US3139977A

US3139977A - Coin storing and displaying devices

Info

Publication number: US3139977A
Application number: US217965A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burdick Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-20
Filing date: 1962-08-20
Publication date: 1964-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-07

Description

y 7, 1964 R. BURDlCK 3,139,977

com STORING AND DISPLAYING DEVICES Filed Aug. 20, 1962 l' 2| C' 26 23 INVENTQR RICHARD BURDICK mm 1 m'lllllllwm mlllll- \-|llll K FIG. 8 ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,139,977 COIN STORING AND DISPLAYING DEVICES Richard Burdick, 3400 Armstrong Ave., Dallas, Tex. Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,965 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-.83)

This invention relates in general to coin storing and displaying devices and, more particularly, to a nurnismatic device adapted to house, protect, and individually display, valuable coins.

It is quite common among numismatists to collect socalled proof-sets of coins, which are originally minted, uncirculated coins which are given a special high-polish. Similarly, such collectors usually value and endeavor to obtain circulated coins which have a similar high-polish.

In fact, many coin collectors painstakingly polish circulated coins which they may acquire to create this highly polished condition. Thus, the coins in such a coincollection must be carefully protected so that they will not become scratched, scarred, or otherwise damaged, since the value of a coin, as a collectors item, is attributable not only to its rarity and its face-value, but also to its perfection as a specimen. The coins, moreover, must be protected not only from physical dam-age due to handling and from being scratched by contact with other coins, but also from tarnishing as a result of chemical action with oxygen and other components of the atmosphere. Heretofore, various types of coin-holders have been utilized, but they are expensive, somewhat cumbersome to handle, and do not exclude air.

In addition to protecting highly polished valuable coins, it is also highly desirable to house them in such a manner that they can be easily and conveniently examined in minute detail. Most numismatists prefer to use a magnifying glass for such examination, particularly when purchasing a coin for collection purposes. To this end, it is desirable that a coin storing and displaying device be both transparent and capable of affording some type of magnifier which is built in so to speak so that the capability of providing magnification is inherently present in the coin-holder without resort to a conventional type of magnifying glass.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder which will protect the coin and also clearly display both sides thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder of the type stated which can be quickly and easily set up for receiving and displaying coins of various diametral sizes and also is capable, when closed, of excluding substantially all air so that the danger of tarnishing is essentially eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder of the type stated which has a built-in magnifier to permit minute inspection and examination of the coin.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing (one sheet) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin-holder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2'is' an exploded perspective view of the coinholder;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the coinholder, illustrating the manner in which the magnifier may be used;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of'a coin-holder constructed 3,139,977. Patented July 7, 1964 in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of the coin-holder;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded side elevational view of the modified form of coin-holder, illustrating the manner in which the magnifier may be used.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a coinholder comprising a cylindrical base member 1 molded or otherwise suitably formed of a transparent synthetic resin such a methyl methacrylate, for example, and integrally comprises a concentric bottom flange 2 and an upstanding narrow annular wall 3 having a smooth outer face 4 and a similarly smooth inner face 5 terminating in an upwardly presented flat face 6, thereby defining a cylindrical recess 7 having a flat bottom wall 8 which is preferably co-planar with the upwardly presented face of the flange 2.

Provided for snug-fitting disposition within the recess 7 is an insert disk 9 preferably formed of synthetic resin and having a peripheral face 10 and bottom face 11 adapted to fit against the inner face 5 and bottom wall 8, respectively. The insert disk 9 is also provided with a dished or lenticular top face 12 and centrally provided with a circular coin-receiving pocket 13 which extends axially therethrough, opening flush upon the bottom face 11 and top face 12.

Provided for snug-fitting disposition over and upon the base member 1 is a matching top member 14 also molded of a transparent synthetic resin and including a cylindrical annular rim 15 which fits tightly but removably around the annular wall 3 of the base member 1. The top member 14 is provided exteriorly with a flat top face 16 and interiorly with a lenticular face 17 marginally bounded by an annular concentric face 18 so as to fit tightly and conformably upon the

faces

6 and 12 of the bottom member 1 and insert disk 9, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 3.

At its center, the coin-receiving pocket 13 has an axial height slightly greater than the thickness of the thickest coin in the series for which the coin-holder is designed. Thus, for example, if the coin-holder A is intended to accommodate any one of the series consisting of an American half dollar, quarter, nickel, penny and dime, the same basic member 1 can be used for any one of them simply by using an insert disk 9 selected from a series having coin-receiving pockets'13 diametrally sized for the different coins. At their respective outer or peripheral margins the coin-receiving pockets 13 are axially thicker because of the curve of the

lenticular faces

12, 17. Furthermore, assuming that the largest coin in the series and the corresponding insert disk 9 is in place, there will be a slight amount of vertical clearance within the coin-receiving pocket 13 so that the upwardly presented face of the coin C, as shown in FIG. 3, will not scratch the face 17.

When a coin C is to be placed in the coin-holder A, an insert disk 9 having a properly sized coin-receiving pocket 13 is selected and seated within the recess 7 so that it is flush as shown in FIG. 3. The coin C is then pushed firmly into the coin-receiving pocket 13 so that it, too, is flush on its under face' against the bottom wall 8. Thereupon, the top member 14 is pressed down coverwise upon the bottom member 1 and as the lenticular face 17 comes down upon the lenticular face 12 it will, in effect, squeeze most of the air radially outwardly to the rim 15 and thence along the face 4. The rim 15, being relatively thin, and slightly elastic, as compared with the rest of the structure, will yield very slightly under the pressure of interior of the coin-holder A, except that very slight volume within the upper portion of the coin-receiving pocket 13 resulting from the lenticular shape of the face 17. It has been found that this latter amount of air is so slight that it will not cause any discernible tarnishing of the coin C. Moreover, when thus housed within the coinholder A, the coin C will not only be protected, but will be clearly displayed to the maximum degree so that both sides of the coin C, as well as the peripheral or coined margins, will be displayed with maximum visibility. If a coin-collector desires to examine the coin C, it is merely necessary to lift up the top member 14, as shown in FIG. 4, adjusting its relative height to suit the vision of the user and the coin C may be viewed under magnification.

It is also possible to provide a modified form of coinholder A, as shown in FIGS. to 8, inclusive, which is substantially similar to the previously described coinholder A, and includes a base member 1 identical in all respects with the previously described base member 1. The base member 1 is of a transparent synthetic resin and integrally comprises a flange 2, an annular side wall 3 having an inner face 4', an outer face 5', and a top face 6', defining a shallow cylindrical recess 7 having a fiat bottom wall 8.

Provided for cooperation with the base member 1 is an insert disk 19 which has an outer cylindrical face 2% adapted :for snug-fitting disposition within the recess 7' in the same manner as the insert disk 9. The insert disk 19 differs, however, from the insert disk 9 in that it is of uniform thickness and has flat parallel bottom and

top surfaces

21, 22, which are respectively flush against the bottom wall 8' and flush with the top face 6. Centrally formed in the insert disk 19 and extending axially therethrough is a coin-receiving pocket 23 which, as previously described, is diametrally sized to fit one particular coin C. Thus, the coin-holder A can be adapted for any one of many differently sized coins by employing an insert disk 19 which has an appropriately sized coin-receiving pocket 23.

Provided for cooperation with the base member 1 is a matching top member 24 also molded of a transparent synthetic resin and integrally comprising a cylindrical annular rim 25 adapted to fit snugly and embracingly around the annular wall 3. The top member 24 is provided internally with a flat face 26 and externally with a lenticular face 27. The flat face 26 fits flush upon the top surface 22 of the insert disk 19, all as best seen in FIG. 7. In this so-called closed position substantially all air will be expelled from, and excluded from unauthorized re-entry into, the interior of the coin-holder A in substantially the same manner as previously described in connection with the coin-holder A. Similarly, the lenticular face 27 causes the top member 24 to serve as a magnifying lens in the same manner as the top member 14 and when the top member 24 is held upwardly in spaced relation to the base member 1 as shown in FIG. 8, it will greatly enlarge the appearance of the coin C.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the coin storing and displaying devices may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed 4 of transparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in said recess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformably within the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the side face thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said cover member being provided with an optical magnifier having a curved surface with a focal length which will magnify the insert disk disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members.

2. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in said recess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformably within the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the side face thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said cover member being provided with an optical magnifier in superposed relation to the coin-receiving pocket, said magnifier having a curved surface with a focal length which will magnify one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members, said insert disk having a dished out surface which is adapted to conformably receive the curved surface.

3. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in said recess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformably within the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the side face thereof, said disk being formed of material of contrasting color to the two first-named members and having a coin-receiving pocket, said cover member being provided with an optical magnifier having a curved surface with a focal length which will magnify the insert disk disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members, said insert disk having a dished out surface which is adapted to conformably receive the curved surface. 4. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material, the upper face of the receptacle member outwardly of the annular side face being concave, the under face of the cover member being of complementary convex shape so as to fit snugly and abuttingly against the concave face of the receptacle and across the top of the recess in such a manner as to exclude substantially all air from the interior of the coin-holder, said convex portion of the cover member furthermore being of such shape in relation to the external surface of the cover member as to cooperate optically therewith in the provision of a circular shaped optical magnifier having a curved surface of revolution and an axis of revolution which extends through the center of said curved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focal length which will magnify the pocket disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members.

5. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material, the upper face of the receptacle member outwardly of the annular side face being concave, the under face of the cover member being of complementary convex shape so as to fit snugly and abuttingly against the concave face of the receptacle and across the top of the recess in such a manner as to exclude substantially all air from the interior of the coin-holder, said convex portion of the cover member furthermore being of such shape in relation to the external surface of the cover member as to cooperate optically therewith in the provision of a circular shaped optical magnifier having a curved surface of revolution and an axis of revolution which extends through the center of said curved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focal length which will magnify the pocket disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members, and means for releasably holding the two members together.

6. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in said recess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformably within the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the side face thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said cover member being provided with a circular shaped optical magnifier formed by an inwardly presented lenticular surface of revolution with a focal length which will magnify to its full extent the center of the insert disk disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the other of said members by a distance equal to said focal length, said insert disk having a flat under face disposed in snug fitting abutment against the bottom face of the cover member, said insert disk also being inwardly dished on its other face to fit against said lenticular surface.

7. A coin-holder comprising an upper and a lower circular shaped member formed of a transparent material, said lower member including a base, an upstanding flange formed with said base and forming a recess in said lower member, an insert disk removably disposed in snug fitting relationship within the recess of said lower member and having a coin-receiving pocket, said insert disk having a flat face disposed in abutment against the base, said upper member including a top face, a depending rim integrally formed with said top face and being tightly but nevertheless removably disposed around said upstanding flange, and a circular shaped optical magnifier formed in said top face in superimposed relation to said coin-receiving pocket, said magnifier having a curved surface of revolution and an axis of revolution which extends through the center of said curved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focal length which will fully magnify the center of the insert disk disposed in the lower member when the lower member is spaced from the upper memher.

8. A coin-holder comprising an upper and a lower circular shaped member formed of a transparent material, said lower member including a base, an upstanding flange formed with said base and forming a recess in said lower member, an insert disk removably disposed in snug fitting relationship within the recess of said lower member and having a coin-receiving pocket, said insert disk having a fiat face disposed in abutment against the base, said upper member including a top face, a depending rim integrally formed with said top face and being tightly but nevertheless removably disposed around said upstanding flange, said rim having a slightly greater elasticity than the remainder of said upper section so as to yield slightly under the outflow of air when said upper and lower sections are assembled, and an optical magnifier formed in said top face in superimposed relation to said coin-receiving pocket, said magnifier having a curved surface of revolution and an axis of revolution which extends through the center of said curved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focal length which will magnify the pocket disposed in one of said members when one 8f said members is spaced from the other of said memers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,535 Buranelli Oct. 7, 1941 2,318,850 Grant May 11, 1943 2,434,553 Ensley Jan. 13, 1948 2,521,792 Hollander Sept. 12, 1950 2,817,434 Schmetz et al Dec. 24, 1957 3,028,949 Sohosky Apr. 10, 1962 3,052,344 Frank Sept. 4, 1962

Claims

1. A COIN-HOLDER COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE MEMBER HAVING A CONTENTS-RECEIVING RECESS DEFINED BY A CONTINUOUS ANNULAR SIDE FACE AND A BOTTOM FACE, AND A MATCHING COVER MEMBER SHAPED TO FIT SNUGLY UPON THE RECEPTACLE MEMBER AND EXTEND CLOSUREWISE ACROSS THE RECESS FORMED OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL, AND AN INSERT DISK REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS AND BEING PERIPHERALLY SHAPED TO FIT SNUGLY AND CONFORMABLY WITHIN THE RECESS IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS ABUTMENT AROUND THE SIDE FACE THEREOF, SAID DISK HAVING A COIN-RECEIVING POCKET, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPTICAL MAGNIFIER HAVING A CURVED SURFACE WITH A FOCAL LENGTH WHICH WILL MAGNIFY THE INSERT DISK DISPOSED IN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS WHEN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS IS SPACED FROM THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS.