Abstract:
A display case for selectively displaying an article includes a case housing and an article retainer. The case housing includes a first housing cover, a second housing cover, a spine that couples the second housing cover to the first housing cover, and a retainer receiver. The second housing cover has a substantially planar surface. The spine has a longitudinal axis. The retainer receiver can include a transparent or open viewing window for viewing the article. The article retainer retains the article and can be slidable between a first position in which the article retainer is fully received by the retainer receiver, and a second position wherein the article retainer is extended away from the retainer receiver. In certain embodiments, movement of the article retainer is in a direction that is substantially parallel to the surface of the second housing cover and/or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine. Movement of the article retainer is guided by the retainer receiver. The article retainer can include a retainer bottom and a removable transparent retainer top that enclose the article.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Clothing articles from famous sports personalities or other famous people are increasingly being displayed for viewing by fans. For example, jerseys, pants, hats, gloves or other sportswear from noted athletes are often presented in protective floor display cases or wall-mounted cases for easy viewing by sports aficionados. Further, other clothing items from actors or other well-known celebrities are frequently shown or maintained in exhibits or other presentation cases. Unfortunately, existing display cases can have drawbacks since they may not be portable and thus would not allow the owners of the sportswear items to easily transport and show the items to others while also providing adequate protection for the items. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a display case for selectively displaying an article. In one embodiment, the display case includes a case housing and an article retainer. The case housing can include one or more of a first housing cover, a second housing cover and a retainer receiver. The second housing cover is coupled to the first housing cover with a spine. The second housing cover is movable relative to the first housing cover. Further, the second housing cover has a substantially planar surface. In one embodiment, the retainer receiver is fixed relative to the second housing cover. The retainer receiver can include a viewing window that allows viewing of the article through the viewing window. 
         [0003]    The article retainer retains the article. The article retainer can be slidable between a first position in which the article retainer is fully received by the retainer receiver, and a second position wherein the article retainer is at least partially extended away from the retainer receiver. In certain embodiments, movement of the article retainer is in a direction that is substantially parallel to the surface of the second housing cover. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the spine has a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, movement of the article retainer relative to the retainer receiver is in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, movement of the article retainer is guided by the retainer receiver. The article retainer can include a retainer bottom and a removable retainer top that combine to selectively enclose the article. In one embodiment, the retainer top is formed at least partially from a transparent material. In another embodiment, the viewing window is formed at least partially from a transparent material. Alternatively, the viewing window can include an opening. The first housing cover can move between a closed first position that conceals the viewing window and an open position that reveals the viewing window. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the first housing cover is selectively secured to the retainer receiver with an engagement device. The engagement device can include one or more magnets. 
         [0007]    The present invention is also directed toward a display case assembly that includes one of the display cases described above and an article that is retained by the display case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable display case having features of the present invention, shown in a closed first position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an article to be displayed and the portable display case illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shown in an open first position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable display case illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shown in an open second position; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the portable display case shown in the open second position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable display case  10 , (also sometimes referred to as “display case”) in a closed first position. The display case  10  is designed to retain and/or display an article  30  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), such as an article of clothing, for example. The dimensions of the display case  10  can vary to suit the design requirements of the article to be retained and/or displayed. In various embodiments, the display case  10  can be sized and/or shaped to accommodate different types of clothing articles, such as collectible apparel worn by athletes, celebrities or other types of people. Further, the display case  10  can retain and/or display other varieties of collectible articles  30 , such as memorabilia. In the closed first position, the display case  10  can have the appearance and/or feel of a hardcover novel or other type of book. Alternatively, the display case  10  can have a somewhat different appearance. Further, the display case  10  can be sized and shaped to be positioned on a bookshelf (not shown) or some other structure upon which books are commonly stored. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the display case  10  includes a case housing  12  and an article retainer  14 . The case housing  12  houses the article retainer  14 . Further, the case housing  12  can provide a decorative or informative casing that may graphically, pictorially, or otherwise describes the article  30  retained in the display case  10 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the case housing  12  includes a first housing cover  16 , a second housing cover  18 , a spine  20  and a retainer receiver  22 . One or more of the covers  16 ,  18  can protect the article  30  from light, heat or other elements that can have a detrimental effect on the article  30 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the first housing cover  16  can include an outer first surface  24 , an inner first surface  26  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The outer first surface  24  can include an outer first indicia  28 . The outer first indicia  28  can include one or more of graphics, pictures and/or writing that describe the contents of the display case  10  in an aesthetically pleasing manner. 
         [0016]    The second housing cover  18  is coupled or otherwise attached to the first housing cover  16  with the spine  20 . The second housing cover  18  can also include a second indicia (not shown) that may also include one or more of graphics, pictures and/or writing that can describe the contents of the display case  10 . In an alternative embodiment, graphics, pictures and/or writing may be omitted from one or more of the first housing cover  16  and the second housing cover  18 . In one embodiment, the covers  16 ,  18  are substantially flat and are relatively inflexible and durable, in a somewhat similar fashion as a hardcover book. Alternatively, the covers  16 ,  18  can be flexible. The spine  20  can have a curvature, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the spine  20  can have a more square or linear type of appearance. The materials used to form the article retainer  14 , the first housing cover  16 , the second housing cover  18 , the spine  20  and/or the retainer receiver  22  can be varied to satisfy the design requirements of the display case  10 . For example, these components can be formed from one or more of paper, cardboard, pressboard, plastic, metal, wood, glass, various composites, or any other suitable materials. 
         [0017]    As described in greater detail below, the retainer receiver  22  selectively receives the article retainer  14 . In one embodiment, the article retainer  14  can slidingly move in and out of the retainer receiver  22 . The retainer receiver  22  can snugly hold the article retainer  14  in place while the article retainer  14  is fully received by the retainer receiver  22 . In another embodiment, the retainer receiver  22  can include a locking mechanism (not shown) that selectively locks the article retainer  14  in place until the article  30  is desired to be removed. The locking mechanism can include a clasp, one or more pairs of magnets, a snap, or any other suitable type of device that can temporarily hold the article retainer  14  in place within the retainer receiver  22 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the article  30  to be displayed and the portable display case  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shown in an open first position. As used herein, the closed first position and the open first position are sometimes collectively referred to as the “first position”. Further, the combination of the display case  10  and the article  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  is referred to herein as a display case assembly  100 . 
         [0019]    In the open first position, the first housing cover  16  is moved relative to the second housing cover  18  and/or the spine  20 . In one embodiment, in the open first position, the first housing cover  16  is moved relative to the retainer receiver  22  and the article retainer  14 . In addition, in the open first position, the article retainer  14  is fully positioned within the retainer receiver  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0020]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the inner first surface  26  can include an inner first indicia  32  having one or more of graphics, pictures and/or writing that describe the contents of the display case  10 , such as providing a history of the article  30 , a story about the wearer of the article  30 , etc. 
         [0021]    In certain embodiments, the retainer receiver  22  includes a viewing window  34  through which the article  30  can be viewed without removing the article retainer  14  from the retainer receiver  22 . The dimensions of the viewing window  34  can vary to suit the design requirements of the display case  10  and the article  30 . The viewing window  34  can include an opening so that the article retainer  14  and/or the article  30  can actually be touched through the viewing window  34 . Alternatively, the viewing window  34  can include a transparent material such as a clear plastic, glass or other suitable translucent material that inhibits a user from touching the article retainer  14  and/or the article  30  through the viewing window  34 . In this type of embodiment, the transparent material can be colorless, or it can be colored to suit the design requirements of the display case  10  and/or the article  30  to be displayed. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable display case  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shown in an open second position. As used herein, the open first position and the open second position are sometimes collectively referred to as the “open position”. In the open second position, the article retainer  14  is at least partially or fully removed from the retainer receiver  22 . 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, the spine  20  has a longitudinal axis  50  (shown as a dashed line) as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the second housing cover  18  includes a substantially flat inner second surface  36  that can at least partially support the article retainer  14  when the article retainer  14  is in the open first position (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). In certain embodiments, the inner second surface  36  can be substantially planar. In one embodiment, the article retainer  14  slidingly moves away from the retainer receiver  22  in a direction (indicated by arrow  38 ) that is substantially parallel to the inner second surface  36 . In another embodiment, the article retainer  14  slidingly moves away from the retainer receiver  22  in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  50  of the spine  20 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the retainer receiver  22  includes a viewing window  34  having an opening so that the article retainer  14  can actually be touched through the viewing window  34  while the article retainer  14  is positioned within the retainer receiver  22 . Further, in this embodiment, the retainer receiver  22  includes a plurality of sides  40  and an open top  42 . The article retainer  14  moves into and out of the retainer receiver  22  through the open top  42 . 
         [0025]    Although the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  shows one specific open top, it is understood that any one or more of the sides  40  of the retainer receiver  22  can be open in a somewhat similar manner as the open top  42 , either in addition to the open top  42  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or in the alternative. Stated another way, with these alternative designs, the article retainer  14  can be slidingly removed from the retainer receiver  22  in directions other than that shown and described relative to  FIG. 3 . As one non-exclusive example, the article retainer  14  can be removed in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to arrow  38 , but is still substantially parallel with the inner second surface  36  and/or the viewing window  34 . 
         [0026]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the article retainer  14  includes a retainer bottom  44  and a retainer top  46 . In one embodiment, the retainer bottom  44  and the retainer top  46  fit together to completely enclose the article  30  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The retainer bottom  44  can support the article  30  in a somewhat similar manner as a drawer, for example. The retainer top  46  can be somewhat similarly shaped as the retainer bottom  44 , although oriented in an opposing direction so that the article  30  is substantially or completely covered by the retainer top  46 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the retainer top  46  can be formed from a transparent material such as a clear plastic, glass or other suitable translucent material that inhibits a user from touching the article  30  without removal of the retainer top  46  from over the article  30 . With this design, the article retainer  14  can be completely removed from the case housing  12 , and can still protect the article  30  from direct handling or other types of damage. In this type of embodiment, the transparent material can be colorless, or it can be colored to suit the design requirements of the display case  10  and/or the article  30  to be displayed. The materials used to form the retainer top  46  can include protective materials, such as those that shield the article  30  from excessive moisture or dryness, fading due to ultraviolet or other types of light, heat, insects, and/or any other potentially damaging causes. 
         [0028]    Further, in certain embodiments, the article retainer  14  can be removed from the retainer receiver  22  without opening the first housing cover  16 . Stated another way, in the closed first position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the article retainer  14  can be slidingly moved away from the retainer receiver  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Thus, even when a plurality of display cases  10  are positioned adjacent to one another on a shelf or in a stacked manner, for example, the article retainer  14  can be easily removed from the case housing  12  for viewing or removal of the article  30 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the first housing cover  16  and/or the retainer receiver  22  can include one or more engagement devices  48  that fasten the first housing cover  16  to the retainer receiver  22 . For example, in one embodiment, the engagement devices  48  can include two or more magnets that attract one another to maintain the first housing cover  16  in the closed first position, illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The engagement devices  48  inhibit unwanted opening of the first housing cover  16  during transport or storage, for example. Alternatively, the engagement devices  48  can include clasps, locks or any other engagement device  48  known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the portable display case  410  shown in the open second position. In this embodiment, the display case  410  includes a case housing  412  and an article retainer  414 . The case housing  412  includes the receiver retainer  422 , which has a viewing window  434  through which the article  30  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) can be viewed without removing the article retainer  414  from the retainer receiver  422 . In this embodiment, the viewing window  434  is formed from a transparent material such as a clear plastic, glass or another suitable translucent material that guards against touching the article retainer  414  and/or the article  30  through the viewing window  434 . The transparent material can be colorless, or it can be colored to suit the design requirements of the display case  410  and/or the article  30  to be displayed. 
         [0031]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the article retainer  414  includes a retainer bottom  444 , but does not include a retainer top  46  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). With this design, once the article retainer  414  is removed from the retainer receiver  422 , the article is exposed and can be handled. In an alternative embodiment (not specifically shown), the display case  410  can include both the viewing window shown and described relative to  FIG. 4 , as well as the article retainer having both the retainer bottom  444  and the retainer top  46 , such as that shown and described relative to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]    It is recognized that although the article retainer  14 , the first housing cover  16 , the second housing cover  18  and the retainer receiver  22  illustrated and described herein are substantially rectangular in shape, these components can have any suitable configuration, such as square, triangular, circular, elliptical, rhomboidal, trapezoidal or any other suitable polygonal shape, whether regular or irregular, provided the intent of the invention is carried out as stated herein. 
         [0033]    While the portable display case assembly  10  and the case housing  12  as shown and disclosed herein are fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.