Security bag and method of use

Abstract

A security bag has a storage pouch formed of an elongate panel that is folded to form a front panel and a rear panel with side edges, the side edges being attached together to form an internal chamber that has a closed bottom end formed by the fold, and leaving an access opening at a top end. The elongate panel is opaque to prevent operation of cameras of a smart phone placed within the pouch. A central portion of the front panel has a control opening that is adapted to allow access to at least part of the touch screen, while leaving the cameras covered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A security bag that securely stores a smart phone for preventing use of cameras of the smart phone, but still enables a user to have operative control access to a touch screen of the smart phone, the security bag comprising:
 a storage pouch formed of an elongate panel that is folded to form a front panel and a rear panel with side edges being attached together to form an internal chamber that has a closed bottom end formed by the fold, and leaving an access opening at a top end for accessing the internal chamber;   wherein the storage pouch is shaped, sized, and configured to receive and securely contain the smart phone, the elongate panel being constructed of an opaque material to prevent operation of the cameras of the smart phone;   a closure for covering the access opening;   a central portion of the front panel of the storage pouch having a control opening that has a height and a width that are adapted to allow access to at least part of the touch screen of the smart phone, while leaving the cameras covered;   a transparent plastic window that covers the control opening and enables operation of the smart phone via the touch screen; and   a locking mechanism that moves between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking mechanism locks the access opening closed and prevents removal of the smart phone from the storage pouch, and wherein in the unlocked position the locking mechanism may be physically detached from the storage pouch, thereby allowing removal of the smart phone.   
     
     
         2 . The security bag of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is in the form of a flap that extends from the front panel and folds over the access opening to contact the rear panel, wherein the flap has a closure hole that aligns with front and rear holes of the front and rear panels when the flap is folded over the access opening, and wherein the locking mechanism passes through all three holes. 
     
     
         3 . The security bag of  claim 2 , wherein the closure hole and the front and rear holes of the front and rear panels are formed in a lateral center of the security bag. 
     
     
         4 . The security bag of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent plastic window covers the entire front panel of the pouch. 
     
     
         5 . The security bag of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate panel is constructed of paper or plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The security bag of  claim 1 , wherein the storage pouch is constructed of flexible paper or plastic material, such that the storage pouch is adapted for single use, while the locking mechanism is retained for reuse. 
     
     
         7 . The security bag of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a front plate connected to a rear plate with a hinge, the locking mechanism further including a locking tab extending from the rear plate, and a locking pin of the front plate that lockingly engages the locking tab, the locking pin being biased towards a locked position by a spring, but movable to an unlocked position to release the locking tab and open the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The security bag of  claim 6 , further comprising a pin housing structure that extends beneath the locking tab when the locking mechanism is hinged in a closed position, the pin housing structure comprising:
 a lower sheet that extends inwardly from the bottom of the front plate;   an upwardly extending sidewall that extends upwardly from the lower sheet, behind the rear plate, so that the spring is surrounded by the front plate, lower sheet, and upwardly extending sidewall;   a first inwardly extending lip extending inwardly from the upwardly extending sidewall, and a second inwardly extending lip extending inwardly from the front plate opposite the first inwardly extending lip to form an upper opening that allows the locking pin to pass at least partially through the upper opening to engage the locking tab.   
     
     
         9 . A security bag that securely stores a smart phone for preventing use of cameras of the smart phone, but still enables a user to have operative control access to a touch screen of the smart phone, the security bag comprising:
 a storage pouch formed of an elongate panel being folded to form a front panel and a rear panel with side edges being attached together to form an internal chamber that has a closed bottom end formed by the fold, and leaving an access opening at a top end for accessing the internal chamber;   wherein the storage pouch is shaped, sized, and configured to receive and securely contain the smart phone, the elongate panel being constructed of an opaque material to prevent operation of the cameras of the smart phone;   a central portion of the front panel of the storage pouch having a control opening that has a height and a width that are adapted to allow access to at least part of the touch screen of the smart phone, while leaving the cameras covered;   a transparent plastic window that covers the control opening and enables operation of the smart phone via the touch screen;   a locking mechanism that moves between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking mechanism locks the access opening closed and prevents removal of the smart phone from the storage pouch, and wherein in the unlocked position the locking mechanism may be physically detached from the storage pouch, thereby allowing removal of the smart phone; and   a first reinforcement panel extending laterally across the flap of the closure, a second reinforcement panel extending laterally across the front panel adjacent the access opening, and a third reinforcement panel extending laterally across the rear panel adjacent the access opening, thereby preventing tearing at reinforced portions.   
     
     
         10 . The security bag of  claim 8 , further comprising a flap that has a closure hole that aligns with front and rear holes of the front and rear panels when the flap is folded over the access opening, and wherein the locking mechanism passes through all three holes and therefore the three reinforcement panels. 
     
     
         11 . A security bag configured to restrict camera use of a smartphone while allowing tactile control of the touchscreen, the security bag comprising:
 an opaque storage pouch having a front panel and rear panel joined along side edges and a bottom fold to define an internal chamber;   a transparent touch window in a central portion of the front panel positioned to overlie a touchscreen region of the smartphone while keeping camera regions covered;   a closure flap adjacent a top access opening; and   a detachable locking mechanism engageable with the closure flap to secure the smartphone within the chamber.