Abstract:
An interlocking display module which may be removably coupled to an adjacent display module for creating a customizable storage system and method of making it. Each module is preferably formed through injection molding of ABS plastic into a rectangular solid shape with an open front and carries a projection (a dovetail in the preferred embodiment) on flanges on two of its sides (top and right side) while two other sides (bottom and left) carry a complementary recess on flanges, allowing one module to interlock with a similar module to form a customizable storage system. One use of such a storage system is for the storage and display of collectible items such as action figures, coins or stamps, model trains, toy soldiers or other toys.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an improved storage and display system which is customizable using interlocking modules and method of making it. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Various methods and systems of providing interlocking modules have been proposed in the art. Some of these are systems are difficult or costly to manufacture and some of them require multiple parts for a single storage module. 
         [0005]    Some of the prior art systems also involve an intricate and/or complex assembly mechanism, which makes the assembly more expense to manufacture and assemble. 
         [0006]    Requiring multiple parts means that multiple parts must be separately manufactured and inventoried, then assembled in the proper order and location. 
         [0007]    Some of the display systems of the past have limited ways that they can be arranged, limiting the flexibility of arrangement which is desirable if display modules are to be arranged to fit a space which differs in size and arrangement in different situations. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the prior art systems and methods for providing interlocking display modules have undesirable limitations and disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art systems for display of items such as collectibles by providing an interlocking module and method of making it which provides a simple, yet efficient, system of interlocking modules to form a customizable display of such modules. 
         [0010]    The modules of the present invention are easily and inexpensively fabricated. They are easy to orient and assemble into the desired shape and maintain their assigned location within a display by resisting accidental disassembly and disconnection. The modules are nevertheless easy to disassemble when desired and stored or shipped in a disassembled arrangement or reconfigured to fit a different space arrangement when desired. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides for several useful, but optional, additional features. For example, the display modules can have a mounting pedestal formed on an inside lower surface for the purpose of locating a displayed collectible in a fixed location. A backdrop or rear member may be easily inserted into the display module, if desired, allowing for scenery or a mirror to provide additional ambiance for the display. A transparent front covering could be added to the display module as well, if desired. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a first storage apparatus (or module) according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a back view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a first (left side) side view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a second (right side) side view of a first storage apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a first storage apparatus connected to a second storage from a front perspective view according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a plurality storage apparatuses connected together from a front perspective view according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1-7  illustrate typical features of a customizable, interlocking module  10  of the present invention. The customizable, interlocking module  10  is shown as a rectangular solid which includes a base  12 , a right side  14 , a top side  16 , and a left side  18 . Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the module  10  is shown with an optional back surface  20 . A bottom flange  24  is shown with a dovetail-receiving recess  25  and a left flange  26  is shown with a second dovetail-receiving recess  27 . The rectangular solid module  10  has an interior space defined by peripheral walls  22  which extend around the module  10 . A mounting pedestal  12   a  projects upward from the base  12  to provide a locating and securing mount for collectibles, such as action figures. The action figures often are formed with an aperture extending into the figure, and the mounting pedestal  12   a  is dimensioned so as to facilitate fitting within the aperture of the action figure or other collectible. The base  12  can also be formed with a slot (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to serve as a holder for a coin or other display item associated with the action figure, either as a part of a single pedestal or as a separate pedestal, since some collectibles include an auxiliary item which some may wish to display together with the collectible. 
         [0023]    The back side of the module  10  is shown in  FIG. 2  and shows not only a back surface of the back  20  of the rectangular solid module, but also the dovetail-receiving recesses  25 ,  27  shown in  FIG. 1 . On the left side of  FIG. 2  (which is the right side of the module of  FIG. 1 ) there is a flange  28  and a dovetail projection  29 . The top portion of the module  10  includes a flange  30  and a dovetail projection  31 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the module  10  of the present invention, taken from the front and right side. An optional action  FIG. 12   b  (which may be sold separate from the module  10  of the present invention) is shown by a dotted line  12   d  and mounts to the pedestal  12   a  in  FIG. 3 . An optional coin  12   c  (again, which may be sold separately from the present display case) is shown by a dotted line mounted within the slot  12   b.    FIGS. 4 and 5  show top and bottom views of the module  10 , respectively, and  FIGS. 6 and 7  show details of two different side views of the module  10 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows the module  10  mated with a second, similar module  10   a.  A dovetail projection from the right side of the module  10  (not seen in this view) fits within the dovetail-receiving recess on the left side of the second similar module  10   a  to create an interfitting arrangement. 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  shows an optional configuration of modules to form a customizable storage system example of the present invention. Ten modules labeled as  101 - 110  have been interconnected to form an array of modules in a connected illustration of the present invention. The module  101  is connected using its right dovetail projection fitting into the dovetail receiving recess of the module  102 . The module  101  is also connected to the module  106  below it using the dovetail projection on the top of the module  106  interfitting within the dovetail-receiving recess on the bottom of module  101 . A gap of the approximate size of module is formed on the bottom row between the modules  108  and  109  simply by not connecting any module to the bottom of module  106 . A similar gap is created to the right of the module  107 , and a gap the size of approximately 2 modules is formed to the right of the module  101 . Of course, the number of modules high or wide is a subject of choice as is the size of the gaps (if any) left in the storage assembly. 
         [0027]    Manufacturing of this module may be accomplished using one of a variety of known techniques and one of a variety of materials. It is thought that injection molding of plastic, particularly ABS plastic, is the most effective and efficient way to form the module, but other materials (such as other plastic, metals, alloys and similar materials) could be used to advantage if desired. Plastic can be injection molded as a single piece, although another version of the present invention could also be practiced with the module comprising more than one piece, for instance, a separate back member or interlocking pieces to form a single module  10 . The use of plastics allows the advantage of making the mounting pedestal  12   a  and slot  12   b  in a single molding operation and in the form of a single piece, if desired, a process which can reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of steps in the manufacturing process. 
         [0028]    The size of a typical module is chosen based on the size of the articles to be displayed. In one configuration of this invention, the size has been chosen to be approximately 4 inches tall, three inches wide and three inches deep, based on the item (in this case, a collectible) fitting comfortably within the aperture. If the items being displayed are generally larger than that, a larger size can be chosen, but if it is desired to display a small number of larger items with many smaller items, the few larger items can be accommodated by simply leaving a larger gap between modules. 
         [0029]    The module  10  of the present invention may be enhanced by providing a backdrop in the back of the module, if desired. For example, scenery (for example, war scenes and/or equipment) or other suitable pictures can be mounted on a stock slightly smaller than the size of the back of the module and either positioned in place or secured there with temporary or permanent adhesive. In place of a pictoral backdrop, a mirror could be used to advantage in some displays to better show the back of the item being displayed, and again, the mirror could be merely positioned in the module or secured in place to restrict its motion. The present invention also could have a transparent front surface placed over the front of the module, if desired, to provide a way of captivating the things placed therein (such as the action figures and coins) from inadvertent loss or to secure them from removal by an unauthorized person. 
         [0030]    The dovetail projection will be formed to a specific dimension and tolerance, and the dovetail recess will be formed slightly larger to permit the modules to easily interfit, but not so large as to allow for the modules to move a lot with respect to one another. The modules can be provided with auxiliary features, such as securing detents, limiting devices and bumpers, as desired to make for a more secure and/or easier assembly. 
         [0031]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with some specificity for the sake of illustration, although the invention is not limited to the exact configuration or method s disclosed, as one of ordinary skill in the art will understand the invention from the teachings herein and recognize that many alterations and deviations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the description of the preferred embodiments has been provided to illustrate the present invention and not to limit it. The man of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that some of the features of the present invention can be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. For example, the dovetail projection and complementary dovetail recess described in the present description is a convenient way to connect two modules, but other suitable connections can be substituted, if desired. The mounting pedestal is an optional feature and not required for the use of customizable modules of the present invention. The ABS plastic material is an easy to mold plastic material, but other materials could be used to advantage in the present invention. Further, the present invention is capable of being extended, for example, to having a transparent covering provided over the front surface of the module on any, some or all of the modules, if desired. The backdrop has also been described as optional, if scenery or a mirror is desired to better display the collectible or other object contained in the module. Finally, the configuration shown in  FIG. 9  is merely one illustrative configuration, where the arranger can assemble the modules in the configuration desired to fit the space or the desired appearance, and by selectively leaving gaps, can define a display space larger than a single module, as desired. 
         [0032]    The material of the module also has been described as plastic in its preferred embodiment, although that material is not required, as other materials could be used to advantage, perhaps with changes in the manufacturing process. Other materials which could be molded include metals and alloys, cement or concrete and other mixtures of materials in a resin base. It is also thought that ceramics or paper mache might be used to advantage in some forms of the present invention, although one would have to consider the costs involved with the manufacturing process and the life of the resulting material. It is also possible to use wood in the present invention, although that might require milling processes to form the interfitting connections between modules.