Abstract:
A reversible object holder. More specifically, the invention relates to a reversible coin holder for securely clamping various sizes of coins.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT 
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     DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB) 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a holder or vise for objects, more particularly, reversible and flippable jaws for securely clamping various sizes of coins. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 cfr 1.97 and 1.98 
     In recent times, engraving artists have adopted the use of coins as a canvas in which to carve beautiful designs and styles of art work. Collectors, seeing the appeal of these coins, will acquire them at the cost of many thousands of dollars. 
     Coin carving artists use hammers, chisels, and pneumatic impact devices to create their art. These tools require that the coin be held rigid during carving. The most secure way of holding a coin is for a large percentage of the circumference of the coin be held by jaws which fit that particular circumference precisely. In this way, there is less chance that the edges of the coin will be damaged by the jaws during some of the more severe operations carried out by the coin carving artist. 
     These artists are familiar with a number of methods of holding coins. For example, a set of pins protruding from the top of the jaws of an engravers ball vise (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,760 to Lindsay). Another method includes devices similar to a small three jaw chuck. Another is a tube, where the inside diameter of one end of the tube is machined to fit the diameter of a particular coin, and made into a collet. The collet can then be closed tight around the coin either with a vise or a screw that is inserted between the two halves and then tightened. Still another method is two half circles, machined as two flat templates or jaws, and whos inside diameter matches a particular coin. These half circles are then secured on the top of a vise. 
     This last method, consisting of two half circles, works well, but in order to cover all six of the current United States coin sizes, one would need six sets of jaws (a total of twelve individual jaws). This is an inelegant solution for craftsmen and artists. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,055 to Dulaney discloses a holder meant to secure watch movements while a horologist performed work on the watch. The Dulaney device is four sided, allowing various shapes to be held depending on the configuration of the device. The operations performed on watch movements are less severe than those on coins, and the design of the Delaney device does not allow for the rigidity required by coin carvers. 
     This inadequacy is due to a number of issues. One problem is that the jaws typically do not offer a very large percentage of contact between the device and the circumference of the held object, a necessity for coin carving. Another, more difficult problem, is that the clamping screw is quite far away from the object being clamped. This is not an issue for watch movements, as the horologist needs delicacy to avoid damaging his work. In fact, usually the clamping screw is a thumb screw; meaning it would be quite difficult to over tighten the device. If, however, this thumb screw is replaced with one that can be turned with a wrench, and the torque necessary to hold fast a coin is applied, the device will flex. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of this invention to provide coin holder with jaws that are conveniently reversible for clamping multiple sizes of coins without the need for many separate jaws. It is also the object of this invention to provide a coin holder that can securely clamp coins without damaging the edges or the opposite side of the coin that the artist or craftsman is working on. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       An Embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to attached drawing figures, wherein: Reversible Coin Holder 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of reversible coin holder jaws in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the same reversible coin holder jaws illustrated in  FIG. 1  but viewing the opposite side in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the reversible coin holder jaws in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  in accordance with the present invention attached to a prior art clamping mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bottom of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the reversible coin holder jaws in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  in accordance with the present invention attached to a prior art engravers ball vise; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the reversible coin holder jaws in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  with them attached attached to the clamping mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the clamping mechanism itself placed in the jaws of an engravers ball vise; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view slightly lower than  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of reversible coin holder jaws illustrated attached to an engravers ball vise in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the same reversible coin holder jaws illustrated in  FIG. 8 , attached to a clamping mechanism in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of reversible coin holder jaws illustrated attached to an engravers ball vise in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of reversible coin holder jaws that have been integrated with prior art clamping mechanism; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective bottom view of  FIG. 11 ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are perspective views of reversible coin holder jaws  1  that consists of jaw  2 , and jaw  3 . In this first embodiment of the invention the jaws are made to fit and clamp four different sized coins. Recess  4  and recess  5  fit one size coin, recess  6  and recess  7  fit a second size coin, recess  8  and recess  9  fit a third size coin, and, recess  10  and recess  11  fit a fourth size coin. Holes  15  and  16  provide a means to fasten jaw  2  to one side of a clamping mechanism with either screws or pins. Holes  17  and  18  provide a means to fasten jaw  3  to the other side of a clamping mechanism. During use by an engraving artist or craftsman, jaws  2  and  3  are orientated so that the matching recesses for that particular coin size are facing each other and facing up. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are perspective views of the reversible coin holder jaws  1  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  attached to a prior art clamping mechanism  30  in accordance with the present invention. The clamping mechanism  30  consists of block  21   a  and block  21   b  with alignment rail holes  12  and  13  running through both blocks  21   a  and  21   b . Rails  19  and  20  can be inserted rigidly or free sliding into block  21   b , while the two rails  19  and  20  may slide freely into block  21   a . Screw  14  is interposed between blocks  21   a  and  21   b  for the purpose of drawing the two blocks together or apart and thus the two jaws. Raised boss blocks  22  and  23  are illustrated attached to blocks  21   a  and  21   b  with screws  24 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27 . Raised boss blocks  22  and  23  are included for the purpose of allowing a surface for some larger vise to clamp against as described and illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view the reversible coin holder jaws  1  affixed to prior art engravers ball vise  31  in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are perspective views of the reversible coin holder jaws in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  with them attached to the clamping mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  and then, in turn, this clamping mechanism is held in the jaws of a prior art engravers ball vise  31 . Referring to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 4 , the jaws of the engravers ball vise are clamped against raised boss blocks  22  and  23 . In the case of  FIG. 7 , clamping mechanism  30 , and thus reversible coin holder  1 , is turned 90 degrees compared to  FIG. 6 . With the clamping mechanism in position as it is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , screw  14  could be removed if desired from clamping mechanism  30  and the use of the jaws of the engravers ball vise  31  could be used to close clamping mechanism  30 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of reversible coin holder jaws. In  FIG. 8 , the reversible coin holder jaws  60  are illustrated affixed to a prior art engravers ball vise  31 . Reversible coin holder jaws  60  is both designed with 3 faces, allowing this second embodiment to hold six coins of differing sizes by changing the configuration of reversible coin holder jaws  60 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates reversible coin holder jaws  60  attached to the prior art clamping mechanism in manner similar to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of reversible coin holder jaws. In  FIG. 10 , reversible coin holder jaws  61  are illustrated affixed to prior art engravers ball vise  31 . Reversible coin holder jaws  61  is both designed with four faces allowing this third embodiment to hold eight coins of differing sizes, depending on the configuration of  61 . Not illustrated, but similar to the first and second embodiments, this third embodiment of the reversible coin holder jaws can be used in conjunction with the prior art clamping mechanism  30 , as described previously. 
       FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are perspective views of a fourth embodiment of the reversible coin holder jaws, and the preferred embodiment. Reversible coin holder  32  is built with jaws that are incorporated as part of the clamping mechanism. This fourth embodiment is made to hold  8  coins of differing sizes, depending on the configuration of the device. Block  35  and block  36  consist of a number of elements, including alignment rail holes  70  and  71 , which run through both blocks  35  and  36 . Cross drilled to alignment rail holes  70  and  71  are alignment rail holes  72  and  73 , which, when blocks  35  and  36  are reconfigured, serve the same purpose as alignment holes  70  and  71 . Rails  34  and  50  can be inserted into either set of alignment holes as required to align a particular pair of matching coin recesses. Referring to  FIG. 11 , matching recesses include:  44  and  48 ,  43 , and  49 ,  45  and  47 ,  75  and  46 , or referring to  FIGS. 12 :  51  and  58 ,  52  and  56 ,  54  and  55 ,  53  and  57 . Through screw hole  82 , screw  33  is interposed between blocks  35  and  36 , for the purpose of drawing the two blocks together and clamping a coin securely. Screw  33  can be moved from screw hole  82  to screw hole  41 , as required to remain parallel with rails  34  and  50 . Thumbscrews  80  and  81  are used to secure rails  34  and  50 . Depending on the configuration of the device, and the positions of rails  34  and  50 , thumbscrews  80  and  81  might occupy screw hole  41  or screw hole  82  in the manner illustrated. Reversible coin holder  32  could be used as a stand alone holder, or placed in a larger vise. If used in a larger vise, clamp boss  83  can be attached to block  36  using screw  84  and  85  by inserting them through counter drilled holes  93  and  94  and threading them into threaded holes  90  and  91 . Clamp boss  83  can then be held in the jaws of a larger vise, thereby securing reversible coin holder  32 . By not attaching clamp boss  83  to block  35 , the blocks  35  and  36  can be drawn together or apart without first needing to remove the device from the larger vise. Holes  93  and  94  are counter bored on both sides of clamp boss  83  to allow the block to be turned over and still align with threaded holes  90  and  91 , as required to reconfigure the recesses of blocks  35  and  36 . 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the Reversible Coin Holder provides unique features for helping coin carving artists carry out his or her work. The invention provides coin holder with jaws that are conveniently reversible for clamping multiple sizes of coins. The invention can securely clamp coins without damaging the coin that the artist or craftsman is working on. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the illustrated preferred embodiment, it should be noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. 
     Examples of this might be: 
     Referring to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , clamp boss  83  could be replaced by two smaller boss blocks in a manner similar to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 6 , or  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , other methods could be used to secure or encapsulate rails  34  and  50  in either block  35  or block  36 . One means might be a plug, be it threaded or friction fit. Another might be providing a stop, blind hole, undersized hole, or intersecting set screw mid way through rail holes  70  and  71  and/or  72  and  73 . 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.