Closure fasteners – Seals – Encasing
Patent
1999-04-02
2000-09-12
Dayoan, B.
Closure fasteners
Seals
Encasing
292318, 24543, B65D 2730
Patent
active
061166669
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a locking device and in particular to a lockable, tamper-evident device for securing a closure member in its closed position to an article.
Conventionally, locking devices necessitate the use of a tool, for example a key, for locking and/or unlocking purposes. With such locks unauthorised opening and subsequent locking is not always evident and potential duplication of the tool provides an additional security risk. Further problems associated with these locks would be apparent to the skilled person and include: accidental loss of the key necessitating breakage of the lock; the wear and tear of the engagable and movable parts of the lock and key; and the expense and maintenance of the lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,627 discloses a reusable security seal. The seal comprises a pair of hingedly-mounted arms having co-operable locking means located at the free ends of the arms. Locking of the seal is effected by hinged movement of the arms towards each other and engagement of the co-operable locking means.
DE-A-1761379 discloses a seal which is operable in a similar manner to the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,627. However, in this case each of the hingedly-mounted arms has a recess which, when the device is in the locked-closed position, cooperate to trap and retain a cord or ribbon.
The present invention overcomes the above problems by providing a cheap to produce and reliable, lockable device for which no separate tool is required for locking and/or unlocking purposes. The device provides a self-evident means for identifying when a closure member for an article has been tampered with in order to gain access to the article. Once the device is in a locked-closed position it is only removable by means which result in physical damage to the device which in turn provides evidence of tamper. Furthermore, once the device has assumed the locked-closed position it is not re-usable. Thus, it may be more appropriate to refer to the lockable device as a security seal. Each seal is uniquely identifiable, for example, by a bar code or serial number or by other means which would be apparent to the skilled person. Accordingly, any attempted replacement of a broken seal with a new seal would be evident by comparison of the respective device identification means.
The present invention provides a lockable tamper-evident device for securing a closure member in its closed position to an article, comprising a pair of arms mounted by a hinge to each other which arms are movable along a defined radial path relative to the hinge between an open position wherein the free ends of the arms remote from the hinge are spaced apart from each other thereby permitting respective outwardly-facing portions of the arms to engage with the article and/or closure member, and a locked-closed position in which disengagement of the arms from the article and/or the closure member is prevented by engagement of a co-operable locking means carried by the arms, activation of the locking means being brought about by radial movement of the arms towards each other and into the locked-closed position, and when in the locked-closed position removal of the closure member being prevented by engagement of the arms with the article and/or the closure member.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the arms are engagable with a projection extending either from the article and through an opening in the closure member or from the closure member and through an opening in the article. In the latter embodiment, the projection may extend through an opening provided in an outwardly facing part of the article.
The projection and the arms are adapted to engage with each other. In a preferred embodiment, the arms form a socket in the locked-closed position which is engagable with a ball located at the free end of the projection. Alternatively, the arms may carry inwardly facing edges which, in the locked-closed position, grip corresponding grooves located on the projection. Preferably, the projection and the corresponding opening are of non-cir
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Adamson Donald
Benjamins Arthur
Dayoan B.
Envopak Group Limited
Vaterlaus Clifford B
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