Anti-theft compact disc/DVD storage case

• US 20040031708A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentech Eas Corporation (Lotta Coal, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sentech Eas Corporation (Lotta Coal, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spagna, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/308.2
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

A storage case or receptacle used to secure CDs and DVDs used in rental or purchase applications. The case is comprised of a housing having a lid and a base between which is removably positionable a CD, DVD or the like. A releasable locking mechanism retains the lid and base in position in surrounding relationship about the CD or DVD. The locking mechanism may be of any type, such as some of the various security tag locks commonly used in the electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) industry.

Claims

1. A CD and DVD storage case, comprising:

a housing including a bottom housing portion and a top housing portion;

a locking assembly for locking the top housing portion in association with the bottom housing portion;

the locking assembly comprised of;

a female locking member connected to either the bottom or top housing portion;

a male locking member adapted to be placed through a corresponding aperture in either the top housing portion or bottom housing portion, respectively, and thereafter into releasable locking engagement with the female locking member to in turn sandwich a CD or DVD between the top housing portion and bottom housing portion.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the male and female locking members passes through a pre-existing aperture defined by the CD or DVD.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup;

at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position;

the male locking member including a generally slender rod adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch in registry with the at least one clutch element;

the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.

4. The case of claim 1, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

5. The case of claim 3, wherein at least one of the male and female locking members passes through a pre-existing aperture defined by the CD or DVD.

6. The case of claim 2, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup;

at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position;

the male locking member including a generally slender rod adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch in registry with the at least one clutch element;

the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.

7. The case of claim 6, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the upper housing half is hingedly connected to the lower housing half.

10. The case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the male and female locking members is positioned through the central aperture in the CD or DVD.

14. The case of claim 10, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup;

at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position;

the rod of this male locking member adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch generally in registry with the at least one clutch element;

the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force exceeding an opposing force exerted by the means for biasing moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.

15. The case of claim 10, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

18. The case of claim 14, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

20. The case of claim 14, wherein the upper housing half is hingedly connected to the lower housing half.

9. A lockable storage case for a CD or DVD, the CD or DVD defining a central aperture therein, comprising;

a housing having an upper housing half and a lower housing half which are hingedly connected and form a hollow inner cavity adapted to receive a CD or DVD when combined;

a female locking member fixedly connected to the lower housing half and defining an opening;

an aperture defined by the upper housing half substantially in registry with the opening in the female locking member when the upper housing half and lower housing half are combined;

a male locking member including a slender rod sized and shaped to be removably positioned through the aperture in the upper housing half and the opening in the female locking member and releasably retained therein to lockingly sandwich the CD or DVD between the upper housing half and lower housing half.

11. The case of claim 9, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup;

at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position;

the rod of the male locking member adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch generally in registry with the at least one clutch element;

the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force exceeding an opposing force exerted by the means for biasing moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.

12. The case of claim 9, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

13. The case of claim 11, wherein at least one of the male and female locking members passes through a pre-existing aperture defined by the CD or DVD.

16. The case of claim 9, wherein the upper housing half is hingedly connected to the lower housing half.

17. The case of claim 11, further comprising an EAS tag connected to the housing.

19. The case of claim 11, where the upper housing half is hingedly connected to the lower housing half.

21. A lockable storage case for a CD or DVD, said CD or DVD defining a central aperture therein, comprising;

a housing having an upper housing half and a lower housing half which are hingedly connected and form a hollow inner cavity adapted to receive a CD or DVD when combined;

a female locking member defining an opening connected to the lower housing half in registry with the aperture in the at least one CD or DVD when the CD or DVD is situated within the cavity;

an aperture defined by the upper housing half in registry with the female locking member when the upper housing half and lower housing half are combined;

a male locking member including a slender rod sized and shaped to be passed through the aperture in the upper housing half, the opening in the CD or DVD and the opening in the female locking member and releaseably retained therein to thereby lockingly sandwich the at least one CD or DVD between the upper housing half and lower housing half.

22. The case of claim 21, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup;

at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position;

the rod of the male locking member adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch generally in registry with the at least one clutch element;

the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force exceeding an opposing force exerted by the means for biasing moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.

23. A method for securely storing, displaying and leasing CDs and DVDs employing a CD and DVD storage case utilizing a lockable storage case for CDs and DVDs, said CDs and DVDs defining central apertures therein, the case including;

a housing having an upper housing half and a lower housing half which form a hollow inner cavity adapted to receive a CD or DVD when combined;

a female locking member connected to the lower housing half in registry with an opening in the CD or DVD when the CD or DVD is situated within the cavity;

an aperture defined by the upper housing half in registry with the female locking member when the upper housing half and lower housing half are combined, a male locking member including a slender rod sized and shaped to be passed through the aperture in the upper housing half, the aperture in the CD or DVD and the female locking member and releaseably retained therein to thereby lockingly sandwich the CD or DVD between the upper housing half and lower housing half, the method comprising the steps of;

placing a CD or DVD within the housing in such a way that the CD or DVD is sandwiched between the upper housing half and the lower housing half;

inserting the male locking member within the female locking member to thereby lock the CD or DVD to the locking mechanism and locking the upper housing half to the lower housing half in a closed position;

when a consumer desires to rent the CD or DVD stored within the housing, disabling the locking mechanism such that the male locking member is removed from the female locking member;

placing possession of the housing containing the CD or DVD in the possession of the consumer after receiving consideration from the consumer for rental of the CD or DVD.