Lockable container for prerecorded storage media

1. A lockable container for an article, comprising a frame which has an access opening whereby an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame, and a closure member which is pivotally mounted in relation to the frame and pivotable between an open position in which an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame through the access opening and a closed position in which the closure member blocks substantially all of the access opening, the closure member housing a latch member which is axially movable within the closure member between a latched position and an unlatched position, the closure member being provided with a locking member adapted to move between a locked position at which the locking member engages the latch member in the latched position so as to retain it against axial movement, and an unlocked position at which the locking member permits axial movement of the latch member, wherein:

the frame is provided with a detent and the closure member is provided with a tab disposed adjacent to the detent when the closure member is in the closed position, and the latch member is provided with a detent disposed between and engaging with the detent of the frame and the tab when the latch member is in the latched position so as to prevent pivoting of the closure member to the open position, the detent on the latch member disengaging from the detent on the frame when the latch member is moved to the unlatched position, thereby permitting the closure member to be pivoted to the open position; and

wherein said detents on said frame and said detents on said latch member are L-shaped or hook shaped.

2. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame is provided with a plurality of detents, and the closure member is provided with a plurality of tabs which are disposed adjacent to the said detents when the closure member is in the closed position, and wherein the latch member is provided with a plurality of detents which are disposed between and engage with the detents of the frame and the tabs when the latch member is in the latched position so as to prevent pivoting of the closure member to the open position, the detents on the latch member disengaging from the detents on the frame when the latch member is moved to the unlatched position, thereby permitting the closure member to be pivoted to the open position.

3. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking member is a pin biased by spring means and movable in response to a magnetic field of suitable magnitude.

4. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the latch member is urged to the unlatched position by spring means.

5. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch member is provided with a region which is accessible to a user's finger whereby pushing on that region causes the latch member to move axially to the latched position.

6. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the closure member is pivotally connected to the frame by a hinge comprising at least one hinge housing and at least one hinge pin journaled in a blind bore in the housing, no part of the hinge pin projecting beyond the entrance to the housing.

7. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access opening is the only opening to the inside of the frame.

8. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the latch member is of unitary construction.

9. A lockable container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the closure member has external features which enable the container to be mounted in a display rack.

10. A lockable container for an article, comprising:

a frame which has an access opening having two opposed long edges and two opposed short edges whereby an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame;

a closure member which is pivotally mounted in relation to the frame and pivotable between an open position in which an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame through the access opening and a closed position in which the closure member blocks substantially all of the access opening;

the closure member housing and retaining an elongate latch member which is axially movable within the closure member between a latched position and an unlatched position along an axis parallel with said long edges;

the latch member being provided with a detent;

the frame being provided with a detent;

whereby, when the closure member is in the closed position and the latch member is in the latched position, said detent on the latch member will engage with said detent on the frame thereby preventing pivoting of the closure member;

whereby movement of the latch member to the unlatched position will cause the detents to disengage and permit pivoting of the closure member; and

the closure member being provided with a locking member adapted to move between a locked position at which the locking member engages the latch member so as to retain it against axial movement, and an unlocked position at which the locking member permits axial movement of the latch member; and

wherein said detent on the latch member is L-shaped or hook-shaped.

11. A lockable container as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the closure member is provided with a tab which is engaged by said detent on the latch member when the latch member is in the latched position so as to prevent pivoting of the closure member to the open position.

12. A lockable container as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the latch member is urged to the unlatched position by a spring.

13. A lockable container as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the latch member is provided with a region which is accessible to a user's finger whereby pushing on that region when the latch member is in the unlatched position will cause the latch member to move axially to the latched position.

14. A lockable container for an article, comprising:

a frame which has an access opening whereby an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame;

a closure member which is pivotally mounted in relation to the frame and pivotable between an open position in which an article can be inserted into or removed from the frame through the access opening and a closed position in which the closure member blocks substantially all of the access opening;

the closure member housing an elongate latch member having a long axis and which is axially movable along said long axis within the closure member between a latched position and an unlatched position;

the closure member being provided with a locking member adapted to move between a locked position at which the locking member engages the latch member in the latched position so as to retain it against axial movement, and an unlocked position at which the locking member permits axial movement of the latch member; wherein,

the frame is provided with a detent;

the closure member is provided with a tab disposed adjacent to the detent when the closure member is in the closed position, and

the latch member is provided with a detent disposed between and engaging with the detent of the frame and the tab when the latch member is in the latched position so as to prevent pivoting of the closure member to the open position, the detent on the latch member disengaging from the detent on the frame when the latch member is moved to the unlatched position, thereby permitting the closure member to be pivoted to the open position; and

wherein said detent on the frame is L-shaped or hook-shaped.