Lid-actuated card-dispensing box

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

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for storing trading cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trading cards are an especially popular collector'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's house to trade or to play role-playing games. However, through use and transportation cards are subject to wear. A card's value in a trade or as collector's items may be reduced by wear and tear.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

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;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner sleeve, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away front view of a linkage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

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;

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

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

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.

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.

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.

In the illustrated embodiment, the standoffs 18 are embodied as sides 26a, 26b forming the inner sleeve 16. The sides 26a, 26b 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 26a, 26b to define, along with the platform 20, the sleeve 16 for holding cards, and the like.

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.

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.

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 26a, 26b, which may be spread apart by a distance substantially equal the interior width of the box 12.

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 26a, 26b. 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.

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.

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.

Claims

1. A card-collecting box comprising:

an outer box comprising bottom, anterior, posterior, first lateral, and second lateral sides;

a lid hingedly attached to the posterior side;

an inner sleeve having at least bottom and a first lateral side; and

at least one lifting member secured to the lid spaced apart from a point of hinged securement to the posterior side, the lifting member securing to the inner sleeve.

2. The card-collecting box of claim 1, further comprising a retention member selectively engaging the lifting member and the inner sleeve to resist relative motion between the lifting member and the inner sleeve, wherein the lid and inner sleeve have an open position and a closed position, the retaining member engaging the lifting member and inner sleeve when the lid and inner sleeve are in the closed position.

3. The card-collecting box of claim 2, wherein the lifting member comprises a plate extending from an interior surface of the lid.

4. The card-collecting box of claim 3, wherein the plate is pivotally attached to the inner sleeve.

5. The card collecting box of claim 3, wherein the retention member comprises a raised portion secured to the plate and wherein the inner sleeve comprises a depression positioned to receive the raised portion when the lid is in the closed position.

6. The card collecting box of claim 3, wherein the retention member comprises a raised portion secured to the inner sleeve and wherein the plate comprises a depression positioned to receive the raised portion when the lid is in the closed position.

7. The card collecting box of claim 6, wherein the depression comprises a rivet.

8. The card collecting box of claim 7, wherein the raised portion comprises a rivet head and wherein the depression further comprises a crimped shaft of a rivet.

9. The card collecting box of claim 8, wherein the lid comprises a top flap and a front flap, the top flap hingedly securing to the posterior side and the front flap hingedly securing to a free end of the top flap.

10. The card collecting box of claim 9, wherein the plate secures to the front flap.

11. The card collecting box of claim 10, further comprising a tongue secured to the anterior side and extending upwardly therefrom.

12. The card collecting box of claim 11, wherein the tongue is substantially coextensive with the front flap when the lid is in the closed position.

13. A box for storing cards, the box comprising:

an outer case having an upper and a lower end, the upper end defining an opening;

a lid sized to occupy a substantial portion of the opening and hingedly secured to the upper end of the outer case;

an inner platform having a lower portion conforming to a portion of the outer case proximate the lower end thereof and at least one vertical standoff extending upwardly from the lower portion; and

a linkage coupling the lid to the at least one vertical standoff to cause movement of the standoff in correspondence with the lid.

15. The box of claim 13, wherein the linkage comprises a plate extending from the lid and pivotally coupling to the vertical standoff.

16. The box of claim 15, wherein the linkage comprises a front flap hingedly secured to a free end of the lid, the plate securing to the front flap.

17. The box of claim 16, further comprising a retention mechanism selectively preventing relative motion between the lid and vertical standoff.

18. The box of claim 17, wherein the retention mechanism is a raised portion secured to the vertical standoff and a depression secured to the linkage and positioned to receive the raised portion in at least one orientation of the linkage.

19. The box of claim 13, wherein the vertical standoff is a first vertical standoff, the box further comprising a second vertical standoff spaced apart laterally from the first vertical standoff, the linkage coupling the second vertical standoff to the lid.

20. A box for storing cards, the box comprising:

an outer case having an upper and a lower end, the upper end defining an opening;

a lid sized to occupy a substantial portion of the opening and hingedly secured to the upper end of the outer case;

an inner platform having a lower portion conforming to a portion of the outer case proximate the lower end thereof and at least one vertical standoff extending upwardly from the lower portion; and

a means for raising the inner platform upon opening of the lid.