PROTECTIVE FRAME

The present invention is a protective frame which provides a solution to the problem of protecting collectable items while on display. The protective frame includes a base and a detachable cover. The base includes an indent into which a collectable item or other item to be secured and protected may be secured. The detachable cover connects to the base with an elastic connection mechanism, such as a magnet, and extends beyond the sides of the base. The detachable cover is detached when the protective frame receives a shock by falling from a wall to the ground or for any other reasons.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is a protective frame, which provides a solution to the problem of protecting collectable items while on display.

BACKGROUND

Various forms of protective cases exist for collectable items such as trading cards and comic books. Graded collectible items often include a protective plastic case around the collectable item. Graded collectible items often have to be regraded if the protective plastic case has to be replaced. The grading process requires an expert and can be costly and time consuming.

In order to prevent the protective case from being damaged, protective devices exist for these protective plastic cases. However, these protective cases often provide insufficient protection for the collectible item when the frame is accidentally dropped from a wall or other high place to the ground.

SUMMARY

The disclosed device is a protective frame for collectible items comprising a base and a detachable cover. The device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the detachable cover absorbs shocks by being detached from the base when the frame receives the shocks. More specifically, the frame is unique due to the presence of an elastic connection between the detachable cover and the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used—to the extent possible—in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range including that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range, including that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose limits include both numbers. For example, “25 to 100” means a range whose lower limit is 25, upper limit is 100, and includes both25and100.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

FIG.1Ashows an example perspective front view of a frame100showing the side of a detachable cover200.FIG.1Bshows an example perspective rear view of the protective frame showing the side of a base300. The detachable cover200cooperates with the base300to enclose a collectible item400as illustrated inFIGS.2A-2B. The collectible item400is securely wrapped by a top protective case420and a bottom protective case430, collectively called a protective case410, as illustrated inFIGS.2A-2B. If the collectible item400is a graded collectible item, the frame100retains the collectible item400as it is contained inside the protective case410without having to open or modify the protective case410. Therefore, there is no need to regrade the collectible item300when it is taken out of the frame100and redecorated. The top protective case420is usually made of transparent plastic material such that the contents of the front cover of the collectible item400may be visible. As shown inFIG.1A, the detachable cover200has an opening its center in a generally rectangular shape such that the top protective case420is exposed through which the contents of the front cover of the collectible item400may be visible.

The detachable cover200and the body300may have other shapes than a rectangle or have additional design effects added thereon as well. The detachable cover200and/or the body300may be made of durable materials including plastic, wood, metal, plaster, or other similar materials.

As shown inFIG.1B, the base300may include a rim310and a collectible item receptacle320. The rim310may be flat and extend around the collectible item receptacle320. The base300may also include a hanging hole330at the center of the rear side of the base300. The hanging hole330may be used to hang the frame100on the wall in cooperation with a nail, a hook, or any other hanging objects secured on a wall or any other objects. In some embodiments, there may be more than one hanging hole. In the embodiment shown inFIG.1B, the detachable cover200is in a concave shape receiving the base300in its hollow structure. There is a gap340between the inside perimeter of the detachable cover200and the outside perimeter of the base300. In some embodiments, there may be a shock absorbing material (not shown) along the gap340. The shock absorbing material may be made of soft plastic material, rubber, or foam providing cushion against sudden mechanical shocks, such as when the frame100falls on the ground and the position of the detachable cover200shifts with respect to the base300.

In some embodiments, the detachable cover200is not in a concave shape. For example, the detachable cover200may be flat. In this embodiment, the detachable cover200extends larger than the exterior of the base300, such that when the frame100receives a shock by falling on the ground or any other accident, the detachable cover200takes the first hit and receives most of the shock and slides open with respect to the base300. In this way, the shock on the base300is reduced and the shocks received by the protective case410and the collectible item400that are housed in the base300are reduced.

FIGS.2A-2Bshow example exploded views of the frame100.FIG.2Ais a perspective view from the side of the detachable cover200, andFIG.2Bis a perspective view from the side of the base300. The collectible item receptacle320is in a hollow or concave shape at its center defining an indent to receive the collectible item400enclosed inside the protective case410. In some embodiments, the indent may snuggly fit the protective case410without any space between the protective case410and the collectible item receptacle320. In other embodiments, there is a space between the protective case410and the collectible item receptacle320where an insert350made of shock-absorbing material (shown inFIG.3) such as soft plastic, rubber, or foam may be placed in the space providing additional protection against shocks. The insert350may cover the entire interior of the collectible item receptacle320or may cover only portions of sides and a back of the collectible item receptacle320.

The shapes of the top protective case420and the bottom protective case430are exemplary only and they may be in different shapes and sizes depending on the different shapes and sizes of collectible items. There are commercially available standardized protective cases for some collectible items such as comic books, and in some embodiments, the base300is shaped to snuggly house one of the standardized protective cases. In some embodiments, the base300may have two or more collectible item receptacles320to accommodate two or more collectible items400in one frame100.

In some embodiments, a slot360is located near the far end of the base300from the hanging hole330. The slot360extends from a bottom side of the rim310such that one end of the protective case410may be slid inside the base300under the slot360. After that, the other end of the protective case410is secured by a locking bar500that is inserted in a locking bar socket370. The locking bar socket370may extend across a portion of the collectible item receptacle320. In some embodiments, the locking bar500has a locking tongue510and a couple of locking clips520, and the locking bar socket370has a structure corresponding to the locking tongue510and locking clips520, such that the locking bar500may be securely attached onto the base300.FIG.3shows an example top view of the base300showing the locking bar socket370, the slot360, and the insert350. However, any other well-known method of securing a flat item in a hollow area may be used to secure the protective case410in the collectible item receptacle320. For example, instead of one locking bar500and the slot360, two locking bars may be attached to the opposite sides of the base300.

Referring back toFIGS.2A-2B, the rim310of the base300has a plurality of first connectors600, each embedded in a first connector housing380or otherwise attached to the rim310. The first connectors600may include magnets, sticky tack, clips, or other materials that provide a detachable, elastic connection with their corresponding second connectors610, which is a connection that stretches and applies a restoring force as the first connectors600and the second connectors610are separated from each other. Each of the second connectors610is embedded in a second connector housing210in the detachable cover200or otherwise attached to the detachable cover200. The second connectors610include magnets, sticky tack, clips, or other materials. As described above, the second connectors610, paired with the first connectors600, provide a detachable, elastic connection. The connection between the first connectors600and the second connectors610holds the detachable cover200and the base300in place.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.2A-2B, the first connectors600may be located in the four corners of the base300. In other embodiments, the first connectors600may be located in any and as many places as needed around the rim310of the base300in order to provide sufficient force to hold the detachable cover200and the base300together when the frame100is hanging on the wall or any other object.

In an exemplary embodiment, a detachable, elastic connection is made between two magnets facing each other with opposite poles. As the magnets are pulled apart the magnets continue to exert a force on each other toward each other. In another exemplary embodiment, the first connectors600may be magnets and the second connectors610may be made of ferromagnetic material, such as stainless steel. In another exemplary embodiment, a tacky substance provides an elastic connection because as the tacky substance is pulled apart, the tacky substance resists being pulled apart as it is deformed.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.2A-2B, the first connectors600may have a cylindrical shape with their circular surface facing the second connectors610. However, in other embodiments, the first connectors600may have different shapes with different shapes of their surfaces, including but not limited to, a square or a rectangle. The second connectors610may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the surfaces of the first connectors600suitable for providing a sufficient connecting force to hold the detachable cover200and the base300together. For example, the second connectors610may have a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape of the first connectors600.

FIG.4Ais a sectional view of the frame100taken at the sectioning plane and in the direction indicated by section lines4-4shown inFIG.1A.FIG.4Bis a partial enlarged view ofFIG.4A. As shown inFIGS.4A-4B, in some embodiments, the first connectors600protrude slightly above the surface of the base200. For example, the first connectors600protrude about ⅛ of an inch above the surface of the base200. The second connectors610have a concave contour facing and corresponding to the protruding surface of the first connectors600. In an embodiment where the first connectors600have a cylindrical shape, the shape of the second connectors610may be a cylinder with a smooth depression at the center of the cylinder like a crater. Alternatively, the shape of the second connectors610may be a cylinder with a depression like a round tray comprised of a flat area and a slope around the flat area. The highest points of the second connectors610are flush with the inner surface of the detachable cover200, such that when the detachable cover200closes on the base300there is no gap between the surfaces of the detachable cover200and the base300. In some embodiments, the concave contour of the second connectors610are shaped in a slanted form to facilitate the detachment of the detachable cover200from the base300when there is a shock or shear force applied in the horizontal direction as indicated by a horizontal arrow620. In these embodiments, because of the concave contour of the second connectors610around the protrusion of the first connectors600, when there is a shear force applied in the direction of the arrow620, part of the force is transformed into a force in the vertical direction as indicated by a vertical arrow630. This vertical force allows for or helps the detachment of the detachable cover200from the base300. Because the detachable cover200is detached from the base300by a shock, part of the shock is exerted only on the detachable cover200but not to the base300. At the same time, the base300is decelerated before hitting the ground during the time the detachable cover200is being detached from the base300, which reduces the impact of the shock on the base300. In this way, the structure of the first connectors600and the second connectors610works as a shock absorber for the base300, providing further protection to the collectible item400.

A very stiff strong connector such as a peg or nail will not provide the same advantage of the first connectors600and the second connectors610because the stiff connector will cause the detachable cover200and the base300to decelerate at the same rate and not allow them to move relative to one another. A very fragile connector will similarly not provide the same advantage as the first connectors600and the second connectors610because the fragile connector will break without decelerating the base300before hitting the ground.

The detachable cover200and the base300may be sized and arranged for collectible items which are trading card size (generally around 2 inches by 3 inches), comic book size (generally around 7 inches by 10 inches), or any other size. The strength of the first connectors600and the second connectors610may be optimized for the weight and size of the base300but generally for comic book sized and trading card sized collectible items. Magnets that require a force of about 10-20 pounds to separate will provide sufficient elastic force to decelerate the base300such that the insert350can prevent damage to the protective case410and the collectible item400.

Accordingly, the present description provides for various embodiments for a protective frame100including a detachable cover200and a base300. Many uses and advantages are offered by the frame as described above in one or more non-limiting embodiments in the present description.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present invention, according to one or more embodiments described in the present description, may be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive of the present invention.