Security Disk Protective Enclosure

Abstract

A container for a disk having a central opening includes a base having a pedestal for holding the disk, a hingedly connected lid, and a laterally spaced pair of latches for locking the container closed. Also disclosed are interior partitions of the base and lid that have edgewise proximal engagement, a disk presser structure for holding edge extremities of the disk in place during mishandling of the container, and rib members that block entry of a destructive blade in an endwise path through regions of facing contact adjacent to living hinges of the container.

1 . A container for a disk of the type having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising:
 (a) a case comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected for opening and closing of the case, and a holder structure for engaging the central opening of the disk; and   (b) a latch structure comprising a latch member, the latch member and one of the base and lid portions being formed for snap engagement therewith, with the latch member being movably supported between a first position wherein the latch member also engages the other of the base and lid portions in a closed condition of the case for preventing opening of the case, and a second position permitting opening of the case.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the base and lid portions is formed with a detent projection for yieldably holding the latch member in one of the first and second positions thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the detent projection is one of a spaced pair of detent projections for yieldably holding the latch member in each of the first and second positions. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the latch member in the snap-engaged condition thereof is slidably supported on the one of the base and lid portions. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the latch member comprises an armature member a plurality of headed support prongs projecting from the armature member, each of the prongs having snap sliding engagement with a guide slot formed in the one of the base and lid portions. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the one of the base and lid portions is formed with a detent projection located for contacting one of the headed support prongs of the latch member to yieldably hold the latch member in one of the first and second positions thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a latch prong projecting from the latch member, the latch prong entering an L-shaped slot formed in the other of the base an lid portions when the case is manipulated to the closed condition with the latch member in the second position. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a spaced pair of latch structures. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the latch structures are oppositely handed and laterally aligned, wherein the latch members are moved toward each other in one of the first and second positions, and away from each other in the other of the first and second positions. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the first positions of the latch members is moved towards each other. 
   
   
       11 . A container for a disk of the type having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, a data region of the disk extending inwardly from a radial distance D within the outer perimeter, the container comprising:
 (a) a case comprising a base having a base panel portion, and a lid, the base and the lid being hingedly connected for opening and closing of the case, a pedestal structure projecting forwardly from the base panel portion for engaging the central opening of the disk on a pedestal axis, and an edge support structure projecting forwardly from the base panel portion and being adapted for contacting the rear surface of the disk outside of the data region, a portion of the edge support structure extending forwardly of the front disk surface in concentric relation to the pedestal axis; and   (b) a disk presser structure having a pair of tab members for contacting the front surface of the disk outside of the data region, the disk presser structure moving to an open condition during opening of the case and moving to a clamping condition wherein the tab members project downwardly within the portion of the edge support that extends forwardly of the front surface of the disk during closing of the case.   
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the tab members is fixedly supported relative to the lid. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , further comprising a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion, and wherein at least another of the tab members is rigidly supported relative to the spine portion. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the distance D is approximately 1.5 mm. 
   
   
       15 . A container for a disk of the type having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising:
 (a) a case comprising a base, a lid, and side wall portions, the base and the lid having respective base and lid panel portions and being hingedly connected for opening and closing of the case, and a holder structure for engaging the central opening of the disk, the case having a case length and a case width in the closed condition thereof, the case length being arbitrarily greater than the case width for hindering concealment of the container, the lid including means for yieldably clamping an article other than the disk against the lid panel portion;   (b) the lid further comprising a first lid partition extending from the lid panel portion downwardly in a transverse direction relative to one of the case length and width for confining the article within a compartment having a compartment length being substantially less than the one of the case length and width in the closed condition of the case; and   (c) the base further comprising a first base partition extending from the base panel portion upwardly generally in line with the first lid partition and having proximate contact therewith in the closed condition of the case for enhanced confinement of the article within the compartment.   
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first lid and base partitions extends respectively to sidewall portions of the lid and base for enhanced structural integrity of the case. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the one of the case length and width is the case length. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the first lid and base partitions are spaced substantially from one end of the case, the case further comprising respective second lid and base partitions in parallel spaced relation to the first lid and base partitions and spaced from an opposite end of the case. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , further comprising a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion between the first and second lid and base partitions. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein sidewall portions of at least one of the base and lid portions have endwise overlapping proximal engagement with opposite ends of the spine portion in the closed condition of the case for enhanced security of the container against theft of the disk. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the spine portion extends lengthwise beyond the first and second lid and base partitions in facing relation to sidewall portions of the at least one of the base and lid for further enhanced security of the case. 
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein each of the base and lid portions has proximal facing contact with the spine portion within respective base and lid contact regions along corresponding side edges of the spine portion in a closed condition of the case, the case further comprising:
 (a) a base rib member rigidly projecting from one of the base and spine portions along the base contact region for blocking the base contact region; and   (b) a lid rib member rigidly projecting from one of the lid and spine portions along the lid contact region for blocking the lid contact region,   thereby preventing entry of a bladed instrument into the case through the base and lid contact regions for enhanced security of the container against theft of the article.   
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the proximate contact between the first lid and base partitions is substantially inclined relative to the base panel portion for further enhanced confinement of the article within the compartment. 
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the first lid and base partitions have overlapping edge portions in the closed condition of the case for further enhanced confinement of the article within the compartment. 
   
   
       25 . A container for an article, comprising:
 (a) a case comprising integrally formed base, lid, spine, and side wall portions, the base and the lid portions having respective base and lid panel portions and being hingedly connected to the spine portion along opposite side edges thereof for opening and closing of the case, each of the base and lid portions having proximal facing contact with the spine portion within respective base and lid contact regions along corresponding side edges of the spine portion in a closed condition of the case;   (b) a base rib member rigidly projecting from one of the base and spine portions along the base contact region for blocking the base contact region; and   (c) a lid rib member rigidly projecting from one of the lid and spine portions along the lid contact region for blocking the lid contact region, thereby preventing entry of a bladed instrument into the case through the base and lid contact regions for enhanced security of the container against theft of the article.   
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the rib members are formed on the spine portion. 
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein sidewall portions of at least one of the base and lid portions have endwise overlapping proximal engagement with opposite ends of the spine portion in the closed condition of the case for enhanced security of the container against theft of the disk.