[0001] The invention concerns a plate-shaped sign which is preferably to be used for identification
of products, such as transport materiel. The plate is adapted to be placed on an edged
object so that it is closed around the edges of the object.
[0002] Marking systems in the form of thin metal signs, labels, bosses or the like are known,
which are relatively easy to remove or conceal. Consequently, it is not unusual that
imitators remove such markings from competitors' products and transfer them to their
own products.
[0003] It is therefore necessary that such marking systems are shaped so that it is difficult
to remove/disassemble them or that they are directly useless after disassembling or
when attempting to re-fit them, respectively. In connection with imitation of the
sign, it may moreover be advantageous to give it a shape which makes it expensive
and difficult to imitate it.
[0004] As regards means for prevention of the foregoing, several seal devices having various
properties are known e.g. from the GB Patent Applications 2 025 856, 2 134 046 and
2 042 424. The great majority of such means is adapted to act as a type of locking
means which are relatively easy to break, and thus it is the visible attempt at getting
access to the sealed product which is of importance. These devices frequently comprise
a bracket, a wire or the like for locking, the ends of these means being then joined
with a seal device adapted for the purpose. Other seal devices are known, where the
actual seal member in the locking devices is shaped so that an attempt at removal
or subsequent re-fitting leaves visible traces, which is described e.g. in the GB
Patent Specification 2 113 616.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a plate sign for product marking
and of such a type that an attempt at removal or re-fitting will cause the sign to
break along determined rupture lines.
[0006] This object is achieved by providing a sign as stated in the characterizing portion
of claim 1. Since the plate object is adapted to be applied relatively tightly around
an edged object, it will comprise a plurality of bends in the mounted state, one or
more of said bends being provided prior to fitting. However, the material at the other
blending lines is weakened by means of e.g. punching along the bending line. The perforations
thus provided in the material are so dimensioned that the plate can resist a first
bending deformation, but will break on backward bending and possible further bending,
i.e. removal and re-fitting, respectively, so that the structure cannot be used again,
without it being clearly apparent that such use is illegal.
[0007] The dimensioning of these holes or perforations serving as seal means is provided
in accordance with the types of materials and plate thicknesses selected in each case,
so that both steel and plastics materials may be used. In connection with this, it
is to be ensured at the same time that the sign must maintain its break properties
at ambient temperatures of about -30 °C to 70 °C. The perforations mean that the stresses
occuring when the sign is bent are transferred to the ribs positioned between the
holes. It will therefore be appreciated that these ribs are to have a surface cross
section and a thickness which are sufficient to ensure adequate strength for retention
of the sign after mounting of it, while the stress established upon mounting of the
sign ensures a sufficient strain hardening of the material in the bending zone so
that the sign will break with certainty upon additional bending along the bending
line. Of course, these break ensuring dimensions may be adapted to the number of weakened
bending lines. It will be appreciated that there should be as many pre-provided bends
as possible because e.g. just one weakened line will entail that upon removal the
sign will receive a relatively greater part of the bending forces because of the rigidity
of the other bends and thus take up most of the backward bending, thus making it certain
that breaks will occur.
[0008] The invention will be explained more fully by the following description of a preferred
embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which
fig. 1 shows the plate sign in a punched state, with punched weakened lines and attachment
hole,
fig. 2 shows the plate sign in a situation of use, applied around a profile object,
and
figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show an assembly sequence for the plate sign of the invention.
[0009] In fig. 1, the plate sign 1 is shown in a plane, punched state. In the embodiment
shown, the plate sign is adapted for bending around a tubular object having a polygonal
cross-section, which is rectangular in the illustrated case. Here, the sign is thus
adapted for bending along four bending lines, the ones 2 and 3 shown in broken lines,
in the present case, indicating two bends provided prior to fitting. However, the
two other bending lines 4 and 5 have their material weakened, which is shown here
in the form of punched holes 8 which are oblong and rounded in the longitudinal direction
of the bending lines. One end of the sign is provided with a hole 6 to receive a tongue
7 at the opposite end of the sign upon bending.
[0010] In this preferred embodiment, two of the bending lines are thus provided with weakenings
in their material, which are so dimensioned that the sign will break with certainty
upon attempted removal or at any rate attempted re-fitting, one and two bendings,
respectively, in addition to the assembling deformation, and thus the sign cannot
be used again in connection with e.g. thefts. It will be appreciated that said break
of the sign will occur with a relatively greater certainty when the sign is provided
with as many pre-established bends as possible, so that e.g. the weakened bending
area 4 takes up substantially the entire backward bending.
[0011] It appears from fig. 2 how the sign is positioned in a situation of use around a
rectangular profile pipe, and it will be seen how the plane faces may be used for
marking, bossing or the like for product identification.
[0012] An assembling sequence for the plate sign of the invention is shown in figs. 3-6.
Thus, fig. 3 shows the plate sign in its initial shape according to one embodiment
where it has been bent by machine in advance along the lines 2 and 3. The additional
bends 4 and 5, on the other hand, are to be made on location by hand and preferably
by means of an auxiliary tool adapted for the purpose. As shown by the arrow in fig.
3, the sign is bent along the perforations 4 and assumes the position shown in fig.
4. Then, bending is performed along the line 5, and the tongue 7 is provided with
a bend adapted to be received directly in the hole 6. The sign is thus present in
the position shown in fig. 5, where the plast bending of the tongue in plane with
the adjacent profile side is made, so that the plate sign assumes its final, mounted
position of use, as shown in fig. 6.
[0013] It will be appreciated that the resistant bending lines of the sign can be provided
with various forms of weakenings to facilitate shaping of the sign prior to assembling,
and so that a sufficient resistance to backward bending along these lines is maintained.
A plate, in particular for a sign for identification purposes, said plate being adapted
to be placed around an edged object by bending of the plate around the edges of the
object, the plate being capable of being bent via weakening along a bending line,
characterized in that the plate has one or more additional bends which are so strong that the material
is strain-hardened by the bending, so that the material is resistant to backward bending
about an associated bending line.
