Security case

• US 5,598,728 A
• Filed: 03/03/1995
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lax, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US08/398,280
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 70/58, 70/57.1, 70/57, 70/63, 70/276, 70/163, 70/164, 70/166-169, 70/159-162, 292/251.5, 292/150, 40/312, 40/630, 40/638
• US Class Current: 70/276
• 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 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

A security device includes a case with a lid to receive merchandise and a locking mechanism for latching the case closed. The locking mechanism has a housing with parallel flanges to overlie a portion of the lid and another surface of the case, preventing the lid from being opened. One end of the locking mechanism is fixed and the other is movable between open and closed positions, and a mechanism in the housing retains the movable end closed. A decoupler is provided for opening the locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A security device comprising:

a case having a lid opening to receive merchandise, a bottom surface and two opposing sidewall surfaces each having a recess or notch near the lid opening; and

a locking mechanism for latching the case, the locking mechanism including

a base housing,

at least one flange extending from the base housing to overlie a portion of the lid, preventing the lid from being opened,

a fixed member of the housing for engaging one of the recesses or notches of the case,

a movable member for (i) engaging the other recess or notch of the case when the locking mechanism is closed and (ii) disengaging from the other recess or notch of the case when the locking mechanism is open allowing the locking mechanism to become fully separated from the case, and

a steel pin retained in at least one sleeve attached to an inner surface of the base housing and biased against a surface of the movable member for retaining the movable from moving when the locking mechanisms closed.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the steel pin is biased against a surface of the movable member by a spring between said steel pin and a corresponding inner surface of the base housing.

3. The security device of claim 1, further including a decoupler for releasing the retained movable member when the locking mechanism is closed.

4. The security case of claim 3, wherein the decoupler comprises:

a U-shaped housing with a flat upper surface,

two inner surface extending from the flat upper surface,

an outer surface corresponding to each inner surface,

a vertical cross rib attached to the flat upper surface between the two inner surfaces, and

a magnet positioned in the U-shaped housing between at least one inner surface and the corresponding outer surface, the magnet attracting the steel pin when the closed locking mechanism is positioned in the decoupler with movable member engaging the vertical cross rib.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein

the locking mechanism for latching the case includes two steel pins, each retained in a sleeve attached to an inner surface of the base housing, and biased against a surface of the moveable member for retaining the movable member when the locking mechanism is closed, and

the decoupler includes a magnet positioned in the U-shaped housing between each inner surface and the corresponding outer surface.

6. A locking mechanism for preventing opening of a case having two opposing sidewalls, each with a recess or notch, comprising:

a housing having a main surface;

two generally parallel flanges extending from the main surface of the housing;

a fixed member at one end of the housing for engaging one of the recesses or notches of the case;

a movable member at the other end of the housing for engaging the other recess or notch of the case and being movable between open and closed positions; and

a device in the housing for retaining the movable member closed, wherein the movable member comprises;

an upper surface parallel to the main surface of the housing,

an outer end for engaging said other recess or notch,

an inner end extending downward from the upper surface at a generally right angle, and

a cross element attached beneath the upper surface and extending from the inner end to the outer end.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 6, wherein the cross element has opposing outer surfaces with at least one outer surface having a curved segment attached between an inner and outer flat segment, the curvature of the curved segment is greater at the junction with the outer flat segment than at the junction with the inner flat segment.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the device in the housing for retaining the movable member closed includes a steel pin retained in at least one sleeve attached to an inner surface of the housing and biased against said at least one outer surface of the cross element which has a curved segment attached between an inner and outer flat segment, when the movable member is moved between open and closed positions.

9. The locking mechanism of claim 8, further including a decoupler for releasing the device in the housing retaining the movable member closed.

10. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the decoupler comprises:

a U-shaped housing with a flat upper surface,

two inner surfaces extending from the flat upper surface,

an outer surface corresponding to each inner surface,

a vertical cross rib attached to the flat upper surface between the two inner surfaces, and

a magnet positioned in the housing between at least one inner surface and the corresponding outer surface, the magnet attracting the steel pin when the locking mechanism, with the movable member in the closed position, is positioned in the decoupler with the outer end of the movable member engaging the vertical cross rib.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein

the device in the housing for retaining the movable member closed includes two steel pins, each retained in a sleeve attached to an inner surface of the housing and biased against a surface of the moveable member, and

the decoupler includes a magnet positioned in the U-shaped housing between each inner surface and the corresponding outer surface.

12. An anti-theft apparatus for merchandise on live display comprising:

a case for receiving the merchandise;

a locking mechanism for the case, the locking mechanism including

a base housing having a fixed member and a movable member spaced apart from each other, the movable member moving between open and closed positions, and

a device in the base housing for retaining the movable member in the closed position; and

a decoupler for releasing the retained movable member from the closed position, wherein

the fixed member and movable member together couple to separated regions of the case when the locking mechanism is in a locked condition, and when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked condition the movable member extends into the open position allowing the locking mechanism to become fully separated from the case,

the base housing has an upper surface with a recess for receiving a security strip,

the case has a lid opening to receive the merchandise, a bottom surface and two opposing sidewall surfaces with a recess or notch in each of the two opposing sidewall surfaces, and

the movable member comprises;

an upper surface generally parallel to the main surface of the base housing,

an outer end for engaging one of the recesses or notches of the case,

an inner end extending downward from the upper surface of the housing at generally a right angle, and

a cross element attached beneath the upper surface of the movable member and extending from the inner end towards the outer end thereof.

13. The anti-theft apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cross element has opposing outer surfaces with at least one outer surface having a curved segment attached between an inner and outer flat segment, and the curvature of the curved segment is greater at the junction with the outer flat segment than at the junction with the inner flat segment.

14. The anti-theft apparatus of claim 13, wherein the device for retaining the movable member in the closed position includes a steel pin retained in least one sleeve attached respectively to one of two opposing inner surfaces of the housing, and biased against a respective outer surface of the cross element during opening and closing of the actuator.

15. The anti-theft apparatus of claim 14, wherein the decoupler comprises:

a U-shaped housing with a flat upper surface,

two inner surfaces extending from the flat upper surface,

an outer surface corresponding to each inner surface,

a generally vertical cross rib attached to the flat upper surface between the two inner surfaces, and

a magnet positioned in the U-shaped housing between at least one inner surface and the corresponding outer surface, the magnet attracting the steel pin when the locking mechanism, with a closed actuator, is positioned in the decoupler with the outer end of the actuator engaging the vertical cross rib.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein

the device for retaining the movable member in the closed position includes two steel pins, each retained in a sleeve attached respectively to one of the two opposing inner surfaces of the housing, and biased against a respective outer surface of the cross element during opening and closing of the actuator, and

the decoupler includes a magnet positioned in the U-shaped housing between each inner surface and the corresponding outer surface.

17. A securing device comprising:

a case having an access opening to receive merchandise, top and bottom surfaces, and two opposing sidewall surfaces having, respectively, first and second coupling elements near the access opening; and

a locking mechanism for maintaining the case enclosed when the locking mechanism is closed, the locking mechanism being fully separable from said case when the locking mechanism is open and including

a base housing,

two generally parallel flanges extending from the base housing and spaced apart from each other to receive and retain the top and bottom surfaces of said case and prevent access to at least a portion of an interior region of the case through said access opening,

a fixed engagement element on the base housing for releasably engaging the first coupling element of the case,

a movable engagement element on the base housing for engaging the second coupling element of the case when the movable engagement element is in a first position and disengaging from the second coupling element of the case when the movable engagement element is in a second position, and

a locking device in the base housing retaining the movable coupling element in the first position when the locking mechanism is closed, wherein

said top surface of said case comprises a lid for enclosing said access opening, and

with the two generally parallel flanges of the locking mechanism positioned to overlie a portion of the lid and another surface of the case, and the fixed engagement element engaging one of the coupling elements of the case, the movable engagement element (i) engages a corresponding coupling element of the case when the locking mechanism is closed, and (ii) disengages from said corresponding coupling element of the case when the locking mechanism is open allowing the locking mechanism to be to be fully separated from the case.