Tamper evident security seal

Abstract

A security seal includes a locking element and a locking body configured to receive an end of the locking element therein to secure the security seal at an object. The locking body may include a deformable wall that deforms responsive to a sufficient pressure applied to the wall of the locking body. A disk element may be disposed in the locking body and movable along a tapered channel to clamp against the locking element to limit retraction of the locking element. The tapered channel may have an arcuate surface along which the disk element moves to provide a progressively increasing bite angle and clamping force at the locking element. The disk element may have a knurled surface with a circumferential groove established circumferentially around the disk element, with the circumferential groove offset from a center line of the disk element and toward a respective end of the disk element.

1 . A security seal comprising:
 a locking element configured to be received through an object;   a locking body configured to receive an end of said locking element therein to secure said security seal at an object; and   wherein said locking body comprises a collapsible or deformable wall that collapses or deforms responsive to a sufficient pressure being applied to said wall of said locking body, and thus provides a tamper evident feature.   
     
     
         2 . The security seal of  claim 1 , wherein said locking body receives a locking insert therein, and wherein said collapsible or deformable wall is spaced from said locking insert so that the wall deforms towards said locking insert when pressure is applied thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The security seal of  claim 2 , wherein said locking insert engages a portion of said collapsible or deformable wall with said space or gap being between said locking insert and another portion of said collapsible or deformable wall. 
     
     
         4 . The security seal of  claim 3 , wherein said locking insert engages another wall of said locking body that is opposite said collapsible or deformable wall. 
     
     
         5 . The security seal of  claim 4 , wherein said locking element comprises a flexible cable and wherein said locking insert comprises a disk element that is movable along a tapered channel to clamp against said flexible cable when said flexible cable is received in said locking element and when said flexible cable is moved in a retracting direction. 
     
     
         6 . The security seal of  claim 5 , wherein said tapered channel comprises an arcuate surface along which said disk element moves to provide enhanced clamping at said locking element. 
     
     
         7 . The security seal of  claim 5 , wherein said disk element comprises a knurled surface with at least one circumferential groove established in said knurled surface and circumferentially around said disk element, and wherein said at least one circumferential groove is offset from a center line of said disk element and toward a respective end of said disk element. 
     
     
         8 . A security seal comprising:
 a flexible cable configured to be received through an object;   a locking body configured to receive an end of said flexible cable to secure said security seal at an object;   a disk element disposed in said locking body and movable along a tapered channel to clamp against said flexible cable to limit or substantially preclude retraction of said flexible cable when said security seal is secured to an object; and   wherein said tapered channel comprises an arcuate surface along which said disk element moves to provide a progressively increasing bite angle and progressively increasing clamping force at said locking element.   
     
     
         9 . The security seal of  claim 8 , wherein said arcuate surface provides a sharper biting angle for said disk element to enhance biting or clamping against said flexible cable responsive to said flexible cable being pulled in an attempt to retract said flexible cable from said locking body. 
     
     
         10 . The security seal of  claim 9 , wherein an initial retraction of said flexible cable when initially pulled is limited by the sharper bite angle whereby a greater amount of clamping force is achieved at said flexible cable in a reduced amount of travel of said disk element along said locking body and in a direction of the cable retraction. 
     
     
         11 . The security seal of  claim 8 , further comprising a locking insert that is disposed in said locking body, wherein said disk element is disposed in said locking insert and movable along a tapered channel of said locking insert. 
     
     
         12 . The security seal of  claim 11 , wherein said locking body comprises a collapsible or deformable wall that collapses or deforms responsive to a sufficient pressure being applied to said wall of said locking body. 
     
     
         13 . The security seal of  claim 12 , wherein said collapsible or deformable wall is spaced from said locking insert so that the wall deforms towards said locking insert when pressure is applied thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The security seal of  claim 8 , wherein said disk element comprises a knurled surface with at least one circumferential groove established in said knurled surface and circumferentially around said disk element, and wherein said at least one circumferential groove is offset from a center line of said disk element and toward a respective end of said disk element. 
     
     
         15 . A security seal comprising:
 a flexible cable configured to be received through an object;   a locking body configured to receive an end of said flexible cable to secure said security seal at an object;   a disk element disposed in said locking body and movable along a tapered channel to clamp against said flexible cable to limit or substantially preclude retraction of said flexible cable when said security seal is secured to a container or door; and   wherein said disk element comprises a knurled surface with at least one circumferential groove established in said knurled surface and circumferentially around said disk element, and wherein said at least one circumferential groove is offset from a center line of said disk element and toward a respective end of said disk element.   
     
     
         16 . The security seal of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one circumferential groove comprises a pair of offset grooves each established in said knurled surface and circumferentially around said disk element toward respective opposite ends of said disk element. 
     
     
         17 . The security seal of  claim 16 , further comprising a centrally located circumferential groove established in said knurled surface and circumferentially around said disk element at a central region of said disk element. 
     
     
         18 . The security seal of  claim 15 , wherein said tapered channel comprises an arcuate ramp along which said disk element moves to provide a progressively increasing bite angle and progressively increasing clamping force at said locking element, and wherein said arcuate ramp provides a sharper bite angle for said disk element to enhance clamping against said flexible cable responsive to said flexible cable being pulled in an attempt to retract said flexible cable from said locking body. 
     
     
         19 . The security seal of  claim 15 , further comprising a locking insert that is disposed in said locking body, wherein said disk element is disposed in said locking insert and movable along a tapered channel of said locking insert. 
     
     
         20 . The security seal of  claim 15 , wherein said locking body comprises a collapsible or deformable wall that collapses or deforms responsive to a sufficient pressure being applied to said wall of said locking body.