Security storage container having an internal alarm

• US 20070159327A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Sedon, Nicholas M., Belden, Dennis D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• 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: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A security storage container for securely retaining an item of merchandise therein. The storage container is in the form of a box having a base and a lid, with the item of merchandise being received in the base. The lid is locked to the base by a locking mechanism. The storage container also includes an internally disposed alarm system which is activated when the lid is locked to the base and is deactivated when the lid is unlocked from the base. The lid can only be unlocked with a specially designed key. The alarm system includes a flashing LED which indicates to the consumer that the storage container has an activated alarm therein. The alarm system further includes an EAS tag for activating a security gate at an exit to the protected environment; and further includes a sound-emitting device that will emit a loud sound if an attempt is made to pry the lid from the base when the lid is in a locked position. The sound-emitting device will also emit the loud sound if the locked storage container is brought into the proximity of a security gate. The sound-emitting device will emit the loud sound for a predetermined length of time and will continue to emit that sound even if the security storage container is removed from the protected environment.

Claims

1. A security device for retaining an item of merchandise therein;

said security device comprising;

a frame adapted to receive the item of merchandise therein;

a locking mechanism for preventing the item of merchandise from being removed from within the frame;

an alarm system housed within the frame;

said alarm system being adapted to be triggered if an attempt is made to remove the item of merchandise from the frame when the locking mechanism is engaged.

2. The security device as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a six-sided box.

3. The security device as defined in claim 2, wherein the box includes a five sided base and a lid movably connected to said base, said base being adapted to retain the item of merchandise therein and said lid being secured to the base by the locking mechanism.

4. The security device as defined in claim 3, wherein the alarm system is disposed within the lid.

5. The security device as defined in claim 4, wherein the alarm system includes a speaker that emits a loud, attention-getting sound when triggered.

6. The security device as defined in claim 5, wherein the speaker is adapted to emit a loud sound when an attempt is made to separate the lid from the base.

7. The security device as defined in claim 5, wherein the speaker is adapted to emit a loud sound when the storage container is brought into the proximity of a security gate.

8. The security device as defined in claim 5, wherein the speaker emits a loud sound for a predetermined period of time after being actuated.

9. The security device as defined in claim 4, wherein the alarm system includes an EAS tag adapted to actuate a security gate alarm when detected by said security gate.

10. The security device as defined in claim 9, wherein the EAS tag is Radio Frequency (RF) sensitive or magnetically sensitive (AM).

11. The security device as defined in claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism includes a slider moveably connected to an interior portion of the lid, said slider being moveable between an unlocked and a locked position.

12. The security device as defined in claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a lock arm engageable with one of the slider and the lid, said lock arm including at least one spring-biased finger that is received within a pocket formed in the one of the slider and the lid when the slider is moved into the locked position.

13. The security device as defined in claim 12, wherein at least the finger of the lock arm is manufactured from a magnetic material.

14. The security device as defined in claim 13, further comprising a key for unlocking the locking mechanism.

15. The security device as defined in claim 14, wherein the key includes at least one magnet for withdrawing the finger from the pocket to unlock the locking mechanism.

16. The security device as defined in claim 1, wherein the alarm system includes a light-emitting diode that is illumined when the alarm system is activated.

17. The security device as defined in claim 1, wherein the device further includes a battery disposed within the frame to provide power to the alarm system.

18. The security device as defined in claim 3, wherein the base is manufactured from a transparent material and the lid is manufactured from an opaque material.

19. A security storage container for securely retaining an item of merchandise therein, the container comprising:

a base defining a five-sided storage compartment adapted to hold the item of merchandise therein;

a lid attached to the base and movable between open and closed positions;

a locking mechanism movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the locked position fixedly securing the lid in the closed position;

the unlocked position allowing the lid to be moved from the closed position to the open position;

an alarm system disposed substantially within the storage container, said alarm system being activated when the locking mechanism is in the locked position and being deactivated when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.

20. The security storage container as defined in claim 19, wherein the alarm system includes at least an EAS tag, a sound-emitting speaker and a light-emitting device.

21. The security storage container as defined in claim 20, wherein the alarm system further includes a central controller that is powered by a battery.