Lockable container with merchandising features

Abstract

A lockable container that has a slot for hanging on a merchandising rack as well as an integral locking mechanism is provided. The container includes a spine coupling two covers together. The covers include recessed openings that are aligned with each other to form a slot that passes through the container when the first and second covers are closed together. The container also includes a locking member located opposite the spine for enclosing and locking an asset. The container includes a plurality of clips for retaining and securing any type of asset. A portion of the container is transparent to permit a potential customer to view the asset in the container. The container is firm, cost effective, user and environment friendly and not overly sized.

1 . A container for securing an asset therein and for hanging in a merchandising environment, the container comprising: 
 a first cover comprising a first opening;    a second cover coupled to the first cover and comprising a second opening, wherein: 
 the first and second covers are configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which, when the asset is present in the container, the container encloses the asset, and  
 the first and second openings are aligned with each other to form a slot that passes through the container when the first and second covers are in the closed configuration; and  
   a locking member that is configured to move between an unlocked configuration in which the first and second covers can move to the open configuration, and a locked configuration in which the first and second covers are locked in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first cover comprises a first recess in which the first opening is located;    the second cover comprises a second recess in which the second opening is located; and    the first and second recesses butt up against each other so that the first and second openings are contiguously aligned with each other to form the slot when the first and second covers are in the closed configuration.    
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cover comprises a plurality of clips for retaining and securing at least one asset.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is entirely internal to the container when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a locking mate arrangement operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second covers, wherein the locking member engages the locking mate arrangement when the locking member is in the locked configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the locking member is configured to be acted upon by an external key arrangement to selectively position the locking member into one of the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration with respect to the locking mate arrangement.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, polymer, thermoplastic resin, polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second covers has a transparent portion configured to permit a potential customer to view the asset in the container.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first an second covers has printing and artwork that is applied by thermal transfer film.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a hinge having a longitudinal axis, wherein: 
 the hinge is coupled to each of the first and second covers;    the first cover includes first and second bottom enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third bottom enclosure wall disposed opposite the hinge and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;    the second cover includes first and second top enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third top enclosure wall disposed opposite the hinge and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and    the top and bottom enclosure walls are disposed so that, when the second cover is closed upon the first cover, each top enclosure wall overlaps a corresponding one of the bottom enclosure walls, thereby defining, along with the hinge, a compartment for enclosing the asset.    
   
   
       11 . A container for securing an asset therein and for hanging in a merchandising environment, the container comprising: 
 a spine having a length;    a slot positioned at a point along an axis that is parallel to the spine and that does not extend beyond the length of the spine; and    a locking member located opposite the spine and configured to move between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in which, when the asset is present in the container, the container encloses and locks the asset, the locking member having a length that is substantially the same as the length of the spine.    
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a first cover coupled to the spine and comprising a first recess in which a first opening is located; and    a second cover coupled to the spine and comprising a second recess in which a second opening is located, wherein the first and second recesses butt up against each other so that the first and second openings are contiguously aligned with each other to form the slot.    
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of clips for retaining and securing at least one asset.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the locking member is entirely internal to the container when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising a locking mate arrangement that is engaged by the locking member when the locking member is in the locked configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the locking member is configured to be acted upon by an external key arrangement to selectively position the locking member into one of the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration with respect to the locking mate arrangement.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, polymer, thermoplastic resin, polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second covers has a transparent portion configured to permit a potential customer to view the asset in the container.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first an second covers has printing and artwork that is applied by thermal transfer film.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the spine has a longitudinal axis;    the first cover includes first and second bottom enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third bottom enclosure wall disposed opposite the spine and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;    the second cover includes first and second top enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third top enclosure wall disposed opposite the spine and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and    the top and bottom enclosure walls are disposed so that, when the second cover is closed upon the first cover, each top enclosure wall overlaps a corresponding one of the bottom enclosure walls, thereby defining, along with the spine, a compartment for enclosing the asset.    
   
   
       21 . A container for securing an asset therein and for hanging in a merchandising environment, the container comprising: 
 a hinge having a longitudinal axis;    a first cover coupled to the hinge, the first cover including first and second enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third enclosure wall disposed opposite the hinge and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;    a second cover coupled to the hinge, the second cover configured to be closed upon the first cover thereby defining, along with the hinge and the first, second and third enclosure walls, a compartment for enclosing the asset;    a locking member located opposite the hinge and configured to move between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in which, when the asset is present in the container, the container encloses and locks the asset; and    a slot that traverses the compartment.    
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the first cover comprises a first recess in which a first opening is located;    the second cover comprises a second recess in which a second opening is located; and    the first and second recesses butt up against each other so that the first and second openings are contiguously aligned with each other to form the slot.    
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the first cover comprises a plurality of clips for retaining and securing at least one asset.  
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the locking member is entirely internal to the container when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration.  
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 21  further comprising a locking mate arrangement operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second covers, wherein the locking member engages the locking mate arrangement when the locking member is in the locked configuration.  
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the locking member is configured to be acted upon by an external key arrangement to selectively position the locking member into one of the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration with respect to the locking mate arrangement.  
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the container is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, polymer, thermoplastic resin, polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first and second covers has a transparent portion configured to permit a potential customer to view the asset in the container.  
   
   
       29 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first an second covers has printing and artwork that is applied by thermal transfer film.  
   
   
       30 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the first, second and third enclosure walls are bottom enclosure walls;    the second cover includes first and second top enclosure walls disposed opposite each other and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third top enclosure wall disposed opposite the hinge and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and    the top and bottom enclosure walls are disposed so that, when the second cover is closed upon the first cover, each top enclosure wall overlaps a corresponding one of the bottom enclosure walls.