Reusable Tamper Indicating Bag Closure with Locking Hasps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bag closure technologies lack effective tamper resistance and indication, failing to securely protect sensitive information and devices from tampering attempts, which is critical for maintaining the chain of custody and preventing malicious software or hardware additions.
Innovation Solution
A reusable tamper indicating bag closure system comprising a lid, base, knobs, hasps, and a locking mechanism with tamper indicating features such as markers, wire seals, and labels, ensuring secure alignment and engagement of components to prevent unauthorized access, and featuring durable, translucent materials with unique identifiers to deter tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple bag fasteners and closure bands are used, then ease of operation is improved, but tamper resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is divided into multiple independent components: a body portion, a separate fastening mechanism, and a tamper indicating mechanism. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the fastening and tamper indication features to operate independently while maintaining overall security.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper indicating mechanism utilizes visual changes (color changes or visible marker movements) to indicate whether the bag has been tampered with. This provides clear, immediate feedback to the user about the security status of the bag contents without requiring complex inspection procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reusable closure mechanisms are used, then adaptability is improved, but tamper indicating capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper indicating mechanism is pre-configured within the reusable closure device, with markers and indicators positioned to detect and display tampering events. This preliminary setup ensures that tamper indication capability is maintained across multiple uses without requiring reconfiguration or sacrificing reusability.
3Device complexity
If basic closure structures are used, then device complexity is reduced, but chain of custody protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper indicating mechanism acts as an intermediary between the closure structure and the contents it protects. This intermediate layer provides additional security features including visual indicators and sealing mechanisms that maintain chain of custody protection without fundamentally complicating the basic closure structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A reusable tamper indicating bag closure for transporting most items in a bag such as documents and portable computing devices including laptops, PDAs, mobile phones, iPods® . . . etc. that would appeal to a broad spectrum of customers including the individual buyer, the business user, and the government user. The tamper-evident bag closure is defined by a lid with multiple hasps and a base with knobs that attach to the bag and is secured by a locking mechanism placed through an opening on the base and inserted within an insertion aperture such that locking the lock mechanism causes the lid to slide into alignment with the base and engages the plurality of hasps with the plurality of knobs thus securing the bag. The bag closure also has several tamper indicating features including the use of tamper indicating markers, wire seals and tamper indicating labels.