Foldable Locking Tooth Security Seal for Mailbags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security seals for bag closures are difficult to apply and break, and they lack versatility in use beyond bag label holders, posing security risks and usability issues.
Innovation Solution
A closure and security device with a planar elongate body featuring a cavity and locking teeth that fold orthogonally, allowing secure sealing around bag bridges and easy breaking, and can be applied directly to bag mouths without a label holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing security seals are used for bag closures, then security sealing function is provided, but the seals are difficult to apply and difficult to break when opened by authorized persons
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tooth is made foldable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different configurations. During application, the locking tooth can be folded back to clear the path for insertion through the bridge, then folded forward to engage with the receiving cavity for secure locking. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by making the seal easy to apply while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If existing security seals with fixed locking mechanisms are used, then secure closure is achieved, but unauthorized persons can liberate the free end of the seal blade from the bridge
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tooth is pre-configured in a folded position that engages with the receiving cavity before the seal is fully applied. This preliminary engagement action ensures that once the seal is applied, the locking tooth is already secured in place, preventing unauthorized persons from liberating the free end of the seal blade from the bridge.
3Reliability
If existing security seals are designed for use with label holders, then sealing function is provided, but the seals have no use without a label holder
Solution Approach 1:
The security seal is designed with a universal structure that can function both with and without a label holder. The elongate body with folding locking tooth and receiving cavity can directly engage with bag bridges or work through label holders, making the seal adaptable to multiple closure systems and eliminating the dependency on a specific label holder component.
4Device complexity
If the locking tooth is extended in the longitudinal direction in initial configuration, then the seal structure is compact, but the locking tooth obstructs the application process
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tooth is designed to be foldable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different configurations. During application, the locking tooth can be folded back to clear the path for insertion through the bridge, then folded forward to engage with the receiving cavity for secure locking. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by making the seal easy to apply while maintaining security.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a security seal (20) in the form of a closure and security device for closing and sealing bags and the like. The seal comprises an elongate body having first and second elongate portions (21, 22), one being foldable over the other about a hinge portion (23). The free ends of the portions have a respective cavity (24) and at least one locking tooth (27) for locking within the cavity in the folded or closed configuration of the device. In the initial configuration of the device (20), the locking tooth (27) extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongate element away from the receiving cavity (24), but is foldable so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the planar element, whereby, when the first portion (21) is folded over the second portion (22), the locking tooth (27) penetrates the cavity (24), where it remains locked. A label holder (1) is also described in combination with the safety seal (20) which is used to seal the label holder when closed around the mouth of a bag (36).