Padlock-type security seal having a locking insert fixed in a hollow body and method of making same

A security seal comprising:

• a resilient shackle having at least one leg with a reversely bent end portion terminating in a sharp edge;
• a transparent seal body having a first chamber therein for receiving said reversely bent end portion;
• a second chamber positioned in said body adjacent said first chamber and separated therefrom by a partition;
• a liquid contained in said second chamber;
• said reversely bent end portion being bent through an angle such that said sharp edge is compressed against said partition when said reversely bent end portion is inserted, in a first direction, into said chamber;
• the compressive force of said sharp edge against said partition and the strength of said partition are such that upon sufficient movement of said shackle in said first chamber, in a direction opposite to aid first direction, said sharp edge penetrates said partition and enters said second chamber, whereby said liquid seeps from said second chamber;
• and
• an opaque member in said first chamber and forming said second chamber, said opaque member being arranged such that said second chamber is visible through said seal body, said member forming said partition.

A security seal comprising:

• a U-shaped resilient shackle having first and second legs, each having a reversely bent end portion terminating in a sharp edge;
• a transparent seal body having spaced elongated first and second generally parallel chambers, each terminating in a corresponding aperture located in said seal body for receiving a different one of said legs;
• a third chamber positioned in said body adjacent said first and second chambers and separated therefrom with first and second partitions, respectively;
• a liquid contained in said third chamber;
• said partitions each having a recess in communication with a respective corresponding different one of said first and second chambers such that each said reversely bent end portions correspond to and are located in a different recess, said sharp edges being forced against said partitions in such recesses when said legs are slideably inserted in a first direction into said chambers;
• and
• wherein the force of said sharp edges and the strength of said partitions are such that upon sufficient movement of said shackle, in a direction opposed to said first direction, said sharp edges penetrate said partitions, enter said third chamber, and cause said liquid to be discharged from said third chamber.

A security seal comprising:

• a U-shaped resilient shackle having first and second legs each having a reversely bent end portion;
• a hollow seal body having an aperture in one side thereof;
• a hollow insert fixed in a hollow interior of said hollow seal body, said insert having a first chamber;
• said insert and said hollow seal body defining elongated second and third chambers contiguous with said aperture;
• said insert having first and second recesses on respective opposed sides thereof in respective communication with said second and third chambers;
• a frangible vial having a liquid therein located in said first chamber;
• said reversely bent end portions being bent through an angle such that said sharp edges are respectively in a different recess when said legs are inserted in a first direction into said respective second and third chambers;
• and
• wherein the force of said sharp edges against said insert and the strength of said insert are such that, upon sufficient movement of said shackle in the second and third chambers in a direction opposed to said first direction, said sharp edges penetrate said insert, enter said first chamber, and break said vial, whereby said liquid escapes from said vial.

A method of forming a security seal comprising:

• forming a body with a first chamber;
• forming a member with a second chamber, said member having dimensions to be received in said first chamber to form at least one third chamber in said body;
• placing a liquid in the second chamber;
• inserting the member and liquid in said first chamber;
• and
• forming a shackle having at least one leg including means for locking said one leg in said third chamber and for rupturing said second chamber to permit said liquid to discharge from said second chamber in response to a force directed to unlock said one leg.

A security seal comprising:

• a U-shaped resilient shackle having first and second legs each having a reversely bent end portion;
• a hollow seal body having an aperture in one side thereof;
• a hollow insert fixed in a hollow interior of said hollow seal body, said insert having a first chamber;
• said insert and said hollow seal body defining elongated second and third chambers contiguous with said aperture;
• said insert having first and second recesses on respective opposed sides thereof in respective communication with said second and third chambers;
• and
• said reversely bent end portions being bent through an angle such that said sharp edges are respectively in a different recess when said legs are inserted in a first direction into said respective second and third chambers;
• the force of said sharp edges against said insert and the strength of said insert are such that, upon sufficient movement of said shackle in the second and third chambers in a direction opposed to said first direction, said sharp edges penetrate said insert and enter said first chamber.

A security seal comprising:

• a transparent seal body having adjacent first and second chambers therein:
• a liquid contained in said first chamber;
• a shackle having at least one leg including means for locking said leg in said second chamber and for rupturing said first chamber to permit said liquid to seep from said first chamber when a force is exerted to unlock said leg;
• and
• a member secured to said body in said second chamber, said body and said member forming said first chamber, said member being arranged such that the first and second chambers are visible through said body, said body having opposing sides, said member being constructed so that said first chamber is visible through each said opposing sides.