Benefit denial systems for securing an asset within a container and methods of use

• US 20040188286A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: van Koot, Frederik A., Lax, Michael R., Keuning, Timothy J., Libohova, Agjah I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,140,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/308.2
• 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: G11B 23/286 Antitheft arrangements, e.g. Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/818 Magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

Benefit denial systems for securing an asset within a container and methods of use are provided. Such benefit denial systems of the present invention may include a benefit denial device that secures the asset within the container. The benefit denial device may include a base member and at least one locking member, and the asset may be secured therebetween. By securing the asset between the base member and a locking member, the asset will be rendered unusable if a thief attempts to remove the asset from the container. For example, if the asset is a storage medium such as a DVD, then the DVD will break if the thief attempts to remove the DVD from the confines of the benefit denial device.

Claims

1. A device for securing an asset within a container, comprising:

a base member comprising a first portion configured to be coupled to the container and a second portion that extends from the first portion; and

a locking member, wherein the locking member is configured to engage the second portion of the base member such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member, and wherein a portion of the locking member is configured to be acted upon by an applied force such that the locking member disengages the second portion of the base member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises an opening configured to receive the snap mechanism.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a plurality of hub members, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive the hub members.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the base member is removably coupled to the container.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a protrusion that is configured to secure the device to the container when the locking member engages the base member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the base member comprises a plurality of receptacles, and wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of latches that are each configured to be received within a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of latches are configured to be acted upon by the applied force such that the locking member disengages the base member.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is configured to be acted upon independently of another latch of the plurality of latches.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of latches are constructed from a magnetically attractable material.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is a different size than another latch of the plurality of latches.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the locking member comprises an opening that engages the second portion of the base member, and wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is located at a different location than another latch of the plurality of latches as measured radially out from the center of the opening.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein each latch of the plurality of latches is aligned with a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles when the base member and the locking member are positioned to secure the asset therebetween.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the applied force is a magnetic force created by a magnetic key arrangement.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking member further comprises:

a retainer plate comprising a plurality of members configured to engage the second portion of the base member; and

a cover portion that is coupled to the retainer plate, wherein the cover portion is configured to prevent access to the engagement members of the retainer plate.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the cover portion comprises a protrusion that extends from the cover portion into the second portion of the base member and is configured to secure the device to the container when the locking member engages the base member.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism to which the base member is coupled, wherein the snap mechanism extends from the container into the second portion of the base member, and wherein the protrusion engages the snap mechanism such that the device is secured to the container.

17. A method for securing an asset within a container, comprising:

providing a device for securing the asset, comprising;

a base member comprising a first portion and a second portion that extends from the first portion; and

a locking member, wherein a portion of the locking member is configured to be acted upon by an applied force such that the locking member disengages the second portion of the base member;

coupling the first portion of the base member to the container;

placing the asset in engagement with the base member; and

engaging the second portion of the base member with the locking member such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises an opening, the method further comprising receiving the snap mechanism within the opening of the base member.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the container comprises a plurality of hub members, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises a plurality of openings, the method further comprising receiving the hub members within the plurality of openings of the base member.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the first portion of the base member to the container comprises removably coupling the first portion of the base member to the container.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the locking member comprises a protrusion, and wherein engaging the second portion of the base member with the locking member further comprises securing the device to the container with the protrusion when the locking member engages the base member.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the base member comprises a plurality of receptacles, wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of latches, and wherein engaging the second portion of the base member with the locking member further comprises receiving each latch of the plurality of latches within a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is configured to be acted upon independently of another latch of the plurality of latches.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of latches are constructed from a magnetically attractable material.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is a different size than another latch of the plurality of latches.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the locking member comprises an opening that engages the second portion of the base member, and wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is located at a different location than another latch of the plurality of latches as measured radially out from the center of the opening.

27. The method of claim 22, the method further comprising aligning the base member and the locking member such that each latch of the plurality of latches is aligned with a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the applied force is a magnetic force created by a magnetic key arrangement.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the locking member further comprises a retainer plate comprising a plurality of members configured to engage the second portion of the base member and a cover portion that is coupled to the retainer plate, the method further comprising preventing access to the engagement members of the retainer plate with the cover.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the cover portion comprises a protrusion that extends from the cover portion into the second portion of the base member, and wherein engaging the second portion of the base member with the locking member further comprises securing the device to the container with the protrusion.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism to which the base member is coupled, wherein the snap mechanism extends from the container into the second portion of the base member, and wherein the protrusion engages the snap mechanism such that the device is secured to the container.

32. A method for removing an asset from within a container, comprising:

providing a device for securing the asset, comprising;

a base member comprising a first portion that is coupled to the container and a second portion that extends from the first portion; and

a locking member, wherein the locking member is in engagement with the second portion of the base member such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member; and

acting upon a portion of the locking member with an applied force such that the locking member disengages the second portion of the base member.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises an opening that receives the snap mechanism.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the container comprises a plurality of hub members, and wherein the first portion of the base member comprises a plurality of openings that receive the hub members.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the base member is removably coupled to the container.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the locking member comprises a protrusion that secures the device to the container when the locking member engages the base member.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the second portion of the base member comprises a plurality of receptacles, and wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of latches that are each received within a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles such that the asset is secured between the base member and the locking member.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein acting upon a portion of the locking member with an applied force further comprises acting upon the plurality of latches with the applied force.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein acting upon the plurality of latches with the applied force comprises acting upon at least one latch of the plurality of latches independently from another latch of the plurality of latches.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of latches are constructed from a magnetically attractable material.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is a different size than another latch of the plurality of latches.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the locking member comprises an opening that engages the second portion of the base member, and wherein at least one latch of the plurality of latches is located at a different location than another latch of the plurality of latches as measured radially out from the center of the opening.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the base member and the locking member are aligned such that each latch of the plurality of latches is aligned with a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein the applied force is a magnetic force created by a magnetic key arrangement.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein the locking member further comprises a retainer plate comprising members that engage the second portion of the base member and a cover portion that is coupled to the retainer plate, wherein the cover portion prevents access to the engagement members of the retainer plate.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the cover portion comprises a protrusion that extends from the cover portion into the second portion of the base member and secures the device to the container when the locking member engages the base member.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the container comprises a snap mechanism to which the base member is coupled, wherein the snap mechanism extends from the container into the second portion of the base member, and wherein the protrusion engages the snap mechanism such that the device is secured to the container.