Anti-theft display container for magnetic tape cartridge

Claim 2

An elongated container suitable for displaying one or more magnetic tape cartridges comprising, in combination: a one-piece transparent tray and cover differential-pressure formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, each of said tray and cover having side and end walls and a bottom or top wall, one of said tray and cover being slightly smaller dimensionally than the other and inserted therein to form a fully enclosed container, one of said tray and cover including means defining one or more partitions integral therewith, said partitions forming a pair of longitudinally spaced compartments, one of said compartments corresponding dimensionally to a tape cartridge for receiving and holding same, said tray and cover when positioned together forming an elongated container substantially longer than the tape cartridge confined therein.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said one compartment corresponds dimensionally to receive and hold an eight-track cartridge; and the other one of said compartments corresponds dimensionally to receive and hold a four-track tape cartridge.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein the height and width of said container corresponds to the height and width of an eight-track tape cartridge such that when an eight-track tape cartridge is positioned in said one compartment, it is completely confined in said container against movement relative thereto.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein said other of said compartments includes differential-pressure formed, irregularly shaped portions formed in one of said bottom and top wall of one of said tray or cover to form a seat means integral with one of said tray or cover which along with one of said partitions indexes a four-track tape cartridge within said container against movements relative thereto.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said tray and cover intermediate said side and end walls is generally planar and include intersecting fluted portions to increase the resistance to bending and other deflections caused by vertical or transverse loads or impacts.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 wherein the depth of said intersecting portions is dissimilar.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said intersecting fluted portions are of different lengths, the larger of said portions having a depth greater than the shorter portions.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said planar portions of said cover includes a window portion for displaying the contents of said cartridge confined within said container.

Claim 10

A plastic container adapted for packaging, protecting and displaying a magnetic tape cartridge, said container being substantially larger than the cartridge confined therein to inhibit theft thereof, said container comprising in combination: a one-piece tray and cover differential-pressure formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, each of said tray and cover having a generally planar portion interconnected to side and end walls, the planar portion of said tray forming the bottom of said container and the planar portion of said cover forming the top of said container, said side and end walls extending at right angles to said planar portions, one of said tray and cover being slightly smaller dimensionally than the other to permit the side and end walls to fit inside each other forming said container, one of said tray and cover including differential pressure formed means defining one or more partitions integral therewith, said partitions forming a first compartment selectively receiving and holding an eight-track cartridge and a second compartment for receiving and holding a four-track cartridge such that when either of said cartridges are enclosed within said container, they will not move relative to the container, the second compartment including differential pressure formed seating and spacing means for compensating for the dimensional variation between the eight-track and four-track tape cartridges.

Claim 11

A plastic container adapted for packaging, protecting and displaying a magnetic tape cartridge, said container being substantially larger than the cartridge confined therein to inhibit theft thereof, said container comprising in combination: a one-piece tray and cover differential-pressure formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, each of said tray and cover having a generally planar portion interconnected to side and end walls, the planar portion of said tray forming the bottom of said container and the planar portion of said cover forming the top of said container, said side and end walls extending at right angles to said planar portions, one of said tray and cover being slightly smaller dimensionally than the other to permit the side and end walls to fit inside each other forming said container, one of said tray and cover including differential pressure formed means defining one or more partitions integral therewith, said partitions forming a first compartment selectively receiving and holding an eight-track cartridge and a second compartment for receiving and holding a four-track cartridge such that when either of said cartridges are enclosed within said container, they will not move relative to the container, the second compartment including differential pressure formed seating and spacing means for compensating for the dimensional variation between the eight-track and four-track tape cartridges.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 9 wherein the height and width of said container corresponds to that of an eight-track tape cartridge, and the planar portions of said tray and cover include intersecting fluted portions vacuum-formed integrally with said tray and cover which fluted portions increase the resistance to bending and other deflection caused by vertical and transverse loads or impacts.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 10 wherein said intersecting fluted portions are of different lengths, the longer of said portions having a depth greater than the depth of said shorter portions.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 10 wherein the planar portion of said cover includes transparent portions defining a window aligned respectively with each compartment for displaying the contents of the tape cartridge confined therein.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 9 wherein said means defining one or more petitions are formed on said tray bottom and include a central portion extending upwardly from the bottom, the lateral extending side of said partition facing said first compartment forming an abutment surface with an eight-track cartridge when positioned in said first compartment.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 13 wherein said seating and spacing means are likewise formed on said tray bottom and include one or more laterally extending portions having dissimilar heights from said bottom, said portions of lesser height forming said seat for a four-track cartridge, said portions having a greater height forming said spacing means.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 14 wherein the bottom surface of a four-track cartridge abuts against the top surface of said portions of lesser depth when positioned in said second compartment and the sides of said four-track cartridge abut against the longitudinally extending vertical surfaces of said portions of greater depth.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 14 wherein said portions of greater depth are positioned on each end of said laterally extending portions to provide a lateral stop against which the sides of the four-track cartridge abut when positioned in said second compartment, said lateral stops indexing the four-track cartridge between the side walls of said tray to prevent relative lateral movemeNt of said cartridge relative to said tray.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 14 wherein one of said laterally extending portions of lesser height includes a longitudinally extending central portion terminating in a raised portion which provides a longitudinal stop against which a four-track cartridge abuts when positioned in said second compartment, said longitudinal stop indexing a four-track cartridge between one end wall of said tray to prevent longitudinal movement of said cartridge relative to said tray.