Rubbermaid Specialty Products Inc.

Alpha Enterprises, Inc.

Rubbermaid, Inc.

Matthew P Williams

David G Mann

James T Weisburn

Kevin Rausch

Dennis D Belden, Jr

James A McGill

Nicholas M Sedon

Joel C Haas

Michael D Howell

Charles E Wagner

A universal opener for use with security packages used in conjunction with cases containing compact discs, audio cassettes, video cassettes, and video game cartridges. The universal opener has three sets of three pins each, that are spaced apart so as to unlock security packages of differing designs, sizes, uses, and arrangements. The universal opener also having a lock thereon for disabling the pins such that unlocking of the security packages is prohibited.

Universal opener

A reusable plastic package for securely holding and displaying a rectangular article such as a compact disc. This reusable plastic package includes a housing having a rectangular-shaped storage compartment for selectively storing an article in the compartment. The storage compartment has an access opening for inserting and removing the article into and out of the compartment. An adjacent smaller compartment functions as a lock compartment whereby a slide plate is slidably mounted thereon and selectively movable across a portion of the access opening of the storage compartment for releasably securing the article in the storage compartment. Deflectable locking levers are formed within the lock compartment and engage with mating projections formed on the slide plate when the slide plate is in the locked position for securing the article within the package due to a portion of the slide plate blocking the access opening. A key which is insertable through openings formed in the end wall of the lock compartment disengages the locking levers from the projections to enable the slide plate to be moved to the unlocked position. The locking levers and projections are spaced apart in groups in the locking compartment and on the slide plate to provide space for an electronic article surveillance tag. Cutouts are formed in a back wall of the storage compartment and mate with complementary shaped retaining flanges and locking tabs of an adjacent package to permit nesting of the adjacent packages.

Mechanical locking mechanism for a security package

Storage container

A reusable plastic package for securely holding and displaying a rectangular article such as a compact disc includes a housing having large and small compartments formed on opposite ends for selectively storing an article in the larger of the compartments. The large compartment has an access opening for inserting and removing the article into and out of the compartment. The small compartment functions as a lock compartment whereby a lock plate is slidably mounted thereon and selectively movable across a portion of the access opening of the larger storage compartment for releasably securing the article in the larger storage compartment. Magnetically releasable locking levers are formed within the lock compartment and interengage with mating projections formed on the lock plate when the lock plate is in a selected locked position for securing the article within the package due to a portion of the lock plate blocking the access opening. Resilient arms hold the locking levers in the locked position until deflected by key. The key first deflects the arm and then disengages the locking levers from the projections to enable the lock plate to be moved to the unlocked position. The locking levers and projections are spaced apart in groups in the locking compartment and on the lock plate to provide space for an electronic article surveillance tag.

Magnetic locking mechanism for a security package

Lid for storage container

A container (20) includes a base portion (21) having a bottom surface (23), front (24) and rear (25) walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface (23), and opposed side walls (26) extending upwardly from the bottom surface (23) and, together with the front (24) and rear (25) walls, defining an open top. A cover (22) is provided to close the open top and may be selectively attached to the rear wall (25) by hinge assemblies (50) and to the front wall (24) by a latch mechanism (60). A side handle (85) is positioned in a recess (81) formed in each side wall (26) and may be pivoted from a position in the recesses (81) to the carrying position outside the recesses (81). A track (37) on the upper surface (35) of the cover (22) may be received within a platform (43) on the lower surface (36) of the cover (22) of a like container (20) to stack the same. Similarly, a chamfer (28) is formed near the periphery of the bottom surface (23) of base portion (21) and can be received within the track (37) of the cover (22) of a like container (20) to stack the same.

Lunch container

Lock for storage container

A container (20) suitable for use as a truck box for a pick-up truck, includes a base container portion (21) having an open top, and a cover (22) to close the open top. The cover (22) is pivotally attached to the base (21) by hinge mechanisms (23) which are uniquely formed by combining a hinge pin assembly (101) with a pin retaining assembly (102). The cover (22) may also be latched to the base (21) by a latch assembly (24) which includes pivotable handles (56, 57) on each end of the base (21) which, when either is pivoted, rotates latch hooks (68, 74) from a position engaging the cover (22) to a position releasing the cover, without moving the other handle. The container (20) may also receive a tray (150) therein positionable on a ledge (30) and positively located in one direction by ribs (159) and in the other direction by feet (162) positioned in depressions (38) formed between ribs (37) on the inside of the base (21). Divider plates (170) may also be positioned in those depressions (38) to divide the base (21) into compartments. The plates (170) are reinforced by one pattern of intersecting ribs (178) on one side and by a different pattern of intersecting ribs (179) on the other side.

Truck box

Sled

Growing community of inventors

N. Canton, OH, United States of America

Matthew P Williams