Twist-Type Security Seal

Abstract

A security seal of the twist-type comprises a housing ( 11 ) that contains a revolving stem-like insert ( 13 ) having two axially opposed holes ( 17 ) positioned in line with guiding holes ( 19 ) which extend across the housing wall to receive a locking wire which is wound by turning the revolving stem ( 13 ) with a handle ( 15 ) solidly fixed to it in a pre-determined direction. The revolving stem has a disc-shaped section with an anti-rotational device that comprises six helical teeth ( 35 ) engaging with matching shoulders ( 37 ) formed on the respectively matching surfaces of the inner wall of the housing to prevent rotation of the stem in the unwinding direction. Included is a lid ( 27 ) to cover the stem-like insert once it is in place in the housing, the lid being attached to the housing by means of a breakable strip ( 59 ) and an identification code engraved inside the lid, said identification being at least partially identical to an univocal code identification engraved on the housing. Protuberances ( 57 A, 57 B) on each side of the housing are provided through which through holes pass so that they are long enough so as to avoid an element introduced in them applying leveraged up-force on the stem-like insert in an attempt to push it upwards. An anti-removal device comprises a retainer ring ( 21 ) formed on the stem engages with a groove ( 23 ) formed in the housing ( 11 ) when the stem is introduced into the body, the side wall of the housing having a weakened section ( 29 ) intended to break if someone tries to remove the lid ( 67 ). The housing is see-through and looking through its bottom wall ( 51 ) it is possible to see the three last digits of the univocal serial number of the security seal, stamped on a tab ( 45 ) fixed to the housing.

1 . A security seal of the twist-type, comprising a housing  11  including a revolving stem-like insert  13  on which a locking security wire  25  is wound by turning a handle  15  attached to the top of the stem  13 , in a predetermined sense, after passing through the object to be protected and being inserted through at least one hole  17 B in said stem  13  when said hole is aligned with a matching hole  19 B on the housing wall, protuberances  57 A-B on each side of the housing through which through holes guiding holes  19 A-C pass, said stem having a disc-shaped section  31  with a plurality of peripherically distributed locking members  35  capable of engaging with matching shoulders  37  formed on the corresponding section of the inner wall of the housing  11  to prevent rotation of the stem  13  within the housing in an opposite sense to the above winding sense, the housing and the stem having a univocal code in visible sites when the seal is closed, wherein at least the bottom wall  51  of the housing  11  being transparent so as to allow reading of a code printed on a flat surface of the bottom innermost end of the stem, said code matching at least partially an univocal identification code printed on a tab  45 , an anti-removal lock for the stem-like insert  13  comprising a retaining circular ring  21 , said ring being engaged with a circumferential groove  23  formed in the housing  11 , characterized in further comprising: 
 a lid  27  to cover the stem-like insert  13  once it is in place in the housing  11  and the handle  15  has been removed, the lid  27  being attached to the housing by means of a breakable strip  59  and thus effectively becoming a one piece seal;    an identification code engraved inside the lid  27 , said identification being at least partially identical to an univocal code identification engraved on the housing;    said lid and said housing both have flat threads  61  and  63  respectively; and    said lid and said housing further comprise four tabs  65  and four slots  67 .    
   
   
       2 . The security seal of  claim 1 , characterized in that all parts of the security seal are made of a rigid frangible material such as polycarbonate, acrylic or the like.