Plastic seal

p0001The field of the invention is that of secure closure bags techniques. More specifically, the invention relates to a security tag, hereinafter referred to as seal, made of plastic material and intended to be fixed tightly around the neck of a bag.

p0002In the field of the invention, the seals have the function, in general, to provide evidence that a closed bag is indeed remained closed. In other words, the seal is the principle, once it attached to a bag, it can not be removed from the bag by an operation requiring a visible deterioration of the seal, providing evidence that the bag has been opened. Of course, these seals each carry a means of authentication.

p0003Such seals are typically used for example to transport bags of money.

p0004It was suggested by the prior art a sealed plastic technique such as that described in the patent document published under number <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="FR2513705"><text>FR-2513705</text></patcit>.

p0005According to this technique, the seal comprises an integral body of a flexible strip, the body having a channel therethrough, the tape bearing a series of non-rectangular outline of teeth and at least a portion of the channel having a contour complementary to that of the tape and the teeth carried by the latter. The channel is offset along its length in the region of an elastically deformable stop for movement of the teeth through the channel in one direction and prevent in the opposite direction.

p0006Despite its vocation to be inviolable, such sealed proves unreliable in practice, not offering a perfect guarantee that does not allow its removal from undetectable way. Indeed, by design, it is possible, even when the rod is inserted into the channel including the deformable stop, to access, for example with a blade inside to act on the stop channel and to clear the channel shaft without damaging the seal.

p0007It has therefore been proposed by the prior art sealed plastic another technique in which the retaining means act circumferentially around the rod, as disclosed by the patent document published under the number <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="AU701028"><text>AU-701028</text></patcit>.

p0008According to the technique described by this document, the seal comprises a body integral with a flexible shaft having a plurality of frustoconical portions, the body having a cavity in which is inserted a part with elastically deformable retaining means for cooperating with the portions tapering of the rod, a cover part being attached to the retaining means to prevent access to these, a hot deformation operation of the body to secure the assembly.

p0009According to yet another technique (illustrated by the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref>) That the retaining means act circumferentially around the rod, there is provided a seal comprising a body in which is formed a truncated cone 103, which defines a channel intended to be traversed by the flexible shaft 101, a part 102 constituting retaining means for cooperating with the flexible rod and intended. This part 102 is intended to be mounted in the truncated cone 103, and to be maintained therein by means of latching means 1021 that the door part 102 and which are designed to penetrate a groove 1031 formed on the inner wall of the truncated cone 103.

p0010The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> illustrates such a seal in the assembled state, and <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> illustrates the two component parts that sealed before assembly.

p0011These last two techniques offers high reliability compared to the technique described by <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="FR2513705"><text>FR - 2513705</text></patcit>The rod once engaged radially occupying all the sealed channel, which impedes access ax while retaining means.

p0012However, these techniques have a common drawback: they are composed of several parts.

p0013The parts that make up these seals must be made independently of each other, to tools help dedicated to each of these pieces, which tends to increase the scope of manufacturing these seals.

p0014Furthermore, these seals necessarily involve an assembly operation, which also tends to increase the cost of the seal.

p0015The invention particularly bearing target these disadvantages of the prior art.

p0016Specifically, the invention aims to provide a sealed plastic that is less expensive to manufacture than the seals of the prior art in which the retention means acting circumferentially around the stem.

p0017The invention also aims to provide such a seal whose manufacturing cost is not impacted by the assembly operations, or at least so significantly reduced compared to the known solutions in which the retaining means act circumferentially around the stem.

p0018The invention also aims to provide such a seal that provides a level of reliability to meet the expectations of users.

p0019The invention also aims to provide such a sealed plastic that is practical to use.

p0020Another object of the invention is to provide such a plastic seal which is simple in design and easy to implement.

p0021These objectives, and others that will appear later, are achieved through the invention relates to a plastic sealed, comprising:<ul><li>a body having a channel through said body;</li><li>a flexible rod secured to said body and provided with a plurality of notches, said rod being intended to be engaged in said channel by a face of said body facing said back;</li><li>elastically deformable retaining means and distributed circumferentially around said channel on the face of said body, said face-up, opposite to said back face intended to cooperate with said notches for retaining said opposite rod of its withdrawal from said channel;</li><li>recovery means of said retaining means for inhibiting access to said retaining means.</li></ul>

p0022According to the invention, the seal is in the form of a room including integrally said body and said rod, said body and said covering means and said retaining means, said covering means being connected to said body by a tab flexible.

p0023Thus, the invention provides a sealed plastic as a single piece comprising all the constituent parts necessary for the operation of a seal.

p0024It is thus clear that such a sealed possible to envisage significant gains in terms of manufacturing cost and / or logistics, the seal of the invention does not involve the implementation of several independently manufactured parts.

p0025In addition, a plastic seal of the invention does not require assembly operations such as those described by the prior art.

p0026In an advantageous embodiment, said covering means are secured to said body in the covering position.

p0027Note that the plastic seal can be offered with the covering means in the closed position (being sealed and ready to use, without the need for the user to proceed with the establishment of operation (even if this is fast) recovery means). Note also that the recovery means may be secured permanently or not.

p0028According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said covering means comprise first locking means for cooperating with second locking means carried by said body and / or said retaining means to ensure a locking of said cover means in a capping position of said retaining means.

p0029In this way, the covering means can be fed simply and quickly by the user in the closed position, maintaining in this position being ensured by a mechanical connection.

p0030A simple assembly operation is in effect to perform, by bringing the cover means on the retaining means by conducting a bending of the flexible tab and exercising (as will be explained in more detail below) a slight push on the cover means so as to obtain the joining thereof with the retaining means.

p0031This operation is very simple and can be performed by the user himself. It can also be performed by the manufacturer before delivery of the seal to the user, this with a very limited impact, see almost zero, the cost of production given the speed with which this can be done.

p0032According to an advantageous solution, said first locking means and said second locking means co-operate by snap-fastening.

p0033In this way, the cover means can be coupled with the retention means by a particularly quick and easy handling, this irreversibly.

p0034Preferably, said second locking means are carried by said retaining means.

p0035Thus, as will become clearer later, when the sealed shaft is engaged in the retaining means, the action of these on the stem tends to be reinforced by the action of the recovery means on how restraint.

p0036Such sealed thus offers great reliability guarantees.

p0037Advantageously, said retaining means comprise at least two lugs defining between them a passage for said rod and being elastically deformable at least between a position in which they diverge from one another when moving from one of said notches and a position in which they occupy a retaining position of said notch.

p0038According to an advantageous embodiment, said lugs bear a male locking portion, said covering means comprising at least one internal groove for receiving said male latching portion.

p0039According to another characteristic of the invention, said body has a collar surrounding said retaining means and forming a housing for receiving a lower portion of said cover means.

p0040This way, we still increases the reliability of sealed plastic, in that it obstructs access (making it the collar obstacle) to the retaining means by the passage, though very limited, which could be exploited to slide a blade between the base of the cover means and the body of the seal.

p0041According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said body has at least one recess between said flange and said retaining means, said lower portion of said cover means having at least one extension intended to penetrate said recess, a recess adjacent each preferably lug and said covering means having an extension for each recess.

p0042In this way, we increase again the inviolability of a plastic seal of the invention, by making it impossible, or almost, access to retaining means without apparent deterioration of the plastic seal.

p0043According to a first variant, said flange includes a first annular portion and a second portion, in a transverse section of said collar, a protuberance of said first portion.

p0044According to a second alternative embodiment, said collar includes an annular portion having an opening for forming a passage for said flexible tab.

p0045According to yet another characteristic, said flexible tab includes a portion delimited by two slots formed in said body.

p0046It is thus possible to keep the length of the leg, and thus its flexibility, while reducing the length of the portion of the tab extending side of the body, which reduces the total sealed space.

p0047Further advantages features of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given as an illustrative and non-limiting example, and the attached drawings among which:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> are partial views in section of a plastic seal according to the prior art;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> is a perspective view of a sealed plastic according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> is a detail view in perspective of a sealed plastic retaining means according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figures 5 and 6</figref> are sectional views of a sealed plastic according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref> is a partial perspective view of a sealed plastic according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">8</figref> is a perspective view of a plastic sealed according to a second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">9</figref> is a detail view in perspective of a sealed plastic retaining means according to a second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0005">Figures 10 and 11</figref> are sectional views of a sealed plastic according to a second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0006">Figure 12</figref> is a partial perspective view of a sealed plastic according to a second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0007">13</figref> is a sectional view of a sealed plastic according to a third embodiment.</li></ul>

p0048As noted above, the principle of the invention is that of designing and implementing a sealed plastic as a piece in one piece containing all the constituent parts of such a seal.

p0049With reference to <figref idrefs="f0002 f0003">Figures 3 to 7</figref>, A plastic sealed according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises:<ul><li>a plate 3 constituting the body of the seal, having a through channel 30;</li><li>a flexible shaft 1 secured to the plate 3 and extending from an end thereof, the rod 1 having a plurality of notches 11, this rod being intended to be bent around the neck of a bag and to be tightened around thereof by introducing the free end of the rod in the channel 30 of the plate 3, the engagement of the free end of the rod being effected by the back face 32 of the plate 3;</li><li>retention means (described in more detail hereinafter) 4 resiliently deformable and distributed circumferentially around the channel 30 on the front side 33 of the plate 3, these retaining means being intended to cooperate with the notches 11 of the rod 1 preventing removal of the latter from the channel once the rod engaged in the channel;</li><li>2 covering means for covering retaining means to prevent access thereto.</li></ul>

p0050According to the principle of the invention, the seal is formed as a room including integrally the plate 3, the rod 1, the cover means 2 and the retention means 4.

p0051Furthermore, the cover means 2 are connected to the plate by a flexible tab 5, and comprises first 22 locking means intended to cooperate with second locking means (described in more detail below) carried by the means of retaining and / or the plate for locking the cover means in a covering position of the retaining means.

p0052According to the present embodiment, the retaining means are constituted by three lugs 4 each extending in an arc around the channel 30 and each comprising an elastically flexible base 40 extending from the plate 3.

p0053The notches of the rod have in turn each, in the present embodiment, a cylindrical portion 110 extending into a tapered portion 111, the notches being connected in pairs by a connecting portion 112.

p0054The lugs 4 delimit, in the default position, at their free end, a passage of a diameter substantially corresponding to the connecting portions 112 (the diameter of the connecting portions 112 being of course less than that of the cylindrical portions 110 ).

p0055When the rod is inserted into the channel 30 from the back face of the plate 3, the pins 4 differ from each other under the effect of successive crops of frustoconical portions 111, and are held apart in the passages cylindrical portions 110. the tabs to their default position during the passage connecting portions 112. They then constitute a stop at the rear of each cylindrical portion 110, preventing withdrawal of the pin from the channel 30.

p0056As shown by <figref idrefs="f0003">Figures 5 and 6</figref>, Recovery means 2 take the form of a generally frusto-conical cap, from the lower part of which extends the flexible tab 5, the latter having:<ul><li>a first portion 51 extending to part of the plate 3 in the plane of the face thereof;</li><li>a bent portion 52;</li><li>a connecting portion 53 with the cap 2.</li></ul>

p0057According to this configuration of the flexible tab 5, in the closed position as illustrated by the left part of the <figref idrefs="f0003">6</figref>, The first portion 51 extends in abutment on the face of the plate 3 while the portion 53 of the leg 5 is spaced from the face of the plate 3.

p0058According to the present embodiment, the cap 2 has an internal groove forming the first clamping means, the tabs 4 each having an element beveled projection 41 forming the locking means second intended to cooperate by latching with the groove 22 of the cap 2 to retain it in the covering position of the retention means 4.

p0059Moreover, the plate 3 has also:<ul><li>a collar 31 surrounding the lugs 4, and defining a housing for receiving a lower portion 23 of the cap 2 (the inner diameter of the collar 31 being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lower portion 23 of the cap 2), this lower part 23 which fits within the collar 31 in the covering position of the retention means 4 (as shown on the left side of the <figref idrefs="f0003">6</figref>);</li><li>recesses 321 (<figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref>) Traversing according to the present embodiment, the thickness of the plate 3, these recesses being each intended to receive an extension 21 of the lower part 23 of the cap 2;</li></ul>

p0060As shown on the <figref idrefs="f0002">figures 3</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref>, The plate 3 has three recesses 321, each adjacent to the flexible base 40 with a pin 4, and the cap having at its base three extensions 21 arranged in correspondence with the recesses 321 of the plate 3.

p0061Furthermore, the flange 31 presents, in cross section, a first annular portion 311, and a second portion 312 forming a projection of the annular portion 311. Thus, this protrusion can accommodate a reinforcement zone 54 to the junction between the cap 2 and 5 flexible tab (such area ensuring a guaranteed bond during the molding / mold sealed).

p0062The implementation of a plastic sealed according to this first embodiment the invention is effected as follows.

p0063Initially, the cap 2 is brought in the covering position of the retaining means, this by folding the flexible tab 5 (this bending taking place at the junction zone between the flexible tab 5 and the plate 3).

p0064The cap 2 is locked in the closed position, this by pushing on the cap in the direction of the face of the plate 3, so that:<ul><li>the extensions 21 to the base of the cap 2 enter the recesses 321 of the plate 3;</li><li>the projections 41 penetrate the inner groove 22 of the cap 2, the beveled shape of the elements 41 causing the pins 4 to be closer to each other under the effect of the thrust of the base of the cap 2, the lugs 4 resuming, once the elements 41 housed in the groove 22, the default position, and thereby preventing removal of the cap 2 from the retention means 4.</li></ul>

p0065It is understood that, once the cap 2 snapped over the lugs 4, its removal from the pins is not possible without deterioration.

p0066The rod 1 is then inserted into the channel 30 from the back face of the plate 3 and the notches 11 of the rod 1 cooperate with the retaining means 4 in the manner described previously.

p0067the cap 2 it is noted that this in its upper part a channel 20 for the passage of the shank 1, the diameter of this channel 20 being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portions 110 of the tabs 11 of the stem.

p0068Thus, once the rod engaged in the channel 30 as shown in the left part of the <figref idrefs="f0003">6</figref>, We note that the plastic seal of the invention leaves no possibility to access the retention means 4 in order to act on them to remove the shank 1 Channel 30.

p0069With reference to <figref idrefs="f0004 f0005 f0006">Figures 8-12</figref>Describes a plastic seal according to a second embodiment of the invention. As shown by these figures, a plastic seal comprises, similarly to the first embodiment:<ul><li>a plate 3 constituting the body of the seal, having a through channel 30;</li><li>a flexible shaft 1 secured to the plate 3 and extending from an end thereof, the rod 1 having a plurality of notches 11, this rod being intended to be bent around the neck of a bag and to be tightened around thereof by introducing the free end of the rod in the channel 30 of the plate 3, the engagement of the free end of the rod being effected by the back face 32 of the plate 3;</li><li>retention means (described in more detail hereinafter) 4 resiliently deformable and distributed circumferentially around the channel 30 on the front side 33 of the plate 3, these retaining means being intended to cooperate with the notches 11 of the rod 1 preventing removal of the latter from the channel once the rod engaged in the channel;</li><li>2 covering means for covering retaining means to prevent access thereto.</li></ul>

p0070As in the first embodiment, the seal is formed as a room including integrally the plate 3, the rod 1, the cover means 2 and the retention means 4.

p0071Furthermore, the cover means 2 are connected to the plate by a flexible tab 5, and comprises first 22 locking means intended to cooperate with second locking means (described in more detail below) carried by the means of retaining and / or the plate for locking the cover means in a covering position of the retaining means.

p0072According to the present embodiment, the retaining means are constituted by four pins 4 each extending in an arc around the channel 30 and each comprising an elastically flexible base 40 extending from the plate 3.

p0073The notches of the rod have in turn each, in the present embodiment, a cylindrical portion 111 extending into a tapered portion 112 that flares out from the cylindrical portion 111.

p0074The lugs 4 delimit, in the default position, at their free end, a passage of a diameter corresponding substantially to that of the frustoconical portions 112 with the largest at the diameter thereof.

p0075When the rod is inserted into the channel 30 from the reverse side of the plate 3, the lugs 4 differ from each other as a result of successive crops tapered portions 112. The tabs to their default position after passage of the truncated portions 112. They then constitute a stop at the rear of each tapered portion 112, preventing withdrawal of the pin from the channel 30.

p0076As shown by <figref idrefs="f0005">Figures 10 and 11</figref>, Recovery means 2 take the form of a generally frusto-conical cap, from the lower part of which extends the flexible tab 5, the latter having<ul><li>a first portion 51 extending in the side of the platen 3;</li><li>a second portion 55 defined by two parallel slots 550 formed in the plate 3, in the extension of which extends the first portion 51 (<figref idrefs="f0006">Figure 12</figref>).</li></ul>

p0077According to the present embodiment, the cap 2 has an internal groove forming the first clamping means, the tabs 4 each having an element beveled projection 41 forming the locking means second intended to cooperate by latching with the groove 22 of the cap 2 to retain it in the covering position of the retention means 4.

p0078Moreover, the plate 3 also has a collar 31 surrounding the lugs 4, and defining a housing for receiving a lower portion 23 of the cap 2 (the inner diameter of the collar 31 being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lower part 23 of the cap 2), this lower part 23 which fits inside the collar 31 in the covering position of the retention means 4 (as shown in the right part of the <figref idrefs="f0005">11</figref>).

p0079In addition, the flange 31 presents, in cross section, an annular portion 311 extending between two zones 313 (forming an opening therebetween to the interior of the annular portion), each extending by a flange 314 which s' platinum extends to the edge 3. the flanges 314 are parallel and define a channel in which a portion of the flexible tab is intended to take place when the cap is brought into retaining means covering position.

p0080The implementation of a plastic sealed according to this second embodiment of the invention is effected as follows.

p0081Initially, the cap 2 is brought into retaining means covering position, this by folding the flexible tab 5 (this bending being effected from the portion 55 of the lug bounded by the slots 550).

p0082The cap 2 is locked in the closed position, this by pushing on the cap in the direction of the face of the plate 3, so that the projections 41 penetrate the inner groove 22 of the cap 2, the bevelled shape of the elements 41 causing the pins 4 to be closer to each other under the effect of the thrust of the base of the cap 2, the lugs 4 repeating, once the elements 41 housed in the groove 22, the default position, and consequently preventing the removal of the cap 2 from the retention means 4.

p0083It is understood that, once the cap 2 snapped over the lugs 4, its removal from the pins is not possible without deterioration.

p0084The rod 1 is then inserted into the channel 30 from the back face of the plate 3 and the notches 11 of the rod 1 cooperate with the retaining means 4 in the manner described previously.

p0085It is noted that the cap 2 has in its upper part a channel 20 for the passage of the shank 1, the diameter of this channel 20 being substantially equal to the largest diameter of the frustoconical portions 112 of the tabs 11 of the stem.

p0086Thus, once the rod engaged in the channel 30 as shown in the left part of the <figref idrefs="f0005">11</figref>, We note that the plastic seal of the invention leaves no possibility to access the retention means 4 in order to act on them to remove the shank 1 Channel 30.

p0087Referring to <figref idrefs="f0007">13</figref>Describes a plastic seal according to a third embodiment of the invention. As shown by this figure, a sealing plastic comprises, similarly to the first embodiments<ul><li>a plate 3 constituting the body of the seal, having a through channel 30;</li><li>a flexible shaft 1 secured to the plate 3 and extending from an end thereof, the rod 1 having a plurality of notches 11, the engagement of the free end of the rod being effected by the reverse side 32 of the plate 3;</li><li>retaining means (of the type previously described) 4 resiliently deformable and distributed circumferentially around the channel 30 on the front side 33 of the plate 3, these retaining means being intended to cooperate with the notches 11 of the shaft 1 to prevent removing it from the channel once the rod engaged in the channel;</li><li>2 covering means for covering retaining means to prevent access thereto.</li></ul>

p0088According to the principle of the invention, the seal is formed as a room including integrally the plate 3, the rod 1, the cover means 2 and the retention means 4.

p0089Furthermore, the cover means 2 are connected to the plate by a flexible tab 5.

p0090The cooperation of the lugs 4 with the notches 11 of the rod 1 takes place in the manner already described.

p0091As illustrated in <figref idrefs="f0007">13</figref>, Recovery means 2 take the form of a generally frusto-conical cap, from the lower part of which extends the flexible tab 5 ..

p0092According to the present embodiment, the cap 2 an inner cavity the volume of which is provided for receiving the pins 4 without contact thereof with the cap.

p0093Moreover, the plate 3 also has a collar 31 surrounding the lugs 4, and defining a housing for receiving a lower portion 23 of the cap 2 (the inner diameter of the collar 31 being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lower part 23 of the cap 2), this lower part 23 which fits inside the collar 31 in the covering position of the retention means 4 (as shown in the right part of the <figref idrefs="f0007">13</figref>).

p0094According to this embodiment, the seal is offered to users with the cap in place by lugs covering position.

p0095In addition, the cap is held in position by bonding cover or other means of welding (ultrasonic, vibration, mirror ...) of the lower portion 23 against the face of the plate 3.