Unitized security seal

A unitized security seal comprising:

• a shackle;
• an engagement housing with a passage for receiving the shackle;
• at least distal, intermediate and proximal members spaced from each other along the shackle,
• the members each having at least one undercut extending from the surface of the locking member to an undercut floor,
• the undercuts of the distal and intermediate members each having an entry and an exit generally along the longitudinal axis of the shackle;
• at least one pin located within the engagement housing passage with a nose portion oriented to extend into the undercuts of the distal and intermediate members when the shackle is passed through the passage,
• with the undercut of the intermediate member including an upstanding frangible wall extending between the entry and exit of the intermediate member at an angle of about 10° to 20° to the longitudinal axis of the shackle to form a narrowed passage at the exit of the undercut, the frangible member being positioned to guide the shackle past the pin as the shackle is advanced into the engagement housing and to resist removal of the shackle from the engagement housing until a sufficient force is applied to shear away the frangible member.

A unitized security seal comprising:

• a shackle;
• an engagement housing with a passage for receiving the shackle;
• proximal, intermediate and distal members spaced along the shackle,
• a plug at the distal end of the shackle dimensioned to inhibit access to the engagement housing passage, the plug having an engagement slot with a floor that extends across the plug generally in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the shackle,
• each of the members having at least one undercut opening in the member outer surface extending to an undercut floor, and the corresponding floors of the members in communication with each other and with the engagement slot of the plug,
• the undercuts of adjacent members being offset from each other;
• at least one pin located within the engagement housing passage oriented to engage the engagement slot of the plug and the undercuts of the locking members when the shackle moves within the passage;
• and
• in which the intermediate member undercut includes a frangible member for engaging the pin to resist removal of the shackle from the engagement housing until a sufficient force is applied to shear away the frangible member or to bend it out of the way of the pin.

A unitized security seal comprising:

• a shackle;
• an engagement housing with a cylindrical passage for receiving the shackle;
• proximal, intermediate and distal members spaced along the shackle, the members having a cylindrical outer profile,
• the members each having at least one undercut extending from the cylindrical outer surface of the member to an undercut floor, the cylindrical outer profile being dimensioned to achieve a tight slideable fit within the cylindrical passage of the engagement housing,
• the distal and intermediate members having entries and exits generally along the longitudinal axis of the shackle;
• at least one pin located within the engagement housing passage with a nose portion oriented to engage the undercuts when the distal and intermediate members are passed through the passage;
• and
• the undercut of the intermediate member including a frangible wall extending between its entry and exit openings at an angle of about 10° to 20° to the longitudinal axis of the shackle to form a narrowed passage at the exit of the undercut, the frangible wall being positioned to guide the shackle past the pin as the shackle is advanced into the engagement housing and to resist removal of the shackle from the engagement housing until a sufficient force is applied to shear away the frangible member or to bend it out of the way of the pin.

A unitized security seal comprising:

• a shackle;
• an engagement housing with a cylindrical passage for receiving the shackle;
• proximal, intermediate and distal members spaced along the shackle, the members having a cylindrical outer profile,
• the members each having at least one undercut extending from the cylindrical outer surface of the member to an undercut floor, the cylindrical outer profile being dimensioned to achieve a tight slideable fit within the cylindrical passage of the engagement housing,
• the undercuts in the distal and intermediate members having entries and exits generally along the longitudinal axis of the shackle;
• at least one pin located within the engagement housing passage oriented to extend into the undercuts when the distal and intermediate members on the shackle are passed through the passage;
• the undercut in the intermediate member including a frangible member in the form of an upstanding wall projecting away from the floor of the undercut, positioned between its entry and its exit for engaging the pin, the upstanding wall having a proximal edge, the pin having a trailing edge, and the proximal edge of the wall engaging the trailing edge of the pin to resist removal of the shackle from the engagement housing until a sufficient force is applied to shear away the frangible member or bend it out of the way of the pin;
• and
• a wall spur located at the proximal edge of the wall and a base spur located at the trailing edge of the pin, the wall spur and the base spur being positioned to interlock to resist rotation and removal of the shackle from the engagement housing.