Security package for compact discs

The present invention discloses a security package for a compact disc having a receiving structure and a retaining plate. The receiving structure has a handle, a lock section, and a storage compartment. The storage compartment receives the audio media. The audio media is held in place by the retainer plate which is pivotally attached to the lock section of the receiving structure. The retainer plate has a flange which covers a portion of the storage compartment holding the media in place. The receiving structure can enclose a detection strip which is then covered by the retainer plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to packaging devices for audio and 
vido media and more particularly to a security package for storing compact 
discs, cassette tape, video tapes, and the like, sold in retail stores. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that pre-recorded 
audio/video products, such as compact discs and casette tapes, are 
packaged in small containers by the manufacturers, making shoftlifting 
relatively easy. As a result, retailers prefer to futher package these 
products in security packages which are much larger and therefore much 
more difficult to conceal by a would-be shoplifter. Some manufacturers 
have attempted to address this problem themselves by incorporating the 
plastic CD "jewel box"or cassette container into a much larger carboard 
box which is removed and discarded by the consumer after purchase. 
However, such packaging is wasteful and considered to be environmentally 
unsound. Equally wasteful are prior art plastic security packages that 
must be destroyed in order to be removed. 
Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that retail 
security packaging frequently includes a detectable strip which is removed 
after purchase but when unpurchased will activate an electronic theft 
detection device. The detection strip are so commonly used that people are 
now beginning to realize that they exist and at times remove them in order 
to steal the package. 
It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in order to 
be cost effective, the security packages must be reusable. As a result, 
there have been several attempts to develop an improved security package 
for retail auto/video products. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,549 issued to B. Hehn on May 20, 1986, discloses an 
audio cassette package which is reusable. Unfortunately, the usefulness of 
the Hehn device is limited in that the lock section cannot be removed from 
the receiving section. The lock section slides with respect to the stored 
section. Further, this package provides an exposed detection strip as 
opposed to one which is not easily removed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,190 issued to B. Gregerson on Sept. 12, 1989, discloses 
a security package with a rotatable locking channel. Unfortunately, this 
device has a live hinge means which can wear out over time. Further, the 
device is not reusable because after one use, the latch becomes deformed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,382 issued to S. Braun et al on Mar. 21, 1972, 
discloses a molded plastic display package. Braun et al also uses a live 
hinge and is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,238 issued to B. Hehn et al on May 30, 1989, discloses 
a cassette security package. Like the other devices, this package has a 
live hinge and is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,547 issued to Applicant on Jan. 12, 1988, discloses a 
compact disc security device. It too has a live hinge and is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No 3,871,516 issued to H. Holkestad on Mar. 18, 1975, discloses 
an anti-theft packaging device which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No.4,366,915 issued to D. Seidler on Jan. 1983, discloses a 
hinged lid container which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,836 issued to Rivkin et al on May 3, 1983, discloses an 
anti-theft point-of-sale container which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,983 issued to W. Morris on Feb. 4, 1986, discloses a 
theft resistant cassette holder which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,369 issued to W. Morris on Feb. 25, 1986, discloses a 
theft resistant cassette holder which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,334 issued to R. Mortensen on Jan. 6, 1987, discloses a 
magnetic tape security housing which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,601 issued to Pijanowski et al on Feb. 7, 1989, 
discloses a housing which is not reusable. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,769 issued to Soltis et al on Feb. 21, 1989, discloses 
a compact disc security holder which is not reusable. 
What is needed, then, is a reusable security package for audio/video 
products which is easy to manufacture and easy to assemble. This needed 
security package must be easily locked and unlocked by store personnel. 
This security package must be capable of receiving a detection strip such 
that it is disposed and out of reach of potential thieves. This needed 
device should be usable with unlocking keys used in connection with other 
commonly found security packages. This device is presently lacking in the 
prior art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention discloses a security package for a compact disc 
having a receiving structure and a lockable retainer plate. The receiving 
structure includes a handle, a lock section, and a storage compartment. 
The storage compartment encloses the audio media. The audio media is held 
in place by the reatginer plate which is pivotally hinged to the receiving 
structure. The retainer plate has a flange which covers a portion of the 
storage compartment, thereby holding the media in place. The receiving 
structure can also enclose a detection strip which is then covered by the 
retainer plate. 
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a reusable 
security package. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a security 
package which can enclose a security detection strip. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a security 
package which can be unlocked using an industry standard package key.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown generally at 10 the compact disc 
security package of the present invention. Package 10 includes a 
rectangular compact disc ("CD") receiving structure 12 which is joined to 
a hinged retainer plate 14. Receiving structure 12 includes a handle 16, 
lock section 18, and storage compartment 20. Storage compartment 20 houses 
media 22, in this embodiment a CD. In the preferred embodiment, receiving 
structure 12 is molded to create a unitary piece but separate from 
retainer plate 14. As a result, handle 16, lock section 18, and storage 
compartment 20 are integral to receiving structure 12. 
Handle 16 is formed of a rectangular vertical wall 30 supporting an 
adjacent upper horizontal flange 32. 
Storage compartment 20 is formed by a continuation of wall 30 along both 
sides and the bottom edge of compartment 20, lower retaining flange 42 
which extends partially down each side of compartment 20, and upper 
retaining flange 46 which extends across the bottom edge of receiving 
structure. This defines an opening 44 which substantially conforms to the 
shape of an industry standard size CD jewel box. CD 22 is placed into 
storage compartment 20 through opening 44 under upper flange 46 and 
resisting against lower flange 42. Upper and lower retaining flanges 46 
and 42 prevent removal of CD 22 from receiving structure 12 except by 
sliding it upward toward handle 16 and tilting it away from lower flange 
42. 
Disposed between handle 16 and storage compartment 22 is integral lock 
section 18, the perimeter of which is formed by top wall 19, bottom waall 
21, each of which extend transversely between left and right side sections 
of vertical walal 30, and connecting of right and left vertical walls 30. 
A planar surface 24 extends across and partially covers lock section 18, 
with finger holes 25 and 27 on either side of locking chamber 26. Locking 
chamber 26, which is further defined by left and right vertical walls 35, 
is also partially covered by surface 24 but leaving a rectangular opening 
28 (FIG. 4) to allow for movement of retainer plate 14, and three 
rectangular keyholes 54. 
Extending horizontally from each wall 35 within locking chamber 26 is a 
hinge pin 50. Molded integral to that portion of top wall 19 which is 
within locking chamber 26 are three female latch ports 52 
Retainer plate 14(FIG. 3) is formed of lower planar surface 61 joining left 
and right side walls 63, a top vertical wall 65, an angled bottom vertical 
wall 67, and a flange 64 extending horizontally from the upper edges of 
angled wall 67 and side wall 63. The dimensions of the rectangular space 
defined by top wall 65, angled wall 67, and connecting sections of side 
walls 63 are slightly less thana the dimensions of locking chamber 26 of 
receiving structure 12. Molded into each lower edge of side walls 63 are 
integral hinges 60 which pivotally engage hinge pins 50. 
Integral to top wall 65 of retainer plate 14 are male latches 62 which are 
releasably received by female latch ports 52 of receiving structure 12. 
When retainer plate 14 is rotated to the closed position, flange 64 
extends over storage compartment 20 to hold CD 22 in place and prevent its 
removal except by release of latches 62. Latches 62 extend outwardly from 
lower wall 65, supported by wall bias section 66. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a adtectable security strip 80, well known by those in 
the art, can be placed within locking chamber 26 so that when retainer 
plate 14 is rotated to the locked position, the consumer cannot remove it. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown generally at 12 the receiving 
structure of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows, in greater detail, 
keyholes 54 and female latch ports 52 as well as lower retaining flange 42 
and upper retaining flange 46. 
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown generally at 14 the retainer plate 
of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows, in greater detail, latches 62 
which are attached to retainer plate 14 by wall bias sections 66. Bias 
sections 66 allow flexing of latches 62 such that they can slide down 
upper vertical wall 19 of locking section 18 and positively engage latch 
ports 52. Further, FIG. 3 shows, in greater detail, flange 64 and hinges 
60. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 there is shown generally at 10 the operation of 
the security package of the present invention. The retailer will initially 
pivot retainer plate 14 upward and slide CD 22 under upper retaining 
flange 46 and against lower retaining flange 42 in storage compartment 20. 
Retainer plate 14 is then directed toward receiving structure 12 and 
pivoted in place such that flange 64 extends into storage compartment 20 
to cover CD 22. As can be seen in more detail in FIG. 5, latches 62 are 
flexed rearward from wall 65 as they approach latch ports 52. When latches 
62 are aligned with latch ports 52, they move forward and outward from 
wall 65 to form a locking engagement. After retainer plate 14 is locked in 
place, CD 22 cannot be removed except by causing the disengagement of 
latches 62 from latch ports 52. However, because latches 62 and ports 52 
are now concealed within locking chamber 26, access to latches 62 can be 
made only through keyholes 51. A key 70 having teeth 72 is inserted into 
keyholes 54 to bias latches 62 away from latch ports 52 thereby allowing 
retainer plate 14 to swing open. CD 22 can then be removed for retail 
purchase and package 10 reused. 
In the preferred embodiment, retaianer plate 14 and receiving structure are 
molded from polystyrene plastic. However, any type of plastic resin can be 
used. 
Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the 
present invention of a new and useful security package for compact discs, 
it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon 
the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims. 
Further, although there have been described certain dimensions used in the 
preferred embodiment, it is not intended that such dimensions be construed 
as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the 
following claims.