IP Library Granted Patent US 8,201,425
Granted Patent B2
US 8,201,425 · App. 11/449,398 · Granted Jun 19, 2012

Hub lock for media disc storage container

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,201,425
App. No.
11/449,398
Granted
Jun 19, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lock member includes a body having a lower surface below which a male lock pin projects in an orientation that allows it to be received in a female lock member. The lower surface is continuous, entirely surrounds, and is spaced from the lock pin. The spacing provides room to receive the upper portion of the disc retaining hub. The ring-shaped planar portion may rest directly against or closely adjacent the upper surface of a media disc. In one configuration, the ring-shaped planar portion spaces the lock pin from an EAS tag chamber. The configuration of the lock member increases the likelihood that the media disc will be damaged during a physical attack on the lock member.

Claims (31)

1. A hub lock that is adapted to cooperate with a secondary lock member to lock a media disc to a disc retaining hub within a media storage container; the hub lock comprising:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the lower surface is opposite the upper surface and defines an underside of the body for directly engaging the media disc that is being locked to the disc retaining hub by the hub lock and secondary lock member;

a lock member carried by and extending downwardly from the body beyond the lower surface of the body; the lock member extending downwardly from the body at a location spaced from the lower surface of the body; the lock member adapted to be locked to the secondary lock member to secure the hub lock to the secondary lock member;

a portion of the lower surface of the body being a continuous lower surface that extends entirely around the lock member; and

the body also defining an EAS tag holder; the EAS tag holder defining an EAS tag chamber and an EAS tag chamber opening adapted to allow the EAS tag to be inserted into and removed from the EAS tag chamber; the EAS tag chamber opening opens to the media disc when the hub lock is locking the media disc to the disc retaining hub to limit access to the EAS tag chamber opening; a portion of the continuous lower surface being disposed directly between the lock member and the EAS tag chamber opening to separate the EAS tag chamber opening from the lock member.

2. The hub lock of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wing projecting outwardly from the body over a portion of the continuous lower surface of the body; the continuous lower surface of the body defining a through hole aligned downwardly from the wing.

3. The hub lock of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of diametrically opposed wings projecting outwardly from the body; the EAS tag holder having a longitudinal dimension disposed parallel to a reference line bisecting both of the wings.

4. The hub lock of claim 1 , wherein the body has a height above the lower surface of the body; the EAS tag holder having a height; the height of the EAS tag holder being less than the height of the body.

5. The hub lock of claim 4 , wherein the EAS tag holder has a lower surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the body.

6. The hub lock of claim 1 , wherein the EAS tag holder is connected to the body with a neck; the body having an outer dimension; the width of the neck being less than the outer dimension of the body.

7. A hub lock that is adapted to cooperate with a secondary lock member to lock a media disc to a disc retaining hub within a media storage container; the hub lock comprising:

a body defining a concave recess adapted to receive a portion of the disc retaining hub when the hub lock is locking a media disc to the disc retaining hub;

an elongated male lock member extending downward from the body and adapted to pass through the disc retaining hub that holds the media disc and lockingly engage the secondary lock member; a portion of the elongated male lock member disposed in the concave recess;

an EAS tag holder connected to the body;

the EAS tag holder defining an EAS tag chamber and an EAS tag chamber opening adapted to allow the EAS tag to be inserted into and removed from the EAS tag chamber; the EAS tag chamber opening opens to the media disc when the hub lock is locking the media disc to the disc retaining hub to limit access to the EAS tag chamber opening;

the EAS tag holder having an outer wall that surrounds the EAS tag chamber; and

the EAS tag chamber being separated from the concave recess by at least a portion of the outer wall of the EAS tag holder such that the outer wall of the EAS tag holder is disposed between the EAS tag chamber and a portion of the elongated male lock member.

8. The hub lock of claim 7 , further comprising at least one wing projecting outwardly from the body above another portion of the body; the body defining a through hole aligned downwardly from the wing.

9. The hub lock of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of diametrically opposed wings projecting outwardly from the body; the EAS tag holder having a longitudinal dimension disposed parallel to a reference line bisecting both of the wings.

10. The hub lock of claim 7 , wherein the body has a lower surface and a height above the lower surface of the body; the EAS tag holder having a height; the height of the EAS tag holder being less than the height of the body.

11. The hub lock of claim 10 , wherein the EAS tag holder has a lower surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the body.

12. The hub lock of claim 7 , wherein the EAS tag holder is connected to the body with a neck; the body having an outer dimension; the width of the neck being less than the outer dimension of the body.

13. A hub lock that is adapted to cooperate with a secondary lock member to lock a media disc to a disc retaining hub within a media storage container; the hub lock comprising:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the lower surface is opposite the upper surface and defines an underside of the body for directly engaging the media disc that is being locked to the disc retaining hub by the hub lock and secondary lock member;

a lock member carried by and extending downwardly from the body; the lock member extending downwardly from the body at a location spaced from the lower surface of the body; the lock member adapted to be locked to the secondary lock member to secure the hub lock to the secondary lock member; and

the body defining an EAS tag holder; the EAS tag holder defining an EAS tag chamber and an EAS tag chamber opening adapted to allow the EAS tag to be inserted into and removed from the EAS tag chamber; the EAS tag chamber opening opens to the media disc when the hub lock is locking the media disc to the disc retaining hub to limit access to the EAS tag chamber opening.

14. The hub lock of claim 13 , wherein the body defines a concave recess disposed about a portion of the elongated male lock member; the EAS tag chamber being separate from the concave recess.

15. The hub lock of claim 13 , wherein a hub lock height is defined between the upper surface and the lower surface of the body; the EAS tag holder having a height; the height of the EAS tag holder being less than the hub lock height.

16. The hub lock of claim 13 , wherein the EAS tag holder has a lower surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the body.

17. The hub lock of claim 13 , wherein the EAS tag holder is connected to the body with a neck; the body having an outer dimension; the width of the neck being less than the outer dimension of the body.

18. The hub lock of claim 13 , further comprising at least one wing projecting outwardly from the body and the body defining a through hole aligned downwardly from the wing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2009
From: NEXPAK CORPORATION; NEXPAK HOLDINGS LLC; AEI ACQUISITION LLC; ATLANTA PRECISION MOLDING CO., LLC; JMC ACQUISITION LLC; EPM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: AUTRONIC PLASTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023177/0259 →