Abstract:
The invention relates to a security container formed to receive a cassette which visually indicates to a user what type or style of good is contained therein. The cassette may be of a general solid block type in one color or having one visual characteristic, or the cassette may have multiple inserts or slides which may be moved within the cassette to change the outwardly facing color or visible characteristic.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/391,270, filed Oct. 8, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a container for displaying and securing commercial goods. More particularly, this invention relates to selectively configuring the container to provide a visual indication of what type or style of commercial goods is contained therein. Specifically, this invention relates to a color coded cassette insert for a clam-shell security container, which is used to visually indicate compatibility information about the goods contained therein. 
     2. Background Information 
     Commercial stores often display goods which are only compatible with one type of an electronic gaming or computer system. For example, a Nintendo® WHO gaming console will only play Wii® games, and likewise for a Microsoft® Xbox® console and games. A Wii® game will not play on an Xbox® console. However, multiple versions of the same goods may be offered. For example, the same game may be offered in the Wii® format as well as the Xbox® format. These games are often sold side-by-side on the store shelf in similar packaging. It is up to the purchaser or store employee to identify whether the particular good is compatible with the particular system. Often the store employee isn&#39;t properly trained, or a customer is in a hurry. As such, the store employee or customer may retrieve the wrong item due to ignorance or oversight. 
     Heretofore, security containers which hold these goods have provided no indication of the style or compatibility of the goods contained therein. These security containers are generally of the “clam-shell” style, which accept and hold the goods between two portions which are locked together. The goods are generally displayed through a transparent portion, and the only indication of the compatibility is on the packaging for the goods. Oftentimes the print is small, or different manufacturers provide the compatibility information in different places on the goods, so the employee is left to search all over the goods, front and back, to determine the compatibility. 
     Further, during a particularly busy part of the day or during a holiday rush, retailers are typically understaffed or retail associates from other departments are rotated to the busier departments to assist customers. Thus, a retail associate may not be aware of the slight differences in the items, or may not be able to discern these differences quickly. Retail establishments are constantly trying to make shopping more efficient for busy customers, while maintaining a pleasant customer experience. Requiring a customer to wait for the retail associate to study the item, or requiring the customer to return an item to receive the appropriate style is wholly inefficient and typically leads to customer agitation and a poor shopping experience. 
     Therefore, a need exists in the art to provide a security container which readily visually indicates compatibility information about the goods contained therein to the viewer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first embodiment of the present invention relates to a combination of a security container and at least one cassette. The security container includes a top end, a bottom end, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side and second side are hingedly locked at the bottom end, and releaseably lockable at the top end. The security container further includes a cassette receiving portion defined by the first side and proximate the top end when the first side and second side are locked together. The cassette is sized to be selectively inserted and removed from the cassette receiving portion of the security container. The cassette is generally one solid color, which is outwardly displayed at the top end of the security container when the first and second sides are locked together. The color indicates that the goods contained in that particular security container conform to a particular compatibility with electronic equipment. For example, Nintendo® Wii® games may be indicated by a white cassette, and Microsoft® Xbox® games may be indicated by a black cassette. 
     The second embodiment of the invention relates to a multi-color cassette for use with the security container described above. The cassette includes a cassette base having a base wall, a pair of sidewalls extending from the base wall, a backwall extending between the pair of sidewalls, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The cassette further includes a plurality of inserts, each insert having a particular color and a protrusion, and a plurality of grooves defined by the inner surface. Each insert is sized to be disposed in the cassette base with the projection of the insert received by one of the plurality of recesses. The cassette base includes an indicator opening or window defined by the base wall and the pair of sidewalls, wherein one of the inserts is visible in the indicator opening when the inserts are disposed in the cassette base. As such, each insert may be moved to the position where the color of the insert is visible through the indicator opening, thereby changing the overall outwardly facing color portrayed by the cassette. The non-visible inserts are disposed in the cassette for future selective use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a security container having a first embodiment of a cassette of the present invention inserted therein; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the security container and the first embodiment of the cassette; 
         FIG. 3  is a front side perspective view of a second embodiment of the cassette of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front side perspective view of the second embodiment of the cassette having a slide removed therefrom; 
         FIG. 5  is rear side perspective view of the second embodiment of the cassette; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plane view of the second embodiment of the cassette; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The security device of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-8  and indicated generally at  1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , security device  1  includes a security container  3  and a cassette  5  selectively securable thereto. Security container  3  is generally comprised of a first portion  9  and a second portion  11 , whereby first portion  9  and second portion  11  are hingedly joined proximate a bottom end  13 , and selectively lockable together at a top end  15 . First portion  9  and second portion  11  may be rotated with respect to one another in the directions of Arrow A to selectively move security container  3  between an open position ( FIG. 1 ) and a closed position (not shown). First portion  9  is intended to be formed of generally transparent or translucent material to allow a user to see the contents of security container  3  when in the closed position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , security device  3  further includes a backwall  17 , a pair of sidewalls  19 , a pair of top walls  21 , and a peg receiving wall  25  defining a peg opening  27 . Security device  3  further includes a pair of retaining lips  23  extending outwardly away from each sidewall  19  and topwall  21 , and a retaining bar  29  extending from backwall  17 . Retaining lips  23  and retaining bar  29  cooperate with backwall  17 , sidewalls  19 , topwalls  21 , and peg receiving wall  25  to define a pocket  31 , wherein pocket  31  is sized to receive cassette  5  and hold cassette  5  securely therein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cassette  5  is generally a rectangular block of plastic material having a pair of side surfaces  33 , a front surface  35 , a back surface  37 , a bottom surface  39 , and a top surface  41  having a profiled area  43  and a recess formed therein (not shown) to hold a security tag. When cassette  5  is disposed in pocket  31 , top surface  41  abuts topwalls  21 , with profiled area  43  sized to complementary abut peg receiving wall  25 . Likewise, back surface  37  abuts backwall  17  and side surfaces  33  abut sidewalls  19 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , retaining lips  23  hold cassette  5  in pocket  31  by the abutment formed between retaining lips  23  and front surface  35 . Likewise, retaining bar  29  holds cassette  5  in pocket  31  by the abutment formed between retaining bar  29  and bottom surface  39 . As such, it will be readily understood that the abutments formed between cassette  5  and security container  3  generally prevent any meaningful movement in all directions when cassette  5  is disposed in pocket  31 . As such, cassette  5  is sized and shaped to be selectively disposed in pocket  31  and held therein when security container  3  is in the closed position. 
     Cassette  5  may be a solid block of material or may include a cavity or opening (not shown) to hold a security tag (not shown) therein. Cassette  5  is intended to have a particular color displayed at least on front surface  35 . It is also envisioned that cassette  5  may be formed having this color displayed on all surfaces. As such, multiple cassettes  5  may be included in the present invention and each cassette  5  may be formed having a different color displayed on front surface  35 . 
     In operation, a user opens security container  3  to expose pocket  31  in second portion  11 . The user then places cassette  5  inside second portion  11 , generally having back surface  37  proximate or abutting second portion  11 , side surfaces  33  proximate or abutting sidewalls  19 , and top surface  41  proximate and facing top end  15 . The user then slides cassette  5  over retaining bar  29  such that retaining bar  29  abuts back surface  37  and retaining lips  23  abut front surface  35 . When cassette  5  moves entirely over retaining bar  29 , cassette  5  drops into pocket  31  whereby cassette  5  is held securely therein by the various surfaces and retaining elements as discussed above. Cassette  5  is selectively removable from security container  3  by reversing the above steps, and moving back surface  37  over retaining bar  29  to release cassette  5  from pocket  31 . 
     When cassette  5  is securely held in pocket  31  and security container  3  is in the locked position, whatever color is displayed on front surface  35  is outwardly facing in security device  1  through transparent first portion  9 , and is readily viewable by a user holding or looking at security device  1 . When a user wishes to change the visible color displayed by cassette  5  in security container  3 , the user simply removes cassette  5  and replaces it with another cassette  5  having the desired color displayed on front surface  35 . As such, the color displayed by security container  1  proximate top end  15  is changeable and customizable by the user simply by changing cassettes  5 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 3-8 , a second embodiment of the cassette is indicated generally at  105 . Cassette  105  is intended to be used with security container  3  in the same general manner as described above with respect to cassette  5 , as the overall size and shape of cassette  105  is substantially similar to cassette  5 . As such, cassette  105  is inserted and removed from pocket  31  in the manner described above. 
     Cassette  105  includes a cassette base  106  and a plurality of slides  145 . Cassette base  106  includes a pair of sidewalls  132 , a backwall  136 , and a bottom wall  138  which defines a plurality of tooth slots  140  therein. Sidewalls  132  define a plurality of elongated grooves  134  extending generally from bottom wall  138  along the entire length of sidewalls  132 . Sidewalls  132  and bottom wall  138  define a window  142 . Cassette base  106  further includes a pair of side surfaces  133 , a front surface  135 , a back surface  137 , a bottom surface  139 , and a top surface  141  having a profiled area  143 . Sidewalls  132 , backwall  136 , and bottom wall  138  define an inner cavity  144  ( FIG. 6 ) wherein the plurality of slides  145  may be selectively disposed, shown in  FIG. 3  as five slides:  145 A,  145 B,  145 C,  145 D, and  145 E. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , each slide  145  is a flat and elongated integral member terminating in a pair of slide projections  147  at each end. Slide  145  includes a front surface  149 , a back surface  151  ( FIG. 6 ), a bottom surface  153  ( FIG. 5 ), and a top surface  155  having a profiled area  157 . A pair of teeth  154  ( FIG. 5 ) extend outwardly away from bottom surface  153 , each of which are complementary shaped to fit into tooth slots  140 . Projections  159  include a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and extend entirely from bottom surface  153  to top surface  155  of slide  145 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each slide  145  is independently movable within inner cavity  144  along the directions of Arrow B. Elongated grooves  134  are sized to receive projections  147  and guide slide  145  into a stable position within inner cavity  144  of cassette base  106 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , tooth slots  140  are aligned to receive teeth  154  extending from bottom surface  153  of slide  145  and properly align and secure slide  145  with bottom wall  138  of cassette base  106 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it is intended that each slide  145  has a corresponding set of elongated grooves  134  in sidewalls  132 , and a set of tooth slots  140  in bottom wall  138 , such that all slides  145  may be disposed in cassette base  106  at the same time for safekeeping and to provide a “self-contained” multi-colored cassette to the user. 
     As discussed above, sidewalls  132  and bottom wall  138  form window  142  in cassette base  106 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , window  142  is most proximate a particular elongated groove  134 A. When slide  145 A is placed in elongated grove  134 A slide  145 A is outwardly visible through window  142 . It is intended that each slide  145  be formed having a particular color. For example, slide  145 A is primarily white in color, slide  145 B is primarily blue in color, etc. Inasmuch as slides  145  are formed having a particular color, the particular slide  145 A which resides in elongated grooves  134 A portrays that color outwardly from cassette base  106 . When cassette  105  is placed into security container  3 , the color of slide  145 A disposed in elongated slots  134 A is outwardly displayed therefrom. As such, it will be readily understood that a user may select and rearrange the plurality of slides  145  as desired to change the outwardly facing color of cassette  105 , thereby changing the overall color displayed proximate top end  15  of security container  3 . 
     It will be readily understood that a security tag (not shown) may be disposed anywhere in or on security device  1 , including inside cassette  5  or cassette  105 , first portion  9 , or second portion  11 . Furthermore, it will be readily understood that having described cassette  5  and  105  as portraying a color, any alternative to a solid color is encompassed by the present invention, including wording, indicia, visual characteristics, or multi-colored front surfaces  35  or  135 . 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.