CONTAINER SEAL

Abstract

A container seal, including a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and a pointer, is provided. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connects to the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on the slot's slot wall. The pin has a tapered end and a trench disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end. The tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, making the C-shaped ring be snapped in the trench. The pointer has a neck portion and a head portion whose diameter is between the internal diameters of the slot and the reservoir. The head portion passes through the slot and enters into the reservoir, and the neck portion connects to the end surface. When the pin is pulled out, the pointer is separated from the end surface and dropped into the reservoir.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 100213376 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2011/7/20, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a seal, and more particularly, to a container seal for sealing a container.

2. Related Art

With the growing development of transportation technologies, trade contacts among countries in the world have become more frequent. Any required article produced anywhere in the world can be obtained in a short period through logistic channels, at a reasonable cost. The most common method of storing bulk cargo, whether for internal or external transportation, is to place the goods in a container with a certain size, and then transport the container to different parts of the world through various conveyances, such as a ship or a land vehicle.

However, in order to prevent the goods in the container from being stealthily substituted or destroyed, or even prevent a terrorist taking the opportunity to dispose an explosive in the container, a container seal may be additionally installed on the doors of all the containers to prevent unscrupulous persons from destroying the goods deliberately. Since each of the container seals is printed with a unique number, it is possible to determine whether the container seal is destroyed or changed, by checking the number.

The conventional container seal has a simple structure, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a manner of combining a pin and a socket is used to lock the container securely. One end of the pin is disposed with a trench, and a C-shaped ring is disposed inside the socket; when the pin is inserted into the socket, the C-shaped ring in the socket may be clamped into the trench of the pin, so that the pin cannot be easily pulled out.

Such a container seal is not safe enough. In fact, it is found that some unscrupulous persons use a manner of rotating the pin at a high speed to take out the pin, and re-insert the original pin or a duplicate of the original pin into the socket after destruction or theft. As a result, it cannot be known from the outward appearance alone whether the container's security has been breached by lawless persons.

SUMMARY

In view of these difficulties, the present invention provides a container seal, which includes a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and a pointer. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connects to the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and has a distance of a first depth from the jack. The pin has a tapered end and a trench, in which the trench is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, so that the C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench. The pointer has a head portion and a neck portion, in which a diameter of the head portion is between an internal diameter of the slot and an internal diameter of the reservoir. The neck portion is fixedly connected to the end surface of the tapered end. The head portion of the pointer passes through the slot and enters into the reservoir. When the pin is pulled out of the socket due to an external force, the pointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end, and then dropped into the reservoir.

Since the head portion of the pointer is greater than the slot wall of the slot, once the pointer is dropped into the reservoir, the pointer cannot be taken or removed from the reservoir. Therefore, even if unscrupulous persons re-inserts the original pin or another pin into the socket, the container checker may determine whether the pointer of the container seal has been dropped into the reservoir by shaking, so as to further determine whether the container seal has been destroyed.

In addition, the socket may be made of a transparent material or is disposed with a window, and through the window, the container checker may check the reservoir with the naked eye from the outside. In this way, the container checker may determine with visual inspection whether the pointer is dropped into the reservoir of the socket, so as to know whether the container seal has been destroyed.

To summarize, through the present invention, the container checker may easily determine whether the container seal has been destroyed in the shaking manner or the visual inspection manner, thereby overcoming the defects of the conventional container seal. The present invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view (1) of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view (2) of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view (1) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view (2) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view (1) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view (2) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of a first embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 5, which embodiment includes: a socket 1, a first C-shaped ring 13, a pin 2, and a pointer 3. Socket 1 has a jack 17, a slot 18, and a reservoir 19, and first C-shaped ring 13 is disposed on a slot wall 191 of slot 18, and has a distance of a first depth from jack 17. Pin 2 has a tapered end 25 and a trench 27, in which trench 27 is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and tapered end 25 passes through first C-shaped ring 13, so that first C-shaped ring 13 is snapped in trench 27. Pointer 3 has a head portion 31 and a neck portion 33, in which a diameter of head portion 31 is between an internal diameter of slot 18 and the internal diameter of reservoir 19. Head portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through slot 18 and enters into reservoir 19. Neck portion 33 is fixedly connected to end surface 29 of tapered end 25. When pin 2 is pulled out of socket 1 due to an external force, pointer 3 is separated from end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and then is dropped into reservoir 19.

In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring 13 is C-shaped ring or fastening ring similar to the C-shaped ring. Socket 1 is made of a transparent dielectric material. Pointer 3 is made of a polymer material, such as plastic.

In this embodiment, since a size of head portion 31 of pointer 3 is greater than the internal diameter of slot 18, in the process of installing pin 2 onto socket 1, a certain force should be exerted to enable head portion 31 of pointer 3 to pass through slot 18 and enter into reservoir 19.

Please refer to FIGS. 6 to 8, which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of the first embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 6 to 8, in which embodiment, since head portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through the first C-shaped ring 13, when pin 2 bears an external pulling force, the pulling force is borne by first C-shaped ring 13. When the external pulling force is greater than a force capable of being borne by first C-shaped ring 13 and trench 27 snapped together, pin 2 may be pulled out of socket 1. In the process of pulling out of pin 2, pointer 3 may be separated from pin 2 due to the interference of the slot wall of slot 18, and then is dropped into reservoir 19.

In this embodiment, end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2 has a hole 291, which is as shown in FIG. 9. Neck portion 33 of pointer 3 is tightly fit into the hole 291. It should be noted that the strength of the combination of pointer 3 and pin 2 is smaller than the required pulling force for pulling pin 2 out of socket 1. In another embodiment, the hole 291 is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed at neck portion 33 of pointer 3, so that pointer 3 is locked into the locking hole through the thread at neck portion 33.

In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with an electronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In this embodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radio frequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, and pointer 3 has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passes from head portion 31 to neck portion 33. The RF chip and the transmission conductor are both disposed in pin 2, and the transmission conductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna is disposed in socket 1, and when pin 2 is inserted into socket 1, the antenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connected electrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin 2. In this way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of a second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 10 to 12, which embodiment includes: a socket 1, a first C-shaped ring 13, a second C-shaped ring 15, a pin 2, and a pointer 3. Socket 1 has a jack 17 and a slot 19, and first C-shaped ring 13 and second C-shaped ring 15 are disposed on a slot wall 191 of the slot 18, and respectively have a distance of a first depth and a second depth from jack 17, in which the second depth is greater than the first depth. Pin 2 has a tapered end 25 and a trench 27, in which trench 27 is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and tapered end 25 passes through first C-shaped ring 13, so that first C-shaped ring 13 is snapped in trench 27. Pointer 3 has a head portion 31 and a neck portion 33, in which a diameter of head portion 31 is greater than an internal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, head portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through second C-shaped ring 15. Neck portion 33 is fixedly connected to end surface 29 of tapered end 25. When pin 2 is pulled out of socket 1 due to an external force, pointer 3 is separated from end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and then is dropped into the slot 19.

In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring 13 and second C-shaped ring 15 are C-shaped rings or fastening rings similar to the C-shaped rings. Socket 1 is made of a transparent dielectric material. Pointer 3 is made of a polymer material, such as plastic.

In addition, when first C-shaped ring 13 of this embodiment is snapped in the trench, the head portion of pointer 3 may pass through second C-shaped ring 15, and has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring 15. Since rough roads or bad sea conditions are inevitably encountered during a transportation process of the container, the pin is inevitably pulled by the external force at this time. If head portion 31 of pointer 3 is enabled to maintain an axial distance from second C-shaped ring 15, separation of pointer 3 from pin 2 due to occasional rough roads or bad sea conditions is prevented, so that a container checker does not mistakenly conclude the container has been destroyed by unscrupulous persons.

In this embodiment, since a size of head portion 31 of pointer 3 is greater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, in the process of installing pin 2 onto socket 1, a certain force should be exerted to enable head portion 31 of pointer 3 to pass through second C-shaped ring 15.

Please refer to FIGS. 13 to 15, which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 13 to 15, in which embodiment, since head portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through second C-shaped ring 15 and then has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring 15, when pin 2 bears an external pulling force, the pulling force is borne by first C-shaped ring 13. When the external pulling force is greater than a force capable of being borne by first C-shaped ring 13 and trench 27 snapped together, pin 2 may be pulled out of socket 1. In the process of pulling out of pin 2, pointer 3 may be separated from pin 2 due to the interference of second C-shaped ring 15, and then is dropped into the reservoir 19.

In this embodiment, end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2 has a hole 291, which is as shown in FIG. 16. Neck portion 33 of pointer 3 is tightly fit into hole 291. It should be noted that the strength of the combination of pointer 3 and pin 2 is smaller than the required pulling force for pulling pin 2 out of socket 1. In another embodiment, hole 291 is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed at neck portion 33 of pointer 3, so that pointer 3 is locked into the locking hole through the thread at neck portion 33.

In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with an electronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In this embodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radio frequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, and pointer 3 has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passes from head portion 31 to neck portion 33. The RF chip and the transmission conductor are both disposed in pin 2, and the transmission conductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna is disposed in socket 1, and when pin 2 is inserted into socket 1, the antenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connected electrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin 2. In this way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna.

In the above embodiments, since the size of head portion 31 of pointer 3 is greater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, once pointer 3 is dropped into the reservoir 19, pointer 3 cannot be easily taken or dumped out of the reservoir 19. Therefore, even if unscrupulous persons re-insert the original pin or another pin into the socket, the container checker may determine whether the pointer of the container seal has been dropped into the slot in a shaking manner, so as to further determine whether the container seal has been destroyed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, socket 1 may be made of a transparent material and is also disposed with a window, and the checker can check the slot 19 from the outside, through the window. In this way, the container checker easily determines by visual inspection whether pointer 3 has been dropped into reservoir 19 through the window, so as to determine whether the container seal has been destroyed by an external force. In addition, the window may be a penetration hole in communication with the slot from the outside, and a size of the penetration hole must be smaller than a size of pointer 3, so that pointer 3 is prevented from being dropped into the reservoir 19 through the penetration hole.

Please refer to FIGS. 17 to 20, which are respectively schematic operational views (1) to (3) of third embodiment of the present invention and schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 17 to 20, the primary difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is that a needle 292 is disposed on end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2, and the needle 292 pierces into neck portion 33 of pointer 3 so as to fixedly connect neck portion 33 to end surface 29 of tapered end 25.

While the present invention has been described by the way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

1. A container seal, comprising:

a socket, having a jack, a slot, and a reservoir, the slot connects to the reservoir, and the internal diameter of the reservoir is greater than the internal diameter of the slot;

a C-shaped ring, disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and having a first depth from the jack;

a pin, having a tapered end and a trench, wherein the trench is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, so that the C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench; and

a pointer, having a head portion and a neck portion, wherein a size of the head portion is between an internal diameter of the slot 18 and an internal diameter of the reservoir 19, and the head portion is fixedly connected to the end surface of the tapered end;

wherein the head portion of the pointer passes through the slot, and when the pin is separated from the socket due to an external force, the pointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end and then is dropped into the reservoir.

2. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the socket is transparent.

3. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a window, so that a checker is capable of observing the slot from outside.

4. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the tapered end has a hole, and the neck portion of the pointer is tightly fit into the hole.

5. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the tapered end has a locking hole.

6. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the pointer has a thread, and the pointer is locked into the locking hole through the thread.

7. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the pointer has a penetration hole, and the penetration hole passes from the head portion to the neck portion.

8. The container seal according to claim 7, further comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) chip, disposed in the pin;

a transmission conductor, disposed in the pin and connected electrically to the RF chip; and

an antenna, disposed in the socket, and passing through the penetration hole and connected electrically to the transmission conductor;

wherein a signal of the RF chip is sent to outside through the antenna.

9. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein a needle is disposed on the end surface of the tapered end, and the needle pierces into the neck portion of the pointer so as to fixedly connect the neck portion to the end surface of the tapered end.

10. A container seal, comprising:

a socket, having a jack and a slot;

a first C-shaped ring, disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and having a first depth from the jack;

a second C-shaped ring, disposed on the slot wall of the slot, and having a second depth from the jack, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth;

a pin, having a tapered end and a trench, wherein the trench is disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passes through the first C-shaped ring, so that the first C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench; and

a pointer, having a head portion and a neck portion, wherein a size of the head portion is greater than an internal diameter of the second C-shaped ring, and the head portion is fixedly connected to the end surface of the tapered end;

wherein the head portion of the pointer passes through the second C-shaped ring, and when the pin is separated from the socket due to an external force, the pointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end and then is dropped into the slot.

11. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the socket is transparent.

12. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a window, so that a checker is capable of observing the slot from outside.

13. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein when the first C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench, the head portion of the pointer passes through the second C-shaped ring and has an axial gap from the second C-shaped ring.

14. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the end surface of the tapered end has a hole, and the neck portion of the pointer is tightly fit into the hole.

15. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the end surface of the tapered end has a locking hole.

16. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the neck portion of the pointer has a thread, and the pointer is locked into the locking hole through the thread.

17. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the pointer has a penetration hole, and the penetration hole passes from the head portion to the neck portion.

18. The container seal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) chip, disposed in the pin;

a transmission conductor, disposed in the pin and connected electrically to the RF chip; and

an antenna, disposed in the socket, and passing through the penetration hole and connected electrically to the transmission conductor;

wherein a signal of the RF chip is sent to outside through the antenna.

19. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein a needle is disposed on the end surface of the tapered end, and the needle pierces into the neck portion of the pointer so as to fixedly connect the neck portion to the end surface of the tapered end.