Abstract:
A light weight, weather resistant document case which may be economically formed as a single piece by either vacuum forming or injection molding and shipped, in mass, in a nested configuration. Due to the economies of production and shipping, the inventive document case, while relatively durable, may be considered disposable and recyclable. The document case has a front cover containing a storage compartment for holding items such as rolled documents, and a back housing which matingly engage with one another by protruding notches and a corresponding recess. The protruding notches are arranged and configured such that drainage recesses are formed when the document case is in a closed state. Specialized graphic and/or textual displays may be molded, printed, or adhered to the case.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of United States Patent Application No. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to cases and cabinets for storing and displaying documents and other objects, especially outdoors. The invention incorporates features particularly suitable for exterior mounting of the case, for providing weather protection, and for accepting insertion and storage of diverse articles, such as rolled blueprints and the like, in the case.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    It is frequently necessary to display or store documents on diverse outdoor sites, such as construction sites, campsites or swimming pool complexes and provide temporary protected storage for rolled documents. By their very nature, these sites are ill suited to accommodate paper documents and small personal articles which may be necessary or desirable to have at hand, many of which are required by municipal authorities, maintenance personnel or others, to be prominently displayed on site.  
           [0006]    The present invention improves upon prior art display cases, including the present inventor&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,786, issued on Jan. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,851, issued on Sep. 9, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,778, issued on Apr. 29, 1997; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,440, issued on Apr. 18, 1989. Display of permits and other documents is the principal function of these devices. Each describes a durable case having a clear or transparent hinged cover and an internal tack board for securing paper documents by tacks, staples, or other fasteners in a visible condition. The device is intended primarily for convenient, protected display of documents which are generally required to be visible and accessible to passers by.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,900, issued to Gene Nunn on Sep. 17, 1991, discloses a wall mounted storage cabinet for the storage of items such as grinder plates and rotary knife blades as are used in a butcher shop. The wall mounted box has a plurality of hanging devices for storing the plates and knives, while a hinged door has a window allowing visual access to the hinging objects. A second chamber in the wall mounted box, having a separate hinged door for separately storing dirty plates and knives.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,447, issued to Gloria Ellwod, et al., on Dec. 8, 1981, discloses a wall mounted box having an ornamented, hinged door enclosing the entire wall mounted box.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,590, issued to Harold Jackson on Jul. 6, 1982, discloses a case having backing member, over which a message sheet may be placed, having a clear, hinged cover to protect the displayed message sheet.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,212, issued to Darlene M. McGoldrick on Jun. 24, 1980, describes a display case having a clear or transparent door and a mounting board disposed within the base portion of the display case. The mounting board has a plurality of nails or the like from which jewelry may be suspended. These features are similar to some of those of the present invention. However, McGoldrick is silent regarding molded construction as seen in the novel display case, as well as regarding the many unique features of the novel display case.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,355, issued to Adeiard L. Aubin, Jr., on May 2, 1972, discloses a wall mounted chalkboard, projection screen and information display apparatus. A wall mounted box contains a tack surface on its rear, interior surface, a pull down projection screen, and storage for sundry items, such as erasers. Hinged doors closing the wall mounted box hold a pair of chalk boards.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,537,899, issued to Clendenon L. Stubbs on May 12, 1925, discloses holder for displaying a document such as a vehicle registration card. A box, having a spring therein, is mounted to the body of a vehicle. The spring constrains a document against the interior, rear wall of the box, hidden from view, while springs within a hinged door having a transparent panel, constrain a document to be displayed against the transparent panel.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,453,658, issued to George B. Clough on May 1, 1923, discloses a display board for gasoline prices, wherein a hinged cover with a transparent window overlays a mounted box containing tilt out panels, each panel adapted to receive a single document, such as a single digit of a price. A separate window in the cover panel has a channel mounted on the interior for displaying a single line message.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,370,635, issued to Talbert A. Draper on Mar. 8, 1921, discloses a card holder for a freight car, comprising a mounted box having a hinged door. A pocket within the box holds a document against the rear, interior wall of the box. The door contains a transparent panel for displaying a portion of the document contained within the box, plus a plurality of additional transparent panels, each having a spring clip which holds a document, such as a car number, against the interior of the panel. A protruding lip at the top of the mounted box provides an overhang to prevent water from entering the top of the closed box.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 454,769, issued to William E. Roberts on Jun. 23, 1891, discloses an advertising device. A box has a ribbed back board into which tabs of individual letters may be inserted for spelling out a message. A clear paneled door overlays the box to prevent tampering with the message.  
           [0016]    French Patent Number 2,270,654, dated Dec. 5, 1975, shows a display case having a transparent cover and a rear surface configured to cooperate with a supporting post or the like. However, the rear surface does not accommodate different orientations of the post relative to the display cabinet, as provided in the present invention.  
           [0017]    German Patent Number 1,018,717, issued on Oct. 31, 1957, discloses a box, having a transparent cover, in which a document may be constrained by a wire bale hinged at the top of the box such that it runs down the two sides of the box and is clipped into position at the bottom of the box.  
           [0018]    In summary, the prior art shows some of the features of the present invention, but these features vary from corresponding features in the present invention. Furthermore, construction of a each case cited tends to be of a durable nature while the present invention&#39;s design is more adapted to temporary use, and disposibility of the case, which is not shown in the prior art.  
           [0019]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0020]    The display of documents is required in outdoor locations for a variety of reasons. Additionally, the storage of small items or rolled documents may also be desirable along with the displayed documents. In some cases a durable display case may be required, but in many others, all that is necessary is protection for a relatively short period of time or in a relatively protected area.  
           [0021]    The present invention fills the need for a low cost, disposable document box by providing a box which may be inexpensively formed from flat stock or resins by methods such as injection molding or vacuum forming.  
           [0022]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a weather resistant document case which is light weight.  
           [0023]    It is another object of the invention to provide a weather resistant document case which is durable.  
           [0024]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a weather resistant document case which may have a transparent front face for display purposes.  
           [0025]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a weather resistant document case which has document containment and/or restraint features within the box.  
           [0026]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a weather resistant document case in which rolled documents, such as blue prints and the like, may be stored.  
           [0027]    An additional object of the invention is to provide a weather resistant document case which may bear various printed or embossed indicia thereon.  
           [0028]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a weather resistant document case which is disposable and recyclable.  
           [0029]    Another object of the invention is to provide a weather resistant document case which is inexpensive to manufacture, and therefore inexpensive to purchase.  
           [0030]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0031]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of the inventive document case in a closed state.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the back housing of the inventive document case.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the back housing of the inventive document case.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the top cover of the inventive document case.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the top cover of the inventive document case.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 is an environmental perspective view of the inventive document case in a partially open state.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 is an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive document case detailing the integral, molded hinge.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 8 is an environmental perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive document case, molded as two separate pieces, with a separately formed hinge.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 9 is an environmental perspective view of the inventive document case detailing a first embodiment of the closure mechanism.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 10 is an environmental perspective view of the inventive document case detailing a second embodiment of the closure mechanism.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 11 is an environmental perspective view of the inventive document case detailing a third embodiment of the closure mechanism.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 is a front perspective of the inventive document case  10 . Document case  10  is typically formed by injection or vacuum molding of a polymeric material, which may be of a transparent, translucent or opaque nature, or having the various elements formed of a combination thereof. Document case  10  generally comprises a back housing  20  and a front cover  40 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the back housing  20  in further detail. The back housing  20  has a substantially rectangular back wall  22 , with a top wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , and two side walls  28  rising therefrom. Each of the top wall  24 , bottom wall  26 , and side walls  28  are all substantially normal to one another at their juncture and flare at an angle of slightly more than 90° as they rise from back wall  22 . The flare facilitates shipping by allowing nesting of a plurality of document cases  10  in an open position. It would be evident to one skilled in the art, however, that top wall  24 , bottom wall  26  and side walls  28  could be substantially normal to back wall  22 , with equal effectiveness. It would be further evident to one skilled in the art that document case  10  could be mounted in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, therefore the terms top, bottom and side are used illustratively and not literally.  
         [0046]    The top view of back housing  20 , as shown in FIG. 2, better illustrates the mechanisms which constitute the secure closure of the document case  10 . The edges of the document case  10  are formed by a back perimeter lip  29 . This back perimeter lip  29 , extends laterally from each of the walls  24 ,  26  and  28  and has protruding notches  27  formed therein. These protruding notches  27  are formed by a raised protrusion in the back perimeter lip  29 , thereby forming a raised profile of the edge of the document case  10 . As shown in FIG. 2 the protruding notches  27  may be noncontinuous in their formation around the edge within the back perimeter lip  29 , the discontinuity thereby forming a series of protruding notches  27  in the back perimeter lip  29 . The protruding notches  27  having a height dimensioned and configured to matingly engage the front cover  20  (discussed further below).  
         [0047]    Between the series of protruding notches  27  are drainage recesses  33 . Since a primary objective of the present invention is to keep documents, and other enclosed items, free of moisture, drainage recesses  33  permit any interior fluids to drain when the document case  10  is in a closed state. The drainage recesses  33  also aid in prohibiting any moisture and condensation from accumulating by providing ventilation. The drainage recesses  33  may be placed along the back perimeter lip  29  such that interior convection currents are created which can encourage airflow.  
         [0048]    To further aid in maintaining secure closure of the document case  10 , there is provided a closure strap  36  which is adapted to stretch over a closure tab  41  (FIG. 5), of the front cover  40 , when the document case  10  is in a closed position. This closure strap  36  is a restraining strap made of an elastic material which facilitates closure. The closure strap  36  may be held in place by end clips  39  at each end; and each end clip  39  (FIG. 9) fit into retaining holes  37  (FIG. 9) formed in the back perimeter lip  29  adjacent the bottom wall  26  in back housing  20 . Alternatively, a snap lock (FIG. 10) comprising a male snap  58  and a female snap  59  formed in back perimeter lip  29  and closure tab  41 , or a keyed lock  62  engaging a lock receptor  63  (illustratively depicted at FIG. 11), of which a variety are known to the art, could be utilized. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that various other locking methods could be utilized without departing from the intent of the present invention.  
         [0049]    The back housing  20  may also be equipped with a lightweight tack board  34  adhered to the internal surface of back wall  22  to facilitate posting of documents with thumbtacks, staples, or the like. Likewise, either a friction or spring loaded clip  35  may be mounted on tack board  34  proximate top wall  24  to retain papers in place within the document case  10 .  
         [0050]    An additional feature of the document case is a restraining strap  38 , as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The restraining strap  38  may be comprised of an elastic material stretched across the expanse of the bottom housing  20  and attached on the left and right sides along side walls  28 . Restraining strap  38  may be held in place by an end clip  39  at each end of restraining strap  38 , each end clip  39  fits into a retaining hole  37  in the side walls  28 . It would be evident to one skilled in the art that restraining strap  38  could be placed at any point along the vertical height of bottom housing  20 , more than one restraining strap  38  could be utilized, or that a similar restraining strap could be incorporated into the front cover  40 , as well. Restraining strap  38  is used to restrain documents within the document case  10 .  
         [0051]    Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front cover  40  is substantially rectangular having perimeter dimensions substantially equal to those back housing  20  for fitted closure of the document case  10 . The front cover  40  may be formed in a substantially flat configuration forming a front wall  42  having a raised perimeter recess  44  forming the edges of the front cover  40 . Extending laterally from the perimeter recess  44  is a front perimeter lip  49  forming the outermost edge of the front cover  40 .  
         [0052]    The perimeter recess  44  of the front cover  40  is dimensioned and configured to snugly receive the protruding notches  27  of the back housing  20 . For mating engagement, the perimeter recess  44  of front cover  40  is of a depth substantially equal to the height of protruding notches  27  of the back housing  20 . Again, to facilitate nesting of a plurality of document cases  10  in open position for shipping, the depth of the perimeter recess  44  may increase at an angle, relative to front wall  42 . It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the locations of the protruding notches  27  may vary and that equivalent catch systems known in the art could be used with equivalent effectiveness without materially changing the inventive document case  10 .  
         [0053]    In the lower portion of front cover  40 , a storage compartment  46  is formed, extending outwardly from the plane of front cover  40 . Storage compartment  46  may be generally rounded or rectilinear in shape and configured to hold items such as rolled documents and the like when document case  10  is closed. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that for cosmetic purposes, storage compartment  46  could be of any desired shape without departing from the intent of the present invention. In order to maintain the integrity of the seal formed by the interaction of the protruding notches  27  and perimeter recess  44 , storage compartment  46  would, preferably, lie within the perimeter of front cover  40  formed by the perimeter recess  44 .  
         [0054]    A prop rod  50  may be affixed, at a first end, to an internal surface of one or both side wall  28  by a rivet  52  such that prop rod  50  may rotate around rivet  52 . A prop receptacle  54  formed in front cover  40  receives the free end of prop rod  50 , thereby holding document case  10  in an open position for easy access to the document(s) posted within. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that prop rod  50  may be affixed by means other than a rivet  52 , and that prop rod  50  may be affixed to a any perimetric surface of back housing  20  or front cover  40 , with without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0055]    In order to increase the rigidity of document case  10 , various ridges  64  or other forms of embossing could be formed in back wall  22 , closure tab  41 , front wall  42  and top wall  24 , bottom wall  26 , and side walls  28 . It would be further evident that front wall  42 , or any other surface, could be embossed with a textual or graphic display (not shown), such as a company logo or instructions. Graphic displays could also be imprinted within the document case along any surface (e.g., in a raised fashion) or printed either directly on any outer surface, or any inner surface. In a transparent or translucent embodiment, printed displays may be an adhered decal or other method, such as, but not limited to screen printing.  
         [0056]    As illustrated in FIG. 7, back housing  20  and front cover  40  are joined, preferably along their upper edges, by a hinge  56  formed in the molding process. A top hinge  56  provides a solid joint to provide added weather resistance along the top surface, but it would be evident to one skilled in the art that hinge  56  could be formed along any edge. It would be further evident to one skilled in the art that back housing  20  and front cover  40  could be formed as separate elements, as illustrated in FIG. 8, and joined by a separate hinge means  56 A.  
         [0057]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the exact size and shape of the document case  10  is of little significance to the intent of the present invention and could be modified to fit specific requirements without varying from the intent of the inventive concept disclosed herein. It would, likewise, be evident to one skilled in the art that the cross sectional profiles of protruding notches  27 , perimeter recess  44 , perimeter lips  29  and  49 , and closure tab  41  may be modified, without departing from the basic intent of the invention.  
         [0058]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.