Card preserver

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a protective card preserver for a trading card comprising a substantially rectangular pocket comprising a front panel section and a rear panel section, a substantially rectangular flap panel section abutting the front panel section comprising a scored fold line. The flap panel section comprises an adhesion area and may be wrapped over the card pocket and secured at an adhesion strip of the rear panel section. The front panel section comprises a pliable protective material and the rear panel section comprises a rigid protective material.

Description

CARD PRESERVERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 530,269, filed on Aug. 2, 2023, the disclosure of which is included herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to secure, plastic holders for cards and more specifically to a card preserver specially designed to ensure proper protection and safe storage of trading cards including sports cards and collectible game cards.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] Trading cards are well known and can be defined as a small card usually made of paperboard or thick paper frequently depicting an image and oftentimes text relating to said image. The most common and collected trading cards are sports cards and collectible game cards. Also falling within the category of trading cards are popular movie or T.V. show cards, comic book theme cards, and art cards to name a few. Sports cards can be described as a trading card printed with a sports theme, usually depicting an athlete and are typically collected by fans, novices, and enthusiasts alike. The value of sports cards follows normal market dynamics of supply and demand which is dependent on the overall condition of the card, year of production, popularity of the player and sport, and the scarcity of the card. Collectible game cards are known as types of cards that are collected to form a playing deck and may serve any purpose or utility to a specific card game. Collectible game cards can also be quite valuable and are valued by the popularity of the game, year of production, utility of the card in the game, and the scarcity of the card.

[0004] Today, trading cards are normally sold in sets or packs of any number of cards per pack. One of the most exciting elements of collecting cards is opening the packs to discover and pull a rare card or variant or receive cards not yet owned in an attempt to complete a set or possibly a deck. Given that trading card companies purposefully create rare, low- numbered cards, or highly desired cards to place in the market, the monetary value of certain trading cards can be quite substantial as well as the sentimental value to the owner and the importance of protecting the cards for preservation is highly necessary.

[0005] In order to protect trading cards from surface damage and frayed edges or cornering, owners place the cards in plastic sleeves or holders. Although the thin sleeves can protect the surface, they lack rigidity and are constructed flimsy and do not provide ample protection by itself. A common method by collectors is placing the trading card in the sleeve and then into an additional holder. The holder itself helps protect the card from bending but could allow for surface damage if used without the sleeve and lack full coverage as the top of the holder and sleeve is open. The careful process of inserting the cards into the plastic sleeves can easily cause damage to the corners or edges of the card and is especially difficult for an owner who has any disability or injury impeding the normal use of their hands or fingers. In addition, owners that have large hands or fingers or impaired eyesight may find it difficult to separate the sleeve careful enough to prevent any damage to their card upon insertion. Another potential issue occurs when the owner decides to remove the card from the sleeve and holder. A common practice for collectors to do this requires placing the card holder and card upside down while banging their fists aggressively to get the card to slide out. This creates an undesired risk of ejecting the card at high force and increasing the likelihood of damage to the card.

[0006] Rigid plastic card holders are known. These card holders normally have a defined cavity for holding the card and a removable cover. The removeable cover may have a snap lock that is difficult to detach to open or may require a screw that needs tightened and loosened. Current rigid plastic card holders are limiting as cards can move within the cavity and become damaged through transport. In most cases, the most reputable trading card grading companies will not accept rigid plastic card holders and find them unacceptable for transport to their facility. Additionally, rigid card holders are bulky and take up a large amount of storage space for owners who have a large collection of cards. What is needed is a trading card preserver that provides the benefit of having the flexibility to hold a card securely while having the rigidity to prevent any damage to the card during handling, transport, or storage, while also providing an easy and safe solution to placing and removing the card to and from the card preserver.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided one embodiment, a card preserver specially designed to ensure proper protection and safe storage of trading cards including sports cards and collectible game cards. Embodiments of the card preserver have a resealable flap to fully enclose the trading card and may have both elements of a card sleeve and rigid holder designed to shield the trading card from damage from handling, transport, and storage. In the preferred embodiment the card preserver is designed to hold standard size trading cards and may be made from any plastic, transparent material.

[0008] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a safe, secure, and fully enclosed environment for the preservation and enjoyment of trading cards. The invention is directed toward a protective card preserver for protecting a trading card comprising arectangular front panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a bottom side edge, and a top side edge; a rectangular back panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a bottom side edge, and a top side edge; wherein said left side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said left side edge of said back panel; wherein said right side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said right side edge of said back panel; wherein said bottom side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said bottom side edge of said back panel; wherein a portion of said front panel extends past said top edge of said back panel to create a flap portion; wherein said front panel consists of a polymer having a thickness; wherein said back panel consists of a polymer having a thickness; wherein said thickness of back panel is five times greater than said thickness of said front panel; wherein said polymer of said back panel is disposed such that a machine direction of said polymer extends from said left side edge to said right side edge and is substantially parallel to said bottom side edge.

[0009] In another embodiment the polymer of said front panel and said polymer of said back panel are polypropylene. The card preserver may further comprise an adhesive strip disposed on an external portion of said back panel and wherein said flap portion of said front panel is configured to be removably secured to said adhesive strip.

[0010] In another embodiment said right side edge of said back panel, said bottom side edge of said back panel, and said left side edge of back panel are ultrasonically welded respectively to said right side edge of said front panel, said bottom side edge of said front panel, and said left side edge of said front panel to form a continuous ultrasonic weld.

[0011] In another embodiment said thickness of said back panel is 0.5 millimeters and said thickness of said front panel is 0.1 millimeters. In another embodiment said back panelconsists of a rigid polypropylene and wherein said front panel consists of polypropylene; wherein said back panel has a rigidity greater than a rigidity of said front panel.

[0012] The card preserver may further comprise an internal cavity having a width of 68.5 millimeters between said ultrasonic welding on said left side edge and said ultrasonic welding on said right side edge and a length of 95.75 millimeters between said ultrasonic welding on said bottom side edge and said top side edge of said back panel.

[0013] The card preserver may further comprise wherein said flap portion has a length of 33.50 millimeters from said top side edge of said back panel to said top side edge of said front panel; wherein said back panel has a width of 73 millimeters from said left side edge to said right side edge and a length of 98 millimeters from said bottom side edge to said top side edge.

[0014] The invention is directed toward a protective card preserver for preserving a trading card comprising a substantially rectangular pliable plastic film having a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, a rigid polymer divider interposed between said first section and said second section of said pliable plastic film an ultrasonic bar seal inseparably conjoining said first section and said second section to said rigid polymer divider and said second section to said third section to create a card pocket disposed between said second section and said fourth section; wherein said fourth section is configured to fold over an opening of said card pocket and be removably secured to said first section; wherein first section, said second section, and said rigid polymer divider collectively has a thickness that is five times greater than a thickness of said third section; wherein said rigid polymer divider is disposed such that a machine direction of said rigid polymer divider is substantially parallel to a width of said card preserver.

[0015] In another embodiment said pliable plastic film substantially measures 3 14 inches wide by 13 14 inches long by 100 microns thick; wherein said rigid polymer divider substantially measures 3 inches wide by 4 inches long by 460 microns thick.

[0016] In another embodiment said ultrasonic bar seal substantially measures 3 1 / 8” x 1 / 16” horizontally; said ultrasonic bar seal substantially measures 1 / 16” x 3 3 / 4” vertically;

[0017] wherein said ultrasonic bar seal measures 1 / 16” from the outer left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver; and said ultrasonic bar seal is u-shaped.

[0018] The card preserver may further comprises a reseal able strip disposed on an external surface of said second section; wherein said resealable strip forms a releasably coupled bond between said fourth section and second section.

[0019] Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the front perspective view of the card preserver in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the rear perspective view of the card preserver in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3 is another illustration of the rear perspective view of the card preserver depicting the method to open and close the card preserver in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 4 is the front view of the card preserver in a sealed position;

[0025] FIG. 5 is the rear view of the card preserver in a sealed position;

[0026] FIG 6. is the front view of the card preserver in an open position;

[0027] FIG. 7 is the rear view of the card preserver in an open position;

[0028] FIG. 8 is another rear view of the card preserver in an open position with enhanced views;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the card preserver in an unassembled position depicting the method of assembly;

[0030] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the card preserver in a semi-assembled position depicting the method of assembly;

[0031] FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the card preserver in an open position depicting the final method of assembly;

[0032] FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the card preserver in a fully assembled, sealed position;

[0033] FIG. 13 is a right side view of the card preserver; and

[0034] FIG. 14 is a schematic of the method of assembly of the card preserver.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1-7 the card preserver 100 consists of a front panel 130, rear panel 120, and flap 140. The card preserver 100 with the flap 140 in the open position is capable of receiving or withdrawing a trading card at the opening 126. The flap 140 has an abutting edge with the front panel 130 at the scored fold line 150. The scored fold line 150 may allow any of the panel sections to fold at any angle equal to or less than 180 degrees or any other angle. The card preserver 100 may be a polymeric material that may be transparent, translucent, or opaque and is designed to safely hold a trading card and may be made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or any other plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the card preserver 100 is made from polypropylene and is transparent to permit the user to see the card stored in the card preserver 100. The card preserver 100 may be rectangular, square, round, or any shape and any size designed to hold a standard sized trading card. The card preserver 100 may be any size capable of holding a variety of different sized trading cards. In the preferred embodiment, the card preserver 100 is rectangular and measures 3 14” x 5 3 / 8” in the open position and 3 14” x 4 3 / 32” in the closed position and is designed to hold standard trading cards measuring up to 2.5” x 3.5” x 35-point.

[0037] The front panel 130 and the rear panel 120 of the card preserver 100 define a card pocket 190 at the upper opening 126 for placing a trading card. The flap 140 when foldeddownward at the scored fold line 150 folds over the rear panel 120 and may enclose a trading card within the card preserver 100. The flap 140 may be made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or any other plastic material and may be any size or shape. In the preferred embodiment, the flap 140 is made from polypropylene, is rectangular, and measures 3 14” x 1 9 / 32” x 100 microns. The scored fold line 150 may be located along the widest portion of the flap 140 at the abutting edge of the front panel 130 and flap 140 to assist with folding over the opening 126 of the card pocket 190 of the card preserver 100. There may be a resealable strip 170 on the rear panel 120 to removably secure the flap 140 to the rear panel 120. The resealable strip 170 may be located on the rear panel 120, front panel 130, or may be located anywhere on the flap 140. The resealable strip 170 may be made of any adhesive materials or substance and may bond for permanent or temporary adhesion. In the preferred embodiment, the resealable strip 170 is located on the rear panel 120 and forms a releasably coupled bond between the rear panel 120 and the flap 140 allowing a user to open and reseal the card preserver 100 as desired. The resealable strip 170 may have a thin, non-adhesive, removeable plastic cover over the resealable strip 170 that requires removal for adhesion.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 8 the front panel 130 and rear panel 120 may be joined inseparably at the left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver 100 by means of an ultrasonic bar seal 160 using acoustic vibrations to create heat at a molecular level to produce a focused seal area. The ultrasonic bar seal 160 may be u-shaped or any other shape and size and forms the card pocket 190 as the top edge opening 126 of the front panel 130 and rear panel 120 are not joined with an ultrasonic bar seal 160 creating an opening 126 in the card preserver 100 where a trading card may be inserted. In the preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic bar seal 160 measures 3 1 / 8” x 1 / 16” horizontally and 1 / 16” x 3 %” vertically andthe distance from the outer left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver 100 to the ultrasonic bar seal 160 measures 1 / 16”. The ultrasonic bar seal 160 may consist of two vertical and one horizontal portion and may also measure any other size horizontally and vertically and may be of any distance from the outer left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver 100. The lower left and lower right corners of the ultrasonic bar seal 160 may be curved or straight at any angle and may form a diamond corner pattern or any other pattern forming an inseparable seal. In an alternative embodiment, the ultrasonic bar seal 160 may seal the left, right, and bottom edges at the exact outer perimeter edge of the card preserver 100.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment the rear panel 130 is a rigid polypropylene that is inflexible. The rear panel 120 is disposed such that the machine direction, or grain direction, of the polymer runs along the width of the card preserver 100. This ensures that the card preserver 100 has sufficient strength and rigidity to prevent bending or damaging any card that is held. The rear panel 120 may be any thickness but is preferably five times thicker than the front panel 130. The machine direction of the polymer of the front panel may be oriented in any direction but is preferably perpendicular to the machine direction of the rear panel 130.

[0040] Now referring to FIG. 9 the card preserver 100 may consist of multiple materials including a pliable plastic film 102 having an inner and outer portion and a rigid divider 180. The pliable plastic film 102 may consist of an inner film first section 112a and outer film first section 112b of the first panel section 110, an inner film second section 122a and outer film second section 122b of the rear panel 120, an inner film third section 132a and outer film third section 132b of the front panel 130, and an inner film fourth section 142a and outer film fourth section 142b of the flap 140. The pliable plastic film 102 may be any size or shape,may be of any thickness, and may be made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or any other plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the pliable plastic film 102 is rectangular, made from polypropylene, and measures 13 Vi” x 3 Vi” x 100 microns. The rear panel 120 may consist of multiple layers of materials to increase rigidity. The rigid divider 180 may be any size, shape, or thickness and may be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or any other plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the rigid divider 180 is rectangular, made from polypropylene, and measures 3” x 4” x 460 microns.

[0041] The card preserver 100 may consist of a rigid, rear panel 120 consisting of portions of a pliable plastic film 102, first panel section 110, and a rigid divider 180. The pliable plastic film 102 consists of an inner and outer film. The rigid divider 180 may be interposed between an axially half folded first panel section 110 and inner film section 122a of the rear panel 120. The rigid divider 180 may abut panel surfaces with the inner film first section 112a and inner film second section 122a. The rigid divider 180 may or may not be sealed to the inner film first section 112a of the first panel section 110 and inner film second section 112a of the rear panel 120. In the preferred embodiment, the rear panel second section measures 3 Vi” x 3 15 / 16” x 660 microns.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 10-12 the rear panel 120 consisting of the first panel section 110 and rigid divider 180 may half fold and conjoin inseparably to the front panel 130 near the left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver 100 by means of an ultrasonic bar seal 160 while the unsealed top edge of the front panel 130 and rear panel 120 forms an opening 126 of the card pocket 190 in the card preserver 100 where a trading card may be inserted.The outer film first section 112b of the first panel section 110 and the inner film third section 132a of the front panel 130 may only be inseparably joined at the ultrasonic bar seal 160.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 13 the card pocket 190 may be an inner cavity of any dimension and hold multiples of or any size of trading cards. In the preferred embodiment the opening 126 and card pocket 190 accommodates most standard sized trading cards 2.5” x 3.5” up to 35-point. The card pocket 190 may be formed from the u-shaped, ultrasonic bar seal 160 and may be any inner cavity not conjoined at the rear panel 120 and front panel 130.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 14 the method of creating the card preserver 100 is illustrated. In the preferred embodiment, the card preserver 100 is designed from a single, pliable plastic film 102 and a rigid divider 180 that is interposed between a folded first panel section 110 and rear panel 120, wherein said rigid divider 180 interposed between a folded first panel section 100 and rear panel section 120 is folded over and conjoined inseparably to the front panel 130 via a u-shaped, ultrasonic bar seal 160 and encloses the card pocket 190 when the removeable cover is lifted from the resealable strip 170 and the flap 140 is folded over the rear panel 120. The method of making and using the card preserver 100 comprises the steps of inserting a rigid divider between two sections of pliable plastic film 200, folding the two sections onto a third section 210, forming a U-shaped ultrasonic bar seal onto the folded panels 220, placing a trading card into the pocket of the card preserver 230, and removing a cover from an adhesive strip and folding the flap to adhere to the adhesive strip 240. In another embodiment the process of making the

[0045] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

[0046] The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A protective card preserver for protecting a trading card comprising(a) a rectangular front panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a bottom side edge, and a top side edge;(b) a rectangular back panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a bottom side edge, and a top side edge;(c) wherein said left side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said left side edge of said back panel;(d) wherein said right side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said right side edge of said back panel;(e) wherein said bottom side edge of said front panel is ultrasonically welded to said bottom side edge of said back panel;(f) wherein a portion of said front panel extends past said top edge of said back panel to create a flap portion;(g) wherein said front panel consists of a polymer having a thickness;(h) wherein said back panel consists of a polymer having a thickness;(i) wherein said thickness of back panel is five times greater than said thickness of said front panel;(j) wherein said polymer of said back panel is disposed such that a machine direction of said polymer extends from said left side edge to said right side edge and is substantially parallel to said bottom side edge.

2. The card preserver as in claim 1 wherein said polymer of said front panel and said polymer of said back panel are polypropylene.

3. The card preserver as in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive strip disposed on an external portion of said back panel and wherein said flap portion of said front panel is configured to be removably secured to said adhesive strip.

4. The card preserver as in claim 3 wherein said right side edge of said back panel, said bottom side edge of said back panel, and said left side edge of back panel are ultrasonically welded respectively to said right side edge of said front panel, said bottom side edge of said front panel, and said left side edge of said front panel to form a continuous ultrasonic weld.

5. The card preserver as in claim 4 wherein said thickness of said back panel is 0.5 millimeters and said thickness of said front panel is 0.1 millimeters.

6. The card preserver as in claim 5 wherein said back panel consists of a rigid polypropylene and wherein said front panel consists of polypropylene; wherein said back panel has a rigidity greater than a rigidity of said front panel.

7. The card preserver as in claim 6 further comprising an internal cavity having a width of 68.5 millimeters between said ultrasonic welding on said left side edge and said ultrasonic welding on said right side edge and a length of 95.75 millimeters between said ultrasonic welding on said bottom side edge and said top side edge of said back panel.

8. The card preserver as in claim 7 wherein said flap portion has a length of 33.50 millimeters from said top side edge of said back panel to said top side edge of said front panel; wherein said back panel has a width of 73 millimeters from said left side edge to said right side edge and a length of 98 millimeters from said bottom side edge to said top side edge.

9. A protective card preserver for preserving a trading card comprising(a) a substantially rectangular pliable plastic film having a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section,(b) a rigid polymer divider interposed between said first section and said second section of said pliable plastic film(c) an ultrasonic bar seal inseparably conjoining said first section and said second section to said rigid polymer divider and said second section to said third section to create a card pocket disposed between said second section and said fourth section;(d) wherein said fourth section is configured to fold over an opening of said card pocket and be removably secured to said first section;(e) wherein first section, said second section, and said rigid polymer divider collectively has a thickness that is five times greater than a thickness of said third section;(f) wherein said rigid polymer divider is disposed such that a machine direction of said rigid polymer divider is substantially parallel to a width of said card preserver.

10. The card preserver as in claim 10(a) wherein said pliable plastic film substantially measures 3 % inches wide by 13 14 inches long by 100 microns thick;(b) wherein said rigid polymer divider substantially measures 3 inches wide by 4 inches long by 460 microns thick.

11. The card preserver as in claim 11(a) wherein said ultrasonic bar seal substantially measures 3 1 / 8” x 1 / 16” horizontally;(b) wherein said ultrasonic bar seal substantially measures 1 / 16” x 3 3 / 4” vertically;(c) wherein said ultrasonic bar seal measures 1 / 16” from the outer left, right, and bottom edges of the card preserver;(d) wherein said ultrasonic bar seal is u-shaped.

12. The card preserver as in claim 11 wherein said card preserver consists of a resealable strip disposed on an external surface of said second section;(a) wherein said resealable strip forms a releasably coupled bond between said fourth section and second section.

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