EP1949824A1

EP1949824A1 - Secure box

Info

Publication number: EP1949824A1
Application number: EP07425021A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Viale; Luca Franzosi
Original assignee: Givi Distribuzione SpA
Current assignee: Givi Distribuzione SpA
Priority date: 2007-01-18
Filing date: 2007-01-18
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-18
Also published as: EP1949824B1; ES2337410T3; DE602007003551D1; ATE450172T1

Abstract

A secure box (1) for a product (4) comprises: a hollow body (2) with a zone (3) for housing the product (4) and a zone (5) for removing the product (4);
a guide element (11) for the product (11), being movable between a first operating position substantially at the housing zone (3) and a second operating position substantially at the removal zone (5); movement means (13) connected to the guide element (11) for moving it between the first and second positions; locking means (31) operating on the moving means (13) to prevent them from being operated.

Description

The present invention relates to a secure box and in particular to a secure box for products such as magnetic media.
As is known, magnetic media, such as audio CDs, DVDs, video games, memory cards, referred to below without thereby limiting the scope of the invention, and the like, which are displayed in points of sale are usually protected from theft by inserting them in "secure boxes".
The most common electronic anti-shoplifting devices are inserted in the secure boxes, for example magneto-acoustic and radio frequency devices, since they cannot be coupled directly to the product.
In this way, an ill-intentioned person wanting to steal one of these products must break open the box to remove the product from it so as to separate the product from its electronic devices and avoid activating the alarm systems usually positioned at the exits of the points of sale.
Vice versa, when a customer purchases a product contained in the box, a shop assistant opens the theft prevention box with suitable opening means, usually present at the checkout where the customer goes to pay, and gives the product to the customer.
The emptied boxes with their anti-shoplifting devices are periodically picked up by a shop assistant, taken to a goods warehouse, where they are filled again with any new magnetic support and closed again, and finally returned to the display units for sale by the shop assistants.
These theft prevention boxes have several disadvantages.
Use of the prior art boxes is laborious and takes up time and resources, since personnel are required to fill the boxes, put the products on display, open the boxes to take out the products, resupply the warehouses with the empty boxes which must then be sorted again.
The boxes are standardised, they are all the same for different products and contain the packaged products in such a way that the customer has no access to them.
This configuration does not appeal to all customers since, probably for psychological reasons, most customers prefer to handle and "see for themselves" the products they are about to purchase, whilst the outer box, although transparent, removes this tactility.
In this context, the main technical purpose of the present invention is to propose a secure box which is free of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The present invention therefore has for an aim to propose a secure box which is strong and effective in protecting its contents.
The invention also has for an aim to propose a secure box which is easy to use and substantially allows elimination of the waste of time and energy of the personnel whose job is to manage it.
Another aim is to propose a secure box which lessens the problems deriving from handling the products in points of sale.
Another aim is to propose a theft prevention box which allows at least one anti-shoplifting device to be effectively coupled to the product.
The stated technical purpose and the preset aims are substantially achieved by a secure box comprising the technical features described in claim 1 and in one or more of the dependent claims.
Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a theft prevention box, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the inner face of a first component of the secure box in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the outer face of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is the cross-section IV - IV of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is the enlarged cross-section V - V of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an enlarged schematic top plan view of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is the enlarged cross-section VII - VII of the component of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of the outer face of a second component of the secure box in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the component of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is the cross-section X - X of the component of Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a schematic top plan view of the component of Figure 8;
Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of the inner face of the component of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is the cross-section XIII - XIII of the component of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is the enlarged cross-section XIV - XIV of the component of Figure 12;
Figure 15 is a schematic plan view of a third and fourth component of the secure box in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 16 is the enlarged cross-section XVI - XVI of the third component of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a front view of a secure box in accordance with the present invention, in a first packaging configuration;
Figure 18 is a rear view of the box of Figure 17 in a second, open operating configuration.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, especially Figures 17 and 18, the numeral 1 denotes a secure box made in accordance with the present invention.
The box 1 comprises a hollow body 2 having a housing or packaging zone 3 for a generic product 4 and a product 4 removal zone 5, described in more detail below.
The hollow body 2 substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped and has a front face 2a and a rear face 2b which are substantially parallel with one another.
The body 2 also has a pair of lateral faces 2c which are parallel with one another and an upper face 2d and a lower face 2e.
The body 2 has a main direction D of extension in which the front face 2a and the rear face 2b extend.
In particular with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 it should be noticed that the hollow body 2 substantially consists of a first part 6 and a second part 7, described in more detail below, connected to one another.
The first and second parts 6, 7 form a first and a second half-shell which, when connected to one another form the hollow body 2.
The box 1 comprises connecting means 8 for irremovably connecting the first part 6 to the second part 7.
The connecting means 8 comprise first engagement means 9 connected to the first part 6 of the body 2 and second engagement means 10 connected to the second part 7 of the body 2.
The first engagement means 9 irremovably engage in the second engagement means 10 when the box 1 is assembled.
Inside the body 2, that is to say, between the two half-shells, there is a guide element 11 for the product 4, movable between a first operating position substantially at the housing zone 3 and a second operating position substantially at the removal zone 5.
These first and second positions are preferably spaced from one another along the main direction D and the guide element 11 can move along the direction D.
The product 4 can be connected to the guide element 11 and can move with it.
The guide element 11 preferably comprises a polygonal structure 12 closed at the sides to form a cage, in which the product 4 can be positioned.
Also preferably, between the product 4 and the structure 12 there is a zone 12a in which a substantially known type of anti-shoplifting device can be installed.
The box 1 comprises movement means 13 connected to the guide element 11 for moving the latter, and therefore the product 4, between the first and second positions.
The hollow body 2 has an opening 14 at the removal zone 5 through which the product 4 can be removed from the box 1 when the guide element 11 and therefore the product 4 are in the second operating position.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the opening 14 is made in the first part 6 of the body 2.
An element 15 for closing the opening 12 is removably connected to the body 2, in particular to the first part 6, at the opening 14.
The closing element 15 consists of a plate 16 attached to the body 2 along the edges 17 of the opening 12.
The plate 16 is preferably made in one piece with the body 2 and is separated from the body by weakening means 18 positioned between the closing element 15 and the hollow body 2 to facilitate removal of the element 15.
The weakening means 18 preferably comprise a plurality of holes or perforations 19 made all around the closing element 15.
At the product 4 housing zone 3 the body 2 has a window 20 through which the product 4 is visible from outside the body 2.
The window 20 is preferably made in the second part 7 of the body 2.
Advantageously, the window 20 is obtained by thinning the thickness of the body 2, since the body is preferably made of a substantially transparent plastic material.
Advantageously, the material used is resistant to cutting so as to guarantee suitable protection for the product 4.
Examining the movement means 13 in more detail and in particular with reference to Figures 1, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15 and 16, it should be noticed that the movement means 13 comprise a male-and-female screw coupling between the guide element 11 and the hollow body 2.
The hollow body 2 has a top portion 21 extending above the upper face 2d of the body.
The top portion 21 has a through-hole 22 in it which has a threaded inner wall 23.
The threaded wall 23 is formed by a first half-part 24 connected to the first part 6 of the threaded body 2 and by a second half-part 25 connected to the second part 7 of the body 2.
The movement means 13 comprise a threaded rod 26 connected to the guide element 11 and engaged in the hole 22 by means of a male-and-female screw coupling with the inner wall 23.
It should be noticed that on opposite sides of the hole 22 there are the connecting means 8 for irremovably connecting the first part 6 to the second part 7 at the top portion 21.
In said portion 21, as well as guaranteeing the connection between the first part 6 and the second part 7 of the body 2, the connecting means 8 guarantee the correct male-and-female screw coupling between the rod 26 and the inner wall 23 of the hole 22.
As illustrated in Figure 15, the rod 26 has a substantially disk-shaped end portion 27 at the connection with the guide element 11.
The guide element 11 has an upper portion 11a that is shaped to engage the end portion 27 of the rod 26 in a freely rotatable manner.
In this way, the rod 26 is free to rotate both relative to the body 2 and to the guide element 11. When the rod 26 rotates relative to the body 2, the rod 26 translates relative to the body 2, pulling the guide element 11 and the product 4 connected to it, moving it from the housing zone 3 to the removal zone 5.
It should be noticed that the time needed to bring the product 4 from the zone 3 to the zone 5 or the time needed to remove the product 3 from the body 2, if the movement means 13 are freely usable, depends on the length L of the rod 26.
The movement means 13 preferably comprise a handle element 28 connected to the rod 26 at the end 29 opposite the portion 27.
Advantageously, the element 28 has a through-hole 30 which can be used by a user, not illustrated, with a suitable tool, not illustrated, for easier operation of the rod 26.
To prevent improper removal of the product 4 from the box 1, that is to say, to prevent easy operation of the movement means 13, for example in product 4 points of sale in order to prevent theft, the box 1 comprises locking means 31 operating on the guide element 11 movement means 13 to prevent them from being operated.
In practice, the locking means 31 substantially operate at the male-and-female screw coupling between the rod 26 and the hollow body 2, in particular locking the rod 26 to the body 2.
The locking means 31 comprise engagement means 32 connected to the rod 26 corresponding with engagement means 33 in the body 2 and in particular in the second part 7 of the body.
As illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18, the engagement means 32 consist of a pair of tabs 34 extending from the end portion 27 of the rod 26, and in particular from the handle element 28.
In particular, the tabs 34 are "L"-shaped and have a first branch 34a parallel with the direction "D" and a second branch 34b perpendicular to the plane of Figure 18.
The engagement means 33 in the body 2 comprise a pair of slots 35 made in the second half-part 25 of the top portion 21 and positioned on opposite sides of the through-hole 22.
The tabs 34 are inserted, in particular during box 1 assembly, as described below, in the respective slots 35, locking the rod 26 to the hollow body 2.
The tabs 34 are preferably made in one piece with the handle element 28.
According to the invention there are weakening means 36 between the handle element 28 and the tabs 34 to allow separation of the rod 26 from the body 2 and to allow rod rotation relative to the body.
The weakening means 26 consist of a plurality of holes or perforations 37 between the handle element 28 and the tabs 34.
In this way the user, preferably using cutting means, not illustrated, by cutting the joint between the top element 28 and the tabs 34 is able to operate the movement means 13.
Examining the first part 6 of the body 2 in more detail, in particular with reference to Figures 1 to 7, for a simple description it is assumed that the first part 6 forms a base for the body 2 having the face 2b as the rear of the finished box 1 put on sale.
The first part 6 comprises a base wall 38, its outer surface forming the rear face 2b of the body 2.
On the opposite side to the face 2b, there extends from the wall 38 an inner wall 39, substantially perpendicular to the wall 38, delimiting the space inside the body 2.
Substantially at the top portion 21 and aligned on the axis D, the inner wall 39 has an opening 40 for the rod 26 to pass through.
The wall 38 has a profile 41 with a plurality of teeth 42, in particular positioned along the main direction D of extension and on a lower side 43 with reference to Figures 1 and 3.
As illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, at each tooth 42 there are the connecting means 8 and in particular the first engagement means 9.
The engagement means 9 extend from the base wall 38 and are positioned on it on the outside of the inner wall 39.
The means 9 comprise a plurality of hooking elements 44 of the disposable type, that is to say, once locked in the respective slots which are described in more detail below, the hooking elements cannot be removed from the slots without forcing and breaking them.
The hooking elements 44 are positioned in pairs on each tooth 42 to form hooks 45 with two prongs.
A raised edge 46 substantially surrounds the profile 41, that is to say, it follows the profile, containing the engagement means 9.
In particular, the edge 46 consists of a first and a second portion 46a, positioned on opposite sides relative to the direction D along the larger sides of the wall 38, and of a third portion 46b at the smaller side opposite the top portion 21.
It is important to notice that the teeth 42 together with the edge 46 form means 47 for strengthening the base part 6 for the body 2.
Moreover, the serrated shape of the lateral faces 2c of the body 2 due to the presence of the teeth 42 and the relative profile 46, hinders any forcing with cutting means of the connecting means 8, since it is more complicated to attempt to cut the hooking elements 44 by running the cutting means along a serrated surface than along a smooth surface.
As illustrated in Figure 7, it should be noticed that the first engagement means 9 in the first half-part 24 of the top portion 21 are substantially similar to those positioned along the base wall 38.
In particular, the engagement means 9 comprise a plurality of hooks 45 with two prongs positioned next to the hole 22.
A raised edge 48 surrounds the hooks 45.
Examining the second part 7 of the body 2 in more detail, in particular with reference to Figures 8 to 14, for a simple description it is assumed that the second part 7 forms a covering element or upper part of the body 2.
The second part 7 comprises a base wall 49, its outer surface forming the front face 2a of the body 2.
Extending from the wall 49 on the side opposite the face 2a, there are two lateral walls 50 opposite one another relative to the direction D.
An inner wall 54 is positioned lower down, observing Figure 12 in particular, below the window 20 and substantially at a lower side 53 of the base wall 49.
The wall 49 has a profile 51 with a plurality of teeth 52, in particular positioned along the main direction D of extension and on the lower side 53.
At each tooth 52 there are the second engagement means 10.
The engagement means 10 extend from the base wall 49 and are positioned on it on the outside of the lateral walls 50 and below the lower wall 54.
The means 10 comprise a plurality of slots 55 for the hooks.
The slots 55 have walls 56 shaped to match the hooking elements 44 so as to allow each hooking element to be inserted and locked in the respective slot 55.
Similarly, in the second half-part 25 of the top portion 21, the part 7 of the hollow body 2 comprises slots 55 for the corresponding hooks 45.
When the box 1 is assembled, at the production site, a worker prepares the second part 7 of the body 2 and places inside it the guide element 11 in the product housing zone 3 and the rod 26.
The end portion 27 of the rod 26 is connected to the upper portion 11a of the guide element 11, shaped to match it, and the thread is positioned in the second half-part 25 of the hole 22.
The tabs 34 are inserted in the relative slots 35 so that the rod 26 is locked relative to the part 7 with the guide element 11 at the window 20.
The product 4, for example a memory card, is placed inside the polygonal structure 12 and the electronic anti-shoplifting devices are connected to the part 7 (similarly, since known anti-shoplifting devices usually have adhesive on them, they may be connected to the part 6).
The zone 12a advantageously prepared between the product 4 and the polygonal structure 12, preferably houses any anti-shoplifting devices which are thicker than the others.
Once all of the components have been put in position, the first part 6 is connected to the second part 7 and locked to it by means of the hooks 45 which irremovably lock in the respective slots 55.
It should be noticed that the first part 6 comprises, substantially at the top portion 21, shaped profiles 57 which are positioned on the second part 7 at the slots 35 so as to lock the tabs 34 in them.
In this configuration, the box 1 with the product 4 in it may be placed in the points of sale.
To remove the product 4 from the box 1, the user frees the movements means 13 by cutting the tabs 34 at the weakening means 36.
By rotating the rod 26, the user translates the product 4 along the direction D from the housing zone 3 to the removal zone 5 from which, after removing the closing element 15 by cutting along the perforations 19, he can remove the product 4.
The invention described brings important advantages. The secure box allows suitable anti-shoplifting devices to be directly connected to the product.
In other words, the box itself is the product packaging and no further outer structures are required.
In order to take the product packaged in this way out of the point of sale, simple electronic deactivation of the anti-shoplifting devices is all that is required, without wasting any resources in recycling the box, which, itself constituting the packaging, is taken away by the customer.
The particular structure of the box means that it takes longer to break into than is usually necessary to force prior art boxes.
The teeth in which the hooks are made also increase box strength and do not provide a smooth surface that would make it easier to cut the hooks.
The window at the product allows the customer to "see for himself" what he is about to purchase.
The product packaged with the box disclosed can be rapidly put on display for sale, being substantially protected.
The invention described has evident industrial applications and can be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

A secure box for a product (4), the box being characterised in that it comprises:
a hollow body (2) with a zone (3) for housing the product (4) and a zone (5) for removing the product (4);

a guide element (11) for the product (4), the guide element (11) being movable between a first operating position substantially at the housing zone (3) and a second operating position substantially at the removal zone (5), there being the possibility of connecting the product (4) to the guide element (11) in such a way that it moves with the guide element;

movement means (13) connected to the guide element (11) for moving the guide element (11) between the first and second positions;

locking means (31) operating on the movement means (13) to prevent them from being operated.
The box according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (47) for strengthening the hollow body (2) to hinder forcing of the body.
The box according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the hollow body comprises
a first part (6);
a second part (7) connected to the first part (6);
connecting means (8) for irremovably connecting the first part (6) to the second part (7).
The box according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the connecting means (8) are substantially positioned at the strengthening means (47).
The box according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the connecting means (8) comprise first engagement means (9) connected to the first part (6) of the body (2) and second engagement means (10) connected to the second part (7) of the body (2), the first engagement means (9) irremovably engaging in the second engagement means (10).
The box according to claim 5, characterised in that the first engagement means (9) comprise a plurality of hooking elements (44) and the second engagement means (10) comprise a plurality of respective slots (55) for the hooking elements (44), each hooking element (44) being locked in the respective slot (55) once inserted in it.
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterised in that the hollow body (2) comprises an opening (14) at the removal zone (5).
The box according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises an element (15) for closing the opening (14), the closing element (15) preferably being removably connected to the hollow body (2) at said opening.
The box according to claim 8, characterised in that it comprises weakening means (18) positioned between the closing element (15) and the hollow body (2) to facilitate removal of the closing element (15).
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 9, characterised in that the hollow body (2) has a window (20) substantially at the housing zone (3).
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterised in that the movement means (13) comprise a male-and-female screw coupling between the guide element (11) and the hollow body (2).
The box according to claim 11, characterised in that the hollow body (2) has a threaded portion (22, 23) and the movement means (13) comprise a threaded rod (26) connected to the guide element (11) and connected to the hollow body (2) in said threaded portion (22, 23).
The box according to claims 12 and 3, characterised in that the threaded portion (22, 23) is formed by a first threaded portion (24) in the first part (6) and a second threaded portion (25) in the second part (7).
The box according to any of the claims from 11 to 13, characterised in that the locking means (31) operate on the male-and-female screw coupling, in particular locking the male screw relative to the female screw.
The box according to any of the claims from 12 to 14, characterised in that the locking means (31) comprise third engagement means (32) connected to the rod (26) and fourth engagement means (33) connected to the hollow body (2), the third engagement means (32) engaging in the fourth engagement means (33) to lock the rod (26) relative to the hollow body (2).
The box according to claim 15, characterised in that the third engagement means (32) comprise at least one tab (34), the fourth engagement means (33) comprising a respective slot (35) for the tab (34).
The box according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that it comprises second weakening means (36) for allowing separation of the third engagement means (32) from the rod (26) and/or separation of the fourth engagement means (33) from the hollow body (2).
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 17, characterised in that the hollow body (2) has a main direction (D) of extension, the housing zone (3) and the removal zone (5) being spaced from one another along the main direction (D) of extension.
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 18, characterised in that the hollow body (2) has an outer surface (41, 46, 51) with an irregular shape.
The box according to any of the claims from 1 to 19, characterised in that it comprises at least one inner portion in which an anti-shoplifting device can be applied.
The box according to claim 20, characterised in that the inner portion in which an anti-shoplifting device can be applied is in the guide element (11).