Abstract:
A lid-actuated card-dispensing box is disclosed. An outer box having a lid receives an inner sleeve having a platform and at least one standoff coupled to the lid by means of a linkage. The linkage includes a plate secured to a front flap of the lid and pivotally connected to the standoff. A retention system resists movement of the plate relative to the standoff when the lid is in a closed position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to an apparatus for storing trading cards.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Trading cards are an especially popular collector&#39;s item across all age groups. In addition to traditional sports cards such as baseball cards, children may collect and trade cards representing characters in role-playing games or popular animated television programs. Typically children will bring their cards to school or to a friend&#39;s house to trade or to play role-playing games. However, through use and transportation cards are subject to wear. A card&#39;s value in a trade or as collector&#39;s items may be reduced by wear and tear.  
         [0003]     Prior storage means, such as a conventional box increase the risk of damage to trading cards and are not readily accessible. For example, a conventional box may snugly store trading cards during transportation. However, when removing the cards, only the edges of the cards may be gripped, resulting in excess wear at the edges, which are vulnerable to delamination and fraying. Alternatively, an entire box may be dumped out, which may be inconvenient when only a single card is needed.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a container for storing and transporting trading cards that enabled ready removal of the cards from the container.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A box for storing cards includes an outer case having an upper and a lower end, the upper end defining an opening for insertion of cards and the like. A lid is sized to cover the opening and hingedly secures to an upper end of the outer case. An inner platform fits within the box and has a lower portion conforming to the lower end of the outer case, portion of the outer case proximate the lower end thereof. One or more vertical standoffs extend upwardly from the lower portion and secure to the lid by means of a linkage that lifts the platform from the box as the lid is opened.  
         [0006]     The linkage may include a plate extending from the lid and pivotally coupling to the vertical standoff. In some embodiments, the plate secures to a front flap secured to a free end of the lid. A retention mechanism may retain the lid in a closed or open position. In one embodiment, the retention mechanism is a raised portion secured to the standoff and a depression secured to the linkage and positioned to receive the raised portion in at least one orientation of the linkage.  
         [0007]     As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a storage box for storing trading cards and provides a platform that is automatically raised on opening of the lid to facilitate removal of cards from the box.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lid-actuated card dispensing box in an open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an inner sleeve, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away front view of a linkage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of a lid-actuated card dispensing box in a closed configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of a is a lid-actuated card dispensing box in an open configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear quarter perspective view of a lid-actuated card dispensing box having a carrying clip, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a box  10  may include an outer box  12  having a lid  14  hingedly secured to an edge thereof. The outer box  12  and lid  14  may be formed of cardboard, steel, plastic, or other material sufficiently rigid to maintain a box shape. The outer box  12  and lid  14  may be covered in a wear resistant or decorative material, such as genuine or imitation leather, plastic, or the like. The outer box  12  and lid  14  may be lined to protect the outer box  12  and to inhibit wear on the contents of the box  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outer box  12  and lid  14  are lined with a nylon fabric.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , while still referring to  FIG. 1 , an inner sleeve  16  may be positioned within the outer box  12 . The inner sleeve  16  may include one or more vertical standoffs  18  extending upwardly from a platform  20 . The platform  20  may occupy a substantial portion of the bottom of the outer box  12 . The platform  20  is typically slightly smaller than the horizontal cross section of the outer box  12  to facilitate movement of the platform  20  within the outer box  12 . The vertical standoffs  18  extend upwardly from the platform  20  and secure to the lid  14  by means of a linkage  22 .  
         [0017]     The linkage  22  transfers force from the manual raising of the lid  14  to the platform  20 , thereby raising cards and the like within the outer box  12  to a more accessible position. A retention member  24  engages the linkage  22  to selectively prevent relative motion between the lid and the standoffs  18 . The retention member  24  may serve to maintain the lid  14  in an open position with the platform  20  raised. The retention member  24  may also maintain the lid  14  in a closed position with the platform  20  lowered into the outer box  12 . In some embodiments, the retention member  24  serves to lock the lid  14  in both open and closed positions.  
         [0018]     In the illustrated embodiment, the standoffs  18  are embodied as sides  26   a,    26   b  forming the inner sleeve  16 . The sides  26   a,    26   b  may extend substantially along the entire inner lateral walls of the outer box  12  while still sliding readily within the outer box  12 . A back  28  may extend between the sides  26   a,    26   b  to define, along with the platform  20 , the sleeve  16  for holding cards, and the like.  
         [0019]     The linkage  22  may include at least one plate  32  extending from the lid  14  to the standoff  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, two plates  32  extend from the lid. The plates  32  may independently secure to the lid  14  or may be angled end portions of a plate securing to the lid  14 . The plate  32  may secure to the standoff  18  by means of a pivot  34 , such as a rivet, such that as the lid is raised, the plate  32  pivots with respect to the standoff  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plate  32  may secure to the lid  14  by means of a front flap  36  rigidly or hingedly secured to the free end of the lid  14 .  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the retention member  24  may be embodied as a raised portion  38  secured to the standoff  18  that engages a depression  40  secured to the plate  32 . Alternatively, the raised portion  38  may be secured to the plate  32  whereas the depression  40  is secured to the standoff  18 . The raised portion  38  may be forced into the depression  40  such that deformation of the plate  32 , standoff  18 , or both is required to remove the raised portion from the depression  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the raised portion  38  is a rivet head and the depression is embodied as the crimped end of a hollow rivet shaft. In other embodiments, the raised portion  38  and depression  40  are formed by locally deforming the standoff  18  and plate  32 , respectively. Embodying the raised portion  38  and depression  40  as rivets may facilitate manufacture of a linkage  22 , inasmuch as a single tool is needed to form the pivot  34 , the depression  40 , and raised portion  38 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 4A , in a closed configuration of the lid  14 , the inner sleeve  16  is pushed down into the outer box  12 . The plate  32  is positioned having the depression  40  aligned with the raised portion  38  such that the lid  14  is retained in the closed position. In some embodiments, a cutaway portion  48  may be formed in the outer box  12  adjacent the plate  32  to enable the plates  32  to secure the outside surfaces of the sides  26   a,    26   b,  which may be spread apart by a distance substantially equal the interior width of the box  12 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 4B , when opening the box  10 , the user swings the lid  14  upwardly from the outer box  12  causing the plate  32  to move upward and to pivot with respect to the sides  26   a,    26   b.  Pivoting of the plate  32  forces the raised portion  38  out of the depression  40 . As the plate  32  is raised, the inner sleeve  16  is drawn out of the outer box  12  due to coupling of the plate  32  to the standoffs  18  by means of the pivot  34 . In some embodiments, a tongue  52  secures to a front side of the outer box  12  and extends upwardly therefrom. The tongue  52  may serve to retain cards when the lid is an open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the tongue  52  secures to the front of the outer box  12  and extends from the cutaway portion  48  to near the top of the outer box  12 . The tongue  52  may be formed from materials similar to those forming the outer box  12 . The tongue  52  may be formed monolithically with the front panel of the outer box  12  or may secure to the outer box  12  by means of glue, stitching, or other fastening means.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, a fastener  56 , such as a clip, belt loop, or like structure secures to a back panel of the outer box  12 . The fastener  56  may enable a user to secure the box  10  to a belt in order to transport the box  10 . The fastener  56  may pivot in a plane parallel to the back panel of the outer box  12 . In some embodiments, a detent mechanism retains the fastener  56  in specific orientations. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent mechanism retains the fastener  56  in vertical and horizontal orientations. The detent mechanism may also retain the fastener  56  in intermediate orientations.  
         [0024]     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.