Improvements in Seals or Fastenings to Prevent Boxes, Cases, or the like from being Fraudulently Opened.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
Improvements in Seals or Fastenings to Prevent Boxes, Cases, or the
like from being Fraudulently Opened.
I, FRANCE COURAGE, of 176, Rue Ste. Catherine, Bordeaux, in the French
Republic, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to safety seals or fastenings which, when driven or pressed
in across the joints in the boards forming the several walls of a box case or the
like, allow the case to be opened without breakage but do not allow the cases to
be opened and again closed without leaving very evident traces of such opera-
tions however great the care that may have been exercised in performing such
operations so that at a glance it may be noted if the case has been fraudulently
opened.
According to my invention the fastenings are made from sheet metal, prefer-
ably steel and have preferably the form of oval washers the two edges of which
are raised in a direction at right angles to the plan of the washer. The outer
raised edge is provided with barbed teeth or tongues formed for example like
anchors or fish hooks and the inner edge may or may not be provided with teeth.
Either of these two forms may be used according to circumstances and especially
according to the degree of hardness of the wood with which the fastening is to
be employed.
When there are teeth on the inner edge of the washer they are preferably
smaller and not so numerous as the teeth on the outer edge.
When the teeth have been driven into the wood so far that the washer is level
with the outer surface of the case the wood again expands between the teeth so
that the wood will be torn and broken away by the hooks or lateral projection
when the fastening is withdrawn.
The accompanying drawing represents the fastenings made according to my
invention and shows the manner in which they are used.
In the drawing Fig. 1 represents the blank of a fastening having the outer edge
only provided with teeth.
Figs. 2 and 3 show in elevation and plan respectively a finished fastening.
Fig. 4 shows in perspective a portion of a fastening cut across its major axis.
Figs. 5 to 8 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 1 to 4 showing a fas-
tening furnished-with-teeth-on-both-edges-of-the-washer
Figs. 9 and 10 show the manner of employing the fastenings.
be
may pro-
From the drawing it can easily be seen how the fastenings are fixed.
a designates the teeth on the outside edge and b the teeth which
vided on the inside edge.
It will be noticed that two of the teeth on the outer edge are larger than the
others, that is to say, the two which are situated on the minor axis of the washer c.
Figs. 9 and 10 show that the fastening is fixed in such a manner that these
large teeth are placed parallel to the face d of the case, which is perpendicular to

page_text: the face e into which the fastening is forced that is to say in the place where the
resistance of the wood to penetration is least and where it is easiest to attempt to
break it open.
The fastening therefore is placed so that the major axis coincides with the
joint formed by the two boards to be sealed together. I therefore preferably
use an oval or other form of unequal dimensions with the object of facilitating
the exact position under these conditions.
When the fastening is forced into the wood the teeth act as barbs displacing
the fibres of the wood but as the shank of the hook is smaller than the barbed
head there are relatively large spaces between the shanks so that when once the
insertion has been effected the fibres of the wood fill these spaces in the effort to
regain their natural position. It follows therefore when the fastening is with-
drawn the barbed heads tear the fibres of the wood which lie behind them and
drag them away making a wide hole in the boards. This hole still remains very
apparent even if the fastening is re-inserted in due course in its original position.
It is therefore impossible to separate the boards or open the case without leav-
ing traces readily seen and of such a nature as to betray fraudulent opening of
the case.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself strictly to the construc-
tions shown as examples on the accompanying drawing that is to say I reserve
to myself the right of altering according to circumstances the outline or form,
or dimensions, or the number or form of the teeth of my fastenings and to make
any alterations in the details of any fastenings which may conduce to the object
which I have in view that is to say to provide a seal or fastening which while
permitting the box or case to he opened without breakage at the same time does
not allow the box to be opened without leaving very evident traces of such a
nature as to disclose any tampering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. A metal seal or fastening consisting of a body part provided with barbed
teeth substantially as set forth.
2. A metal seal or fastening consisting of a body part with or without a hole
therein and a number of barbed teeth of different lengths at right angles to the
body part substantially as set forth.
3. The constructions of metal seals or fastenings substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and as shewn on the drawing.
Dated this Nineteenth day of September 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.