S of use securing a
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
B represents & SCAT
position of use securing a bolt.
DIC CHASS To
WHICHI
Fig. 2 is a plan of my improved seal.
Delongs, u
Fig. 3 is a view showing the securing device partly entered but not engaged,
the outer plate of the seal case being removed to show the interior structure.
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the securing device fully inserted
and engaged.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the securing device which is in the form of a tape, of
a strap of sheet metal.
Fig. 6 is a traverse section at the line 6-6 on Fig. 3 upon an enlarged scale.
The body or case of my improved seal is made in two parts, A and B, suitably
joined at their peripheries to make a closed shell. Each of the parts A and B has
a diametric channel or recess, forming, when it is made of sheet-metal, exterior
ribs A and B, said channelled ribs extending beyond the margin at one end, and
constituting a throated neck A³, whose throat leads into the cavity of the seal case,
and which, in cross-section, is an oblong parallelogram, whose greater dimension
is in a plane at right angles to the disks."
The securing device in the form of a strap C is folded upon itself at C', the
reflexed portion C being enough greater in length than the diameter of the seal to
protrude therefrom when the fold is lodged in the seal. The thickness or lesser dimen-
sion of the oblong throat in the neck A³ is only enough to admit, in addition to the
two thicknesses of the folded securing device, one additional similar thickness;
so that there is only room to insert the other end of the strap which constitutes
the securing device between those two thicknesses, as seen in Fig. 3. A lug (+
is struck from the strap C at a distance from the fold C¹ substantially equal to
the inner diameter of the seal cavity, so that when the folded strap is lodged edge-
wise in the neck A³ before joining the plate B, this lug ( prevents longitudinal
withdrawal of the strap.
The catch or engaging device D is a coiled spring, preferably of very hard steel
wire, consisting of more than one complete coil, so that two ends D¹ and D2 lap
by each other. The strap C has a slot C, cut through the fold C₁ (see Fig. 5),
and both thicknesses of the strap are apertured at A third aperture is
made at a distance from the other end substantially equal to the distances of the
apertures from the fold C. In assembling the parts, the catch spring D is
spread, so that the two folds of the folded strap C can be entered between the ends.
The opposite side of the spring enters the slot C, while the spread ends are lodged
above the apertures &²², as seen in Fig. 3. Preferably, slight depressions et are

page_text: formed at the proper position to seat the ends of the spring on the outer faces of
the strap. This tends to prevent accidental dislodgement. The strap with the
spring thus attached is now lodged edgewise in the neck A³, and the plate B is
applied and peripherally united to the plate A. In using this seal, the strap
is passed around or through the fastenings of the bag, latch or lock which is to be
sealed, and the disengaged end is inserted between the folds of the end which
carries the seal, and is pushed in until it encounters the catch-spring D where the
same is lodged in the slot C³, being then still further pushed inward, the ends of
the spring are dragged over the surfaces of the opposite folds of the strap until
they enter the apertures &²², whereupon the spring instantly closes, the ends
lapping by each other by protruding through the aperture 3, which, at that position
coincides with the, apertures 2. Usually by the elastic reaction of the spring in
thus closing, it is caused to fly around in the case, so that the position of the lap
is a matter of chance.
Upon analysis of this structure, it will be noticed that the folded portion of the
strap C, within the seal case or body, constitutes a detainer to keep the engaging
device, to-wit, the catch spring D,-out of the path of the intruded end of the
securing device until the latter encounters the engaging device at a point remote
from its engaging end and moves it to the apertures in said guards; and it will
be obvious to any mechanic that the making of this detainer in one piece with the
strap which constitutes the securing device, and thereby making it serve as a means
for attaching the strap to the seal body, is a matter of convenience and cheapness
of manufacture, and not a mechanical necessity. It will also be evident that the
use of the looped strap as a securing device is not obligatory, but that, in lieu
thereof, any device which, by having the seal appended to it, can be rendered
undetachable from the package or lock which it is intended to protect, may be
employed by having its end properly formed to be inserted in the guard, as
described.
An important feature of this device is that the locking spring is not secured in
any manner, but is free to move within the case, so that the position of its lap
is uncertain, and so that any attempt to manipulate it is attended with great
difficulty, because manipulation tends simply to shift it around in the case.
Another, and perhaps more thoroughly distinguishing feature is that the setting
of the engaging device in condition or position to react to effect engagement with
the securing device, is done in the process of construction, and not in the act of
inserting the securing device, as in the case of many familiar self-locking seals
which involve merely a spring catch forced aside by the insertion of the securing
device, and reacting back into engagement. The importance of this feature will
be appreciated upon fully considering the action which takes place, and attempt-
ing to devise a method of picking this seal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I clain
is:-
1. The employment in a self-locking seal of an engaging device which is lodged
unattached within the seal body and is completely enclosed therein and rendered
inaccessible by the insertion of the securing device.
2. The employment in a self-locking seal of an elastically operating catch lodged
within the seal chamber adapted to react to effect the locking; and a detainer
which holds the catch under tension ready to react upon being released therefrom,
such detainer and catch being relatively movable and one of them being in
position to be actuated by the insertion of the securing device to effect such
release.
3. In a seal, in combination with a chambered body, a securing device adapted
to be inserted thereinto, an elastically operating catch lodged within the chamber
and adapted to react to effect the locking; a detainer which holds the catch under
tension ready to react upon being released therefrom, the catch being extended

page_text: into the path of the intruded securing device and adapted to be encountered
thereby to release it from the detainer.
4. In a seal, in combination with a chambered body, a securing device adapted
to be inserted into the chamber and to fill the aperture through which it is thus
inserted; and a spring which normally coils with its ends lapped lodged within
the chamber, and a device within the chamber which holds the ends of the spring
separated to permit the inserted securing device to pass between them, the lock-
ing device having an aperture back of its inserted end and adapted after entering
between said ends to withdraw them from the separating device, whereby the
spring may be coiled through said aperture.
5. In a seal, in combination with a chambered body having a throatway con-
stituting the only entrance into the chamber, a securing device adapted to be
inserted through the throatway and substantially to occupy the same when thus
inserted; a spring coiled so that normally its ends lap, the same being lodged
unattached in the chamber and adapted to extend on both sides of the plane of
the throatway; guards extending from the opposite sides of the throatway
respectively adapted to hold the ends of the spring separated, the securing device
having an aperture back of the inserted end substantially equal to the diameter
of the spring, whereby, upon its insertion, it passes between the separated ends of
the spring and encounters the opposite side thereof, and forces it off the separating
device, and is engaged by the ends of the spring lapped through said aperture.
6. In a scal, in combination with a chambered body, a securing device consist-
ing of a strap adapted to be inserted in such body and adapted to enclose the
throat through which it is thus inserted, and having an aperture in the inserted
portion; a spring normally coiled so that its ends lap lodged within the chamber,
and a device which holds the ends of the spring separated to permit the inserted
securing device to pass between them and afterward dislodge them to receive the
lapped ends through its aperture, said spring, when spread to separate the ends,
being in contact at opposite sides with the edge walls of the chamber.
Dated this 30th day of Noromban 1807
By Herbert Haddan & Co.,
EMIL TYDEN,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.