at reference numeral  12 . The conventional cable tie  12  comprises a ratchet head  14  having a resiliently deflectable pawl  16  received in a head opening  17  defined by the ratchet head; and a strap  18  extending from the ratchet head and having a plurality of teeth  20  spaced apart along its length. In general, and as is generally known, the strap  18  is flexible to allow its free end to be inserted into the head opening  17  of the ratchet head  14 , whereby the teeth  20  on the strap  18  resilient deflect the pawl  16  as the strap moves through the head. The teeth  20  engage the pawl  16  when a withdrawal force is applied to the strap  18  to inhibit the strap from backing out and withdrawing from the ratchet head. One method of removing the cable tie  12  after the strap  18  is inserted into the ratchet head  14  is to resiliently deflect the pawl  16  (manually or with a tool) such that the pawl disengages the teeth  20  on the strap and the strap can be withdrawn from the ratchet head. The cable tie  12  may be made from plastic or other material. The cable tie may also be referred to as a hose tie, a steggel tie, a zap strap or a zip tie. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1-4 , the tamper-evident attachment  10  is generally configured as a cover for the ratchet head  14 . As illustrated, the attachment  10  is configured as a component separate from the cable tie  12  and is configured to couple to the cable tie. The attachment  10  may be formed from plastic, such as Nylon (e.g., Nylon 6/10), or other material. In other embodiments, the attachment  10  and the cable tie  12  may be integrally formed as a one-piece component or otherwise fastened to one another, such as with adhesive, with a friction (e.g., snug) fit, or with other types of mechanical connections, before being secured to the cable tie, as described in more detail below. It is also understood that in other embodiments the tamper-evident attachment  10  may be designed and configured for use with other types of cable ties, having designs, configurations, shapes, and/or sizes different than the illustrated cable tie  10 . 
     The tamper-evident attachment  10  includes a left wall  26 , a right wall  28  generally opposing the left wall, a rear wall  30  extending between and connecting the left and right walls, and an upper wall  32  interconnecting upper ends of the left, right, and rear walls. (As used herein, the terms used to describe relative locations and positions of the components and structures of the tamper-evident attachment  10 , including but not limited to “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “rear,” and “front,” are in reference to the orientation of the tamper-evident attachment as shown in  FIG. 1  for purposes of convenience and are not to be interpreted in a limited sense.) Each of the left, rear, and upper walls  26 ,  30 , and  32 , respectively, are generally planar although they may be of other shapes and configurations. The right wall  28  includes an upper planar portion  28   a  that is generally planar to the left wall  26 , a transition portion  28   b  extending downward from a lower end of the upper planar portion and toward the left wall (e.g., the transition portion slopes toward the left wall), and a lower flange portion  28   c  projecting outward from a lower end of the transition portion toward the left wall. 
     Together, interior surfaces of the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  define a cavity  36  sized and shaped to receive the ratchet head  14  of the cable tie  12  therein. The shape of the cavity  36  generally corresponds to the shape of the ratchet head  14 . A front of the attachment  10  (e.g., as defined by front surfaces of the left, right and upper walls  26 ,  28 , and  32 , respectively) defines a front opening  38  in communication with (e.g., leading to) the cavity  36 . A bottom of the attachment  10  (e.g., as defined by lower surfaces of the left, right and rear walls  26 ,  28 , and  30 , respectively) defines a bottom opening  40  in communication with (e.g., leading to) the cavity  36 . The bottom opening  40  is also in communication with (e.g., is a continuation of) the front opening  38 . The left wall  26  defines a first slot-shaped opening  44  extending therethrough and into the cavity  36 . The right wall  28  (e.g., the upper planar portion  28   a ) defines a second slot-shaped opening  46  extending therethrough and into the cavity  36 . The first and second slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46 , respectively, are generally aligned and may have generally the same dimensions. In one embodiment, one or both of the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  may have a width of about 0.37 in (9.4 mm) and a height of about 0.085 in (2.2 mm), which correspond to a strap  18  of a cable tie  12  having a width of about 0.36 in (9.1 mm) and a height (e.g., thickness) of about 0.078 in (2 mm). The slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  may have other dimensions to correspond to a strap  18  of other sizes. The width of at least one of the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  is slightly greater than the width of the strap  18  of the cable tie  12 , and the height of the at least one of the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  is slightly greater than the thickness of the strap so that the at least one slot-shaped opening snugly receives the strap therethrough (e.g., the at least one slot-shaped opening is in a close fitting relationship with the strap). The close fit between the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  and the strap  18  of the cable tie  12  ensures the left and right walls  26 ,  28  sufficiently cover the head opening  17  of the cable tie  12  to prevent access to the pawl  16 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the ratchet head  14  is slidably receivable into the cavity  36  of the tamper-evident attachment  10  through front opening  38 , and a portion of the strap  18  adjacent the ratchet head extends downward through the bottom opening  40 . The walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  align the portion of the head opening  17  the strap  18  extends through with the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  in the left and right walls. In the illustrated embodiment, the walls  26 ,  28 ,  32  are slightly tapered inward (e.g., toward one another) as they extend from the front opening  38  to the rear wall  30  so that the left, right and upper walls engage the ratchet head  14  when the ratchet head is received in the cavity  36  to align the head opening  17  with the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46 . In addition, the engagement of tapered walls  26 ,  28 ,  32  with the ratchet head  14  forms a friction fit to help hold the tamper-evident attachment  10  on the cable tie  12 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , with the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  aligned, the free end of the strap  18  can be inserted through the slot-shaped opening  44  in the left wall  26 , through the head opening  17  in the ratchet head  14 , and through the slot-shaped opening  46  in the right wall  28 . In this way, the assembled cable tie  12  and attachment  10  can function as a security seal for a ballot box B, as shown in  FIG. 8 . As can be understood, the attachment  10  is fixedly secured to the ratchet head  14  of the cable tie  12  when the cable tie is secured to the ballot box B. Moreover, any gap between the strap  18  and the slot-shaped openings  44 ,  46  is too small for a tool to be inserted therebetween to gain access to the deflectable pawl  16  of the ratchet head  14 . Thus, the attachment  10  is configured as a cap (broadly, a ratchet head cover) for the ratchet head  14  that covers the head opening  17  and the pawl  16  to inhibit access to the pawl. In order to release the cable tie  12  by deflecting the pawl  16  with a tool, the attachment  10  would need to be removed, such as by cutting or breaking the attachment, or otherwise physically damaged or deformed—thereby indicating tampering. Therefore, by attaching the tamper-evident attachment  10  to the cable tie  12 , a security seal is formed that can indicate tampering. The attachment  10  and/or cable tie  12  may include indicia, such as a serial number or some other unique identifier. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-15 , another embodiment of a tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie is generally indicated at reference numeral  100 . Tamper-evident attachment  100  is analogous to tamper-evident attachment  10  and, thus, for ease of comprehension, where analogous parts are used, reference numerals “ 100 ” units higher are employed. Tamper-evident attachment  100  is generally the same as tamper-evident attachment  10  except that the tamper-evident attachment  100  includes a detent  126   c  (e.g., catch) configured to engage and hold the tamper-evident attachment  100  on the cable tie  12 . In this embodiment, the left wall  126  of the tamper-evident attachment  100  includes an upper planar portion  126   a  and a lower flange portion  126   b  projecting outward from a lower end of the upper planar portion toward the right wall  128  (more specifically, the lower flange portion  128   c ). The lower flange portion  126   b  of the left wall  126  includes the detent  126   c  configured to engage a portion of the strap  18  of the cable tie  12  adjacent the ratchet head  14  to hold the tamper-evident attachment  100  on the cable tie. The detent  126   c  extends into the bottom opening  140 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 13-15 , the ratchet head  14  is slidably receivable into the cavity  136  of the tamper-evident attachment  100  through front opening  138 , and a portion of the strap  18  adjacent the ratchet head extends downward through the bottom opening  140 . In this embodiment, the detent  126   c  engages a portion of the strap  18 , such as a side rib  19 , that extends through the bottom opening  140  to more firmly hold the tamper-evident attachment  100  on the ratchet head  14  ( FIG. 15 ) until the strap is inserted through the attachment, as described above. 
     Modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, where specific dimensions are given, it will be understood that they are exemplary only and other dimensions are possible. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.