Security storage container

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6832498
  • Patent Number
    6,832,498
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 29, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 21, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
The invention generally provides a security storage container for items of recorded media. The device automatically closes and locks when the item of recorded media is inserted into the security storage container. A locking mechanism having dual locking fingers is used to hold the device in the locked configuration. The security storage container may be configured to allow compact discs and DVD jewel boxes and other storage containers to be loaded in a “spine-out” configuration while fully displaying the front cover of the storage container.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Technical Field




The present invention generally relates to anti-theft security devices for recorded media and, more particularly, to an anti-theft security storage container that fits around the item of recorded media and includes a internal slide having a locking tab that locks the item of recorded media in the container. Specifically, the present invention relates to an anti-theft security storage container having an internal slide that automatically moves to the closed and locked position when the item of recorded media is inserted into the container and automatically moves out of the way of the item of recorded media when the device is unlocked and being opened.




2. Background Information




Retail establishments must display items of recorded media such as CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, and video game cartridges in security devices that carry electronic article security (EAS) tags. The security devices prevent shoplifters from removing the EAS tags from the recorded media and stealing the recorded media. Many different devices are known in the art to lock EAS tags to items of recorded media. In general, the art desires that the devices be as small as possible so that shelf space is not occupied by the security container. The art also desires that the security containers are easy to load and unload so that automated equipment may be used to load the devices and so that sales clerks will not be hampered in removing the media for sale. Another problem in the art is that sharp or abrupt ledges in the security devices can catch and tear the thin plastic layer that surrounds jewel boxes and other items of recorded media. The art thus desires a security storage container that can be quickly loaded with automated equipment while protecting the thin plastic layer surrounding the item of recorded media.




Another problem in the art is that some types of security storage containers allow a shoplifter to access the end opening of a typical jewel box or DVD storage container. Shoplifters have learned that they can cut the plastic wrapping around the storage container and pry open the end opening and remove a CD or DVD from the storage container without needing to break the security device. Although some prior art security devices allow the retail store owners to load the items of recorded media in a “spine-out” configuration that prevents access to the storage containers, some retail establishments find this configuration undesirable because the front cover of the item of recorded media is then hidden behind the main wall of the security storage container that typically holds the EAS tag. The art thus desires a security storage container configuration that will prevent access to the end opening of the container while allowing the front surface of the storage container to be fully displayed without interference from other parts of the security container.




Another problem in the art of security storage containers is that the UPC symbols on the backs of the items of recorded media can be hidden or obscured by angled edges when the item of recorded media is disposed in the security storage container. The art desires a security storage container configuration that will not block access to the UPC code and that will not distort the scanability of the UPC code.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention generally provides a security storage container for items of recorded media. The device automatically closes and locks when the item of recorded media is inserted into the security storage container. The invention may be loaded and locked with automated equipment.




In one embodiment, the invention provides a locking mechanism having dual locking fingers that cannot be easily defeated by a shoplifter.




In another embodiment of the invention, the security storage container includes a relatively large, uninterrupted rear surface that allows product identification and information labels to be scanned by scanning devices without interference from the security storage device.




Another embodiment of the invention provides a security storage container that allows compact discs and DVD jewel boxes and other storage containers to be loaded in a “spine-out” configuration while fully displaying the front cover of the storage container.




The invention also provides a security storage container that has a smooth entrance that protects the thin plastic layer around the storage container when the storage container is being loaded into the device.




The invention also provides a security storage container that is relatively small compared to the item of recorded media so that the security storage container does not occupy a large amount of shelf space. The invention also provides a security storage container that nests together with other security storage containers to minimize storage and shipping space.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the security storage container of the present invention holding an item of recorded media in the form of a CD jewel box in the locked position;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the frame of the security storage container with the slide removed;





FIG. 2A

is a view taken along line


2


A—


2


A of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the locking mechanism;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the slide;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of the slide showing the bottom surface that cooperates with the locking mechanism;





FIG. 6

is a top view of the bottom wall of the security storage container showing the lock mechanism and the slide retainers;





FIG. 7

is a sectional view taken along line


7





7


of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is a view similar to

FIG. 6

with the slide in place;





FIG. 9

is a sectional view taken along line


9





9


of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 11

is a view similar to

FIG. 8

showing the slide being moved from the unlocked position to the locked position;





FIG. 12

is a sectional view taken along line


12





12


of

FIG. 11

;





FIG. 13

is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of

FIG. 12

;





FIG. 14

is a view similar to

FIG. 8

showing the slide in a locked position;





FIG. 15

is a sectional view taken along line


15





15


of

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 16

is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of

FIG. 15

;





FIG. 17

is a side view, partially in section, of the security storage container being placed on a key to open the locking mechanism;





FIG. 18

is a view similar to

FIG. 17

showing the key being used to unlock the locking mechanism;





FIG. 19

is a view similar to

FIG. 17

showing the slide being moved toward the unlocked position;





FIG. 20

is a view similar to

FIG. 17

showing the slide moving out of the path of the item of recorded media in the unlocked position;





FIG. 21

is a side view of two security storage containers being placed together for display or storage;





FIG. 22

is a side view of two security storage containers being nested together;





FIG. 23

is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of the security storage container of the present invention holding an item of recorded media in the form of a CD jewel box in the locked position; and





FIG. 24

is a rear view of the device in FIG.


23


.




Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The first embodiment of the security storage container or keeper of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral


10


in the accompanying drawings. Security storage container


10


is designed to lock around an item of recorded media


12


or a storage container


12


for an item of recorded media as depicted in the drawings. Once locked around item of recorded media


12


, security storage container


10


may not be removed from item


12


without breaking container


10


or using a specially designed key


14


(FIGS.


17


-


20


). In accordance with the objectives of the present invention, security storage container


10


automatically closes and locks when item


12


is inserted into container


10


. In accordance with other objectives and advantages of the invention, security storage container


10


allows item


12


to be easily removed from container


10


when key


14


is used to unlock the device.




Security storage container


10


includes a frame


16


designed to fit around item


12


. In the drawings, item


12


is depicted as a CD jewel box. Container


10


may be used to lock items of recorded media


12


other than CD jewel boxes. For instance, frame


16


may be configured to hold DVD storage containers, video cassette storage containers, cassette tape storage containers, or video game cartridge storage containers. The CD jewel box and corresponding frame


16


are provided as an exemplary embodiment and do not limit the scope of the invention.




Frame


16


generally includes a top wall


18


, a bottom wall


20


, a rear wall


22


, a front wall


24


, and a back wall


26


. Back wall


26


preferably includes an inset portion


25


that is defined by a ledge


27


. Inset portion


25


provides space for an EAS tag


90


.




Front wall


24


preferably includes three spaced apart elements that allow the front of the item of recorded media to be readily viewed through security storage container


10


to allow the consumer to easily view and read the graphics on item


12


. Front wall


24


is disposed to the left of the access opening


32


so that the open end


33


(

FIG. 1

) of item


12


is accessible through access opening


32


when item


12


is locked in security storage container


10


. End opening


33


refers to the end of item


12


that may be opened to remove the recorded media from the storage container. When the front


35


of the item of recorded media is disposed in the large opening through front wall


24


, the hinge


37


of item


12


is disposed against back wall


22


. This configuration is referred to as the “spine-in” configuration. This configuration was discussed in the Background of the Invention section above and allows the shoplifter access to end opening


33


to potentially remove the item of recorded media from storage container


12


without breaking security storage container


10


. An alternative configuration as depicted in

FIGS. 23 and 24

and is discussed in more detail below.




Front wall


24


includes a pair of corner flanges


28


and a front flange


30


. The upper corner flange


28


extends between top wall


18


and rear wall


22


. The lower corner flange


28


extends between bottom wall


20


and rear wall


22


. Front flange


30


extends between top wall


18


and bottom wall


20


. Flanges


28


and


30


extend over a sufficient portion of item


12


to prevent item


12


from being removed from security storage container


10


through the large opening of front wall


24


.




Access opening


32


(

FIG. 2

) allows item


12


to be inserted into and removed from security storage container


10


. Access opening


32


is defined by front flange


30


, bottom wall


20


, back wall


26


, and top wall


18


. Access opening


32


is preferably just large enough to receive item


12


and a slide


40


that moves longitudinally along bottom wall


20


. The snug size of access opening


32


is somewhat alleviated by making top wall


18


slightly thinner adjacent access opening


32


as indicated by the numeral


39


. Area


39


is joined with the remaining portion of wall


18


by a smooth ramped portion


41


that is configured to not tear the plastic that is typically wrapped around item


12


.




Slide


40


includes a lock tab


42


that extends at least partially across access opening


32


when slide


40


is in the locked position as depicted in FIG.


1


. Lock tab


42


extends from a body


44


that is configured to bend out of the way of item


12


when slide


40


is moved to the unlocked position as depicted in FIG.


9


. To achieve this objective of the invention, body


44


is formed with a curve at its outer end as depicted in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. Body


44


is fabricated from a material that is flexible enough to allow the curved end to straighten when slide


40


is moved to the locked position as depicted in

FIGS. 12 and 15

. When slide


40


is in the locked position as depicted in

FIG. 15

, body


44


functions as a loaded spring that relaxes when slide


40


is moved to the unlocked position. The spring action of body


44


automatically disengages lock tab


42


from item


12


as depicted in

FIGS. 19 and 20

. The automatic disengagement allows item


12


to be easily removed from security storage container


10


because the sales clerk needs only to place security storage container


10


on key


14


and pull item


12


out of security storage container


10


. The removal of item


12


from container


10


is a single step process. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, slide


40


is fabricated from a fiber or glass-filled material such as vinyl, plastic, or another polymer so that it will be strong while remaining flexible through the life of container


10


. In other embodiments, different materials may be used without departing from the concepts of the present invention although the materials must be able to be molded to fit the tolerances of container


10


while maintaining sufficient spring properties to provide the automatic disengagement with item


12


.




Slide


40


further includes a rear tab


46


disposed on the opposite end of body


44


than lock tab


42


. Rear tab


46


causes slide


40


to automatically move from the unlocked position to the locked position when item


12


is inserted into container


10


. Rear tab


46


may abut the inner surface of rear wall


22


or may be disposed in a notch


47


formed in rear wall


22


. Notch


47


allows item


12


to abut wall


22


when item


12


is inserted into container


10


.




Security storage container


10


further includes a locking member


50


that holds slide


40


in the locked position with respect to frame


16


. Locking member


50


includes at least one flexible locking finger


52


that locks slide


40


in the locked position when slide


40


is pushed entirely into frame


16


. In this position, locking finger


52


engages a first locking ledge


54


formed in the bottom of slide


40


. Locking finger


52


may be secured to wall


20


of frame


16


in any of a variety of known manners. Ledge


54


is preferably bounded on both sides by lateral locking walls


56


disposed longitudinally on both sides of ledge


54


. Walls


56


prevent locking finger


52


from moving laterally out of slide


40


when locking finger is in the locked position.




In the preferred embodiment of the invention, locking member


50


includes first locking finger


52


and a second locking finger


58


extending up from a lock frame


60


. Lock frame


60


is preferably formed from spring steel with fingers


52


and


58


punched and formed directly from frame


60


. Second locking finger


58


engages a second locking ledge


62


formed in slide


40


when slide


40


is in the locked position. Second locking ledge


62


is also disposed between walls


56


to prevent finger


58


from moving laterally. Second locking finger


58


provides additional security to container


10


and helps foil shoplifters who attempt to pick container


10


.




Slide


40


includes a third locking ledge


64


disposed between second locking ledge


62


and rear tab


46


. Third locking ledge


64


prevents slide


40


from being pulled out of frame


16


when item


12


is being removed from container


10


. Ledges


62


and


64


as well as fingers


52


and


58


are spaced to allow slide


40


to move to the unlocked and open position with lock tab


42


out of the way of item


12


when fingers


52


and


58


engage ledges


62


and


64


to stop the outward movement of slide


40


.




The front portion of bottom wall


20


is preferably curved downwardly as indicated by the numeral


66


to help slide


40


move downwardly when it moves to the unlocked and open position. Slide


40


includes a corresponding end portion


68


having a tapered thickness so that the bottom surface of slide


40


stays in contact with the upper surface of bottom wall


20


while slide


40


is disposed in frame


16


.




Slide


40


is retained in frame


16


by front


70


and rear


72


retaining members that extend over front


74


and rear


76


ledges formed in slide


40


. Rear retaining members


72


project forwardly from back wall


26


. Front retaining members


70


extend upwardly and rearwardly from bottom wall


20


. Another front retaining member


70


extends rearwardly from front flange


30


. A further front retaining member


70


extends rearwardly from lower corner flange


28


. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, four front retaining members


70


and two rear retaining members


72


are used to form a slide cannel that slidably receives slide


40


. Ledges


74


and


76


allow members


70


and


72


to securely retain slide


40


without extending above the upper surface of slide


40


.




The bottom portion of back wall


26


(referenced by numeral


77


) and the vertical portion of retaining members


70


(referenced by numeral


79


) are free of openings that would allow a shoplifter to tamper with locking member


50


. Portions


77


and


79


are solid, continuous walls that block all access to locking member


50


through the sides of container


10


.




Slide


40


further includes a rear ramp


81


that facilitates the installation of slide


40


into frame


16


. Rear ramp


81


is formed along ledge


74


as shown in FIG.


4


. Slide


40


further includes a locking stop


83


that projects upwardly from ledge


74


. Locking stop


83


is positioned along slide


40


such that it engages one of retaining members


70


when slide


40


is in the unlocked and open position as depicted in FIG.


8


. Stop


83


works in cooperation with the engagement of locking fingers


52


and


58


to prevent slide


40


from being removed from frame


16


. Stop


83


is ramped allowing it to be inserted into frame


16


.




Corner flanges


28


and front flange


30


are spaced apart far enough to allow back wall


26


to nest between flanges


28


and flange


30


as shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

. Each flange


28


and


30


preferably includes an angled inner surface that allows containers


10


to be slid apart without catching on one another. Back wall


26


includes corner openings


80


that receive corner flanges


28


when containers


10


are nested together. Back wall


26


is also sized to allow front flange


30


to nest with back wall


26


. The nesting configuration saves shelf and storage space when multiple containers


10


are stacked together.




Front flange


30


has a wider base


82


that covers lock tab


42


when slide


40


is in the locked position. Base


82


prevents a shoplifter from prying at lock tab


42


from the side with a pry bar. Base


82


is also angled to prevent a shoplifter from striking base


82


on the edge of a display case in order to break lock tab


42


. Top wall


18


includes an angled end


84


that allows the user of container


10


to pull the top corner of item


12


when removing item


12


from container


10


.




In accordance with another objective of the present invention, back wall


26


is substantially uninterrupted to allow information on the rear of item


12


to be easily scanned by scanning devices without being interrupted by an edge that distorts the scanning light beams. In addition, the existing corners are formed with sharp edges with a 0.010 radius to minimize distortion during scanning.




Container


10


is loaded by first moving slide


40


to the open and unlocked position as depicted in

FIGS. 8 and 9

. An item of recorded media


12


may then be slid into container


10


until item


12


engages rear tab


46


. As shown in

FIG. 9

, tab


42


is moved down out of the slide path so that tab


42


does not interfere with the loading of container


10


.

FIG. 9

depicts how the upper edge of tab


42


is disposed below the upper surface of the portion of slide


40


that remains inside frame


16


. The upper edge of tab


42


is thus disposed below the lower surface of item


12


so that item


12


may slide directly out of frame


16


with tilting item


12


.




Item


12


is then pushed farther into container


10


moving slide


40


with it. Tab


42


automatically moves into its locked position as shown in FIG.


12


. Item


12


is pushed into container


10


until locking member


50


engages slide


40


to lock it inside frame


16


. Item


12


is then securely locked with within container


10


. An EAS tag


90


(

FIG. 15

) may be fastened to one of item


12


and container


10


in a location where EAS tag


90


may not be removed when item


12


is locked in container


10


. Container


10


and item


12


are thus secure unless a shoplifter can break frame


16


.




Item


12


is removed from container


10


using key


14


. Key


14


includes at least one appropriate magnet


92


. In other embodiments, key


14


may include a magnet


92


for each locking finger


52


and


58


. Magnets


92


are preferably disposed under a wall


94


on key


14


so that a shoplifter cannot easily ascertain the position and shape of magnet


92


.




Bottom wall


20


is brought into contact with wall


94


so that magnet


92


is aligned with and attracts locking fingers


52


and


58


. The magnet attraction moves fingers


52


and


58


from the locked position depicted in

FIG. 17

to the unlocked position depicted in FIG.


18


. The user then moves item


12


outwardly as shown in FIG.


19


. Lock tab


42


eventually disengages item


12


as shown in

FIG. 20

allowing the user to completely remove item


12


from container


10


.

FIG. 20

also shows that locking fingers


52


and


58


will snap into slide


40


to prevent it from being removed with item


12


.




The second embodiment of the security storage container or keeper of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral


200


in

FIGS. 23 and 24

. Security storage container


200


functions similarly to security storage container


10


described above and includes essentially all of the same structural elements as security storage container


10


. As such, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the structural elements even though the front


24


and back


26


walls are reversed allowing security storage container


200


to be used in a “spine-out” configuration. In security storage container


200


, front


35


of item


12


may be viewed through the large opening of front wall


24


that is disposed to the right of access opening


32


. This configuration allows the hinge or spine


37


of item


12


to be disposed in access opening


32


with the end opening


33


of item


12


safely positioned adjacent wall


22


. This configuration frustrates shoplifters while allowing front


35


to be clearly viewed by the customer. The configuration also allows the information along the spine of item


12


to be read through access opening


32


.




Accordingly, the improved security storage container apparatus is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.




In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.




Moreover, 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 shown or described.




Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the security storage container is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A security device for displaying an item of merchandise; the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially designed key is used to open the security device; the item of merchandise having at least one side; the security device comprising:a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise; the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment; a slide carried inside the storage compartment; the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions; the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends; a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide; the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position; a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame; the locking mechanism includes two resilient locking fingers that extend up from a common lock frame; each locking finger being a thin resilient metal tab; the common lock frame being a thin metal frame; the locking fingers being punched from the common lock frame; the locking fingers being configured to move between locked and unlocked positions wherein the locking fingers engage the slide at spaced locations when the locking fingers are in the locked position; wherein the slide defines two locking ledges each bounding a side of a pair of respective depressions formed in the slide; the locking fingers engaging the locking ledges when the slide is in the locked position; and wherein the slide further defines a pair of lateral locking walls disposed adjacent the locking ledges to prevent the locking fingers from moving laterally with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the slide when the locking fingers are engaged with the locking ledges.
  • 2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a bottom wall; the slide being disposed adjacent the bottom wall; the bottom wall having a front portion adjacent the access opening; the front portion of the bottom wall being curved downwardly away from the access opening.
  • 3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the outer end of the slide is curved so that the lock tab moves down away from the storage compartment when the slide is moved to the unlocked position; the lock tab including an upper edge; the slide being sufficiently curved to move the upper edge of the lock tab below the upper edge of the portion of the slide that remains within the frame such that the item of merchandise may be easily removed from the frame.
  • 4. The security device of claim 3, wherein the curved outer end of the slide is straightened when the slide is in the locked position.
  • 5. The security device of claim 4, further comprising a rear tab connected to the inner end of the slide; the rear tab adapted to be engaged by the item of merchandise when the item of merchandise is inserted into the storage compartment to move the slide from the unlocked position to the locked position.
  • 6. The security device of claim 2 herein the bottom wall has an upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface of the front portion of the bottom wall being substantially flat and the upper surface of the front portion of the bottom wall being curved downwardly away from the access opening.
  • 7. The security device of claim 2 wherein the slide has a tapered end portion corresponding to the curved front portion of the bottom wall so that the bottom surface of the slide is in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall when the slide is in the locked position.
  • 8. The security device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the locking fingers engages the slide to prevent the slide from sliding out of the frame.
  • 9. The security device of claim 8, wherein the frame includes a retaining member that engages the slide to retain the slide on the frame; the slide including a stop that is positioned to engage the retaining member to help prevent the slide from sliding out of the frame.
  • 10. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a top wall having a middle portion having a thickness and a front end adjacent the access opening; the front end of the top wall having a thickness less than the thickness of the middle portion such that an item of merchandise may be more easily loaded into the storage compartment.
  • 11. The security device of claim 10, wherein the top wall defines a smooth ramped portion disposed between the front end of the top wall and the middle portion of the top wall.
  • 12. The security device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes:a back wall and a front wall disposed opposite the back wall; the front wall defining a viewing opening that allows the consumer to directly view one of the at least one side of the item of merchandise without looking through a wall of the frame; the viewing opening exposing substantially all of the one of the at least one side of the merchandise; the viewing opening being positioned to the right of the access opening and the back wall being disposed to the left of the access opening such that a hinged item of merchandise may be displayed in a spine out configuration with the front of the merchandise being viewed through the viewing opening.
  • 13. The security device of claim 1 wherein each locking finger has an upper surface and the depressions each have a surface which is complementary to the respective upper surfaces of the locking fingers to prevent the locking fingers from bending during an attempt to move the slide out of the locked position.
  • 14. A security device for displaying an item of merchandise; the security device securely holding an EAS tag with the item of merchandise so that the item of merchandise cannot be removed from the EAS tag without breaking an element of the security device unless a specially designed key is used to open the security device; the item of merchandise having at least one side; the security device comprising:a frame adapted to receive and at least partially surround the item of merchandise; the frame defining a storage compartment and an access opening through which the item of merchandise may be loaded into the storage compartment and unloaded from the storage compartment; a slide carried inside the storage compartment; the slide having a body which abuts the item of merchandise when the item of merchandise is disposed in the storage compartment; the slide movable between locked and unlocked positions; the slide having an inner end and an outer end and a longitudinal dimension extending between the inner and outer ends; a lock tab connected to the outer end of the slide; the lock tab blocking a portion of the access opening when the slide is in the locked position such that the lock tab is adapted to prevent the merchandise from being unloaded from the storage compartment when the slide is in the locked position; the outer end of the slide being curved so that the lock tab moves down away from the storage compartment when the slide is moved to the unlocked position; the lock tab including an upper edge; the slide being sufficiently curved to move the upper edge of the lock tab below the upper edge of the portion of the slide that remains within the frame such that the item of merchandise may be easily removed from the frame; and a locking mechanism disposed between the slide and the frame.
  • 15. The security device of claim 14 wherein the slide body has an upper surface and includes front and rear ledges and the frame includes front and rear retaining members that extend respectively over the front and rear ledges without extending above the upper surface of the slide body.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/215,586 filed Jun. 30, 2000; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/215586 Jun 2000 US