Patent Application
20070181445
The present invention relates, in general, to a coin holder, and, more specifically the present invention relates to a relatively compact coin holder which has separate compartments for quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.
There are a variety of coin holders that have been developed through the years. Some are designed for storage of coins by the typical person wanting a place to put coins rather than having them on a top of a dresser while others are designed for coins that would be stored by a coin collector.
Seider in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,069 describes a universal and interchangeable coin storage system in which coins are stored in modular racks.
Iverson in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,502 describes a coin holding device for domestic use having several tubes each adapted to contain coins of particular denomination and a stand for removable supporting the tubes in an upright position.
Strongwater in D 283,938 shows a design of a coin holder in which there are four compartments and in which the entire unit has a zipper closure.
Since none of the prior art meet the needs of the everyday person and his needs for coin storing it would be advantageous if there were a compact coin storing device that would store all of the common coins and not be cumbersome.
Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing coins. The apparatus comprises an elongated member having a predetermined shape. There is a first substantially cylindrical cavity having a first predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member, such first substantially cylindrical cavity is terminated at a first predetermined depth in the elongated member. There is a second substantially cylindrical cavity having a second predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member in at least one of an axially aligned position to the first substantially cylindrical cavity and beside the first substantially cylindrical cavity of the elongated member, the second substantially cylindrical cavity terminating at a second predetermined depth in the elongated member and at least one closure member engageable with the elongated member for closing an opening to such first and such second substantially cylindrical cavity.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a coin holder in which coins are stored from opposite ends of an elongated member.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin holder than can store quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies separately in the same holder.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coin holder which has a sliding closure member to prevent the coins from falling out.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coin holder that is made of plastic.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin holder that is inexpensive to manufacture.
These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
The present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for holding coins. Such apparatus (coin holder) 10 comprises an elongated member 2 having a predetermined shape. There is a first substantially cylindrical cavity 4 having a first predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member, such first substantially cylindrical cavity 4 is terminated at a first predetermined depth 6 in the elongated member 2. There is a second substantially cylindrical cavity 8 having a second predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member 2 in at least one of an axially aligned position to the first substantially cylindrical cavity 4 and beside the first substantially cylindrical cavity 4 of the elongated member 2, the second substantially cylindrical cavity 8 terminating at a second predetermined depth 12 in the elongated member 2 and at least one closure member 14 engageable with the elongated member 2 for closing an opening to such first 4 and such second substantially cylindrical cavity 8.
Further, the elongated member 4 further includes a third substantially cylindrical cavity 16 having a third predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member 2 substantially adjacent the first substantially cylindrical cavity. The third substantially cylindrical cavity 16 terminating at a third predetermined depth 18. Such elongated member 4 further includes a fourth substantially cylindrical cavity 22 having a fourth predetermined diameter formed in the elongated member 2 substantially adjacent the second substantially cylindrical cavity 8 wherein the second substantially cylindrical cavity 8 is axially aligned with the first substantially cylindrical cavity 4, the fourth substantially cylindrical cavity 22 terminating at a fourth predetermined depth 24.
It is presently preferred that such first predetermined depth 6 and such second predetermined depth 12 are substantially similar and also it is preferred that such third predetermined depth 18 and such fourth predetermined depth 24 are substantially similar. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention there is essentially the same depth for each of the four cavities and each of the cavities are designed for a specific size coin.
Such first predetermined diameter for the first cavity 4 is substantially equivalent to a diameter of a quarter and such second predetermined diameter of such second cavity 8 is substantially equivalent to a diameter of a nickel. The third predetermined diameter of such third cavity 16 is substantially equivalent to a diameter of a penny, while the fourth predetermined diameter of such fourth cavity 22 is substantially equivalent to a diameter of a dime.
Although the description and the discussion has been concerned with the storage of commonly used American coins, it is within the scope of the invention that the size of the tubes could be adjusted to accommodate foreign coins such as Canadian or European coins. The size could also be adjusted for half dollars or other sized coins.
It is also presently preferred that such predetermined shape of such elongated body 2 is substantially elliptical. Thus, as can be seen from the above description and from the drawing
Such apparatus can be made of metal, such as aluminum, steel or tinplate, or it could be made of plastic. It is presently preferred that such apparatus 10 is made of plastic. And, further, it is preferred that such plastic or such apparatus 10 have a predetermined color. The predetermined color could be virtually any color that is desired, such as, the color could be selected from at least one of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, white, black or combinations thereof.
It is also in the scope of the invention that such exterior surface of the apparatus 10 would have advertising disposed on the elongated member 2.
It is also presently preferred that there are two closure members 14 for covering the openings to the cavities. Further, it is preferred that such closure members 14 are slidable and that there be a knurled thumb grip 26 on the ends of the closure members. Also such closure members 14 further include a raised locking tab 28 on the underside of such closure member 14 to keep the closure member 24 in a closed position and thus requiring some force to move the closure member 14 to the open position.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
