CARD SHIPPING AND MAIL PROTECTOR

Abstract

A lightweight but sturdy 3 inch by 4-inch card shipping and mail protector perfect for shipping or transporting standard sport or gaming cards.

Claims

1. A card shipping and mail protector comprising a single piece folded cardboard housing including a back wall, a front wall, a tab for closing the top of the housing, a top fold between the tab and a top of the top wall, the tab having a narrow edge opposite the wider top fold, with angled straight sides extending between the narrow edge and the wider top fold, the front wall extending from a bottom fold at a bottom housing edge between the back wall and front wall up to a top edge spaced apart below the top fold, a left flap on the outside of the front wall, a left fold at the left edge between the back wall and the left fold, the left flap having an angled left upper edge extending between the left fold and an inner left edge opposite the left fold, a right flap on the outside of the front wall, a right fold at the right edge between the back wall and the right fold, the right flap having an angled right upper edge extending between the right fold and an inner right edge opposite the right fold, so that space is left between the left flap and the right flap upper edges so that the tab can be positioned between the left and right flaps.

2. A card shipping and mail protector according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of card shipping and mail protectors can be stacked together with the tab of one card shipping and mail protector being placed between the angled right and left upper edges of another card shipping and mail protector.

3. A card shipping and mail protector according to claim 1 wherein the protector has a length of about 4 inches and a width of about 3 inches.

4. A card shipping and mail protector according to claim 1 wherein the tab can be positioned between the left and right flaps with no overlap of the flaps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is a front view of a card shipping and mail protector according to this disclosure.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the card shipping and mail protector according to FIG. 1.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a front view of a standard size game card placed on the card shipping and mail protector of FIG. 1.

[0006] FIG. 4 is an end view of several standard size game cards placed inside the card shipping and mail protector of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 5 is a top view of a stack of a plurality of cards shipping in mail protectors according to FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 6 is a front view of the card shipping and mail protector of FIG. 1 placed inside a standard team bag.

[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a number 10 envelope with two card shipping and mail protectors placed on top of the envelope, and the card shipping and mail protector placed on top of a six- and three-quarter envelope.

[0010] FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the card shipping a mail protector with an open flap.

[0011] FIG. 9 is a front view of the card shipping and mail protector of FIG. 8 with the flap closed.

[0012] Before one embodiment of the disclosure is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upward” and “downward”, etc., are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 is a card shipping and mail protector 10 that works great for standard size sports or gaming cards 11: Baseball, Basketball, Football, and other sports. It fits them all (See FIG. 3). The card protector 10 is perfect for shipping or transporting Magic, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh and other gaming cards.

[0014] The card protector 10 has been specifically optimized for shipping through the mail to help keep collectible cards safe and protected to so that they can arrive in the same condition they were sent. This is especially helpful for those that do a lot of mailing in plain white envelopes. The card shipping and mail protector provides all the benefits of conventional plastic top loaders and plastic semi-rigids. Each 3″×4″ card shipping and mail protector easily fits up to 10 gaming cards (See FIG. 4).

[0015] The card shipping and mail protector 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is made from bendable recycled cardboard of between 0.016-.024 inch thick, preferably about 0.016 inch thick, so it is lightweight but sturdy enough to protect cards 11 (see FIG. 3). The light weight helps to reduce shipping costs while still complying with USPS requirements when shipping with first class postage. For example, with standard first-class postage you can fit multiple cards (7-10) before you need an extra ounce stamp. In addition, you also comply with United States Postal Service rules regarding maximum envelope thickness (¼″). In addition, when using a #10 envelope, you can place the protector(s) to the sides so that you pass the flexibility test.

[0016] The cardboard can also be printed on with standard printing equipment, unlike plastic protectors. This card and mail protector 10 provides the lightest option compared to conventional plastic protectors while still providing top tier protection. The card shipping and mail protector 10 is lighter than the conventional plastic top loaders and even the oversize semi-rigids used to submit for grading.

[0017] The card shipping and mail protector 10 eliminates all tape contact with a card 11. One can simply fold a tab 18 and secure, if wanted. There is no need to put tape directly over the opening as occurs with typical top loaders and semi-rigids. A standard size team bag slip 19 (see FIG. 6) can also be used to enclose the protector and avoid all tape.

[0018] Like with existing protectors, it is still highly recommended to place card(s) first into a penny sleeve before placing it in this protector 10. The card shipping and mail protector 10 is too small to be mailed individually with the post office. They must be in a larger envelope, such as a plain white #10 or 6¾-inch envelope (See FIG. 7).

[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card shipping and mail protector 10 comprises a single piece folded cardboard housing including a back wall 14, a front wall 16, and a tab 18 for closing the top of the housing. There is a top fold 22 between the tab 18 and a top edge 20 of the top wall 16, and the tab 18 has a narrow edge 24 opposite the wider top fold 22, with angled straight sides 26 and 28 extending between the narrow edge 24 and the wider top fold 22. The front wall 16 extends from a bottom fold 30 at a bottom housing edge between the back wall 14 and front wall 16 up to a top edge 20 spaced apart below the top fold 22. The top edge 20 is at a height so that when a standard size collectible card 11 is inserted into protector 10, the top of the collectible card 11 does not protrude past edge 20. In addition, the top edge 20 being below top fold 22 allows for easier removal of collectible card 11.

[0020] The space between the front 16 and back 18 walls is the inside of the housing. There are only smooth walls on the inside of the card shipping and mail protector 10. This helps keep cards 11 in premium condition, by eliminating any edge to make direct contact with the collectible card stored inside.

[0021] A left flap 40 is on the outside of the front wall 16, and a left fold 44 is at the left edge between the back wall 14 and the left fold 44. The left flap 40 has an angled left upper edge 46 extending between the left fold 44 and an inner left edge 50 opposite the left fold 44. There is also a right flap 42 on the outside of the front wall 16, and a right fold 54 at the right edge between the back wall 14 and the right fold 54. The right flap 42 also has an angled right upper edge 48 extending between the right fold 54 and an inner right edge 58 opposite the right fold 54, so that space is left between the left flap 40 and the right flap 42 upper edges so that the tab 18 can be positioned between the left and right flaps, with no overlap of the flaps. Thus, the flaps 40 and 42 and tab 18 constitute just a single cardboard layer on top of the front wall 16, thereby reducing the thickness of the overall card shipping and mail protector 10. All flaps 40 and 42 are glued on the outside of the front wall 16—avoiding any exposure or direct contact with cards 11, and under no load, the glue is rated to −112° F. (−80° C.).

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of card shipping and mail protectors 10 can be stacked together with the tab 18 of one card shipping and mail protector 10 being placed between the angled right and left upper edges 46 and 48 of another card shipping and mail protector 10.

[0023] In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tab 18′ can include an extension 60 that can be inserted into a mating slot 64 in the front wall 16′ to secure the tab 18′ in the front wall 16′.

[0024] Various other features of this disclosure are set forth in the following claims.