Security storage container

Abstract

A lockable security storage container includes a container having a base and a lid hingedly connected to the base and movable between opened and closed positions. A lock slide is slidable between locked and unlocked positions to lock and unlock the container. The lock slide engages both the lid and base when the lock mechanism is in the locked position. The lock slide is encased within the container when the lock slide is in both the locked and unlocked positions.

1 . A security storage container comprising:
 a container body having a base and lid;   the base having a front wall;   the container body having an area for holding an article of merchandise to be locked inside the container;   the lid being connected to the base with a hinge; the hinge being disposed on the opposite side of the base from the front wall of the base;   the lid being movable between open and closed positions;   the closed position of the lid adapted to enclose the area for holding the article of merchandise;   a lock slide carried by the container body and slidable back and forth between unlocked and locked positions;   the lock slide engaging the lid and base when the lock slide is in the locked position to lock the lid to the base in the closed position;   at least two magnetically-movable locking fingers adapted to lock the lock slide in the locked position;   the magnetically-movable locking fingers being spaced apart along the length of the lock slide;   each of the locking fingers being movable between locked and unlocked positions under the influence of a magnetic field;   the lock slide and the magnetically-movable locking fingers being entirely enclosed within the container body when the lock slide is in both the locked and unlocked positions and when the lid is in the closed position; and   the front wall of the base defines an opening; a portion of the lock slide being exposed through the opening in the front wall of the base.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall defines a recessed central area; the opening in the front wall being disposed in the recessed central area of the front wall. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lock slide is carried by the base of the container body and the container further comprising a pair of spaced hooked lock fingers connected to the lock slide; the hooked lock fingers engaging the lid when the lock slide is in the locked position. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lock slide is disposed between the area for holding merchandise and the front wall of the base. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and lid are free of openings aligned with the magnetically-movable locking fingers. 
   
   
       6 . A security storage container comprising:
 a container body having a base and lid;   the base having a front wall;   the container body having an area for holding an article of merchandise to be locked inside the container;   the lid being connected to the base with a hinge;   the hinge being disposed on the opposite side of the base from the front wall of the base;   the lid being movable between open and closed positions;   the closed position of the lid adapted to enclose the area for holding the article of merchandise;   a lock slide carried by the container body and slidable between unlocked and locked positions;   the lock slide engaging the lid and base when the lock slide is in the locked position to lock the lid to the base in the closed position;   at least one magnetically-movable locking finger adapted to lock the lock slide in the locked position;   the locking finger being movable between locked and unlocked positions under the influence of a magnetic field;   the lock slide and the locking finger being entirely enclosed within the container body when the lock slide is in both the locked and unlocked positions and when the lid is in the closed position; and   the front wall of the base defines an opening; a portion of the lock slide being exposed through the opening in the front wall of the base.   
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the front wall defines a recessed central area; the opening in the front wall being disposed in the recessed central area of the front wall. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lock slide is carried by the base of the container body and the container further comprising a pair of spaced hooked lock fingers connected to the lock slide; the hooked lock fingers engaging the lid when the lock slide is in the locked position. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base and lid are free of openings aligned with the magnetically-movable locking fingers. 
   
   
       10 . A security storage container comprising:
 a container body having a base and lid;   the base having a front wall;   the container body having an area for holding an article of merchandise to be locked inside the container;   the lid being connected to the base with a hinge;   the hinge being disposed on the opposite side of the base from the front wall of the base;   the lid being movable between open and closed positions;   the closed position of the lid adapted to enclose the area for holding the article of merchandise;   a lock slide carried by the container body and moveable between unlocked and locked positions;   the lock slide engaging the lid and base when the lock slide is in the locked position to lock the lid to the base in the closed position;   at least one magnetically-movable locking finger adapted to lock the lock slide in the locked position; the magnetically-movable locking finger being movable between locked and unlocked positions; and   the lock slide and the magnetically-movable locking finger being entirely enclosed within the container body when the lid is closed and when the lock slide is in both the locked and unlocked positions with no portion of the lock slide extending from the container when the lock slide is in the unlocked position.   
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the lock slide is positioned between the area for holding an article of merchandise and the front wall of the base when the lid is in the closed position. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the front wall of the base defines an opening; a portion of the lock slide being accessible through the opening in the front wall of the base. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the front wall defines a recessed central area; the opening in the front wall being disposed in the recessed central area of the front wall. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the lock slide is carried by the base of the container body and the lock slide includes a pair of spaced hooked lock fingers; the hooked lock fingers engaging the lid when the lock slide is in the locked position. 
   
   
       15 . A method for protecting and delivering an item of recorded media to a user; the method comprising the steps of:
 locking an item of recorded media in a lockable media storage container that has a lock that moves between locked and unlocked positions; the locked position of the lock preventing the storage container from being opened;   allowing the user to access the locked media storage container;   moving the lock to the unlocked position without removing the lock from the container when the user consumer wishes to depart with the item of recorded media; and   allowing the consumer to depart with the item of recorded media in the lockable media storage container with the lock in the unlocked position.