PROTECTIVE FRAME

Abstract

The present invention is a protective frame which provides a solution to the problem of protecting collectable items while on display. The protective frame includes a base and a detachable cover. The base includes an indent into which a collectable item or other item to be secured and protected may be secured. The detachable cover connects to the base with an elastic connection mechanism, such as a magnet, and extends beyond the sides of the base. The detachable cover is detached when the protective frame receives a shock by falling from a wall to the ground or for any other reasons.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is a protective frame, which provides a solution to the problem of protecting collectable items while on display.

BACKGROUND

Various forms of protective cases exist for collectable items such as trading cards and comic books. Graded collectible items often include a protective plastic case around the collectable item. Graded collectible items often have to be regraded if the protective plastic case has to be replaced. The grading process requires an expert and can be costly and time consuming.

In order to prevent the protective case from being damaged, protective devices exist for these protective plastic cases. However, these protective cases often provide insufficient protection for the collectible item when the frame is accidentally dropped from a wall or other high place to the ground.

SUMMARY

The disclosed device is a protective frame for collectible items comprising a base and a detachable cover. The device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the detachable cover absorbs shocks by being detached from the base when the frame receives the shocks. More specifically, the frame is unique due to the presence of an elastic connection between the detachable cover and the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an example perspective front view of a protective frame.

FIG. 1B is an example perspective rear view of the protective frame of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective front view of the protective frame of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective rear view of the protective frame of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a base of the protective frame of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the protective frame of FIGS. 1A-1B taken at the sectioning plane and in the direction indicated by section lines 4-4.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the protective frame of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used—to the extent possible—in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range including that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range, including that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose limits include both numbers. For example, “25 to 100” means a range whose lower limit is 25, upper limit is 100, and includes both 25 and 100.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

FIG. 1A shows an example perspective front view of a frame 100 showing the side of a detachable cover 200. FIG. 1B shows an example perspective rear view of the protective frame showing the side of a base 300. The detachable cover 200 cooperates with the base 300 to enclose a collectible item 400 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B. The collectible item 400 is securely wrapped by a top protective case 420 and a bottom protective case 430, collectively called a protective case 410, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B. If the collectible item 400 is a graded collectible item, the frame 100 retains the collectible item 400 as it is contained inside the protective case 410 without having to open or modify the protective case 410. Therefore, there is no need to regrade the collectible item 300 when it is taken out of the frame 100 and redecorated. The top protective case 420 is usually made of transparent plastic material such that the contents of the front cover of the collectible item 400 may be visible. As shown in FIG. 1A, the detachable cover 200 has an opening its center in a generally rectangular shape such that the top protective case 420 is exposed through which the contents of the front cover of the collectible item 400 may be visible.

The detachable cover 200 and the body 300 may have other shapes than a rectangle or have additional design effects added thereon as well. The detachable cover 200 and/or the body 300 may be made of durable materials including plastic, wood, metal, plaster, or other similar materials.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the base 300 may include a rim 310 and a collectible item receptacle 320. The rim 310 may be flat and extend around the collectible item receptacle 320. The base 300 may also include a hanging hole 330 at the center of the rear side of the base 300. The hanging hole 330 may be used to hang the frame 100 on the wall in cooperation with a nail, a hook, or any other hanging objects secured on a wall or any other objects. In some embodiments, there may be more than one hanging hole. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the detachable cover 200 is in a concave shape receiving the base 300 in its hollow structure. There is a gap 340 between the inside perimeter of the detachable cover 200 and the outside perimeter of the base 300. In some embodiments, there may be a shock absorbing material (not shown) along the gap 340. The shock absorbing material may be made of soft plastic material, rubber, or foam providing cushion against sudden mechanical shocks, such as when the frame 100 falls on the ground and the position of the detachable cover 200 shifts with respect to the base 300.

In some embodiments, the detachable cover 200 is not in a concave shape. For example, the detachable cover 200 may be flat. In this embodiment, the detachable cover 200 extends larger than the exterior of the base 300, such that when the frame 100 receives a shock by falling on the ground or any other accident, the detachable cover 200 takes the first hit and receives most of the shock and slides open with respect to the base 300. In this way, the shock on the base 300 is reduced and the shocks received by the protective case 410 and the collectible item 400 that are housed in the base 300 are reduced.

FIGS. 2A-2B show example exploded views of the frame 100. FIG. 2A is a perspective view from the side of the detachable cover 200, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view from the side of the base 300. The collectible item receptacle 320 is in a hollow or concave shape at its center defining an indent to receive the collectible item 400 enclosed inside the protective case 410. In some embodiments, the indent may snuggly fit the protective case 410 without any space between the protective case 410 and the collectible item receptacle 320. In other embodiments, there is a space between the protective case 410 and the collectible item receptacle 320 where an insert 350 made of shock-absorbing material (shown in FIG. 3) such as soft plastic, rubber, or foam may be placed in the space providing additional protection against shocks. The insert 350 may cover the entire interior of the collectible item receptacle 320 or may cover only portions of sides and a back of the collectible item receptacle 320.

The shapes of the top protective case 420 and the bottom protective case 430 are exemplary only and they may be in different shapes and sizes depending on the different shapes and sizes of collectible items. There are commercially available standardized protective cases for some collectible items such as comic books, and in some embodiments, the base 300 is shaped to snuggly house one of the standardized protective cases. In some embodiments, the base 300 may have two or more collectible item receptacles 320 to accommodate two or more collectible items 400 in one frame 100.

In some embodiments, a slot 360 is located near the far end of the base 300 from the hanging hole 330. The slot 360 extends from a bottom side of the rim 310 such that one end of the protective case 410 may be slid inside the base 300 under the slot 360. After that, the other end of the protective case 410 is secured by a locking bar 500 that is inserted in a locking bar socket 370. The locking bar socket 370 may extend across a portion of the collectible item receptacle 320. In some embodiments, the locking bar 500 has a locking tongue 510 and a couple of locking clips 520, and the locking bar socket 370 has a structure corresponding to the locking tongue 510 and locking clips 520, such that the locking bar 500 may be securely attached onto the base 300. FIG. 3 shows an example top view of the base 300 showing the locking bar socket 370, the slot 360, and the insert 350. However, any other well-known method of securing a flat item in a hollow area may be used to secure the protective case 410 in the collectible item receptacle 320. For example, instead of one locking bar 500 and the slot 360, two locking bars may be attached to the opposite sides of the base 300.

Referring back to FIGS. 2A-2B, the rim 310 of the base 300 has a plurality of first connectors 600, each embedded in a first connector housing 380 or otherwise attached to the rim 310. The first connectors 600 may include magnets, sticky tack, clips, or other materials that provide a detachable, elastic connection with their corresponding second connectors 610, which is a connection that stretches and applies a restoring force as the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 are separated from each other. Each of the second connectors 610 is embedded in a second connector housing 210 in the detachable cover 200 or otherwise attached to the detachable cover 200. The second connectors 610 include magnets, sticky tack, clips, or other materials. As described above, the second connectors 610, paired with the first connectors 600, provide a detachable, elastic connection. The connection between the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 holds the detachable cover 200 and the base 300 in place.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the first connectors 600 may be located in the four corners of the base 300. In other embodiments, the first connectors 600 may be located in any and as many places as needed around the rim 310 of the base 300 in order to provide sufficient force to hold the detachable cover 200 and the base 300 together when the frame 100 is hanging on the wall or any other object.

In an exemplary embodiment, a detachable, elastic connection is made between two magnets facing each other with opposite poles. As the magnets are pulled apart the magnets continue to exert a force on each other toward each other. In another exemplary embodiment, the first connectors 600 may be magnets and the second connectors 610 may be made of ferromagnetic material, such as stainless steel. In another exemplary embodiment, a tacky substance provides an elastic connection because as the tacky substance is pulled apart, the tacky substance resists being pulled apart as it is deformed.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the first connectors 600 may have a cylindrical shape with their circular surface facing the second connectors 610. However, in other embodiments, the first connectors 600 may have different shapes with different shapes of their surfaces, including but not limited to, a square or a rectangle. The second connectors 610 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the surfaces of the first connectors 600 suitable for providing a sufficient connecting force to hold the detachable cover 200 and the base 300 together. For example, the second connectors 610 may have a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape of the first connectors 600.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the frame 100 taken at the sectioning plane and in the direction indicated by section lines 4-4 shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 4B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 4A. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, in some embodiments, the first connectors 600 protrude slightly above the surface of the base 200. For example, the first connectors 600 protrude about ⅛ of an inch above the surface of the base 200. The second connectors 610 have a concave contour facing and corresponding to the protruding surface of the first connectors 600. In an embodiment where the first connectors 600 have a cylindrical shape, the shape of the second connectors 610 may be a cylinder with a smooth depression at the center of the cylinder like a crater. Alternatively, the shape of the second connectors 610 may be a cylinder with a depression like a round tray comprised of a flat area and a slope around the flat area. The highest points of the second connectors 610 are flush with the inner surface of the detachable cover 200, such that when the detachable cover 200 closes on the base 300 there is no gap between the surfaces of the detachable cover 200 and the base 300. In some embodiments, the concave contour of the second connectors 610 are shaped in a slanted form to facilitate the detachment of the detachable cover 200 from the base 300 when there is a shock or shear force applied in the horizontal direction as indicated by a horizontal arrow 620. In these embodiments, because of the concave contour of the second connectors 610 around the protrusion of the first connectors 600, when there is a shear force applied in the direction of the arrow 620, part of the force is transformed into a force in the vertical direction as indicated by a vertical arrow 630. This vertical force allows for or helps the detachment of the detachable cover 200 from the base 300. Because the detachable cover 200 is detached from the base 300 by a shock, part of the shock is exerted only on the detachable cover 200 but not to the base 300. At the same time, the base 300 is decelerated before hitting the ground during the time the detachable cover 200 is being detached from the base 300, which reduces the impact of the shock on the base 300. In this way, the structure of the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 works as a shock absorber for the base 300, providing further protection to the collectible item 400.

A very stiff strong connector such as a peg or nail will not provide the same advantage of the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 because the stiff connector will cause the detachable cover 200 and the base 300 to decelerate at the same rate and not allow them to move relative to one another. A very fragile connector will similarly not provide the same advantage as the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 because the fragile connector will break without decelerating the base 300 before hitting the ground.

The detachable cover 200 and the base 300 may be sized and arranged for collectible items which are trading card size (generally around 2 inches by 3 inches), comic book size (generally around 7 inches by 10 inches), or any other size. The strength of the first connectors 600 and the second connectors 610 may be optimized for the weight and size of the base 300 but generally for comic book sized and trading card sized collectible items. Magnets that require a force of about 10-20 pounds to separate will provide sufficient elastic force to decelerate the base 300 such that the insert 350 can prevent damage to the protective case 410 and the collectible item 400.

Accordingly, the present description provides for various embodiments for a protective frame 100 including a detachable cover 200 and a base 300. Many uses and advantages are offered by the frame as described above in one or more non-limiting embodiments in the present description.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of any means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present invention, according to one or more embodiments described in the present description, may be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a base including a rim and a receptacle, wherein the receptacle defines an indent sized to hold an item, wherein the rim comprises a first surface and one or more first connectors disposed on the first surface; anda detachable cover including a body and one or more second connectors, wherein the body further comprises a second surface,the one or more second connectors are disposed on the second surface, andthe body defines a hollow through which the item can be viewed when the one or more second connectors are connected to the one or more first connectors and the item is in the receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the detachable cover, when the one or more first connectors are connected to the one or more second connectors, extends beyond the rim of the base.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first connectors are connected to the one or more second connectors by an elastic force.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more first connectors are connected to the one or more second connectors by a magnetic force.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more first connectors include a magnet and the one or more second connectors include a magnet.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more first connectors include a magnet and the one or more second connectors are ferromagnetic.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the detachable cover is detachable from the base by a shock.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the shock includes a force in a direction parallel to the second surface.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first connectors have a protrusion from the first surface, and the one or more second connectors are flush with the second surface and have a depressed contour corresponding to the protrusion.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first surface and the second surface touch each other when the one or more first connectors are connected to the one or more second connectors.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the protrusion is in a cylindrical shape.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the protrusion is in a cuboidal shape.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the protrusion is ⅛ of an inch.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises an insert.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the insert is a shock-absorbing material.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more locking bars.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a slot and a locking bar.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the item is enclosed in a protective case, and the indent is sized to hold the item enclosed in the protective case.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hanging hole.