Securable Clip
A securable clip includes a first elongated rectangular portion and a second elongated rectangular portion connected along a common edge. The clip includes at least one locking peg, at least one receiving hole configured to receive the at least one locking peg, and a frangible portion. The frangible portion provides a visual indication that the clip has been opened. The releasing of the locking peg prevents the clip from being reclosed, reused, or sealed again.
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Delivery of prepared food and fresh grocery items has become increasingly popular. However, once the food or item has left the restaurant, grocery store, or other seller, opportunities abound for intentional or accidental tampering of the food or other item. Tampering of the food or other item, or simply exposing the contents, not only impacts the safety/quality/quantity available, but these instances increase operational and customer service-related costs for both the delivery service and the supplier. Further still, the coronavirus pandemic has heightened awareness of the chain of custody of items prepared (e.g., food from restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, cruise lines, etc.), gathered (e.g., delivery services that shop at grocery stores on other’s behalf), and packaged (e.g., prescription drug deliveries). A secure and economical secure mechanism for transport of food and other items is needed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and, together with the detailed description below, serve to explain features of the disclosure. In the drawings:
In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present disclosure. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principles, application and practical use, and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure.
In one aspect, the exemplary embodiments shown herein provide a secure delivery mechanism to eliminate tampering and accidental exposure to contaminants, such as for food, items, and other deliverables. Among other benefits, the exemplary embodiments detailed herewithin eliminate tampering from food or other items, especially during delivery, until the food or other items are delivered to the intended recipient. While food, prescription drugs, money, groceries, etc. are discussed herein, benefits of the exemplary embodiments can be realized to secure food or other items from touching, contaminating, or otherwise impacting in any manner anything sensitive or personal before an intended recipient accesses the delivery mechanism. Some conventional scenarios that could be addressed and/or eliminated by utilizing the exemplary embodiments can include:
- ◯ Example 1) A food delivery driver sampling food in transit.
- ◯ Example 2) A food delivery driver opening a bag or container to examine contents therein, and touching, adjusting, or other otherwise contaminating the food in transit.
- ◯ Example 3) A food delivery driver opening a bag or container to examine contents and, even if the contents are not physically touched, contaminate the food by allowing dust, bacteria, or any particulate into the open bag or container.
- o Example 4) An employee transporting money, e.g., from a store to a bank to make a deposit, could eliminate suspicion of the employee if the count is off on either end.
- o Example 5) A package may accidentally be dropped, shaken, shifted suddenly, or fall off the car seat in transit and therefore open the box and expose the contents.
Additionally, the exemplary embodiments can help retain confidence in products delivered to ensure security and can help save resources and costs by creating accountability for the supplier/sender and the transporting party and personnel. In at least one aspect, the exemplary embodiments can be secured for delivery and only opened by the intended recipient. For example, if a vendor applies the secure delivery mechanism upon completing an order before the order is picked up for delivery, at least the following benefits are recognized:
- o The sender (e.g., a vendor) cannot claim that the transporter is responsible for any items missing from the order.
- o The intended recipient cannot claim the transporter tampered with the order.
- o In at least one aspect, the exemplary embodiments provide a secure system for the transporting party to essentially guarantee that the food/item left the restaurant/store (e.g., vendor) in the condition received by the intended recipient. Additionally, this secure system eliminates the delivery driver, or the company employing the delivery driver, from blame if the food/item order as delivered is incorrect.
The exemplary clips detailed herein can prevent tampering or other exposure of the contents of a sealed container or bag before being delivered and opened by the intended recipient or authorized user. Additionally, the exemplary clips detailed herein prevent accidental exposure and possible contamination while the sealed container is in transit by preventing the package from opening due to unexpected events, e.g., the bag/clip being dropped or the delivery vehicle making a sudden stop and the sealed bag/clip shifting, tipping, or falling.
The exemplary clips detailed herein will allow any person not trained or skilled in securing packages or bags or food, to seal or secure items in a way that renders bags and clips tamper resistant. Further, the exemplary clips detailed herein can be closed and opened only once, thus making the exemplary clips detailed herein single use or one-time-use. The exemplary clips detailed herein include a “pull tab” or “tear away tab” which removes the material holding a locking peg to the clip, and therefore releases the peg from an initial or original place in the clip and allows the clip to be opened. The locking pegs are not easily restored to the initial position as material generally is removed from the peg by pull tab making it visibly evident that a clip has been opened. The exemplary clips detailed herein can be used on any bag or any container capable of receiving the exemplary clips, including, for example: bags, satchels, sacks, purses, envelopes, etc. The bags/items being sealed can be made of paper, plastic, fabric, or any other material. The exemplary clips detailed herein can be used to secure/ seal; one, or multiple bags/items. The exemplary clips detailed herein can be formed of any material capable of allowing the clips to function as detailed herein, but generally will be formed of plastic to allow the removable tab or pull tab to be flexible for detachment from another portion of the clip. In some cases, the peg(s) can pierce through the item being sealed. Optionally, as desired in other embodiments, a separate tool or device such as a hole punch, can be used to create hole(s) for the pegs. The peg can include tiered barbs/ribs to make the clip adjustable in a way, that in it can hold more layers of, and or thicker material in general, of the bags/items being sealed.
Although not shown in the exemplary figures, in at least one embodiment, the clip with or without a hinge could include three or more pegs and corresponding peg receivers. Additional pegs/receivers may be needed to secure lengthier versions of the clip. In at least one embodiment, the clip can use one pull tab to release every or all peg(s). In at least one embodiment, the clip can could use a separate pull tab to release each peg individually. Optionally, in at least one embodiment, the pull tab could release the peg receiver instead of the peg. In at least one embodiment, the pull tab could release multiple/all peg receivers.
In at least one embodiment, the clip can incorporate barcodes, RFID tags, microchips, or any other technology for the purpose of tracking the clip and item(s) being sealed. Tracking can record either of, or any of the following data points; time, location, contents of items, names and contact information of the sender/shipper/merchant, the delivering/transporting party and any other intermediaries, and the intended recipient/customer.
In at least one embodiment, the exemplary clips detailed can include a hole or tunnel therethrough for adding an additional layer of security by providing an opening for a zip tie or other locking mechanism. Additionally, a hole or tunnel could also be used for storing and organizing the clips before use, e.g., with the use of a string, ring, or rod. Further, the holes could also be used to string or strap a number of closed clips together to make transportation easier.
The exemplary clips detailed herein can be formed of any applicable method, including, for example, single injection molding, or could be manufactured in separate molds—with the pegs and/or peg receivers being separately manufactured and then attached to the clip. In one exemplary design, the pegs and peg receivers could be inserted into pre built-in holes, allowing extra strength and security to be added as needed. Further, in at least one exemplary embodiment, if the manufactured pegs and/or peg receivers are separately manufactured, the pegs could be permanently glued or heat sealed to the clips in a two-step manufacturing process.
The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the instant detailed description, examples, and claims. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
The instant description is provided as an enabling teaching of the disclosure in its best, currently known aspect. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be made to the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the instant description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “body” includes aspects having two or more bodies unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Although several aspects of the disclosure have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other aspects of the disclosure will come to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described disclosure.
Claims
1. A clip comprising:
- a first rectangular portion including a frangible portion on an outer surface and at least one locking peg extending from an interior surface;
- a second rectangular portion including at least one receiver; wherein the clip is closable to a closed position where the at least one locking peg is disposed in the at least one receiver; wherein the at least one locking peg is entirely disposed within an interior of the clip when the clip is disposed in the closed position; wherein, when the frangible portion is at least partially separated from the at least one locking peg, the clip provides a visual indication that the frangible portion has been at least partially separated from the clip.
2. The clip of claim 1 wherein, once separated, the frangible portion cannot be reattached to the clip.
3. The clip of claim 1 wherein the frangible portion includes a pull tab.
4. The clip of claim 3 wherein the pull tab is sized to be detached to remove a portion of the clip to allow the first rectangular portion to release the at least one locking peg.
5. The clip of claim 4 wherein, once released, the at least one locking peg is unable to be relocked to the clip.
6. The clip of claim 1 wherein at least one identifier is provided to allow the clip to be tracked.
7. The clip of claim 6 wherein the at least identifier is chosen from: a barcode, a QR code, or RFID tag.
8. The clip of claim 6 wherein the at least one identifier indicates at least one of: order information, timestamp, supplier information, recipient information, promotional message(s), removal instructions, and any combination thereof.
9. The clip of claim 1 wherein the first rectangular portion is hinged to the second rectangular portion.
10. The clip of claim 9 wherein a bag, sack, or other container can be closed by the clip.
11. The clip of claim 10 wherein the bag, sack, or other container is secured between the first rectangular portion and the second rectangular portion when the clip is in the closed position.
12. The clip of claim 1 wherein a bag, sack, or other container can be closed by the clip.
13. The clip of claim 12 wherein the bag, sack, or other container is secured between the first rectangular portion and the second rectangular portion when the clip is in the closed position.
14. The clip of claim 1 wherein a bag, sack, or other container is secured between the first rectangular portion and the second rectangular portion when the clip is in the closed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2023
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
Applicant: SAFESEAL-SYSTEMS (Palm Harbor, FL)
Inventors: Ronald Collis (Palm Harbor, FL), James Ryan Bowen (Clearwater, FL)
Application Number: 18/140,221