Patent Publication Number: US-6990763-B2

Title: Encasement system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/925,064 filed Aug. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,030 entitled “Encasement System.” 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to an encasement system for various types of display articles and more particularly to an airtight encasement system for use in protecting display articles from detrimental environmental elements. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   It is known that certain articles displayed over time begin to show the effects of harmful environmental elements. More particularly, certain display articles namely, works of art such as paintings, sketches, lithographs, pictures, drawings and certain works of historical significance require special care in their d mechanism. These works of art are, in most instances, meant for public display. Similarly, works of historical significance are often coveted by the public and provide a basis for historical education and are therefor often displayed in various fashions in public areas for viewing. Similarly, certain family documents, such a family photographs, certificates, graduation documents and other noted articles are often displayed for the benefit of all the family members and guests. Lastly, certain display articles such as collectable items like, famous signatures, famous photographs, baseball cards, special or first edition magazines and comic books etc. are often of such importance or significance that a special display environment is desired. 
   These works of art, works of history, family documents and collectibles and other display articles are often flat articles made from or prepared on paper products. It is known that exposure to the air and sunlight ha detrimental deteriorating effect on the paper, colors, pigments and other aspects of the articles. U.S. Pat. No. 1,031,727 to Brusbeck discloses a means for preserving works of art such as oil paintings, water color paintings, graphic objects and similar articles. The invention consists in furnishing the article to be protected with an envelope of nitrogen gas and in providing a casing of peculiar construction which is adapted to contain the article and to be charged with gas. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,160 assigned to applicant discloses a mount for a display object including drawings, paintings, thin sheets or other large thin sheets comprising a pair of opposed rectangular flexible plastic sheets arranged face to face and adapted to receive the display object there between. At lest one of the sheets is transparent. The sheets have continuous opposed peripheral inner walls with peripheral recesses formed in the walls defining a peripheral cavity. A sealant fills the cavity throughout 360 degrees for securing and sealing together the sheets around the periphery. The space between the sheets is evacuated with the display object operatively sealed between the sheets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,014 to Yesbick discloses a frame assembly wherein the frame and viewing area are integrally formed of clear plastic or plexiglass eliminating the need for a separate glass pane. 
   Consequently, a need exists for a low cost, easy to manufacture, highly reliable encasement system for a display articles that protects such articles from detrimental effects of the general environment. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a principal object of the present invention to provide and encasement system for a display article that is reliable in its ability to protect certain display articles from the detrimental effects of the environment. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide encasement system for a display article which is simple and easy to manufacture. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide an encasement system for a display article which is of relatively low cost and is thus affordable for all types of display articles from an irreplaceable work art to an important family document or photograph. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an encasement system for a display article which uses an inert gas in a sealed display environment for long term protection of the display article. 
   Yet still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an encasement system using an ultraviolet protectant acrylic substrate capable of filtering ultraviolet light. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an encasement system using an ultraviolet protectant acrylic substrate capable of filtering ultraviolet light to provide a “non-yellowing” optically clear environment for the display article and also protect the display article from degradation due to the atmosphere and bacteria and contaminants. 
   Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an encasement system using an ultraviolet adhesive sealant to seal and connect different sections of the encasement system. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen indicator filament within the encasement system to indicate certain predetermined oxygen level for use in monitoring the capabilities of the encasement system. 
   It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an encasement system utilizing a method of purging the air surrounding the display article and replacing the air with an inert gas. 
   In carrying out these and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided an encasement system for a display article comprising a transparent top section, a bottom section having a cavity defined for receiving the display article and a channel in communication with the cavity, an inert gas injected into the cavity through the channel and a means for attaching the transparent top section to the bottom section such that the inert gas is sealed inside the cavity between the transparent top section and bottom section. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the encasement system the inert gas is Argon. 
   In an alternative embodiment of the encasement system the inert gas is Nitrogen. 
   In yet another embodiment, the encasement system comprises an a transparent top section, a bottom section, a side section disposed directly adjacent the transparent top section and bottom section, the side section having an extending arm, the extending arm having a top segment and a bottom segment and a channel defined there between, whereby a cavity is defined between the transparent top section, bottom section and side section for receiving the display article and whereby the channel is in communication with the cavity; an inert gas injected into the cavity through the channel; and a means for attaching the transparent top section to the side section and to the bottom section such that the inert gas is sealed inside the cavity between the transparent top section and bottom section and adjacent the side section, wherein the extending arm includes a top sealant canal defined on the top segment and a bottom sealant canal defined on the bottom segment wherein the top segment contacts the transparent top section and the bottom segment contacts the bottom section and the means for attaching the transparent top section to the bottom section is an ultraviolet adhesive sealant disposed in the top sealant canal contacting the top section and an ultraviolet adhesive sealant disposed in the bottom sealant canal contacting the bottom section. 
   The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, exploded view of the encasement system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the encasement system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective, partial view of the encasement system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the encasement system of the present invention illustrating the purging mechanism; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the encasement system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the encasement system of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the encasement system of the present invention illustrating the purging mechanism; and 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the encasement system of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the encasement system  10  of the present invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, the encasement system  10  comprises a bottom acrylic sheet or bottom section  12 , an oxygen indicator filament  14 , the side frame or side section  16 , and a transparent top acrylic sheet or top section  18 . The top acrylic top section is made from Acrylite OP-2 Museum Quality ultraviolet filter sheets. The present invention contemplates the use of any transparent or semi-transparent ultraviolet filtering sheets depending on the specific display article to be protected and the length of protection required. A mat formation  20 , additional glass encasement  22  and frame  24  are also shown in this embodiment. The frame  24  can be used for traditional hangings. The display article  26 , in this embodiment is a representative piece of artwork, but as described above the display articles may be works of art such as paintings, sketches, lithographs, pictures, drawings or any other artistic works. Display articles may also be certain works of historical significance requiring special care in their display mechanism. The present invention also contemplates any form of family documents, such a family photographs, certificates, graduation documents and other noted articles often displayed for the benefit of all the family members and guests. Lastly, the present invention contemplates certain display articles such as collectable baseball cards, special or first edition magazines or comic books etc. where a protective special display environment is desired.  FIG. 3  illustrates the encasement system in a fully sealed state. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the side section  16  disposed directly adjacent the transparent top section  18  and bottom section  12 . The side section includes an extending arm  30 . The extending arm  30  has a top segment  32  and a bottom segment  34  and a channel  36  defined there between. A cavity  38  is defined between the transparent top section  18 , bottom section  12  and side sections  16  for receiving the display article  26 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , channel  36  is in communication with cavity  38 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the side section  16  extends around the periphery of the display article  26  and creates the structural means for enclosing the display article along with the top section  18  and bottom section  12 . The channel  36  includes a port  40 . The port  40  is designed to received a fill cap  42 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the extending arm  30  includes a top sealant canal  44  defined on the top segment  32  and a bottom sealant canal  46  defined on the bottom segment  46 . The top segment  32  contacts the transparent top section  18  and the bottom segment  34  contacts the bottom section  12 . In operation the encasement system includes a means for attaching the transparent top section  18  and bottom section  12  to the side section  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the means for attaching is an ultraviolet adhesive sealant  50 . This ultraviolet adhesive  50  is disposed in the top sealant canal  44  contacting the top section and additional ultraviolet adhesive sealant  52  is disposed in the bottom sealant canal  46  contacting the bottom section. Extending arm  30  further includes a top sealant overflow canal  54  defined on the top segment  32  and a bottom sealant overflow canal  56  defined on said bottom segment for receiving an overflow of adhesive sealant  50  and  52  respectively. The sealant overflow canals allow for sufficient application of ultraviolet adhesive  50  and  52  and create a highly effective and consistent seal between the top section  18 , side section  16  and bottom section  12 . 
   In operation, the encasement system may be used in various manners contemplated by the present invention. For the ultimate sealing system, the present invention contemplates the purging of substantially all the air, bacteria and other foreign elements possible from the cavity  38  and the introduction of an inert gas. More specifically, referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a purging mechanism  60 . The purging mechanism  60  is used to purge or extract substantially all the air possible from the cavity  38 . In addition the introduction of an inert gas, in the preferred embodiment, Argon is used in the system of the present invention to create a sealed Argon gas environment within the cavity  38  to surround the article  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the Argon gas will also have a water vapor content of 4% thus making the mixture introduced in the cavity approximately 96% Argon and 4% water vapor. The present invention contemplates the use of other inert gases as well as different Argon water vapor mixtures. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The encasement system  62  comprises a transparent top section  64 , a bottom section  66 , a side section  68  disposed directly adjacent the transparent top section  64  and bottom section  66 . The side section  68  includes an extending arm  70  and an extending shoulder  72 . The extending arm  70  also has a top segment  74  and a bottom segment  76  and a channel  78  defined there between. A cavity  80  is defined between the transparent top section  64 , bottom section  66  and side section  68  for receiving the display article  82  and whereby said channel  78  is in communication with cavity  80  and extending shoulder  72  defines a top channel  84  for receiving the top section  64 . 
   Encasement system  62  also includes a bottom sealant canal  86  defined on bottom segment  72 . Bottom segment  72  contacts bottom section  66  and the side section  68  further includes a sealant wall  90  disposed between the extending arm  70  and the extending shoulder. The side section  90  also contacts the top section  64  and an upper sealant canal  92  is defined between the sealant wall  90 , the side section  68  and the top section  64  such when the ultraviolet adhesive  94  (as discussed above) is provided for attaching the transparent top section  64  to the bottom section  66  the ultraviolet adhesive sealant is disposed in the bottom sealant canal and contacts the bottom section and an ultraviolet adhesive sealant is disposed in the upper sealant canal and contacts the top section.  FIG. 5  shows the alternative encasement system in an exploded view. The operational characteristics discussed above apply to the alternative embodiment encasement system  62  in the identical fashion. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. Encasement system  100  is identical to encasement system  62  except that extending shoulder  72 , as shown in  FIG. 6  does not exist in encasement system  100 . The encasement system  100  comprises a transparent top section  164 , a bottom section  166 , a side section  168  disposed directly adjacent the transparent top section  164  and bottom section  166 . The side section  168  includes an extending arm  170 . The extending arm  170  also has a top segment  174  and a bottom segment  176  and a channel  178  defined there between. A cavity  180  is defined between the transparent top section  164 , bottom section  166  and side section  168  for receiving the display article  182  and where channel  178  is in communication with cavity  180  and extending arm  170  defines a top channel  184  for receiving the top section  64  and a bottom channel  186  for receiving the bottom section  166 . As shown in  FIG. 7  there is a purging mechanism  160 . The purging mechanism  160  is used to purge or extract substantially all the air possible from the cavity  138  as discussed above. 
   The present invention also includes a method of protecting a display article. The method comprises the steps of providing a transparent top section and a bottom section having an integral cavity defined for receiving the display article. The bottom sections also includes a channel in communication with the integral cavity. The next step is providing a means for attaching the transparent top section to the bottom section. Next, the method includes the step of vacuuming out 90% to 99% of the available air in the integral cavity and channel and then injecting an inert gas into the integral cavity through the channel. The last step of the method is sealing the inert gas inside the cavity between the transparent top section and bottom section 
   While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.