Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/06—Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
  • B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
  • B65D43/161—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement comprising two or more cover sections hinged one to another
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B73/00—Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/0018—Anti-tamper devices
  • E05D11/0027—Anti-tamper devices arranged on or near the hinge and comprising parts interlocking as the wing closes, e.g. security studs
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
  • E05D7/08—Hinges or pivots of special construction for use in suspensions comprising two spigots placed at opposite edges of the wing, especially at the top and the bottom, e.g. trunnions
  • E05D7/081—Hinges or pivots of special construction for use in suspensions comprising two spigots placed at opposite edges of the wing, especially at the top and the bottom, e.g. trunnions the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B33/00—Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • G11B33/02—Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon
  • G11B33/04—Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon modified to store record carriers
  • G11B33/0405—Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon modified to store record carriers for storing discs
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
  • E05D7/14—Hinges for safes
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05G—SAFES OR STRONG-ROOMS FOR VALUABLES; BANK PROTECTION DEVICES; SAFETY TRANSACTION PARTITIONS
  • E05G1/00—Safes or strong-rooms for valuables
  • E05G1/005—Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like

Definitions

• This invention relates to a container and, more particularly, a container for securely housing goods for display in a retail outlet.
• Such containers are often referred to in the trade as "safers”.
• Containers used as safers have been used to house goods such as compact disks (CDs) and digital versatile disks (DVDs).
• Such containers typically comprise a tough plastic box, e.g. formed of polycarbonate, with a base part and lid part that are hinged along one edge and secured together by a locking mechanism at the opposite edge.
• Various locking mechanisms are used.
• the present invention seeks to provide a container having a hinge that is able to withstand such an attack, but which is of a simple construction that does not affect its normal operation.
• a first aspect of the invention provides a container comprising first and second parts that are hinged with respect to each other about a pivot axis such that they may be rotated between open and closed configurations of the container, the first and second parts including respective first and second mutually engageable features arranged on or adjacent to the pivot axis such that when the container is in its closed configuration the first and second parts are substantially prevented from being prised apart along the pivot axis.
• a second aspect of the invention provides a container comprising first and second parts that are hinged with respect to each other about a pivot axis such that they may be rotated between an open configuration in which corresponding regions of the parts are separated, and a closed configuration in which the corresponding regions of the parts are in contact with each other, the first and second parts including respective first and second mutually engageable features situated on an opposite side of the pivot axis to the corresponding regions, such that on rotating from the open to the closed configuration the first and second features are thereby rotated into engagement with each other.
• a third aspect of the invention provides a container comprising first and second parts that are hinged with respect to each other such that they may be rotated between open and closed configurations of the container, the first and second parts including respective first and second mutually engageable features arranged such that on rotating from the open to the closed configuration at least a portion of the second part rotates around the first engageable feature and the first and second features are thereby rotated into engagement with each other.
• Any component of any aspect of the invention may be a component of any other aspect of the invention.
• first and second mutually engageable features extend(s) along substantially the entire length of the pivot axis of the container. Additionally or alternatively, one or both of the first and second mutually engageable features may be provided at one or more locations along the length of the pivot axis of the container.
• One or both of the first and second mutually engageable features preferably comprise(s) a ledge or shoulder.
• the first and second mutually engageable features are interlocked with each other.
• the second engageable feature substantially overlaps the first engageable feature.
• the container includes a locking arrangement by which the container may be locked in its closed configuration.
• the locking arrangement preferably locks the container on a side of the container opposite to that of the hinge.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention.
• Figure 2 views (a) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the functioning of an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a container 1 comprising a first part 3 in the form of a rectangular base, and a second part 5 in the form of a corresponding rectangular lid.
• the two parts 3 and 5 are hinged with respect to each other, by means of a hinge 7, about a pivot axis 9 such that the parts 3 and 5 may be rotated between open and closed configurations of the container.
• the container is shown in an open configuration, and comprises a shallow rectangular box. However, substantially any container shape may be used.
• the container 1 is suitable for holding a CD box or a DVD box for example, and comprises a "safer", as described above.
• the first 3 and second 5 parts of the container are hinged with respect to each other along one side of the container 1.
• the locking arrangement 11 comprises a holding bar 13 and a security device 15 for securing the holding bar in a holding configuration when the container is closed.
• the holding bar 13 is arranged to be located inside the lid part 5
• the security device 15 is arranged to be located on the exterior of the lid part 5 such that it extends partially into the interior of the container under the holding bar and in a recess 17 of the lid part.
• alternative forms of locking arrangement may be used.
• the locking arrangement may be conventional, and merely needs to perform the functions of securing the container in its closed configuration, and of enabling the container to be opened when a key or other authorised release apparatus is used.
• the hinge 7 of the container 1 comprises a simple pivoting joint whereby pivot pins (not shown) carried by respective flanges 19 at opposite ends of the pivot axis 9 of the lid part 5 are located in corresponding respective pivot holes (sockets) 21 (see Figure 2) located at opposite ends of the pivot axis 9 of the base part 3.
• This aspect of the hinge is entirely conventional. Not conventional however, are the first 23 and second 25 mutually engageable features shown schematically in Figure 2. (The first engageable feature 23 is also shown in Figure 1, but it is most clearly illustrated in Figure 2.)
• the first feature 23 comprises part of the first (base) part 3 of the container, and the second feature 25 comprises part of the second (lid) part 5. Both features are arranged adjacent to their respective hinge portions when viewed along the pivot axis 9; thus, the first feature 23 is adjacent to the pivot holes 21, and the second feature 25 is adjacent to the pivot pins (not shown, but arranged to extend into the respective pivot holes 21). Both features consequently are situated adjacent to the pivot axis 9. As shown in Figure 2(a), when the container 1 is closed (i.e. the first and second parts are in their closed configuration) the first and second mutually engageable features 23, 25 are engaged with each other, whereas when the container is open (i.e.
• the first and second parts are in an open configuration) as shown in Figure 2(b), the first and second features are spaced apart from each other.
• the first and second features 23, 25 arranged such that on rotating from the open (view (b)) to the closed (view (a)) configuration at least a portion 27 of the second part 5 rotates around the first feature 23, and the first and second features are thereby rotated into engagement with each other.
• the first and second features 23, 25 are mutually engaged such that the first and second parts 3, 5 are substantially prevented from being prised apart along the pivot axis 9. That is, effective continued rotation of the second part 5 relative to the first part 3 in the direction of arrow A in the region of the hinge 7, in order to separate the first and second parts in the hinge region, is substantially prevented by the first and second features.
• the first and second mutually engageable features each extend along substantially the entire length of the pivot axis 9 (i.e. along substantially the entire length of the side of the container 1 along which the pivot axis extends).
• This provides excellent security to the container 1 along substantially the entire length of the hinge 7, to prevent (or at least significantly deter) a thief or vandal from prising apart the first and second parts of the container along the hinge region.
• the mutually engageable features may be provided at one or more locations along the length of the pivot axis 9.
• the container has been described in relation to housing a CD or DVD box, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of other goods may be housed therein, the container either being the primary container for the goods or a secondary container, i.e. a safer for deterring theft of a primary container housed therein.
• the container may be provided with a security tag which triggers an alarm if removed from the retail outlet.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Packaging For Recording Disks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=33104736

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2004
  • 2004-08-27 GB GB0419142A patent/GB2417483B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-08-26 WO PCT/GB2005/003308 patent/WO2006021787A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-08-26 AU AU2005276215A patent/AU2005276215A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-08-26 EP EP05775382A patent/EP1794397A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-08-26 US US11/574,128 patent/US20080116216A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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