Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-27
2001-09-04
Davis, Cassandra H. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Holder
C040S775000, C040S776000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282826
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains to a device for holding and protecting articles, and, more particularly, to a transparent, protective holder for storing and displaying sports cards, trading cards, game cards, photographs, and the like, and method of using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous designs have been proposed for pages that store and protect thin, substantially flat objects. These pages are typically formed from plastic and have pouches to hold the objects. Multiple pages are generally bound in releasable binders to provide an additional level of protection and to facilitate viewing of the objects stored therein. Pouches formed with an open top or side have the disadvantage of allowing objects stored therein to dislodge or fall out. Partially exposed or loose objects are easily subject to being lost, damaged, or destroyed.
Another disadvantage is the damage the page itself causes to stored objects. Collectable objects, such as rare photographs, baseball cards, and trading cards, generally increase in value as they age. Worn or bent display faces, and frayed edges and corners will substantially reduce their value. Many page designs facilitate such damage by exposing the faces and edges of stored objects to chafing. Chafing can occur, for example, when objects are being inserted into or removed from the pouch, when the pages themselves are being turned, or when pages are stored on top of each other.
More recently, very valuable or potentially valuable objects are placed within individual sleeves before insertion into the pouch. This facilitates removal and inspection without risk of soiling or damaging the object. Because a sleeved object has extra bulk, it is difficult to insert into and remove out of existing pouches. Hence, there is a need for a protective holder that securely stores and displays sleeved and unsleeved articles, and facilitates easy insertion and removal in order to minimize contact damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a transparent, protective holder for storing and displaying articles. The holder comprises a front sheet formed from transparent material and having an exterior surface and an interior surface; a back sheet having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the back sheet being attached to the front sheet to form a plurality of pockets. Ideally the pockets are sealed along all sides. Each pocket has a cut formed in the back sheet that is sized and shaped to enable insertion of an article into the pocket. The cut forms a flap on the back sheet to cover a portion of the article in the pocket. The flap includes a flap member and a tab formed on the flap member, the tab having a size and shape to enable manual grasping and lifting of the flap, thereby minimizing contact with the article during insertion and removal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a matching cutout is formed in the back sheet, and the flap is received in the cutout such that the flap is coplanar with the back sheet.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, either of the front sheet and the back sheet include holes to facilitate placement of the holder in a releasable binder.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a storage system for holding and displaying substantially thin, planar articles having a display face and a back face is provided. The storage system comprises a page formed from a front sheet and a back sheet; the front sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, an interior edge, and an exterior edge, and is formed from at least translucent, plastic material with an exterior surface and an interior surface; the back sheet formed from plastic material and having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface of the back sheet is attached to the interior surface of the front sheet along a plurality of seam lines to form one or more pockets. Ideally, each of the pockets has a rectangular shape with a longitudinal dimension greater than a transverse dimension, the longitudinal dimension defined by a pair of parallel longitudinal side seams and the transverse dimension defined by a pair of parallel transverse side seams, the longitudinal side seams and the transverse side seams sealing all sides of the pocket. Each pocket has a cut formed in the back sheet that is sized and shaped to enable insertion of an article into the pocket. The cut divides the back sheet of the pocket into a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion comprising a tab that is sized and shaped to enable manual grasping of the tab and lifting of the first portion of the back sheet of the pocket. It is to be understood, however, that other shapes may be used, such as a square shape.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, the tab of the storage system is attached to the first sheet by one of either the longitudinal side seams and the transversed side seams.
In accordance with still yet a further aspect of the present invention, the storage system further comprises at least one thin, substantially flat article having a display face and a back face, the article being slidably received within one of the pockets. The tab associated with each pocket is sized such that when the article is fully inserted within the pocket, the article holds the tab against the interior surface of the first sheet; and bending and unbending the page along the seam that attaches the tab to the first sheet urges the tab out of the pocket and against the back face of the article such that the tab is coplanar with the second portion of the pocket.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using a storage system that includes a flexible page for storing substantially thin, planar articles having a display face and a back face is provided. The page has a front sheet with an exterior surface and an interior surface, and a back sheet with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The back sheet has its interior surface attached to the interior surface of the front sheet to form a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a cut in the back sheet sized and shaped to enable insertion of the article in the pocket. The cut divides the back sheet of the packet into a first portion and a second portion and forms a tab in the first portion. The first portion is held to the front sheet by a seam. The method involves inserting the article in a selected pocket through the opening formed by the cut in the back sheet of the selected pocket such that the article holds the tab against the interior surface of the front sheet; bending the page along the seam to urge the tab out of the pocket; and unbending the page to position the tab against the back face of the article.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the method of the present invention, the method further comprises grasping the tab of a selected pocket and lifting the tab to form an opening to the pocket; and removing the article from the pocket through the formed opening.
As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the present invention securely retains articles in a pocket regardless of the orientation of the pocket. In addition, articles can be inserted into the pocket through an enlarged opening, preventing or minimizing contact between the display face of the object and the edge of the cut in the back sheet. The back of the pocket has a planar, flat surface that prevents indentation of the stored articles. Flaps are formed on the backside of the pocket, providing an unobstructed view through the front side. Pocket flaps can be lifted individually, permitting items to be inserted and removed in user-selected pockets without disturbing and risking damage to the contents of other pockets. Finally, because the holder is flat, it can be more easily inserted into a larger, thicker sheath to provide a greater level of protection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2253814 (1941-08-01), Sames
patent: 2477886 (1949-08-01), McCaskill
patent: 3245166 (1966-04-01), Hagne
Davis Cassandra H.
Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Tarleton E. Russell
LandOfFree
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