The present invention relates generally to a device for preventing theft of comparatively small articles and, more particularly, a device for sealing and closing casings, such as casings for video cassettes. This sealing device may, as well, include an alarm device, or otherwise, an alarm device may be attached to the casing or to the cassette enclosed therein, in a manner such that it cannot be removed unless the sealing device has first been removed.

In shops where video tapes are held for sale or lease, problems always arise when exposing video records for inspection by presumptive purchasers, in that less honest persons may leave the shop with a casing without paying, the video casings having dimensions making it an easy matter to hide a shoplifting.

Like most articles held for sale, video cassettes and/or casings containing video cassettes may be provided with different types of alarm devices, such as radio frequency radiation sensitive cirquits, or magnetic alarms of varying design. A problem when using such types of alarm means is, however, that usually it is an easy matter for the expert to remove, or otherwise inactivate the alarm device, this because of the fact that the device must be easy accessible for deactivation or removal when sold. Consequently, such alarm means are not particularly reliable if not combined with a locking device of some kind, preventing the "visitor" from, for instance, picking the video cassette out of the casing and leave the alarm armed casing in the shop, or by other means remove the alarm device before leaving the shop.

The principal object of the invention is a device for reliably sealing the cassette casing in such a manner that it cannot be unpermittedly opened without considerable difficulty, while, at the same time, the adaption of the sealing means, as well as the removal thereof, by aid of a specific tool, shall be an easy matter, provided for with little interference with the casing, and all this effected at an acceptable expense.

Accordingly, the invention resides in a device for closing and sealing a casing, such as for instance, a video cassette casing, including at least two sections, which are closed together by means of at least two mutually adjoining surfaces, said sealing device being formed for being applied on the outside of the closed casing.

Accordingly, the invention resides in a device for sealing and closing casings, which device comprises at least two components which are mutually insertible into each other, each one including, at least two legs extending at an angle relative to each other, at least one leg on each component comprising at least one latch means engaging a corresponding leg on a second component, and a second leg pertaining to said components, grasping around the casing at such portions thereof which include said two, in the closed state of the casing another mutually adjoining surfaces, and the second leg of each one of said components comprising latch means arranged substantially perpendicular to said second leg, said latch means being arranged so as to, when the device is pushed together around the casing, enter into latching engagement with apertures or bores, which are already present in the casing or are executed in connection with the adaption of the device.

This type of device for sealing an enclosure, a video cassette casing for instance, may, of course, easily be provided with conventional markers for causing alarm in some type of shoplifting preventing anti- pilferage system. Such markers may then be embedded in the device, or in some other way incorporated in it, i.e. arranged in a manner that it is inaccessible from the outside. The casing according to the invention is reusable after having been removed from a cassette enclosed therein, the removal being an easy matter by means of a special tool designed for this purpose. In consequence of these features it will be possible in a shop to exhibit casings containing video cassettes, a measure which is not feasable due to the theft risk. It is a simple operation to apply the device onto the casing in holes arranged adjacent the adjoining edges of the casing sections. As a whole, the article is substantially intact in spite of the application of the protection device according to the invention, and in no way spoils the exposition of the article in the shop.

The accompanying drawings show the two sealing component halves, which include locking means comprising protruding toothed flanges on each half, which engage each other to interlock the halves when arranged around the adjoining closing edges of the casing. To release the sealing device, forces directed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the flanges have to be exerted onto the flanges to bring them apart, thereby releasing the flanges from each other to make possible opening of the casing.

Preferably, each one of said halves is provided with means providing encroachment in the casing and consisting in ribs extending parallel to the flanges and arranged on each of the halves on the leg exstending perpendicularly to the leg comprising said locking means adjacent the surfaces which adjoin each other when the casing is closed.

To further elucidate the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a casing with a sealing device according to the invention in open and latched positions, respectively;

Figure 2 illustrates the external section of the casing in the form of end views, wherein a) shows the internal side of the first leg of the sealing device, b) the internal side of the second leg of the sealing device, c) the external side of the first leg, and d) the external side of the second leg;

Figure 3 illustrates the external section in the form of side views and sections, in which a) is a part section along line G-G in Figure lb, b) a part section along line H-H in Figure lb, c) an end view of the external portion in the directions F-A, d) an end view of the external portion in the direction A-F, e) a section along line A-A in Figure Id, f) a section along line B-B in Figure Id, g) a section along line C-C in Figure Id, h) a section along line D-D in Figure Id, i) a section along line E-E in Figure Id, j) a section along line F-F in Figure Id;

Figure 4 illustrates the internal section of the casing, in which a) shows the internal side of the first leg, b) the internal side of the second leg, c) the external side of the first leg, and d) the external side of the second leg;

Figure 5 illustrates the internal section of the casing in the form of side views and sections, in which a) is a part section along line G-G in Figure 3b, b) a part section along line H-H in Figure 3b,

c) an end view of the internal section in the direction A-F, d) an end view of the internal section in the direction F-A, e) a section along line A-A in Figure 3d, f) a section along line B-B in Figure 3d, g) a section along line C-C in Figure 3d, h) a section along line D-D in Figure 3d, ϊ) a section along line E-E in Figure 3d, and j) a section along line F-F in Figure 3d.

The video cassette casing shown in Figure 1 is as such well known to the art.

The sealing device according to the invention comprises two sections, an external section, Figures 2 and 3, and an internal section, Figures 4 and 5. Said sections are made of some strong and durable, preferably opaque plastic with certain ductility and resilience, so that they, without being damaged, can withstand some deformation. The external section and the internal section each comprise a first leg and a second leg arranged at an angle to each other, preferably at right angles to each other.

The sealing device is arranged on the casing so as to close the opening of the casing, see Figure 1. A slot may be present on mutually corresponding sides of the casing, with which the sealing means enter into engagement.

In the following the invention will be closer elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings on which Figures 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof. The component of the device which has here been called external section, has reference numerals within the range 1-99, while the component called internal section has corresponding reference numerals 101-199 on corresponding details.

In the following description of the external section, the reference numeral of the corresponding detail on the internal section is indicated within parenthesis.

The external section will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The first leg 1 (101) is arranged perpendicularly to the second leg 2 (102) thereof. As is evident from the drawing, the first leg 1 (101) may be considered as consisting of three segments, namely two end segments with end pieces 6, 7 (106, 107) and a central segment 15. Between the respective end segments and the central segment, there are two empty spaces 40, 41, which subdivide the second leg of the external section into said three

segments. The central segment 15 consists of a substantially rectangular plate provided with flanges 16 facing each one of end segments 6, 7. The end segment provided with the end piece 6 consists of three protruding parts, a substantially rectangular plate 20 adjacent the outside of the first leg 1, the extension of the plate in both directions, particularly in the direction across the first leg, is, preferably, about half the width of the free leg (Figures 2a, c and 3j). In plate 20 there is a guide aperture 13 (113) which is effective in order to make it possible to open the casing with a device adapted for this, when bringing the internal section into engagement with the external section, and in the edge of plate 20 facing away from the second leg 2, there is a recess 31 (131) allowing for opening the sealing when the internal section is entirely brought into locking engagement with the external section.

At a distance from plate 20 (120) and parallel therewith, there is arranged a protruding tongue 23 (123) carrying end piece 6 (106) in line with the crosswise borderline of the first leg 2 (102), and, inside thereof, a protruding tongue 25 (125) comprising a toothed portion 9 (109), which is directed away from said second leg 2 (102).

The second end segment (comprising the end piece 7 (107) is in some respects similar to the first segment, the parts thereof however being joined together as a unit 28 (128). This unit consists of a plate 21 (121) corresponding to plate 20 and having a corresponding recess 32 (132) and guide aperture 14 (114). In this segment the parts corresponding to the two tongues 23, 25 (123, 125) and plate 20 (120) combined v/ith each other to unit 28. Said parts are mutually arranged so that the end piece 7 (107) is displaced from the end of the leg a distance corresponding to the width of end piece 6 (106), and the thickness of the portion corresponding to the tongues corresponds to the distance between tongues 23, 25 (123, 125) and plate 20 (120).

This unit 28 has, as well, a recess 32 (132), corresponding to the recess 31 (131) in plate 20, arranged so as to proceed all through the unit 28 (128) when put together in form of a bore 32 (132). This bore opens at the side surface of first leg 1 (101) facing second leg 2 (102) within the, in the direction away from second leg 2 (102), arranged toothed portion 10 (110).

Preferably, this toothed portion 10 (110), which is arranged on the second end segment, is somewhat wider than the toothed portion 9 (109) of the protruding tongue 25 (125). The toothed portion 10 (110) is, in con¬ sequence of the design, directed towards the first leg 2 (102), that is, the two toothed portions 9 (109) and 10 (110) are directed in opposite directions.

Preferably the toothed portions 9, 10 (109, 110) are saw-toothed and formed in a manner that a perpendicular edge of the teeth is located closer to the second leg 2 (102) than the corresponding oblique edge.

On the side surface of second leg 2 (102) facing the first leg 1 (101), there is a groove 29 (129), located substantially parallell to leg 1 (101) and substantially centrally on the free surface of leg 2, said groove 29 (129) extending along the greater part of the length of leg 2 (102). This groove 29 (129), see Figs. 2b, 4b, 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, may, as here shown, comprise a widened portion 30 (130), within which an alarm means, can be arranged to cooperate with a present supervisory system. The groove 29 (129) is arranged to prevent damaging or breaking off of leg 2 (102) when adapting or removing the sealing device.

First leg 2 (102) of the external section includes a protruding latch means 5 (105), arranged to be inserted into bores, present or arranged for in the casing.

The internal section of the device is described below with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

From Figs. 2a-d and 4a-d, as well as Figs. 3 and 5, it will be evident that the end portions of the two first legs 1 and 101 correspond with each other, and that plate 15 of the external section has its correspondence on the first leg 101 of the internal section in form of a cavity 115, which is provided with recesses 116, within which plate 15 with its flanges 16 can be inserted, the cavity 115, 116 being arranged on the two end segments in a position corresponding to the empty spaces 40, 41. in first leg 1 of the external section.

The second leg 102 of the internal section corresponds to the second leg 2 of the external section and, moreover, there is a recess 140, preferably arranged along and adjacent that surface of the first leg which faces the second leg, within which alarm means may be arranged.

When closing and sealing a wraparound enclosure, a video cassette casing for instance, the two sections of the sealing device are pushed into each other and are then guided a.o. by plate 15 on the first leg of the external section cooperating with cavity 115 in the internal section. In order to establish a firm and steady guidance, a number of recesses or grooves and flanges, which mutually engage each other, may be arranged as illustrated by the drawings.

The latching means in a sealing device according to the invention include toothed portions 9, 10, 109, 110 arranged on the respective first legs 1, 101 of the two sections. These toothed portions are, when the parts of the device are pushed together, brought into latching engagement with each other.

At the same time the protruding latch means 5 and 105 are inserted into engagement with the casing (a video cassette casing for instance) enclosed by the two first legs 1, 101 of the device.

Thereafter, this sealing device cannot be removed without access to a specific tool, having portions designed to be inserted into the apertures 13, 14 113, 114, arranged for guiding said tool. Simultaneously pin-shaped means of the tool are inserted through the throughgoing recesse/bore 32(132) to press down the tongues 25 and 125 in order to bring the toothed portions out of engagement with each other (9 out of 110 and 109 out of 10), so that the external and internal sections can be pushed apart, as the case may be by means of the tool.

Normally, this manner of opening the sealing device does not bring about damage to the casing or components of the package. The device can anew be used for sealing, in fact even without the aid of any kind of tool.

Obviously, the described preferred embodiment of the invention is only one of a plurality of such within the scope of the invention.