EP0402822A2

EP0402822A2 - Anti-theft case, particularly for compact disc cassettes, video cassettes, and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0402822A2
Application number: EP90110980A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pietro Necchi
Original assignee: NECCHI Srl
Current assignee: NECCHI S.R.L.
Priority date: 1989-06-14
Filing date: 1990-06-11
Publication date: 1990-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-11
Also published as: DE69014722T3; HK123697A; DE69014722T2; DE69014722D1; EP0402822B1; DK0402822T3; IT8901708A0; IT1235362B; EP0402822A3; ATE115325T1; ES2066910T3; EP0402822B2; DK0402822T4; ES2066910T5

Abstract

An anti-theft case, particularly for compact discs, music cassettes, video cassettes, and the like, is provided with movable means (7, 7′) for locking a cassette (15) within such a case. According to the invention, the case comprises a box (1) having substantially a parallelpipedal shape, and being provided with an opening (2) for a cassette to be inserted therethrough into its box, which is formed in at least one of the box sides, in such a manner as to leave at least two wall portions (3, 4) which extend from two opposite end-side walls (5, 6) of box (1), and which are longer than the extent of cassette (15) in the direction in which a cassette is inserted into its box. A movable abutment member (7, 7′) is provided in the region of one of the two end-side wall portions (3, 4) of the box sides, and is caused to cooperate with one end-side edge of cassette (15), the said movable abutment member (7, 7′) being pushed by spring means (10, 10′) into its abutting active position, or vice-versa. By a locking and unlocking device (11) the movable abutment member (7, 7′) is moved from the said abutting active position into a withdrwan inactive position. The cassette (15) is inserted into its case in an inclined condition, and with the movable abutment member (7, 7′) in its inactive position, the cassette is so shifted as to be engaged under the end-side wall portion (4) which is associated with the movable abutment member (7, 7′), by being passed thereover, whereupon the cassette (15) is moved backward so as to be engaged also under the opposite end-side wall portion (3), thus uncovering the movable abutment mem ber (7, 7′) which is moved into its active position, in which it is caused to cooperate with the associated end-side edge of cassette (15), whereby any such shiftement of cassette (15) is prevented, that may be apt to disengage the same for the two end-side wall portions (3, 4).

Description

The invention relates to an anti-theft case, particularly for compact disc cassettes, music cassettes, video cassettes, and the like, which is provided with movable means for locking a cassette within such a case, and with magnetic means that are apt to generate a signal when a case is passed through a detector.
The known cases of this type generally consist of a box made of a preferably transparent plastics material, into which a cassette, particularly a compact disc cassette, is inserted through one end-side wall of the box, which is formed with an opening therein, or which may be even not provided. The cassette-locking means are in form of a pin which is slidable in its axial direction, and is urged by a spring into the box interior. This pin is housed in a hollow space formed in an appendix of the box, and is made of a magnetic material. The pin free end protruding into the box, is so made that the same will be caused to engage a recess or notch formed in one of the cassette end-side edges, on the cassette being inserted into its box. The inserted cassette is thus locked within the box, and the same can be released therefrom only by pulling backward the locking pin, against the elastic load of a spring. Since the locking pin is not accessible either manually or mechanically from the exterior, such a releasing action is achieved by means of a sufficiently strong magnetic field. Magnetic or radio-frequency labels meant for cooperation with a detecting system for the anti-theft device, which is, for example, provided at the shop exit, or the like, are applied to the internal walls of the box, at locations that are not accessible from the outside, when a cassette is housed within its box.
The drawback of these known anti-theft devices resides in their poor reliability, owing to the fact that the recesses formed in one of the cassette end-side edges are of a limited depth, so that the locking pin free end is allowed to enter thereinto only by a short portion thereof. This facilitates any attempt of forcing the locking means open. Moreover, the notches or recesses formed in the cassettes end-side edges are located not always at the same points, or in a very precise manner as required for an effective locking action to be ensured. Generally, the notches or recesses in the cassettes end-side edges are not formed in the median plane thereof, which is parallel to the cassette sides, but are offset sideways from the said median plane. Therefore, on a cassette being inserted into its case, attention should be paid to properly turning the cassette relative to its case, otherwise the locking pin may be caused to cooperate with a zone of the cassette end-side edge that is not formed with a mating notch or recess. The structure of a box with one entirely open sidewall, does not appear to be sufficiently strong for resisting to any tampering or damaging, so that a shoplifter often succeeds in forcing the case open and in taking out the inserted cassette from its case with a relatively small effort.
The object of the present invention resides in the provision of an anti-theft case, particularly for compact disc cassettes, music cassettes, video cassettes, and the like, of the type as described at the outset, which notwithstanding its simple and inexpensive construction, is capable to afford a reliable locking of a cassette, or the like, within such a case, whereby the aforementioned inconveniences of the known cases are obviated, particularly by avoiding to use locking means or pins that are meant for cooperating with members or pieces of a particular construction, as provided at will in the cassettes by the cassette manufacturers.
Such an object is attained by the invention with the provision of an anti-theft case, particularly for compact disc cassettes, music cassettes, video cassettes, and the like, of the type as described at the outset, comprising: a box having substantially a parallelepipedal configuration, and being formed in at least one of its sides with an opening for insertion of a cassette into such a case, so as to have at least two wall portions left at two opposite end-side walls thereof, which are longer than the extent of a cassette in the direction in which a cassette, or the like, is inserted into its case; a movable abutment member that is caused to cooperate with one end-side edge of the inserted cassette, and is provided in the region of one of the said two end-side wall portions, the said abutment member being urged by spring means into its cassette-abutting active position, or vice-versa; and a locking and unlocking device for the movable abutment member to be moved from the said active position in which it is caused to abut against an inserted cassette, into its withdrawn inactive position; the whole arrangement being such that a cassette is inserted into its case in an inclined condition, and with the said movable abutment member being located in its inactive position, the cassette is brought into engagement with the underside of the one end-side wall portion that is associated with the movable abutment member, by being passed thereover. The cassette is then moved backward so as to cause the same to be engaged also under the other opposite end-side wall portion of the relative box side, and the movable abutment member that is thus uncovered, is moved into its active position in which it is caused to cooperate with the associated end-side edge of the inserted cassette, whereby any such displacement of this cassette is prevented, that may be apt to cause the cassette to be disengaged from either end-side wall portions of the relative box side, and to be then taken out from its box.
Advantageously, the box 1 is so made that a cassette when being fully inserted into its box, has its end-side edges engaged under the end-side wall portions of the relative box side, and at the same time is caused to substantially abut with one of its end-side edges against the movable abutment member, and with its opposite end-side edge against the box end-side wall lying opposite to the movable abutment member, a certain play being provided, that in any case is always such as to prevent one of the end-side edges of the inserted cassette from being disengaged from the respective end-side wall portion.
The case for compact disc cassettes, apart from its structure that is considerably stronger and is more hardly opened unduly or tampered with, owing to its closed sidewalls, is entirely independent from any particular possible variation in the construction of the cassettes. The position of the movable abutment member that is caused to cooperate only with one of the inserted cassette side edges, depends only on the typical dimensions of the cassettes. Such a feature characterizing the case according to the present invention, allows to adapt this case in a simple manner to any other type of cassettes, such as music cassettes, video cassettes, or the like. In this instance, only the typical dimensions of the cassettes should be taken into account
In a first embodiment of the invention, the movable abutment member is in form of an abutment pin which is meant for directly cooperating with one side edge of an inserted cassette, and which is axially slidably fitted in a hollow space formed in an appendix of the box, in the region of one of the two end-side wall portions of the relative box side, the said pin being urged by a spring into its active position, in which it is caused to protrude into the box interior.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the movable abutment member is in form of an abutment slider that is slidably guided in guides provided in the box, in the region of one of the two end-side wall portions of the relative box side, from an active position into which the slider is moved against the load of a spring, for example, by being hand-pushed, so as to have its abutting end portion shifted within the box, into a inactive position into which the slider is urged by the said spring, and in which the slider comes to be located outside of the box, with its abutting end portion being shifted toward the box exterior, means being provided for locking the abutment slider in its active position.
The said means for locking the abutment slider in its active position are preferably in form of a slider-locking pin which is axially slidably guided in a respective housing provided in an appendix of the box, transversally to the slider, from a slider-locking position, into which the slider-locking pin is urged by a spring, so as to be caused to protrude into the box interior, and to be engaged in a slider-restraining notch, when the slider is located in its active position, into a retractred slider-unlocking position in which the pin for locking the abutment slider is shifted to the box outside. The slider-locking pin can be operated by a locking and unlocking device.
The device for locking and unlocking the abutment pin and for locking and unlocking the abutment slider-locking pin may be of the magnetic type, both of the said pins being made of a ferromagnetic material, and the said device being so provided as to be apt to generate an attractive magnetic field. The said locking and unlocking device may be also of the mechanical type, the said pins being, in this latter case, operatively connected by means, for example, of a key-type device.
Also other features further improving the above-disclosed case form the object of the invention, and are the subject of the dependent Claims.
The particular features of the invention, and the advantages arising therefrom, will appear more in detail from the specification of some preferred embodiments thereof, which are shown by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the case according to the invention, that is particularly adapted for compact disc cassettes, in which an abutment pin is shown in its inactive position, on a cassette being inserted into such a case.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the case according to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of an enlarged detail of the case according to Figure 1, particularly showing the abutment pin.
Figure 4 is a view of the case according to Figure 1, in which a compact disc cassette is shown in an intermediate position of its insertion into such a case.
Figure 5 is a view of an enlarged detail of the case according to Figure 4, particularly showing the abutment pin.
Figure 6 is a similar view as in Figure 4, showing the compact disc cassette finally arranged in its fully inserted position into its case.
Figure 7 is a view of an enlarged detail of the case according to Figure 6, particularly showing the region in which the abutment pin is located.
Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views showing two modified embodiments of the case according to Figures 1 to 7.
Figure 10 is a plan view showing the top side of a case according to a further embodiment of the invention, particularly for music cassettes or video cassettes.
Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views through the case according to Figure 8, respectively showing a cassette in the position in which the same is being inserted into such a case, and in the position in which the cassette finally comes to be fully inserted thereinto.

The case shown in Figures 1, 4, and 6 consists of a substantially parallelepipedal box 1, of such a size that a compact disc cassette, or the like, which is designated by reference numeral 15, and is partly shown by dash lines, can be accomodated within such a box. The box 1 may be of any suitable material, and the same is particularly made of preferably transparent plastics material. The box 1 is formed in at least one of its sides with an opening 2 for insertion of a compact disc cassette, or the like, which is so sized that a cassette 15 can be inserted therethrough, and only two wall portions 3 and 4 are left on the relative box side, which extend from the respective one of the two opposite end- side walls 5 and 6 of box 1, transversely to the cassette-insertion direction into its box (arrow I in Figure 2). The box 1 has all of its sidewalls in closed condition. The said box may be advantageously formed with a similar further opening 2′ in its side which is opposite to the box side for insertion of a cassette 15. The said opening 2′ may be even of a smaller size than the cassette-insertion opening 2, and similarly to the box side formed with the cassette-insertion opening 2, the box side with the opening 2′ is provided with two wall portions 3, 4 which extend from the box end- side walls 5, 6. As it will more clearly appear from the following disclosure, this permits to more easily remove a cassette 15 from its box 1.
The extent of box 1 between its two opposite end- side walls 5, 6 which are associated with the end- side wall portions 3 and 4 of the box sides, is longer than the extent of a cassette 15. The longitudinal extent of box 1 and of cassette 15, as well as the size of the two end- side wall portions 3 and 4, are so selected that when a cassette is caus ed to abut by its one end-side edge against the end-side wall 5 of box 1 (Figure 6), the opposite end-side edge of cassette 15 is still engaged between the wall portions 4 of the associated end-side wall 6 of box 1. A cassette 15 is inserted into its box 1 through the cassette-insertion opening 2 (Figure 1), in an inclined condition relatively to the plane of the box top side, and according to the path that is diagrammatically indicated by arrow 1 in Figure 2. The cassette 15 is initially moved substantially into abutment with the end-side wall 6 of box 1, which lies in facing relation with the cassette, when considering the cassette-insertion direction (arrow I in Figure 2). Once the cassette has been located in such a position, the cassette can be fully inserted into its box 1, notwithstanding the wall portions 3 which extend from the opposite end-side wall 5 thereof (Figures 4 and 5). Thereupon, the cassette 15 is moved according to arrow D in Figure 6, in the opposite direction to the cassette-insertion direction (arrow I in Figure 2), and the respective end-side edge thereof comes to be engaged between the wall portions 3 extending from the end-side wall 5 of box 1. As shown in Figure 6, once the cassette 15 has been set in this position, the opposite end-side edges thereof are simultaneously engaged between the wall portions 3, 4 extending from the respective end- side wall 5, 6 of box 1. To remove the inserted cassette 15 from its box 1, the cassette needs to be shifted within the box 1, by performing in the reverse direction the previously disclosed steps for insertion of a cassette into its box.
To lock an inserted cassette 15 within its box 1, so as to prevent the same from being taken out therefrom, the invention provides a movable abutment member. On the one hand, the said movable abutment member can be moved into an active position in which it is caused to cooperate with an inserted cassette 15, or rather with the respective end-side edge thereof, whereby the cassette is prevented from being shifted and taken out from its box, as a result of one of its opposite end-side edges having been disengaged from the respective end- side wall portions 3 or 4 of the box sides. On the other hand, the movable abutment member is allowed to assume an inactive position in which it does not interfere with the inserted cassette 15, so that this cassette can be freely shifted in the manner as required for taking out the same from its box.
For this purpose, the movable abutment member is so made that when it is set in its active position, the said member is caused to protrude into the interior of box 1, and is set in an adjoining relation with the one end-side edge of an inserted cassette 15, while the other opposite end-side edge thereof is caused to substantially abut against the end-side wall 5 of box 1, which is situated at the box end side lying opposite to the movable abutment member (Figures 6, 7, and 12). The distance between the movable abutment member and the end-side wall 5 of box 1, against which a cassette 15 is caused to abut, when it is arranged in its final, fully inserted position into its box, is substantially equal to the length of a cassette 15. Different lengths of the cassettes may be provided, which are however such that the play resulting from any such different length is not sufficient for permitting one of the end-side edges of the inserted cassette 15 to be disengaged from the associated end-side wall portion of the respective box side. With the movable abutment member being set in its active position, in which it is caused to protrude into the interior of box 1, the inserted cassette 15 is locked in its engaged position between the opposite wall portions 3, 4 extending from the opposite end- side walls 5, 6 of box 1, transversely to the cassette-insertion direction into its box (arrow I in Figure 2). Therefore, the inserted cassette cannot be shifted in the opposite sense of the direction of arrow D in Figure 6, into the position in which the cassette would be caused to abut against the end-side wall 6 of box 1 (Figure 4), so that its respective end-side edge will be disengaged from the end-side wall portions 3, which would permit to incline the cassette (Figure 1), and then to take out the same from its box 1.
The movable abutment member is advantageously positioned in box 1 so as be hardly accessibile either manually or by any simple tool.
Additionally, a locking and unlocking device generally designated by reference numeral 11, is associated with the movable abutment member, and is for locking and releasing the said abutment member in and from its active or its inactive position. The locking and unlocking device may be of any suitable type, such as of the magnetic or mechanical type. In the first instance, the locking and unlocking device is so provided as to be apt to generate a magnetic field, and the movable abutment member is made of a ferromagnetic material or is provided with a ferromagnetic material portion. In the second instance, the said device may be of the key type, and the same is operatively connected to the movable abutment member.
In the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 7, the movable abutment member is in form of an abutment pin 7. The pin 7 is housed in a hollow appendix 8 of box 1, so as to be movable in its axial direction, particularly parallelly to the end-side wall 6 of box 1. The outward sides and end-side of said appendix 8 are entirely closed, and on its free end side the said appendix carries the locking and unlocking device 11. The appendix 8 is provided in a contiguous relation with the wall portions 4 that are associated with the end-side wall 6 of box 1, which is turned toward a cassette 15, when considering the cassette-insertion direction into its box. The pin 7 is allowed to protrude through a hole 101 into the interior of box 1, between the wall portions 4. The end of pin 7 which lies at the interior of the hollow appendix 8, is connected with a cup-like extension 9 which is guided by the internal sidewalls of the said appendix 8, so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of pin 7. A spring 10 is interposed between the cup-like extension 9 and the end-side wall of appendix 8, which is opposite to the said extension 9, and the said spring is for urging the pin 7 into its active position, in which it is caused to protrude into the interior of box 1 (Figure 7). When the locking and unlocking device 11 is in form of a mechanical device of the key type, the cup-like extension 9 is prefera bly fitted with a control pin 109, through which the pin 7 1 is connected to the said device 11. By its end-side face turned toward box 1, the cup-like extension 9 also provides an end-of-stroke abutment for the pin 7 having been moved into its active position, the said extension having a greater diameter than the hole 101 through which the said pin 7 is allowed to pass.
When the locking and unlocking device 11 is of the magnetic type and, for example, is in form of a simple magnet, the pin 7 and the cup-like extension 9, or only one of them, are made of a ferromagnetic material.
On a cassette 15 being inserted into box 1, the pin 7 is moved by the locking and unlocking device 11 into its withdrawn position out of box 1 (Figures 1 to 4), so that a cassette 15 can be inserted thereinto up to be caused to substantially abut against the facing end-side wall 6 of box 1, by being passed over the said pin 7. With the cassette 15 having been finally set in its fully inserted position into its box, in which it is engaged between the end- side wall portions 3, 4 of the box sides, and is caused to abut against the end-side wall 5 of box 1, the pin 7 is moved into its active position in which it is caused to protrude into the interior of box 1 (Figures 6 and 7). The inserted cassette 15 is thus reliably locked within its box 1, and the same can be taken out therefrom only by actuating the locking and unlocking device, so as to have the pin 7 moved into its inactive position.
In the embodiment according to Figures 10 to 12, the box is of such a size that is apt to accomodate music cassettes or video cassettes 15 therewithin. The movable abutment member is in form of a slider 7′ which is slidably fitted in dovetail guides 201, and is allowed to protrude from the outside of box 1, through a matchingly shaped aperture 104 provided in one of the end-side wall portions 4 of the box sides. The guides 201 are provided in the median region of the end-side wall 6 of box 1, which is turned toward a cassette 15, when considering the cassette-insertion direction into its box. The slider 7′ is allowed to slide transversally to the said end-side wall 6, particularly in the direction which is perpendicular to the sides of box 1. According to the shown embodiment, the free end 107′ of slider 7′, located outside of box 1, is made in form of a pushbutton. A spring 10′ is interposed between the opposite end of slider 7′ and the associated end-side wall portion 4, and the said spring is for urging the slider into its inactive position, in which an inserted cassette 15 can be taken out of its box 1. The pushbutton-like end 107′ is directly connected with an abutment piece 207′. The said abutment piece 207′ is formed by a step-like transversely widened portion of slider 7′. The abutment portion 207 of slider 7′ is so provided that when the slider 7′ is set in its active position, in which it is pressed inwardly into box 1, against the load of spring 10′, the said abutment portion 207′ is caused to protrude into the interior of box 1, and is caused to cooperate with the associated end-side edge of an inserted cassette 15. With the slider 7′ being set in the said active position, its pushbutton-like end 107′ is advantageously set in a substantially flush relation with the outward face of the associated end-side wall portion 4. When the slider 7′ is set in its inactive position, in which the same is partly urged out of box 1, also its abutment portion 207′ lies outside of box 1.
A slider-locking pin 17 is provided for locking the slider 7′ in its active position, as shown in Figure 12. The said slider locking pin 17 is made substantialy like the abutment pin 7 according to the above-disclosed embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7. The slider 7′ is formed with a transverse hole 307′ for the slider-locking pin 17 to be engaged therein, the said slider-locking pin 17 and the said hole 307′ being so arranged that with the slider 7′ in its active position, the pin 17 comes to be engaged in the said hole 307′. The slider-locking pin 17 is preferably housed in an appendix 18 of box 1 so as to be slidable in both directions, transversally to the slider 7′. The end of the said slider-locking pin 17, which is located in the inside of the appendix 8, is formed with a cup-like extension 19. A spring 20 is interposed between the cup-like extension 19 and the outward end-side wall of appendix 18, and the said spring is for automatically urging the slider-locking pin 17 against the slider 7′. Thus, when the slider 7′ is pressed, for example manually, into its active position, the slider-locking pin 17 is automatically snapped into its engaging hole 307′, whereby the slider 7′ is locked in its active position. On the slider-locking pin 17 being drawn out of the hole 307′in which it is engaged, the slider 7′ is in turn automatically snapped into its inactive position, owing to the bias of spring 10′. With the slider 7′ being thus set in its inactive position, an end section of the said slider 7′ is advantageously caused to overlap the slider-locking pin 17, whereby the said pin 17 is held in its withdrawn position, while being always ready for being snapped into the hole 307′ in slider 7′. In this embodiment, the locking and unlocking device 11 is associated with the slider-locking pin 17 and is arranged on the outward end-side wall of appendix 18. Also in this case, the locking and unlocking device 11 may be of any suitable type, such as of the magnetic or mechanical type.
The case according to the invention may be used not only for compact disc cassetts, video cassettes, music cassettes, and the like, but also for any type of articles having a relatively flat configuration and being rigid enough.
Owing to the fact that the case according to the invention, is entirely provided with closed sidewalls, the said case is provided with a rather stronger structure than the conventional cases, so that the same is made capable to withstand any attempt of unduly taking out therefrom any article which is housed therewithin. More particularly, the fact that the cassette end-side edges are inaccessible from the exterior, renders any attempt of tampering or damaging the movable abutment member extremely difficult, particularly when such an attempt is made only by a manual action. The cassette can be actually grasped from the exterior only by its top and bottom sides, that do not offer any useful hold of the same. The case according to the invention is more hardly tampered with, so that also the possibility is prevented that magnetic or radio-frequency labels may be taken out of the case interior.
In the modified embodiments according to Figures 8 and 9, the case according to the invention is made in such a manner as to render the same fittable in any type of exhibitors. More particularly, as shown in these Figures, the box 1 is provided with a box-suspending tongue on one of its sidewalls, preferably on one of its sidewalls extending in the cassette-insertion direction. The said box-suspending tongue 21 has a through hole 22 made therein, with a slot 23 being formed thereacross The slot 23 is preferably directed parallel to the associated sidewall of box 1. It is thus possible to suspend the cases to be exhibited, for example from a case-supporting rod-like guide or from respective case-supporting hooks, which may be provided with suitable locking means, whereby to prevent any of the cases from being snatched.
According to the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the box 1 may be formed with a stud- like extension 24, 24′, at each extremity of one of its end-side walls, preferably at each extremity of its end-side wall 5, against which a cassette 15 is caused to abut when the same is set in its fully inserted position into box 1. The said extensions 24, 24′ that are arranged in a coaxial relation, can be used for fitting the cases in a swingable and overhanging manner between the case-engaging shoulders of an exhibitor, which is, for example, of the vertically or horizontally extending type. According to a further feature of this modified embodiment shown in Figure 8, the extension 24′ may be made in form of an elastically yieldable and telescopically extensible stud.
According to the embodiment shown in Figure 9, an appendix 8′ that is similar to the appendix 8 in which the abutment pin 7 is housed, may be provided in a box 1 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, also close to the end-side wall 5 of box 1 which is opposite to the box end-side wall 6 that is associated with the abutment pin housing appendix 8. The case 1 can be caused to bear on the said appendices 8, 8′, thus avoiding the risk that the same may take an inclined position.

Claims

1. An anti-theft case, particularly for compact disc cassettes, music cassettes, video cassettes, and the like, which is provided with movable means (7, 7′) for locking a cassette (15) within its case, and with magnetic means that are apt to generate a signal when the case is passed through a detector, characterized by comprising: a box (1) having substantially a parallelepipedal configuration, and being formed at least in its top or bottom side with an opening (2) for insertion of a cassette into box (1), in such a manner as to have at least two wall portions (3, 4) left at two opposite end-side walls (5, 6) of the box, which are longer than the extent of a cassette (15) in the direction in which a cassette (15), or the like, is inserted into box (1); a movable abutment member (7, 7′) that is caused to cooperate with one end-side edge of the cassette (15), and is provided in the region of one of the said two end-side wall portions (3, 4), the said abutment member being urged by spring means (10, 10′) into its cassette-abutting active position, or vice-versa; and a locking and unlocking device (11) for causing the movable abutment member (7, 7′) to be moved from the said active position in which it is caused to abut against an inserted cassette (15), into its withdrawn inactive position; the whole arrangement being such that a cassette (15) is inserted into its case in an inclined condition, and with the said movable abutment member (7, 7′) being located in the said inactive position, the said cassette (15) is brought into engagement with the underside of the said one end-side wall portion (4) which is associated with the said movable abutment member (7, 7′), by being passed thereover, the cassette (15) being then moved backward so as to cause the same to be engaged also under the other opposite end-side wall portion (3) at the relative box side, and the movable abutment member (7, 7′) that is thus uncovered, is moved into its active position in which it is caused to cooperate with the associated end-side edge of the inserted cassette (15), whereby any such displacement of the cassette (15) is prevented, which may be apt to cause the cassette to be disengaged from the two end-side wall portions (3, 4) at the relative box side, and to permit that the same may be taken out from its case.

2. An anti-theft device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the box (1) is so made that a cassette (15) when being placed in the position in which the same is fully inserted into its box (1), is by its end-side edges engaged under the end-side wall portions (3, 4) of the relative box side, and at the same time is caused to substantially abut with one of its end-side edges against the movable abutment member, (7, 7′) and with its opposite end-side edge against the box (1) end-side wall (5) lying opposite to the movable abutment member (7, 7′), a certain play being provided, that in any case is always such as to prevent one of the end-side edges of the inserted cassette (15) from being disengaged from the respective end-side wall portion (3, 4)

3. A case according to any one of Claims or 2, characterized in that an opening (2′) is formed also in the op posite side of box (1), which substantially coincides with the opening (2) for insertion of a cassette (15) into a box (1), the said opening (2′) being at the least of such a size that two wall portions (3, 4) are left at the two opposite sidewalls (5, 6) of box (1), which extend transversally to the direction in which a cassette (15) is inserted into its box (1).

4. A case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the movable abutment member is in form of an abutment pin (7) which is provided for directly cooperating with one end-side edge of an inserted cassette (15), and which is axially slidably fitted in a hollow space formed in an appendix (8) of box (1), in the region of one (the 4) of the two end-side wall portions of the relative box side or sides, the said pin being urged by a spring (10) into its active position, in which it is caused to protrude into the interior of box (1)

5. The case according to Claim 4, characterized in that the abutment pin (7) is so fitted as to be slidable parallelly to the box (1) end-side walls (5, 6) extending transversally to the direction (arrow I) in which a cassette (15) is inserted into its box (1), and as to be close to the end-side wall portion (4) of the box side which is associated with the end-side wall (6) of box (1), which is turned toward a cassette (15), when considering the direction in which a cassette (15) is inserted into its box (1).

6. The case according to Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the hollow appendix (8) in which the abutment pin (7) is housed, is in form of an extension of the associated end-side wall portion (4) of box (1), and the abutment pin (7) is formed at its end lying inside the appendix (8), with a cup-like extension (9), a spring (10) being interposed between the said extension (9) and the free end-side of appendix (8).

7. The case according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable abutment member is in form of an abutment slider (7′) that is slidably guided in guides (201) provided in box (1) in the region of one of the two end-side wall portions (3, 4) of the relative box side or sides, from an active position in which the slider (7′) is moved against the action of a spring (10′), for example, by being hand-pushed, so as to have its abutting end portion (207′) shifted within the box (1), into an inactive position into which the slider (7′) is urged by the said spring (10′), and in which the said abutting end portion (207′) comes to be located outside of box (1), means (17) being provided for locking the abutment slider (7′) in its active position.

8. The case according to Claim 7, characterized in that the guides (201) for the abutment slider (7′) are dovetail-shaped and are formed at the end-side wall (6) of box (1) which is turned toward the direction (arrow I) in which a cassette (15) is inserted into its box, and the said guides (201) are so arranged that the abutment slider (7′) is movable transversely to the said end-side wall (6) and per pendicularly to the top side of box (1), the associated end-side wall portion (4) being provided with an aperture (104) for the slider (7′) to be slid therethrough, which is so formed as to match the shape of the outward end (107′) of the said slider (7′), and the said end (107′) is in form of a pushbutton, and is located in a substantially flush relation with the outward face of the end-side wall portion (4) of the box top side, or in any case is so positioned as to be not graspable, when the slider (7′) is set in its active position.

9. The case according to Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the abutting portion (207′) of the abutment slider (7′) is directly adjacent to its pushbutton-like end (107), and consists of a step-like transversely widened portion of slider (7′), which is such that the said abutting end portion (207′) of slider (7′) is caused to protrude into the interior of box (1) when the slider (7′) is set in its active position, and is pushed out of the box (1) when the slider is set in its inactive position, the spring (10′) being interposed between the abutment slider end lying at the interior of box (1) and the inward face of the associated box side.

10. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the means for locking the abutment slider (7′) consist of a slider-locking pin (17), the said slider-locking pin (17) and the abutment slider (7′) being so provided that when the abutment slider (7′) is pushed into its active position, the slider-locking pin (17) is automatically snapped into its active position, while when the slider-locking pin (17) is moved into its withdrawn slider-unlocking position, the slider (7′) is automatically snapped into its inactive position, with an end portion thereof being caused to overlap the slider-locking pin (17), and to hold the said pin in an unstable condition, in which it is always ready for being snapped into its locking position.

11. The case according to Claim 10, characterized in that the slider-locking pin (17) is slidably guided in its axial direction, transversally to the abutment slider (7), preferably in a respective housing provided in an appendix (18) of box (1) at the end-side wall (6) thereof, the said slider-locking pin (17) being movable from a position in which it locks-the slider (7′), and into which the slider-locking pin (17) is urged by a spring (20) so as to be caused to protrude into the interior of box (1), and to be engaged in a pin-engaging notch or hole (307′) formed in the abutment slider (7′), when the said slider is set in its active position, into a withdrawn position in which the slider (7′) becomes unlocked, and in which the slider-locking pin (17) is shifted to exterior of box (1), the locking and unlocking device (11) being operatively connected to the said slider-locking pin (17).

12. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the locking and unlocking device (11) is of the magnetic type, the abutment pin (7) and the slider-locking pin (17) being both made of ferromegnetic material, and the said device (11) being so provided as to be apt to generate a magnetic, for example attractive, field.

13. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the locking and unlocking device (11) may be of the mechanical type, the said pins (7, 17) being provided with pin-driving members (109, 19) which are operatively connected, for example, to a device of the key type.

14. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the same may be made of any suitable material, particularly of plastics material, and preferably of transparent plastics material, and magnetic or radio-frequency labels which are caused to cooperate with a detector, are applied to, or are provided of one piece with the internal walls of a cassette (15), at locations which are not accessible from the exterior, when a cassette (15) is inserted into its case.

15. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the box (1) is provided with one or more means (21; 24, 24′) respectively for suspending or fitting each case in an exhibitor, which may be even provided in a combined manner.

16. The case according to Claim 15, characterized in that the box (1) is provided with a cassette-suspending tongue (21), preferably at one at least of its sidewalls, the case-suspending tongue (21) being provided with a through hole (22), with a slot (23) being formed thereacross.

17. The case according to any one of Claims 15 and 16, characterized in that a stud-like extension (24, 24′) for fitting a case in an exhibitor, is formed close to the opposite extremities of one of the end-side walls of box (1), preferably close to the end-side wall (5) extending transversely to the direction in which a cassette (15) is inserted into its box (1), and against which end-side wall (5) one end-side edge of a cassette (15) is caused to abut when the same is in its fully inserted condition, the said extensions (24, 24′) being arranged in a coaxial relation, and at least one of them being possibly made in form of an elastically yieldable and telescopically extensible stud.

18. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that close to the end-side wall (5) of box (1) which is opposite to the box end-side wall (6) which is associated with the appendix (8) in which the abutment pin (7) is housed, the box (1) is provided with a like appendix (8′).

19. The case according to any one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the same may be used for housing therein any relatively rigid flat articles other than compact disc cassettes, music cassettes, video cassettes, or the like, however having a similar shape.