Device for locking a media disc to a retaining hub

• US 6,516,945 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
• Inventors: Byrne, James M., Myszka, Kevin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M
• Application Number:
  US09/769,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 206/310, 206/308.2, 206/309, 206/308.1, 206/303, 206/493, 206/807, D 6/632, D 6/634, D 6/635, D 6/407
• US Class Current: 206/308.2
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/045 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof

Abstract

A locking device for a disc retaining hub includes a base and a head that lock together over the hub to lock a disc on the hub until a portion of the locking device is destroyed. The head or the base of the locking device includes locking fingers that allow the head and base to lock together in a one-way snap fit connection. The locking mechanism may also cooperate with the disc retaining hub to lock itself to the hub. The locking mechanism prevents the disc from being removed from the hub until the locking mechanism is destroyed by the user.

Claims

1. A locking device for a disc-retaining hub;

the disc-retaining hub being configured to retain a disc-shaped item of recorded media;

the locking device comprising;

a base;

a head configured to lock to the base;

the head having an outer wall and a post connected to the outer wall with at least one bridge;

the bridge being adapted to be severed by the user to unlock the locking device;

one of the base and head adapted to pass through the disc-retaining hub to lock the base and head to the disc-retaining hub; and

the head being configured to prevent a disc from being removed from the disc-retaining hub when the head is locked to the base.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes a tray adapted to carry an EAS tag.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the post is adapted to extend through the disc-retaining hub;

the post including a locking finger configured to lock with the base.

4. In combination, a disc locking device and a disc-retaining hub;

the disc-retaining hub adapted to hold a disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub in a manner that allows a consumer to remove the disc from the hub and replace the disc on the hub; and

the disc locking device including a locking device base and a locking device head;

the locking device base and locking device head configured to lock together and cooperate with the disc-retaining hub to prevent the disc from being removed from the disc-retaining hub when the base and head of the disc locking device are locked together;

the disc retaining hub being connected to a base adapted to receive the disc-shaped item of recorded media;

a lid hingedly connected to the base and moveable between open and closed positions;

the base and lid defining a storage compartment when the lid is in the closed position;

the storage compartment adapted to receive the disc-shaped item of recorded media while the disc-shaped item of recorded media is held by the disc retaining hub; and

the lid being moveable between the open and closed positions when the base and head of the disc locking device are locked together on the disc retaining hub.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein one of the base and head of the disc locking device passes through a portion of the disc retaining hub.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the head includes a post that extends through the disc retaining hub;

the post lockingly engaging the locking device base.

7. The combination of claim 4, wherein the locking device bace includes a tray adapted to carry an EAS tag.

8. In combination, a disc locking device and a disc retaining hub;

the disc retaining hub adapted to hold a disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub in a manner that allows a consumer to remove the disc from the hub and replace the disc on the hub;

the disc locking device including a base and a head;

the base and head configured to lock together and cooperate with the disc retaining hub to prevent the disc from being removed from the disc retaining hub when the base and head of the disc locking device are locked together; and

the head including an outer wall and a post connected to the outer wall with at least one bridge;

the post including a locking finger that engages the base.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the post is connected to the outer wall by a pair of bridges.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the post includes a pair of resilient locking fingers.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the base includes a tray adapted to carry an EAS tag.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein one of the base and head of the disc locking device passes through a portion of the disc retaining hub.

13. The combination of claim 8, wherein the base of the disc locking device frictionally engages the disc retaining hub.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the disc retaining hub is supported by a bottom wall;

the base of the disc locking device being snap-fit to the bottom wall.

15. In combination, a disc locking device and a disc-retaining hub;

the disc-retaining hub adapted to hold a disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub in a manner that allows a consumer to remove the disc from the hub and replace the disc on the hub;

the disc retaining hub including a support surface and a protrusion spaced from the support surface;

the support surface being positioned to be disposed below the disc-shaped item a of recorded media when the disc-shaped item of recorded media is disposed on the disc retaining hub;

the protrusion adapted to be disposed above the disc-shaped item of recorded media when the disc-shaped item of recorded media is disposed on the hub; and

the disc locking device including a locking device base and a locking device head configured to lock together and cooperate with the disc-retaining hub to prevent the disc from being removed from the disc-retaining hub when the disc locking device is locked to the disc-retaining hub.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the disc-retaining hub defines an opening;

the disc locking device including a post that extends into the opening;

the post including a locking finger that lockingly engages the disc-retaining hub.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the disc retaining hub is adapted to loosely hold the disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the disc locking device is adapted to loosely hold the disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub when the disc locking device is locked.