Lockable box

Abstract

A lockable box ( 2 ) for a DVD or other disc has at least two releasably interengageable locking members ( 10,20 ) ( 110,120 ) which, when interengaged, prevent the box from being opened. The locking members are entirely contained within the box when the box is closed, and they can be disengaged only with the use of a special tool.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A lockable box for a pre-recorded data carrier, the box comprising: 
 a first box member and a second box member which are adjustable between a closed position in which they co-operate to define a substantially closed box, and an open position in which the inside of the box is accessible to permit a pre-recorded data carrier to be inserted into or removed from the box;    each box member having a locking member;    at least one of the locking members being adjustable between a locked position in which, when the box members are in the closed position, the locking members interengage so as to prevent the box from being opened, and an unlocked position in which the locking members permit the box members to be moved from the closed position to the open position; wherein    the locking members are entirely contained within the box members when the box members are in the closed position, and the adjustment of the locking member to the unlocked position is achievable only with the use of a special tool.    
     
     
         2 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking member on the first box member is movable relative to the first box member and the locking member on the second box member is fixed relative to the second box member.  
     
     
         3 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the movable locking member is pivotable between the locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         4 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of one of the locking members comprises a ferrous material whereby the said locking member can be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by means of a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         5 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fixed locking member on the second box member comprises an upright member which has a hole in which the movable locking member engages when adjusted to the locked position.  
     
     
         6 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second box members are each provided with two locking members.  
     
     
         7 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein two of the locking members are movable and two of the locking members are fixed.  
     
     
         8 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first box member has a single movable locking member and the second box member has a plurality of fixed locking members each of which engages with the said single locking member when the box members are in the closed position and the single locking member is adjusted to the locked position.  
     
     
         9 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein at least a part of each movable locking member comprises a ferrous material whereby they can be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by means of a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         10 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the said ferrous material is a permanent magnet and the magnets are arranged with like poles facing in substantially the same direction.  
     
     
         11 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first box member is provided with an upright member having a hole therein, whereby when the box members are in the closed position and the movable locking member is in the locked position, the movable locking member is disposed through both the hole in the said upright member and the hole in the fixed locking member.  
     
     
         12 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 4 , which has at least two opposed edges, wherein the said locking members are adjustable to the locked position by swiping one edge along a suitable magnet and wherein the said locking members are adjustable to the unlocked position by swiping the opposite edge past a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         13 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 12 , which has two opposed long edges and two opposed short edges, wherein the said one edge and the said opposed edge are the long edges.  
     
     
         14 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first box member and the second box member have substantially the same external dimensions.  
     
     
         15 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the movable locking members cannot be adjusted from a locked position to an unlocked position without overcoming a predetermined minimum resistive force.  
     
     
         16 . A lockable box as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least part of the predetermined minimum force is provided by a resiliently deformable detent.  
     
     
         17 . A lockable DVD box, comprising: 
 a first box member and a second box member which are adjustable between a closed position in which they co-operate to define a substantially closed box, and an open position in which the inside of the box is accessible to permit a DVD to be inserted into or removed from the box;    at least one of the box members being provided with a mount for releasably securing a DVD thereon;    the box being provided with two spaced apart releasable locking mechanisms, each comprising a locking member provided on the first box member and a locking member provided on the second box member;    at least one of each of the locking members in both locking mechanisms being adjustable between a locked position in which, when the box members are in the closed position, the locking members interengage so as to prevent the box from being opened, and an unlocked position in which the locking members disengage; wherein    the locking members are entirely contained within the box members when the box members are in the closed position, and the adjustment of the locking members to the unlocked position is achievable only with the use of a special tool.    
     
     
         18 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the locking members on the first box member are movable and the locking members on the second box member are fixed.  
     
     
         19 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable locking members are pivotable between the locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         20 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein at least a part of each movable locking member comprises a ferrous material whereby they can be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by means of a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         21 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein each locking member has a first end and a second end, each end being provided with a ferrous insert or attachment whereby the said locking members can be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by means of a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         22 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein both locking members have a ferrous insert or attachment which is a permanent magnet, the magnets being arranged with like poles facing in substantially the same direction, whereby the said locking members can be reversibly adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by means of a suitably orientated magnet.  
     
     
         23 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the box members have two opposed long edges and are connected together by a hinge along one of the long edges; and    the locking members are arranged so that they are adjustable from the locked position to the unlocked position by swiping one of the said long edges of the box past a suitable magnet.    
     
     
         24 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable locking members are slidable between the locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         25 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 17 , further including a DVD mounted on the said mount and the box being shrouded in a shrink-wrap material.  
     
     
         26 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 25 , further including a remotely-deactivatable alarm tag within the box.  
     
     
         27 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the locking members are adjustable from the unlocked position to the locked position by swiping one of the said long edges of the box past a suitable magnet.  
     
     
         28 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the movable locking members cannot be adjusted from a locked position to an unlocked position without overcoming a predetermined minimum resistive force.  
     
     
         29 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein at least part of the predetermined minimum force is provided by a resiliently deformable detent.  
     
     
         30 . A lockable DVD box as claimed in claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first box member and the second box member are formed from a substantially opaque material.  
     
     
         31 . A lockable DVD box which has at least two releasably interengageable locking members which, when interengaged, prevent the box from being opened, the locking members being entirely contained within the box when the box is closed, and being disengageable only with the use of a special tool.