Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus for holding a coin, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of scored concentric circular regions that may be removed as needed to accommodate the diameter of different size coins.

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/703,182, filed on Jul. 28, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Coins, medals, and the like stamped from a flat piece of metal have been used in trade from the earliest times of recorded history. Generally, such coins are stamped on both sides (known as obverse and reverse sides) from relatively small discs of precious or other metal. More recently, various manufacturers have developed innumerable coins, medals, and the like to commemorate various events, associations, etc. These coins and medals are also generally stamped or minted from flat metal discs, with two opposed dies being used to form an image on both sides of the coin.  
         [0003]     Coin collecting is a popular hobby. Significant aspects of the hobby include the safe storage and attractive display of coins within a collection. One known method for storing coins is to provide circular openings in cardboard or fiberboard sheets which are bound together by a flexible backing. The resulting “book” typically provides a date labeled opening or coin receiving depression for each year in which a particular coin was minted. This type of prior art book is suitable for its intended purpose, but room for additional innovation remains in the field of coin displays and/or storage systems.  
         [0004]     There have been numerous inventions related to the coin collecting hobby.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,897 issued on Oct. 28, 1969 to Walter Rambow, titled “Display Device For Objects Such As Coins And The Like,” describes a display board having a series of sockets into which a series of plugs may be removably installed. Each of the plugs holds a circular coin display holder thereon. In other embodiments, a series of ribs are placed on the board, with the ribs having shoulders for gripping the edges of the coin holders. None of the embodiments disclosed by Rambow provide for customizing the size of the coins displayed in the holders.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,643 issued on Dec. 4, 1973 to Victor Titoff, titled “Device For Simultaneously Displaying The Front And Rear Of Coins,” describes a stand in which one or more coins are held by clips which hold their bottom edges. A mirror is provided in back of the coins, for viewing the reverse sides thereof.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,475 issued on Sep. 24, 1974 to Gerrit M. Bolanz, titled “Storage Device For Coins And Similar Objects,” describes an adjustable rack for holding a single coin. The Bolanz device is adjustable to hold coins of different diameters, with the adjustable portion held in a sealed enclosure with transparent panels on each side thereof. While Bolanz allows for holding coins of different diameters, his holder is unduly complex, and would be cost prohibitive to be used on a wide scale by coin collectors.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,410 issued on Oct. 29, 1974 to Luther N. Cook, titled “Mounting Of Coins In The Faces Of Coin Albums,” describes the pivotal mounting of coins in a relatively thin sheet of material, between a pair of horizontally opposed pivots.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,477 issued on Aug. 23, 1977 to Raymond E. Deese, titled “Coin Display,” describes a series of generally rectangular, interlocking frames, each of which may hold a single coin between two transparent sheets of material. The coins are held in place by inserts which hold each coin centered within its corresponding frame.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,399 issued on Sep. 6, 1983 to Wolfgang Friess, titled “System For The Storage Of Coins And The Like,” describes a flat plate sandwich structure for holding a series of coins therein. A central layer includes a series of passages therethrough for holding coins therein, with an unbroken clear sheet of material overlying the central sheet.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,761 issued on Jan. 7, 1997 to David B. Owen, titled “Coin Display Holder,” describes a device having an opening with a series of three generally radially disposed flexible arms extending inwardly from the wall of the opening.  
         [0012]     There is a need to provide a simple inexpensive coin holder that can be quickly adapted to hold coins of various diameters.  
         [0013]     The present invention relates to a mounting device for various sized objects preferably coins or circular tokens where it is desirable to keep said items within a protective cover, viewable from the front and/or rear of said item.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention is a coin holder apparatus capable of displaying coins of different diameters.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a coin comprising: 
        (a) a front portion, comprising a plurality of scored regions;     (b) a back portion, comprising a plurality of scored regions; wherein said back portion and front portion are connected at a fold,     (c) a transparent cover affixed to the inside of each of said front and back portions.        
 
         [0019]     The article of the present invention has scored regions that are sized for different sized coins. For example, the scored regions may be sized for U.S. silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, nickel, penny, and dollar coins and the like, as well as, for example, for foreign coins.  
         [0020]     The article has a front portion and back portion are positionable over one another through interaction of a fold. The article further comprises a closing means, that is used when said front portion and said back portion are positioned over one another through interaction of a fold. The closing means may be an adhesive, or any other suitable means for securing the front and back portions to one another when they are positioned over each other through interaction of the incorporated fold.  
         [0021]     The present invention also comprises a method for displaying a coin comprising: 
        (a) placing a coin in a holder with a front and back portion;     (b) removing a desired prescored portion from each of the front and back portions;     (c) joining front and back portions along a fold;     (d) applying a closing means to said joined front and back portions.        
 
         [0026]     In the method, the front and back portions further comprise a transparent viewing area.  
         [0027]     Further, the method provides a closing means as an adhesive deposed on the inner surface of said front and back portions. Alternatively, the closing means may be a clip that holds together said front and back portions.  
         [0028]     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for holding a coin comprising: 
        (a) a first layer, comprising a plurality of concentric scored circles;     (b) a second layer, comprising a plurality of concentric scored circles;     wherein each individual concentric scored circle is removable by the user in order beginning with the circle with the smallest diameter and removability of each concentric scored circle continuing in order of increasing diameter, whereby each of said first and second layers further comprises a transparent covering on the inner side and wherein each of said first and second layers are interposed onto each other through interaction of a shared fold.        
 
         [0032]     The apparatus allows a user to individually remove each concentric scored circle in which removal is desired. Alternatively, the user may remove more than one concentric scored circle at a time.  
         [0033]     The apparatus is preferably of rectangular sized cardboard structure measuring approximately 2×2 inches, creased so that it folds over forming two square halves of equal size. The apparatus includes a transparent film of the same approximate dimensions as the rectangular square cardboard structure affixed to the inside of the rectangular square structure on the interior of the rectangular square structure with two matching circles cut out from the cardboard in the center of each square half, each having a diameter corresponding relatively to a coin within the holder. Each square half opening has an opening created by perforated circles each having a slightly larger diameter so the opening can correlate to the size of the coin. In one embodiment, adhesive on the interior side of the plastic holds the two cardboard halves together in a sealed relationship.  
         [0034]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel coin holder for holding any size coin whereby the opening is adjustable to match the size of the coin.  
         [0035]     It is another object of the invention to provide a coin holder having openings created by perforated rings so that the opening can be tailored to the size of the coin therein.  
         [0036]     It is another object of the invention to have a coin holder that is inexpensive and easy to use and manufacture.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the coin holder of the present invention holding a coin.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the opening faces of the coin holder in an open position.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a section view of  FIG. 2  along line  3 - 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]     In the following description numerous specific details are set forth. However it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this invention. In the illustrated embodiments the coin holder  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Within said coin holder  10  is a coin  11 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 2  said coin holder  10  includes a cardboard base  12  having a first opening  13  on side  12 A and a second opening  14  on side  12 B.  
         [0042]     Said coin holder  10  is constructed and arranged with perforated circles  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24 . Each perforated circle is formed by perforation lines  30 ,  31 ,  32  and  33 . As seen in  FIG. 3  perforated circles  24 ,  23 ,  22 ,  21  and  20  are removable as needed to adjust the viewable area to the size of a coin  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1  the smallest coin  11 , a dime, is surrounded by the concentric perforated circles. However, if a quarter were used or a silver dollar, it would be necessary to remove some of the removable circles (or rings)  24 ,  23 ,  22 ,  21  and/or  20  to make room for the size of the coin  11 .  
         [0043]     In use, a coin collector, for example would select a coin to be held in the coin holder. The diameter of the coin would be compared to the removable rings. The removable rings starting from the inside  24  would be removed until there was a corresponding size between the removable rings and the coin allowing the coin to be seen in full. The coin is then placed on a film or plastic sheet  15  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Thereafter  FIG. 3  is closed over bringing point A to point B such that the apparatus is in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this manner the coin is held securely within the plastic sheet  15 . Preferably the inner edge of rings  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  keep coin  11  within the center of plastic sheet  15  and openings  13  and  14 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , plastic sheet  15  is bonded to cardboard  12 , by an adhesive  16  placed at strategic locations on cardboard  12 , so as not to interfere with the removal of rings  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and/or  24  in either side  12   a  or  12   b  of cardboard  12 , nor to interfere with viewing of coins, when rings  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and/or  24  are removed. Releasable adhesive  17  is shown on plastic sheet  15  on side  12   a . When coin holder  10  is closed, side B is closed onto side A, coin holder  10  is held in a closed position by releasable adhesive  17  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Said adhesive  17  is likewise placed at strategic locations on plastic sheet  15  so as not to interfere with viewing of coins when rings  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and/or  24  are removed.  
         [0045]     Although the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.