US3241659A

US3241659A - Coin holder

Info

Publication number: US3241659A
Application number: US393992A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph M Segel
Original assignee: GENERAL NUMISMATICS CORP
Current assignee: NEW FRANKLIN MINT; Warner Communications LLC; GENERAL NUMISMATICS CORP
Priority date: 1964-09-02
Filing date: 1964-09-02
Publication date: 1966-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-22

Description

March 22, 1966 J. M, SEGEL 3,241,659

COIN HOLDER Filed Sept. 2, 1964 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. SEGA L ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,241,659 QOIN HGLDER Joseph M. Segel, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to General Numismatics (imputation, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 393,992 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 2t]6-.82)

This invention relates to a new coin holder, and more particularly to a coin holder adapted to be used by numismatists.

The present invention specifically relates to a device which is used for the collection of rare coins. The device consists of a package for holding a rare coin. The package is so constructed that all portions of the coin may be displayed without removing it from the package. Hence, loss or damage of the rare coin is minimized.

The coin holder of the present invention is further designed so that it can be used by beginners as well as those highly skilled in the science of numismatics. The holder is provided with indicia illustrating a replica of a rare coin to be collected and held by the holder. The replica is adapted to be removed from the holder and replaced by the actual coin when found.

The replica is the same size and thickness as the coin to be collected. Thus, when the actual coin is substituted for its replica there will be no air space between the coin and its holder and the coin cannot become corroded. Indicia are also provided on the holder describing the coin and its particular history, thereby adding to the enjoyment of finding the coin as well as indicating to the numismatist what coin to look for in order to enhance his collection.

The coin holder is also designed so that it may be easily held within a coin collection album and removed for display with a minimum of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin holder,

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coin holder which can be used by beginners as well as advanced students of the science of numismatics.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin holder which contains a replica of the coin to be collected by the numismatist for deposit within the holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin holder containing a description of the coin to be collected and deposited within the coin holder.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a coin holder which can be inserted within a coin album for storage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a coin holder which is simple to manufacture, comprises a minimum number of components, and provides a neat and attractive appearance when assembled.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the coin holder of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate blank comprising a component of the coin holder illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a knockout portion of the intermediate blank illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the coin holder illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the coin holder of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The coin holder 10 when assembled comprises a package for holding a coin 50.

The coin holder 10 includes three superimposed

octagonal blanks

12, 14 and 16. Each of the blanks may be formed from a molded resinous material which is durable and inexpensive to manufacture. On the other hand, the blanks may be die cut from a sheet.

The top blank 12 and the bottom blank 16 of the coin holder 10 are formed from transparent resinous material. The intermediate blank 14 is formed from an opaque resinous material for a purpose which will be made clear hereinafter.

The intermediate blank 14 includes a top opaque surface 18 and a bottom opaque surface 20. Indicia 22 are printed on the top and

bottom surfaces

18 and 20 of the blank 14. The indicia 22 provide a description of the coin to be collected and held by the holder 10. The indicia may also contain a brief history of the coin and its importance, country of origin, etc. It is desirable that the indicia on the surface 18 and the indicia on the surface 20 of the intermediate blank 14 be identical. When the intermediate blank is sandwiched between the top and bottom

transparent blanks

12 and 16, respectively, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the indicia 22 will be readily viewable from either side of the holder 10.

The intermediate opaque blank 14 is also provided with a centrally located knock-out portion 24. The knock-out portion 24 is integral with the remainder of the blank 14 at spaced opposed points. It is readily removable from the blank 14 by simply pressing it with a finger or thumb.

The knock-out portion 24, which is also opaque, is a replica of the coin which is to be collected and placed within the holder 10. Accordingly, the obverse portion 26 of the coin 50 is reproduced by a lithographic or other printing method on the top surface of the knockout portion 24 as indicated by the indicia 30. Similarly, the reverse portion 28 of the coin 50 is reproduced on the bottom surface of the knock-out portion 24 as indicated by the indicia 32. It should also be noted that the periphery of the knock-out portion 24 is substantially the same as the periphery of the coin 50. Hence, when it is replaced by the coin 50, there will be no air space between the coin and the blank 14 so that corrosion is minimized.

The written description of the coin 50 provided by the indicia 22 in conjunction with the replica of the coin provided by the knock-out portion 24, enables the numismatist to readily compare any coin with the one he is seeking. When the coin is obtained, the knock-out portion 24 is simply punched from the blank 14 and replaced by the coin 50. The blank 14 is constructed so that its thickness approxiates the thickness of the coin 50. Since the periphery of the knock-out portion 24 is substantially equal to the periphery of the coin 59, the coin 50 is adapted to be tightly held in place within the blank 14. The indicia 22 remain on the blank 14 and describe the history and peculiarities of the coin 50.

The blank 14 containing the coin 50 is then positioned between the transparent top blank 12 and the transparent bottom blank 16. The blank 14 is locked in place between the top and bottom transparent blanks.

In order to lock the opaque blank and coin 50 between the transparent blanks l2 and 16, a plurality of

elongated slots

34, 36, 38 and 40 are formed along opposed peripheral portions of the blank 14. The top blank 12 includes downwardly projecting

lugs

42 and 44 which mate with slots 34 and 38 respectively to lock the

blanks

12 and 14 together. The bottom blank 16 is provided with upwardly projecting

lugs

46 and 48 which are adapted to be received and mate with the

slots

40 and 36 in the blank 14 to lock the

blanks

14 and 16 together. The

lugs

42, 44, 46 and 48 can be punched out from the

blanks

12 and 16 or integrally molded therewith. The depth of the

slots

34, 36, 38 and 40 is substantially equal to the height of each of the lugs. A tight fit is provided between each of the lugs and its associated slot whereby the parts are adapted to remain in assembled relationship as shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5.

Alternatively, the lugs on the top and bottom blanks may be made equal to approximately half the depth of slots in the intermediate blank 14. If this is the case, only two slots need be provided in the intermediate blank. The lugs could then enter the two opposed slots in the intermediate blank and the lugs on the top and bottom blanks can abut to maintain the coin holder in assembled relation.

When the coin holder is assemblied as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, the coin 50 is tightly locked in place by abutment with the top and bottom blanks. Since the top and bottom blanks are transparent, the indicia 22 as well as the obverse and reverse side of the coin 50 can be readily viewed.

To remove the coin 50 from the holder 10, it is only necessary to remove the top and

bottom blanks

12 and 16. The coin 50 can then be pressed outwardly from the aperture 52 left by the removal of the knock-out portion 24, by a thumb or finger.

As shown in the drawings, the

blanks

12, 14 and 16 are preferably octagonal in shape although they may be circular or square. This enables the coin holder 10 and the coin 50 to be mounted in a coin album as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 393,991, filed September 2, 1964, entitled Coin Album. The description contained in my copending application is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An object holder comprising a transparent top blank, a transparent bottom blank, and an intermediate blank having opposed opaque surfaces between said top and bottom blanks, means for removably holding said blanks together in assembled stacked relationship, indicia on at least one of the opaque surfaces of said intermediate blank describing the object to be held by said holder, a knock-out portion in said opaque intermediate blank adapted to be punched from said blank and replaced by an object described by said indicia, said knock-out portion having opposed surfaces, indicia on one of the opposed surfaces of said knock-out portion depicting a replica of the obverse of the object described by said first named indicia on said intermediate blank, and indicia on the other opposed surface of said knock-out portion depicting a replica of the reverse of the object described by said first named indicia.

2. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said object is a coin and the other surface of said opaque intermediate blank includes indicia describing the coin to be held by said holder, whereby said description may be read through said transparent top blank and said transparent bottom blank.

3. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein the periphery of said knock-out portion is substantially identical to the periphery of the object which is adapted to replace said knock-out portion.

4. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holding means includes slots through opposed peripheral portions of said intermediate blank, and mating lugs projecting upwardly from opposed peripheral portions of said bottom blank and downwardly from opposed peripheral portions of said top blank receivable within said slots.

5. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top blank, bottom blank, and intermediate blank are octagonal in shape.

6. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top and bottom blanks are formed from transparent resinous material, and said intermeidate blank and knock-out portion are formed from opaque resinous material.

7. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knock-out portion is integral with the remainder of said opaque intermediate blank at opposed points along its periphery.

8. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knock-out portion is in the center of said opaque intermediate blank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,516,398 11/1924 McDowell. 1,554,191 9/ 1925 Alexander. 1,953,884 4/1934 McAleer 229-7.]48 2,060,863 11/1936 Hasse 2297.161 2,415,859 2/1947 Ancker 20642 3,043,492 7/1962 Stewart 206-62 X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.