Cargo closure for sealing a cargo item

摘要

A cargo closure for sealing a cargo item such as a piece of luggage in a closed condition is disclosed. The cargo closure comprises a permanently closable tie and a data carrying member which may be formed as an integral plastics molding. The tie includes a strap and a base member. The strap includes barbs which engage a flexible pawl member located within a hole through the base member through which a free end of the strap is inserted and tightened after being attached to the cargo. The data carrying member may carry a person's name and address and is foldable to selectively to conceal or expose those data, and it may also carry an alphanumeric string or a bar code for identification purposes. Other embodiments of the invention may include strips of conductive material in the tie and base member which are connected to a smart card attached to the data carrying member for communicating with electronic equipment on the cargo item.