Coin holder

Jan. 18, 1966

G. I. SPADARO

3,229,809

COIN HOLDER

Filed Aug. 7, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 1

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GIORGIO I. SPADARO

BY

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ATT 'YS

Jan. 18, 1966

G. I. SPADARO

3,229,809

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COIN HOLDER

Filed Aug. 7, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 2

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3,229,809

Patented Jan. 18, 1966

United States Patent Office

3,229,809

COIN HOLDER

Giorgio I. Spadaro, Evanston, HI., assignor to Simon L. Friedman, Chicago, III.

Filed Aug. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 300,524

Claims. (Cl. 206—.82)

This invention relates to a container useful for displaying and protecting valuable flat objects, particularly rare coins.

Heretofore, containers used for displaying rare coins have not been entirely satisfactory since adequate measures have not been taken to properly protect the rare and valuable coins which are being displayed. For example, it is particularly desirable that the coin be protected from adverse effects from the atmosphere so as to prevent tarnishing and other similar damaging effects on the coin.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel container useful for displaying and protecting rare coins.

It is a more specific objects of this invention to provide a coin display container which substantially prevents the ingress of air into the coin display chamber whereby adverse atmospheric effects on the coin are substantially prevented.

Furthermore, not only is it important to provide a container which adequately protects the coin, but it is also desirable that the same container be highly suitable for displaying the coin.

Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to provide a coin display container wherein the coin is viewable from both sides.

It is another object of this invention to provide a coin display chamber wherein the coin is firmly held in place within the display chamber.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a coin display container wherein the coin is not only held firmly in place, but is also centrally located within the chamber, despite the particular size or shape of the coin being displayed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coin identification area on the coin display container.

It is still a further object of this invention to reduce damaging and smearing of the coin-viewing windows by recessing the windows from the remainder of the container.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as this specification proceeds.

Particular embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coin display container;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2—2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3—3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the front and rear sides separated;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the inside of the rear part of the coin display container;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the inside of the front part of the coin display container;

FIGURE 7 is a broken perspective view of the dished terminal portion of a spring holding means;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the inside of one part of an alternate coin display container;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the inside of the mating part for the embodiment of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the inside of one part of another alternate coin display container;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the inside of the mating part for the embodiment of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view of the container parts of FIGURES 8 and 9, while the parts are separated;

FIGURE 13 is a view, similar to FIGURE 12, except that the parts are shown together;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view of the container parts of FIGURES 10 and 11, while the parts are separated; and

FIGURE 15 is a view, similar to FIGURE 14, except that the parts are shown together.

Referring particularly to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-7, there is shown a coin display container, generally indicated by the number 10, which accomplishes all of the aforementioned objects. The container 10 includes a pair of mating parts 11 and 12, which together form a display chamber 13 particularly for flat objects, such as coins. Means, generally 15, are provided for surrounding the chamber 13 in order to substantially eliminiate or prevent the passage of air into the chamber 13. Flexible members 14α or 146 are provided for maintaining the coins or flat objects within the chamber 13.

Generally, the mating part 11 may be considered as the front portion of the container 10 and the mating part 12 may be considered as the rear portion of the container 10.

The front portion 11 includes a front surface 20 which is slightly tapered, side walls 21 which extend rearwardly from the front surface 20, and a highly transparent window 22 centrally located on the front surface 20. It is advantageous that the window 22 be recessed below the surface 20 since this reduces scratching and smudging of the window 22 and therefore assists in providing a clear view of the coins or other flat objects displayed within the chamber 13. Also, the front part 11 is provided with an inner end and rearwardly projecting ridge 25, which is spaced inwardly of side wall 21 and extends completely around the periphery of the chamber 13.

The rear part 12 is provided with a slightly tapered rear surface 26, side walls 27 extending frontwardly from the surface 26, and a rear window 28 centrally located on the rear surface 26. lust as with the front window 22, the rear window 28 is recessed from the surface 26 in order to reduce smudging and damaging of the window. The side walls 27 are adapted to meet the side walls 21 of the front part 11 in order to provide a uniform exterior periphery for the container 10. Inside of the mating part 12 is a frontwardly projecting continuous ridge 29 which extends around the periphery of the space 13 and is adapted to slidingly telescope within the ridge 25 of the front part 11.

The sliding mating of the rear part ridge 29 with the front part ridge 25 provides the means 15 which surrounds the chamber 13 and which substantially eliminates the ingress of air or moisture into the chamber 13. Advantageously, the rear part ridge 29 has the outer surface 30 at substantially the same diameter as the inner surface 31 of the front part ridge 25 in order to provide a frictionallyformed seal for the chamber 13.

Preferably, both mating parts 11 and 12 are provided with a tapered upper wall 32 or 33 which is useful for identifying the object within the chamber 13. The upper walls 32 and 33 are adapted to receive a pressure sensitive identification strip, upon which may be written desired information concerning the coin. Furthermore, advantageously the rear portion 12 is provided with pin members 35 which are adapted to be aligned with holes 36 in the front portion 11 so that the front portion 11 and rear portion 12 are properly aligned. Also, since the mating parts fit tightly together, it is desirable that means be provided for readily separating the front part 11 from the rear part 12. Therefore, a projection 38 is provided

3,229,809 on the rear half 12 offset from a median plane and a similar projection 39 is provided on the front half 11 so that when assembled the projections 38 and 39 are laterally offset from each other and the parts 12 and 13 may be readily separated from each other.

Ordinarily, the mating parts 11 and 12 are constructed of the same material and may readily be made of a molded plastic material. Furthermore, the windows 22 and 28 are to be substantially transparent so that the coin being displayed in the chamber 13 can be viewed from both sides. Also, it is desirable that the front surface 20 and the rear surface 26 of the container 10 have a roughened surface, as would be provided by sandblasting. The roughened surface has a two-fold advantage since it provides an attractive contrast with the highly polished windows 22 and 28 whereby attention is directed to the coin displayed and secondly since any scratches or abrasions on the surfaces 20 or 26 will not be noticeable; furthermore, the valley 45 positioned between rear part ridge 29 and rear walls 27 and the valley 46 positioned between the front part ridge 25 and the front walls 21 are also roughened in order to increase the desired contrast with the windows 22 and 28.

The flexible members 14α or 146 which may be used for holding objects firmly in place within the chamber 13 are conveniently of two different types. The first type 14α is integral with the rear part 12 and extends forwardly from the inner face 40 of the window 28 towards the window 22. The members 14α are, for example, adapted to receive a large coin, such as a silver dollar, and to firmly maintain the same in position within the chamber 13. It is important that the extensions or projections 14α be somewhat flexible so that they firmly hold coins of slightly varying outside diameters. For example, a newly minted coin has a somewhat larger outside diameter than a coin of the same denomination which has been in use for a number of years. For this reason the diametral spacing of projections 14α is preferably on the periphery of the smallest coin diameter expected for a particular coin denomination so that all larger sizes of the coin denomination will be press fit between the projections 14α.

The second type 146 of flexible member is advantageously a flat spring which is adapted to hold objects of widely varying shapes and sizes within the chamber 13. One or two spring members 146 may be firmly positioned within the rear half 12 of the container 10 in slightly less than semicircular alignment with the inner surface 43 of the ridge 29 and against the inner face 40 of the window 28. Generally, the spring members 146 are elongated strips of non-oxidizing spring metal and each has a central arcuate portion.which is of a length slightly less than the arc of a semi-circle, and the end portions of the spring are bent backwardly over the arcuate portion and, when unstressed, extend generally toward each other to define retaining fingers 42 which are adapted to grasp coins of varying shapes and sizes. The spring members 146 are maintained in place against a portion of the inner surface 43 by being positioned between the ribs 48 of the surface 43 and the projections 14α. The ribs 48 are integral with the inner surface 43 and project slightly therefrom. Advantageously, three ribs 48 are utilized in association with two projections 14α, as shown in FIGURE 5, whereby two ribs 48 oppose the pressure exerted by one projection 14α against the stressed spring member 146. In effect, the holding force exerted by the stressed spring 146 against the projection 14α is enhanced by the tendency of ribs 48 to force the spring 146 tighter against the projection 14α.

Referring to FIGURE 7, preferably the terminal portions 50 of the fingers 42 are dished inwardly at 52 so as to provide additional gripping contact with thin coins. Also, the tapered leading edges 51 of the fingers 42 are adapted to grip the serrations on the periphery of a coin so as to provide additional gripping strength.

Also, the spring members 146 are well adapted to centrally locate coins within the chamber 13 when two spring members are used since substantially equal pressures may be applied to the coin by the . four retaining fingers of the two springs, as shown in FIGURE 5.

Although the method of using the container of FIGURES 1-7 should be clear from the above description, briefly, when it is desired to display a coin adapted to be held by pi'ojections 14 α, such a coin is merely pushed into· place between the projections. When it is desired to display a coin substantially less than the inside diameter of the chamber 13, one or two spring members 146 are inserted in place in the rear part 12 and the gripping fingers 42 are then positioned against the coin being displayed. When the coin is desirably positioned within the rear part 12, the front part 11 is aligned with the rear half 12 by inserting the pins 35 within the holes 36 and the mating parts are then pressed together. As the mating parts are being pressed together, the ridge 29 of the rear portion 12 telescopes inside the ridge 25 of the front half 11 so as to form a seal 15 surrounding the chamber 13, for substantially preventing the ingress of air into the chamber 13. When it is desired to remove an object from the chamber 13, the mating parts 11 and 12 are separated from each other by pushing the projection 38 of the mating part 12 away from the projection 39 of the mating part 11.

Referring to FIGURES 8, 9, 12 and 13, an alternate coin holder 60 is illustrated. Generally, the alternate coin holder 60 differs from the above-described container 10 only in the means provided for sealing the coin display chamber 62 and in the means used for maintaining a coin in place within the container 60. In most other features, the embodiment 60 is substantially the same as the first embodiment 10.

The container 60 includes a first part or half 64 and a second or mating part 66 which together define the display chamber 62. The chamber 62 is peripherally sealed by cooperation between the forwardly projecting concentric ridges 68 and 70 of the rear part 64 and the rearwardly projecting ridge 72 of the front part 66. The ridge 72 is adapted to be receive in the circular groove 74 formed between the concentric ridges 68 and 70 of the front part 64. Specifically, the outer cylindrical surface 76 of the ridge 72 is adapted to frictionally seal against the inner cylindrical surface 78 of the outer ridge 68, while the inner cylindrical surface 80 of the ridge 72 frictionally seals against the outer cylindrical surface 82 of the inner ridge 70. Thus, a peripheral seal is provided for the display chamber 62.

In order to maintain a coin in place in chamber 62, the inner diameter of ridge 70 is constructed substantially equal to the diameter of a coin to be received therein. Further, in order to firmly grip a coin within the chamber 62, a plurality of small projections or strips 84 are provided, preferably equally spaced, along the inner cylindrical surface 86 of the ridge 70. The strips 84 are provided for firmly grasping a coin, and are particularly useful for firmly engaging serrations on the outer surface of a coin. In maintaining a coin within the chamber 62, the ridge or wall 70 may flex a slight degree in order to more firmly hold a coin therein.

Referring to FIGURES 10, 11, 14 and 15, there is shown another alternate embodiment 90 of a coin display container. The embodiment 90 differs from the previously described embodiments primary in the means used for sealing the coin display chamber 92 and in the means used for maintaining a coin in the chamber 92.

In order to peripherally seal the chamber 92, there is co-operation between the rearwardly projecting ridge 94, of the front or first mating part or half 96 and the frontwardly projetcing ridge 98 of the rear or second mating part 100. The ridge 94 includes a depressed inner step 101 having an edge which is adapted to abut the edge 102 of the frontwardly projecting ridge 98; in a similar manner, the ridge 98 of the rear part 100 includes a depressed outer

3,229,809 step 104 having an edge which is adapted to abut the edge 106 of the ridge 94. Furthermore, the inner cylindrical surface 108 of the ridge 94 is adapted to frictionally seal against the outer cylindrical surface 110 of the ridge 98. Thus, a peripheral seal is provided for the coin display chamber 92.

In order to maintain a coin in place within the chamber 92, a frontwardly projecting ridge or wall 112 is provided in the chamber 92, integral with the rear part 100; the upper surface 114 thereof is in close proximity to the inner surface of the window 116. Similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 8, 9, 12 and 13, a plurality of small strips or projections 118 are provided along the inner cylindrical surface 120 of the wall 112 so as to more firmly grip a coin. As a coin is inserted into the chamber 92 and as contact is made with the strips 118, the wall 112 may flex outwardly slightly, in order to firmly receive a coin therein. As with the second embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of wall 112 is adapted to substantially conform to the diameter of the coin desired to be stored therein.

It is readily seen from the foregoing description that all of the foregoing purposes and objects have been accomplished by the described container. First, coins being displayed in the container will not become readily tarnished or damaged from the atmosphere since ingress of air into the coin chamber is substantially prevented by the seal which surrounds the display chambers. Furthermore, the container is exceptionally well suited for displaying coins since both front and rear windows are substantially transparent so as to permit clear viewing of the coin in the chamber. Also, by recessing the windows, scratching and smudging of the windows are reduced so as to assist in providing a clear view of the coin. Still further, the coin is firmly held in place within the chamber by suitable means, and if desired the coin may be centrally located within the chamber, despite the particular size or shape of coin being shown.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.