Patent ID: 12195254

DESCRIPTION

Initial reference is made toFIGS.1and2, which illustrate front and back perspective views of one embodiment of a collectible holder40formed by assembling a front housing42as shown inFIG.3with a back housing44as shown inFIG.4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front housing43comprises a front wall46. An outer wall48extends generally normally from the front wall46about an entire circumferential edge of the front wall46. In the illustrated embodiment the outer wall48is substantially contiguous about the circumference of the front wall46. The outer wall48extends from the front wall46and terminates at a tip52. Preferably the outer wall48is flat along its entire tip52. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer wall48is comprised of opposing top and bottom elongated side portions54,56and opposing elongated end portions58. The side portions54,56and adjacent end portions58are connected at corners60. In the illustrated embodiment, the side and end portions that together make up the outer wall48are contiguous, and a height of the outer wall48taken between the front wall46and the tip52is uniform about the entire outer wall48.

With additional reference toFIGS.5-8, the back housing comprises44a back wall62that abuts the tip52of the outer wall48when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. As such, when assembled to form the collectible holder40, an enclosed space64is defined within the front wall46, back wall62, and outer wall48. A trough66is defined by opposing trough end walls68and opposing trough top and bottom side walls70,72that extend from the back wall62. A label wall74extends across and connects the trough side and end walls70,72,68.

In the illustrated embodiment, a frame wall76extends from an inner surface of the front wall46of the front housing42. The frame wall76is made up of opposing side and end wall portions54,56,58that are attached to one another at corners60. A label space78is defined by the frame wall76and the front wall46. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame wall76extends only a short distance from the front wall46, and is disposed adjacent a top side wall portion54. Preferably, the frame wall76is sized and configured to generally complement the configuration of the trough side and end walls60,70,72so that the label wall76of the trough66is received into the label space78. When assembled, preferably the label space78between the front wall46and label wall76is quite small, such as being configured to accommodate the width of only one or two sheets of paper.

In the illustrated embodiment, the trough66is disposed immediately adjacent the top portion54of the outer wall48when the housings42,44are assembled, as shown inFIG.2. Preferably, the trough top side wall70and the top portion54of the outer wall48collectively define a handle80by which a user can easily carry the holder40.

With particular reference next toFIGS.3-8, a top receiver side wall82extends from the front wall46and is spaced from the label space78. A bottom receiver side wall84also extends from the front wall46and is spaced from the opposing top receiver side wall82. Opposing, spaced-apart receiver end walls86also extend from the front wall46. Each of the receiver walls82,84,86is connected to the front wall46at a base88and terminates at a tip52. Preferably, the receiver walls82,84,86are co-formed with the front wall46. The illustrated receiver walls are elongated and straight, extending between opposing ends89. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver side walls82,84are elongated in an end-to-end direction and the receiver end walls86are elongated in a top-to-bottom direction. A receiver space90is defined within the receiver side and end walls82,84,86.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ends89of the receiver side and end walls82,84,86do not connect with one another. More specifically, adjacent ends89are spaced from one another so as to define an open corner91where adjacent walls terminate before intersecting. A corner space93can be defined as the distance between the end89of one of the receiver walls and the location of the adjacent receiver wall.

The receiver space90is defined by the receiver side and end walls82,84,86and an inner surface of the front wall46. Preferably the inner surface is substantially flat. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver space90is located generally below the label space78. As such, a center of the receiver space90is offset downwardly from a center of the holder40, and a center of the label space78is offset upwardly from the center of the holder40.

A platform94extends from the back wall62of the back housing44and terminates in a platform surface96. As such, the platform surface96is spaced a platform height97from a back wall62inner surface. Preferably, the platform94is dimensioned so as to fit between the receiver walls82,84,86that define the receiver space90, with a platform space99defined between an edge wall100of the platform94and the adjacent receiver wall82,84,86when the housings42,44are assembled. As such, when the front and back housings42,44are assembled, the tips50of the receiver walls82,84,86are closer to the back wall62inner surface than is the platform surface96. In a preferred embodiment the tips53of the receiver walls82,84,86engage the back wall62inner surface when the housings42,44are assembled.

With continued reference toFIGS.3-8, a plurality of lock walls extend from the back wall62of the back housing44. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, a top side locking wall102extends from the back wall63immediately adjacent—yet spaced outwardly from—the top side trough wall70. A bottom side lock wall104is disposed adjacent the opposite edge of the back wall62. Opposing end lock walls106extend from the back wall62adjacent opposite ends of the back wall62and between the top and bottom side lock walls102,104. Each of the lock walls102,104,106is spaced inwardly a short distance from the edge108of the back wall, and a back wall edge surface110is defined between each lock wall102,104,106and the adjacent edge108about the circumference of the back wall62. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the back wall edge surface110is about the same as the thickness of the outer wall48of the front housing42. As such, and as shown inFIGS.1,2, and5-8, when the front and back housings42,44are assembled with one another, the tip50of the outer wall48engages the back wall edge surface110, preferably about the entire circumferences of the front wall46and the back wall62.

Each of the lock walls102,104,106in the illustrated embodiment is substantially elongated and terminates at opposing wall ends112. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends112of the side lock walls102,104are spaced from and not connected to the ends112of the end lock walls106.

Continuing with reference toFIGS.3-8, a lock structure114is provided to lock the front and back housings42,44into engagement with one another so as to resist disassembly of the housings once they are assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, each lock wall102,104,106includes a catch116extending outwardly therefrom. A slide surface118extends from the catch116toward the tip52of the corresponding lock wall. Preferably, the slide surface118is tapered moving from the catch116toward the tip52. A plurality of lock receivers120are defined inside of the front housing outer wall48. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock receivers120each are elongated slots running along the inner surface of the outer wall48so as to be aligned with the catches116when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. As such, when the front housing42is being advanced over the back housing44, the tapered slide surface118will engage the inner surface of the outer wall48and one or both of the lock wall102,104,106and outer wall48will deflect as advancement continues. Once the catch116reaches the lock receiver120, however, such deflection will cease, and the catch116will snap into the lock receiver120. With the catch116received in the lock receiver120, the lock structure114has been triggered, and the front and back housings42,44are fully assembled, or engaged, with one another.

In the illustrated embodiment, the catch116extends along the entire length of each of the lock walls102,104,106, and the corresponding lock receiver120slot is formed in the outer wall48, extending along substantially the entire length of the wall, but terminating before each corner60, so that no slot120is formed rounding the corner60. As such, the lock structure114is engaged along each of the top and bottom sides and both opposing ends of the engaged first and second housings42,44. In order to separate the front and back housing, a user would have to disengage the catches116that have been received in all of the lock receivers120. However, access to the catches116is blocked by at least the outer wall48, and also by the engaged outer wall tip52and back wall edge surface110. As such, in order to disengage the locking structure114, and thus disengage the front and back housings42,44from one another, one would most likely have to damage the housings. Thus, once engaged, the front and back housings42,44define a secure collectible holder40in which it is very difficult, if not impossible, to access the collectible stored within without destroying the holder40itself.

With particular reference next toFIG.3A, to use the holder40, a user places the collectible item, such as a stack of freshly printed currency122, within the receiver space90. The corners124of the currency122are aligned with the open corners91of the receiver walls82,84,86, and thus the corners124of the bills122do not engage any wall that could fold or otherwise damage them. Also, the bottommost bill122lies upon the platform94so the edges of that bill122are spaced from the tips52of the receiver walls82,84,86. There is substantially no risk of the edges126of the bills122extending into or being caught between the receiver wall tips52and the inner surface of the back wall62. Printed currency122may also be referred to as banknote122or paper money.

Continuing with reference toFIGS.3-8, in the illustrated embodiment each of the lock walls102,104,106extends substantially contiguously along the entire side or end of the back housing44. In other embodiments one or more of the lock walls could be discontiguous along its length, so that the respective side or end lock wall is actually made up of two or more lock walls lined up end to end.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lock walls102,104,106extend such that their tips52are immediately adjacent the housing front wall46when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. Similarly, the slot120in the inner surface of the outer wall48, which makes up the lock receiver120, is immediately adjacent the front wall46. As such, the locking structure114is spaced from the tip52of the outer wall48, helping to block access to such locking structure114from outside the assembled collectible holder40. Preferably, the locking structure114is positioned to be spaced from the outer wall tip52so as to block such access. However, it is to be understood that, in additional embodiments, the catch116of the lock wall102,104,106, and the lock receiver120, do not necessarily have to be adjacent the front wall46, but can be spaced from both the front wall46and the outer wall48tip52. In still further embodiments the height of the lock walls between the back wall62and the catch116can vary along the length of the lock walls102,104,106—and similarly the distance of the lock receiver120from the outer wall48tip52can vary complementarily.

In still further embodiments the locking structure114can include additional variations in structure. For example, during at least portions of its length one or more of the lock walls102,104,106can have two or more catches116spaced apart from one another between the base of the lock wall102,104,106and its tip. And, of course, corresponding lock receivers120can be placed in the inner surface of the outer wall48. Still further embodiments may employ—in addition or instead—lock walls extending from one of the front or back housings42,44and spaced from the outer wall48, and corresponding lock walls102,104,106extending from the opposite housing, and a locking structure120is provided so that the opposing lock walls physically lock with one another when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. Preferably such locking structure is blocked by one or more of the outer wall48, front wall46and back wall62from being accessed from outside the assembled collectible holder40.

With specific reference toFIG.3B, a label130bearing indicia of authentication, identification, and/or grading can be placed within the label space78. The label130can include such information and devices such as, for example, a barcode132configured to link or refer a user to information about the identity, grade, etc. of the collectible held within the receiver space90. In some embodiments, an RFID chip134and/or near-field-communication (NFC) enabled tag136can be included in the label space78, and sometimes incorporated onto the label130. Such structures can be programmed with information concerning the corresponding collectible and/or can direct a user to an online repository of such information. A written indicia137identifying or describing the contents can also be included.

Various security features can also be included. For example, the label130and/or label space78can include a hologram138and/or seal139or other indicia of a grading organization that has verified the authenticity and grade of the corresponding collectible. Additional security features can also be included. For example one or more label portions can be adhered to one or both of the front housing front wall46and back housing label wall74in a manner such that if the front and back housings42,44are disassembled (likely from destructive actions), separation of the label130from either of the front wall46or label wall74, or any attempt to remove such label130from one or both such surfaces, will result in the destruction of the label130. As such, a counterfeiter that has destroyed an assembled holder40to gain access to the collectible held therewithin cannot transfer verification indicia from the holder40to another, undamaged holder40, as the verification indicia will be destroyed in the attempt to remove it from the original holder. Counterfeiting efforts can thus be frustrated, as verification indicia cannot be removed from a holder40without being destroyed, and an assembled holder40cannot be opened to removed and replace the enclosed collectible without being destroyed. Thus, the collectible and associated verification indicia cannot be moved to a new holder40.

With reference next specifically toFIGS.1,5and7, in the illustrated embodiment, a ridge140extends forwardly from the front wall46generally opposite the bottom portion of the frame wall76. The illustrated ridge140helps define a label portion142, or information portion, of the holder40through which the label130is viewable. The portion of the holder below the ridge140can be considered a viewing portion144, through which the collectible item is visible.

As with other such holders, the collectible holder40preferably is formed of a transparent plastic so that both the collectible and label130indicia enclosed therewithin can be viewed—preferably through both the front housing and back housing.

The illustrated holder40is stackable with other holders having similar designs. With particular reference toFIGS.6and9, in the illustrated embodiment, a raised edge150is provided circumferentially about the edge of the front housing42. Preferably the raised edge150is flat along its front face. A receiving surface152is defined adjacent the raised edge150and is offset from the front surface of the raised edge150. Preferably, the receiving surface is also flat. A front face154of the front wall46is offset from both the front surface of the raised edge150and the receiving surface152.

A raised ridge156extends from the back wall62of the back housing44and is spaced from the edge108of the back wall62a distance approximately the same as a width of the raised edge150on the front wall46. Preferably, a back surface of the raised ridge156is flat. In the illustrated embodiment, a back face158of the back wall62is offset from the raised ridge156.

FIG.9shows a close up cross-section of a portion of the edges of adjacent holders40stacked one atop the other. The structures depicted inFIG.9are similar to the structures in the cross-section depicted inFIG.5, but stacked one on top of the other. As shown, the raised ridge156of the back housing44is located inwardly of the raised edge150of the front housing42so that the flat back surface of the raised ridge156engages and rests upon the receiving surface152of the front housing42. The back wall62outwardly of the raised ridge156preferably also rests upon the front surface of the raised edge150of the front wall46. The front face154of the front wall46and the back face158of the back wall62preferably are spaced apart from one another.

The embodiment illustrated inFIGS.1-9is particularly amenable to holding a stack of currency122(seeFIG.3A). As such, the placement of the receiver walls102,104,106is selected to match the rectangular dimensions of a particular type of currency—or to safely hold rectangular currency having a particular range of dimensions. The distance between the platform surface96and front wall inner surface is also selected to accommodate a specific number of bills—such as 20, 50, or 100 bills. It is to be understood that holders having features as described above can be configured with different specific placement of receiver walls and different distances between the platform surface and the front wall so as to accommodate currency having a different range of dimensions and/or a different number of bills. In a preferred embodiment a kit or set of collectible holders can be selected such that internal dimensions of different holders within the set may vary, but two or more of the outer dimensions (such as two or more of length, width and height) remain the same. As such, holders configured to hold different size ranges and numbers of bills can still be readily stackable one atop another, and easily stored.

With referenced next toFIGS.10-20, another embodiment of a collectible holder40is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver space90is formed by a plurality of receiver walls82,84,86that extend from the back wall62of the back housing44. A platform94is also formed extending from the inner surface of the back wall62within the receiver space90. Side edges100of the platform94are spaced from adjacent receiver walls82,84,86. A channel160is formed in the inner surface of the front wall46of the front housing42. The channel160is configured so that when the front and back housings42,44are assembled, the tips52of the receiver walls82,84,86fit into and are received within the channel160, as best shown inFIGS.15-18.

As in previous embodiments, the outer wall48extends from the front wall46of the front housing42and is substantially contiguous about its entire perimeter. As shown inFIG.14, the lock wall104is contiguous about its entire perimeter, and extends from the back wall62of the back housing44and is spaced from the edge108of the back wall62. Specifically, the illustrated lock wall101has opposing top and bottom side lock wall portions102,104and opposing end lock wall portions106that are joined end-to-end with one another at curving corners103. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock wall101is configured so that its tip52is a spaced from the front wall46of the front housing42when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the lock wall101from the back wall62to the lock wall tip52is just over half the length of the outer wall48from the front wall46to the outer wall tip52. It is to be understood that a height of the lock wall101from base to tip preferably is in a range of one quarter to about the same as a height of the outer wall48from base to tip. Preferably, the locking structure114is spaced from the outer wall tip52so that the locking structure is not accessible from outside an assembled collectible holder40.

A locking structure114is provided to interact between the lock wall portions102,104,106and the outer wall48. As shown, a plurality of spaced apart catches116are formed on the lock wall101. Each catch116is elongated and extends along the length of the respective wall for only a portion of the length of the respective lock wall portion102,104,106. Ends of the adjacent catches116are spaced apart from one another, and in the illustrated embodiment there is no locking structure between the catches116. The outer wall48includes a corresponding plurality of spaced apart lock receivers120. In the illustrated embodiment the lock receivers comprise elongated slots120formed along the inside surface of the outer wall48and located to correspond to the positions of the catches116on the lock walls102,104,106of the back housing44.

With particular reference next toFIGS.15and17, during assembly of the front and back housings42,44, the tapered slide surface118of the lock wall catch116can be expected to slide across the inner surface of the outer wall48, causing one or more, or all, of the lock wall, outer wall and catch to deflect somewhat until the catch116reaches the lock receiver120and snaps into place. When fully assembled, the catch116is engaged within the lock receiver120so as to resist any force to tending to disassemble the front housing42from the back housing44. Similarly, the outer wall tip52is abutted with the back wall edge surface110. In the illustrated embodiment, a thickness of the lock wall may be somewhat less than a thickness of the outer wall48. As such the lock wall101and/or catch116may be preferentially inclined to deflect during the assembly process.

With additional reference toFIGS.16and18, the elongated portions of the lock wall101that do not include a catch can be expected to be aligned immediately adjacent the outer wall48when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of spaced apart grooves164are formed in the back wall edge surface110. The illustrated grooves164are located so as to exist only—or mostly—so as to be aligned with portions of the lock wall101that do not have a catch116. Thus, the grooves164are formed in the spaces between catches. A plurality of complementarily-formed tongues166preferably extend from the outer wall tip52, and are located, sized and configured to align with and fit into the back wall edge surface grooves164. As such, when the front and back housings42,44are assembled, not only are the catches116received into the lock receivers120, but the tongues166of the outer wall48are received into and aligned with corresponding grooves164of the back wall edge surface110.

In a preferred embodiment, energy directors168are provided along the ends of the tongues166. As such, once the collectible holder40is assembled, and the locking structure engaged, an ultrasonic welding process can be performed, ultrasonically welding the tongues166of the front housing42to the grooves164of the back housing44. In this manner, not only are the front and back housings42,44held snugly together by the engaged mechanical lock structure but also by an ultrasonic weld between engaged housings. In the illustrated embodiment, the front and back housings42,44, then, are attached to one another by multiple methods and structures substantially about the entire periphery of the assembled holder40.

With continued reference toFIGS.15-18, the cross-sectional view shows the tip52of the receiver wall82received into the front wall channel160formed in the inner surface of the front wall46of the front housing42. In the illustrated embodiment, the height, or distance from the base to the tip of the receiver wall82, is slightly (such as preferably less than 2 mm, and more preferably less than 1 mm) greater than a distance between the inner surfaces of the front and back walls46,62when the front and back housings are assembled. As such, the tips52of the receiver walls82.84.86extend beyond the inner surface of the front wall46and into the channel160. In another embodiment, energy directors can be provided on all or a portion of the receiver wall tips. As such, after the front and back housings are assembled, the tips can be ultrasonically welded within the channels.

With reference next toFIGS.15,16,19and20, the top side lock wall and top side trough wall are co-formed as a single composite wall170, resulting in a particularly thick lock/trough wall170along the top side of the back housing44. Preferably, the portions of the end lock walls that co-extend with the end trough walls are also co-formed with the trough walls. As such, the lock walls102,106along the top side and along portions of the ends are much thicker, such as between 1.5-2.5 times thicker, than the lock walls104,106in other portions of the back housing44. Not surprisingly, it can be expected that the lock walls in these thickened portion are much less likely to deflect inwardly during assembly, when the outer wall48is forced over the lock wall101, than are other portions of the lock wall. Such resistance to deflection can be further enhanced by lock wall structures, and outer wall structures, in which wall portions are connected at the corners, further limiting the walls' propensity to deflect. In some embodiments it may entail exertion of significant force, then, to assemble the front and back housings. Some users may even wish to use a mallet-like device to assist in assembling the housings. However, once assembled it will be all the more difficult to deflect either or both of the outer wall and lock wall in an effort to disengage the catch116from the lock receiver120. Indeed, disassembling the collectible holder will necessitate destruction of the engaged housings.

Continuing with reference toFIGS.12-16,19and20, a portion of the trough side and end walls72,68extends beyond the label wall,74to define a frame wall,76substantially surrounding the label wall,74. In the illustrated embodiment, a label platform172extends from the inner surface of the front housing front wall, terminating in a label platform surface. The label platform172is dimensioned so as to fit complementarily within the frame wall76so that a label space78is defined between the label platform172surface and the label wall74. Preferably, the label space78is quite small, such as less than the thickness of a few sheets of paper. Preferably the label space78is configured to accommodate label indicia as discussed herein, including indicia and structure for identifying, validating, securing, etc. the collectible stored in the collectible holder.

With reference next toFIGS.21-27, another embodiment of a collectible holder40demonstrates another variation of structure for maintaining the holder in the assembled position once the front and back housings42,44have been assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock wall101is contiguous about the circumference of the back wall62, in that side portions102,104and end portions106of the lock wall101are joined end to end at corners103. A plurality of elongated catches116extend outwardly from the lock wall160. Such catches116are spaced apart from one another.

In the illustrated embodiment, a groove164is formed in the back wall edge surface110about the circumference of the back wall62. The illustrated groove164includes a key structure174extending into the channel164, but only in portions of the channel164that are aligned with a catch116formed on the adjacent lock wall101. As such, the groove164has a different cross-sectional shape in portions that are aligned with catches116than in other portions of the groove164. A tongue166extends from the tip52of the front housing outer wall48about the circumference of the outer wall48. The tongue166is sized and configured to fit within the groove164when the front and back housings42,44are assembled. A key cavity176is formed in the tongue166at each location that is expected to meet up with a key structure174of the groove164, and as such the tongue166and groove164are complementarily shaped so as to register with one another so as to establish and maintain proper alignment of the assembled front and back housings42,44. An energy director168can be provided on the tongue166, around a portion or about the entire circumference of the outer wall48. As such, after the front and back housings42,44are assembled and mechanically locked together by the lock structure, and maintained in proper alignment by the engaged tongue166and groove164, the structures can also be ultrasonically welded to one another if desired.

With reference next toFIG.28, in accordance with another embodiment, an extension180can be provided to connect ends89of adjacent receiver walls82,86. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver walls82,86terminate at ends89in a manner similar as discussed above. As such, an open corner91is defined between the adjacent ends89. The extension is a curvate wall that is contiguous with both the to receiver side wall82and receiver end wall86, but extends from each end89in a direction away from the receiver space90, curving to change directions at a portion spaced from the open corner91so as not to interfere with the open corner.

With reference next toFIGS.29and30, a spacer190is formed separately from the front and back housings42,44and comprises a flat front spacer wall192from which side walls194depend. Preferably the front wall192is shaped to fit complementarily between the receiver walls82,84,86within the receiver space90, with the side walls194engaged with the back wall62so that the front spacer wall192is spaced from the back wall. By inserting the spacer190into the receiver space90the effective depth of the receiver space90is reduced. A spacer190can be of particular utility when placing a collectible within the receiver space90whose thickness is substantially less than the height of the receiver space90. For example, a relatively short stack of currency may not fill the entire receiver space90. By inserting the spacer190into the receiver space90and then placing the short stack of currency atop the front spacer wall192, the currency will still appear from the front to fill the receiver space90and will be held securely therewithin with little or not play.

Each of the collectible holder embodiments described herein has been specifically tailored to enclose a stack of currency/bank notes. This has been helpful for providing a context for discussing the inventive features. It is to be understood, however, that the principles discussed herein can be applied to holders having differing shapes and being specifically designed for other types of collectibles, such as coins, sports cards, stamps, figurines, models, and the like. Dimensions and shapes for such holders may, for example, involve square, circular, oval or otherwise-shaped receiver portions, and similarly may be rectangular, square, circular, oval or otherwise-shaped in their outer dimensions. Such holders can also come in a wide variety of heights depending on the number and type of collectible to be held therewithin.

Further, this description has employed terms such as “front”, “back”, “top” and “bottom” in order to aid discussion and demonstrate relative positioning of some described structures. Use of such terms is not intended to be limiting. Structure described herein should not be limited to only being associated with a “front”, “back” or the like of any holder. To wit, the back housing could have just as easily and appropriately been referred to as the “front housing”, “bottom housing”, “top housing”, “first housing”, “second housing”, or the like.

As discussed above, label indicia included in the label space may include one or several items related to information dissemination, security and verification.FIG.31depicts a schematic representation of a collectible holder40having multiple label indicia including, for example, written indicia137which may include written information about the associated collectible and/or a grading organization, a hologram138attesting to the authenticity of the collectible and grading, and a bar code132or other symbol that can be scanned to track movement of the collectible holder and/or direct a user to an online repository of information about the associated collectible. An RFID tag134can also be supplied to supply information about the associated collectible to a scanning device such as a computing device which, in some instances can be a handheld computing device such as a smartphone. An NFC tag136can further be supplied to selectively communicate with a computing device200upon specific request by the computing device200(such as by tapping the computing device on the collectible holder). In some embodiments, other types of indicia and electronic communication devices can be included in the collectible holder, and not necessarily limited to placement in the label space.

Electronic communication devices such as the RFID or NFC tags134,136can communicate information about the associated collectible to the associated computing device200, and/or can communicate a link to the computing device200that the computing device200can use to access an online repository of information about the associated collectible. For example, a user of the computing device200can be given a link to a webpage maintained on or by a system202of the grading organization. The web page can include information about the associated collectible with any desired level of detail, and the computing device200can access the web page via a network204such as the internet/cloud. In some embodiments, an electronic communication device on the collectible holder40can obtain some information from the computing device200—such as identifying information about the user of the device—and communicate such information through a local area network and further through the cloud to the grading organization's system202. In other embodiments, however, in order to keep costs and power requirements down, electronic tags can be configured to use minimal power to communicate small snippets of information, such as is the case with NFC tags136and some RFID tags134.

In some embodiments it may be desired to disseminate some information about the collectible item encased in a collectible holder40, but to reserve dissemination of detailed information to selected users, such as potential buyers that are actually present in the proximity of the collectible. With continued reference toFIG.31, in one embodiment, the NFC tag136has been programmed with a link/URL pointing to a web page of the grading organization (or collectible owner, or another party). The particular web page includes detailed—and perhaps even extensive—information about the associated collectible. For example, this information may include not only grading information about the particular collectible item, but also verification of its identification, identification of past owners, reports of testing that may have been performed on the item, pricing and sales history, and/or additional information.

When a user taps their computing device200on the collectible holder40, the NFC tag136generates a unique cryptographic code, which is appended as a parameter of the URL, and communicates the information to the computing device200. The user's computing device then accesses the URL via, for example, the internet204. The grading organization's system202removes the cryptographic code from the URL and communicates with the security service's system206, which can verify whether the cryptographic code is authentic—meaning obtained by a physical tap of the NFC tag136or simply a copied URL from another user's tap. The security system thus can determine whether the attempt to access the URL is from a user physically at the location of the collectible item or somewhere else. The security service's system206can relay this information to the grading organization's system202, and based on this information the grading organization's system can decide whether to allow access to the detailed web page. In one embodiment, the grading organization's system202allows access to the detailed web page only to users that are verified to have physically tapped the collectible holder40, and which thus are verified to be present at the location of the collectible. Other users can be denied access. In some embodiments the grading organization may have a secondary web page prepared for those who are not verified to be present at the location of the collectible. Such secondary web page may have access to a different, perhaps less detailed, set of information about the collectible.

In still further embodiments the grading organization's system202can be configured to only allow access to certain collectible content upon satisfaction of additional or other criteria, such as a user specifically registering with the system and providing identification, contact information, and/or other information as may be desired or requested.

Methods of using and of making the disclosed holders and components thereof are within the scope of the present invention.

Although inventive subject matter has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred or illustrated embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the disclosed embodiments have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of the inventive subject matter, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter. For example, embodiments as discussed inFIGS.1-27could be modified to incorporate the extensions between adjacent receiver walls depicted inFIG.28; embodiments as discussed inFIGS.1-9could be modified to include a contiguous groove as in embodiments as discussed inFIGS.21-27, or a discontiguous groove as in embodiments as discussed inFIGS.10-20; and/or the contiguous lock wall depicted in embodiments ofFIGS.10-27can be replaced with discontiguous lock walls as in the embodiments discussed in connection withFIGS.1-9. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventive subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the inventive subject matter herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.