Lock bolt.

(54) Title: FIXING BOLT. (54) Title: LOCK BOLT.

(57) Summary

A security locking bolt for sealing objects against unauthorized access includes a locking bolt with two locking bolt locking devices collaborating with two locking locking devices collaborating with a locking cylinder and a transparent cap member secured to the locking cylinder. lock, respectively. The bolt locking device collaborates with the locking cylinder that secures the bolt from unauthorized separation from the locking cylinder, and the locking device collaborating with the transparent cap is visible to an outside observer to the cylinder and fixes the bolt against the clear cap member separation. The clear cap locking arrangement provides an indication of complete locking of the fixing bolt inside the locking cylinder. The bolt locking device associated with the transparent cap member is integrated with an over-molded housing of the bolt body.

(57) Abstract

A security lock bolt for sealing objects against unauthorized access ineludes a lock bolt having two bolt locking features that cooperate with two locking features that cooperate with a locking cylinder and transparent cap member secured to the locking cylinder, respectively. The bolt locking feature cooperating with the locking cylinder secures the bolt from unauthorized separation from the locking cylinder and the locking feature that cooperates with the transparent cap is visible to an observer outside the cylinder and locks the bolt against separation from the transparent cap member. The transparent cap locking arrangement provides an indication of full locking of the lock bolt within the locking cylinder. The bolt locking feature associated with the transparent cap member is integrated with an overmolded bolt body casing.

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Mexican Property

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PATENT TITLE NO. 338231

Owner (s): IAN A. NAZZARI

Address: 817 Villa Ln. # 1, Moraga, California, 94556, E; U¿A.

Denomination: FIXING BOLT.

Classification: IC.8: G09F3 / 03

Inventor (s): IAN A. NAZZARI

REQUEST

Numbers

MX / a / 2014/012518

Pafs:

i ^us

Validity: Twenty years

Presentation period April 1, 2013

PRIORITY

Date:

April 2012

IsÉife

Number:

61/635,565

Expiration Date April 17, 2033

The reference lipa is granted on the basis of articles 1, 2, section V, 6, section III, and 59 of the Industrial Property Law. In accordance with article 23 of the Industrial Property Law, this paten * e validity of twenty days from the date of present rights.

Who subscribes the present title to the Industrial Property (Official Gables Gazette, the international application and will be subject to the payment of the fee to maintain the

26/01/2004, 16/06/2005, 25/01/2006, 0 '05/2009,0!

Item a), 4th and 12th fractions I and

07/01/2002, 07/15/2004, 28Λ97 / 2004 and J09 / 2007); artustrial idustrial (DOF

9in «jrfflSfiÉBsto by articles 6 fractions NI and. 7 * .bis 2 of / 27/60/1991, amended on 02 / C8 / 1994, 25/10/1996, »/ 12/1997, í. 06/28/2010, 01/27/2012 and 04/09/2012}; articles 1, 3 stftufeJféMe of Industrial Property {D.Of. Ί4 / 12/1999, asi / ni with melted Federacii

Regulation

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on 10/10/200, urrws and others on 02/04/2000, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and J3 / 09/20 ^ d «t Mexican Property Institute and 5th paragraph a) of the Agreement that delegates Aultades to the Directors' Regional Offices, Deputy Directors, Coordinators Depai InrJustnal (DOF 12/15/19 », reform ·

V ¡ncü | g | a), fractions t IRi and 30 of the Statute, 04/08/2004 and 13/09 /: 'Divisional ectors, Titles of the Mexican Institute of Ii of / 05/1999, traction V rmed the Organic; 1st, 3rd res of the properties

Law i&gt; i

37);

<img file="MX338231B_D0003.tif" />

Issue Date: April 8, 2016

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF PATENTS

1-.

AHANNY CANAL REYES

Arenal No. 550, Floor 1,

Col. Pueblo Santa Mana Tepepan. Xochimiico. C P. 16020,

Mexico City on. (55) 53 34 07 00 www.itTipi.QOb.iTix

<img file="MX338231B_D0004.tif" />

MX / 2016/27187

33££3|

MOUNTING BOLT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a useful security fixing bolt for sealing objects against unauthorized access, such as containers, meters, doors, lids and the like.

Background of the Invention

Fixation bolts are used to secure or seal objects against unauthorized access in the form of padlocks and the like, but are specifically intended to reveal tamper with the seal by visual inspection. In this way, the fixing bolts are typically configured such that visual inspection will show that the seal is secure and has not been tampered with in an unauthorized manner from the time it was installed until the time it is released from the object. sealed.

Typical known fixing bolts include urT fixing bolt body and a locking cylinder irreversibly connected together by a fixing device that allows a quick and simple assembly of the bolt body to the locking cylinder but avoids the subsequent separation of the two elements without breaking all or part of the mounting bolt assembly, the breakage of which would be readily apparent by visual inspection.

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INSTITUTO MEXICANO OE LA 1'ROMEDaO INDUSTRIAL

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Ref. 251908

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The prior art fixing bolts are exemplified in the following list of patent documents:

US 409,034 - Gillespie US 1,079,839 - Cerieria

US 1,131,085 - Reilly

US 4,802,700 - Stevenson and others

US 5,120,097 - Fattori and others

US 6,481,765 - Jelavic

US 6,550,829 - Dobson

US 6,962,376 - Palzkill and others

US 7,740,292 - Fattori

US 7,336,170 - Auerbach et al.

US 2007/0007776 Al - Beard and others

French 0 537 400 - Fortín (April 21, 1993)

The prior art locking bolts, while operating in a manner that provides a locked seal, lack the ability to provide a clearly visible indication of a fully locked condition of a primary internal locking device between a bolt element fixing and a collaborating locking cylinder element, and lack a secondary locking device that provides a second lock in addition to the primary internal lock between a locking bolt element and a locking cylinder element, while providing a visible indication of a condition

IMPI

Mexican Institute of Industrial Property

<img file="MX338231B_D0007.tif" />

locked from the fixing bolt and any—_?^ ¿Ri_ORn_Ci_to tamper on the fixing bolt that has interfered with its locking condition.

Brief Description of the Invention

A fixing bolt according to this invention can be used to seal an object such as a container, vehicle body, access door, etc., against unauthorized access includes an elongated bolt body with an irreversible locking device such as a circumferential coupling groove located in a position located along its length and which can be received in a bore extending axially in a cylinder collaborative locking device including an irreversible locking device within the bore, such as a split spring locking ring, adapted to cooperate with the irreversible locking device in the bolt body when the bolt body is fully received within the bore of the locking cylinder.

The bolt body is configured to be received within the bore in such a way that the bolt body and locking cylinder locking devices will engage and fix together in an irreversible manner once they are assembled together, and any attempt separating the bolt body from the locking cylinder will require the bolt body to rupture, the

IMPI

MLXICANO INSTITUTE OL THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0008.tif" />

locking device and / or the locking cylinder. In this way, the fixing bolt is configured to provide a visible indication of clandestine interference with its lock and seal function.

The bolt body and lock cylinder will typically be provided with matching serial numbers or signs indicating the original unique synchronization of the lock bolt with the lock cylinder.

The fixing bolt of the present invention is provided with both a primary or primary internal fixing device that irreversibly locks the bolt body to the locking cylinder within the cylinder when the bolt body is in the secured assembled configuration, as well as a secondary fixing device that locks the bolt body in a lock cylinder housing in a way that is visible to an outside viewer through a transparent cover member that covers and engages with the housing.

The transparent cap member provides part of the secondary locking device in the form of one or more locking features of the transparent cap member in the preferred form of visible splices which are cast with one or more bolt body locking devices in the form Preferred locking fingers provided on the body of the fixing bolt. The cover member

<img file="MX338231B_D0009.tif" />

ΙΜΡΪ ότ tx 9κοΗίοκη transparent is securely fixed permanelit £ 'ment?

Lock cylinder housing in a modal ldarj —'prrfnrirln., Accordingly, the bolt body is irreversibly secured to the lock cylinder when assembled in a secured configuration with the bolt body received in the bore of the lock cylinder by two-bolt, primarily a first internal locking feature within the locking cylinder bore, usually a split spring metal locking annular element connecting a first bolt body locking device in a preferred or typical form of a circumferential engagement groove in the bolt body metal shank, and a second bolt body locking feature in the preferred form of visible locking fingers on the bolt body connecting the visible locking joints within the transparent cap member covering the upper end of the locking cylinder.

The secondary locking device of the bolt body in the preferred form of the visible locking fingers that connect with the visible locking joints of the transparent cap member also provide a telltale indication of complete locking of the first internal locking device by the indication that the bolt body has been fully received into the bore of the lock cylinder to a sufficient degree

<img file="MX338231B_D0010.tif" />

IMPI to cause the first internal locking device (ie the split ring and coupling groove in the metal stem of the bolt) to connect. The second bolt body locking device in the preferred form of the locking fingers and the transparent cap member locking device in the form of locking splices are configured and dimensioned such that they do not connect unless the metal stem of the bolt has been fully received into the bore of the locking cylinder to the extent that the first locking device of the bolt body is irreversibly connected to the locking device cylinder lock.

The fixing bolt in accordance with the present invention therefore provides a doubly secure seal with visible indications of a completely locked condition and visible evidence of any tampering of the fixing bolt causing or attempting to cause the bolt body to separate from the blocking.

The bolt body and locking cylinder housing are formed of relatively rigid and hard resin material (plastic) that is over-molded directly onto the fixing bolt and locking cylinder, with a connecting section of the over-molded material , if desired, which temporarily connects the fixing bolt to the locking cylinder to hold them together during transportation and

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0011.tif" />

Drive to installation in view of the marking of the fixing bolt and the locking cylinder with a common serial number that ensures the synchronization of the bolt to the cylinder when the fixing bolt is in the sealed condition.

Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures where:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the elements of an illustrative fixing bolt embodying the invention prior to assembly in a security locked configuration;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the elements shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective cutaway view of the elements shown in Fig. 1 showing the internal structures of the elements;

Fig. 4 is a perspective front cutaway view of the elements of Fig. 1 in process to be assembled in a locking configuration;

Fig. 5 is a partial front cutaway view of the internal structure of part of the locking elements of the fixing bolt and the locking cylinder in a locked configuration;

Fig. 6 is an elongated detailed cutaway view

IMPI

INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dr THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0012.tif" />

of the second fingers of the locking bolt locking device and the transparent cover member as shown in Fig. 5, with the locking bolt shank locked in the cylinder bore of the locking cylinder by means of the locking ring divided with the bolt shank groove; and

Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the fixing bolt in a fully locked configuration.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to Figs. 1-3, the elements of an illustrative example of a fixing bolt 8 embodying the invention are seen to include a body of the bolt 10 extending axially elongated to a desired length and a locking cylinder 12. The body of the bolt 10 is intended to collaborate with the locking cylinder 12 to provide a security seal for an object to be locked against intrusion or opening in a manner that will reveal any attempt at such intrusion or opening.

Specifically, the body of the bolt 10 includes a distal end area that is irreversibly locked within cylinder 12 by a first locking device (to be described) in locking cylinder 12 when the body of bolt 10 is inserted into cylinder 12 during a sealing process where the bolt body 10

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PHOKIEPA

<img file="MX338231B_D0013.tif" />

the body of the bolt is inserted through an opening or structure to receive the object into an object (for example, container, vehicle body, meter, access door, etc.) to lock the object against the opening or displacement and locks inside the locking cylinder such that the bolt cannot be removed or detached from the locking cylinder without fracturing one or more of the body of the bolt, the locking cylinder, and the locking element. In this way, the object to be sealed in a secure manner cannot be opened or moved in a way that will escape detection of apparent or clandestine entry or movement involving damage or destruction of the fixing bolt. In accordance with standard practice, when it is desired to release the fixation bolt by an authorized party, the body of the bolt is cut with an appropriate tool (for example, a bolt cutter) to release the fixation bolt from the object and to allow access to the object that was blocked or sealed. Accordingly, fixing bolts of this kind are usually intended for single use only.

The body of the bolt 10 is initially formed separate from the locking cylinder 12 as shown in Fig. 1, but is connected as a unit to the locking cylinder 12 via a connector 14 in a manner as will be described. The bolt body is preferably made of steel or other suitable metal that cannot fracture,

<img file="MX338231B_D0014.tif" />

easily deform or break during normal use in a___ way that would interfere with its sealing function. The bolt body further includes an integral elongated head 16 in its proximal end area to collaborate with an object to be sealed and a tapered distal end 18 intended to be locked with locking cylinder 12. Bolt body 10 includes an internal metal stem 20 and an internal metal head 22 that is integrally formed with the stem 18 and defines the elongated head 16. Conical distal end 18 is an extension of the metal stem and includes a slot of coupling 24 formed around the circumference of stem 20, the purpose and function of which will be described later. The body of the bolt 10 is formed into a polygonal or square shape as shown, but this is optional, whereby the cross section may be in a desired shape compatible with the intended use of the fixing bolt. The polygonal shape shown has the advantage of facilitating the manipulation and handling of the body of the bolt 10, and assisting the operator in locating the plane in which the locking fingers (identified at 28 in Fig. one (to be described later) are located during the assembly of the body of the bolt 10 to the locking cylinder 12.

The body of the bolt 10 includes an over-molded housing 26 that is formed by molding a material

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OE THE IROPIEDAD

INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX338231B_D0015.tif" />

resinous or relatively hard plastic on the cahp7a. 22 and partially over the proximal end of the inner metal rod 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The over-molded housing 26 is preferably, although not necessarily, opaque and includes flexible locking fingers 28 cantilevered at one end of the body of the bolt 10, which bend axially inward toward the inner metal rod 20 when they push inward in a way to be described later. Otherwise, the locking fingers 28 are integral with the overmolded case 26.

A closure cover 30 is also formed by the over-molded housing 26 adjacent to the locking fingers 28, and is located between the locking fingers and the head of the bolt 16. The purpose and function of the closure cover 30 will be apparent. from the following description.

Connector 14 is molded with overmolded housing 26 and is integral with housing 26. Connector 14 is intended to temporarily retain the bolt body with locking cylinder 12 during transportation and handling until the bolt body and cylinder are separate in preparation for installation or on an object to be sealed. In practice, the body of the bolt 10 and the locking cylinder 12 will be provided with a synchronized serial number 38 applied to both elements to secure them

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INSTITUTO MEXICANO - Ρ, ΕαUE LA ΡΚ0ΙΊΕ0ΑΙΙ Vj ^ -tss⁵*¹»·

INOUSTKIAL against tampering and alternation of the fixing bolt in a way that results in the replacement of a different bolt body than that originally associated with a locking cylinder to thwart visual inspection detection of the fixing bolt assembly during use.

The locking cylinder 12, as seen in Fig. 1, is initially connected to the body of the bolt 10 by the temporary connector 14 preferably formed from the over-molded housing material 26.

Locking cylinder 12 includes an internal cylinder 32 (see Fig. 3) configured to receive the distal end area of ​​the inner metal rod 20 of the clamp bolt, including the tapered distal end portion 18 and the coupling groove 24. The inner cylinder 32 is formed of high strength metal similar in a typical embodiment to that of the metal fixing bolt used for the inner metal rod and the inner metal head of the bolt body 10,

An over-molded housing 34 is provided on the inner cylinder 32, and is secured against detachment of the cylinder 32 by means of molded wrenches 36 or other devices that create a gap lock between the over-molded housing 34 and the inner cylinder 32. The over-molded housing 34 is made of the same material as the over-molded housing 26 of the bolt body,

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE ^{, N} pE PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX338231B_D0017.tif" />

preferably.

Thus, when initially formed, the body of the bolt 10 and the locking cylinder 12 will be a connected assembly where the connector 14 temporarily connects the over-molded housing 25 of the bolt body 10 and the over-molded housing 34 of the Locking Cylinder 12. This facilitates handling and installation as described above, and ensures that each manufactured bolt body remains with each respective manufactured locking cylinder.

As mentioned above, the bolt body and lock cylinder are each engraved with a unique synchronized serial number 3 8 or the like for each set of bolt body and lock cylinder. The inscriptions will, of course, be provided on inaccessible internal surfaces of the bolt body and lock cylinder to prevent tampering with the serial number.

The outer contour of the over-molded housing of the locking cylinder 12 may include a flat rear side 38 'as shown in Fig. 2 and a generally arched front side as shown in Fig. 1, despite the fact that the External shape of the locking cylinder can be selected on the basis of aesthetics or functionality depending on the intended or intended use of the fixing bolt.

Inner cylinder 32, as seen in Fig. 3, includes a bore in inner cylinder 39 which is

ΙΜΡΪ

INSTITUTO MCXICa.XD £ LA PKOl'ICDAi? INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX338231B_D0018.tif" />

provided with a circumferential groove with a guide notch between the open end 42 of the inner cylinder bore and a closed lower end 44 of the inner cylinder bore. A divided locking ring 46, typically a strong metal spring, is provided in slot 4 0 (see Fig. 3). How the locking ring 46 and coupling slot 24 collaborate will be explained in detail later. The inner diameter of the locking ring 46 when in the relaxed state is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder bore 39, as illustrated in Fig. 3, for example, and is also smaller in this state than the diameter interior of internal metal stem 20 of bolt body 10. The divided locking ring 46 is located within an internal circumferential recess within the bore of the internal cylinder 3 9 which is dimensioned such that the divided ring can expand radially outward such that its internal diameter will be approximately equal to the diameter internal bore of cylinder 39, despite split ring 46 being captured within circumferential recess when ring 4 is in its normal relaxed state.

Thus, when the locking bolt is to be assembled to the locking cylinder, the tapered distal end 18 of the metal shank 20 of the bolt body 10 can be

IMPI

Mexican INSTITUTE D £ THE PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX338231B_D0019.tif" />

received within bore of cylinder 39 until conical distal end 18 connects with split clamp ring 46, at which point the continuous insertion of the distal end 18 into bore bore 39 drives the split ring into a radially expanded condition to allow metal rod 20 to continue to be inserted into bore 39 until the coupling groove circumferential 24 reaches a position opposite to the divided ring 46. At this point, the split ring 46 will snap fit by the action of the spring in a contracted configuration toward its relaxed state such that its inner diameter is now smaller than the outer diameter of the metal stem 20 on either side of the slot coupling 24 such that the metal rod 20 is now irreversibly captured within the locking cylinder 12 by the split ring 46.

The open end 42 of the inner cylinder 32 includes a recess with a guide notch 48 ending in the shoulder or radial joint 50.

Locking cylinder 12 includes a transparent cap member 52 having an axial opening 54 aligned with the bore of inner cylinder 39. Cap member 52 is formed of a transparent rigid resin material (plastic) having strength characteristics to collaborate with your fingers locking 2 8 in a way to be

IM F1

<img file="MX338231B_D0020.tif" />

described to provide a second locking function to the fixing bolt when it is fully assembled and locked together during use as a security seal.

More specifically, the lid member 52 includes a lid member locking device in the preferred form of a pair of lid locking splices 56 diametrically opposed to each other on opposite sides of the axial opening 54 in a preferred embodiment. The cap locking splices 56 have a pair of generally horizontally extending top surfaces that will collaborate with the distal ends of the body of the locking fingers 28 when the internal metal stem 20 of the body of the stud 10 is inserted into the perforation of the inner cylinder 39 of the inner cylinder 32, as will be explained later. Although only two locking fingers 28 and a pair of locking splices 56 are illustrated in a preferred embodiment, this is illustrative only, and more than two locking fingers and respective collaborative locking splices could be provided in accordance with the invention described herein.

The cap member 52 in the illustrative manner shown in the figures connects to the over-molded housing 34 of the locking cylinder 12 by at least one radial projection 58 (preferably three as shown) that closely fits within at least one opening

IMPI

INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dt THE RADIAL ASSISTANT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY 60 in the over-molded housing 34, each projection 58 and the adjacent body of the cover member 3 0 arranged between an outer wall of the inner cylinder 32 and the adjacent over-molded housing 34 as best see in Fig. 3. Preferably, three projections 58 are located within a corresponding plurality of openings 60, as shown in Figs. 1-3. In this way, once formed, the lid member 52 is held tightly over the lock cylinder 12 and cannot be separated from the lock cylinder without breaking the lid member 52 or the over-molded housing 34 or both, which would reveal tampering the fixing bolt. Cap member 52 can be formed by injection molding the cap member for over-molded housing 34 of the locking cylinder with the projections 58 molded directly into openings 60, as shown in Fig. 6.

The openings 60 can be through holes as shown, or internal depressions or receptacles (not shown) that can receive the projection or projections 58. When the through holes are provided as openings 60, they have the advantage of allowing visual inspection of projections 58 and the presence of the metallic internal cylinder

32.

The transparent cover member 52 is preferably provided with the upper recess 62 intended

<img file="MX338231B_D0021.tif" />

<img file="MX338231B_D0022.tif" />

¹⁸ IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE

OF THE I ROWEDAU

INDUSTRIAL receive the closing cover 30 when the inner metal rod 20 is fully inserted into the bore of the inner cylinder 39. The closure cover 30 effectively closes the axial opening 54 when the stem 20 is fully inserted into the bore of the cylinder 39 thereby preventing tampering of the locking fingers 28 when the stem 20 is fully inserted into the bore of the cylinder 39 and locked there in a way that will be apparent from the following description. The upper recess 62 is preferably formed into a shape that will cooperate with a shape of the closure cover 30 such that the cover will only fit in one way within the recess. In this form, the cover and recess serve as an index that ensures that the locking fingers 28 will be aligned with the locking joints of the cap member 56 when the metal stem 20 is inserted into the bore of the inner cylinder 39 of the cylinder lock 12 to seal an object. In the illustrated example the upper recess 62 is provided with a flat straight edge 64 and an arcuate straight edge 66 corresponding to the similar molded edge portions 68, 70, respectively, of the closure cover 3 0 (see

Fig. 2).

In use, as shown in Figs. 4-6, the body of the bolt 10 is separated from the locking cylinder 12 in the

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0023.tif" />

connector 14 which is simply pulled apart by twisting or pulling to free the body from the locking cylinder bolt. Until now; The bolt body and lock cylinder have been produced, packed and transported as a single unit preferably in order to keep the two parts together since they share a common serial number 38.

The body of the bolt is manipulated to collaborate with an object to be sealed (not shown), typically a pin or other element associated with the object to be sealed, such as a latch, door, cover, etc. by placing the body of the bolt 10 through an opening of the pin or element of the object to be sealed and then inserting the distal end 18 of the body of the bolt 10 through the transparent cap member 52 and into the locking cylinder 12 ( see Fig. 4) until the circumferential coupling groove 24 is opposite the divided locking ring 46, which, as described above, has been opened slightly elastically during the passage of the conical distal end 18 through the locking ring 46. The ring Divide 46 will then snap into a shape with a smaller normal diameter when the coupling groove 24 is located opposite the locking ring 46 to connect the coupling groove 24 (see Figs. 5 and 6). In this way, the metal rod 20 becomes irreversibly blocked.

IMPI

<img file="MX338231B_D0024.tif" />

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<td>against</td><td>the</td><td>extraction from</td><td>drilling</td><td>of the</td><td>cylinder</td>

<td>internal</td><td> 39</td><td>by the ring of</td><td>lock 46 when</td><td>the</td><td>ring of</td>

<td>blocking</td><td> 46</td><td>and the slot</td><td colspan="3">coupler 24 connect together.</td>

When the locking ring 46 and the coupling groove 24 are connected together, the position of the body of the fixing bolt 10 relative to the locking cylinder 12 is such that the locking fingers 28 will be housed below the cover splices 56. The normal relaxed position of the locking fingers 28, as illustrated in Fig. 4 is such that the distal ends of the fingers extend more widely than or beyond the diameter of the axial opening 54 of the transparent cap member 52, such that insertion of the over-molded housing 26 and the locking fingers 2 8 of the body of the bolt 10 through the opening 54 until the locking ring 46 is connected to the coupling groove 24 requires that the Fingers 28 flexibly and elastically bend radially inward toward the center axis of the body of the fixing bolt 10 as they pass through the axial opening 54.

The locking members of the cap member 56 are configured and dimensioned to be positioned such that the distal ends of the locking fingers 28 will press fit radially outward relative to the axis of the body of the fixing bolt 10 just as they pass locking joints 56 as the body of bolt 10 moves

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE CE THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0025.tif" />

into lock cylinder 12 to a fully inserted position when lock ring 46 is connected to engagement groove 24. In this position, lock fingers 28 also connect to lock splices 56 of cap member 52 in an irreversible way to provide a secondary lock along with the body of the bolt 10 and the lock cylinder 12. Also, the closure cover 30 in this position of the fully inserted bolt body will closely fit within the upper recess 62 of the transparent cap member 52 to effectively seal the axial opening 54 of the cap member. The distal tapered end 18 of the body of the bolt 10 in the fully inserted position will be located or will be closely adjacent to the lower end of the cylinder 44 and the proximal ends of the locking fingers 28 will be disposed in the guide notch recess 48 of the inner cylinder 32 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The inner metal rod 20 and the bore of the inner cylinder 39 are dimensioned such that the terminal end of the metal rod will extend approximately toward the bottom of the bore 39 when the metal rod is locked into the bore of the cylinder 39 by the device primary locking mechanism, primarily the split locking ring 46 and the guide notch groove 46. Although the metal stem 20 is illustrated as extending from

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0026.tif" />

up towards the bottom of the bore 39, it will be understood that in practice a clearance may be desired between the stem 20 and the bottom of the bore 39 to ensure that the split ring 46 will be fully connected to the mating groove 24 of the metal stem 20 despite manufacturing tolerances that could result in slight variations in the dimensions of the stem 20, the bore 39 and the other locking bolt locking elements.

With the body of the bolt 10 fully inserted into the locking cylinder 12, the secondary locking device embodied in this example by the locking fingers 28 connecting with the lid locking joints 56 of the transparent lid member will be openly visible to remote inspection and due to the geometry of the gap between the distal ends of the locking fingers 28 and the coupling groove 24, on the other hand, and the relative position of the locking splices 56 relative to the locking cylinder 12, on the other hand, the position of the locking fingers 28 relative to the splices 56 will provide a visible indication that the locking ring 46 is fully connected with coupling slot 24. Furthermore, if for any reason (such as malicious tampering with the fixing bolt prior to assembly) the locking ring 46 has been removed from the inner cylinder 32 during assembly, the secondary seal provided by the

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PUOPIEDAO

<img file="MX338231B_D0027.tif" />

Locking fingers 28 connected to locking joints 56 will ensure that the body of bolt 10 is retained in locking cylinder 12 and a visual inspection of such a secondary locking device will be provided by transparent cover member 52 allowing remote viewing of the position of locking fingers 28 relative to locking splices 56.

Any tamper in the fixing bolt assembly when it is fully locked in an attempt to separate the body of the bolt 10 from the locking cylinder 12 will be evident because the transparent cover member 52 which will reveal at least the tampering with the locking fingers .

The fully assembled and locked set bolt 8 is shown in Figure 7.

The description and illustration herein of an illustrative fixing bolt embodying the invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific structure described and shown, rather it is intended to describe an example of the invention that is encompassed by the claims appended to the same. For example, although a first bolt body locking device is described in the form of a divided locking ring 46 cooperating with a circumferential coupling groove 24 of the bolt body 10, any suitable shape of the

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY irreversible locked configuration that complies with the

<img file="MX338231B_D0028.tif" />

Applicable specification for such fixing bolt could be used as the first locking device.

Likewise, even though the configuration of the locking fingers 28 is used as a second locking device associated with the fixing bolt it would serve the purpose of both indicating the connection of the first locking device and the integrity of the second locking device. to secure the body of the bolt 10 against the separation of the locking cylinder 12 independently of and in addition to the first locking device.

Although the transparent cover member 52 is illustrated and described as a separate member molded onto the over-molded housing locking cylinder 34, it is contemplated that the cover member could be integrated into the housing 34 as a single piece or by the opposite permanently attached to the housing 34 as a separate member. Furthermore, although the locking fingers 28 are described as being integrated with the body housing of the bolt 26, they could be separately formed and permanently connected to or integrated into the body of the bolt 10.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to put the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE ΩΕ THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

<img file="MX338231B_D0029.tif" />

as above, it