A seal can be used to bind.
Precinct is a term whose etymological origin takes us to praecinctus , a Latin word. The concept is used to name that which is used to close or tie something .
A seal can be a bow, a label or a ligature that is included in an envelope, a file or a package so that it can only be opened by the right person, at the right time. For example: “When she removed the seal, the woman was surprised: inside the box there was a diamond” , “The judge reported that he would send an envelope, sealed with a seal, with a copy of the statements to the victim's relatives” , “I left my documentation protected with a seal.”
Due to its characteristics, a seal must be broken to be removed. This ensures that a sealed envelope has never been opened since the seal was applied. In other words, if the seal is broken, it means that someone opened the envelope.
Uses of seals
Seals can also be tapes or similar elements that are used to immobilize a person . In this case, the seals work like handcuffs : they are applied to the hands or feet of the individual, who cannot remove them due to the hardness of the material and its grip system . In this way, the victim is left with both hands and/or both feet together, unable to move: “The criminals tied up the owner of the house with seals,” “I spent three hours with the seals, until a police officer rescued me.” who was passing by the place.”
The National Tax and Customs Administration , a public office that is usually established at the borders and coasts with the objective of registering the goods that are imported or exported and collecting the relevant taxes, also takes advantage of the use of the seal; In this case, it is the combination of a string and a seal that allows customs to carry out effective control of the security of the merchandise contained in a transport or cargo unit.
The seal can be manufactured in various materials, the two main ones being metal and plastic. According to the needs of each particular case, each one provides the appropriate degree of protection . Metal seals are safer and more resistant and are usually used to close trucks, wagons, tanks and containers.
Seals can protect correspondence.
Classification according to type
One type of metal seal is called a barrier and looks like a large nail with a rounded tip. It can be manufactured with carbon steel and coated with ABS ( acrylonitrile butadiene styrene , a plastic for industrial and domestic use, especially resistant to impacts). Its use is usually intended for closing containers and, given its hardness and resistance, to open it it is necessary to use shears, a type of large scissors with which a metal sheet can be cut cold.
On the other hand, there is the adjustable flange with a braided steel cable and an aluminum box in which it is permanently inserted. It is very useful for protecting merchandise transported by land or air, for sealing valve components and for securing tanks. It also requires the use of shears to open it and may include a barcode and serial number for verification.
Plastic seal is much more common for the end consumer, as it is found on a large number of products . In this case, the most used type is the adjustable flange, although its characteristics differentiate it from the metal alternative. The ring- type seal, for its part, is recognized at first glance by having a specific breaking point, which facilitates opening.