Patent Publication Number: US-2003230509-A1

Title: Book deposit box

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a deposit or safekeeping box in the shape of a book that is useful for storing mementos such as note cards or slips of paper containing a writing or request, photographs, cards, tickets, stamps, coins, autographs or other collectible items.  
       [0002] Conventional photo and memorabilia albums are often constructed in a manner similar to a book. The album typically comprises a plurality of pages upon which photographs or other items are mounted. The pages are bound together or otherwise secured at a common binding edge between the front and back covers, which are joined together by a spine. The binding edges of the pages are secured at the spine.  
       [0003] If one attempts to stand a conventional album upright resting on the bottom edges of the front and back covers, the album is likely to fall over since the front and back covers are normally too close together to provide sufficient lateral stability for the album to stand upright. On the other hand, if one attempts to provide the necessary lateral stability by spreading the outside edges of the front and back covers apart from each other, the album may still be unstable since the outside edges of the pages are then unsupported and tend to buckle. The weight of the pages pulling against the spine of the album may cause the album to collapse by falling in a forward direction.  
       [0004] Various types of reclosable containers are used for packaging consumer articles. One common type of package is known as the “clam shell” box. “Clam shells” generally include a rear base and a front cover that are hinged together, and mating skirts around the cover and base which join together when the front cover is closed over the rear base. Expensive clam shell boxes have been used to store loose papers, photographs and valuable items. Such boxes tend to be put away in desk drawers or closets, and the contents are often not organized or readily accessible.  
       [0005] Deposit or safekeeping boxes for storing or accumulating items for a period of time are also available. Such boxes may contain an opening such as a slot for receiving items deposited into the otherwise closed box. These boxes may be used as a lock-box, safekeeping box or a bank for storing items that are not intended to be easily accessible. “God Boxes” for receiving a card or slip of paper containing a note, prayer or request are also available.  
       [0006] While various clam shell boxes and deposit or safekeeping boxes have been used to store mementos, there is a continuing need for an attractive deposit box in the form of a book suitable for storing items not intended to be easily accessible, which box has sufficient lateral stability to stand upright when placed on a piece of furniture such as a desk or bookshelf where it is readily accessible.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention provides a book deposit box comprising:  
       [0008] (a) a flat rectangular case support structure having opposing, mutually parallel, laterally extending edges, said case support structure being folded longitudinally to form a plurality of stiff panels joined to each other in articulated fashion by linear hinge connections that extend between said opposing laterally extending edges, wherein said plurality of panels comprise a pair of cover panels disposed on opposing sides of a central spine, and  
       [0009] (b) an internal clam shell box structure having mating top, side and bottom flanges affixed perpendicular to said case support structure, said side flanges being located near the distal longitudinal edges of the case support structure and remote from the central spine, wherein the inner portion of the clam shell box structure further comprises (1) a side flange affixed perpendicular to the case support structure near the central spine, said side flange also being affixed to the adjacent top and bottom flanges, and (2) a panel affixed perpendicular to the top, side and bottom flanges of the inner portion of the clam shell box structure, thereby covering said flanges and forming an enclosed box, wherein said enclosed box has at least one opening therein for receiving items to be deposited in the box. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a book deposit box according to the invention standing upright and fully closed.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the book deposit box of FIG. 1 shown in a fully open condition.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative book deposit box according to the invention shown in a fully open condition. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0013] The book deposit box of the present invention comprises a case support structure having front and back cover panels and a central spine, and an internal clam shell box structure having mating top, side and bottom flanges and a panel covering the flanges on the inner portion of the clam shell box structure thereby forming an enclosed box that has at least one opening therein for receiving items to be deposited in the box. The deposit box is useful for storage of mementos or collectible items such as photographs, autographs, cards, tickets, stamps, coins, note cards and slips of paper containing a writing or request, and has the appearance of an attractive, freestanding book that has sufficient lateral stability to stand upright. The box may thus be placed on a piece of furniture such as a desk, shelf, buffet, bookshelf or cabinet where it is readily accessible to the user.  
     [0014]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a book deposit box  10  constructed according to the present invention. Box  10  is comprised of a case support structure  12  having an elongated, rectangular shape, as best shown in FIG. 2 when case  12  is in a fully open condition. As shown in FIG. 1, case  12  has mutually parallel, laterally extending top and bottom edges  14  and  16  respectively, longitudinally extending front and back edges  17  and  18  respectively (which typically also are, but need not be, mutually parallel, and also need not be linear, e.g., they may be curved), a longitudinally extending central spine  20 , and a pair of generally flat, stiff, rectangular-shaped cover panels  22  and  24 . Panels  22  and  24  are delineated from spine  20  by longitudinally extending hinged connections  26  and  28 .  
     [0015] Case  12  may be constructed utilizing thin sheets of paper, plastic, fabric, leather, wood, or metal, or combinations thereof, to form or encapsulate therewithin flat, rectangular sections, for example core sections, that provide a certain degree of rigidity to cover panels  22  and  24 , and preferably to spine  20 . Spine  20  may also be made of a more flexible material, or it may not contain the core section that provides rigidity. The core sections may be formed of any suitable material such as fiberboard or a stiff sheet of plastic to provide the desired rigidity. Case  12  is preferably constructed of thin sheets of paper, plastic, fabric or leather, or combinations thereof.  
     [0016] As shown in FIG. 2, case  12  is divided by spine  20  that extends laterally between cover panels  22  and  24 . The longitudinal hinged connections  26  and  28  delineate spine  20  from adjoining cover panels  22  and  24 . Cover panels  22  and  24  are thereby located one on each side of spine  20 .  
     [0017] As also shown in FIG. 2, box  10  further comprises left clam shell structure  30  and right clam shell structure  32  which, when case  12  is fully closed, form a clam shell box. Left clam shell  30  has a base  34 , top flange  36 , side flange  38 , and bottom flange  40 . Right clam shell  32  has a corresponding base  42 , top flange  44 , side flange  46 , and bottom flange  48 . Right clam shell  32  also has a side flange  50  affixed perpendicular to case support structure  12  near central spine  20 . Side flange  50  is also affixed to top flange  44  and bottom flange  48 . Right clam shell  32  also has a panel  52  affixed perpendicular to and covering flanges  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50 , thereby forming an enclosed box for storing items deposited therein.  
     [0018] The enclosed box has a slot opening  56  therein for receiving items to be deposited in the box. The slot opening  56  should be large enough to receive the items being deposited, but preferably is not so large that the items can readily be removed with fingers or tools, or by shaking the box. The slot opening  56  is preferably rectangular in shape, for example from about 1 to about 10 mm in width and from about 20 to about 100 mm in length. The slot opening  56  is preferably located in the panel  52  covering the top, bottom and side flanges of the clam shell structure, and is preferably centered and near the top thereof. Alternatively, the slot opening may be located in the top flange  44  or in side flanges  46  and  50 .  
     [0019] As shown in FIG. 2, left clam shell  30  may also comprise a panel  58  for holding items such as paper, a notepad or cards, and a pen or pencil, or combinations thereof, that can be used for writing a note, prayer or request to be deposited in the enclosed box. Panel  58  is affixed to base  34  along its longitudinal and bottom edges, but is open along its top edge  54 , thereby forming a pocket that can securely hold the desired items.  
     [0020] Left clam shell  30  and right clam shell  32 , and their component base, flange and panel structures, may be constructed utilizing thin sheets of paper, plastic, fabric, leather, wood, or metal, or combinations thereof, to form or encapsulate therewithin flat, rectangular sections, for example core sections, that provide a certain degree of rigidity to clam shells  30  and  32 , the enclosed box, and to the clam shell box when case  12  is closed. The core sections may be formed of any suitable material such as fiberboard or a stiff sheet of plastic, and typically are formed of the same material as the core sections of cover panels  22  and  24  and spine  20 . Left clam shell  30  and right clam shell  32  are preferably constructed using thin sheets of paper, plastic, fabric or leather, or combinations thereof.  
     [0021] Left clam shell  30  and right clam shell  32  may be assembled by die-cutting and scoring fiberboard sheets, which are then formed and covered with the desired paper, plastic, fabric or leather material. This may be done by hand or by using a machine automated process. Once assembled, left clam shell  30  and right clam shell  32  are affixed to case  12  using, for example, glue, rivets, grommets, staples, adhesive tape, or other suitable materials and methods.  
     [0022] When case  12  is in a fully closed position, left clam shell  30  and right clam shell  32  fit together to form a clam shell box so that box  10  has the appearance of a book. As shown in FIG. 2, right clam shell  32  forms the inner portion of the clam shell box structure, and comprises the enclosed box. The enclosed box is thus on the right side when book deposit box  10  is opened. Alternatively, left clam shell  30  may comprise the enclosed box, and fit within right clam shell structure  32  when case  12  is closed. In one embodiment, the dimensions of left clam shell  30 , including base  34 , top flange  36 , side flange  38 , and bottom flange  40 , are slightly larger (for example, about 0.5 to about 2 mm larger) than those of right clam shell  32 , including base  42 , flanges  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50 , and panel  52 , so that left clam shell  30  fits snuggly over right clam shell  32  when case  12  is fully closed. This provides improved lateral stability so that box  10  remains securely closed and is able to stand upright on a shelf or flat surface, even when it contains a large number of items stored in the enclosed box. Alternatively, when left clam shell  30  comprises the enclosed box, the dimensions of left clam shell  30  are slightly less than those of right clam shell  32  so that left clam shell  30  fits snuggly within right clam shell  32  when case  12  is closed.  
     [0023] Typically, the width of flanges  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  (as measured perpendicular to base  34  and base  42 ), is slightly less (for example, about 5 to 8 mm less) than the width of spine  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the length and width of flanges  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  are slightly less than the length and width of flanges  36 ,  38  and  40 , which are slightly less than the length and width of spine  20 , respectively.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative book deposit box of the present invention in which the right clam shell structure  32  comprises an enclosed box having more than one opening for receiving items to be deposited in the box. In FIG. 3, the enclosed box has slot opening  60  and slot opening  62 , which are joined together in the shape of a cross. As also shown in FIG. 3, left clam shell  30  comprises a panel  64 , affixed to base  34  along its longitudinal and bottom edges but open along its top edge  66 , for holding items such as paper, a notepad or cards, and a pen or pencil, or combinations thereof, that can be used for writing a note, prayer or request to be deposited in the enclosed box.  
     [0025] The foregoing invention has been described in terms of various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed structures without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The specification and examples are exemplary only, while the true scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.