Patent Publication Number: US-7913839-B2

Title: Merchandise security display bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to security devices for displaying items of merchandise and in particular to a mesh bag adapted to contain various shaped items having a two-piece locking member mounted on the periphery of the bag opening to secure the bag in a closed locked position. 
     2. Background Information 
     Numerous items of merchandise are displayed for sale on various display mechanisms such as long protruding rods which extend from a support structure for holding and displaying the items of merchandise. Usually the items are stored in box-like protective housings or bubble packs which easily conform to the shape of the item of merchandise. However, these bubble packs and boxes are easy targets for thieves who cut the package or pack with a razor blade and remove the contents therefrom. It becomes expensive to protect each of these packages from theft without decreasing the visibility and accessibility to the customers. Also, it is desirable to have a number of such items on the display rack with some of the items securely protected until several of the unprotected items are removed by a customer for purchase and then replaced with the protected items. 
     Also, various items of merchandise which have irregular, large and bulky shapes are difficult to be placed in a secured box or package without obstructing the view of the merchandise by a prospective buyer and without resulting in wasted storage space. It is has been found that for certain items of merchandise that placement of these items, such as boxing gloves, ball gloves or various irregular shaped objects can be displayed by placing the items in a mesh bag which enables the user to view the item of merchandise. 
     Therefore, the need exists for a secure display device for various items of merchandise including irregular shaped objects which can be displayed in a simple, effective, inexpensive yet secure manner in a locked container requiring a key to unlock the security display package. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a security device for various items of merchandise that protects the merchandise in a mesh bag, preferably formed out of metal wires which prevent thieves from unlawfully removing the merchandise from the package without removing the package from the display structure and/or retail store. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a security bag which has an open top through which items of merchandise are placed into and removed from an interior storage chamber formed in the bag, which open top is closed with a two-piece locking member formed of inexpensive, rugged plastic material. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide one of the two bag locking members with a magnetically attractable locking strip or tine which automatically moves into a locked engagement with the second member of the locking device when the members are slidably inserted into engagement with each other when closing the bag. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide such a security bag which is unlocked by a magnetic key, which when properly placed on the locking device will move one or more metal locking tines to an unlocked position enabling one of the locking members to be slid out of engagement with the other locking member enabling the bag opening to be expanded to a full open position for removing the protected items of merchandise from within the storage chamber. 
     A further feature of the present invention is to provide one of the locking members with an abutment locking surface which engages an elongated edge of a magnetically attractable locking tine to prevent movement of the locking members from the locked to the unlocked position instead of the heretofore locking devices wherein only a small extended end of a magnetically attractable tine engages an abutment member to maintain the locking device in an unlocked position. This provides increased resistance to a forceful unauthorized separation of the pair of locking members. 
     Still another feature of the present invention is to secure the two members of the locking device on opposite, approximately half portions of the bag opening periphery, by trapping closed loop ends of the mesh bag in slots formed in each of the locking members thereby preventing the locking members from being misplaced from the mesh bag and preventing a thief from removing the locking members from the mesh bag. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to secure the magnetically attractable locking strip in a completely protected manner within one of the locking members preventing access thereto by a potential thief. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to enable an EAS tag to be secured within one of the locking members preventing a thief from removing the security bag from a retail store without sounding the alarm at an alarm exit gate. 
     A still further aspect of the present invention is to form the two lock members of a rigid plastic material which is sufficiently strong to prevent a thief from easily prying the two members apart, and which is constructed of a minimum number of components thereby enabling the security bag to be mass produced relatively inexpensively encouraging the use thereof by merchants to reduce shoplifting. 
     These features and advantages are obtained by the security bag of the present invention, wherein the security bag comprises a mesh bag formed of metal wire having a top opening providing access to an interior storage chamber for receiving an item of merchandise; and a locking device for securing the top opening in a closed locked position, wherein the locking device includes first and second locking members, each connected to a portion of the top opening of the bag and lockingly engageable with each other, and wherein the first locking member has a magnetically attractable locking member engageable with a locking tab formed on the second locking member to lock the members in a closed locked position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best modes 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 front elevational view of the security bag of the present invention containing an item of merchandise and suspended from a pair of merchandise display rods shown in cross section. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the security bag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the first and second members of the locking device in an open unlocked position with the bag omitted therefrom. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the two locking members looking in the direction of arrows  4 - 4 ,  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of one of the locking member looking in the direction of arrows  5 - 5 ,  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken on line  6 - 6 ,  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded elevational view of the other of the locking members which contains the magnetically attractable locking strip. 
         FIG. 7A  is an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic locking strip. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the two locking members in an unlocked position with a portion of the upper locking member shown in section. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken on line  9 - 9 ,  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9A  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the two locking members of  FIG. 9  being moved toward the locked position. 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  with the two locking members in locked position. 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line  12 - 12 ,  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged fragmentary view with portions in section showing the magnetic key in position to unlock the locking device. 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the magnetic key moving the pair of locking tines toward an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking key placed on the locking device with the locking tine being moved toward the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The merchandise security display bag of the present invention is indicated generally at  1 , and is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  mounted on a usual type of display rod  3 . However, it is readily understood that bag  1  could be displayed in various manners other than rod  3  and can contain various items of merchandise. Bag  1  includes as its main component a mesh bag indicated generally at  5 , preferably formed of metal wire strands  7  which may be connected together by clips, ferrules or other types of fasteners  9  to form a bag-like structure having a closed bottom end  11  and an open top end  13 . Metal wires  7  preferably are coated with a plastic material and can be of various thicknesses and types of metal or other materials which are cut resistant without affecting the concept of the present invention. Furthermore, the size of the void areas  15  between the adjacent metal wires  7  can vary depending on the type and size of merchandise  17  to be stored therein. A pair of boxing gloves is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and is merely an example of the numerous types of merchandise that can be stored within internal storage chamber  19  provided by mesh bag  5 . It is also understood that mesh bag  1  could be formed of other materials than metal wire so long as it prevents or greatly retards cutting of the material. 
     In further accordance with another feature of the invention, a locking device indicated generally at  21 , closes open top end  13  of the bag to secure merchandise  17  in chamber  19 . Locking device  21  includes first and second locking members  23  and  25 , respectively. Each of the locking members has a generally elongated configuration as shown in  FIG. 1  and is adapted to be permanently connected to closed loop ends  27  and  29 , respectively, at the peripheral edge of top opening  13 , as shown particularly in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and discussed in further detail below. Thus locking members  23  and  25  are permanently attached to the peripheral edge of bag opening  13  by the closed loop ends of the bag and remain permanently on the bag with each of the locking members extending across approximately one side of the peripheral edge of the open bag end. Members  23  and  25  preferably have a length “L” approximately four times the width “W”. This provides for a compact structure while providing the bag opening  13  to be as large as possible. 
     First locking member  23  is shown in an exploded condition in  FIG. 7  and includes two main components, a housing  31  and housing cover plate  33 . Housing  31  has a generally elongated rectangular configuration with a lower edge  35  formed with a plurality of arcuate slots  37  for receiving the closed loop ends  27  of mesh bag  5 . A generally rectangular-shaped recess  39  is formed in an upper portion of housing  31  adjacent top edge  83  for receiving a spring locking strip indicated generally at  43 . Spring strip  43  includes a central hole  45  for receiving a positioning pin  47  therethrough for positioning the spring strip within recess  39 . Spring strip  43  includes a pair of locking tines  49  which are biased to extend outwardly from the strip as shown in  FIG. 7A . Each of the locking tines has an elongated configuration with a distal end  51  and opposed elongated edges  53 . Elongated edges  53  preferably are two to three times greater than the width of distal end  51  to provide increased locking strength as discussed below. 
     Housing cover plate  33  includes a rectangular-shaped rib  55  which abuts against spring strip  43  as shown in  FIG. 9A , to maintain the spring strip within recess  39  of housing  31 . A plurality of positioning pins  56  preferably are formed on housing cover plate  33  and extend into positioning holes  58  formed in peripheral edge  35  of housing  31  to properly align and position cover plate  33  on housing  31  prior to permanently connecting the two members together by ultrasonic welding, an adhesive or other types of securing means. Joined members  31  and  33  trap locking strip  43  permanently within recess  39  which communicates with an interior locking chamber  54  formed in locking member  23 . 
     Second locking member  25  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8  and includes a main housing  57  and a cover plate  59  which is permanently secured to housing  57  by ultrasonic welding, an adhesive or other securement means as shown in  FIG. 6  forming a hollow interior  60 . Aligned arcuate slots  61  and  63  are formed in housing  57  and cover plate  59 , respectively, for trapping the closed loop ends  29  of mesh bag  5 , as shown particularly in  FIG. 6 . A pair of alignment tabs  65  are formed on housing  57  and are slidably received in slots  67  formed in housing  31  to assist in locking member  25  to member  23  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     Preferably, an EAS tag  69  or other type of alarm activation device is permanently secured within chamber  60  as shown in  FIG. 6  for activating an exit alarm gate at a retail establishment should a thief attempt to take the entire security bag  1  in an unauthorized manner through the exit gate. As discussed above, a plurality of closed loop ends  29  extending approximately across one-half the periphery of open bag end  13  are secured within arcuate slots  61  and  63  for permanently attaching second locking member  25  to mesh bag  5 . 
     The manner of use of locking device  21  is best shown in  FIGS. 9-15 . After an item of merchandise  17  has been placed in storage chamber  19  through top end opening  13 , locking member  25  is moved in the direction of arrow A,  FIG. 9 , into the interior chamber  54  of locking member  23 . Ramped surfaces  71  ( FIG. 10 ) formed on a locking projection  73  provided on the top edge of housing  57  engage extended locking tines  49  and depresses them inwardly as shown by arrow B,  FIG. 10 , until locking member  25  is completely inserted into chamber  54  of locking member  23  as shown in  FIG. 11 . In this position locking tines  49  will move outwardly into the locking position as shown in  FIG. 11  where they engage an undercut surface  74  of locking projection  73  to prevent locking member  25  from moving in an unlocking direction, opposite to the locking direction as shown by arrow C in  FIG. 10 . Since tines  49  are spring biased in an outward direction, they automatically lock members  23  and  25  together when member  25  is slidably inserted into lock chamber  54  of member  23  eliminating additional time and effort to secure the merchandise in a secure locked condition. 
     In accordance with another of the features of the invention, elongated edges  53  of locking tines  49  engage locking projection surfaces  74  to prevent movement of locking member  25  out of locking engagement with locking member  23  providing a relatively large area to resist any forceful separation of housing members  23  and  25 . Heretofore, when similar locking tines have been used in a locking device, only the distal ends  51  are engaged by locking projections. This could result in the tines being buckled and snapped out of place if a sufficiently large force is exerted on the locking members. Again, edges  53  are at least twice, and preferably three times the width of distal end  51 . 
     To unlock locking device  21 , a magnetic key  75  preferably containing a pair of magnets  77  ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ), is placed in close proximity to locking strip  43  and magnetically attract tines  49  to move them from the locked position of  FIG. 12  to the unlocked position of  FIG. 14 . This enables inner housing  25  to be moved in the direction of arrow D ( FIG. 15 ) to the unlocked position permitting locking members  23  and  25  to be separated as shown in  FIG. 9 . Bag opening  13  can be spread apart for removal of the stored merchandise. Key  75  preferably has one of more positioning tabs  79  for placement in notches  81  which are formed in the top peripheral edge  83  of housing  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . This insures that key magnets  77  are properly aligned with tines  49  in order to retract the tines to the unlocked position. 
     The unique merchandise security display bag of the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive device in which the mesh bag preferably is formed of metal wire or other types of material which is not readily cut or pulled apart by a potential thief. The bag enables a merchant to store various shapes of objects in a secure protected manner and enables a prospective purchaser to readily see the items stored therein. The merchandise is secured in a locked position by locking device  21  which is comprised of two plastic components, except for internal spring strip  43 . This enables the locking device to be mass produced relatively inexpensively, with each of the components being comprised of two members which when secured together by an ultrasonic weld, an adhesive, etc. will trap the closed loop ends of approximately one-half of the bag end opening periphery in each of the locking members. This enables the locking members to be retained permanently on the bag and provides a convenient manner for enlarging the open top end  13  of the bag for placement and removal of the items of merchandise into and from storage chamber  19 . 
     The lock device  21  is easily snapped into a locked position by slidably inserting locking member  25  into lock chamber  54  of locking member  23 . Device  21  is easily opened by use of magnetic key  75 . Mesh bag  5  can be formed in various sizes of mesh and can safely store various items of merchandise. For example, a number of blister or bubble packs can be contained within bag  5  and supported on rods  3  by mounting holes formed in the inner packages and then removed by store personnel when needed for individual placement on the support rods. The mesh bag can be produced very inexpensively as well as plastic locking members  23  and  25 . 
     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.