Standardized disc container with added security feature
A compact disc (CD) and digital versatile disc (DVD) anti-theft media case that is lockable, useful for both sales and rental of the media, having a first and second portion, one of the portions containing a detent designed to interfit with a second detent situated on the other of the two portions. The two detents interfit with one another to form a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be remotely moved by the use of a magnetic or electrical remote tool. The locking mechanism when locked in addition to preventing the case from being opened also prevents the disc from being removed from the case. The case can be locked and unlocked remotely without having to distort the outward appearance of the case and is therefore useful in unlocking shrink wrapped cases used in sales, but can also be used for rental media.
The present invention relates generally to containers or cases used for the secure storage of disc media and more particularly to such cases that incorporate anti-theft devices to prevent the unwanted removal or theft of the media contained within the case. Specifically, the container embodying the present invention includes a non intrusive and remotely operated locking mechanism that prevents the unauthorized opening of the case and which may also secure the media in the case and prevents the motion of the media in the case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPre-recorded media are sold in the form of discs which may typically contain for example music, videos or games and are commonly sold as Compact Discs (CDs) or Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs). Due to the desirability of these products and the ever increasing content that can be placed on CDs or DVDs and the relatively small size of the discs themselves, they have become a target for theft in stores that either rent or sell these discs.
The discs are usually rented in various cases. These cases usually have a centralized hub or carrier onto which the disc may be removably secured. In order to combat theft, numerous techniques are currently being used. For example, some stores require the customer to bring the empty case to the clerk who controls the distribution of rental products. Empty cases are thus placed on shelves. When a particular disc such as a movie is wanted, the customer brings the empty case up to the cashier who upon payment of the appropriate amount retrieves the disc from a storage drawer and places it in the case and turns the now disc containing case over to the customer. Since the customer does not have direct access to the disc until after he or she has paid the required amount, this method may prevent theft. However the method also requires that the rental agency have a storage location that is sufficiently large to inventory all the CDs and DVDs that are being offered. In addition, this method is of no use for stores that wish to sell as opposed to rent new CDs or DVDs since it would be difficult to remove all the new CDs and DVDs from their cases prior to their sale. Customers also do not wish to have the shrink-wrap packaging removed from their new CDs and DVDs. This might lead to improper piracy of the products.
Another method commonly employed for controlling theft for rentals is the use of a locking case in which the disc media is placed within the case and then placed on the display shelf. The lock prevents the opening of the case. The lock can be removed using a variety of specialized tools. Normally the containers may also contain electronic tracking devices that set off an alarm at the exit of the rental store if the tracking device is neither removed from the case nor deactivated. This type of method can be circumvented by an indirect means by removing the disc from the case prior to exiting the rental store. As discs are fairly thin and cases are typically made of slightly flexible plastic, thieves have found that even though the case can not be opened, it is still possible to remove the disc by cutting the hinged edge of the container and dislodging the disc from the central hub prior to deforming the case in such a manor that the disc can be removed. The case can then be placed back on the shelf and the disc placed in the thief's pocket. The case may be a very specialized locking case designed to be used only for rentals, which includes a supplementary locking element used in conjunction with the case.
Another locking device used primarily for sales of media is the use of an additional locking container that surrounds the normal media containing case. In this scenario, media for sale is protected from theft by the use of a locking jacket that is ultimately removed. In such a manner for media sales, the shrink wrap of the new disc is left undisturbed. The use of this technique can be expensive and requires extra storage space as the store requires a place to keep an inventory of the locking containers/jackets. The particular locking devices used to control pilfering of media to be sold are external and usually magnetically actuated and removed.
There exist therefore two separate case formats of containers used to control the rental and sales of discs. One is used for rental products and is designed to remove the disc and have it separated from the original marketing container. The distribution and security is thus effected by the sales clerk. The other container is specifically designed to control the sales of disc media. This container carries the original case from the distributor of the product and includes a locking device which is removed by the sales clerk. Therefore a need exists in the market place to standardize the container and method of rental and of sales of disc media and to utilize the original disc jacket container to do so. There is also a need in the art for an effective anti-theft device that can be used for both rental and sale of disc media that obviates the need for supplementary containers to control the unwanted pilfering of the disc media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a standardized container for disc media which may be used to secure both rental and sales products. It is a further object of the invention to provide a disc media container which includes a simple remotely operable locking device used to secure the disc in place even if the hinge is slit. It is a further object of the invention to obviate the need for costly supplementary containers to prevent the pilferage of the containers contents. Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the present summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments fully illustrated herein.
In another aspect of the present invention, it is provided of a disc media container comprising a remotely actuated locking device movable between a first locked and a second released position wherein at the first position, the media is secured and at the second position, the media may be removed from the container. The container is inexpensive enough to be used for all types of media. The lock can be remotely actuated without disturbing the shrink-wrap for new media sales but also provides sufficient protection to be used for rentals.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism prevents the opening of the media case.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism removably secures the media to a hub or carrier portion of the case to prevent the theft of the media.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism can be actuated between a locked and an unlocked position by electrical or magnetic means without distorting the outward appearance of the case or requiring that the case be opened. This feature is effective for unlocking shrink-wrapper products for sale by the vendor.
The storage case includes a first portion and a second portion movable in relation to one another preferably pivotable with respect to one another. The two portions are adapted to abut or engage each other at a closed position in such a way to define a hollow cavity or space in which a storage disc media may be placed. Either or both of the two portions may further comprise a media holding device. The first portion may further comprise a first detent such as a male member designed to interengage with a second detent such as a female member provided with the second portion which when interengaged provide a locking mechanism such as a latching mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a movable device for locking the first detent with the second detent. The locking mechanism may be electrically or magnetically actuated and is located adjacent to the media holding device to: (1) lockably secure the disc to said holding device; and (2) additionally prevent the case from being opened while locked. The locking mechanism may be actuated between a locked and an unlocked position by a magnetic or electrical 25 device without distorting the outward appearance of the case or requiring that the case be opened. In this way, the case may be used for both rentals and sales as it is not necessary for the removal of the shrink wrap from a new disc case in order to unlock the locking mechanism and finalize the sale with the disc being accessible to the purchaser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The permanent magnets 10 allow the disengaging of the slidable member 7 from the housing 6. Once the detent 4 has cleared the notch 3, by a simple tipping motion of the jacket 2 as seen in
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For retail sales, the anti-theft case can be locked and unlocked without disturbing the shrink wrap, yet this same case with associated locking mechanism can be effectively used for rental sales.
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Changes may be made to the aforementioned embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. All material contained herein is to be considered illustrative of the invention but not in a limiting sense. These examples provided above are merely illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as being the only containers that are within the meaning of the invention. Other containers may be manufactured that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
Claims
1. A case for containing and securing a media disc comprising:
- (i) first and second members movable with respect to one another from a first position whereat the case is in a closed position and containing the media disc, to a second position whereat the disc is accessible;
- (ii) a first and second retaining part disposed within the first and second members respectively which interfit to contain and secure said disc;
- (iii) one of said first or second retaining parts including a moveable locking first detent, and the other one of said first and second retaining parts including a second detent to engage said moveable locking first detent; and
- (iv) said moveable locking first detent being operable to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device and the case is in a closed position, wherein said case may be utilized to prevent the unauthorized removal of the media disc from the case for both sales and rentals of the media.
2. The case of claim 1 wherein the remote release device is magnetic or electrical.
3. The case of claim 1 wherein the first and second members are hingably connected.
4. The case of claim 1 wherein the movable locking first detent is a slidable pin and the second detent is an aperture.
5. The case of claim 1 wherein the movable locking first detent is a rotatable pin and the second detent is a groove.
6. The case of claim 1 wherein the movable locking first detent is a lever and the second detent is a slot.
7. The case of claim 1 wherein the movable locking first detent and the second detent act collectively to form a latching mechanism.
8. The case of claim 1 wherein the media disc is a DVD or CD.
9. A case of claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining parts are first and second hubs respectively, one of said first and second hubs comprising a radial first groove connected to a second groove substantially normal to said first groove, the other of said first or second hubs comprising a freely rotatable pin compatible with said first and second grooves, the pin being movable when the case is in a closed position to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device, said locked position being a result of said rotatable pin being located in said second groove.
10. A case of claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining parts are a cylindrical disc compatible hub and a housing respectively, one of one of said hub or housing comprising a lever, the other of said hub or housing comprising a slot, said lever being movable when the case is in a closed position to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device, said locked position being a result of said lever engaging said slot.
11. A case of claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining parts are first and second circular rims respectively, each of said rims adapted to interfit to each other when the case is closed so as to define a cavity to contain and secure said disc, one of said circular rims comprising a housing containing a slidable pin, the other of said rims comprising an aperture, said pin being compatible with said aperture, said pin being slidably movable when the case is in a closed position to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device, said locked position being a result of said pin engaging said aperture.
12. A case for containing and securing a media disc comprising:
- (i) first and second members movable with respect to one another from a first position whereat the case is in a closed position and containing the media disc, to a second position whereat the disc is accessible;
- (ii) a cylindrical and disc compatible hub disposed within the first or second member and a housing disposed within the other of said first or second members which interfit to contain and secure said disc; and
- (iii) one of said hub or housing comprising a pin compatible with an aperture located in the other of said hub or housing, said pin being movable when the case is in a closed position to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device, said locked position being a result of said pin being inserted into said aperture,
- wherein said case may be utilized to prevent the unauthorized removal of the media disc from the case for both sales and rentals of the media.
13. The case of claim 12 wherein the case has an additional disc holder.
14. The case of claim 12 wherein the first and second members are pivotably connected by the use of a flexible hinge.
15. The case of claim 12 wherein the flexible hinge comprises an additional disc holder.
16. The case of claim 12 wherein the remote release device is electrical or magnetic.
17. The case of claim 12 wherein the media disc is a DVD or CD.
18. A case for containing and securing a media disc comprising:
- (i) first and second members movable with respect to one another from a first position whereat the case is in a closed position and containing the media disc, to a second position whereat the disc is accessible, one said first and second members comprise tongue portions, the other of said first and second members comprising groove portions, the tongue and groove portions adapted to slidably interfit to allow the case to be opened and closed;
- (ii) one of said first and second portions also comprising a hub portion, the other of said first and second portion comprising a U-shaped rim, the hub portion and U-shaped rim interfitting to contain and secure the disc; and
- (iii) the hub portion comprising a housing for a slidable pin, the U-shaped rim comprising apertures compatible with said slidable pin, said pin being slidably movable when the case is in a closed position to and from a locked position when placed adjacent to a remote release device, said locked position being a result of said pin engaging said aperture,
- wherein said case may be utilized to prevent the unauthorized removal of the media disc from the case for both sales and rentals of the media.
19. The case of claim 18 wherein the remote release device is magnetic or electrical.
20. The case of claim 18 wherein the media disc is a DVD or CD.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2005
Inventor: Barry Fillier (Pickering)
Application Number: 10/793,749