Patent Application
20060151349
Trading cards are a popular way to collect images and information about athletes and celebrities. Trading cards can also be used in card games and other activities. Unfortunately, many of the trading cards are sold and distributed in a fashion in which contents of the trading cards are not disclosed prior to the purchase of the trading card. Further, existing trading cards do not provide an element of mystery or surprise.
The present invention is directed to a trading card assembly that includes a featured trading card and a container. The featured trading card includes a first image and a second image. The container includes a container body, a viewing region and a retainer assembly. In one embodiment, the retainer assembly maintains the featured trading card near the viewing region within the container body so that the first image is visible through the viewing region and the second image is not visible through the viewing region. With this design, a portion of the featured trading card is visible while another portion is still a secret. As a result thereof, a person can purchase the trading card assembly with the knowledge of a portion of the information about the featured trading card.
In one embodiment, the retainer assembly fits in container and maintains the featured trading card spaced apart from the viewing region. The featured trading card can also include a third image that is not visible through the viewing region.
Additionally, the trading card assembly can also include a plurality of additional trading cards that are not visible through the viewing region. The additional trading cards can be retained in a plurality of packs. The retainer assembly maintains the packs below the featured trading card.
In one embodiment, the viewing region is substantially transparent and the retainer assembly includes a transparent area positioned between the featured trading card and the viewing region.
Moreover, the present invention is directed to a game that includes one or more trading cards.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
In one embodiment, the container 12 includes a container body 16 and a lid 18. In
The container body 16 and the lid 18 can be made of any rigid material, such as tin, steel or a hard plastic.
Additionally, the container 12 can include a viewing region 20 that exposes a portion of the trading card 14. In
In one embodiment, only portion of one of the trading cards 14 is visible through the viewing region 20. Stated another way, the viewing region 20 exposes a portion of the trading card 14, and hides another portion of the trading card 14. With this design, a portion of the trading card 14 is maintained in secret prior to opening the container 12. In
Further, in this embodiment, the trading card assembly 10 includes a plurality of trading cards 14 including a featured trading card 432 and a plurality of additional trading cards 434. The design of each of the trading cards 432, 434 can be varied. In this embodiment, the each trading card 432, 434 is generally flat, rectangular shaped and has a length of between 2 and 6 inches, a width of between approximately 1.5 and 4.0 inches, and a thickness of between approximately 0.0625 and 0.25 inches. For example, each trading card 432, 434 can be similarly sized and shaped as a standard trading card having a length of approximately 3.5 inches, a width of approximately 2.5 inches, and a thickness of between approximately 0.0625 and 0.1875 inches. Each trading card 432, 434 can be made of card stock.
In
In the embodiment illustrated in
In one embodiment, the images 436, 438, 440 are related to each other in some fashion.
Additionally, the trading cards 432, 434 can include card information (not shown) identifying the company that manufactures or distributes the trading card.
In one embodiment, the featured trading card 432 is an exclusive, limited production trading card while the additional trading cards 434 are less exclusive. Further, in one embodiment, the additional trading cards 434 are arranged in one or more packs 442 (only four packs are illustrated) that are retained together with a cardboard wrapping, a clear wrapping or other means. For example, the packs 442 can retain additional trading cards 434 that have similar characteristics and features. In one embodiment, the trading card assembly 10 includes six packs 442 (only four are shown) and each pack 442 includes nine additional trading cards 434. In one embodiment, the trading card assembly 10 includes a crisis booster pack, a force booster pack, a guardian booster pack, an invasion of chaos booster pack, and a sanctuary booster pack. Alternatively, the trading card assembly 10 can include more than or less than six packs 442 and one or more of the packs 442 can include more than or less than nine additional trading cards 434.
Moreover, the trading card assembly 10 also includes a retainer assembly 444 for retaining the trading cards 14 in the container 12. The design of the retainer assembly 444 can be changed to suit the requirements of the trading card assembly 10. In
Further, the second retainer 448 retains the packs 442 of additional trading cards 434 behind and below the featured trading card 432 and spaced apart from the body sides 424. In
It is to be understood that the trading cards 10 disclosed herein is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
