Pull seal with bi-directional locking arrangement

A bi-directional lockable sealing device comprising:

• a socket defining a first chamber therein,
• a shackle having an at least one locking element, the shackle being fixed at one end to the socket and having a free end opposite the one end;
• a locking insert secured to the socket in the first chamber, the locking insert including a body having a second chamber therein defining a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, the locking insert including opposing top and bottom ends wherein the top end defines a top opening communicating with the second chamber, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the second chamber;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the second chamber, at least one first finger of the plurality extending in a direction away from the top end, at least one second finger of the plurality extending in a direction away from the bottom end toward and aligned with the first finger and extending in an opposite direction as the one first finger, the fingers defining a passageway in the second chamber arranged to allow passage of the at least one locking element as the free end of the shackle is pulled through the passageway in an insertion direction through either the top or the bottom opening such that the fingers are engaged with the at least one locking element, and wherein one of at least one first and second fingers is arranged to abut and lock to at least one locking element of the shackle to preclude shackle movement is in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

A bi-directional lockable sealing device, comprising:

• a socket defining a chamber therein having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, the socket including opposing top and bottom ends wherein the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber;
• a shackle having at least one locking element, the shackle having a free end;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the socket chamber, at least one first finger of the plurality extending in a direction away from the top end and at least one second finger of the plurality extending in a direction away from the bottom end toward and aligned with the first finger in the longitudinal direction, the fingers and socket defining a passageway in the chamber, the passageway being arranged to allow passage of the at least one locking element as the shackle is pulled through the passageway in an insertion direction through either the top or the bottom opening such that the at least one of the at least one first and second fingers are in engagement with the at least one locking element, and wherein one of the at least one first and second fingers is arranged to abut and lock to the at least one locking element of the shackle to preclude withdrawal of the shackle in a direction opposite to the insertion direction, the fingers being arranged so that at least one locking element can pass through the chamber and through both said top and bottom openings in the same insertion direction.

A bi-directional locking device including a locking arrangement for receiving and locking a shackle thereto, the shackle having at least one locking element, the shackle being insertable into a device chamber for engagement with the locking arrangement, the locking arrangement comprising:

• a body having said chamber, the chamber defining a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, the body having opposing top and bottom ends wherein the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the chamber and extending toward each other in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of fingers being positioned to allow passage of the at least one locking element of the shackle in first and second opposite insertion longitudinal directions through either the top or the bottom opening, at least one of the fingers for locking engaging the at least one locking element to preclude shackle movement in an opposite direction to the insertion direction to lock the shackle to the body in the opposite direction;
• the plurality of fingers including at least one top and at least one bottom finger, the at least one top and bottom fingers being in mirror image relationship to each other, the fingers being arranged so that at least one locking element can pass through the chamber and through both said top and bottom openings in the same insertion direction.

A bi-directional locking device including a locking arrangement for receiving and locking a shackle thereto, the shackle having at least one locking element, the shackle being insertable into a device chamber for engagement with the locking arrangement, the locking arrangement comprising:

• a body having said chamber, the chamber defining a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, the body having opposing top and bottom ends wherein the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the chamber and extending toward each other in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of fingers being positioned to allow passage of the at least one locking element of the shackle in first and second opposite insertion longitudinal directions through either the top or the bottom opening, at least one of the fingers for locking engaging the at least one locking element to preclude shackle movement in a direction opposite to the insertion direction to lock the shackle to the body in the opposite direction;
• the plurality of fingers including a pair of transversely opposing spaced top fingers relative to the longitudinal axis and opposing pair of transversely spaced bottom fingers, the top and bottom pairs respectively extending toward one another, the fingers being arranged so that at least one locking element can pass through the chamber and through both said top and bottom openings in the same insertion direction.

A bi-directional locking device including a locking arrangement for receiving and locking a shackle thereto, the shackle having at least one locking element, the shackle being insertable into a device chamber for engagement with the locking arrangement, the locking arrangement comprising:

• a body defining said chamber, the chamber defining a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, the body having opposing top and bottom ends wherein the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the chamber and extending toward each other in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of fingers each being positioned to allow passage of the at least one locking element of the shackle in first and second opposite insertion longitudinal directions through either the top or the bottom opening, at least one of the fingers for locking engaging the at least one locking element to preclude shackle movement in an opposite direction to the insertion direction to lock the shackle to the body in the opposite direction;
• the plurality of fingers including at least one top and at least one bottom finger, the at least one top and bottom fingers each having a channel that extends at an angle inclined toward the longitudinal axis.

A bi-directional locking device including a locking arrangement for receiving and locking a shackle thereto, the shackle having at least one locking element, the shackle being insertable into a device chamber for engagement with the locking arrangement, the locking arrangement comprising:

• a body defining said chamber, the chamber defining a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, the body having opposing top and bottom ends where the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a plurality of resilient fingers positioned in the chamber and extending toward each other in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of fingers being positioned to allow passage of the at least one locking element of the shackle in first and second opposite insertion longitudinal directions through either the top or the bottom opening, at least one of the fingers for locking engaging the at least one locking element to preclude the shackle movement in a direction opposite to the insertion direction to lock the shackle to the body;
• at least one first finger extending from the top end to lock with the shackle at least one locking element when the shackle is inserted through the top opening and to preclude the shackle withdrawal from the chamber in a direction opposite to the shackle insertion direction, and at least one second finger extending from the bottom end to lock with the shackle at least one locking element when the shackle insertion direction is through the bottom opening and to preclude the shackle withdrawal from the chamber in a direction opposite to the shackle insertion direction;
• a passageway being defined by the at least one first and second fingers and an inner side wall in transverse spaced relation relative to the longitudinal axis, the locking element lockingly abuts the inner side wall when a finger locks to the locking element shoulder.