Patent ID: 6896133

Claim:
A storage case for a CD or DVD, the CD or DVD defining a pre-existing aperture, the storage case comprising: a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being sized and shaped to cover at least an entire surface of the CD or DVD, and the housing being arranged to substantially enclose the CD or DVD when the first housing portion is placed in a closed position with respect to the second housing portion; a locking assembly for locking the first housing portion in association with the second housing portion, the locking assembly including: a female locking member connected to the first housing portion such that the female locking member is substantially in registry with the pre-existing aperture of the CD or DVD when the CD or DVD is placed within the housing; and a male locking member adapted to be placed through an aperture in the second housing portion and thereafter into releasable locking engagement with the female locking member to retain the first housing portion in the closed position with respect to the second housing portion, thereby retaining the CD or DVD securely within the housing, wherein the female locking member includes a clutch lock comprised of a clutch body, a clutch cup disposed in at least partial surrounding relationship about the clutch body, and a means for biasing the clutch body toward the clutch cup; at least one clutch element movable between a first position and a second position; the male locking member including a generally slender rod adapted to be positioned through the clutch cup and into an interior channel defined by the clutch body, the rod defining a notch in registry with the at least one clutch element; the clutch body being movable between a raised position in which the means for biasing forces the at least one clutch element into engagement with the clutch cup, and a lowered position brought about by an external force moving the clutch body away from the clutch cup such that the at least one clutch element is caused to disengage the notch in the rod, thereby permitting the rod to be removed from the clutch body.