The present disclosure generally relates to a display case. More particularly, the disclosure relates to display case with an upper portion and a lower portion that includes two receiving portions on opposite sides of the lower portion configured to receive a base of a toy.
Display cases have long been used to store and present items within. Display cases can have a portion that is transparent, so the item or items can be seen, or other display cases can be opaque on the exterior.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, may be had by reference to examples, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical examples of this disclosure, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective examples.
Various examples of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will understand that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Although illustrative implementations of one or more examples are illustrated below, the disclosed device can be implemented using any number of techniques. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative examples, drawings, and techniques illustrated herein, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
Unless otherwise specified, any use of any form of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and can also include indirect interaction between the elements described. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” The term “transparent” means able to be seen through or not opaque. The term “substantially” means being largely but not necessarily wholly, for example, substantially transparent means that the material can be seen through but does not necessarily have to be clear. Additionally, substantially is an inclusive term that covers something that is true to form. For example, substantially cylindrical includes both cylindrical items and those items that are nearly or largely cylindrical. The term “inside” refers to a portion of an object that is within the confines of the object itself. The term “outside” refers to a portion of an object that is configured to be exposed at least partially and includes at least the most external surface of the object.
A display case includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the upper portion and the lower portion are connected, items can be stored and displayed within the display case. The upper portion has a rim defining an opening, a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the rim, and a curvilinear portion extending from the substantially cylindrical portion and terminating in a substantially flat portion. The upper portion is substantially transparent. The lower portion includes a first surface having a first receiving portion formed therein, a sealing surface extending from the first surface and configured to be inserted into of the opening and engage with the substantially cylindrical portion, and a second surface opposite the first surface which forms a second receiving portion. The first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are substantially the same size and configured to receive a base of a toy. The base of the toy can be friction fit into the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion interchangeably.
The display case can be used in at least two configurations. In a first configuration, the base of the toy is received in the first receiving portion and the upper portion is frictionally engaged with the sealing surface of the lower portion. Accordingly, the toy is enclosed and displayed within the display case in the first configuration. In the second configuration, the upper portion is oriented so that the flat portion is configured to contact a plane, for example furniture, and the second surface faces upward from the plane. The base of the toy can be received in the second receiving portion on top of the display case, and other items, such as other toys, office supplies, or jewelry, can be contained and displayed in the upper portion.
An example of a display case 1 is shown in
The upper portion 100 is substantially transparent. In at least one example, the upper portion 100 can be clear or tinted one or more different colors, such as yellow or green, but maintains a level of transparency so that items within the display case 1 are still visible. The upper portion 100 can be made of polycarbonate where the upper portion 100 is substantially shatter-proof and is not toxic. In other examples, the upper portion 100 can be made of any suitable material or polymer that is safe for children and is substantially transparent, for example a combination of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), or glass.
The upper portion 100 is configured to be coupled with the lower portion 200, as shown in
The lower portion 200 includes a first surface 212 which has a first receiving portion 214 formed therein. The first receiving portion 214 is configured to be coupled with a base of a toy. The first receiving portion 214 can be a recess that is formed in the first surface 212. In other examples, the first receiving portion 214 can be a magnetic element that is configured to couple with a magnetic element of a toy. In yet other examples, the first receiving portion 214 can be a protrusion that is configured to be received in a base of a toy. The first receiving portion 214, as illustrated, is substantially circular but can be any other suitable shape such as rectangular, ovoid, or triangular. The first receiving portion 214 is shaped and has a depth D1 to receive a base of an item such as a toy by friction fit. In other examples, the first surface 212 can have more than one first receiving portions 214 formed therein.
The lower portion 200 has a sealing surface 216 which extends from the first surface 212. The sealing surface 216 is configured to be inserted into of the opening 104 and engage with the substantially cylindrical portion 106. As can be seen in
As shown in
As shown in
The lower portion 200 can include a top portion 210 and a bottom portion 250 as shown in
The top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 form an internal structure 300 within the lower portion 200, as shown in
The bottom portion 250, as shown in
The plurality of receptacles 355 can include a plurality of flat pads 358 formed on the inside 356 of the receptacles 355. The plurality of flat pads 358 are configured to provide a friction fit when the pegs 305 are inserted. Each receptacle 355 can include six flat pads 358 to create a hexagonal shape on the inside 356 of the receptacles 355. In other examples, the receptacles 355 can include one or more flat pads 358. The flat pads 358 are flexible and compressible such that, when the pegs 305 are inserted, the flat pads 358 are compressed and create a friction fit. In at least one example, an adhesive can be included to adhere the flat pads 358 to the inside 356 of the receptacles 355. Further, an adhesive can be used to further fasten the pegs 305 within the receptacles 355.
Other methods can be used to connect the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250. In one example, the thicknesses of the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 are different such that the protruding portions 306, 360 of the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 can contact one another. The pegs 305 and the receptacles 355 may be excluded. The protruding portions 306, 360 can be coupled together by adhesive. In other examples, the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 can be coupled by snap fit. In yet other examples, the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 can be coupled by ultrasonic welding.
The lower portion 200, including the top portion 210 and the bottom portion 250 can be made of a polymer, for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). In at least one example, the first surface 212, the second surface 252, and the tab 256 can have an elastic material 270 coupled thereto. The elastic material can be co-molded on the first surface 212, the second surface 252, and the tab 256. In other examples, the elastic material 270 can be coupled to or co-molded on one or any combination of the first surface 212, the second surface 252, and the tab 256. In yet other examples, the elastic material 270 can be coupled to or co-molded on only portions of the first surface 212, the second surface 252, and the tab 256. For example, the elastic material 270 can be coupled to or co-molded on only the first receiving portion 214 and/or the second receiving portion 254. In at least one example, the elastic material 270 can be silicon which can further be coated with texture paint. In other examples, the elastic material 270 can include thermoplastic urethane, thermoplastic urethane and cross-linked silicone rubber, or soft polyvinyl chloride. The elastic material 270 assists in providing a conformance fit with a base 20 of a toy 2, as shown in
The upper portion 100 is connected to the lower portion 200 such that the toy 2 is enclosed within the display case 1. The toy 2 and the sealing surface 216 are inserted inside the opening 104 of the upper portion 100, and the sealing surface 216 is frictionally engaged with the substantially cylindrical portion 106 of the upper portion 100.
The display case 1 can also be utilized in another configuration 600, as shown in
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2498757 | High | Feb 1950 | A |
2987843 | Anthony | Jun 1961 | A |
3533503 | Keats | Oct 1970 | A |
3935944 | Wilson | Feb 1976 | A |
4552264 | Quarrell | Nov 1985 | A |
5082110 | Hager | Jan 1992 | A |
5358101 | Lombardi | Oct 1994 | A |
5791075 | Martell | Aug 1998 | A |
6047833 | Salomon | Apr 2000 | A |
6209720 | Chen | Apr 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180055249 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |