Abstract:
A coin holder having edge view optics. The coin holder includes a coin having an obverse side, a reverse side and a coin edge having features on the coin edge. The features can include lettering, decorative patterns or other features of interest. An optical frame is configured to surround the coin edge and includes reflective surfaces that project an image of the coin edge to a viewing side of the optical frame, where the features of the coin edge can be viewed in a desired orientation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a coin holder having edge view optics. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the coin collecting field there has been an increased demand for collectable coins that have a greater number of features and decorative patterns. Many of the newer collectible coins, as well as some older coins, have engraving or writing on the edge of the coin. Being able to view the features of the edge is problematic for numismatists because many seek to protect their precious and often times valuable coins by encasing them in containers, called slabs, which protect them from handling and the environment. The use of the containers also makes it difficult to view the quality of the edge of the coin to determine if there are dings, scratches or other sort of damages to the coin edge. 
     Most of the slabs used today do not provide a way of viewing the edge of the coin. Some attempts have been made to provide coin slabs that have viewing features that allow the edge of the coin to be viewed. One example is a coin slab that has a protruding coin holder surface that raises the coin off of the surface of the slab so that the edge can be viewed when the slab is turned on its side. This type of coin holder allows the viewer to see the side of the coin; however, the slab must be turned on its side or at an angle in order for the lettering on the edge of the coin to be viewed. Additionally this type of slab is not desirable because of difficulties in stacking the slabs for storage because of a raised surface on the slab itself. Another attempt provides a coin slab has been designed to include a magnification circle. The magnification circle encircles the edge of the coin and has a single reflective surface that projects a magnified, inverted image of the edge lettering of the coin. An inverted image of the edge of the coin can be viewed when a person is examining the face of the coin. This particular attempt projects an inverted image that is dark and distorted. 
     One other attempt of a coin slab design implements four tabs that hold the coin in place within the slab. Between the tabs is a gap that allows the edge of the coin to be viewed directly by holding the slab on an angle. This attempt does not use any projections or reflective surfaces but relies on allowing the edge to be viewed directly. However, the view of the edge is minimal due to the glare that often occurs from holding the slab at an angle. Thus there is a need to provide better quality edge viewing slab designs. 
     The field of coin collecting also requires a certain level of security in order to ensure a coin&#39;s authenticity. Once a coin has been graded or valued it generally receives a certificate of authenticity that specifies the grade value which all compute to the coins value. In order to maintain the integrity of the coin grading process, the coins are often sealed in slabs along with the certificate of grading. Counterfeit coin slab casings have been discovered. These casings include certificates that purport to have been from a reputable grading service, when they are in fact fake certificates and coins that do not contain the purported level of grading specified on the certificate. These fraudulent acts harm the reputation of the entire field since collectors cannot be certain they are getting what they think they are purchasing. Thus there is a need to improve the security features of the slabs themselves. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a coin holder having edge view optics. The coin holder includes a coin having an obverse side, a reverse side and a coin edge with features on the coin edge. The features can include lettering, decorative patterns or other features of interest. An optical frame is configured to surround the coin edge and includes a viewing side of the optical frame where the features of the coin edge can be viewed in a desired orientation. An inner side of the optical frame is located adjacent at least a portion of the coin edge and can include features such as a ledge for preventing the coin from sliding through the inner side of the optical frame. An angled outer side of the optical frame is located substantially opposite the inner side and includes a reflective surface capable of reflecting an inverted image of the features of the coin edge. The optical frame further includes an angled bottom side that is positioned opposite and aligned with the angled outer side and also includes a reflective surface. The reflective surface of the angled bottom side receives the inverted image reflected from the angled outer side and projects a double inverted image of the features through the viewing side such that the features are viewed in a desired orientation. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an obverse side plan view of a coin contained within the coin holder with edge view optics; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the coin holder with edge view optics; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged plan view of the fingercasing of the coin holder; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a partial cross sectional view of the coin holder and the optical frame, and 
         FIG. 4   b  is a partial cross sectional view of the coin holder and the optical frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring now to all of the figures generally, and more specifically  FIG. 1 , a coin holder  10  is shown. The coin holder  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  has a casing  12  having a security window  14  for viewing a security certificate  16  which can contain grading information about a coin  20  contained within the coin holder  10 . The coin holder  10  also includes a coin window  18  where the coin  20  can be viewed. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the casing  10  is shown in an exploded view. The coin holder  10  is configured to hold the coin  20  which has an obverse side  22 , reverse side  24  and edge  26 . The term obverse as used herein can be interchanged with the words front or heads side of the coin and the term reverse can be interchanged with the words back or tails side of the coin. Written on the edge  26  of the coin  20  are features, which in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  have the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” engraved thereon. The casing  12  has two pieces  28 ,  28 ′ forming an upper and lower, each having their own security window  14 ,  14 ′ and coin window  18 ,  18 ′ for viewing the obverse side and reverse side of the certificate  16  and coin  20 . Surrounding the coin  20  is an optical frame  30  that is positioned adjacent to the coin  20 . The optical frame  30  and coin  20  are further encircled by an insert  32  formed of rubber or other suitable material and having an aperture for receiving the optical frame  30  and coin  20 . The insert  32  holds the optical frame  30  and coin  20  in place and is locked into place by the two pieces  28 ,  28 ′ of the casing  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4   a , the optical frame  30  provides edge view optics that allows a person looking at the obverse side  22  or reverse side  24  of the coin to also see the features engraved on the edge  26  of the coin  20  without having to turn the coin holder  10 . The optical frame  30  provides the edge view optics by having a double reflective prismatic configuration that reflects the undistorted features of the edge  26  through a viewing side  32  of the optical frame. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the prismatic configuration of the optical frame  30  is a circular prism having a pentaprism cross-section; however, the present invention contemplates other cross-sectional shapes depending on the needs of a particular application. 
     The viewing side  32  of the optical frame is positioned either around the obverse side  22  or reverse side  24  of the coin and can be viewed through either coin window  18 ,  18 ′ depending on what way the viewing side  32  faces within coin holder  10 . 
     The optical frame  30  has an inner side  34  that is adjacent to and in contact with the edge  26  of the coin  20 . The inner side  34  of the optical frame  30  is transparent and allows the features of the edge  26  to be projected to an angled outer side  36  of the optical frame  30  which is located substantially opposed to the inner side  34  of the optical frame  30 . The angled outer edge  36  has a reflective surface layer  38 , which receives a projected image of the edge  26  through the inner side  34 . The reflective surface layer  38  then inverts and projects an inverted image  40  of the edge  26  to an angled bottom side  42  of the optical frame  30 . The angled bottom side  42  has a reflective surface layer  44  that receives the inverted image  40 . The reflective surface layer  44  then projects a double inverted image  46  to the viewing side  32  of the optical frame  30 . When a person looking at the coin holder  10  looks at the viewing side  32  of the assembled coin holder  10 , they can see both the obverse side  22  or reverse side  24  of the coin  20  and depending upon what side the viewing side  32  is positioned the features of the edge  26  are seen adjacent the obverse side  22  or reverse side  24 . 
     The term double inverted image as used in the present invention means that the image is projected from the reflective surface of the angled bottom side  42  in a way that the features of the edge  26  are viewed in a desired orientation. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are viewed in their correct orientation so that they can be read and are not inverted or distorted in any way. 
     The reflective surface  38  and the reflective surface  44  are created by applying a reflective layer of aluminum, silver or other suitable material. The reflective layer is applied by vapor deposition or other similar means. The reflective surface provides an additional advantage in that rays of light  48  passing through the viewing side  32  of the optical frame  30  are reflected off of the reflective surface  44  and reflective surface  38  toward the edge  26 . This provides illumination within the optical frame  30  so that the double inverted image  46  is brighter and appears with greater clarity. This prevents the image viewed through the viewing side  32  from appearing dark and distorted. 
     In exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the optical frame  30  has a pentaprism shape and includes a base side  50  that may also have a reflective surface  52  formed thereon that assists in reflecting rays of light  48  as well as projecting the double inverted image  46 . The angled outer side  36 , angled bottom side  42  and base side  50  all have various angles relative to the edge  26  of the coin  20  that control the double inverted image that controls the quality or shape of the double inverted image  46  projected through the viewing side  32  of the optical frame. The angled outer side  36  preferably has an angle between substantially 15 degrees to substantially 30 degrees. The angled bottom side  42  has an angle between substantially 15 degrees to substantially 30 degrees. If the base side  50  is implemented on the optical frame, the base side will have an angle substantially 40 degrees to substantially 50 degrees. 
     In another variation of the invention shown in  FIG. 4   b  a base side  50 ′ of an optical frame  30 ′ is left transparent. This allows for rays of light  48  to pass though the base side  50 ′ in addition to rays of light  48  passing through the viewing side  32 . This embodiment of the optical frame  30 ′ provides greater illumination of the coin edge because more light can pass through the optical frame  30 ′ and illuminate the coin edge. This particular embodiment is useful when the coin edge is made of a dark metallic material such as copper or dark gold. 
     In another aspect of the present invention the inner side  34  of the optical frame  30  optionally includes a ledge  54 . The ledge  54  is configured to contact the obverse side  22  or reverse side  24  of the coin  20  in order to ensure proper alignment of the edge  26  with the inner side  34 , upon insertion of the coin  20  into the optical frame  30 . The use of the ledge  54  ensures proper alignment as well as decreases assembly time for the coin holder  10  so it is practical for use in commercial or high volume applications. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention the viewing side  32  of the optical frame  30  can include an angled magnifying surface or convex surface  56  that magnifies the double inverted image  46  so that the features on the edge  26  of the coin are enlarged and viewed more easily. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention the casing  12  includes a textured fingerprint  58  which borders the security window  14  and coin window  18 . The textured fingerprint  58  has a unique pattern that allows the manufacturer of the casing  12  of the coin holder  10  to be able to check the authenticity of the casing in order to detect fake or counterfeit casings. The textured fingerprint  58  is unique to the specific mold that created the two pieces  28  of the casing  12 . Upon examination of a particular casing  12  it can be determined whether or not the casing came from the purported grading service or casing manufacturer. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.