MXPA99007150A - Mechanical locking mechanism for a security package - Google Patents

Abstract

La presente invención se refiere a un paquete de plástico reutilizable para sostener en forma segura y exhibir un artículo rectangular tal como un disco compacto. Este paquete de plástico reutilizable incluye un alojamiento que tiene un compartimiento de almacenado de forma rectangular, para almacenar en forma selectiva un artículo en el compartimiento. El compartimiento de almacenado tiene una abertura de acceso para insertar y retirar el artículo dentro y fuera del compartimiento. Un compartimiento más pequeño adyacente funciona como un compartimiento de enclavamiento con lo que una placa deslizable se monta deslizablemente y es móvil selectivamente a través de una porción de la abertura de acceso del compartimiento de almacenamiento, para sujetar en forma liberable el artículo en el compartimiento de almacenamiento. Se forman palancas de enclavamiento desviables dentro del compartimiento de enclavamiento y acoplan con proyecciones acoplantes formadas en la placa deslizante, en donde la placa deslizante estáen la posición enclavada para sujetar el artículo dentro de paquete debido a que una porción de la placa deslizante bloquea la abertura de acceso. Una llave que se inserta a través de aberturas formadas en la pared de extremo del compartimiento de enclavamiento, desprende las palancas de enclavamiento de las proyecciones, para permitir que la placa deslizante se mueva a la posición liberada. Las palancas de enclavamiento y las proyecciones están espaciadas en grupos en el compartimiento de enclavamiento y en la placa deslizable, para proporcionar espacio para una etiqueta de vigilancia de artículo electrónica. Se forman cortes en una pared posterior del compartimiento de almacenamiento y corresponden con bridas de retención y lengüetas de enclavamiento de forma complementaria de una paquete adyacente para permitir el encajamiento de los paquetes adyacentes.

Description

MECHANICAL LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A SAFETY PACKAGE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application of the US. Serle No. 60 / 038,634, filed on February 19, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The invention relates to packaging and in particular to a package for securely holding and displaying a rectangular shaped article such as a storage box for recorded media. More particularly, the invention relates to a reusable security package for containing and displaying -articles, preferably for recorded media and its storage container such as compact discs inside boxes for compact discs (jewel boxes), which have a sliding latch that when in a locked position prevents unauthorized removal of the item from the inside of the security packaging; and where the packaging is extremely thin, which allows a large number of packages to be stored in usual display files as opposed to those possible with the thicker packages of the prior art. The invention also relates to a reusable security package that is housed with other substantially identical packages, such that a higher density of packages can be displayed on an exhibit shelf.

Background Information _ In recent years, recorded media such as audio cartridges or cassettes, compact discs, digital audio tapes and mini discs (MD = mini discs) have become increasingly popular, almost completely replacing recorded discs and 8-track audio tapes. Specifically, compact discs (CDS = compact discs) and laser discs are growing more rapidly in popularity with a rapid increase in sales of CD players and laser discs. These compact discs and laser discs are sheets of thin flexible plastic resin, with an engraved pattern, digitally recorded and resemble small recordings of photographs on vinyl and are operated by a laser circumscribed in a compact disc player. Compact discs are relatively small, very thin and usually considerably more expensive than the 8-track audio tapes and tapes used to date, and thus are more susceptible to theft when displayed for sale at a retail store. The introduction of these recorded media on the market presents a problem for retail sellers, as these recorded media are considerably smaller than the recorded discs and 8-track tapes to date used, but have yet to be displayed, so such that prospective buyers can inspect them to determine the artist, the song, etc., in the recorded medium. This presents a security problem due to the extremely small size of the recorded media. Therefore, it has become important that the recorded media that is usually contained in its own storage box or container such as a CD case has been repacked in an outer security package or package to avoid his theft of exhibition halls used in most retail businesses. Since compact discs are usually retained within a plastic box commonly referred to as "cases," to protect the disc from scratches and damage and to provide a container for protective storage for the disc when not in use, it is convenient that these discs Plastic storage is retained in the largest packaging for display, to prevent theft of the smallest storage box containing the CD. Various types of housings and security packaging have been developed to provide a secure device for displaying the CDS inside the cases while delaying the unauthorized removal of the display package CD and subsequent theft of the store. These various types of security display containers include US Patents. Nos. 3, 871,516, 4,285,429, 4,381,836, 4,589,549, 4,759,442, 4,760,914, 4,805,769, 4,834,238, 4,881,645, 4,951,814, 5,205,401, 5,211,283 and 5,460,266. Although these prior art security packages for the various types of cartridges and recorded media have proven to be satisfactory for many applications, they present a number of problems, that is, prior art security devices are cumbersome, complicated, difficult and consuming. paora time use or secure / release, too thick in relation to the enclosures that house the cartridges or CDS, not sufficiently safe when checked, costly and time consuming to manufacture. Therefore, there is a need for an improved security packaging for various types of recorded media such as CDS, where the recorded media are kept in their usual presentation boxes for standard display however they are protected against robpj and where the packaging is Extremely slim allowing a much greater number has been stored in the display-existing files.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention include providing an improved security package that can be mass produced, relatively inexpensively as a molded two-piece plastic member, one piece of which forms the main housing and the other piece is a plate secure or slidable, slidably mounted in the housing for securing a rectangular forina article in a storage compartment, wherein the improved security package is thin in depth, preferably comparable to the depth of a case, economical and easy both to produce how to use and designed for repeated reuse, which can be manually loaded by retail store personnel for subsequent sale and can easily be downloaded at the point of sale. Another object of the invention is to provide this security package, wherein information printed on the stored article and specifically on the large front or back face of the case, is visible through enlarged openings that are formed in the walls of the housing constituting the storage compartments. Another object of the invention is to provide this security package, wherein the article to be stored slides easily into the storage compartment and is held there by the easily operated manual sliding plate which moves selectively over the access opening of the storage compartment. , to avoid unauthorized removal of the item from inside the storage compartment. A further object of the invention is to provide a security package, wherein an economical key formed of molded plastic, is inserted into openings formed in the housing and / or sliding plate, whereby the sliding plate can be moved to a released position, allowing the stored item to be manually removed from the storage compartment when completing a sale, allowing the package to be reused to store another item for sale. A still further objective is to provide this package that can be molded from strong plastic material and reused repeatedly, thereby reducing the cost to a manufacturer and / or distributor of the items that are stored there, such as audio cassettes or cartridges, compact discs , etc. Still another object of the invention is to provide this safety gasket, wherein one end of the sliding plate opposite an interlocking or safety edge is aligned with an end wall of a housing having a safety compartment when the sliding plate it is in a locked position, preventing the formation of a lip that can be clamped to allow the housing sliding latch to be forcefully pulled to steal a stored item from the package. A further object of the invention is to provide this safety gasket, in which locking levers and projections are located within the safety compartment and sliding plate and are spaced in groups, thus allowing another portion of the compartment to be hollow to be placed there and storing a tag for electronic article surveillance, preferably in an inconspicuous manner, but in any case to detect the unauthorized removal of security packaging with an item from the retail business. Another object is to provide this security packaging wherein the orientation tabs and slots in the sliding plate that hold the article when locked, are formed as part of the interlocking or safety mechanism and prevent the locking mechanism from moving to the interlocking positions, unless the tabs and orientation slots are received within openings and stops formed in the storage compartment, to ensure that the article being stored is properly oriented within the storage compartment of the security package. Another object of the invention includes providing an improved security packaging, this package allows the compact disc to remain in its usual storage and display package, such as its case in the case of a CD, which in turn is held within the security package that retards the theft of the compact disc. A further object of the invention is to provide this improved security package having an end portion with a thickness generally equal to the thickness of the display package such as a case containing the compact disc, this display package being held within the package of security, thus allowing a greater number of security packaging to be mounted and displayed in exhibition halls and shelves that until now were only used for the unsafe packaging that is the case, when placing the security packaging on the shelf of display by the end of the package that has the same general shape and thickness of the case contained therein. Another object of the invention is to provide this improved safety container, which can be easily injection molded from various types of plastic into two components, i.e. a housing and a sliding plate, wherein the sliding plate is then engaged by rapid actuation. easily in position in the housing, thus allowing economical manufacture and assembly of the safety container. Another objective is to provide this security packaging where all a slider is continuous and is in a common plane to help in increasing the number of packages that can be stored in display shelves of the prior art. A still further objective is to provide this security pack, wherein the locking tabs are released from their locked position by a key or key having a plurality of fingers or pins extending through openings formed in the end wall. of the interlock compartment. A further objective of the present invention includes providing a secure security packaging for recorded media that has a substantially smaller storage footprint than security packaging known in the art. Yet another object of the present invention includes providing a secure security pack for etched media, having a configuration that allows the front and back surfaces of the item of the recorded media to be seen when the item of the recorded media is received in an interlocking manner. in the security packaging. Yet another object of the present invention includes providing a secure security packaging for etched media, wherein a locking mechanism known in the art can be employed without significant modification.A further objective of the present invention includes providing a nestable or accommodatable security pack for recorded media, having a configuration that allows the front surface of the security pack to be housed with the back surface of an adjacent security pack, for decrease the shelf space occupied by the security packaging. Another object of the present invention includes providing a secure security packaging for recorded media, having a configuration that allows security packaging to lean with each other while in a housed condition. Another object of the present invention includes providing a secure security packaging for recorded media, having a configuration that allows the package to be easily removed from two other housed packages. Another object of the invention is to provide such security packaging that is so extremely simple in construction, that it obtains the desired objectives in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner and that it solves problems and satisfies needs in the art. These and other objects and advantages are obtained with the improved security package of the invention, the general nature of which can be set forth as including a security package for holding and displaying a rectangular shaped article that includes a housing having a storage compartment in the shape of rectangular, formed by spaced side walls, end walls and a rear wall for selectively storing the article, the compartment has an access opening opposite the back wall, for inserting and removing the article inside and outside the compartment; an interlocking compartment formed adjacent to the locking compartment; a sliding plate movably mounted in the locking compartment and selectively movable through at least a portion of the access opening of the storage compartment between locked and released positions to releasably hold the article in the storage compartment; at least one deflectable tongue formed in one of the locking compartment and the sliding plate and a block formed in the other of the locking compartment and the sliding plate and engageable with the deflectable tongue to releasably hold the sliding plate in the locked position; and releasing access opening means formed at one end of the locking compartment to receive a release key, to release the tab of the block, to allow the sliding plate to move to the released position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly stated and set forth in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the safety gasket with the latching plate removed; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the sliding plate mounted in the housing and in a released position; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to Figure 2, with the sliding plate partially inserted into the housing but not locked; Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figures 2 and 3 with the sliding plate fully inserted and locked in the housing; Figure 5 is a hugely amplified fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line -5 of Figure 1, when the sliding plate is partially inserted into the housing as illustrated in the Figure 3, with the interlocking bar shaded for clarity; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, when the sliding plate is fully inserted and locked in the housing as illustrated in Figure 4, with the locking bar shaded for clarity; Figure 7 is an elevation view showing a type of key for use with the security package of the present invention; Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the security pack similar to Figure 4, showing the release key of Figure 7, which moves the locking levers to a released position; Figure 9 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 of a modified security pack, with the slide plate removed therefrom; Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the slide plate of Figure 9; Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the left-hand corner of Figure 9, with the sliding plate mounted in the housing and in the open position; Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a pair of security packings of Figure 9 in a stacked and housed or nested position; Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the portion on the right side of Figure 12; and Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the portion on the left side of Figure 12. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The improved safety gasket of the present invention is generally indicated at 1, and is particularly illustrated in Figure 1. The safety gasket 1 includes a main housing 2 and a sliding plate 3, wherein both the housing 2 and the sliding plate 3 each preferably are formed as an integral integral plastic member, more preferably high impact polystyrene. The security pack 1 has a generally rectangular configuration with a generally thin depth substantially equivalent to that of a compact disc case. The generally rectangular configuration of the security pack 1 is defined by a large storage compartment 4 and a small interlock compartment 5. In total, the housing 2 includes a pair of longitudinally extending parallel side walls 6 and 7 of a stepped construction which extends through the longitudinal length of the housing 2, a pair of parallel end walls 8 and 9 extending between and perpendicular to the side walls 6 and 7 and a pair of rear walls 10 and 11 (as illustrated further clearly in Figures 2-4). The storage compartment 4 is formed by the storage side walls 6a and 7a, the end walls 8 and 9 and the rear wall 10- This resulting compartment 4 has four sides or ends and a rear face thus providing a space wherein a rectangular shaped article 15 such as a compact disc, can be placed to store through an access opening or open side opposite the wall 10. The wall. 10 may further include one or more openings 16 preferably of smaller length and width than the wall 10 and spaced inward from each of the walls 6a, 7a, 8 and 9, whereby the opening 16 is provided in order to providing access to a rear side of the article 15 for a more efficient removal of the article 15, when the sliding plate 3 is not in the locked position as described below. The storage compartment 4 further includes a pair of spaced tabs 20 and 21, projecting inward from the end wall 8 to the storage compartment 4. The tabs 20 and 21 are preferably spaced apart from the rear wall 10, a distance substantially equivalent to the background distance of article 15, this is a background distance of a standard compact disc case when that is the article. The tabs 20 and 21 can be of any geometric configuration, provided that each one extends inward toward the storage compartment 4, to act as a lip to hold the-article 15, when the article 15 is fully inserted into the storage compartment. stored 4, either by inserting preferably into corresponding slots in the article, or wrapping alternately over the article. In the preferred embodiment, the tongues 20 and 21 are already trapezoidal in construction so that one outermost point extends further into the storage compartment 4 and another more external point or as illustrated in Figure 1, in a semi-circular manner. hexagonal, where the hexagon divides through the midpoint of two sides such that each tab has three outermost points projecting inward to the storage compartment, with which the most external point of the center extends more there. The storage compartment 4 also includes a pair of spaced apart notches 23 and 24 in the end wall 9, wherein each sample extends inwardly from an outermost edge of the end wall 9 opposite the rear wall 10. The compartment The interlocking compartment 5 is formed by interlocking side walls 6b and 7b, end wall 9 and rear wall 11. The locking compartment 5 is divided into three sub-compartments 12, 13 and 14 by dividing walls 26 and 27. The sub-compartment 13 includes a Electronic Artificial Surveillance (EAS) tag 29 (although the tongue can also be located at 29a), while sub-compartments 12 and 14 include a latching mechanism 30. Each of the sub-compartments 12 and 14 also includes stops forced with lever incorporated in Figure 1, as a planar stop 31 which is parallel to the rear wall 11 and spaced there and extends over and over of the sliding slots of the sliding plate 31a.

The stop 31 is integrally molded within the side walls 6b and 7b, respectively and the end wall 9, and an L-shaped stop 32, which is L-shaped, with a portion parallel to the rear wall 11 extending out from the end wall 9 and the partition walls 26 and 27, respectively, and is connected to a portion perpendicular with the rear wall 11 extending from the portion parallel to the rear wall 11 and outwardly from the end wall 9. Each locking mechanism 30 has an access restriction wall 33 that projects perpendicularly upwardly from the rear wall 11. Each locking mechanism 30 also includes one or more locking levers 34, which extend obliquely within the locking compartment 5. from the intersection of the wall 33 with the wall 11. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, each locking mechanism 30 includes three locking levers 34. The pair Access restriction ed 33 includes a cut 35 corresponding to each locking lever 34 where the cut 35 is longitudinally aligned with the lever. The cuts 35 preferably will have a notch configuration in generally U-shape. The slope of each lever 34 may be constant, or may be increased as the lever extends away from the walls 33 and 31 as illustrated in Figure 1, defining in this way an outermost lip that approaches perpendicular to the rear wall 11. This change in slope can be gradual or at different points as illustrated in Figure 1. Sliding plate 3 as illustrated in Figure 1, it has a front wall 40 terminating on opposite sides on the side walls 41 and 42 and an end wall 43 extending between them and on and down from an end edge of the wall 40. A pair of partition walls 44 and 45 extend from the end wall 43 on the front wall 40 in a parallel and spaced apart manner between the side walls 41 and 42, to divide the slide plate 3 into three subcompartments 47, 48 and 49 of similar size. ar with subcompartments 12-14 of compartment 5. Sliding plate 3 includes a pair of tabs 50 and 51 projecting substantially planarly from and out of front wall 40, and in a shape aligned with notches 23 and 24, respectively when the sliding plate 3 is aligned with the locking compartment 5 as illustrated in Figure 1. On an inner surface of the sliding plate 3 is a pair of locking or locking bars 52 and 53 extending down from the front wall 40 in each of sub-compartments 47 and 49, respectively. The sliding plate end wall 43 is divided into a pair of access restriction walls 55 and 56, projecting between the side wall 41 and the partition wall 44 and the side wall 42 and the partition wall 45, respectively. Each access restriction wall includes a number of inverted U-shaped cuts or notches 58 that are correlated in number with the number of cuts 35 in the walls 33 of the housing 2. The cuts 58 and 35 correspond to form a plurality of openings The release port is relatively circular in shape when the walls 55 and 56 are aligned with the walls 33. The sliding plate 3 further has molded grooves 60 that are formed at the edges of the upper wall 40, adjacent to each of the side walls. 41 and 42 which are correspondingly aligned with planar stops 31, for forcing the sliding plate 3 under the stops 31 and preventing the sliding plate 3 from being withdrawn from the locking compartment 5 by a lifting action such as forced by lever, which would increase the distance between the rear wall 11 and the front wall 40. Within the slots or cuts 60 are slightly raised surfaces 61 which frictionally engage Within the planar stops 31. The slide plate 3 further includes a locking tab 62 projecting outwardly from the end of each partition wall 44 and 45. Each locking tab 62 is spaced from the front wall 40 to define a slot between them. Similar to the function of the slots 60, the locking tongue 62 engages the L-shaped stop 32, thereby preventing separation of the sliding plate 3 when lifting or forcing with a lever, when the distance between the rear wall 11 and the front wall 40 is increased. According to one of the features of the invention, a surface of the packaging 1 defined by the upper edges of the end wall 8, storage side walls 6a and 7a, end wall 9 and the upper surface of the front wall 40 of the sliding plate 3, are in a common plane that provides a smooth continuous surface, which in combination with the reduced thickness of the interlocking compartment 5, allows a greater number of packages 1 to be stored in usual types of display and storage shelves employees in many retail stores. The reduced thickness of the locking compartment 5 is achieved by cuts 58 formed in the end wall 43 that align with cuts 35 to provide the release access openings for receiving a key there, instead of the front wall 40 as in the security containers of the prior art. In operation, security pack 1 provides a reusable security device, to prevent unauthorized removal of an item such as a compact disc in a store case. Specifically, an article 15 such as a compact disc within a case, is inserted into the storage compartment 4 by sliding one end of the article 15 against the end wall 8, such that the openings formed in the selected side walls of the container. The cassettes receive the tabs 20 and 21 or alternatively slide under the tabs 20 and 21. Once the article 15 is substantially adjacent to the end wall 8, the article 15 falls completely into the storage compartment 4, which is substantially identical in size. At this time, the article 15 can be locked within the security pack 1. This interlocking procedure occurs by aligning the sliding plate 3 with the locking compartment 5. Specifically, the sliding plate 3 is longitudinally aligned below the locking compartment 5. as illustrated in section in Figures 1 and 2. The sliding plate 3 moves longitudinally inwardly where the grooves 60 are aligned with planar stops 31 and interlocking tabs 62 are aligned with L-shaped stops 32. Additional insertion causes that the groove 60 slides partially under the stop 31 and the tongue 62 slides slightly inside the stop 32, whereby this insert encounters a slight resistance as each locking bar 52 interacts with and engages the sloping surface of the levers interlock 34, as illustrated in Figure 3. Continuous insertion results in slight downward bend of the blade locking devices 34 away from the locking bar 52, as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 3. Eventually, the locking bar 52 travels over the locking levers 34, thereby allowing the locking levers 34 to bounce or coupling by quick actuation back to their original position and resting behind the locking bar 52 as illustrated in Figure 4, but blocking the movement of the sliding plate 3 in the unlocked or released direction. Once this has occurred, the sliding plate 3 is no longer removable from the locking compartment 5 and the housing 2. The result is the insertion of the tabs 50 and 51 through notches 23 and 24 and into the storage compartment 4. , thereby blocking removal of the article 15 from inside the storage compartment 4, by engaging the case opening as illustrated in Figures 4 and 8, similar to the engagement by the tabs 20-21 in other openings at the other end from the article. In this point, the slots 60 are completely inserted under the stops 31, and the locking tabs 62 on partition walls 45 are inserted under L-shaped stops 32, such that the sliding plate 3 is not removable by increasing the distance between the sliding plate 3 and the rear wall 11. As the walls 7a, 7b and 11 in the housing 2 and the walls 40, 41 and 42 in the sliding plate form a sealed box without lips or other areas to force by levering apart the package 1 This interlock where the locking bars 52 and 53 run over locking levers 34, is clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5, the locking bar is bending each of the locking levers 34 downwardly. . In contrast in Figure 6, the locking bar has already passed the locking levers 34 and thus allows its return to the standard position that blocks the removal of the sliding plate 3. When it is desired to remove the article 15 from the security packaging 1, such as at the point-of-sale, a key 80 is needed as illustrated in Figure 7. The keys are well known in the art and the key 80 is illustrated simply for purposes of illustration only. The key 80 includes a plurality of outwardly extending fingers 82. Each of these fingers 82 is correspondingly positioned in the key 80, to align with the hole defined by the alignment of the cuts 35 and 58, when the walls 33 and 55 are adjacent to each other. In operation, the fingers 82 slide through this hole as defined by the cuts 35 and 58, as illustrated in Figure 8. When the fingers are fully inserted, each finger travels on the inclined surface of the levers of the fingers. interlock 34, for bending the locking levers 34 away from the coupling projection as incorporated in the locking bar 52, thereby allowing the housing 2 to be removed from the sliding plate 3. Once the housing 2 is removed of the sliding plate 3, the tongues 50 and 51 no longer block the article 15 from being withdrawn from the locking compartment 4 by the access opening. The security packaging 1 is then reusable in another article, as desired. The location of the access cuts 35 and 58 in the rear end wall 43 of the locking housing instead of a top or bottom surface as in the prior art safety gaskets, greatly helps in providing reduced thickness and facilitates the release of the package at an exit counter or retail store box. A modified embodiment of the security packaging 1 is illustrated in Figures 9-14 and is generally indicated at 100. The packaging 100 is similar in many aspects to the packaging 1 described above except that the tabs 20 and 21 are removed from the end wall. 8 and replaced with a pair of diagonally extending flanges 101, projecting through the corner between the walls 6 and 7 spaced at the opposite edges of the walls 6 and 7 from the rear wall 111, which has a slight configuration different from the rear wall 10 of the package 1. The rear wall 110 is formed with an oval central cut 111, and according to one of the characteristics of the modified package 100, is formed with a pair of cuts or corner openings in triangular shape 112 adjacent the walls 6, 7 and 8, and a pair of rectangular-shaped cuts or openings 113 projecting inward from the end wall 9. The function of the cuts 112 and 113 is ribe more then. The sliding plate 115 is similar in most aspects to the sliding plate 3 discussed above with the main exception being that the tabs 50 and 51 are replaced with a pair of rectangular-shaped locking tabs 116. These tabs are particularly illustrated. in Figures 9 and 11 and are integrally formed with the upper wall 40 of the plate 115 and extend outward towards the storage compartment 4. The interlocking tabs 116 as illustrated in Figure 11, they rise above the upper surface of the sliding plate wall 40, in such a way that the bottom surfaces 117 are in the same plane with the front edges of the walls 6 and 7, so as to slide on the case 15 for fastening the case or other article in the compartment 4. In this way, the case 15 is securely retained within the storage compartment 4 by two of its corners which are retained under the flanges 101 and the opposite end portion of the case is retained under the interlocking tabs 116. In this way, the case is easily loaded into the security pack 100 by sliding a front edge below the flanges 101 with the trailing edge falling into the storage compartment 4, when the tabs 116 they are in the released position as illustrated in Figure 11. The sliding plate 115 then slides forward in the same manner as discussed above with respect to the sliding plate. before 3, with stops or latching bars 52 and 53 sliding over the locking levers 34, allowing the levers 34 to bounce or engage by quick actuation back to the original position and rest behind the locking bars 52 and 53 , as illustrated in Figure 13. The end walls 41 and 42 of the sliding plate 115 end in high end projections 41a and 42a respectively, which engage the rear wall 11 of the locking compartment when the sliding plate 115 is in a released position as illustrated in Figure 11, to limit backward movement of the sliding plate . One of the unique features achieved by the modified security pack 100 is its ability to be stackable where adjacent packets are housed together to reduce storage and shipping space as illustrated particularly in Figures 12-14. This nesting capacity is achieved by cuts at the corners 112 that align with flanges 101 as shown in FIG. 14, when adjacent packages are placed together. Similarly, the interlocking tabs 116 will extend into rectangular shaped cuts 113 as illustrated in Figure 13, to provide this interlocking capability of the adjacent security packages. In this way, as illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14, the total thickness materially does not increase due to the engagement of the flanges 101 and tab 116 in the cuts 112 and 113 respectively, of an adjacent security pack. Accordingly, security pack 100 provides the same security features discussed above with respect to security pack 1, while eliminating interlocking tabs 20, 21, 50, 51, which are usable only with certain types of cases . These retaining members are replaced with corner flanges 101 and interlocking tabs 116, which trap the case or other type of article within the storage compartment 4, thus preventing the requirement that only a case having openings formed in it can be retained. side walls to receive the locking tabs 20, 21, 50, 51 as in package 1. Furthermore, this versatility provided by the package 100 is achieved without materially increasing its thickness by providing the package with the same thin profile as that However, one of the important characteristics that allow this thickness to be achieved by both modalities is the reduction in thickness of the locking compartment 5 by the fingers 82 of the key 80 which enter through the access openings formed at the end of the package, in contrast to the security packages of the prior art, where the key extends through the front or rear walls of the interlock compartment. It is readily understood that deflectable tabs 34 may be formed in the slide plate and locking bars 52 and 53 be formed in the locking compartment in packs 1 and 100 and function similarly to that described above, wherein the deflectable tabs are formed in the same manner. the interlocking compartment and the locking bars formed in the sliding plate without affecting the concept of the invention. According to this, the improved security package is simplified, provides an effective, safe, economic and efficient device that achieves all the objectives listed, allows to eliminate difficulties encountered with previous devices and solve problems and obtain new results in the technique . In the previous description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations shall be involved beyond the requirement of the prior art, because these terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be widely considered. Still further, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details described or illustrated. Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved security package is constructed and employed, the characteristics of the construction and the new and useful advantageous results obtained; the structures, devices, elements, assemblies, parts and combinations, new and useful, are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (23)

1. A security package for containing and displaying an article of rectangular shape, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a storage compartment of rectangular shape, formed by spaced side walls, end walls and a rear wall for selectively storing the article, the the compartment has an access opening opposite the rear wall, for inserting and removing the article inside and outside the compartment; an interlocking compartment formed adjacent to the locking compartment; a sliding plate movably mounted in the locking compartment and selectively movable through at least a portion of the access opening of the storage compartment between locked and released positions to releasably hold the article in the storage compartment; at least one deflectable tongue formed in one of the locking compartment and the sliding plate and a block formed in the other of the locking compartment and the sliding plate and engageable with the deflectable tongue to releasably hold the sliding plate in the locked position; and releasing access opening means formed at one end of the locking compartment to receive a release key, to release the tab of the block, to allow the sliding plate to move to the released position.

2. The security package according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflectable tab comprises a plurality of flexible tabs, which are molded in spaced relation within the locking compartment.

3. The security package according to claim 2, characterized in that the deflectable tabs are fixed obliquely inside the locking compartment.

4. The safety package according to claim 2, characterized in that the block at least for locking the deflectable tongue during selective movement of the sliding plate in the locking compartment, includes a pair of spaced bars that are formed in the sliding plate.

5. The safety package according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a wall extending outwardly from the locking compartment adjacent the deflectable tabs, whereby wall includes openings formed therein that align with the tabs.

6. The security package according to claim 5, characterized in that the sliding plate includes an end wall formed with openings that align with the openings in the wall of the locking compartment in order to define the opening access opening in the compartment of interlocking, when the sliding plate is in the locked position.

7. The safety package according to claim 6, characterized in that the openings formed in the end wall of the sliding plate are generally inverted U-shaped notches.

8. The safety package according to claim 7, characterized in that the openings in the interlock compartment wall are generally U-shaped notches and when aligned with the inverted U-shaped notches of the slide plate, provide a shape generally circulate to the release access opening.

9. The safety package according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes stop means formed in the locking compartment and the slidable plate for retaining the slidable plate in the locking compartment when in the released position.

10. The security package according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is formed. as a member of a piece of plastic material.

11. The security package according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes flange means formed in the housing and spaced apart from the locking compartment and extending over a portion of the article access opening, to assist in retaining the article in the container. storage compartment.

12. The security package according to claim 11, characterized in that the flange means includes a pair of flanges projecting through spaced corners of the housing; and wherein complementary shaped cuts are formed in the rear wall of the housing and are aligned with and detached from the flanges to receive the corresponding flanges of an adjacent security package to place the adjacent packages in a nested relationship.

13. The safety package according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding plate includes at least one outward projecting tongue extending through the article access opening of the storage compartment, when the sliding plate is in the position locked to block the removal of the article from the compartment.

14. The security package according to claim 13, characterized in that a cut is formed in the rear wall of the housing adjacent to the locking compartment and is aligned with the tongue, when the tongue is in the locked position to receive the tongue of a package of adjacent security, to allow adjacent packets to be placed in a nested relationship.

15. A case in combination for holding a compact disc and a security package, for holding and displaying the case, the package is characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a storage compartment of rectangular shape, complementary in size and configuration with the case, the housing is formed by spaced side walls, end walls and a rear wall, the compartment having an access opening opposite the rear wall for inserting and removing the case inside and outside the compartment; an interlocking compartment formed adjacent to the storage compartment; a sliding plate movably mounted in the locking compartment and selectively movable through at least a portion of the access opening of the storage compartment between locked and released positions to releasably hold the case in the storage compartment; at least one deflectable tab that is formed in one of the locking compartment and sliding plate and a block formed in the other of the locking compartment and the sliding plate and engages with the deflectable tab to releasably hold the sliding plate in the locked position; and releasing access opening means formed at one end of the locking compartment to receive a release key, to release tongue from the block, to allow the sliding plate to move to the released position.

16. The combination according to claim 15, characterized in that the deflectable tab comprises a plurality of flexible tabs molded in spaced relation within the locking compartment.

17. The combination according to claim 16, characterized in that the block at least for locking the deflectable tab during selective movement of the sliding plate in the locking compartment, includes a pair of spaced bars that are formed in the sliding plate.

18. The combination according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a wall extending outwardly from the locking compartment adjacent the deflectable tabs, with which wall includes openings formed aligned with the tabs.

19. The combination according to claim 18, characterized in that the sliding plate includes an end wall formed with openings that align with the openings in the wall of the interlock compartment-to define the release access opening within the interlock compartment, when the sliding plate is in the locked position.

20. The combination according to claim 15, characterized in that it includes flange means formed in the housing and spaced apart from the locking compartment and extending over a portion of the article access opening, to assist in retaining the article in the storage compartment. storage; the flange means includes a pair of flanges extending through spaced corners of the housing; and wherein complementary shaped cuts are formed in the rear wall of the housing and aligned with and spaced from the flanges to receive the corresponding flanges of an adjacent security packet to place the adjacent packages in a nested relationship.

21. The combination according to claim 15, characterized in that the sliding plate includes at least one outward projection tab extending through the access opening of the storage compartment case, when the sliding plate is in an interlocked position for block the removal of the compartment case.

22. The combination according to claim 21, characterized in that a cut is formed in the rear wall of the housing adjacent to the locking compartment and aligned with the tongue, when the tongue is in the locked position to receive the tongue of an adjacent safety package. , to allow adjacent packets to be placed in a nested relationship.

23. The combination according to claim 15, characterized in that the case is formed with a plurality of openings in selected walls; and wherein tongue means are formed on the slide plate and extend into certain openings in the case, when the slide plate is in the locked position to retain the case in the storage compartment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reusable plastic package for securely holding and exhibiting a rectangular article such as a compact disc. This reusable plastic package includes a housing having a rectangular shaped storage compartment for selectively storing an article in the compartment. The storage compartment has an access opening for inserting and removing the article inside and outside the compartment. A smaller adjacent compartment functions as a locking compartment whereby a sliding plate is slidably mounted and selectively movable through a portion of the access opening of the storage compartment, to releasably hold the article in the storage compartment. storage. Deviating locking levers are formed within the locking compartment and engage with coupling projections formed in the sliding plate, wherein the sliding plate is in the locked position to hold the article within the package because a portion of the sliding plate blocks the access opening. A key that is inserted through openings formed in the end wall of the locking compartment releases the locking levers of the projections to allow the sliding plate to move to the released position. The locking levers and projections are spaced in groups in the locking compartment and in the sliding plate, to provide space for an electronic article monitoring tag. Cuts are formed in a rear wall of the storage compartment and correspond to retention flanges and interlocking tabs complementary to an adjacent package to allow engagement of the adjacent packages.