Patent Abstract:
A security box for holding items of recorded media includes a base and a lid hinged together between open and closed positions. At the end of the base opposite the hinged connection with the lid, a lock slide is positioned and movable between locked and unlocked positions. The lid includes a tooth that passes through an opening in the base as the lid is pivoted between the open and closed positions. The lock slide includes a tooth that moves between the tooth of the lid and the opening of the base when the lock slide is in the locked position.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/201,389 filed May 3, 2000; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to security devices and, more particularly, to a six-sided box having a hinged lid for storing DVD and CD jewel boxes. Specifically, the invention relates to a security storage container having a lock slide that is used to securely lock jewel boxes inside the security box. The overall dimensions of the security box are only slightly larger than the overall dimensions of the jewel box in order to save valuable shelf space.  
           [0004]    2. Background Information  
           [0005]    Lightweight inexpensively molded plastic containers have been used in recent times to display items of recorded media for sale. Retail sales establishments desire containers to be lockable to prevent unauthorized removal of the items of recorded media from the containers. The containers themselves, or the items of recorded media, preferably hold an EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) tag that will sound an alarm if a thief removes the EAS tag from the retail establishment. The lock on the container prevents the thief from removing the EAS tag or from removing the item of recorded media from the security box.  
           [0006]    Many different security boxes are known in the art and various types of locking mechanisms are used to maintain the security devices in the locked position. Although existing security storage containers function for their intended purposes, there remains room in the art for an improved design. The art generally desires the overall dimensions of the security storage container to be only slightly larger than the item of recorded media so that the retail establishment does not have to add an excessive amount of shelf space to use the security boxes. Retail establishments also desire security boxes that are easy to unload so that the retail clerk does not have to spend excessive time unlocking and unloading the security storage container. Another problem in the art is that security storage containers are typically loaded with automated machinery. The design of the security storage container must allow items of recorded media to be automatically loaded into the security storage container by automated equipment. The design of the security storage container must also allow the device to be closed and locked after it is loaded.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention provides a security box for holding items of recorded media wherein the security box includes a base and a lid having first and second ends. The lid and base are connected by hinges at one end with a lock slide being carried by the base at the other end. The lock slide engages the lid when the lid is in the closed position and the lock slide is in the locked position to prevent the lid from moving to the open position.  
           [0008]    The invention also provides a locking arrangement wherein at least one tooth on the lid passes through an opening in the base that is then blocked by the lock slide when the lock slide is moved to the locked position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention, 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.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the security storage container of the present invention in an open position;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the security storage container of the present invention with the lid being closed;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the security storage container of the present invention with the lid closed and the lock slide being in the closed position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lock slide of the security storage container;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the lock slide of the security storage container;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a top sectional view taken through the lock slide showing the lid and the lock slide in unlocked positions;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the lid in a closed position and the lock slide in an unlocked position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the lid in the closed position and the lock slide in the locked position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the security storage container showing the lock slide in an unlocked position and the locking tab in an unlocked position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing the lock slide and locking tab in unlocked positions;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG. 10;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the lock slide and locking tab in a locked position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the lock slide and locking tab in a locked position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG. 13;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the security storage container aligned with a key;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the security storage container engaged with the key and the magnet of the key moving the locking tab to the unlocked position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the key moving the lock slide to the unlocked position; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing an alternative lock arrangement with dual locking members.  
         [0028]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    The security storage container of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in the accompanying drawings. Security storage container  10  generally includes a base  12  and a lid  14  that is connected to base  12  by a pair of hinges  16 . Lid  14  moves between open and closed positions. A storage compartment is defined between lid  14  and base  12  when lid  14  is in the closed position. A lock slide  18  is carried by base  12  and moveable between locked and unlocked positions. Lock slide  18  is configured to lock lid  14  in the closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the storage compartment.  
         [0030]    The operation of security storage container  10  may be generally viewed in FIGS.  1 - 3 . In FIG. 1, lid  14  is entirely open to a position where it may be loaded with an item of recorded media such as a CD or DVD jewel box. In FIG. 2, lid  14  is being moved toward the closed position as indicated by arrows  20 . In this position, lock slide  18  is moved to the unlocked position. In FIG. 3, lid  14  is in the closed position and lock slide  18  has been moved to the locked position as indicated by arrow  22 . In this position, a key  24  (FIGS.  15 - 17 ) is required to open security storage container  10  to remove its contents. The use and function of key  24  will be described below in detail.  
         [0031]    Base  12  generally includes a top wall  30 , a pair of sidewalls  32  extending generally perpendicular from top wall  30 , and a back wall  34 . Back wall  34  is generally planar and extends between sidewalls  32  and top wall  30 . In other embodiments of the invention, back wall  34  may include openings that allow the manufacturer to reduce the amount of material used to form security storage container  10 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each wall  30 ,  32 , and  34  may be fabricated from a transparent material to allow the consumer to view the contents of security storage container  10 . In another preferred embodiment, top wall  30  may be fabricated from an opaque material that prevents a shoplifter from viewing the lock mechanism of security storage container  10 .  
         [0032]    Lid  14  generally includes a bottom wall  36 , a pair of sidewalls  38  extending generally perpendicular from bottom wall  36 , and a front wall  40  extending between bottom wall  36  and side walls  38 . As with base  12 , walls  36 ,  38 , and  40  of lid  14  are preferably fabricated from a transparent material to allow the consumer to view the contents of security storage container  10 . Front wall  40  is preferably a solid wall but may also include openings to reduce the overall amount of material used to form security storage container  10 .  
         [0033]    Each side wall  38  is inset from the outer edge of front wall  40  and bottom wall  36  to form a ledge  42  having a width substantially equal to the thickness of side wall  32  of base  12 . Ledge  42  receives side wall  32  when lid  14  is in the closed position as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Walls  38  are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length or width dimension of a standard item of recorded media such as a CD or DVD jewel box such that the overall width of security storage container  10  is only larger than the width or length of the item of recorded media by the thickness of both side walls  38  and both side walls  32 .  
         [0034]    Each side wall  32  includes a finger access depression  44  that allows the user of security storage container  10  to easily grasp ledge  42  when lid  14  is in the closed position. Finger access depressions  44  thus allow the retail clerk to easily open lid  14  once security storage container  10  is unlocked.  
         [0035]    Each hinge  16  includes a hinge pin extending between a pair of protuberances  46  that extend from back wall  34  and bottom wall  36 . In order to reduce shipping space and to allow security storage container  10  to nest together, the bottom of front wall  40  and the front edge of bottom wall  36  are provided with indentions  48  sized to receive protrusions  46  when two security storage containers  10  are stacked together.  
         [0036]    Lid  14  additionally includes a plurality of first teeth  50 . Teeth  50  preferably extend substantially parallel to front wall  40  and are disposed substantially evenly between side walls  38 . Teeth  50  are preferably offset from the front surface of front wall  40  as shown in FIG. 6. The offset may be achieved by providing an offset wall  52  connected to front wall  40  and side walls  38 .  
         [0037]    Base  12  includes a plurality of second teeth  54  extending downwardly from the front edge of top wall  30 . Each second tooth  54  is slightly wider than each first tooth  50  as depicted in FIG. 6. Teeth  54  are staggered with respect to teeth  50  allowing first teeth  50  to pass through the openings  56  between second teeth  54 . First teeth  50  do not engage the edges of second teeth  54  because opening  56  are wider than the width of each first tooth  50 .  
         [0038]    Slide  18  includes a main wall  60 , a back slide wall  62 , and a plurality of slide teeth  64  spaced from back slide wall  62 . Slide teeth  64  and back slide wall  62  each extending the same direction from main wall  60  and are substantially parallel. Slide teeth  64  are preferably disposed at the same spacing as second teeth  54  and are preferably the same width as second teeth  54 . As such, opening  56  is formed when slide  18  is in the unlocked position. When slide  18  is moved to the locked position as depicted in FIG. 8, each opening  56  is closed by slide teeth  64 . As shown in FIG. 8, teeth  50  are offset far enough to allow slide teeth  64  to slide between teeth  50  and teeth  54  so as to lock teeth  50  in position by preventing teeth  50  from moving back through openings  56 . Main wall  60  includes a key opening  66  that is aligned with a second key opening  68  formed in top wall  30  of base  12 . Second key opening  68  is elongated such that key opening  66  may be accessed through second key opening  68  when slide  18  is in both the locked and unlocked positions.  
         [0039]    Slide  18  further includes a locking channel  70  that receives a locking member  72  when slide  18  is in the locked position as depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14. Locking member  72  is preferably fabricated from a material that may be moved in a magnetic field. Locking member  72  is preferably resiliently biased toward locking channel  70  so that locking member  72  automatically moves into locking channel  70  when slide  18  is moved to the locked position. Locking member  72  may be attached to top wall  30  by any of a variety of appropriate connectors.  
         [0040]    Slide  18  is carried by base  12  on at least a pair of supports  80 . Supports  80  are preferably disposed on back wall  34 . Supports  80  allow slide  18  to move back and forth between the locked and unlocked position. In the locked position, the inner end  82  of slide  18  preferably engages sidewall  32  as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. In the unlocked position, the outer end  84  of slide  18  engages sidewall  32  as shown in FIG. 17. In the unlocked position of slide  18 , a portion of main wall  60  protrudes through sidewall  32  so that slide  18  may be easily moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. The protruding portion of main wall  60  allows slide  18  to be locked by automated equipment after an item of recorded media has been loaded into the storage compartment of security storage container  10 .  
         [0041]    In operation, an item of recorded media such as a DVD or CD jewel box is loaded into the storage compartment of container  10  by placing the item of recorded media in either base  12  or lid  14  and then closing lid  14  as depicted in FIG. 2. Once lid  14  is closed, slide  18  is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position as depicted in FIG. 3. In this position, teeth  64  close openings  56  to trap teeth  50  in a locked position. Security storage container  10  is now locked with the item of recorded media securely held inside security storage container  10  where a shoplifter cannot remove an EAS tag from the item of recorded media while allowing the consumer to view substantially the entire surface area of the item of recorded media. The loading and locking process may be easily achieved by automated equipment because of the relatively simple movements required to load, close, and lock security storage container  10 .  
         [0042]    When a store clerk is selling the item of recorded media to the consumer, the store clerk must open security storage container  10  and remove the item of recorded media. The store clerk is provided with a key  24  having a magnet  90  and an unlocking pin  92 . Magnet  90  and unlocking pin  92  are spaced apart so that they align with openings  66 ,  68 , and locking member  72  when security storage container  10  is brought into contact with key  24 . The store clerk places key  24  onto security storage container  10  as depicted in FIG. 16 such that locking pin  92  engages key opening  66  and magnet  90  pulls locking member  72  toward key  24  to an unlocked position. Key  24  is then moved in the direction indicated by arrow  94  in FIG. 17 to move slide  18  to the unlocked position. Lid  14  may then be opened and the item of recorded media removed and sold to the consumer. In other embodiments of the invention, key  24  may be mounted to a counter top and security storage container  10  moved with respect to key  24 .  
         [0043]    As shown in FIG. 18, another embodiment of storage container  10  may include a pair of locking members  72  that cooperate together to provide a secure locking arrangement to container  10 . In this embodiment, key  24  includes two magnets  90  with one magnet being aligned with each locking member  72 .  
         [0044]    The present invention thus provides an improved security storage box for use with items of recorded media. Of course, the security box may be used with other items of merchandise. The security box of the invention provides a container that has overall container that are only slightly larger than the overall dimensions of the item of recorded media being held in the box. The locking mechanism of the security box may be locked and unlocked with automated equipment because the motions required to close and lock the box are relatively simple. The box allows the front, rear, bottom, and sides of the item of recorded media to be viewed by the consumer when the walls are fabricated from a transparent material. The device is easy to unlock by retail store clerk and frustrate shoplifters by hiding the lock slide within the box and providing no areas that may be easily attacked with a pry bar.  
         [0045]    Accordingly, the improved security box for recorded media apparatus is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.  
         [0046]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but 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.  
         [0047]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.  
         [0048]    Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the security box for recorded media is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8