Secure watchbox

Abstract

A watch box includes a watch collar which supports a wristwatch for purposes of display and a plug member which fits into the watch collar. A locking member has a first end lodged in a sidewall of the watch box, an intermediate portion which passes through an aperture formed in the plug member and a second end which projects into a locking receptacle which is mounted in an opposite sidewall. The locking receptacle prevents removal of the locking member once it has been installed. When it is desired to remove the wristwatch, a knife blade is inserted into a slot formed on a bottom panel of the watch box and the locking member is cut.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of watch boxes for the display of wristwatches and more particularly, to a secure watch box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The display and sale of wristwatches usually involves the storage of the wristwatches in individual display boxes. The wristwatches are typically mounted on collars and a wristwatch and collar are typically mounted in a receptacle formed in a display box. One of the problems associate with prior art display boxes is that a wristwatch can be easily removed from a display box and stolen. The empty display box is often replaced by a thief and the loss may often go unnoticed until a complete inventory is performed.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a secure watch box which incorporates a locking mechanism.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which incorporates a locking mechanism which is not visually obstructive

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which incorporates a security mechanism which is difficult to notice during normal use.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which can be easily unlocked to release the watch.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which effectively prevents unauthorized removal of a watch from the watch box.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which can be used without the need for special tools.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a secure watch box which includes a relatively small number of components which can be manufactured economically in volume resulting in a relatively low overall cost.

[0010] Additional objects and a fuller understanding of the present invention will be made clearer hereinafter.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a secure watch box which includes a watch collar which supports a wristwatch for purposes of displaying the wristwatch. The collar fits into an aperture which is formed in the platform of an insert which is disposed in a display box. A plug member which has an aperture fits into the collar The aperture in the plug member is in general alignment with a pair of aperture formed on opposite walls of the display box A locking strip which has an enlarged head at one end passes through the first aperture with the head lodged in a receptacle formed in the wall of the display box. The locking strip passes through the aperture in the plug member and the end of the locking strip projects into a locking receptacle formed in the opposite wall of the display box. The locking receptacle includes locking projections which engage a series of ridges formed in the locking strip and which prevent withdrawal of the locking strip from the locking receptacle after engagement. The locking strip prevents the removal of the plug member, the watch collar, and the wristwatch from the display box.

[0012] When it is desired to remove the wristwatch from the display box, a knife blade is inserted into an aperture formed in the bottom of the watch box and the locking strip is cut thereby releasing the plug member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a secure watch box made according to the present invention with the secure watch box shown with a wristwatch installed and with a locking member in place;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the collar and the plug member with the locking member in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference to the drawings, in which like reference numbers designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a secure watch box generally designated by reference number 10, made in accordance with the present invention

[0019] The secure watch box 10 includes a display box 12 which has a pair of side walls 14, 16, a back wall 18, a front wall 20, a bottom panel 22, and a cover 24 which is attached to the back wall by a hinge 26

[0020] As is best shown in FIG. 1, during use, a wristwatch 28 is mounted on a watch collar 30 which fits into9 the wristband 32 of the wristwatch 28. The watch collar 30 projects into an aperture 34 which is formed in the platform portion 36 of an insert 38 which is mounted in the display box 12. The insert 38 includes a plurality of flaps 40, 42 which fit the inside of the display box 12 in a snug manner to maintain the position of the insert 38. The flaps 40, 42 may be attached to the display box 12 by adhesive layers 44, 46.

[0021] A plug member 48 which has an aperture 50 fits into the watch collar 30 The aperture 50 in the plug member 48 is in general alignment with a pair of apertures 52, 54 formed on the side walls 14, 16 of the display box 12 The aperture 52 in the first side wall 14 of the display box 12 has a receptacle 56 which includes a relatively wider portion 58 and a relatively narrower portion 60.

[0022] The secure watch box 10 includes a locking strip 62 is an elongated member which includes a first end 64, a second end 66, an intermediate portion 68, and an enlarged head portion 70 which is formed at the first end 64. The head portion 70 is proportioned to closely fit the wider portion 58 of the receptacle 56 The intermediate portion 68 of the locking strip 62 projects through the narrower portion 60 of the receptacle 56 and the head portion 70 prevents motion of the locking strip 62 in the direction shown by the arrow 72 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0023] As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, only the outer surface 74 of the head portion 70 is in general alignment within the surface 76 of the receptacle 56 and only the outer surface 74 of the head portion 75 is visible when the locking strip 62 is installed. The close fit between the head portion 70 and the receptacle 56 makes the presence of the head portion 70 and the locking strip 62 hardly noticeable to a casual observer even when the display box 12 is held by a customer and examined

[0024] The intermediate portion 68 of the locking strip 62 projects through the aperture 50 in the plug member 48. The second end 66 of the locking strip 62 projects into a locking receptacle 76 which is formed on the side wall 16. The locking strip 62 includes a series of integrally formed ridges or teeth 78.

[0025] As is best shown in FIG. 2, the locking receptacle 76 includes at least one flexible locking projection 80. The locking projection 80 is integrally formed in the locking receptacle 76 and the locking projection 80 rides over and then engages the ridges 78 when the locking strip 62 is inserted in the locking receptacle 62 in the direction shown by the arrow 82 in FIG. 2. The locking projection 80 prevents the removal of the locking strip 62 after it has been installed. The locking strip 62 thus prevents the removal of the plug member 48, the watch collar 30 and the wristwatch 28 from the display box 12.

[0026] The locking strip 62 is a relatively thin member which is preferably made of a flexible plastic material. The flexible nature of the locking strip 62 allows the locking strip 62 to accommodate misalignment between the receptacle 56, the aperture 50 in the plug member 48 and the locking receptacle 76

[0027] When it is desired to remove the wristwatch 28 from the display box 12, a knife blade 84, which has been shown in broken lines, is inserted into a slot 86 which is formed in the bottom panel 22 of the display box 12, and the locking strip 62 is cut. After being cut, the locking strip 62 is removed and the plug member 48, the watch collar 30, and the wristwatch 28 are removed

[0028] When it is desired to reuse the display box 12, the wristwatch 28, watch collar 30 and plug member 48 are reinstalled into the display box 12, a fresh, uncut locking strip 62 is installed. The overall length of the locking strip 62 closely matches the distance between the outer surfaces 88, 90 of the receptacle 56 and the locking receptacle 76.

[0029] The locking strip 62 nearly files the receptacle 56 and the locking receptacle 76 and is thus hardly visible.

[0030] The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from the main theme thereof.

Claims

1. A security watch box comprising:

a box having an opening on a first wall of said box;

a watch collar disposed in said box with said watch collar having an aperture locking means disposed on a second wall of said box and disposed in general alignment with said opening in said first wall of said box, and

an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, with said first end lodged in said opening in said first wall of said box, with said intermediate portion projecting through said aperture in said watch collar and with said second and locked in said locking means

2. The security watch box as claimed in claim 1 in which said elongated member further comprises and enlarged head portion

3. The security watch box as claimed in claim 1 in which said head portion is lodged in said opening on said first wall of said box.

4. The security watch box as claimed in claim 1 in which said box further comprises a bottom portion having an aperture

5. The security watch box as claimed in claim 4 in which said aperture in said bottom portion is in general alignment with said intermediate portion of said elongated member.

6. The security watch box as claimed in claim 1 in which said locking means comprises irreversible locking means

7. The security watch box as claimed in claim 1 in which said second end of said elongated member further comprises:

a plurality of ridge portions in which said locking means comprises

a flexible portion engaging one of said ridge portions.