Abstract: A locking cover assembly for the ends of an electric meter retaining ring. The assembly comprises a U-shaped bracket for positioning between the downwardly turned ends of the retaining ring and over the bolt that retains the ends of the ring together. A housing is provided for assembly over the ends of the ring and the depending ends of the U-shaped member, and an opening is provided in the housing and the depending ends of the U-shaped bracket for receiving a bolt type locking member, so that the locking member extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the ring so that the lock may be assembled and dis-assembled from the front of the meter.

Abstract: A seal for a pipe coupling such as is used to connect a gas meter to a gas supply line. The seal is made in two portions, which may be connected by a flexible web, and the portions have integral means for locking together around the nut of a coupling. Each portion has an outer shell with internal protrusions formed on the inner surface thereof. The portions are made of pigmented plastic of a type, such as polypropylene, that forms a white blush on the surface when permanently deformed. Hence when an attempt is made to remove the seal by a wrench or the like, the internal protrusions are forced against the nut, forming white blushes on the outer surface opposite the position of the ribs, giving visual evidence of tampering.

Abstract: A security seal formed of a single piece of molded plastic in which a socket member and a stud member intended for locking engagement are disposed on the ends of legs so mounted on a base that the seal may be closed by squeezing the legs together with the fingers of one hand so that the socket and stud lock together.An additional bowed member extends between the legs, which flexes when the legs are squeezed together, providing additional spring back force to cause the stud and socket to separate if not completely locked together. The additional bowed member also provides additional aligning force to insure that the stud and socket are properly aligned for engagement when squeezed together.

Abstract: An adaptor for attachment to a plunger lock unlocking tool of a type which grasps the external surface of the unlocking pin of a plunger-type lock and pulls the pin to the unlocking position, said adaptor enabling the tool to be used to unlock a plunger lock of the type in which the unlocking member is a hollow pin which is grasped internally for pulling to the unlocking position.

Abstract: A seal of the type resembling a padlock and comprising a plastic housing having two portions joined only by a weakened portion, each of the housing portions having an aperture for receiving an end of a shackle. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment the weakened portion is disposed at the bottom of a narrow elongated recess formed by adjacent housing portions, to minimize the effect of exposure to sunlight on the weakened portion. The seal can be easily fractured along the weakened portion, unintentionally, by unauthorized persons trying to remove the seal without destroying it, and can be easily fractured intentionally by authorized service personnel to facilitate removal.

Abstract: A seal of the type resembling a padlock which comprises a plastic housing having a pair of apertures in the top surface for receiving the ends of a wire shackle. To provide evidence of tampering, by attempts to work a shackle end out of an aperture with a pair of pliers or the like, upwardly extending protuberance are provided on the upper surface of the body, which are mashed down by the tool being used in an attempt to open the seal, thereby giving evidence of tampering. When certain types of colored plastic are used for the seal body, the deformation of the protuberance causes them to turn white, giving further evidence of tampering.

Abstract: A seal of the type having a hollow housing with internal resilient fingers for receiving a shouldered stud of a shackle into one end of the housing into locking engagement with the fingers, in which the opposite end is closed by a plug having resilient legs snapped into engagement with an internal recess in said opposite end. In one embodiment of the invention, the seal is formed of a single piece of molded plastic, with the plug being molded alongside the housing and being attached thereto by a flexible hinge or web.In another embodiment of the invention, the end of the shackle beyond the shoulder projects into a cavity between the resilient legs to lock said legs into the internal recess.

Abstract: A lock for a railroad switch or the like, which comprises a housing having a socket at one end and an elongated shackle having an enlargement on one end and a recess on the other end for cooperating with locking members in the housing so as to be received in locking engagement therein. The operating member for the locking member is a rotatable and axially movable plunger. Springs are provided to bias the plunger in rotation to the locking position and forwardly. Pin and groove guide means is provided to maintain the plunger in the unlocking position and to allow the plunger to rotate to the locking position when the plunger is moved axially by insertion of the end of the shackle into the housing.

Abstract: A lock for a railroad switch or the like, which comprises a housing providing a socket at one end and an elongated shackle having an enlargement on one end and a recess on the other end for cooperating with locking balls in the housing socket to be received in locking engagement therein, in which the operating means for the locking balls in the housing is a rotatable member having an enlarged head disposed in a recess at the end of the housing opposite the socket end, the interior of said recess being cylindrical, the periphery of the enlarged head being sufficiently out of round to enable it to be rotated by a tool having a suitably shaped recess, yet not sufficiently out of round to be readily apparent from visual observation.

Abstract: A lock of the type having an internal plunger with a stem for being gripped by a tool to pull the stem axially to release locking means, the stem being biased to the locking position by a coil spring so dimensioned that when the spring is fully compressed with the coils touching each other, the pin just reaches the unlocking position. Hence if an attempt is made to open the lock by inserting a bent wire or the like into a spring coil and pulling to compress the spring, the pin will not be able to move to the unlocking position.

Abstract: A seal of the type having a housing with internal resilient fingers for receiving a shouldered stud in locking engagement, in which a separate cylinder is provided in the housing for closely surrounding the entire periphery of an end portion of the stud protruding beyond the resilient fingers to maintain the stud centered in the opening and prevent any lateral movement thereof, and thereby prevent attempts to open the stud by the insertion of tools to dislodge the resilient fingers from engagement with the stud. The cylinder surrounding the stud is inserted into the end of the housing remote from the stud-receiving end, and said remote end is then deformed with heat to retain the cylinder in the housing.

Abstract: A locking structure for assembly onto existing electric meter boxes or the like, said structure comprising a bushing for mounting onto the box cover and an apertured bracket for mounting inside the box so that the bracket aperture is aligned with the bushing. The structure is intended to receive a locking cylinder of the type having an enlarged head and an elongated body portion with expansible locking balls near the end remote from the head, and the parts are dimensioned and positioned to retain the cover tightly closed when the locking cylinder is assembled. The bushing completely encloses the head of the locking cylinder so that the other end of the cylinder is recessed in the bushing. Apertures may be provided in opposite sides of the forward end of the bushing to receive a seal transversely across the bushing, so that the locking member cannot be removed without rupturing the seal.

Abstract: A lock of the type having an internal plunger with a stem for being gripped by a tool to pull the stem axially to release locking means, in which said stem has a separate portion protruding from the rear end which is spring biased against the forward portion of the stem. When attempts are made by unauthorized persons to open the lock by forcing an elongated member (such as a piece of tubing) into engagement with the protruding portion, the protruding portion is driven back into the forward portion, so that the tubing cannot become engaged therewith.

Abstract: A locking cover for the ends of an electric meter retaining ring comprising a housing for assembly over the ends. The housing has an internal bracket with apertures aligned with a side aperture in the housing and positioned to be aligned with apertures in the outturned ends of the retaining ring to receive a locking member.The internal bracket retains the housing in position on the meter ring and prevents axial movement of the locking member and is so positioned that the outer end of the locking member when assembled, is spaced at or inside of the outer surface of the housing wall. A collar is assembled into the side aperture and extends outwardly therefrom. The collar is provided with apertures to allow a seal to be assembled across the collar over the end of the locking member disposed therein so that the seal must be broken to remove the locking member, and will provide evidence of attempts to remove the locking cover.

Abstract: A security seal formed of molded plastic which is particularly adaped for use with articles closed by staples and hasps, such as are used on a strap closing the neck of a mail bag. The seal components are arranged so that the loop formed by the assembled seal strap may be tightened to a predetermined dimension and no smaller, with the tightening tension not being applied to the point at which the seal is designed to rupture. A finger loop is provided which extends from the loop formed by the assembled seal in such a manner that when the finger loop is pulled, tension is applied directly to the designed rupture point to facilitate removal of the seal.

Abstract: A locking seal for use on doors of freight cars, trailer trucks and other large doors to prevent casual pilferage by non-professional thieves. In a first embodiment a length of steel cable is provided with means on each end for locking engagement with each other. In a second embodiment of the invention, a length of steel cable is provided with a stop on one end and the other end is provided with an assembly comprising a locking cap and means secured to the cable for receiving the locking cap in non-removable engagement. The locking means of either embodiment is adapted for rapid assembly without the use of special tools, yet the design of the two locking portions thereof gives the assembly a strength of engagement which is greater than the strength of the steel cable connecting the portions. The male portion of the locking means, when assembled, is completely enclosed within the female portion to protect the attachment of the cable to the male portion from physical damage.

Abstract: A seal especially adapted for use on a fire extinguisher or other device, said seal providing visual evidence of operability and has means to prevent operation of the device until the seal is removed. The seal is formed of a single piece of molded plastic and is provided with an integral finger loop to facilitate removal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means preventing operation of the extinguisher is a rigid bar which extends through suitable locking apertures in the operating handle and handle support, and the seal means is a socket on one end of the bar and a shackle extending from the other end.