Locking or security seal

An improved security seal of the type having a housing and an integral, elongated band;

• the housing having a passageway therethrough for generally conformally receiving the band for insertion thereinto from one side of the housing and for movement in a first direction through the housing beyond the other side of the housing;
• the improvement comprising:
• a plurality of ratchet-like teeth on one side of the band;
• a pawl-like flexible member in the passageway for permitting the band to move through the passageway in the first direction and for preventing reverse movement of the band, the member permitting the teeth to bypass it during movement in the first direction, the member engaging the teeth to prevent reverse movement;
• a series of protrusions on the other side of the band;
• and
• a groove formed in the passageway for conformally receiving the protrusions, insertion of the band from the other side of the housing or insertion of the band from the one side of the housing after the band has received a half twist causing the protrusions to engage a non-grooved region of the passageway to thereby effect interference between the protrusions and the passageway, which interference applies force to the protrusions which causes deformation or discoloration of the protrusions to give a visual indication that the seal has been improperly assembled.

An improved indicia-carrying member for use with a security seal, the seal being of the type having a strap integral with a housing at one end, the other end of the strap being movable through a passageway in the housing to form the strap into a closed loop;

• means in the passageway and on the strap for preventing reverse movement of the strap out of the passageway, wherein the improvement comprises;
• a tag having an enlarged surface and being integral with the strap and the housing;
• a flag having a hole therethrough, the hole being locatable about the point at which the strap enters the passageway, the flag having an enlarged surface;
• and
• means for mounting the flag to the tag with the hole and the passageway entry point being aligned.