Lockable media storage container

• US 7,320,235 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
• Inventors: Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Marsilio, Ronald M., Wells, Jesse D., McMahan, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US11/036,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 70/63, 70/571, 206/1.5, 206/308.2, 206/387.11
• US Class Current: 70/57.1
• 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 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/045 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A lockable media storage container includes a lock disposed within the lock reception cavity defined by the container. The lock may be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position while remaining disposed within the lock reception cavity. In one embodiment, the lock locks itself in the unlocked position so that it cannot accidently move back into the locked position. The lock includes a plurality of lock hooks extending from a common lock frame. A lock finger also extends from the common lock frame. The lock finger holds the lock in the locked position. A magnetic key is used to unlock the lock and move the lock slide to the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A lockable media storage container system comprising:

a media storage container having a base and a lid;

the lid movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;

the media storage container defining a lock reception cavity that opens to an exterior of the media storage container;

a lock adapted to fit within the lock reception cavity;

the lock having a lock base and a lock slide;

the lock slide movable with respect to the lock base between locked and unlocked positions;

the lock locking the lid closed when the lock slide is in the locked position;

the lock being removable from the media storage container when the lock slide is in the unlocked position; and

the lock slide being movable from the locked position to the unlocked position while the lock is disposed within the lock reception cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lock includes a lock finger that locks the lock slide in the unlocked position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the lock finger is disposed between the lock base and lock slide.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the lock slide includes at least first and second lock fingers that lock the lock to the container when the lock is in the locked position;

the first lock finger engaging the lid and the second lock finger engaging the base.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the base and lid of the container define an opening for each lock finger;

each opening being defined by a locking ledge and an unlocking ramp;

the lock finger engaging the locking ledge when the lock is in the locked position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each lock finger is aligned with an unlocking ramp when the lock is moved to the unlocked position so that the lock may be removed from the lock reception cavity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lock includes an indicator that is visible when the lock is in the unlocked position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lock includes a handle that may be pivoted outwardly from the lock to allow the lock to be pulled from the lock reception cavity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the lock carries an EAS tag.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thin layer of plastic disposed around the container and the lock;

the lock slide being movable from the locked position to the unlocked position while being surrounded by the thin layer of plastic.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the lock reception cavity has a length;

the lock having a length;

the length of the lock being substantially the same as the length of the lock reception cavity.

12. A lockable media storage container system comprising:

a media storage container having a base and a lid;

the lid movable between open and closed positions;

the media storage container defining a lock reception cavity that opens to an exterior of the media storage container;

a lock adapted to fit within the lock reception cavity;

the lock movable between locked and unlocked positions while disposed in the lock reception cavity;

the lock including at least first and second locking fingers;

the first locking finger disposed in an opening defined by the lid and the second locking finger disposed in an opening defined by the base to lock the lid in the closed position; and

each of the openings defined by the lid and the base being at least partially defined by a locking ledge disposed adjacent an unlocking ramp;

the lock fingers engaging the locking ledges when the lock is in the locked position;

the lock fingers being aligned with the unlocking ramps when the lock is in the unlocked position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the lock reception cavity has a length;

the lock having a length;

the length of the lock being substantially the same as the length of the lock reception cavity.

14. A lockable media storaae container system comprising:

a media storage container having a base and a lid;

the lid movable between open and closed positions;

the media storage container defining a lock reception cavity that opens to an exterior of the media storaoe container;

a lock adapted to fit within the lock reception cavity;

the lock movable between locked and unlocked positions while disposed in the lock reception cavity;

the lock including at least first and second locking fingers;

the first locking finger disposed in an opening defined by the lid and the second locking finger disposed in an opening defined by the base to lock the lid in the closed position;

each of the openings defined by the lid and the base being at least partially defined by a locking ledge and an unlocking ramp;

the lock finger engaging the locking ledge when the lock is in the locked position;

the lock reception cavity having a length;

the lock having a length;

the length of the lock being substantially the same as the length of the lock reception cavity; and

the lock including a lock base and a lock slide;

the lock base having a length substantially the same as the length of the lock reception cavity;

the lock slide selectively sliding on the lock base between locked and unlocked positions while the lock is disposed in the lock reception cavity.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a lock finger that locks the lock slide in the unlocked position.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the base and lid have overlapping walls that at least partially define the openings that receive the first and second locking fingers.

17. A method for protecting and selling an item of recorded media comprising the steps of:

displaying an item of recorded media at a store in a lockable media storage container having a storage container that holds the item of recorded media and a lock that moves between locked and unlocked positions;

the locked position of the lock preventing the storage container from being opened;

moving the lock to the unlocked position without removing the lock from the container when a consumer purchases the item of recorded media;

locking the lock in the unlocked position; and

allowing the consumer to depart the store with the lockable media storage container with the lock in the unlocked position.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

shrink wrapping the lockable media storage container with the lock in the locked position; and

unlocking the lock without removing the shrink wrap layer.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of exposing an indicator when the lock is moved to the unlocked position.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of using a pivoting holding finger to lock the lock in the unlocked position.

21. A lockable media storage container system comprising:

a media storage container having a base and a lid;

the lid movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;

the media storage container defining a lock reception cavity that opens to an exterior of the media storage container;

a lock adapted to fit within the lock reception cavity;

the lock having a lock base and a lock slide;

the lock slide movable with respect to the lock base between locked and unlocked positions;

the lock including a lock finger that locks the lock slide in the unlocked position;

the lock reception cavity having a length;

the lock base having a length;

the length of the lock base being substantially the same as the length of the lock reception cavity

the lock locking the lid closed when the lock slide is in the locked position;

the lock being removable from the media storage container when the lock slide is in the unlocked position; and

the lock slide being movable from the locked position to the unlocked position while the lock is disposed within the lock reception cavity.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the lock finger is disposed between the lock base and lock slide.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the lock includes an indicator that is visible when the lock is in the unlocked position.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the lock includes a handle that may be pivoted outwardly from the lock to allow the lock to be pulled from the lock reception cavity.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the lock carries an EAS tag.

26. A lockable media storage container system comprising:

a media storage container having a base and a lid;

the lid being integrally connected to the base with a living hinge;

the lid movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;

a lock carried by the media storage container;

the lock being disposed on the opposite side of the media storage container than the living hinge;

the lock movable between locked and unlocked positions;

the lock sliding between the locked position and the unlocked position;

the lock locking the lid closed when the lock is in the locked position;

the lock including at least first and second locking fingers;

the first locking finger engaging the lid and the second locking finger engaging the base to lock the lid in the closed position; and

a holding finger that locks the lock in the unlocked position.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the lock includes an indicator that is visible when the lock is in the unlocked position.