Abstract:
A container seal, including a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and a pointer, is provided. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connects to the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on the slot&#39;s slot wall. The pin has a tapered end and a trench disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end. The tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, making the C-shaped ring be snapped in the trench. The pointer has a neck portion and a head portion whose diameter is between the internal diameters of the slot and the reservoir. The head portion passes through the slot and enters into the reservoir, and the neck portion connects to the end surface. When the pin is pulled out, the pointer is separated from the end surface and dropped into the reservoir.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 100213376 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2011/7/20, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a seal, and more particularly, to a container seal for sealing a container. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    With the growing development of transportation technologies, trade contacts among countries in the world have become more frequent. Any required article produced anywhere in the world can be obtained in a short period through logistic channels, at a reasonable cost. The most common method of storing bulk cargo, whether for internal or external transportation, is to place the goods in a container with a certain size, and then transport the container to different parts of the world through various conveyances, such as a ship or a land vehicle. 
         [0006]    However, in order to prevent the goods in the container from being stealthily substituted or destroyed, or even prevent a terrorist taking the opportunity to dispose an explosive in the container, a container seal may be additionally installed on the doors of all the containers to prevent unscrupulous persons from destroying the goods deliberately. Since each of the container seals is printed with a unique number, it is possible to determine whether the container seal is destroyed or changed, by checking the number. 
         [0007]    The conventional container seal has a simple structure, and as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a manner of combining a pin and a socket is used to lock the container securely. One end of the pin is disposed with a trench, and a C-shaped ring is disposed inside the socket; when the pin is inserted into the socket, the C-shaped ring in the socket may be clamped into the trench of the pin, so that the pin cannot be easily pulled out. 
         [0008]    Such a container seal is not safe enough. In fact, it is found that some unscrupulous persons use a manner of rotating the pin at a high speed to take out the pin, and re-insert the original pin or a duplicate of the original pin into the socket after destruction or theft. As a result, it cannot be known from the outward appearance alone whether the container&#39;s security has been breached by lawless persons. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In view of these difficulties, the present invention provides a container seal, which includes a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and a pointer. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connects to the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and has a distance of a first depth from the jack. The pin has a tapered end and a trench, in which the trench is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, so that the C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench. The pointer has a head portion and a neck portion, in which a diameter of the head portion is between an internal diameter of the slot and an internal diameter of the reservoir. The neck portion is fixedly connected to the end surface of the tapered end. The head portion of the pointer passes through the slot and enters into the reservoir. When the pin is pulled out of the socket due to an external force, the pointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end, and then dropped into the reservoir. 
         [0010]    Since the head portion of the pointer is greater than the slot wall of the slot, once the pointer is dropped into the reservoir, the pointer cannot be taken or removed from the reservoir. Therefore, even if unscrupulous persons re-inserts the original pin or another pin into the socket, the container checker may determine whether the pointer of the container seal has been dropped into the reservoir by shaking, so as to further determine whether the container seal has been destroyed. 
         [0011]    In addition, the socket may be made of a transparent material or is disposed with a window, and through the window, the container checker may check the reservoir with the naked eye from the outside. In this way, the container checker may determine with visual inspection whether the pointer is dropped into the reservoir of the socket, so as to know whether the container seal has been destroyed. 
         [0012]    To summarize, through the present invention, the container checker may easily determine whether the container seal has been destroyed in the shaking manner or the visual inspection manner, thereby overcoming the defects of the conventional container seal. The present invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the present invention, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view (1) of the prior art; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view (2) of the prior art; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view (1) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view (2) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic operational view (1) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic operational view (2) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic operational view (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]      FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of a first embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , which embodiment includes: a socket  1 , a first C-shaped ring  13 , a pin  2 , and a pointer  3 . Socket  1  has a jack  17 , a slot  18 , and a reservoir  19 , and first C-shaped ring  13  is disposed on a slot wall  191  of slot  18 , and has a distance of a first depth from jack  17 . Pin  2  has a tapered end  25  and a trench  27 , in which trench  27  is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface  29  of tapered end  25 , and tapered end  25  passes through first C-shaped ring  13 , so that first C-shaped ring  13  is snapped in trench  27 . Pointer  3  has a head portion  31  and a neck portion  33 , in which a diameter of head portion  31  is between an internal diameter of slot  18  and the internal diameter of reservoir  19 . Head portion  31  of pointer  3  passes through slot  18  and enters into reservoir  19 . Neck portion  33  is fixedly connected to end surface  29  of tapered end  25 . When pin  2  is pulled out of socket  1  due to an external force, pointer  3  is separated from end surface  29  of tapered end  25 , and then is dropped into reservoir  19 . 
         [0035]    In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring  13  is C-shaped ring or fastening ring similar to the C-shaped ring. Socket  1  is made of a transparent dielectric material. Pointer  3  is made of a polymer material, such as plastic. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, since a size of head portion  31  of pointer  3  is greater than the internal diameter of slot  18 , in the process of installing pin  2  onto socket  1 , a certain force should be exerted to enable head portion  31  of pointer  3  to pass through slot  18  and enter into reservoir  19 . 
         [0037]    Please refer to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , in which embodiment, since head portion  31  of pointer  3  passes through the first C-shaped ring  13 , when pin  2  bears an external pulling force, the pulling force is borne by first C-shaped ring  13 . When the external pulling force is greater than a force capable of being borne by first C-shaped ring  13  and trench  27  snapped together, pin  2  may be pulled out of socket  1 . In the process of pulling out of pin  2 , pointer  3  may be separated from pin  2  due to the interference of the slot wall of slot  18 , and then is dropped into reservoir  19 . 
         [0038]    In this embodiment, end surface  29  of tapered end  25  of pin  2  has a hole  291 , which is as shown in  FIG. 9 . Neck portion  33  of pointer  3  is tightly fit into the hole  291 . It should be noted that the strength of the combination of pointer  3  and pin  2  is smaller than the required pulling force for pulling pin  2  out of socket  1 . In another embodiment, the hole  291  is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed at neck portion  33  of pointer  3 , so that pointer  3  is locked into the locking hole through the thread at neck portion  33 . 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with an electronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In this embodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radio frequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, and pointer  3  has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passes from head portion  31  to neck portion  33 . The RF chip and the transmission conductor are both disposed in pin  2 , and the transmission conductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna is disposed in socket  1 , and when pin  2  is inserted into socket  1 , the antenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connected electrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin  2 . In this way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12  are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of a second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 10 to 12 , which embodiment includes: a socket  1 , a first C-shaped ring  13 , a second C-shaped ring  15 , a pin  2 , and a pointer  3 . Socket  1  has a jack  17  and a slot  19 , and first C-shaped ring  13  and second C-shaped ring  15  are disposed on a slot wall  191  of the slot  18 , and respectively have a distance of a first depth and a second depth from jack  17 , in which the second depth is greater than the first depth. Pin  2  has a tapered end  25  and a trench  27 , in which trench  27  is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface  29  of tapered end  25 , and tapered end  25  passes through first C-shaped ring  13 , so that first C-shaped ring  13  is snapped in trench  27 . Pointer  3  has a head portion  31  and a neck portion  33 , in which a diameter of head portion  31  is greater than an internal diameter of second C-shaped ring  15 , head portion  31  of pointer  3  passes through second C-shaped ring  15 . Neck portion  33  is fixedly connected to end surface  29  of tapered end  25 . When pin  2  is pulled out of socket  1  due to an external force, pointer  3  is separated from end surface  29  of tapered end  25 , and then is dropped into the slot  19 . 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring  13  and second C-shaped ring  15  are C-shaped rings or fastening rings similar to the C-shaped rings. Socket  1  is made of a transparent dielectric material. Pointer  3  is made of a polymer material, such as plastic. 
         [0042]    In addition, when first C-shaped ring  13  of this embodiment is snapped in the trench, the head portion of pointer  3  may pass through second C-shaped ring  15 , and has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring  15 . Since rough roads or bad sea conditions are inevitably encountered during a transportation process of the container, the pin is inevitably pulled by the external force at this time. If head portion  31  of pointer  3  is enabled to maintain an axial distance from second C-shaped ring  15 , separation of pointer  3  from pin  2  due to occasional rough roads or bad sea conditions is prevented, so that a container checker does not mistakenly conclude the container has been destroyed by unscrupulous persons. 
         [0043]    In this embodiment, since a size of head portion  31  of pointer  3  is greater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring  15 , in the process of installing pin  2  onto socket  1 , a certain force should be exerted to enable head portion  31  of pointer  3  to pass through second C-shaped ring  15 . 
         [0044]    Please refer to  FIGS. 13 to 15 , which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 13 to 15 , in which embodiment, since head portion  31  of pointer  3  passes through second C-shaped ring  15  and then has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring  15 , when pin  2  bears an external pulling force, the pulling force is borne by first C-shaped ring  13 . When the external pulling force is greater than a force capable of being borne by first C-shaped ring  13  and trench  27  snapped together, pin  2  may be pulled out of socket  1 . In the process of pulling out of pin  2 , pointer  3  may be separated from pin  2  due to the interference of second C-shaped ring  15 , and then is dropped into the reservoir  19 . 
         [0045]    In this embodiment, end surface  29  of tapered end  25  of pin  2  has a hole  291 , which is as shown in  FIG. 16 . Neck portion  33  of pointer  3  is tightly fit into hole  291 . It should be noted that the strength of the combination of pointer  3  and pin  2  is smaller than the required pulling force for pulling pin  2  out of socket  1 . In another embodiment, hole  291  is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed at neck portion  33  of pointer  3 , so that pointer  3  is locked into the locking hole through the thread at neck portion  33 . 
         [0046]    In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with an electronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In this embodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radio frequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, and pointer  3  has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passes from head portion  31  to neck portion  33 . The RF chip and the transmission conductor are both disposed in pin  2 , and the transmission conductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna is disposed in socket  1 , and when pin  2  is inserted into socket  1 , the antenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connected electrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin  2 . In this way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna. 
         [0047]    In the above embodiments, since the size of head portion  31  of pointer  3  is greater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring  15 , once pointer  3  is dropped into the reservoir  19 , pointer  3  cannot be easily taken or dumped out of the reservoir  19 . Therefore, even if unscrupulous persons re-insert the original pin or another pin into the socket, the container checker may determine whether the pointer of the container seal has been dropped into the slot in a shaking manner, so as to further determine whether the container seal has been destroyed. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment of the present invention, socket  1  may be made of a transparent material and is also disposed with a window, and the checker can check the slot  19  from the outside, through the window. In this way, the container checker easily determines by visual inspection whether pointer  3  has been dropped into reservoir  19  through the window, so as to determine whether the container seal has been destroyed by an external force. In addition, the window may be a penetration hole in communication with the slot from the outside, and a size of the penetration hole must be smaller than a size of pointer  3 , so that pointer  3  is prevented from being dropped into the reservoir  19  through the penetration hole. 
         [0049]    Please refer to  FIGS. 17 to 20 , which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of third embodiment of the present invention and schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 17 to 20 , the primary difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is that a needle  292  is disposed on end surface  29  of tapered end  25  of pin  2 , and the needle  292  pierces into neck portion  33  of pointer  3  so as to fixedly connect neck portion  33  to end surface  29  of tapered end  25 . 
         [0050]    While the present invention has been described by the way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.