Abstract:
Shadowboxes traditionally have been used to show, and at the same time protect, hobbyist&#39;s items on display. The arrival of limited edition collectibles has led to a revival of the crafts of fabricating, not only shadowboxes, but other multiple compartment storage cases for use by hobbyists. Unfortunately the compartments in such cases cannot meet all of the size and shape requirements needed for various items now being collected. Such shadowboxes and stowage cases are not quite practical because they must be made to order. They also are not useable by artists and others desiring storage compartments that are not visible. Provided herein are multiple compartment storage cases that meet the stowage requirements for a wide variety of articles because they can be assembled by the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention, broadly, pertains to receptacles in the form of multipurpose stowage cases used in pursuit of various hobbies. In a more specific aspect the invention relates to multiple compartment storage cases for use by hobbyists. In a still more specific aspect, as a subset, the invention is directed to shadowboxes. 
     In recent years commercial promotions and special sales of limited editions of collectibles have led hobbyists across town in search of such newer items such as Beanie Babies, Pokemon articles, newer Barbie dolls, Ken dolls, and a new wave of basketball, football and baseball sports cards. 
     Shadowboxes traditionally have been used to show, and at the same time protect, hobbyist&#39;s items on display. For years they have housed such collectible items as miniature flags, trophies, awards, Precious Moment and Hummel ceramic dolls, and ceramic bells, as well as mementos purchased at estate sales, yard sales and flea markets. Examples of such collectibles are other ceramic figurines, souvenirs, badges, trophies, coins, jewelry and pictures. 
     Shadowboxes are shallow rectangular, generally wooden, frames, each having back and a transparent glass or plastic front. Within each frame a series of elongated wood strips divide the box into an array of compartments that house the collectibles. The art of the construction of shadowboxes can be said to have a rich heritage, so much so that improvements in the patent art are rare, being limited to a few design patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. Des. 390,364, and moldings therefor, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,690. For years, then, the art of shadowbox making has continued in small shops of artisans supplying them. However, the arrival of limited edition collectibles has led to a revival of the crafts of fabricating, not only shadowboxes, but other multiple compartment storage cases for use by hobbyists, such as the display cases exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,711 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,665. 
     A portable display case for displaying chips and swatches is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,711. For convenience, two compartmented rectangular containers are provided that are adapted to be detachably connected for carrying or transporting the items they house. During use the two containers are separated and supported by their fold-back covers to display the items in the compartments. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,665, a display case is described for displaying and transporting a plurality of collectibles. The case has a plurality of compartments that permit storage of the collectibles. In order to display the collectibles the case is provided with interlocking means permitting two or more adjacent cases to be assembled into a single unit. While larger arrays of units are possible, four cases, representing sixteen collectibles, are preferred. There are, thus, four compartments to the case. 
     It is to be understood that stowage cases such as those described are subject to certain disadvantages. Chief among them is the fact that the compartments cannot meet all of the size and shape requirements needed for various items being collected. The undesirable result is that shadowboxes and stowage cases must be made to order. It should be added that shadowboxes and the like are also not practical for use by artists and others desiring multiple compartment storage cases as will be illustrated hereinafter. Examples of items calling for differently sized multiple compartments in storage cases are artist&#39;s art supply cases, niniature autos storage units, basketball, football and baseball sports cards holders, children&#39;s coloring boxes, and the like. A conventional display case for such items is illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     An object of this invention is to provide a multiple compartment storage case that meets the stowage requirements for a wide variety of articles such as those just exemplified. 
     One of the advantages is that the invention overcomes the problem of made-to-order storage boxes. 
     Another advantage is that the multiple compartment storage assembly herein can be adapted as a wall hanging. 
     A still further advantage of the invention is that the multiple compartment storage assembly can be used as a portable carrying case for the articles it houses. 
     These and other advantages will become apparent as the multiple compartment storage cases are described in detail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein provides a multiple purpose compartmented storage assembly that can be adapted for use by artists for their supplies, by children for their articles, and by collectors for their collectibles. By the term “assembly” we intend a multiple compartment storage case which can be assembled by the user to meet his size requirements. The multiple compartment stowage case of this invention includes a rectangular frame attached to a back piece, and compartments within said frame defined by divider panels. That stowage case is improved herein by divider panels of various sizes which are adapted to be detachably inserted within the rectangular frame. The divider panels can be adjusted so as to define compartment sizes that accept variously sized articles, and means are provided for locking the connected divider panels in place to form those compartment sizes. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As the invention is described it will become apparent that a number of adaptations of it are possible. For a better understanding of these variant forms, the invention will be described in conjunction with drawings of the adaptations. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional shadowbox. 
     FIG. 2 shows a shadowbox which houses items of different sizes and shapes. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates side and end views of miniature compartment divider panels. 
     FIG. 4 shows elevation views of three types of connector strips used in conjunction with the miniature divider panels. 
     FIG. 5 depicts cross-sectional views taken through I—I, II—II, and III—III of the three connector strips of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a back view showing how the connector strips hold the miniature panels in place in an assembly. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of the assembly showing the appearance of the connections. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a completed shadowbox. 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of a multiple compartment stowage case of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 shows a picture-type multiple compartment stowage case. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the insertion of a picture in the multiple compartment stowage case of FIG.  10 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a different embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the open multiple compartment stowage case of FIGS. 12 and 13. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a slightly different embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 17 illustrates the appearance of the multiple compartment stowage case of FIGS. 15 and 16 with the collectibles therein. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate the fabrication of the multiple compartment stowage cases. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21 show the adaptation of the multiple compartment stowage case for sports card collections. 
     FIGS. 22 a  and  b  and FIGS. 23 a, d , and  c  show how the sports cards are inserted in the front piece or cover of a multiple compartment stowage case. 
     FIG. 24 illustrates the use of the multiple compartment stowage case as an artist&#39;s case. 
     FIGS. 25 a  and  b  illustrate special miniature panels for holding paintbrushes in the artist&#39;s case. 
     FIG. 26 shows still another means for displaying collectibles. 
     FIG. 27 shows a hinge means for the multiple compartment stowage case when it is preferred not to have a removable cover or front piece. 
     FIGS. 28 and 29 a  and  b  show means for hanging a multiple compartment stowage case on a wall. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, in this view a conventional shadowbox  1  is illustrated. As noted, it includes a back  3  and a frame  5  which surrounds a framework  7  forming a number of compartments  4  which house collectibles. Shadowboxes have a front cover of glass or plastic, not visible in FIG. 1, to protect the collectibles. 
     To illustrate the appearance of a shadowbox  1 , a version  1  a is shown in FIG. 2 with collectibles  9  in some of the compartments. It is to be noted that not all of the collectible items  9  are the same size. The shadowbox illustrated in FIG. 1, thus, could not be used for these collectibles. A made-to-order shadowbox is called for. The need for special order shadowboxes is one of the disadvantages overcome by one of the embodiments of this invention. 
     FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  illustrate one compartment assembly means suitable for use in this invention. Other means can be employed since the means per se are not the essence of the invention. By the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  the framework  7  (FIG. 1) which houses the collectibles is essentially in kit form. The kit entails a tongue and groove assembly and includes miniature panels  13   a  whose side and end views are shown in FIG. 3, and connector strips  15 ,  16  and  17  illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Miniature panel  13   a  has a plane surface x and a tongue y, seen in the side view of FIG. 3, and, in part, in FIG.  6 . The compartments are erected by using these miniature panels  13   a  and connector strips  15 ,  16  and  17  illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The connector strips  15 ,  16 , and  17  can best be visualized by comparing the elevation views of the connector strips in FIG. 4 with their corresponding cross-sections shown in FIG. 5, taken through I—I, II—II, and III—III. respectively of FIG.  4 . The lengths of the connector strips  15 ,  16  and  17  are equal to each other, and that dimension is equal to the depth of panels  13   a  and also the depth d of the shadowbox frame  5  seen in FIG.  6 . It is to be appreciated that the depth d of the shadowbox frame is a variable depending upon the size of shadowbox desired. Thus if large objects are to be held, deeper compartments will be need, and hence panels of greater depth. This will become apparent during the assembly procedure that will now be described. 
     For an understanding of the erecting steps attention is directed to the cross-sectional views of the connector strips shown in FIG.  5 . It is to be noted that  15  is a comer connector strip. That connector strip is provided with two perpendicular grooves  19  and  21 . The grooves, of course, are sized to accept tongues y of miniature panels  13   a  (FIG.  3 ), enabling the comer connecting strip  15  to be installed as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Referring further to FIG. 5, it can be seen that connector strip  16  is provided with oppositely disposed grooves  22  and  23 . Since it allows for the insertion of additional panels  13   a  as illustrated in FIG. 6, strip  16  is an extension connecting strip. If desired this connector strip can be dispensed with, or its use minimized, by the provision of miniature panels  13   a  of various lengths. 
     Connector strip  17  is an intersection connecting strip rendering it possible to join four panels at right angles. Connector strip  17  is provided with four grooves  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28  ninety degrees apart and sized to accept tongues y of the miniature panels to form four chambers or compartments  30 ,  31 ,  32  and  33  as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     It will be understood that to effect the fabrication of variously sized compartments by the tongue and groove means suggested herein, grooves  35  are spaced at various intervals along the inner surface of frame  5  which holds the assembly in a framework  11 . Framework  11  can then be inserted in box  37  as shown as an exploded view in FIG.  8 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, it can be seen that when the framework is thus formed the tongue and groove arrangement is not visible from the front of the shadowbox. Rather, the connector strips defining the chambers or compartments appear as does connector  17  in FIG.  7 . As shown in FIG. 4 the grooves,  19  and  28  being examples, do not extend the full length of a connector strip ( 15  and  17 ), leaving an area A that is not grooved at the ends of the connector strips. Referring again to FIG. 3, the tongue y also does not extend across miniature panel  13   a , but stops short a distance A from the panel edge. This allows the miniature panel and the connector to fit together as shown at  17  in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 8 also shows the back  3  of the shadowbox, as well as the glass or plastic front cover  8  specified in connection with FIG.  1 . As shown in FIG. 8, the shadowbox can also be provided with a handle  39  for carrying the collectibles elsewhere to shown them, and a special hanging means  40 , to be described hereinafter, for locking the shadowbox in place when it is hung on a wall. A front view of a shadowbox  37 , including a framework  11  of differently sized compartments, allowing for variously sized collectibles is illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
     Shadowboxes are indeed widely used, particularly as wall hangings displaying the collected objects. By an aspect of this invention, however, even more desirable multiple compartment stowage cases are provided. They will be preferred because they more closely resemble framed pictures such as does stowage case  45  illustrated in FIG.  10 . An examination of FIG. 10 raises the question, where are the collectibles? The answer is that in this embodiment they are stored within frame  46 . This means, as will be shown in other drawings, that an advantage of such stowage cases is that stored articles such as art supplies and children&#39;s crayons, which are not collectibles, can be hidden. The artist or child can paint of color the picture ( 47 ) in the frame. 
     It is to be emphasized that articles can still be displayed when they are collectibles. However, the artwork aspect of the invention will first be discussed. The picture  47  can be in the form of a photograph, a sketch, a painting, or a copy, such as a limited edition of a painting, and the like. The picture can be inserted in a slot  48  in stowage case  45  as illustrated in FIG. 11, or it can rest on a ledge or shoulder under the glass cover within the stowage case as will be noted hereinafter. 
     Considering now the details of the picture-type multiple compartment stowage cases, two embodiments of them are provided herein in addition to that illustrated in FIG.  10 . In the modification shown in FIG. 10 the contents, as indicated, are not visible. In that embodiment the multiple compartment stowage case can be used to house non-display items such as the art supplies to be described in conjunction with FIG.  18 . 
     The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  12 . It can be seen that multiple marginal windows  51  are included in the multiple compartment stowage case  50  through which collectibles  53  can be seen as shown in FIG.  13 . There are three or four separate windows  51  along the side, top and bottom margins of the stowage case  50 . The inside view of multiple compartment stowage case  50 , showing compartments  54 , is shown in FIG.  14 . 
     A third representation of the multiple compartment stowage case embodied herein is shown in FIG.  15 . In this embodiment the multiple compartment stowage case  50  is fabricated with single windows  55  along each side and the top and bottom, in other words along the four margins of the stowage case. The open (isometric) view of this multiple compartment stowage case illustrated in FIG. 16 which shows the single windows  55  and compartments  54 . Also illustrated is front window  44  to be discussed shortly. The multiple compartment stowage case  50  with collected items  56  housed in its compartments is depicted in FIG.  17 . 
     The fabrication of the various storage compartments  54  (FIGS. 14 and 16 can best be described in conjunction with FIG. 18 in which the top view of a segment of a framework  62  is illustrated. Compartments  61  are constructed by the insertion of panel strips  63  in grooves such as  65  formed in the side walls of the framework as explained in describing the construction of the shadowbox. The length of each panel  63  is equal to the width (side compartments), or height (top and bottom compartments) of the various compartments  61  so that they fit as shown in FIG.  18 . The horizontal length L, and the vertical height H are determined by the grooves  65  utilized. Thus if side grooves are not utilized, such as  65   a , side compartments  61  will be higher as shown at H. Similarly, if top or bottom grooves, such as  65   b , are not used those compartments  61  will be longer or wider as shown at L. 
     A multiple compartment stowage case  57  for sports card collections is illustrated in FIG.  19 . When baseball or football or other cards are the collected items, panels  67  (FIG.  20 ), which are shorter than panels  63 , can be used. This is apparent in FIG. 19 which shows the compartments  61 . By shorter is meant less than the width of side or the height of top and bottom compartments as seen in FIG.  21 . Shorter panels  67  are compared with normal panels  63  in FIG. 20, which, below, also shows top views of the two panels as  63   a  and  67   a . Referring back to FIG. 19, panels  63  extend across compartments  61  whereas fingers can be inserted between shorter panels  67  to remove more easily the cards  66 . In addition, as will be explained shortly shorter panels  67  will allow the user to insert paintbrushes, pencils or crayons in the compartments when it is used as an art box. 
     Sports card collections  66  can be displayed in the compartments as are other collectibles. However many collectors will prefer to insert their favorites in the front piece or cover (lid)  73  (FIG. 20) of the multiple compartment stowage case so that the display will resemble that illustrated in FIG.  21 . To this end cards  66  are slipped into grooves  74  provided, one on each side, along the sides of their windows. These windows  51  and the grooves  74  are shown in FIGS. 22 a  and  22   b , and in FIGS. 23 a ,  23   b , and  23   c.    
     FIG. 22 a  shows windows  51  and grooves  74  prior to the insertion of, say, baseball cards. An end view of a groove  74  is shown in FIG. 22 b  which is a cross section taken through IV—IV of FIG. 22 a . The insertion of sports cards  66  in grooves  74  is illustrated in the remaining figures. In FIG. 23 a  baseball card  66  is only partially inserted in grooves  74  and separate window  51  is partially visible. FIG. 23 b  shows the baseball card  66  fully inserted behind the window of in the cover or lid  73  of a multiple compartment stowage case. FIG. 23 c  shows the partial insertion of a baseball card  66  behind a side window  51  in the stowage case cover. It is to be noted that since this is a side panel a stop  72  is provided at the end of groove  74  to prevent the card from being drawn through the groove by the force of gravity. The grooves in FIG. 23 c  thus differ from those in FIGS. 23 a  and  23   b.    
     It has been stated that shorter panels  67  permit storage of longer objects that are in use rather than being collected, and that these are stowed in the windowless multiple compartment stowage case described in FIGS. 10 and 11. An example of this embodiment is art box or artist&#39;s carrying case  76  shown in FIG.  24 . FIG. 24 shows paintbrushes  70  on each side of multiple compartment stowage case  76 . Art supplies  77  can be seen in other compartments of the art box. Paintbrushes  70  could be placed loosely in the art box between shorter panels ( 67 , FIG.  19 ). However, they are best carried in retainers or stirrups  80  and  81  illustrated in FIGS. 26 a  and  26   b . Retainer  80  is provided with three sizes of openings  82 ,  83  and  84  adapted to accept three sizes of paintbrushes, with the larger brush fitting in the largest opening  82 , etc. The tips of the brush handles are inserted in corresponding holes  85 ,  86  and  87  in retainer  81 . Needless to say, the retaining panels or stirrups  80  and  81  are locked in grooves such as  65  shown in FIG.  18 . 
     It has been pointed out that instead of inserting a picture in a slot in the back of the multiple compartment stowage case it can be rested on a ledge beneath the glass front. This ledge  90  can be seen in FIG.  16 . Such variations and ramifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing description thereof. As an example, three stowage case lids can be provided with the basic unit, or a single lid with inserts can be furnished. The inserts can be opaque panels, larger windows, or smaller windows installed in the marginal areas of the multiple compartment stowage case frontpiece. Each marginal opening is adapted to enable the user to insert a panel or window to form one of the embodiments of the invention. By such means one stowage case lid can be provided for all three embodiments previously described. In this connection FIGS. 19 and 20 show sports cards in grooves  74 . It will be appreciated that the cards can be stored in a multiple compartment stowage case without windows if they are not to be visible. Another variation is illustrated in FIG.  26 . Since most multiple compartment stowage case are used as wall hangings it may be desirable to suspend the collectible  88  in the compartment in the shadowbox or multiple compartment stowage case. It has also been pointed out that the multiple compartment stowage case cover  73  can be removable or attached to the case. FIG. 27 shows a multiple compartment stowage case  1  provided with a hinge  89  to that it can be swung open as are briefcases and other luggage. 
     In addition to handle  39  signified in connection with FIG. 8, hanging means can be provided for mounting the multiple compartment stowage case on a wall. FIG. 28 shows a wall  94  carrying a screw or nail  91  which fits into eye  92  or hanging clip  93  of the multiple compartment stowage case ( 50 ). A preferred hanging means is the subject of my patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,694. This hanging means is illustrated in FIG. 28 a  and FIG. 28 b . Referring to those figures, it can be imagined that if support bar  95  is attached to a wall of a room, the multiple compartment stowage case ( 50 ) can be placed over it with the cavities in socket components  96  which fit over lobes  98  on support bar  95  so that the lobes seat in the cavities or shallow recesses in the socket components. For locking purposes the lobes and sockets will be tapered as shown in FIGS. 28 a  and  28   b . In other words, rather than lobes having top portions perpendicular to the wall they have upwardly directed portions clearly visible in the figures. In order to remove the stowage or display case from the hanging bar, from the lobes, then, it must be lifted upwardly rather than merely outwardly. This action affords a means for locking the multiple compartment stowage case on the wall. When a panel or a mounted picture is slid into upper and lower grooves, lower grooves  99  being visible in FIG. 28 a , that panel prevents the multiple compartment display case from being lifted off of the lobes. The strength of the lock then will depend on the strengths of the support and picture panel. These and other modifications within the scope of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art.