| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 423 831 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
07.08.1991 Bulletin 1991/32 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
24.04.1991 Bulletin 1991/17 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 20.10.1990 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G09F 3/03 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
BE DE FR GB GR IT |
| (30) |
Priority: |
20.10.1989 US 424892 25.09.1990 US 587963
|
| (71) |
Applicant: E.J. Brooks Company |
|
Newark,
New Jersey 07107 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Georgopoulos, George
USA-Pine Brook, N.J. 07058 (US)
- Gnoinski, Richard
USA-North Arlington, N.J. 07032 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: LOUIS, PÖHLAU, LOHRENTZ & SEGETH |
|
Postfach 3055 90014 Nürnberg 90014 Nürnberg (DE) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Improved rotatable seal |
(57) An improved security seal includes a plastic housing (22) with a chamber open at
one end and a plastic rotor (24) which is insertable in the chamber. The housing wall
contains bores (42, 44) aligned across the chamber and two annular grooves (38, 40)
adjacent the chamber entrance. Tabs (56, 58) are formed adjacent the chamber entrance.
The rotor has a bore and two annular ridges (70, 72) near its top. The ridges (70,
72) are relieved complementarily to the tabs. The rotor may be partially inserted
in the housing by snapping the lower ridge (72) into the upper groove (38) and locating
the tabs in the relieved areas to align all of the bores so that a seal wire (26)
may thereafter be inserted through the seal. The ridge-groove and tab-relief cooperation
prevent inadvertent relative rotation of the rotor and housing and full insertion
of the rotor. With a seal wire (26) inserted, the rotor (24) and housing (22) are
relatively rotated to wrap the wire about the rotor (24). The rotor (24) is then fully
inserted into the housing (22) so each ridge snaps into one groove. This and the engagement
of teeth (34) on the bottom of the rotor and the chamber prevent removal of the rotor
(24) from the housing (22), relative rotor-housing rotation, and removal of the wire
from the seal. Cowls may surround the housing bores to obviate insertion of an object
and levering out of the rotor from the housing.
