CARD PROTECTION SYSTEM
A system for protecting cards may include, but is not limited to: a sleeve portion including: a first sleeve panel; a second sleeve panel, and a sleeve perimeter portion, wherein the sleeve perimeter portion retains the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a sleeve slot; and a cap portion configured to be removably coupled to the card sleeve so as to at least partially cover the sleeve slot.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119/120 to: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/196,003, entitled CARD PROTECTION SYSTEM, filed Mar. 9, 2021, naming Steven J. Anderson as inventor; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/899,847, filed Aug. 14, 2023, naming Steven J. Anderson as inventor, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention generally relates to a system for protecting cards (e.g. collectible cards), and, more particularly, to a protective sleeve and cap system configured to fully enclose a card within a protective sleeve.
SUMMARYA system for protecting cards may include, but is not limited to: a sleeve portion including: a first sleeve panel; a second sleeve panel, and a sleeve perimeter portion, wherein the sleeve perimeter portion retains the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a sleeve slot; and a cap portion configured to be removably coupled to the card sleeve so as to at least partially cover the sleeve slot.
Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Referring generally to
Referring to
The sleeve 101 may have a rectilinear perimeter (e.g., a rectangular or square configuration) dimensioned to approximate the size of the card 103 to be retained within the sleeve 101. The sleeve 101 may include a first sleeve panel 104 and a second sleeve panel 105. The sleeve 101 may further include one or more sleeve perimeter portions 106 (e.g. a first side portion 106A, a second side portion 106B, and a bottom portion 106C). The sleeve perimeter portions 106 may be conjoined substantially proximate to their respective ends to create a three-sided frame. For example, the sleeve perimeter portions 106 may be formed in a substantially continuous manner (e.g. via thermoplastic molding), or via assembly from a separate first side portion 106A, second side portion 106B, and/or bottom portion 106C which are coupled together via heat sealing, adhesive, and the like.
The first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105 may be coupled to the sleeve perimeter portions 106 along three sides of the first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105. The first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105 may be coupled to the sleeve perimeter portions 106 via any number of mechanisms including, but not limited to: heat sealing, adhesive, interlocking structures (e.g. tongue-and-groove), and the like.
The sleeve perimeter portions 106 and the first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105 may be coupled so as to retain the first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105 in spaced-apart configuration to form a slot 107 between the first sleeve panel 104 and the second sleeve panel 105 into which a card 103 may be inserted.
Similarly, the cap 102 may include a first cap panel 108 and a second cap panel 109. The cap 102 may further include an edge portion 110. The first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 may be coupled to the edge portion 110 substantially along three sides of the first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109. The first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 may be coupled to the sleeve perimeter portions 106 via any number of mechanisms including, but not limited to: heat sealing, adhesive, interlocking structures (e.g. tongue-and-groove), and the like.
The edge portion 110, the first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 may be coupled so as to retain the first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 in spaced-apart configuration to form a slot 111 between the first cap panel 108 the second cap panel 109. As shown in
Specifically, in one embodiment, the edge portion 110, the first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 may be dimensioned such that the portions of the edge portion 110, the first cap panel 108 and the second cap panel 109 frictionally engage the top portion 112 of the sleeve 101. For example,
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In an alternate embodiment, the hinge 121 may include a set of cooperating projections and recesses disposed in the cap 102 and the sleeve 101. For example, the tab portion 122 of the cap 102 may define a projection (e.g., a rounded or hemispherical projection) extending horizontally from the face of the tab portion 122. The sleeve perimeter portion 106 of the sleeve 101 may include a corresponding recess (e.g., a rounded or hemispherical recess) disposed within a wall of the sleeve perimeter portion 106. The tab portion 122 may be inserted into the sleeve perimeter portion 106 of the sleeve 101 such that the cap projection is aligned with and received within the recess of the sleeve perimeter portion 106 where it may be frictionally retained so as to couple the cap 102 and the sleeve 101 and define the axis of rotation 126 around which the cap 102 may pivot relative to the sleeve 101 sleeve 101. It will be understood that the relative configurations of the projection and recess may be reversed (e.g., the tab portion 122 of the cap 102 may define one or more recesses while the sleeve perimeter portion 106 of the sleeve 101 defines one or projections) without departing from the scope of the present disclosures.
In another example, as shown in
Different features, variations, and multiple different embodiments have been shown and described with various details. What has been described in this application, at times, in terms of specific embodiments, is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only one particular embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any single specific embodiment or enumerated variation. Many modifications, variations, and other embodiments will come to the mind of those skilled in the art, and which are intended to be and are in fact covered by this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art, and in reliance upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing.
Claims
1. A system for protecting cards comprising:
- a card sleeve including: a first sleeve panel and a second sleeve panel cooperatively defining a top edge surface, and a sleeve perimeter portion defining at least one arcuate corner surface; wherein the sleeve perimeter portion retains the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a sleeve slot between the first sleeve panel and the second sleeve panel, and wherein the at least one arcuate corner surface transitions from the top edge surface to a side surface; and
- a cap portion including: a first cap panel; a second cap panel; and a cap edge portion, wherein the cap edge portion retains the first cap panel and the second cap panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a cap slot between the first cap panel and the second cap panel dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the card sleeve, and wherein the cap edge portion has an underside surface including a planar surface transitioning to a first arcuate surface at a first end of the planar surface; and
- wherein the first arcuate surface of the cap edge portion is configured to frictionally engage the at least one arcuate corner surface of the card sleeve when the card sleeve is received in the cap slot of the cap portion.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a sleeve insert portion projecting from the underside surface, the sleeve insert portion being dimensioned to be insertable into the sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sleeve insert portion is dimensioned to at least partially frictionally engage an interior surface of the first sleeve panel or the second sleeve panel upon insertion into sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a hinge operably coupling the cap portion to the card sleeve.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the hinge includes:
- at least one aperture disposed in the cap portion;
- at least one aperture disposed in the card sleeve; and
- at least one fastener configured to be received at least partially within the at least one aperture disposed in the cap portion and the at least one aperture disposed in the card sleeve.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the hinge includes:
- a living hinge.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the living hinge includes:
- a structured integrally formed by a portion of both the cap portion and the card sleeve.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the hinge includes:
- at least one projection projecting from the cap portion;
- at least one recess disposed in the card sleeve.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein the hinge includes:
- at least one recess disposed in the cap portion;
- at least one projection projecting from the card sleeve.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cap slot is dimensioned to frictionally engage an exterior surface of at least one of the sleeve perimeter portion, the first sleeve panel or the second sleeve panel when the card sleeve is received within the cap slot.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap edge portion is coupled to both the first cap panel and the second cap panel along at least a portion of at least three sides of the first cap panel and the second cap panel, respectively.
12. A card sleeve cap comprising:
- a first cap panel;
- a second cap panel; and
- a cap edge portion,
- wherein the cap edge portion retains the first cap panel and the second cap panel in a spaced-apart configuration defining a cap slot between the first cap panel and the second cap panel dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a card sleeve, and
- wherein the cap edge portion has an underside surface including a planar surface transitioning to a first arcuate surface at a first end of the planar surface; and
- wherein the first arcuate surface of the cap edge portion is configured to frictionally engage at least one arcuate corner surface of the card sleeve when the card sleeve is received in the cap slot of the card sleeve cap.
13. The card sleeve cap of claim 12, further comprising:
- a sleeve insert portion projecting from the underside surface, the sleeve insert portion being dimensioned to be insertable into the sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sleeve insert portion is dimensioned to at least partially frictionally engage an interior surface of the first sleeve panel or the second sleeve panel upon insertion into sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
15. A card sleeve cap comprising:
- a cap edge portion having an underside surface including a planar surface transitioning to a first arcuate surface at a first end of the planar surface; and
- wherein the first arcuate surface of the cap edge portion is configured to frictionally engage at least one arcuate corner surface of a card sleeve when the card sleeve cap is applied to the card sleeve.
16. The card sleeve cap of claim 15, further comprising:
- a sleeve insert portion projecting from the underside surface, the sleeve insert portion being dimensioned to be insertable into the sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sleeve insert portion is dimensioned to at least partially frictionally engage an interior surface of the first sleeve panel or the second sleeve panel upon insertion into sleeve slot of the card sleeve.
18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- a hinge operably coupling the cap portion to the card sleeve.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 15, 2024
Publication Date: May 9, 2024
Inventor: Steven J. Anderson (Omaha, NE)
Application Number: 18/412,894