Patent · US Expired

Security seal

US4640538A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
4References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1985
Grant dateFeb 3, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T292/502
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A security seal of the type which utilizes a stranded cable as a shackle. A seal body is provided with a pair of spaced apertures for receiving the end portions of a length of cable. A first cable end may be freely insertable into a shackle aperture, or may be staked therein so as to be non-removable, and the second cable end may be freely inserted into the second aperture, forming a cable loop at one end of the body forming a shackle. The second aperture leads to a cable channel which has a locking wheel and side walls retaining the wheel which cooperate to allow the cable to be inserted from said one end but lock the cable against retrograde movement after insertion. To prevent the release of the cable by twisting the cable to cause the cable to back out of the opening by reason of the thread-like effect of the cable strands, the wheel is provided with recesses around the peripheral surface which simulate a thread having the same pitch as that of the individual filaments of the cable strands. The periphery of the wheel therefore meshes accurately with the cable filaments and prevents rotation of the cable in relation to the wheel, which is fixed against sideways rotation in the h…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.