The present invention relates to a security device, i.e. an anti-theft safer for a cassette comprising a cassette receiving case and a locking device being adapted to releasably secure the cassette in the case. The cassette receiving case is a two-part case comprising a first cassette receiving part and a second cassette receiving part, which parts are adapted to releasably lock together with the locking device for forming the case.
Nowadays safers are used for securing for example parallellepipedic cassettes, particularly for such cassettes that are used for CD:s, DVD:s, videotapes, computer games and game consoles or the like. A safer is a security device that is mounted on the cassette and locked to the cassette so that the cassette only can be removed from the safer by authorized persons as safers are used in shops and malls for preventing cassette thefts, i.e. removing of cassettes from the shop without paying for them, and for this purpose the safer is provided with an element which trigger an alarm if the safer is moved from the shop or a defined area in the mall.
When protecting goods, one must balance the grade of security with cost and appealing looks, i.e. consumers want to be able to see the contents of a package before buying a package. It is well known to use a number of solutions in order to protect goods and to display the contents at the same time, such as lockable transparent boxes having a cassette receiving case and a locking device being adapted to releasable secure the cassette in the case. Such a box or case is disclosed in for example EP-A1-1 070 473. This solution provides means to protect a cassette, a package or a box from being opened by an unauthorized person, i.e. tampered with, by providing a cassette with an anti-theft safer in the form of an outer additional case.
However, this known solution requires a complicated device with several separate items made of different materials, e.g. a locking device in the form of a separate cover being detachable and separable from the case, which are assembled together in several steps to form the cassette safer case and that must work together to create this known anti-theft safer case. Moreover, such prior art safers are difficult to handle as the cassettes have to be inserted in narrow openings when put into the safer and there is no guiding means that guides the cassette before insertion therein requiring complicated manipulation both when inserting the cassette in the safer case and when removing the cassette from the safer case. This is due to the fact that known safers are formed by at least two separate parts that have to be held and manipulated individually, especially safers having a case and a locking device in the form of a tongue. In EP-A1-1 070 473, the case and the detachable cover forming a lid on the case when locking a cassette are not interconnected such that they form a unit, in other words, they are movable in relation to each other but they are not always coupled together during use causing a complicated manipulation of the loose cover lid when a cassette is to be removed from or inserted into the case. Furthermore, the known safers require a lot of effort during use due to the separate and loose parts when the safer is detached and assembled and also a lot of material due to the fact that the safer cases, in some cases, must have at least three sides fully enclosed. Such solutions also often require transparent safer cases for exposing the cassette to a desirable extent. They also require safer cases and locking devices that have certain dimensions relating to certain cassettes, whereby for example, if necessary, a safer caser for a DVD cassette can not securely hold a CD-cassette if the CD safer cases are out of stock. Moreover, if the prior art safer case is broken, the whole case must be replaced due to the fact that the safer case is a one-piece item. Prior art safers are therefore expensive to manufacture, to put together, and maintain, and bulky, occupying unnecessary space. More specifically, these prior art safers having separate and loose parts when the safer is opened and disassembled for receiving a cassette or to be stored as an empty safer in parts before reloading it with a new cassette are cumbersome to handle, e.g. as both hands for a cashier at a pay desk will be occupied or used when storing the separated and loose parts of this safer individually after opening and removing a cassette that is to be sold
An overall object of the invention is therefore to provide a simplified construction for a security device in the form of an anti-theft and tamper-proof safer, which comprises a two-part case with a locking device.
This object as well as further objects that will be apparent to the skilled man by the description which follows are achieved according to the invention by a security device of the kind referred to above, which is characterized by the features of the independent claims. Further features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
The security device of the present invention fulfils this object by means of an anti-theft safer for a cassette comprising a cassette receiving case and a locking device being adapted to releasably secure the cassette in the case. The case is a two-part case comprising a first cassette receiving part and a second cassette receiving part, which parts are adapted to releasably lock together with the locking device for securing the cassette in the case. The cassette receiving parts are always coupled together after assembly for forming the case both in the cassette securing position when the locking device is locked in a closed state of the safer and during cassette release or insertion when the locking device is unlocked in an open state of the safer.
In one embodiment of the anti-theft safer, the case forming and cassette receiving parts are movably interconnected, such that the parts are displaceable in opposite directions in relation to each other in the open state of the safer when the locking device is unlocked and fixed in relation to each other in the closed state of the safer when the locking device is locked.
In another embodiment, the first cassette receiving part has a female member extending in the direction of movement for the two cassette receiving parts and facing a male member of the second cassette receiving part, which female and male members are configured for displaceable interconnection in opposite directions.
In yet another embodiment, the female and male members together form an intermediate case back.
In still another embodiment, the locking device is an integrated part of the cassette receiving case, and, in one other embodiment, the locking device is an integrated part of the cassette receiving case back.
The cassette receiving parts in one embodiment are coupled together by engagement between the locking device and a retaining device both when the locking device is locked and when the locking device is unlocked.
In yet another embodiment, one of the cassette receiving parts is provided with the retaining device for engagement with the locking device on the other part for holding the parts together, and in another embodiment, one of the members is provided with the retaining device for engagement with the locking device on the other member for holding the members together.
Each of the parts of the two-part case in one embodiment has substantially the shape of a T or, in another embodiment, the shape of a L, and, in which shape, in yet another embodiment, the female and the male member form the legs of the shapes.
In still another embodiment, the two-part case is a fenestrated case.
Moreover, each of the cassette receiving parts in one embodiment comprises an cassette enclosing member for receiving at least one cassette corner, which cassette enclosing member forms a cavity having a right-angle triangle shape with the two smaller sides of the triangle closed and a cassette corner receiving opening along the hypotenuse of the triangle for receiving the cassette corner. In another embodiment, each of the cassette receiving parts comprises an cassette enclosing member for receiving at least one cassette side, which cassette enclosing member has an U-profile shape and closed ends such that the cassette side and its adjoining corners are able to be enclosed thereby.
Moreover, the anti-theft safer in another embodiment of comprises an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag.
Furthermore, a cassette receiving part for an anti-theft safer according to the invention is characterized in that the cassette receiving part is a first cassette receiving half of a two-part cassette receiving case. Moreover, a cassette receiving part for an anti-theft safer according to the invention is characterized in that the cassette receiving part is a second cassette receiving half of a two-part cassette receiving case.
In accordance with the invention, the improved security device for cassettes simplifies the manipulation, handling and assembly of a security device for cassettes, enhances the degree of security of the security device, and reduces the number of separate components that is required to form the security device. Furthermore, the inventive security device is cheap, especially to manufacture, light-weight, whereby the costs for transporting the security device is reduced, and adaptable, especially to cassettes with different dimensions. The security device reduces the number of components to be assembled for forming the device, whereby the assembly and maintenance are simplified and the associated costs for this reduced, and the storage of the components for the device simplified. Moreover, by providing the security device with a two-part case, only one part has to be replaced if broken compared to prior art safer cases where the whole case must be replaced. The invention also simplifies handling of the safer due to the fact that the whole case is formed by two complementary parts or halves that always are coupled and held together after assembly, i.e. the parts or halves is non-detachable after being assembled together, whereby for example no loose part is lost when an empty safer is stored before a reload of a new cassette or no loose part must be introduced or fitted into another part with a narrow opening when securing a cassette in the inventive safer. This saves time and effort for cashiers at a pay desk by simplifying the handling of the inventive safer compared to prior art safers as individual and loose safer parts are eliminated.
The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples of embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, of which
Referring to
The cassette receiving case 20 according to the invention is a two-part case comprising a first cassette receiving part 20a and a second cassette receiving part 20b, which parts are adapted to releasably lock together with the locking device 30 for forming the case as one unit. These parts 20a, 20b are two in relation to each other movable parts, which parts are always coupled together forming a non-detachable unit after the assembly of the case, even in the unlocked state of the safer 10. This means that the two cassette receiving parts 20a, 20b are two case halves, i.e. the case 20 is divided in a first half 20a and a second half 20b, which halves are working together with the locking device 30 for securing the cassette 11 in the two-part case 20 and form the whole non-detachable case 20 after assembly.
According to embodiments of the invention, and compared to prior art safers, the locking device 30 is arranged differently and is an integrated part of the case 20. The locking device detachably and/or releasably interlocks the two case parts 20a, 20b for forming the case both in the cassette securing position when the locking device is locked in a closed state of the safer 10 for holding and securing the cassette and during cassette release/removement or insertion/introduction when the locking device is unlocked in an open state of the safer. The locking device 30 therefore indirectly, i.e. without any separate and additional latch member (not shown) or separable covers or lids as in prior art safers, which latch member and cover contacts the cassette and which is directly effected and controlled by means of the locking device 30, also secures the cassette 11 by means of the case itself, i.e. the two-part case, eliminating the need for the additional latch or detent member or separate covers or lids as in prior art safers.
According to the invention, the case forming and cassette receiving parts 20a, 20b are movably interconnected, such that the parts are displaceable in opposite directions in relation to each other to allow introducing or removing of the cassette 11 when the locking device 30 is released (shown in
The configuration of the case 20 in accordance with the invention makes at least one dimension of the case adjustable, meaning that a box being smaller, i.e. in one dimension, e.g. the height or width is smaller than the box for which the case is adapted in size, may anyhow be securely held, of course within limits. This means that if the safer cases 20 for CD-boxes is out of stock in a store, safer cases 20 for DVD-boxes can be used, as the width and thickness of a CD-box is close to the width and thickness of a DVD-box while the height of the CD-box is smaller, due to the fact that the two case forming and cassette receiving parts 20a, 20b are displaceable in opposite directions in relation to each other such that the CD-box may be securely held by the safer 20 even though the CD-box slide inside the case 20 in a direction in parallel with the long sides of the case 20 adapted for the longer or higher DVD-boxes, but is kept secured therebetween, i.e. between the long sides.
The first cassette receiving part 20a has a female member 21 extending in the direction of movement for the two cassette receiving parts 20a, 20b and facing a male member 22 of the second cassette receiving part 20b, which female and male members are configured for displaceable interconnection in opposite directions. In one embodiment, the members together form an intermediate case back 23 (shown in
The locking device 30 is arranged in the female member 21 of the first cassette receiving part 20a but may equally also be arranged in the male member 22 of the second cassette receiving part 20b. The locking device 30 comprises two spring leaf tongues of metal that are operated by means of an external magnet (shown in
In one embodiment of the safer 10, the cassette receiving parts 20a, 20b are coupled together by engagement between the locking device 30 and a retaining device 40 both when the locking device is locked and when the locking device is unlocked, this is schematically shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the retaining device 40 has its grooves 31 shaped with a gradually varying depth in steps. This means in one embodiment that each groove has in principle two trailing edges or heels with different heights or depths (depending on from which direction the grooves are viewed) such that the locking device 30 is in engagement with one pair of trailing edges having a lower height or smaller depth when locked and in engagement with another pair of trailing edges with a higher height or larger depth when unlocked and the parts 20a, 20b are pulled as far as possible from each other. This difference in trailing edge height or depth between the grooves 31 provides the non-detachable function for the case 20 as the tongues of the locking device are always pulled in a constant distance (shown with a dash-dotted line in
Another embodiment of a retaining device 40 is shown in
In another embodiment of the invention, as shown schematically in a front view of the safer 10 in
In
Each of the female and male members 21 and 22 have a thickness that is smaller than its width, i.e. the thickness is preferably small to achieve a thin sheet-like structure and the width is preferably large, e.g. at least one fifth or fourth of the height or length of the cassette 11 to create a sufficiently sturdy and tamper-proof structure. The thickness of the members 21 and 22 may be at least 0.2 mm, or between 0.2 and 10 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 5 mm, or more preferably between 0.4 and 4 mm.
The two-part case 20 according to one embodiment of the invention is a fenestrated case, this embodiment being schematically shown in
The safer case 20 according to the invention may optionally be equipped with a suspension device, in this embodiment in the form of two keyhole-shaped openings 25 for hanging the case 20 on a wall or similar. These holes 25 are placed on the first case forming part 20a but may instead be placed on the other case forming part, i.e. the second part 20b. Moreover, in the embodiment of the safer 10 enclosing for example the long sides of a DVD cassette the suspension device is orientated as in
Moreover, there is shown an embodiment having a integrated cavity 26 or a bulge with an opening having a wave- or teeth-shaped contour in
Furthermore, the security device 10 according to the inventions is made of a plastic material. One embodiment is made of a non-transparent plastic material, another embodiment is made of a transparent plastic material, and yet another embodiment is made of an opaque plastic material. The plastic material may be for example poly carbonate (PC) or polyurethane or any other suitable plastic material.
In one embodiment of the invention comprising the first and second “receptacle” parts 20a, 20b for receiving a corner portion of the cassette 11, the first receptacle part 20a is attached, preferably integrally, to the first elongate locking member 21, the second receptacle part 20b being attached, preferably integrally, to the second elongate locking member 22, wherein said first locking member 21 is arranged to be slideably connected with said second locking member 22 and being slideable into and out of said second locking member, thereby narrowing and widening a distance between the first and second receptacle parts 20a, 20b such that in a maximum open/wide position it is possible to place the cassette 11 between the receptacle parts and in a maximum narrowed position the cassette is secured and withheld between/within said receptacle parts 20a, 20b, and where the locking members 21, 22 are lockable relatively to each other in the narrowed position by means of the locking device 30. The first and second locking members 21, 22 are attached to the receptacle parts 20a, 20b such that said locking members face a broad/wide side/face of the cassette.
In another embodiment of the invention, the safer 10 comprises the first and the second receiving receptacle 20a, 20b for receiving at least a part of an edge or corner portion of a cassette 11.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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07104070 | Mar 2007 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2008/053050 | 3/13/2008 | WO | 00 | 11/25/2009 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2008/110617 | 9/18/2008 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country |
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0458721 | Apr 1991 | EP |
0508201 | Mar 1992 | EP |
1 070 473 | Jan 2001 | EP |
2 346 870 | Aug 2000 | GB |
08 266380 | Oct 1996 | JP |
26275 | Nov 2002 | RU |
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Entry |
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International Search Report corresponding to PCT/EP2008/053050, mailed Jul. 1, 2008. |
European Extended Search Report for corresponding European Application No. 07104070.3. |
Decision to grant for corresponding Russian application No. 2009137775. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100320103 A1 | Dec 2010 | US |