Security storage container

• US 20020000111A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Sedon, Nicholas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,832,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/57.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0023 Containers, boxes, cases or the like, e.g. for compact discs or video-cassettes, specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0058 for essentially box-shaped devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

The invention generally provides a security storage container for items of recorded media. The device automatically closes and locks when the item of recorded media is inserted into the security storage container. A locking mechanism having dual locking fingers is used to hold the device in the locked configuration. The security storage container may be configured to allow compact discs and DVD jewel boxes and other storage containers to be loaded in a “spine-out” configuration while fully displaying the front cover of the storage container.

Claims

1. A security device for displaying an item of merchandise;

the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially design key is used to open the security device;

the item of merchandise having at least one side;

the security device comprising;

a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise;

the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment;

a slide carried inside the storage compartment;

the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends;

a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide;

the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position;

a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame;

the locking mechanism includes two resilient locking fingers that extend up from a common lock frame; and

the locking fingers being configured to move between locked and unlocked positions wherein at the locking fingers engage the slide when the locking fingers are in the locked position.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the outer end of the slide is curved so that the lock tab moves down away from the storage compartment when the slide is moved to the unlocked position;

the lock tab including an upper edge;

the slide being sufficiently curved to move the upper edge of the lock tab below the upper edge of the portion of the slide that remains within the frame such that the item of merchandise may be easily removed from the frame.

3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the curved outer end of the slide is straightened when the slide is in the locked position.

4. The security device of claim 3, further comprising a rear tab connected to the inner end of the slide;

the rear tab adapted to be engaged by the item of merchandise when the item of merchandise is inserted into the storage compartment to move the slide from the unlocked position to the locked position.

5. The security device of claim 1, wherein each locking finger is a relatively thin resilient metal tab.

6. The security device of claim 5, wherein the common lock frame is a relatively thin metal frame;

the locking fingers being punched from the common lock frame.

7. The security device of claim 1, wherein the slide defines two locking ledges;

the locking fingers engaging the locking ledges when the slide is in the locked position.

8. The security device of claim 7, wherein the slide further defines a pair of lateral locking walls disposed adjacent the locking ledges to prevent the locking fingers from moving laterally with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the slide when the locking fingers are engaged with the locking ledges.

9. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a retaining member that engages the slide to retain the slide on the frame;

the slide including a stop that is positioned to engage the retaining member to prevent the slide from sliding out of the frame.

10. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a bottom wall;

the slide being disposed adjacent the bottom wall;

the bottom wall having a front portion adjacent the access opening;

the front portion of the bottom wall being curved downwardly.

11. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a top wall having a middle portion having a thickness and a front end adjacent the access opening;

the front end of the top wall having a thickness less than the thickness of the middle portion such that an item of merchandise may be more easily loaded into the storage compartment.

12. The security device of claim 11, wherein the top wall defines a smooth ramped portion disposed between the front end of the top wall and the middle portion of the top wall.

13. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a back wall defining an inset portion adapted to receive the EAS tag.

14. The security device of claim 13, wherein the back wall is free of interruptions disposed where the EAS tag is received such that the back wall does not interfere with the process of scanning the EAS tag.

15. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes:

a back wall and a front wall disposed opposite the back wall;

the front wall defining a viewing opening that allows the consumer to directly view the item of merchandise without looking through a wall of the frame;

the viewing opening being positioned to the right of the access opening and the back wall being disposed to the left of the access opening such that a hinged item of merchandise may be displayed in a spine out configuration with the front of the merchandise being viewed through the viewing opening.

16. A security device for displaying a hinged item of merchandise;

the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially design key is used to open the security device;

the item of merchandise having at least one side;

the security device comprising;

a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise;

the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment;

the frame including a back wall and a front wall disposed opposite the back wall;

the back and front walls of the frame having front portions;

the access opening disposed between the front portions of the back and front walls;

the front wall defining a viewing opening that is adapted to allow the consumer to directly view the item of merchandise without looking through a wall of the frame;

the viewing opening being positioned to the right of the access opening and the back wall being disposed to the left of the access opening such that the hinged item of merchandise may be displayed in a spine out configuration with the front of the merchandise being viewed through the viewing opening;

a slide carried inside the storage compartment;

the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends;

a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide;

the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position; and

a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame.

17. A security device for displaying an item of merchandise;

the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially design key is used to open the security device;

the item of merchandise having at least one side;

the security device comprising;

a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise;

the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment;

a slide carried inside the storage compartment;

the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends;

a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide;

the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position;

the outer end of the slide being curved so that the lock tab moves down away from the storage compartment when the slide is moved to the unlocked position;

the lock tab including an upper edge;

the slide being sufficiently curved to move the upper edge of the lock tab below the upper edge of the portion of the slide that remains within the frame such that the item of merchandise may be easily removed from the frame; and

a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame.

18. A security device for displaying an item of merchandise;

the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially design key is used to open the security device;

the item of merchandise having at least one side;

the security device comprising;

a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise;

the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment;

the frame including a top wall having a middle portion having a thickness and a front end adjacent the access opening;

the front end of the top wall having a thickness less than the thickness of the middle portion such that an item of merchandise may be more easily loaded into the storage compartment;

a slide carried inside the storage compartment;

the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends;

a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide;

the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position; and

a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame.

19. The security device of claim 18, wherein the top wall defines a smooth ramped portion disposed between the front end of the top wall and the middle portion of the top wall.