Abstract:
A single-use security bar seal assembly for containers, comprising an elongated bar member having first and second ends, a support assembly, and a receiving bracket. The receiving bracket, support assembly, and bar member have transparent plastic covers. The single-use security bar seal assembly has bar-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 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 bar seals have been developed in the past. However, Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to Applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,512, issued on May 16, 2006 for Bar seal for shipping container. However, it differs from the present invention because the present invention includes non-obvious innovation detailed in the following specification, including a single-use security bar seal system having transparent plastic covers integrally mounted thereon and identification matching codes on all individual parts and electrical means for determining severance of a bar assembly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A security bar seal assembly for containers, comprising an elongated bar member having first and second ends. 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 at least one through hole in between the first aperture and the second end. Electrical means detect severance of the elongated bar member. The elongated bar member further has a first transparent cover. A support assembly has a first U-shaped member. The first U-shaped member has first and second slots to receive the second end therethrough. The support assembly has a second transparent cover. 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 receiving bracket has a third transparent cover. 
   The locking means comprises the receiving bracket having a second 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 second aperture with sufficient force to overcome the snap ring. 
   The first, second, and third transparent covers provide visual evidence of tampering or disturbance to the elongated bar member, the support assembly, and/or the receiving bracket. The elongated bar member, the support assembly, and the receiving bracket each have labels thereon. The labels have matching identification codes thereon and are underneath the first, second, and third transparent cover. The labels are visible through the first, second, and third transparent cover. The labels have bar-code and random secret codes in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to duplicate them during tampering or theft of contents within a container. The labels have specific descriptions and/or instructions that may include characteristics of and how to operate, how to lock, and how to unlock the receiving bracket, the support assembly, and the bar member; that the receiving bracket, the support assembly, and the bar member are weldless and paintless; and description of the transparent plastic covers, matching identification codes, and bar-code and random secret codes. The bar-code and random secret codes comprises at least one number, word, and/or symbol that may be stamped on the labels. 
   The electrical means comprises the elongated bar member capable of an uninterrupted succession or flow of electrical current. The first aperture and the locking pin are tested with a continuity testing assembly to detect if the elongated bar member has been severed. 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 elongated bar member 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 the container, and in the preferred embodiment, the container is a shipping container. The elongated bar member, the support assembly, and the receiving bracket are for a single-use. The adhesive door label is placed upon a slit in between doors of the shipping container. The door label is tamper proof in the sense that it will not peel off the doors in the event the doors are opened or removed, but will tear instead. The door label comprises bar-code and random secret codes that comprise at least one number, word, and/or symbol that matches the receiving bracket, the support assembly, and the bar member. 
   The elongated bar member, the support assembly, the receiving bracket, and the locking pin are made of hardened steel or other metallic material having similar tough and durable characteristics in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to remove them by cutting, sawing, torching, grinding, or otherwise tampering with. 
   More specifically, the instant invention is a security bar seal assembly for shipping containers, comprising an elongated bar member having first and second ends. 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 at least one through hole in between the first aperture and the second end. Electrical means are used for detecting severance of the elongated bar member. The elongated bar member further has a first transparent cover. A support assembly has a first U-shaped member. The first U-shaped member has first and second slots to receive the second end therethrough. The support assembly has a second transparent cover. 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 receiving bracket having a third transparent cover. 
   The locking means comprises the receiving bracket having a second 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 second aperture with sufficient force to overcome the snap ring. 
   The first, second, and third transparent covers provide visual evidence of tampering or disturbance to the elongated bar member, the support assembly, and/or the receiving bracket. The elongated bar member, the support assembly, and the receiving bracket each have labels thereon. The labels have matching identification codes thereon and are visible through the first, second, and third transparent covers. The labels further have bar-code and random secret codes in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to duplicate them during tampering or theft of contents within a container. The bar-code and random secret codes comprises at least one number, word, and/or symbol that may be stamped on the labels. Electrical means comprise the elongated bar member capable of an uninterrupted succession or flow of electrical current. The first aperture and the locking pin are tested with a continuity testing assembly to detect if the elongated bar member has been severed. The continuity testing assembly comprises a wand and an insert connected to one another by a wire. The continuity testing assembly used to detect if the elongated bar member 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 the container that can be a shipping container. The elongated bar member, the support assembly, and the receiving bracket are for a single-use, and further comprise an adhesive door label placed upon a slit in between doors of the shipping container. 
   It is therefore one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a bar seal for containers that is effective against tampering. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a bar seal for 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, with illustration of its transparent plastic covers partially cross-sectioned. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the receiving bracket without its respective transparent plastic cover. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of the receiving bracket seen in  FIG. 2  with its respective transparent plastic cover. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the receiving bracket seen in  FIG. 2A  with the bar member in position to be locked with the pin. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of the receiving bracket seen in  FIG. 2A  with the bar member locked with the pin. 
       FIG. 3B  is a cut view of the receiving bracket locking the bar member with the pin taken along the lines  3 B- 3 B, as seen in  FIG. 3A . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the support assembly without its respective transparent plastic cover. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the support assembly seen in  FIG. 4  with its respective transparent plastic cover. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the bar member without its respective transparent plastic cover. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view of the bar member with its respective transparent plastic cover partially cross-sectioned. 
       FIG. 6  represents a perspective view of the instant invention mounted onto a container. 
       FIG. 6A  represents a close-up perspective view of the instant invention mounted onto the container bars. 
       FIG. 6B  represents a perspective view of the instant invention mounted on 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. Receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  have transparent plastic covers  23 ,  61 , and  81  respectively. 
   Receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  also have matching codes, wherein each of the components have matching identification codes. The matching identification codes may be stamped onto labels  25 ,  74 , and  96  of receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  respectively. It is noted that transparent plastic covers  23 ,  61 , and  81  cover each of labels  25 ,  74 , and  96 . A receiver may inspect each of receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  to ensure that they do in fact have the matching identification 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 container  150 , seen in  FIG. 6 , may have been disturbed or otherwise tampered with. 
   Furthermore, in addition to the matching identification codes, instant invention  10  may comprise bar-code and random secret codes made up of number(s), word(s), and/or any symbol that may be stamped on labels  25 ,  74 , and  96 . The random secret codes are stamped on any of labels  25 ,  74 , and  96  and are known only by the sender and receiver in the preferred embodiment. Before severing bar member  80  to open the container  150 , the receiver, knowing the bar-code and random 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 bar-code and random secret codes do not match those originating from the sender, the receiver is on notice that the contents of the container  150  may have been disturbed or otherwise tampered with. Bar-codes, and/or universal product codes, are used in the preferred embodiment in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to duplicate them during tampering or theft of contents within container  150 , seen in  FIG. 6 . 
   In addition, specific descriptions and/or instructions may be placed onto labels  96 . Such descriptions and/or instructions may include, but are not limited to, characteristics of and how to operate, how to lock, and how to unlock receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80 . Other descriptions and/or instructions may include, but are not limited to, indicating that receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  are weldless and paintless, and description of transparent plastic covers  23 ,  61 , and  81 . Yet other descriptions and/or instructions may include, but are not limited to, describing all matching identification codes and/or bar-code and random secret codes. 
   Transparent plastic covers  23 ,  61 , and  81  are made of a transparent plastic material that allows a person to see the matching identification codes and/or bar-code and random secret codes defined above. In the preferred embodiment, a bar-code scanner may be utilized to read the bar-code. Transparent plastic covers  23 ,  61 , and  81  serve to provide visual evidence of tampering or disturbance to receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and/or bar member  80 . If receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and/or bar member  80  is cut, sawed, torched, grinded, or otherwise tampered with, the receiver is on notice that the contents of the container  150 , seen in  FIG. 6 , may have been disturbed or otherwise tampered with. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 2A , 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 . Perpendicularly from face  24  are walls  26 ,  28 , and  30 , which form receiving assembly  22 . 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 . Walls  42  and  48  have slots  44  and  38  respectively, of cooperative characteristics to receive bar member  80  therethrough. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 2A  receiving bracket  20  comprises transparent plastic cover  23 . Transparent plastic cover  23  covers receiving assembly  22  and wall  48  of support  40 . As illustrated in this embodiment, label  25  is visible through transparent plastic cover  23 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , bar member  80  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 . 
     FIG. 3A  shows bar member  80  secured through slots  44  and  38 , and locked by pin  50  having head  52 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 3B , pin  50  has been snapped into position within aperture  32 , thus locking bar member  80 . 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 . Slots  68  and  72  receive bar member  80  for support. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4A  support assembly  60  comprises transparent plastic cover  61 . Transparent plastic cover  61  covers most of wall  64  and lip  62  entirely. As illustrated in this embodiment, label  74  is visible through transparent plastic cover  61 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , 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 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 5A , bar member  80  comprises transparent plastic cover  81 . Transparent plastic cover  81  covers bar member  80 . Labels  96  are visible through transparent plastic cover  81 . Elongated member  90  also comprises contact point  92  and aperture  94  through transparent plastic cover  81 . 
   Bar member  80  is metallic from ends  82  to  84 . Electrical means, seen in  FIG. 6B , are used for determining severance of bar member  80 . More specifically, electrical continuity testing may be conducted to ensure bar member  80  has not been severed. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , instant invention  10  may be mounted upon a standard 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 . Instant invention  10  may also comprise label  100 . Label  100  is defined as a tamper proof label having an adhesive back that is intended for a one-time use. Label  100  has bar-codes, and/or universal product codes, as described above in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to duplicate them during tampering or theft of contents within container  150 . In the preferred embodiment, label  100  is placed directly over the slit between doors  152 . That way label  100  will rip, or otherwise tear, if one or both of doors  152  are opened or removed. Label  100  comprises the same matching identification codes and/or bar-code and random secret codes on labels  25 ,  74 , and  96 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 6B , 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 contact point  92  while inserting the tip of wand  162  onto head  52  of pin  50  to detect if bar member  80  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. 
   In the preferred embodiment, receiving bracket  20 , support assembly  60 , and bar member  80  are made of hardened steel or other metallic material having similar tough and durable characteristics in order to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to remove instant invention  10  from container  150  by cutting, sawing, torching, grinding, or otherwise tampering 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.