Collectible card package case

Abstract

An apparatus for storing collectibles is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly useful for storing collectible packs of cards that are commonly sold as “booster packs” for larger decks. The apparatus has multiple rails which support the booster pack without crimping or damaging the flaps at the top and bottom of the pack. As the pack is supported by the flaps and not by friction of the body of the pack itself, the apparatus can have a larger internal space to accommodate a variety of sizes of packs having similar flaps.

Claims

1. A case for a collectible comprising an internal space, a first inner face and a second inner face; A. said internal space having a width, a height, and a depth; B. said first inner face comprising a first rail and a second rail; i. said first rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; ii. said second rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; C. said second inner face comprising a first rail and a second rail; i. said first rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; ii. said second rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; D. said first rail of the first inner face being parallel to the first rail of the second inner face, and forming a first gap between the said rails; E. said second rail of the first inner face being parallel to the second rail of the second inner face, and forming a second gap between the said rails.

2. The case for a collectible of claim 1 in which said collectible comprises a body, a first flap, and a second flap such that when the collectible is within said case, the first flap of the collectible is at least partially located within the first gap and the second flap of the collectible is at least partially located within the second gap.

3. The case for a collectible of claim 1 in which said case is comprised of a first portion and a second portion; A. said first portion comprising said first inner face and a first member of a two-member fastening system; and B. said second portion comprising said second inner face and a second member of a two-member fastening system.

4. A method of securing a collectible within a case in which A. said collectible includes a body, a first flap, and a second flap; and in which B. said case for a collectible includes an internal space, a first portion comprising a first member of a two-member fastening system and a first inner face, and a second portion comprising a second member of a two-member fastening system and a second inner face; i. said internal space having a width, a height, and a depth; ii. said first inner face comprising a first rail and a second rail; a. said first rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; b. said second rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; iii. said second inner face comprising a first rail and a second rail; a. said first rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; b. said second rail having a height of less than one half the depth of the internal space, said rail extending across the width of the internal space; iv. said first rail of the first inner face being parallel to the first rail of the second inner face, and forming a first gap between the said rails; v. said second rail of the first inner face being parallel to the second rail of the second inner face, and forming a second gap between the said rails; C. said method involving the steps of: placing the collectible on the first and the second rail of either the first or the second inner face such that the body of the collectible is approximately centered between the first rail and the second rail and the first flap of the collectible is on top of the first rail and the bottom flap of the collectible is on top of the second rail, engaging the paired members of the two-member fastening system to secure the first portion of the case to the second portion of the case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an illustration of the first piece of the collectible card pack case.

(2) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the second piece of the collectible case.

(3) FIG. 3 is an illustration of the first and second pieces coming together.

(4) FIG. 4 is an illustration of the closed collectible case.

(5) FIG. 5 is an illustration of the first piece of the collectible case with a card pack.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the closed collectible case.

(7) FIG. 7 is a view of a section of the case parallel to the height of the case showing a stored pack of cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following description and drawings referenced illustrate embodiments of the subject matter of this application. They are not intended to limit the scope of any claim. Those familiar with the art will recognize that other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are possible. All such alternative embodiments should be considered within the scope of the application's disclosure. For example, some specific dimensions are disclosed to describe a most highly preferred embodiment which may be more difficult to understand with less precise language. These exact dimensions, however, should not be read into the claims.

(9) Each reference number consists of three digits. The first digit refers to the drawing in which the referenced aspect is first shown or in which the referenced feature is shown most clearly. Not every referenced feature is called out every time it is shown in a drawing.

(10) As used, a “pack” or “pack of cards” or similar is understood to be a package containing some number of cards and a sealed top flap and a sealed bottom flap. Such packs are often called “booster” packs because they “boost” (augment) a starter pack. The body of the pack is the area between the flaps where the cards are contained. The terms “case,” “case for a collectible,” “case for a pack of cards,” or similar are used interchangeably; descriptors such as “for a pack of cards” should be understood to offer context and not be used to narrow the claims.

(11) In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of this application, a case for a pack of cards (“case”) comprises a first piece (101) and a second piece (201).

(12) The first piece comprises a height measured along a Y axis (102), a width measured along an X axis (103), and a depth measured along a Z axis (301). The first piece further comprises an inner face (104) and an outer face (105), a top wall having an inner surface (106) and an outer surface (107), a bottom wall having an inner surface (108) and an outer surface (109), a first side wall having an inner surface (110) and an outer surface (111), and a second side wall having an inner surface (112) and an outer surface (113). Said inner face of the first piece comprises a first rail (114) and a second rail (115). The first rail and the second rail are parallel to each other and parallel to the X axis of the first piece. The first rail and the second rail each have a height parallel to the Z axis of the first piece.

(13) The second piece comprises a height measured along a Y axis (202), a width measured along an X axis (203), and a depth measured along a Z axis (302). The second piece further comprises an inner face (204) and an outer face (303). Said inner face of the second piece comprises a first rail (206) and a second rail (207). The first rail and the second rail are parallel to each other and parallel to the X axis of the second piece. The first rail and the second rail each have a height parallel to the Z axis of the second piece.

(14) In a highly preferred embodiment, the second piece further comprises at least one tab (205) and the top wall of the first piece further comprises at least one slot (115). The bottom wall of the first piece also comprises a first member of a two-member attachment system; and the second piece comprises a second member of a two-member attachment system. In a most highly preferred embodiment, said two-member attachment system is a tab and slot system in which pressing the first piece and the second piece together causes a tab (208) or tabs on one piece to engage with corresponding slots (304) on the other piece. To close the case the tabs of the second piece are inserted into the slots of the top wall of the first piece, thereby forming a hinge. Each member of the two-member attachment system are then pressed together causing one or more members to deflect until the paired bottom tabs and slots align and engage.

(15) In a preferred embodiment, the depth of the second piece is nil or minimal as the second piece is a flat rectangle but for the said rails and any structure necessary to support said member of a two-member attachment system.

(16) In certain embodiments, the second piece largely fits within the first piece when the two-member attachment system is engaged so that the outer face of the second piece is level with the first side wall and the second side wall of the first piece.

(17) When the collectible card case is closed an internal space is formed having a width (401), a depth (601), and a height (402). The first rails of the first piece (114) and of the second piece (206) are aligned but separated by a gap (602). Similarly, the second rails of the first (115) and second (207) pieces are aligned and separated by a gap (603). The gap between the pairs of rails is large enough to allow the movement of the flaps of a pack of collectible cards within the gap, but not so large as to allow the body of the pack to slide between the rails.

(18) In a most highly preferred embodiment, each of the rails has a height of less than one-half the depth of the internal space of the closed case.

(19) In the most common and most highly preferred embodiment of the subject matter of this application, the collectible card case will accommodate a booster pack of cards. A common booster pack comprises a body (701), a top flap (501), and a bottom flap (502). Such cards themselves are approximately 63×88 mm (2.5×3.5 inches). The thickness of a single card is commonly 35 points (1 point being 0.0254 mm), although they can be thicker or thinner. A stack of cards, usually between 5 and 15 cards depending on the game, are surrounded by a cellophane sleeve which adds a trivial amount to the width of the stack of cards. Therefore a typical stack of 10 cards would be just under 9 mm thick. The bottom and top of the cellophane sleeve may be glued or heat-sealed, forming the top (501) and bottom (502) flaps. Each flap has a beginning nearest the body of the pack (e.g. 503) and an ending furthest from the body of the pack (e.g. 504). Each flap is commonly about 10-20 mm long. The body of the pack (701) has a top and bottom and is slightly larger than the cards themselves to account for a slant (e.g., 702) formed by the sleeve extending from the top and bottom of the stack to the beginning of the sealed flap. A typical booster pack, therefore, is slightly greater than 64 mm wide, roughly 110-130 mm long, and between about 9 and 15 mm thick. To contain such a pack, the collectible card case has an internal space of slightly greater than the pack in all directions and the rails are positioned such that the beginnings of each flap is positioned within the gap between a pair of rails when a pack is placed in the case. In all preferred embodiments, the gap is less than the thickness of the body of the pack. In this most highly preferred embodiment, each gap is between approximately 0.5 and 3 mm. In this way, the gap between the rails supports the pack by the flaps without crimping or distorting the flaps and when the case is upright for display, the pack is prevented from sliding through the gap by the slant of the sleeve.

(20) To use the disclosed collectible card case with a such a booster pack one would place the booster pack on the first piece of the card case, approximately centered between the first and second rails of the first piece such that each flap of the pack extends over a rail. Once in place, the second piece of the card case is attached to the first and the booster pack is held between the two pairs or rails within the internal space of the closed case. In a closely related manner of use, the booster pack is placed across the rails of the second piece of the case before the first piece of the case is attached.