U.S. patent application number 13/097775 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-10 for tamper evident seal.
Invention is credited to David Zovic.
Application Number | 20110274479 13/097775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44900851 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110274479 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zovic; David |
November 10, 2011 |
TAMPER EVIDENT SEAL
Abstract
Disclosed is a seal. The seal is for a box. A box housing has an
aperture leading to an interior. A box cover is: secured to the
housing in use by at least one screw to occlude the aperture; and
removable, by screw removal, to permit interior access via the
aperture. After the cover has been secured, one or more screws must
be backed off or removed to obtain interior access via the
aperture. The seal comprises: a base for each screw which, in use,
is screwed to the cover by said screw when the cover has been
secured to the housing by the at least one screw; and, for each
base, an assembly which is defined by frangibly connected
structures, one being connected to said each base; the other, being
separably connected to said each base, to preclude access to the
screw holding said each base to the cover.
Inventors: |
Zovic; David; (Brampton,
CA) |
Family ID: |
44900851 |
Appl. No.: |
13/097775 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61331437 |
May 5, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
403/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 3/0323 20130101;
Y10T 403/11 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/2 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/06 20060101
B65D055/06 |
Claims
1. A seal for a box of the type having a housing and a cover, the
housing having an aperture leading to an interior and the cover
being secured to the housing in use by at least one screw to
occlude the aperture; removable, by removal of the at least one
screw, to permit access to the interior via the aperture; adapted
such that, after the cover has been secured to the housing by the
at least one screw, one or more screws must be backed off or
removed to obtain access to the interior via the aperture, the seal
comprising: a base for each of said one or more screws, the base
being, in use, screwed to the cover by said each screw when the
cover has been secured to the housing by the at least one screw;
and a cap assembly for each base part, the cap assembly being
defined by two structures connected to one another in a frangible
fashion, one of the two structures, in use, being substantially
permanently connected to said each base; the other of the two
structures, in use, being separably connected to said each base and
adapted to preclude access to the screw holding said each base to
the cover.
2. A seal according to claim 1, wherein the cap assembly comprises
a cap and a sticker, the cap, in use, being separably connected to
said each base and precluding access to the screw holding said each
base to the cover; the sticker having two parts connected to one
another in a frangible fashion, one of the two parts defining the
one structure; and the other of the two parts, in use, being
substantially permanently connected to the cap in use to define the
other structure.
3. A seal according to claim 2, wherein the base has a raised boss
terminating in a planar surface; the cap has an aperture and a
peripheral surface surrounding the aperture and is adapted for
snap-fit engagement with the base; the boss of the base protrudes
into aperture when the cap is separably connected to the base in
use; the planar surface of the base and the peripheral surface of
the cap are flush with one another when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; and the sticker can be defined by
void tape which, in use, is applied to overlie the planar surface
of the base and the peripheral surface of the cap such that, when
the cap is separated from the base, the sticker separates from the
planar surface but for a residual message left at least on the
planar surface, the residual message defining the one
structure.
4. A seal system for boxes each of the type having a housing and a
cover, the housing having an aperture leading to an interior and
the cover being: (i) secured to the housing in use by at least one
screw to occlude the aperture; (ii) removable, by removal of the at
least one screw, to permit access to the interior via the aperture;
and (iii) adapted such that, after the cover has been secured to
the housing by the at least one screw, one or more screws must be
backed off or removed to obtain access to the interior via the
aperture, the seal system comprising: bases; caps; and seals, the
bases, in use, being provided one for each of said one or more
screws, each base being, in use, screwed to the cover by said each
screw when the cover has been secured to the housing by the at
least one screw; the caps, in use, being provided one for each
base, each cap, in use, being separably connected to the base for
which it is provided and precluding access to the screw holding
said base to the cover; the seals being provided one for each base,
each seal having two parts connected to one another in a frangible
fashion, one of the two parts, in use, being substantially
permanently connected to the base for which said seal is provided
and the other of the two parts, in use, being substantially
permanently connected to the cap for said each base.
5. A seal according to claim 4, wherein the base has a raised boss
terminating in a planar surface; the cap has an aperture and a
peripheral surface surrounding the aperture and is adapted for
snap-fit engagement with the base the boss of the base protrudes
into aperture when the cap is separably connected to the base in
use; the planar surface of the base and the peripheral surface of
the cap are flush with one another when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; and the seal is defined by a piece of
void tape which, in use, is applied to overlie the planar surface
of the base and the peripheral surface of the cap such that, when
the cap is separated from the base, the seal separates from the
planar surface but for a residual message left at least on the
planar surface, the residual message defining the one of the two
parts.
6. A seal system for use with stickers and boxes, the stickers
having two parts connected to one another in a frangible fashion
and the boxes each being of the type having a housing and a cover,
the housing having an aperture leading to an interior and the cover
being: (i) secured to the housing in use by at least one screw to
occlude the aperture; (ii) removable, by removal of the at least
one screw, to permit access to the interior via the aperture; and
(iii) adapted such that, after the cover has been secured to the
housing by the at least one screw, one or more screws must be
backed off or removed to obtain access to the interior via the
aperture, the seal system comprising: bases; and caps, the bases,
in use, being provided one for each of said one or more screws,
each base, in use, being screwed to the cover by said each screw
when the cover has been secured to the housing by the at least one
screw; the caps, in use, being provided one for each base, each
cap, in use, being separably connected to the base for which it is
provided and precluding access to the screw holding said base to
the cover; the stickers in use, being provided one for each base,
one of the parts being substantially permanently connected to said
each base and the other of the two parts being substantially
permanently connected to the cap provided for said each base such
that, when the cap is separated from the base, the two parts of the
sticker are broken apart.
7. A seal according to claim 6, wherein the base has a raised boss
terminating in a planar surface; the cap has an aperture and a
peripheral surface surrounding the aperture and is adapted for
snap-fit engagement with the base; the boss of the base protrudes
into aperture when the cap is separably connected to the base in
use; the planar surface of the base and the peripheral surface of
the cap are flush with one another when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; and the sticker, in use, is applied
to overlie the planar surface of the base and the peripheral
surface of the cap.
Description
REFERENCE TO A PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/331,437, filed May 5, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the field of electrical safety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In many jurisdictions, electricians are held accountable for
wiring deficiencies. This is as it should be. However, often,
installations are done stagewise. In a first stage, a permit is
taken out and a skilled electrician is engaged. After that stage
has been done and inspected, unlicensed persons complete the work,
often in an unsafe manner. In the event that a subsequent
inspection is carried out and a deficiency is observed, often
following a fire, the electrician is held to account,
notwithstanding that he or she is not the origin of the
deficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Forming one aspect of the invention is a seal for a box of
the type having a housing and a cover. The housing has an aperture
leading to an interior. The cover is: secured to the housing in use
by at least one screw to occlude the aperture; removable, by
removal of the at least one screw, to permit access to the interior
via the aperture; and adapted such that, after the cover has been
secured to the housing by the at least one screw, one or more
screws must be backed off or removed to obtain access to the
interior via the aperture. The seal comprises a base for each of
said one or more screws, the base being, in use, screwed to the
cover by said each screw when the cover has been secured to the
housing by the at least one screw. The seal also comprises a cap
assembly for each base part, the cap assembly being defined by two
structures connected to one another in a frangible fashion, one of
the two structures, in use, being substantially permanently
connected to said each base, and the other of the two structures,
in use, being separably connected to said each base and adapted to
preclude access to the screw holding said each base to the
cover.
[0005] According to another aspect of the invention, the cap
assembly can comprise a cap and a sticker. The cap, in use, is
separably connected to said each base and precludes access to the
screw holding said each base to the cover. The seal can have two
parts connected to one another in a frangible fashion, one of the
two parts defining the one structure; and the other of the two
parts, in use, being substantially permanently connected to the cap
in use to define the other structure.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, the base can
have a raised boss terminating in a planar surface; the cap can
have an aperture and a peripheral surface surrounding the aperture
and be adapted for snap-fit engagement with the base; the boss of
the base can protrude into the aperture when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; the planar surface of the base and
the peripheral surface of the cap can be flush with one another
when the cap is separably connected to the base in use; and the
sticker can be defined by void tape which, in use, is applied to
overlie the planar surface of the base and the peripheral surface
of the cap such that, when the cap is separated from the base, the
sticker separates from the planar surface but for a residual
message left at least on the planar surface, the residual message
defining the one structure.
[0007] Forming another aspect of the invention is a seal system for
boxes each of the type having a housing and a cover. The housing
has an aperture leading to an interior and the cover is: (i)
secured to the housing in use by at least one screw to occlude the
aperture; (ii) removable, by removal of the at least one screw, to
permit access to the interior via the aperture; and (iii) adapted
such that, after the cover has been secured to the housing by the
at least one screw, one or more screws must be backed off or
removed to obtain access to the interior via the aperture. The seal
system comprises: bases; caps; and seals. The bases, in use, are
provided one for each of said one or more screws, each base being,
in use, screwed to the cover by said each screw when the cover has
been secured to the housing by the at least one screw. The caps, in
use, are provided one for each base, each cap, in use, being
separably connected to the base for which it is provided and
precluding access to the screw holding said base to the cover. The
seals are provided one for each base, each seal having two parts
connected to one another in a frangible fashion, one of the two
parts, in use, being substantially permanently connected to the
base for which said seal is provided and the other of the two
parts, in use, being substantially permanently connected to the cap
for said each base.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention: the base can
have a raised boss terminating in a planar surface; the cap can
have an aperture and a peripheral surface surrounding the aperture
and be adapted for snap-fit engagement with the base; the boss of
the base can protrude into the aperture when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; the planar surface of the base and
the peripheral surface of the cap are flush with one another when
the cap is separably connected to the base in use; and the seal is
defined by a piece of void tape which, in use, is applied to
overlie the planar surface of the base and the peripheral surface
of the cap such that, when the cap is separated from the base, the
sticker separates from the planar surface but for a residual
message left at least on the planar surface, the residual message
defining the one of the two parts.
[0009] A seal system for use with stickers and boxes forms yet
another aspect of the invention. The stickers can have two parts
connected to one another in a frangible fashion and the boxes can
each be of the type having a housing and a cover, the housing
having an aperture leading to an interior and the cover being: (i)
secured to the housing in use by at least one screw to occlude the
aperture; (ii) removable, by removal of the at least one screw, to
permit access to the interior via the aperture; and (iii) adapted
such that, after the cover has been secured to the housing by the
at least one screw, one or more screws must be backed off or
removed to obtain access to the interior via the aperture. The seal
system comprises bases and caps. The bases, in use, are provided
one for each of said one or more screws, each base, in use, being
screwed to the cover by said each screw when the cover has been
secured to the housing by the at least one screw. The caps, in use,
are provided one for each base, each cap, in use, being separably
connected to the base for which it is provided and precluding
access to the screw holding said base to the cover. The stickers
are provided one for each base, one of the parts being
substantially permanently connected to said each base and the other
of the two parts being substantially permanently connected to the
cap provided for said each base such that, when the cap is
separated from the base, the two parts of the sticker are broken
apart.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention: the base can
have a raised boss terminating in a planar surface; the cap can
have an aperture and a peripheral surface surrounding the aperture
and be adapted for snap-fit engagement with the base; the boss of
the base can protrude into the aperture when the cap is separably
connected to the base in use; the planar surface of the base and
the peripheral surface of the cap can be flush with one another
when the cap is separably connected to the base in use; and the
sticker, in use, can be applied to overlie the planar surface of
the base and the peripheral surface of the cap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a is an exploded perspective view of a prior art
electrical panel;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 1, with the
cover installed to the housing but for one screw;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view of the components of a seal system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of encircled structure 4 of FIG.
3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of encircled structure 5 of FIG.
3;
[0016] FIG. 6 is view along arrow A of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a view along arrow A of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of encircled structure 8 of FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 in use with the
structure of FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a view of the structure of FIG. 4 in use with the
structure of FIG. 9;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a view of the structure of FIG. 10 in an
exemplary use;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a view of the structure of FIG. 11, with the
structure of FIG. 4 removed; and
[0023] FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] A prior art electrical box is shown in exploded view in FIG.
1 and will be seen to have a housing 10 and a cover 12. The housing
has an aperture 14 leading to an interior 16. A plurality of screw
holes 17 are formed around the aperture 14 and corresponding bores
19 are formed in the cover 12. A plurality of screws 18 are also
provided, and persons of ordinary skill will recognize that the
cover 12 is: secured to the housing 10 in use by passing the screws
18 through bores 19 and threading screws 18 into holes 17;
removable, by removal of the screws 18, to permit access to the
interior 16 via the aperture 14; and adapted such that, after the
cover 12 has been secured to the housing 10 by the screws 18, one
or more screws 18 must be backed off or removed to obtain access to
the interior 16 via the aperture 14.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the cover 12 secured to the housing 10, but for
one screw.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows the components of a seal system 20 that forms
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, namely, a base 22 and a
cap 24, both being injection-molded plastic components. Base 22
will be seen include a raised boss 28 and a screw aperture 26. The
cap has an opening 30 shaped and dimensioned to receive the boss
28, has a hollow 38 defined therein at one end at a slot 40 at the
other. A peripheral surface 40 surrounds aperture 30. As well, the
base and cap have mating structures 32,34 which snap-fit into one
another, to hold the base and cap together.
[0027] Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which shows an enlarged
view of the structure in encircled area 8 of FIG. 2.
[0028] Use of the seal system 20 involves one of the bases 22 being
screwed to the cover 12 and housing 10, as shown in FIG. 9, with
the raised boss 28 protruding outwardly. The cover 12 is now
secured to the housing 10 in the conventional manner, but for the
interposition of the base 22.
[0029] One of the caps 24 is then placed over the base 22, with the
hollow cavity 38 overlying the head of screw 18, and the aperture
30 overlying the raised boss 28, and urged against the base 22.
This causes the mating structures 32,34 to resiliently-deform and
create a snap-fit engagement of the base 22 and the cap 24, all as
shown in FIG. 10. So assembled, the cap 24 precludes access to the
head of the screw 18, shown in phantom; even if the remaining
screws 18 holding the cover 12 to the housing 10 were all removed,
access to the 16 of this box cannot be obtained via the aperture 14
without removing the cap 24. Notably, the raised boss 28 and the
peripheral surface 40 are flush with one another in this
arrangement and define a substantially smooth, continuous
surface.
[0030] The final step involves a seal in the form of a void
sticker. The sticker, when purchased, comprises three layers: a
substrate layer; an intermediate adhesive layer; and a release
layer. The release layer is a thin film of plastic or paper. The
substrate layer is a relatively sturdy paper or plastic film on
which is printed markings which identify the owner of the supply of
stickers. The adhesive layer is a transparent film imprinted with
the word "VOID" which has adhesive on two sides: on the first side,
which faces the release layer, there exists a layer of adhesive
that has relatively low adhesion to the release layer but
relatively high-adhesion to the plastic that forms the base and
cap; on the second side, which faces the substrate layer, there
exists a layer of adhesive that has a level of adhesion to the
substrate layer that is relatively low, but greater than the level
of adhesion to the release layer.
[0031] To complete the installation, the release layer is removed
from the intermediate layer, and the balance of the void sticker 50
is laid upon the smooth, continuous surface defined by boss
28/surface 40, with the substrate layer facing outwardly, so that
the indicia can be read by viewers, as indicated in FIG. 11. This
provides a tamper-evident seal; no party can access the interior of
the box without removing the cap 24, and removal of the cap 24
results in the separation of the frangible parts of the void
sticker, i.e. the substrate layer and the adhesive layer, leaving
the residual message "VOID" on the boss, as indicated in FIG. 12.
The nature of the adhesive bond between the adhesive layer and the
substrate layer is such that the substrate layer cannot be
adhesively resecured to the boss by the adhesive layer after
separation. Thus, in the event that a subsequent inspection of the
box needs to be made, for whatever reason, the inspector will know
that, if the VOID sticker appears, the box has been tampered with
following the last installation, and the previous contractor can
not necessarily be held accountable.
[0032] VOID stickers having these characteristics are known in the
art and commercially available. Accordingly, a detailed description
of their construction is neither provided nor required.
[0033] Whereas a single embodiment is shown and described with
reference to FIGS. 2-12, persons of ordinary skill will readily
perceive the potential for variation.
[0034] For example, whereas a "VOID" sticker is described to be
useful, other variations are possible. The sticker could, for
example, simply having a central portion adapted to be received by
the surface of the boss and a peripheral portion adapted to be
received by the peripheral surface of the cap, with the central and
peripheral portions of the sticker being separated from one another
by a simple line of perforations.
[0035] As well, whereas the substrate layer is indicated to bear
indicia of ownership, is should be understood that this indicia
could include holographs or other anti-counterfeiting technologies,
to further reduce the likelihood of tampering.
[0036] Further, whereas the base and the cap are indicated to mate
in snap-fit relation, this is not necessary; it could, for example,
be possible for the sticker itself to hold the base and the cap
together.
[0037] Additionally, whereas it is indicated that the present
invention is related to the field of electrical safety, it should
be understood that the usefulness of the present invention is not
contemplated to be limited to electrical applications: telephone
and cable installations are other examples.
[0038] Yet further, whereas in the example discussed, only a single
seal was provided, it will be appreciated that, in some
installations, it may be necessary to seal more than one screw to
ensure that access to the panel cannot be obtained.
[0039] Moreover, whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-12, the base
and cap are separate and distinct elements, this is not strictly
necessary. For example, in the embodiment 20' of FIG. 13, base 22
and cap 24 are formed as a single unit and coupled to one another
by a hinge 52 as shown in FIG. 13. Further, whereas the base 22 and
cap 24 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-12 are separable after
attachment, this is not strictly necessary. For example, as shown
in FIG. 13, the cap 24 can be provided with a frangible plug 54,
the base 22 can be provided with a socket 56 and the plug 54 and
socket 56 can be adapted for non-releasable engagement, such that
if the base 22 and cap 24 are separated after engagement, the plug
54 separates from the cap 24.
[0040] Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited
only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
* * * * *