Abstract: A seal of the padlock type comprising a plastic body having a pair of spaced apertures for receiving straight ends of a wire shackle. A metal fastener is assembled in the housing, said fastener having flexible tongues for so engaging the shackle ends that they can be easily pushed into the housing but cannot thereafter be retracted. In one embodiment of the invention the tongues have substantially different lengths, so that they engage the wire at longitudinally spaced positions which increases the holding power of the fastener. Means is provided for retaining the shackle in a closed position prior to use to prevent tangling of the seals with each other during shipment and handling.

Abstract: A security seal of the type having a housing with an opening to receive a flat strap type of shackle, in which the shackle has an aperture near the end, and said housing has internal means for engaging the shackle to prevent removal after the shackle is properly inserted. The internal means comprises deformable legs which are so deformed by the insertion of the strap end that a free end of one locking leg is caused to move through the aperture of the inserted strap to lock it against removal. In one embodiment of the invention the locking leg has hook means on the free end engaging a stationary portion of the internal structure after it has passed through the strap opening. In another embodiment of the invention two sets of deformable legs are provided so that both ends of a shackle may be engaged in the housing, thereby allowing the user of the seal to provide his own shackles with his own numbering system.

Abstract: A seal of the padlock type which has a plastic body with a pair of spaced cavities, and a U-shaped shackle having ends non-removably engaged in the cavities in which the ends in the cavities each have reversely bent portions, forming a bight, and the plastic body is deformed inwardly into the cavity between each of the end portions and the cavity entrance to prevent extraction of the end portions from the openings and to provide a visual indication that the seal has been properly closed.

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 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: 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 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 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 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.