# US 10,766,677 B2 · Tamper-evident attachment for cable tie > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,677 B2 - Document ID: US10766677B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/110,477 - Filed: 2018-08-23 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-23 - Assignees: Election Systems & Software, LLC - Applicants: Election Systems & Software, LLC - Inventors: Patrick Keep - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766677B2 ## CPC - B65D 63/1063: {the female locking member being provided with at least one plastic barb} - B65D 63/1027: {the integral securing member being formed as a female and male locking member, e.g. locking head and locking teeth, or the like} - B65D 2401/15: Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) - B65D 2563/108: Appendages formed with/on the strap for purposes other than joining, releasing or bundling, e.g. for fixing the strap to a wall, label plates - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie includes a ratchet head cover configured to couple to a ratchet head of the cable tie such that the ratchet head cover covers at least a portion of a head opening of the ratchet head to inhibit access a pawl in the ratchet head. The ratchet head cover defines at least one slot-shaped opening configured to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. The at least one slot-shaped opening is sized and shaped to receive a strap of the cable tie therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie of the type including a ratchet head defining a head opening and having a deflectable pawl in the head opening, and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head, the tamper-evident attachment comprising: a ratchet head cover configured to couple to the ratchet head of the cable tie such that the ratchet head cover covers at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl, the ratchet head cover defining at least one slot-shaped opening positioned to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head, the at least one slot-shaped opening being sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough, wherein the ratchet head cover further includes a left wall, a right wall generally opposing the left wall, a rear wall extending between and connecting the left and right walls, and an upper wall interconnecting upper ends of the left wall, right wall, and rear wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot-shaped opening includes two slot-shaped openings positioned to align on either side of the head opening of the ratchet head such that the strap can extend through the two slot-shaped openings and the head opening when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot-shaped opening is sized and shaped to be in a close fitting relationship with the strap of the cable tie when the strap is received in the at least one slot-shaped opening to inhibit access to the pawl of the cable tie. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 1, wherein the left, right, rear, and upper walls ratchet head cover define a cavity configured to receive the ratchet head of the cable tie. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 4, wherein the ratchet head cover further defines a front opening in communication with the cavity, the front opening sized and shaped to allow the ratchet head of the cable tie to be inserted therethrough to be positioned in the cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 5, wherein the ratchet head cover further defines a bottom opening in communication with the cavity and the front opening, the bottom opening sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 1, wherein the ratchet head cover further includes a detent configured to engage the cable tie to hold the ratchet head cover on the ratchet head of the cable tie when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 7, wherein the detent engages the strap of the cable tie to hold the ratchet head cover on the ratchet head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tamper evident attachment of claim 1, wherein the left wall, right wall, rear wall, and upper wall each have an interior surface, the interior surfaces defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive the ratchet head of the cable tie. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the right and left walls defines the at least one slot-shaped opening. ### Claim 11 A tamper-evident security seal comprising: a cable tie including a ratchet head defining a head opening and including a deflectable pawl in the head opening, and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head; and a tamper-evident attachment coupled to the ratchet head of the cable tie and covering at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl, the tamper-evident attachment defining at least one slot-shaped opening aligned with the head opening of the ratchet head that is sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough, wherein the tamper-evident attachment includes a detent engaging the cable tie and holding the tamper evident attachment on the ratchet head of the cable tie before the strap of the cable tie is received through the at least one slot-shaped opening and the head opening of the ratchet head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tamper-evident security seal of claim 11, wherein the at least one slot-shaped opening includes two slot-shaped openings positioned to align on either side of the head opening of the ratchet head such that the strap can extend through the two slot-shaped openings and the head opening when the tamper-evident attachment is coupled to the ratchet head. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The tamper-evident security seal of claim 11, wherein the tamper-evident attachment further defines a cavity, the ratchet head of the cable tie being positioned in the cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The tamper-evident security seal of claim 11, wherein the tamper-evident attachment is integrally formed with the ratchet head of the cable tie. ### Claim 15 A tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie of the type including a ratchet head defining a head opening and having a deflectable pawl in the head opening, and a flexible strap extending from the ratchet head, the tamper-evident attachment comprising: a ratchet head cover configured to couple to the ratchet head of the cable tie such that the ratchet head cover covers at least a portion of the head opening to inhibit access to the pawl, the ratchet head cover defining at least one slot-shaped opening positioned to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head, the at least one slot-shaped opening being sized and shaped to receive the strap of the cable tie therethrough, wherein the ratchet head cover includes a detent configured to engage the cable tie to hold the ratchet head cover on the ratchet head of the cable tie before the strap of the cable tie is received through the at least one slot-shaped opening and the head opening of the ratchet head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 15, wherein the at least one slot-shaped opening includes two slot-shaped openings positioned to align on either side of the head opening of the ratchet head such that the strap can extend through the two slot-shaped openings and the head opening when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 15, wherein the at least one slot-shaped opening is sized and shaped to be in a close fitting relationship with the strap of the cable tie when the strap is received in the at least one slot-shaped opening to inhibit access to the pawl of the cable tie. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The tamper-evident attachment of claim 15, wherein the ratchet head cover further defines a cavity configured to receive the ratchet head of the cable tie.