Tamper evident security seal

Abstract

A filament seal for use with stranded or solid metal or thermoplastic filaments comprises a segmented housing defining a chamber in which a locking insert element is positioned, the insert comprising a thin circular disk of hardened stainless steel with a plurality of radially inwardly extending resilient cantilevered fingers each terminating with a tapered sharp pointed tip in abutting or closely space relationship defining a space substantially smaller than the diameter of the filament. The inserted filament bends the fingers and is softer than the insert, the tips digging into the filament during use. When the filament is withdrawn, the finger tips dig further into the filament severing it. If the filament is rotated in an attempt to thread the filament out of the insert, the insert rotates with the filament due to the digging action of the tips into the filament, precluding filament withdrawal from the insert. A hardened steel washer is adjacent to the insert locking element to preclude bending the tips in the withdrawal direction and breakage of the tips, and precluding defeat of the locking action. The fingers are dimensioned to resist distortion in lateral directions during twisting. Various embodiments are disclosed.