Device for locking a media disc to a retaining hub

• US 6,675,963 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• 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): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US10/294,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 206/308.1, 206/308.2, 206/303, 206/309, 206/310, 206/493, 206/807, 206/387.11, 206/1.5, D 6/634, D 6/635, D 6/632, 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. In combination, a media storage container having a lid hingedly connected to a base and moveable between open and closed positions;

the base and lid adapted to surround a disc-shaped item of recorded media when the lid is closed;

the base supporting a disc-retaining hub, a disc-shaped item of recorded media disposed on the disc-retaining hub, and a disc locking device that locks the disc-shaped item of recorded media on the disc-retaining hub;

the disc-retaining hub holding the disc-shaped item of recorded media on the hub in a manner that allows the disc-shaped item of recorded media to be removed from the disc-retaining hub and replaced on the disc-retaining hub;

the disc-retaining hub including an outer wall that engages the disc-shaped item of recorded media to retain the disc-shaped item of recorded media on the disc-retaining hub;

the hub including a protrusion adapted to be positioned above the disc-shaped item of recorded media when the disc-shaped item of recorded media is retained on the disc-retaining hub;

the disc locking device including a locking device base disposed under the disc-retaining hub and a locking device head configured to lock to the locking device base; and

the disc locking device cooperating with the disc-retaining hub to prevent the disc-shaped item of recorded media from being removed from the disc-retaining hub when the locking device base is locked to the locking device head.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the locking device base is disposed within the outer wall of the disc-retaining hub.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the disc-retaining hub defines an opening;

at least a portion of the locking device head extending through the opening when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.

4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising an EAS tag carried by one of the container and the disc locking device.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the disc-retaining hub defines an opening;

at least a portion of the locking device head extending through the opening when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the locking device head includes a post that extends through the disc-retaining hub to engage the locking device base.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the post locks to the locking device base.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lid pivotable between the open and closed positions when the disc-locking device is locking the disc-shaped item of recorded media to the disc-retaining hub.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the locking device base is fixed with respect to the disc-retaining hub.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein a portion of the locking device base is disposed within the disc-retaining hub.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the disc-retaining hub defines an opening that receives a portion of the locking device head when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the locking device base defines an opening that receives a portion of the locking device head when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the opening of the locking device base is aligned with the opening of the disc-retaining hub.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the opening of the locking device base is disposed adjacent to the opening of the disc-retaining hub.

15. The combination of claim 10, wherein the locking device base defines a shoulder;

the disc-retaining hub engaging the shoulder.

16. The combination of claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped item of recorded media is disposed intermediate the locking device head and a portion of the container when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the disc-shaped item of recorded media is disposed intermediate the locking device head and a portion of the disc-retaining hub when the locking device head is locked to the locking device base.