WO2011074020A1

WO2011074020A1 - Electronic safety seal and process for manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2011074020A1
Application number: PCT/IT2009/000570
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Stefanelli
Original assignee: DSI Sas
Current assignee: DSI Sas
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2009-12-17
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-17
Also published as: EP2513888A1; WO2011074020A9

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic safety seal comprising: a main body (2) of plastic material having a retaining element (4) integral therewith and a distal end (5) spaced apart from said retaining element (4); a closing body (10) to be mounted around, and adapted to be conveniently secured to, the distal end (5) in an irremovable manner, so as to shut the seal (1) on said object to be sealed; an electronic circuit (7) adapted to receive a request signal and to generate a corresponding response signal. The electronic circuit (7) is buried in the main body (2) and is at least partly located in said distal end (5) at a region pertaining to the closing body (10), in such a mannerthat a forcing action on the closing body (10) causes breaking of the electronic circuit (7).

Description

ELECTRONIC SAFETY SEAL AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

D e s c r i p t i o n

The present invention relates to an electronic safety seal and to a process for manufacturing the same.

Preferably although not exclusively, the invention is directed to safety or warranty seals obtained with nails or bolts which are known to be used for sealing lorries and containers, for the purpose of highlighting possible tampering actions and therefore ensuring that during transport none of the following events will occur: unauthorised access thereto, introduction of illegal materials and/or thefts or alterations of the goods contained therein.

Safety seals using nails or bolts are known which comprise a cylindrical metal body provided with a shank and a head integral thereto. The shank is for instance introduced into the holes of the handle fastened to the closing bar and through the hole of a ring integral with the container's door. A barrel is fitted on the free end of the shank and locked thereto, which barrel is made of a metallic or plastic material and cannot be removed except if breaking of the seal occurs. The barrel is provided with an active or passive transponder that, in addition to enabling the seal to be identified, allows storage of further information among which that concerning the container's travel between successive reading stations and in these stations the transponder electronically supplies data related to the presence of the seal on the container. In this context the Applicant has ascertained that seals of known type like the above described one have a mechanical functional character (integrity of the seal) and an electronic functional character (integrity of the circuit) that are completely separated from each other, so that it may happen that an attempt of forcing the seal is not visible with the eyes and also cannot be ascertained by the electronic reading of same, because the circuit that is for instance contained in that part of the seal that has not suffered damages during the effraction, remains unimpaired .

In addition, in seals of known type, the electronic circuit that appears like an electronic label (TAG) cannot be broken and/or separated from the mechanical body without the latter being broken, thus giving rise to an alarm signal that does not correspond to the real opening of the container.

The Applicant has further found that seals of known type like those described above are expensive due to the great number of elements forming them and the number of steps that are required for assembling said elements.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to propose an electronic safety seal capable of overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is a particular aim of the present invention to propose an electronic safety seal that is able to ensure more reliability as compared with known devices and that allows forcing or an attempt to force said seal to be ascertained in an unmistakable manner. Another aim . of the present invention is to make available a device of simple construction structure and a process for making it involving reduced manufacturing costs .

A still further aim of the present invention is to propose an electronic safety seal fully meeting the requirements of ISO/PAS 17712 standards. The Applicant has found that the above aims and still other advantages can be achieved by providing an electronic safety seal in which the electronic circuit is buried in the main plastic body of the seal and extends until one end of the latter on which a closing body is locked.

Even only an attempt to force the seal at the weakest point, or an attempt to break and remove the closing body, gives rise to breaking of the circuit, which breaking can be detected by the appropriate electronic instruments .

More specifically, according to a first aspect the present invention relates to an electronic safety circuit comprising: a main body of plastic material having a retaining element integral therewith and a distal end spaced apart from said retaining element, said main body being susceptible of insertion in a through cavity of an object to be sealed; a closing body to be mounted around, and adapted to be conveniently secured to, said distal end in an irremovable manner, so as to shut the seal on said object to be sealed; an electronic circuit adapted to receive a request signal and to generate a corresponding response signal; wherein said electronic circuit is buried in the main body and is at least partly located in said distal end at a region pertaining to the closing body, in such a manner that a forcing action on the closing body causes breaking of the electronic circuit.

The electronic circuit m accordance with the present invention can further have one or more of the preferred features that are hereinafter described.

Preferably, the electronic circuit is a passive RFID transponder. The electronic circuit comprises a transmission module for generating said response signal. Preferably, said circuit comprises a memory for containing an identification code. Preferably, said memory is operatively associated with said transmission module for incorporating said identification code into said response signal.

Preferably, the main body and the electronic circuit have both an elongated shape.

Preferably, the electronic circuit has a plate-like shape or it is a microchip (TAG) .

According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic circuit comprises a main portion constituting the microchip, and at least one elongated element extending from said main portion and defining an antenna of said circuit or, preferably, two elongated elements extending on opposite sides from said main portion and defining an antenna of said circuit. The antenna's length has an influence on the maximum reading distance of the TAG. Preferably, an end of said antenna is located in the distal end of the main body.

Forcing of the closing body of the seal causes breaking of the antenna and the seal is no longer able to transmit .

The plastic material of the main body for example consists of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, and so on.

Preferably, the closing body is made of plastic material too, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and so on. Therefore manufacture of the whole device can take place by moulding.

In a preferred embodiment, the closing body secured to said distal end is free to rotate on said distal end. Therefore, breaking of the seal by twisting is made impossible.

To this aim, in a preferred embodiment, the distal end is of cylindrical shape and has at least one annular groove or ridge, and the closing body internally delimits a cylindrical seat provided with at least one annular ridge or groove suitable for engagement with said annular groove or ridge of the distal end.

Preferably, the closing body comprises a first body to be mounted around, and adapted to be secured to, said distal end and a second body to be mounted around, and adapted to be secured to, said first body, wherein a traction action exerted on said second body mounted on the first body fitted on the distal end gives rise to a radial shrinkage of said first body on said distal end. According to- an embodiment, the first body is made up of two halves that are symmetric to a plane containing the main axis of the closing body.

In an alternative embodiment, the first body comprises to parts consecutively disposed along the main axis of the closing body.

In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an electronic safety seal of the above described type, wherein construction of the main body involves disposing the electronic circuit in the cavity of a mould and injecting the plastic material into said cavity .

The electronic circuit remains fully incorporated into the plastic material and insulated and protected thereby, being sheltered from the atmospheric agents and other possible elements causing trouble and/or damages. In addition, the process appears to be of simple and quick manufacture.

Preferably, the closing body is obtained by assembling the two parts of the first body disposed consecutively along the main axis, introducing the two parts after assembly into a mould and injecting plastic material of the second body into the mould over said two parts. In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method of mounting an electronic safety seal in accordance with a preferred construction embodiment as above described, comprising: inserting the main body into a through cavity of an object to be sealed, moving the two halves of the first body close to each other around the distal end, fitting the second body on the first body.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention concerns use of an electronic safety seal of the above described type for sealing containers or lorry bodies. The electronic seal according to the present invention can also be used for other different purposes, for sealing briefcases or document holders, for example.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of two preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an electronic safety seal in accordance with the present invention.

This description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic safety seal in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the device seen in Fig. 1 in an assembled condition;

- Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section to an enlarged scale of a portion of the device seen in Fig. 1 in an assembled condition;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic safety seal in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the device seen in Fig. 4 in an assembled condition; and

- Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section to an enlarged scale of a portion of the device seen in Fig. 4 in an assembled condition. With reference to the drawings, an electronic safety seal has been generally identified with reference numeral 1. The electronic safety seal 1 shown is a warranty seal preferably of the type used for sealing containers, lorry bodies, trailers, and so on. Such a seal performs the following functions: ensuring that the container during transport is not opened and the goods contained therein are not stolen/damaged (which is a guarantee for shipments) ; visually and electronically drawing attention (through suitable fixed or portable readers) to a possible tampering or an attempted effraction of the container; enabling automatic identification of the container and possible of the contents thereof through said fixed or portable readers; allowing the container traceability and, more generally, enabling the goods movement to be remotely monitored .

To reach the above aim, the safety seal 1 has such a mechanical structure that hooking of same to the container is allowed. In particular, the safety seal 1 comprises a main body 2 made of plastic material and having an elongated shape. In the two embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, the main body 2 is a unitary body and is formed with a cylindrical pin 3 that at a proximal end thereof terminates with a circular head 4 and has a free distal end 5. Pin 3 and head 4 give the assembly the shape of a nail or a screw. Preferably, the main body 2 further comprises a lug 6 extending away from the head 4 on the opposite side relative to pin 3. Lug 6 can have any shape as required for the specific use. Lug 6 as shown has a flattened shape and extends along a main axis "X-X" in common with pin 3. In other words, the main body 2 extends along the main axis "X-X" and has an intermediate · portion (i.e. the head 4) radially more extended than the two elongated lateral portions (i.e. the pin 3 and lug 6) . Head 4 constitutes a retaining element adapted to prevent separation of seal 1 from the container, as described in more detail in the following .

The main body 2 made of plastic material contains an electronic circuit 7 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is buried therein and insulated, which circuit 7 is able to receive a request signal and generate a corresponding response signal. The electronic circuit 7 shown is a RFID TAG of the passive type.

The RFID (i.e. Radio Frequency IDentification) technology is a technology, well known in itself, for automatic identification of objects based on the capability of storing and remotely acceding to the identification data using electronic devices (referred to as TAGs or transponders) that are able to respond and communicate the information contained therein, when questioned. The RFID system is based on the remote reading of the information contained in the RFID TAG using suitable RFID readers.

The electronic circuit 7 comprises a memory adapted to contain an identification code and a transmission module operatively associated with the memory for incorporating said identification code into the response signal. The memory and transmission module are incorporated into a main portion 8 (a microchip) of circuit 7. Two elongated elements 9 extend from the opposite sides of the main portion 8 and they constitute an antenna of the electronic circuit 7. The electronic circuit 7 as a whole has an elongated and plate-like shape substantially extending over the whole length of the main body 2. In particular, the main portion 8 is placed at the head 4 and the two elongated elements 9 extend at the inside of pin 3 and lug 5, respectively. Advantageously, one of the two elongated elements 9 extends until in the vicinity of the distal end 5 of pin 3.

The main body 2 holding the electronic circuit 7 inside it is manufactured by injection moulding. The electronic circuit is inserted in the cavity of a mould, not shown, and subsequently injection of the plastic material in the cavity is carried out. The main body 2 is overmoulded on the electronic circuit 7.

The plastic materials used for manufacture of the main body 2 are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and so on, for example.

In use, pin 3 is inserted in a cavity or through hole formed in a body integral with the container. By way of example, usually pin 3 is inserted, like a padlock, in a slot formed in a handle connected to a closing bar of the container and in a ring integral with the wing of the container carrying the bar itself.

In order to prevent withdrawal of pin 3 and removal of seal 1, a closing body 10 can be secured onto the distal end 5 of pin 3; said closing body once mounted on said distal end 5 cannot be removed except if breaking of seal 1 occurs.

In accordance with a first embodiment, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, pin 3 has a first, a second and a third annular groove, 11, 12 and 13 respectively, on its cylindrical surface and at the distal end 5, said grooves being coaxial with the main axis "X-X" . The closing body 10 in accordance with the first embodiment comprises a first body 14 having the shape of a small glass and made up of two halves 14a symmetric to a plane containing the main axis "X-X". The two halves 14a, once coupled, internally delimit a cylindrical seat 15 having a mouth for engagement with pin 3 and a blind bottom. On an inner lateral surface of the cylindrical seat 15 there is a first, a second and a third inner annular ridge, 16, 17 and 18 respectively, each of them being intended for engagement in a respective annular groove 11, 12, 13 of pin 3 ( Fig . 3 ) .

An outer annular ridge 19 is formed on an outer lateral surface of the first body 14. The first body 14 further has a portion of said outer lateral surface in the vicinity of the mouth which is in the shape of a truncated cone 20 and, once the first body 14 is mounted on pin 3, diverges towards head 4. The closing body 10, in accordance with the first embodiment, comprises a second body 21, in the form of a small glass too, which can be fitted on the first body 14. The second body 21 internally delimits a cylindrical or conical seat 22 having a mouth for engagement with the first body 14 and a blind bottom. The second body 21 internally has an annular groove 23 provided with radial through apertures 24. A retaining wing 25 is disposed at each radial through aperture 24; said wing extends from a peripheral edge delimiting the mouth of the second body 21 towards said radial through aperture 24, -converging towards the main axis "X-X" .

A tubular protection element 26 is disposed around the second body 21 and with said second body 21 confines a tubular hollow space 27 which is open towards one end of the second body 21 opposite to the mouth thereof. The tubular protection element 26 forms a unitary body with the second body 21 and is connected to the latter at the mouth and through a plurality of radial wings 28. The tubular protection element 26 covers the radial through apertures 24 opening out in the tubular hollow space 27 and makes them inaccessible.

In use, in order to secure the closing body 10 to pin 3, the two halves 14a are shut on the distal end 5 of pin 3 taking care to insert the first, second and third inner annular ridges 16, 17, 18 into the first, second and third annular grooves 11, 12, 13 respectively of pin 3.

Subsequently, the second body 21 is fitted on the first body 14 until the retaining wings 25 bend and step over the outer annular ridge 19 of the first body 14 and one end of each retaining wing 25 becomes engaged by snap- fitting in a seat confined between said outer annular ridge 19 and the portion of truncated conical shape 20. The retaining wings 25 in this position are disposed near and parallel to the frustoconical surface of the portion of truncated conical shape 20.

Also the first body 14 and the second body 21 according to the first embodiment are preferably obtained by moulding of plastic material which is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and so on, for example. According to a second embodiment, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, pin 3 on its cylindrical surface and at the distal end 5 is provided with a single annular groove 29 coaxial with the main axis "X-X" .

The closing body 10 in accordance with the second embodiment comprises a first body 30 (Fig. 5) which is shaped like a small glass with a tapering mouth end and is made up of two parts 31, 32, and a second body 33 in a single piece which is directly moulded on the first body 30.

The first body 30 and the second body 33 too, in accordance with the second embodiment, are manufactured by moulding of plastic material preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and so on, for example. In greater detail, the two parts 31, 32 of the first body 30 are disposed consecutively along the main axis "X-X" of the closing body 10. The first part 31 is cup- shaped. The second part 32 has a cylindrical shape (therefore delimiting a through duct that, together with the first part 31, defines a cylindrical seat 34 for pin 3) and has a tapering outer surface 35 at one end. The second part 32 comprises substantially annular ridges in the form of flexible retaining wings 36 extending inside the through duct 34 and converging towards the first part 31, when the two parts 31, 32 are assembled.

The second body 33 too has the shape of a small glass with a tapering mouth end. The second body 33 in the vicinity of the mouth has a frustoconical inner surface which is parallel to and lies in contact with the tapering outer surface 35 of the first body 30.

In use, the closing body 10 is supplied to the user already in an assembled condition, so that the user must only fit it on the distal end 5 of pin 3 until the flexible retaining wings 36 become engaged by snap- fitting in the single annular groove 29. In both the above described embodiments, when seal 1 is secured to the container, i.e. the closing body 10 is locked on pin 3, the end of the antenna 9 lies in an inserted condition in the closing body 10 and any attempt to break or tear off the closing body for separating it from pin 3 involves breaking of the antenna 9 that is no longer able to transmit in a correct manner and allows the electronic detection of the effraction by suitable devices known by themselves.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An electronic safety seal, comprising:

a main body (2) of plastic material having a retaining element (4) integral therewith and a distal end (5) spaced apart from said retaining element (4), said main body (2) being susceptible of insertion in a through cavity of an object to be sealed;

- a closing body (10) to be mounted around, and adapted to be conveniently secured to, said distal end (5) in an irremovable manner, so as to shut the seal (1) on said object to be sealed;

an electronic circuit (7) adapted to receive a request signal and to generate a corresponding response signal;

wherein said electronic circuit (7) is buried in the main body (2) and is at least partly located in said distal end (5) at a region pertaining to the closing body (10), in such a manner that a forcing action on the closing body (10) causes breaking of the electronic circuit ( 7 ) .

2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body (2) and the electronic circuit (7) have an elongated shape.

3. A seal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic circuit (7) has a plate-like shape.

4. A seal as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the electronic circuit (7) comprises a main portion (8) and at least one elongated element (9) extending from said main portion (8) and defining an antenna of said circuit (7) or, preferably, two elongated elements (9) extending on opposite sides from said main portion (8) and defining. an antenna of said circuit (7).

5. A seal as claimed in claim 4, wherein one end of said antenna (9) is located in the distal end (5) of the main body (2) .

6. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit (7) is a transponder, preferably of the passive type.

7. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing body (10) is made of plastic material.

8. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing body (10) secured to said distal end (5) is free to rotate on said distal end (5) .

9. A seal as claimed in claim 1 or 8, wherein the distal end (5) is of cylindrical shape and has at least one annular groove or an annular ridge (11, 12, 13; 29), and wherein the closing body (10) internally delimits a cylindrical seat (15; 34) provided with at least one annular ridge or an annular groove (16, 17, 18; 36) suitable for engagement with said annular groove or annular ridge (11, 12, 13; 29) of the distal end (5) .

10. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing body (10) comprises a first body (14; 30) to be mounted around, and adapted to be secured to, said distal end (5) and a second body (21; 33) to be mounted around, and adapted to be secured to, said first body (14; 30), wherein a traction action exerted on said second body (21; 33) mounted on the first body (14; 30) fitted on the distal end (5) gives rise to a radial shrinkage of said first body (14; 30) on said distal end (5).

11. A seal as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first body (14) is made up of two halves (14a) that are symmetric to a plane containing the main axis (X-X) of the closing body (10).

12. A seal as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first body (30) comprises two parts (31, 32) that are disposed consecutively along the main axis (X-X) of the closing body (10).

13. A process for manufacturing an electronic safety seal as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 12, wherein construction of the main body (2) involves disposing the electronic circuit (7) in the cavity of a mould and injecting plastic material into said cavity.

14. A process as claimed in claim 13 when depending on claim 12, wherein the closing body (10) is obtained by assembling the two parts (31, 32) of the first body (30) disposed consecutively along the main axis (X-X), introducing the two assembled parts (31, 32) into a mould and injecting plastic material of the second body (33) into the mould over said two parts (31, 32) .

15. A method of mounting an electronic safety seal as claimed in claim 11, comprising: inserting the main body (2) into a through cavity of an object to be sealed, moving the two halves (14a) of the first body (14) close to each other around the distal end (5), fitting the second body (21) on the first body (14) .

16. Use of an electronic safety seal as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 12, for sealing containers or lorry bodies.