U.S. patent application number 09/924967 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-13 for screwless encasement system.
Invention is credited to Vihos, Georg A..
Application Number | 20030029764 09/924967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25450995 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030029764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vihos, Georg A. |
February 13, 2003 |
Screwless encasement system
Abstract
An encasement system for a display article comprising a
transparent top section having an integral cavity defined therein
and a receiving channel, a bottom section having an integral cavity
defined therein, a snap fit means for connecting the transparent
top section to the bottom section such that when the transparent
top section and bottom section are connected a display article
cavity is formed by the transparent top section integral cavity and
bottom section integral cavity wherein the display article is
sealed from the outside environment when disposed within the
display article cavity.
Inventors: |
Vihos, Georg A.; (Hamtramck,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mick A. Nylander
12745 S. SAGINAW BLD 806
SUITE 225
GRAND BLANC
MI
48439
US
|
Family ID: |
25450995 |
Appl. No.: |
09/924967 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 3/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/449 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/48 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An encasement system for a display article comprising: a
transparent top section having an integral cavity defined therein
and a receiving channel; a bottom section having an integral cavity
defined therein; and a snap fit means for connecting said
transparent top section to said bottom section such that when said
transparent top section and bottom section are connected a display
article cavity is formed by said transparent top section integral
cavity and bottom section integral cavity wherein the display
article is sealed from the outside environment when disposed within
said display article cavity.
2. An encasement system as in claim 1 wherein said snap fit means
for connecting said transparent top section to said bottom section
is a receiving channel having a keyway and a mating shoulder having
a key such that when said mating shoulder is pressed into said
receiving channel said key is press fit into said keyway.
3. An encasement system as in claim 1 wherein said snap fit means
for connecting said transparent top section to said bottom section
is a receiving channel having a key and a mating shoulder having a
keyway such that when said mating shoulder is pressed into said
receiving channel said key is press fit into said keyway.
4. An encasement system as in claim 1, wherein said transparent top
section and bottom section are made from an acrylic substrate.
5. An encasement system as in claim 3, wherein said transparent top
section and bottom section are made from an ultraviolet protectant
acrylic substrate capable of filtering at least 90% of ultraviolet
light.
6. An encasement system as in claim 1, further including a silicone
seal disposed between said transparent top section and said bottom
section for further sealing said display article cavity from the
environment.
7. An encasement system as in claim 1, further including an
ultraviolet adhesive disposed between said transparent top section
and said bottom section for permanently sealing said display
article cavity from the environment
8. An encasement system as in claim 1, wherein said bottom section
is transparent for allowing viewing of both sides of the display
article or double display article display.
9. An encasement system as in claim 5, further including an
ultraviolet adhesive disposed between said transparent top section
and said bottom section for permanently sealing said display
article cavity from the environment
10. An encasement system as in claim 1, wherein said transparent
top section and said bottom section are of a sufficient thickness
to allow said encasement system when operational to stand alone
either in a portrait or landscape orientation.
11. An encasement system as in claim 9, further including an inert
gas sealed within said display article cavity.
12. A method of protecting a display article comprising the steps
of providing a transparent top section having an integral cavity
defined therein and a receiving channel; providing a bottom section
having an integral cavity defined having an integral cavity defined
therein; providing a snap fit means for connecting said transparent
top section to said bottom section such that when said transparent
top section and bottom section are connected a display article
cavity is formed by said transparent top section integral cavity
and bottom section integral cavity wherein the display article is
sealed from the outside environment when disposed within said
display article cavity; vacuuming out 90% to 99% of the air in the
integral cavity and channel; injecting an inert gas into said
integral cavity through said channel; and sealing the inert gas
inside said cavity between said transparent top section and bottom
section
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an encasement system for various
types of display articles and more particularly to a screwless
encasement system for use in protecting display articles from
detrimental environmental elements.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is known that certain articles displayed over time begin
to show the effects of harmful environmental elements. Further,
certain small articles such as collector cards like baseball cards,
football cards etc are designed ultimately for viewing and reading.
However, over time, continuous handling by human hands or any other
means where the article or card is physically contacted in the
viewing process will eventually deteriorate the cards condition.
Edges and corners begin to deteriorate or lose strength as well as
the tops and bottons of the cards losing ink, shine or lamination
due to the presence of oils and other substances commonly carried
by human hands. This desire to keep the card in "mint" or perfect
condition is in direct contrast with the desire of the collector
show or provide the card to others for viewing enjoyment. It is
also understood that the collector card industry occasionally
requires that the cards be physically examined for authenticity for
various reasons. Thus an encasement system that generally protects
the card from the environment while allowing for access to the card
at certain times is highly desirable
[0003] In addition there often exist certain small family documents
or articles such as family pictures, identification cards and other
small documents which are displayed for the benefit of all the
family members and guests. These small family documents or articles
are often flat articles made from or prepared on paper products. It
is known that exposure to the air and sunlight have a detrimental
deteriorating effect on the paper, colors, pigments and other
aspects of the articles. U.S. Pat. No. 1,031,727 to Brusbeck
discloses a means for preserving works of art such as oil
paintings, water color paintings, graphic objects and similar
articles. The invention consists in furnishing the article to be
protected with an envelope of nitrogen gas and in providing a
casing of peculiar construction which is adapted to contain the
article and to be charged with gas.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,160 assigned to applicant discloses a
mount for a display object including drawings, paintings, thin
sheets or other large thin sheets comprising a pair of opposed
rectangular flexible plastic sheets arranged face to face and
adapted to receive the display object therebetween. At lest one of
the sheets is transparent. The sheets have continuous opposed
peripheral inner walls with peripheral recesses formed in the walls
defining a peripheral cavity. A sealant fills the cavity throughout
360 degrees for securing and sealing together the sheets around the
periphery. The space between the sheets is evacuated with the
display object operatively sealed between the sheets. U.S. Pat. No.
4,848,014 to Yesbick discloses a frame assembly wherein the frame
and viewing area are integrally formed of clear plastic or
plexiglass eliminating the need for a separate glass pane.
[0005] Consequently, a need exists for a low cost, easy to
manufacture, highly reliable encasement system for small display
articles that protects such articles from detrimental effects of
the general environment and is also easily accessible.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
and encasement system for a display article that is reliable in its
ability to protect certain display articles from the detrimental
effects of the environment while allowing viewing enjoyment of the
article.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
encasement system for a display article which is simple and easy to
manufacture and also allows access to the display article when
needed.
[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an encasement system for a display article which allows viewing of
the display article from both sides thereby allowing two sided
single viewing or single sided two display article viewing.
[0009] Yet still further, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an encasement system using an ultraviolet protectant
acrylic substrate capable of filtering ultraviolet light.
[0010] Still further, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an encasement system using an ultraviolet adhesive sealant
to seal and connect different sections of the encasement
system.
[0011] Still further, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an encasement system using a silicone film to seal and
connect different sections of the encasement system
[0012] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide an encasement system utilizing a method of purging the air
surrounding the display article and replacing the air with an inert
gas.
[0013] In carrying out these and other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention, there is provided an
encasement system for a display article comprising a transparent
top section having an integral cavity defined therein and a
receiving channel, a bottom section having an integral cavity
defined therein, a snap fit means for connecting the transparent
top section to the bottom section such that when the transparent
top section and bottom section are connected a display article
cavity is formed by the transparent top section integral cavity and
bottom section integral cavity wherein the display article is
sealed from the outside environment when disposed within the
display article cavity.
[0014] In further carrying out these objects of the present
invention, the encasement system may include an inner seal which is
a ultraviolet adhesive or silicone film pressure tape which forms a
airtight gasket sealing the environment from the outside
atmosphere.
[0015] The above objects and other objects, features and advantages
of the present invention are readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the
invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the encasement
system of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the encasement system of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an alternative
encasement system of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative encasement
system of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the alternative
encasement system of FIG. 4.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates the encasement system 10 of the present
invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, the
encasement system 10 comprises a bottom acrylic sheet or bottom
section 12 and a transparent top acrylic sheet or top section 14.
The top acrylic top section is made from Acrylite OP-2 Museum
Quality ultraviolet filter sheets. The present invention
contemplates the use of any transparent or semi-transparent
ultraviolet filtering sheets depending on the specific display
article to be protected and the length of protection required. The
display article 16, in this embodiment is a baseball card but as
described above the display articles may be football cards, any
type of sports cards or novelty cards etc. Display articles may
also be certain small works of historical significance requiring
special care in their display mechanism. The present invention also
contemplates any form of small family documents, such a family
pictures, identification cards and other noted articles often
displayed for the benefit of all the family members and guests.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the transparent top
section 14 having an integral cavity 18 defined therein and a
receiving channel 20. The receiving channel includes a keyway 22.
Bottom section 12 includes an integral cavity 24 defined therein.
Bottom section 12 also includes and a mating shoulder 26 having a
key 28. When operably connected the mating shoulder 26 is pressed
into the receiving channel 20 and the key 28 is press fit and
received into the keyway 22. The present invention contemplates
also having the bottom section including a receiving channel and a
key and the top section having a mating shoulder with a keyway such
that when the mating shoulder is pressed into the receiving channel
the key is press fit into the keyway. Any combination of key and
key way in conjunction with a receiving channel and a extending
shoulder in contemplated by the present invention.
[0023] Returning to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, the mating
shoulder 26 and receiving channel 20 create a snap fit means 30 for
connecting the transparent top section 14 to the bottom section 12
such that when the transparent top section 14 and bottom section 12
are connected a display article cavity 32 is formed by the
transparent top section integral cavity 18 and bottom section
integral cavity 24. In this manner, in operation, the display
article 16 in the display article cavity 32 is protected from the
outside environment. In the preferred embodiment, a pressurized
silicone seal 34 is disposed between the transparent top section 14
and the bottom section 12 for further sealing the display article
cavity 16 from the environment.
[0024] In operation, the encasement system of the present invention
provides protection for the display article, for instance a
collectible baseball card. The baseball card is protected from the
air, water and dirt from everyday viewing as well and handling
concerns. As discussed above, the baseball card, when provided in
the encasement system is completely viewable from both sides yet is
protected from most harmful effects of day to day viewing. This is
very advantageous to the everyday collector as well as the serious
collector. Further, the ability to open or access the encasement
system simply by prying apart the top section 14 from the bottom
section 12 allows for direct viewing of the card as well any
authentication that may be needed for any commercial or insurance
reasons. The encasement system of the present invention is
"screwless" or unitary in construction and requires no additional
tools or hardware for adequate connection. This feature adds to the
overall aesthetic appearance of the encasement system. The present
invention contemplates various sizes of display articles from
articles as small as stamps to as large as letter size
documents.
[0025] In addition to the above, the encasement system of the
present invention allows for viewing of the display article 16 from
both sides thereby allowing two sided single viewing or single
sided two display article viewing. More specifically two cards
could be placed in the encasement system with both front sides
viewable to as in the normal course, one card is viewable both from
and back. In the preferred embodiment, the transparent top section
14 and the bottom section 12 are manufactured of a sufficient
thickness to allow the encasement system 10, when operational to
stand alone either in a portrait or landscape orientation. In most
instances this means having a width of three (3) inches and a
length of four (4) inches in relation to a display article the size
of a standard baseball card. The display article may have a
thickness of approximately one (1) inch.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of the present invention which is substantially
identical to the embodiment of FIG. 2 except that an ultraviolet
adhesive seal 50 is disposed between the transparent top section 14
and the bottom section 12 for permanently sealing the display
article cavity 32 from the environment. In this embodiment, the
user or collector may desire a more permanent sealing system for a
display article 32 that will most likely not be removed from the
encasement system 10.
[0027] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment
60 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ultraviolet
adhesive seal 50 is disposed between the transparent top section
114 and the bottom section 112 for permanently sealing the display
article cavity 132 from the environment as discussed above. For the
ultimate sealing system for use with extremely valuable display
articles 116 or those in which the user decides to take extreme
precautions in protecting the article, the present invention
contemplates the purging of substantially all the air possible from
the cavity 132 and the introduction of an inert gas. More
specifically, referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a purging
mechanism or Argon injector 70. The purging mechanism 70 is shown
next to channel 72 which is in communication with display article
cavity 132. The introduction of an inert gas, in the preferred
embodiment, Argon is used in the system of the present invention to
create a sealed Argon gas environment within the cavity 132 to
surround the article 116. Air is purged from the cavity 132 through
channel 72. The purged air and excess Argon escape through escape
valve 71 which is in communication with display cavity 132. The
inert gas is injected into the cavity 132 and fill cap 74 and valve
seal cap 75 are then glued or fastened in place to seal the cavity
132. In the preferred embodiment, the Argon gas will also have a
water vapor content of 4% thus making the mixture introduced in the
cavity approximately 96% Argon and 4% water vapor. The present
invention contemplates the use of other inert gases as well as
different Argon water vapor mixtures. It is noted that the
thickness of the top and bottom sections assist in long term
retention of the inert gas, such as Argon within the display
cavity.
[0028] The present invention contemplates a method of protecting a
display article 116 comprising the steps of providing a transparent
top section 114, and a bottom section 112 having an integral cavity
defined therein. Top section 114 has a receiving channel. A snap
fit means for connecting the transparent top section to the bottom
section 112 is provided such that when the transparent top section
114 and bottom section 112 are connected a display article cavity
132 is formed by the transparent top section integral cavity and
bottom section integral cavity wherein the display article is
sealed from the outside environment when disposed within the
display article cavity. In the next step, at least 90% of the air
in the cavity 132 and channel 72 is vacuumed out. The present
invention contemplates vacuuming out anywhere from 90 to 99% of the
air from the cavity. Next an inert gas 80 is injected into the
integral cavity through the channel 72 and last the inert gas 80 is
sealed inside the cavity between the transparent top section and
bottom section
[0029] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *