Security case

A locking mechanism for preventing opening of a case having two opposing sidewalls, comprising:

• a housing defining an interior component space and having a main exterior surface;
• at least one flange extending from the main exterior surface of the housing adapted to overlie a portion of the case;
• a non-movable coupling element fixed to one end of the housing and configured for releasably engaging a first coupling region of the case;
• a linearly slidable coupling element at the other end of the housing slidable between a first closed position and a second opened position, the linearly slidable coupled element extended into the interior component space of the housing and configured for engaging a second coupling region of the case;
• and
• a locking device within the interior component space of the housing for securing the linearly slidable engagement element in the first closed position, wherein
• with the main exterior surface of the housing contacting the case, the at least one flange is positioned to overlie portions of the case and the non-moveable coupling element engages said first coupling region of the housing, and the linearly slidable coupling element (i) engages the second coupling region of the case when the linearly slidable coupling element is in a closed position, and (ii) disengages from the second coupling region when moving to an open position by projecting linearly outward beyond the other end of the housing to the open position, allowing the locking mechanism to become fully separated from the case.

An anti-theft apparatus for merchandise on live display comprising:

• a case for receiving the merchandise;
• a locking mechanism for the case;
• and
• first and second latching members on the case for retaining the locking mechanism latched to the case, the locking mechanism including
• a base housing having walls defining an interior component space and having a main exterior surface,
• at least one flange extending from the main exterior surface of the base housing to overlie a portion of the case,
• a non-movable coupling element fixed to one end of the base housing and configured for engaging the first latching member on the case,
• a linearly slidable coupling element at the other end of the base housing, the linearly slidable coupling element coupled to the interior component space of the base housing, configured for engaging the second latching member of the case and slidable between open and closed positions, and
• a device in the interior component space for selectively retaining the linearly slidable coupling element closed, wherein
• with the exterior main surface of the base housing contacting the case, at least one flange is positioned to overlie a portion of the case and the non-moveable coupling element engaging the first latching member on the case, and the linearly slidable coupling element (i) when closed engages the second latching member on the case for retaining the locking mechanism, and (ii) when opening moves linearly outward from the other end of the base housing allowing the locking mechanism to be fully separated from the case.

A security device comprising:

• a case having an access opening to receive merchandise, top and bottom surfaces, and sidewall surfaces formed between the top and bottom surfaces, said sidewall surfaces forming a periphery of the case, two opposing sidewall surfaces having, respectively, first and second coupling elements near the access opening, said first and second coupling elements of common shape and size;
• and
• a locking mechanism for maintaining the case enclosed when the locking mechanism is closed, the locking mechanism being fully separable from said case when the locking mechanism is open and including
• a base housing having walls defining an interior component space,
• two flanges extending generally parallel to each other from the base housing and spaced apart from each other to receive and retain the top and bottom surfaces of said case and prevent access to at least a portion of an interior region of the case through said access opening,
• a non-moveable engagement element fixed to the base housing for releasably engaging with the first coupling element of the case,
• a linearly slidable engagement element extendable into the interior component space of the base housing for engaging the second coupling element of the case when the linearly slidable engagement element is in a first position and disengaging from the second coupling element of the case when the linearly slidable engagement extends linearly outward from the case and beyond the second coupling element to a second position, and
• a locking device within the interior component space of the base housing retaining the linearly slidable engagement element in the first position when the locking mechanism is closed and at least a portion of each opposing sidewall surfaces is surrounded by the locking mechanism.