Patent ID: 7259674

Claim:
A security device for attaching around a generally annular article to be protected from theft, said device comprising: a rigid housing having a lock compartment with an entry port and a ratchet strap extending outwardly therefrom, said strap having a curved inner surface, a curved outer surface, a series of one-way locking teeth formed on the outer surface and sufficient stiffness to provide a preset curvature to the strap whereby the curved inner surface of the strap assumes a generally circular configuration with a curved portion of the housing to facilitate attaching the device around the cylindrical surface of the article; wherein the curved portion of the housing has a convexly curved inner surface which communicates with the lock compartment and has a mating configuration with the curved inner surface of the strap; a locking mechanism disposed within the lock compartment, said locking mechanism including a locking pawl engageable with one of the locking teeth for securing the strap in a locked position; and a guide pin mounted in the lock compartment adjacent a distal end of the locking pawl for engaging the curved outer surface of the strap during insertion thereof into the lock compartment to guide the strap toward the curved inner surface of the housing to facilitate a mating engagement of the curved inner surface of the strap with the curved inner surface of the housing and to assist in maintaining the strap in position for locking engagement with the pawl.