Security devices for information storage media with locking mechanisms

• US 5,988,376 A
• Filed: 02/04/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lax, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US09/018,505
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 70/57.1, 70/63, 70/276, 206/308.1, 206/308.2, 206/387.11, 206/1.5, 206/807
• 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 33/0422 for discs without cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

A security device includes a case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining merchandise and an access opening for receiving the merchandise into the interior volume; at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case; and a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the received merchandise in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case. The locking mechanism includes a housing, at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case, an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, and a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position. The security device also includes a separate decoupling element adapted to operatively engage the locking mechanism and release the actuator from the first position.

Claims

1. A security device comprising:

a case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining merchandise and an access opening for receiving the merchandise into the interior volume;

at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case;

a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the received merchandise in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case, the locking mechanism including;

a housing,

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case,

an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position; and

the security device further comprising a separate decoupling element adapted to operatively engage the locking mechanism and release the actuator from the first position.

2. A security device comprising:

a case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining a disk and an access opening for receiving the disk into the interior volume;

a tray adapted to slidably extend through the access opening, the tray including a recess for securely receiving the disk;

at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case; and

a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the disk in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case, the locking mechanism including;

a housing,

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case,

an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position.

3. The security device of claim 2, wherein:

the outside surface of the case includes spaced apart top and bottom surfaces, spaced apart side surfaces, and spaced apart first and second ends cooperating to form the interior volume of the case; and

the access opening is disposed through the first end of the case, the tray being adapted to slidably extend through the first end and substantially cover the access opening when the tray is closed.

4. The security device of claim 3, wherein:

the side surfaces each include a notch disposed proximate to the access opening; and

the locking mechanism includes a fixed protrusion at one end of the housing and a movable protrusion on the actuator, the fixed protrusion engaging one notch and the movable protrusion engaging the other notch to couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in the first position.

5. The security device of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes a flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the top surface of the case and another flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the bottom surface of the case when the locking device is coupled to the case.

6. The security device of claim 5, wherein the housing of the locking mechanism includes a main surface adapted to cooperate with the flanges, the fixed protrusion and the moveable protrusion to form an open ended enclosure for receiving the first end of the case and blocking the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

7. The security device of claim 2, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes at least one magnetically attractable pin disposed within the housing; and

the actuator includes an arm portion adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing and including at least one seat, the pin being springingly biased towards, and positioned relative to, the arm portion such that the pin engages the seat portion when the actuator is in the first position.

8. The security device of claim 7, wherein the arm portion includes a sliding surface disposed adjacent the seat and adapted to slidably engage the pin when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the seat such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

9. The security device of claim 8, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

the arm portion includes a first sliding surface disposed adjacent a first seat and a second sliding surface disposed adjacent a second seat;

the first and second sliding portions are adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the respective seats such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

10. The security device of claim 9, wherein the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second seats are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

11. The security device of claim 10, wherein:

the first pin is springingly biased from a first inside wall of the housing and the second pin is springingly biased from a second inside wall of the housing opposite the first inside wall such that the pins are biased toward one another in a lateral direction; and

the first and second seats have respective first and second depths extending in lateral opposite directions, the depths being from the first and second sliding surfaces, respectively, and extending away from the first and second inside walls, respectively.

12. The security device of claim 11, wherein the first and second seats include respective first and second bottom surfaces at the first and second depths, the first bottom surface being laterally closer to the second inside wall than the second bottom surface and the second bottom surface being laterally closer to the first inside wall than the first bottom surface.

13. The security device of claim 12, wherein the first and second pins are steel.

14. The security device of claim 7, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism; and

at least one magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the seat and the actuator is capable of being slid out of the first position.

15. The security device of claim 10, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism;

a first magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the first seat; and

a second magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the second seat,

the actuator being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

16. The security device of claim 15, wherein the first and second magnets are longitudinally offset from one another in an amount corresponding with the longitudinal offset of the first and second pins.

17. A locking mechanism for removably coupling to a case, the case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining merchandise within the case, an access opening for receiving the merchandise into the interior volume, and at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case, the locking mechanism including:

a housing;

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case;

an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, the actuator being inseparable from the housing; and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position.

18. The locking mechanism of claim 17, wherein the case includes two substantially oppositely disposed notches on the outside surface of the case, the locking mechanism further comprising:

a fixed protrusion at one end of the housing; and

a movable protrusion on the actuator,

the fixed protrusion engaging one notch and the movable protrusion engaging the other notch to couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in the first position.

19. The locking mechanism of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism includes a flange adapted to overly one portion of the outside surface of the case and another flange adapted to overly another portion of the outside surface of the case when the locking device is coupled to the case.

20. The locking mechanism of claim 19, wherein the housing of the locking mechanism includes a main surface adapted to cooperate with the flanges, the fixed protrusion and the moveable protrusion to form an open ended enclosure for receiving the case and blocking the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

21. The locking mechanism of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one magnetically attractable pin disposed within the housing; and

an arm portion disposed on the actuator and adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, the arm portion including at least one seat,

the pin being springingly biased towards, and positioned relative to, the arm portion such that the pin engages the seat portion when the actuator is in the first position.

22. The locking mechanism of claim 21, wherein the arm portion includes a sliding surface disposed adjacent the seat and adapted to slidably engage the pin when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the seat such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

23. The locking mechanism of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism includes:

first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

a first sliding surface and a first seat located on the arm portion and disposed adjacent to one another; and

a second sliding surface and a second seat located on the arm portion and disposed adjacent to one another;

the first and second sliding portions being adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position,

the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the respective seats such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

24. The locking mechanism of claim 23, wherein the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second seats are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

25. The locking mechanism of claim 24, wherein:

the first pin is springingly biased from a first inside wall of the housing and the second pin is springingly biased from a second inside wall of the housing opposite the first inside wall such that the pins are biased toward one another in a lateral direction; and

the first and second seats have respective first and second depths extending in lateral opposite directions, the depths being from the first and second sliding surfaces, respectively, and extending away from the first and second inside walls, respectively.

26. The locking mechanism of claim 25, wherein the first and second seats include respective first and second bottom surfaces at the first and second depths, the first bottom surface being laterally closer to the second inside wall than the second bottom surface and the second bottom surface being laterally closer to the first inside wall than the first bottom surface.

27. The locking mechanism of claim 26, wherein the first and second pins are steel.

28. The locking mechanism of claim 21, further comprising a separate decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism; and

at least one magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the seat and the actuator is capable of being slid out of the first position.

29. The locking mechanism of claim 23, further comprising a separate decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism;

a first magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the first seat; and

a second magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the second seat,

the actuator being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

30. The locking mechanism of claim 29, wherein the first and second magnets are longitudinally offset from one another in an amount corresponding with the longitudinal offset of the first and second pins.

31. A security device comprising:

a case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining a package of merchandise and an access opening for receiving the package into the interior volume;

at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case; and

a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the package in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case, the locking mechanism including;

a housing,

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case,

an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, the actuator being inseparable from the housing; and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position.

32. The security device of claim 31, wherein:

the outside surface of the case includes spaced apart top and bottom surfaces, spaced apart side surfaces, and spaced apart first and second ends cooperating to form the interior volume of the case; and

the access opening is an opening disposed through the first end of the case, the case being capable of receiving the package through the access opening.

33. The security device of claim 32, wherein:

the side surfaces each include a notch disposed proximate to the access opening; and

the locking mechanism includes a fixed protrusion at one end of the housing and a movable protrusion on the actuator, the fixed protrusion engaging one notch and the movable protrusion engaging the other notch to couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in the first position.

34. The security device of claim 33, wherein the locking mechanism includes a flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the top surface of the case and another flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the bottom surface of the case when the locking device is coupled to the case.

35. The security device of claim 34, wherein the housing of the locking mechanism includes a main surface adapted to cooperate with the flanges, the fixed protrusion and the moveable protrusion to form an open ended enclosure for receiving the first end of the case and blocking the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

36. The security device of claim 33, wherein the side surfaces define respective planes, the notches being defined by extension members extending from the respective side surfaces and extending out of the respective planes.

37. The security device of claim 31, wherein the outside surface of the case includes at least one aperture for permitting access to the interior volume, the aperture being sized such that the package cannot be removed therethrough.

38. The security device of claim 31, wherein at least some of the surfaces of the case are formed of substantially transparent plastic such that indicia on the package may be seen through the case.

39. The security device of claim 31, wherein the second device further includes the package, the package having a cover adapted to open and close an interior space and a recess adapted to securely receive a disk within the space.

40. The security device of claim 31, wherein the package is sized and shaped to substantially match a size and shape of the interior volume of the case.

41. The security device of claim 31, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes at least one magnetically attractable pin disposed within the housing; and

the actuator includes an arm portion adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing and including at least one seat, the pin being springingly biased towards, and positioned relative to, the arm portion such that the pin engages the seat portion when the actuator is in the first position.

42. The security device of claim 41, wherein the arm portion includes a sliding surface disposed adjacent the seat and adapted to slidably engage the pin when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the seat such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

43. The security device of claim 42, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

the arm portion includes a first sliding surface disposed adjacent a first seat and a second sliding surface disposed adjacent a second seat;

the first and second sliding portions are adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the respective seats such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

44. The security device of claim 43, wherein the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second seats are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

45. The security device of claim 44, wherein:

the first pin is springingly biased from a first inside wall of the housing and the second pin is springingly biased from a second inside wall of the housing opposite the first inside wall such that the pins are biased toward one another in a lateral direction; and

the first and second seats have respective first and second depths extending in lateral opposite directions, the depths being from the first and second sliding surfaces, respectively, and extending away from the first and second inside walls, respectively.

46. The security device of claim 45, wherein the first and second seats include respective first and second bottom surfaces at the first and second depths, the first bottom surface being laterally closer to the second inside wall than the second bottom surface and the second bottom surface being laterally closer to the first inside wall than the first bottom surface.

47. The security device of claim 46, wherein the first and second pins are steel.

48. The security device of claim 41, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism; and

at least one magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the seat and the actuator is capable of being slid out of the first position.

49. The security device of claim 43, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism;

a first magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the first seat; and

a second magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the second seat,

the actuator being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

50. The security device of claim 49, wherein the first and second magnets are longitudinally offset from one another in an amount corresponding with the longitudinal offset of the first and second pins.

51. A security device comprising:

a case having an outside surface defining an interior volume for retaining a package of merchandise and an access opening for receiving the package into the interior volume;

a base portion extending from the outside surface of the case and including at least one notch; and

a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the package in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case, the locking mechanism including;

a housing,

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case,

an actuator adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing, engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position.

52. The security device of claim 51, wherein:

the outside surface of the case includes spaced apart top and bottom surfaces, spaced apart side surfaces, and spaced apart first and second ends cooperating to form the interior volume of the case; and

the access opening is an opening disposed through the top surface of the case, the case being capable of receiving the package through the access opening.

53. The security device of claim 52, wherein the access opening substantially encompasses the entire top surface of the case.

54. The security device of claim 52, wherein the access opening abuts edges of the first and second ends and the side surfaces of the case, the base portion extending from the first end of the case, the case including at least one retaining element extending from at least one of the second end and side surface to overlie at least a portion of the access opening.

55. The security device of claim 54, wherein the package includes an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being retained in the inner volume of the case by the retaining element, the lower end of the package being free to move out of the access opening when the locking device is removed from the case.

56. The security device of claim 55, wherein the case includes at least two retaining elements extending from at least one of the second surface and respective side surfaces, the retaining elements overlying at least a portion of the access opening to retain the upper end of the package in the case.

57. The security device of claim 56, wherein:

the second surface and respective side surfaces of the case form corners;

one of the retaining elements extends from the edge of the second surface to the edge of one side surface;

the other of the retaining elements extends from the edge of the second surface to the edge of other side surface; and

the retaining elements are adapted to permit the upper end of the package to slide under the retaining elements to retain the upper end of the package within the inner volume of the case.

58. The security device of claim 51, wherein the outside surface of the case includes at least one aperture for permitting access to the interior volume, the aperture being sized such that the package cannot be removed therethrough.

59. The security device of claim 51, wherein at least some of the surfaces of the case are formed of substantially transparent plastic such that indicia on the package may be seen through the case.

60. The security device of claim 51, wherein the package is a jewel box adapted to securely hold a disk.

61. The security device of claim 51, wherein the package is sized and shaped to substantially match a size and shape of the interior volume of the case.

62. The security device of claim 52, wherein:

the base portion includes an upper surface forming a portion of the top surface of the case, a lower surface forming a portion of the bottom surface of the case and spaced apart notches disposed proximate to the access opening; and

the locking mechanism includes a fixed protrusion at one end of the housing and a movable protrusion on the actuator, the fixed protrusion engaging one notch and the movable protrusion engaging the other notch to couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in the first position.

63. The security device of claim 62, wherein the locking mechanism includes a flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the top surface of the case and another flange adapted to overly at least a portion of the bottom surface of the case when the locking device is coupled to the case.

64. The security device of claim 63, wherein the housing of the locking mechanism includes a main surface adapted to cooperate with the flanges, the fixed protrusion and the moveable protrusion to form an open ended enclosure for receiving the base portion of the case and at least partially blocking the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

65. The security device of claim 64, wherein one of the flanges at least partially blocks the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

66. The security device of claim 65, wherein the one flange prevents the lower end of the package from moving out of the access opening when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case.

67. The security device of claim 51, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes at least one magnetically attractable pin disposed within the housing; and

the actuator includes an arm portion adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing and including at least one seat, the pin being springingly biased towards, and positioned relative to, the arm portion such that the pin engages the seat portion when the actuator is in the first position.

68. The security device of claim 67, wherein the arm portion includes a sliding surface disposed adjacent the seat and adapted to slidably engage the pin when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the seat such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

69. The security device of claim 68, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

the arm portion includes a first sliding surface disposed adjacent a first seat and a second sliding surface disposed adjacent a second seat;

the first and second sliding portions are adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the respective seats such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

70. The security device of claim 69, wherein the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second seats are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

71. The security device of claim 70, wherein:

the first pin is springingly biased from a first inside wall of the housing and the second pin is springingly biased from a second inside wall of the housing opposite the first inside wall such that the pins are biased toward one another in a lateral direction; and

the first and second seats have respective first and second depths extending in lateral opposite directions, the depths being from the first and second sliding surfaces, respectively, and extending away from the first and second inside walls, respectively.

72. The security device of claim 71, wherein the first and second seats include respective first and second bottom surfaces at the first and second depths, the first bottom surface being laterally closer to the second inside wall than the second bottom surface and the second bottom surface being laterally closer to the first inside wall than the first bottom surface.

73. The security device of claim 68, wherein the seat is an aperture extending substantially through the arm portion, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin extends into the aperture.

74. The security device of claim 73, wherein:

the locking mechanism includes first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

the arm portion includes a first sliding surface disposed adjacent a first aperture through the arm portion and a second sliding surface disposed adjacent a second aperture through the arm portion;

the first and second sliding portions are adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins extend into the respective apertures such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

75. The security device of claim 74, wherein the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second apertures are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

76. The security device of claim 75, wherein:

the first pin is springingly biased from a first inside wall of the housing and the second pin is springingly biased from a second inside wall of the housing opposite the first inside wall such that the pins are biased toward one another in a lateral direction; and

the first and second apertures include respective first and second depths extending in lateral opposite directions, the depths being from the first and second sliding surfaces, respectively, and extending away from the first and second inside walls, respectively.

77. The security device of claim 71, wherein the first and second apertures terminate substantially at the respective second and first inside walls.

78. The security device of claim 77, wherein the first and second pins are steel.

79. The security device of claim 67, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism; and

at least one magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the seat and the actuator is capable of being slid out of the first position.

80. The security device of claim 69, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a docking portion adapted to at least partially receive the locking mechanism;

a first magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the first seat; and

a second magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin such that the pin is capable of being drawn out of the second seat,

the actuator being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

81. The security device of claim 80, wherein the first and second magnets are longitudinally offset from one another in an amount corresponding with the longitudinal offset of the first and second pins.

82. A plurality of security devices, each security device comprising:

a case having an outside surface defining an outside width and an interior volume for retaining merchandise, the case further having an access opening for receiving the merchandise into the interior volume;

at least one notch opening on the outside surface of the case;

a locking mechanism adapted to removably couple to the case and at least partially block the access opening to maintain the received merchandise in the case when the locking mechanism is coupled to the case, the locking mechanism including;

a housing having a width corresponding to the width of the case,

at least one flange extending from the housing for overlying at least a portion of the outside surface of the case,

an actuator having an arm portion adapted to slidably extend longitudinally into the housing and including at least one seat, the actuator adapted to engage the notch and couple the locking mechanism to the case when the actuator is in a first position, and

a locking device disposed in the housing for fixing the actuator in place when the actuator is in the first position, the locking device including at least one magnetically attractable pin disposed within the housing, the pin being springingly biased towards, and positioned relative to, the arm portion such that the pin engages the seat portion when the actuator is in the first position and prevents the actuator from sliding out of the first position.

83. The security devices of claim 82, wherein for each security device:

the arm portion includes a sliding surface disposed adjacent the seat and adapted to slidably engage the pin when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the sliding surface and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pin engages the seat such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

84. The security devices of claim 83, wherein for each security device:

the locking mechanism includes first and second pins springingly biased toward the arm portion of the actuator;

the arm portion includes a first sliding surface disposed adjacent a first seat and a second sliding surface disposed adjacent a second seat;

the first and second sliding portions are adapted to slidably engage the first and second pins, respectively, when the actuator is not in the first position, the arm portion being capable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the sliding surfaces and being incapable of sliding relative to the housing when the pins engage the respective seats such that the actuator is fixable in the first position.

85. The security devices of claim 84, wherein for each security device:

the first and second pins are longitudinally offset from one another and the first and second seats are correspondingly longitudinally offset.

86. The security devices of claim 82, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a first docking portion adapted to at least partially receive a first one of the locking mechanisms;

a second docking portion adapted to at least partially receive a second one of the locking mechanisms; and

at least one magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the magnetically attractable pins of the locking mechanisms such that the pins are capable of being drawn out of the respective seats and the actuators are capable of being slid out of the first position.

87. The security devices of claim 86, wherein at least two cases have different widths, the first and second docking portions of the decoupler being sized such that they are capable of receiving the different width cases.

88. The security devices of claim 84, further comprising a decoupling device including:

a first docking portion adapted to at least partially receive a first one of the locking mechanisms;

a second docking portion adapted to at least partially receive a second one of the locking mechanisms;

a first magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin of the first locking mechanism such that the first pin of the first locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the first seat of the first locking mechanism;

a second magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin of the first locking mechanism such that the second pin of the first locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the second seat of the first locking mechanism,

the second magnet being located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin of the second locking mechanism such that the first pin of the second locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the second seat of the second locking mechanism; and

a third magnet disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin of the second locking mechanism such that the second pin of the second locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the second seat of the second locking mechanism,

the actuators of the first and second locking mechanisms being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins of each locking mechanism are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

89. The security devices of claim 88, further comprising:

at least a third docking portion adapted to at least partially receive a third one of the locking mechanisms; and

a fourth magnet,

the third magnet being located proximate to and substantially aligned with the first magnetically attractable pin of the third locking mechanism such that the first pin of the third locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the first seat of the third locking mechanism,

the fourth magnet being disposed within the decoupling device and located proximate to and substantially aligned with the second magnetically attractable pin of the third locking mechanism such that the second pin of the third locking mechanism is capable of being drawn out of the second seat of the third locking mechanism,

the actuators of the first, second and third mechanisms being capable of sliding out of the first position when the first and second pins of each locking mechanism are drawn out of the respective first and second seats.

90. The security devices of claim 89, wherein at least three cases have different widths, the first, second and third docking portions of the decoupler being sized such that they are capable of receiving the different width cases.