Card Case

Abstract

To provide a case having a simple structure and capable of easily storing and taking out, for example, trading cards. [Solution] A card case 1 is composed of a main body 2 and a tray 3. The main body includes a pair of rectangular main plates 11, 11, at least one of which is optically transparent, and connecting portions 12a, 12b, 12c arranged along three edges of the main plates to form a space and an opening between the pair of main plates so that a card Cd can be accommodated between them. The tray includes a guide plate 13, which is a rectangular plate, and a lid portion 14 integrated with one surface of the guide plate and protruding from that surface along one of the edges of the guide plate. The card case is configured so that when the edge of the guide plate opposite the edge parallel to the edge integrated with the lid portion is inserted into the back of the opening in the main body, the lid portion closes the opening.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a case for storing trading cards that can be used, for example, in competitive play, enjoyed as a collection, and also as an investment or collection. [Background technology]

[0002] Trading cards originated as cardboard used to reinforce cigarette packages with illustrations of famous people or animals printed on them, and later cards with pictures of baseball players and other items appeared, stimulating the desire to collect them and becoming established. Trading cards were also released as the world's first card game, "Magic: The Gathering (registered trademark)," in 1993, and following this trend, card games based on popular anime became popular in Japan in 1996.

[0003] Trading cards first appeared in Japan as a freebie with sweets, but since the latter half of the Heisei era, their strategic value and rarity as card games have come to be appreciated, and they are now sold individually in packs or boxes, mainly in specialty stores and online shops.

[0004] Today's trading cards have strong game, collectible, and investment properties. For example, rookie cards released in the year a popular baseball player made his debut, as well as rare cards, are traded at high prices among collectors.

[0005] While some trading cards are made from durable materials such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate), most are printed on cardboard with holograms. Trading cards are also often laminated to create a luxurious feel. While these laminated cardboard trading cards are inexpensive, they are vulnerable to bending and other damage. Therefore, collectors are seeking cases that can store trading cards and protect them from damage while still allowing them to be viewed.

[0006] As an exhibition case for storing trading cards and protecting them from damage, a trading card case (hereinafter abbreviated as "case") has been proposed that has a first member, a second member that is placed on top of the first member to form a storage area inside, and a middle plate that is placed between the first member and the second member (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-163675 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The first member in the case proposed in Patent Document 1 has a pair of first protrusions provided on the long sides of the periphery of its rectangular main surface (the first main surface, the surface that becomes the inner surface of the case) and a pair of second protrusions provided on the short sides. The rectangular area surrounded by the first protrusions and second protrusions is large enough to accommodate a trading card. The height of the first protrusions and second protrusions is equal to or greater than the thickness of the trading card to be stored.

[0009] The second member has a rectangular shape with its main surface (the second main surface, the surface that becomes the inner surface of the case) being approximately the same size as the main surface of the first member. The middle plate is rectangular in shape and is sized to fit within the rectangular area surrounded by the first and second convex portions.

[0010] The case proposed in Patent Document 1 can accommodate trading cards between a first member and a middle plate, and can also accommodate trading cards inserted in a protective bag between the middle plate and a second member. The first and second members in this case are secured together (integrated) by a "claw-like member" on one of them and a "recess into which the claw-like member can be inserted" on the other. The first member also has sidewalls that facilitate separation of the secured first and second members, and the second member also has sidewalls that fit into the sidewalls of the first member to enclose most of the sides of the case.

[0011] The case proposed in Patent Document 1 can store both trading cards and trading cards inserted in protective bags, and the structure of the case itself is complex as described above in order to achieve this function. Furthermore, since the case can store multiple trading cards, the work of fitting the first and second members together to form a case for storing trading cards, and the work of releasing the first and second members when removing a trading card, are also complicated.

[0012] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a case that has a simple structure and allows trading cards and the like to be easily stored and removed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The card case according to the present invention comprises a main body and a tray. The main body comprises a pair of rectangular main plates, at least one of which is optically transparent, and connecting portions arranged along three edges of the main plates, which unite the pair of main plates by forming a space and an opening between them so that cards can be stored between them.

[0014] The tray includes a guide plate that is a rectangular plate, and a lid portion that is integrated with one surface of the guide plate and protrudes from the one surface along one edge of the guide plate.

[0015] The card case is configured so that when the opposite edge of the guide plate, which is parallel to the edge on the side where the lid is integrated, is inserted into the back of the opening in the main body, the lid closes the opening.

[0016] Preferably, the guide plate has card restraining portions protruding from one surface along three edges thereof except for the edge where the lid portion is integrated.

[0017] Preferably, a drawer assist portion, which is a notch, is provided on an edge that forms the opening in one of the pair of main plates. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The card case of the present invention has a simple structure and allows for easy storage and removal of, for example, trading cards. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the main body of a trading card case. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the tray of the trading card case. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the trading card case. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the main body and tray of another trading card case. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main body of another trading card case. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Fig. 1 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the main body 2 of the trading card case 1, Fig. 2 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the tray 3 of the trading card case 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the trading card case 1. (b) in Figs. 1 to 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines AA, BB, and CC of (a), respectively.

[0021] Hereinafter, trading card case 1 will be abbreviated as "case 1." Furthermore, since case 1 is intended to house trading cards Cd that are placed in a bag-shaped sleeve (inner sleeve) S to protect them from scratches and dirt, in the following explanation "trading cards Cd placed in sleeve S" will be abbreviated as "cards Cd," and trading cards Cd and sleeves S will be distinguished in the figures.

[0022] The case 1 is composed of a main body 2 and a tray 3. The main body 2 is made up of a pair of main plates 11 and three connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c. The pair of main plates 11 are rectangular, light-transmitting resin plates with a thickness of less than 0.5 mm. The length and width of the main plates 11 are greater than the length and width of the card Cd to be stored in the case 1. The three connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c are rectangular rod-shaped with identical cross sections and are light-transmitting. The thickness t1 (the short side dimension of the rectangular cross section) of the connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c is equal to or greater than the thickness of the card Cd to be stored in the case 1.

[0023] The two connecting portions 12a, 12b are arranged in the main body 2 along two parallel edges (short sides in FIG. 1(a)) of the rectangular main plate 11, and the two surfaces, which are the long sides of the rectangular cross section (of the connecting portions 12a, 12b), are each adhered to a different one of the pair of main plates 11, 11 to integrate them. The connecting portion 12c is arranged in the main body 2 along one of the remaining two edges (sides of the long rectangle) of the main plate 11, and integrates the main plates 11, 11 in the same way as the connecting portions 12a, 12b. The connecting portions 12a, 12b, 12c create a space between the main plates 11, 11 to integrate them. The main body 2 is a container formed by the pair of main plates 11, 11 and the connecting portions 12a, 12b, 12c sandwiched between them, and has a rectangular shape with one of the long sides open.

[0024] The tray 3 is made up of a guide plate 13 and a lid 14. The guide plate 13 is a thin rectangular plate whose length and width are just large enough to fit inside the main body 2. The guide plate 13 is made of resin with a thickness t2 that will not bend under its own weight. The guide plate 13 is preferably made of a light-transmitting material, but may also be made of a light-impermeable material.

[0025] The lid portion 14 has a rod-like cross section with a rectangular cross section, and the surface corresponding to the long side of the rectangular cross section is integrated with the tray 3 along the edge of the long side of the tray 3. The length of the lid portion 14 is approximately equal to the distance between the parallel connecting portions 12a and 12b. The lid portion 14 protrudes from only one surface of the tray 3. The long side of the rectangular cross section of the lid portion 14 has a dimension (t3) that is approximately the same as the long side (width) of the cross section of the connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c. The short side t4 of the rectangular cross section of the lid portion 14 is slightly smaller than the difference (t1 - t2) between the thickness t1 of the connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c and the thickness of the guide plate.

[0026] Case 1 is made of transparent PVC (polyvinyl chloride), acrylic resin, or other light-transmitting resin. A light-impermeable resin may be used for one of main panels 11, or a light-impermeable resin may be used for one of main panels 11, connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c, and cover portion 14.

[0027] To store a card CD in the case 1, place the card CD on the guide plate 13 on the side of the tray 3 where the lid portion 14 protrudes, and then insert the end of the tray 3 (of the guide plate 13) opposite the lid portion 14 into the opening of the main body 2 until the lid portion 14 closes the opening (see Figure 3).

[0028] When removing the card CD from the case 1, the cover portion 14 is grasped and the tray 3 is pulled out from the main body 2.

[0029] In the case 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3, the two connecting parts 12a, 12b are arranged on the short side edges of the rectangular main plate 11, but these may also be arranged on the long side edges of the main plate 11 and the lid part 14 of the tray 3 may be arranged on the short side edge of the guide plate 13.

[0030] 4 shows a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of the main body 2B and tray 3B of another case 1B. In FIG. 4, (a) is a plan view of the main body 2B, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the main body 2B taken along the line DD, (c) is a plan view of the tray 3B, and (d) is a cross-sectional view of the tray 3B taken along the line EE.

[0031] The main body 2B is composed of a pair of main plates 11B and connecting portions 12Ba, 12Bb, and 12Bc. The main body 2B is substantially the same as the main body 2 in the case 1, except that the connecting portions 12Ba and 12Bb connect the long side edges of the rectangular main plates 11B. The reason we say "substantially the same" here is because, even though they accommodate cards Cd of the same size, the main body 2B is slightly different in size in a plan view from the main body 2 in the case 1 due to the tray 3B having card restriction portions 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc, which will be described later.

[0032] Tray 3B consists of guide plate 13B, lid 14B, and card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc. Guide plate 13B and lid 14B are substantially the same as those in tray 3 of case 1. Card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc are all rectangular rod-shaped sections with the same cross-sectional dimensions.

[0033] The card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc are provided on the surface of the guide plate 13B on the side where the lid section 14B is integrated, along three edges of the guide plate 13B excluding the edge where the lid section 14B is integrated. The widths of the card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc in a plan view are smaller than those of the joining sections 12Ba, 12Bb, and 12Bc (see FIGS. 4(a) and 4(c)). The heights (degrees of protrusion) of the card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc from the surface of the guide plate 13B are smaller than those of the lid section 14B.

[0034] The card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc, together with the lid section 14B, surround the edge of the guide plate 13B, turning the tray 3B into a container. The length and width of the enclosure formed by the card restriction sections 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc and the lid section 14B are slightly larger than the length and width of the cards Cd to be stored.

[0035] The methods for storing and removing card Cd into case 1B are the same as those for case 1. However, storing card Cd into case 1B can be done more smoothly than in case 1 because the movement of card Cd on guide plate 13B is restricted by the enclosure formed by card restriction portions 15Ba, 15Bb, and 15Bc and lid portion 14B.

[0036] 5 is a plan view of a main body 2C of another case 1C. The case 1C is composed of a main body 2C and a tray 3. The tray 3 in the case 1C is the same as the tray 3 in the case 1. The main body 2C is composed of a pair of main plates 11, 11 and connecting portions 12a, 12b, 12c.

[0037] The pair of main plates 11, 11 are substantially the same in shape, size, etc. as the main plates 11, 11 of case 1, but one of the main plates 11 is provided with a draw-out assist portion 16C. Case 1C differs from case 1 only in this respect. In the following description and in Figure 5, the main plate provided with the draw-out assist portion 16C will be referred to as 11C.

[0038] The drawer assist portion 16C is formed on one of the four edges of the rectangular main plate 11C that forms the opening of the main body 2. The drawer assist portion 16C is a concave, arc-shaped cutout formed in the front and rear of the center of the edge of the main plate 11C. The depth of the concave portion (depth, distance from the edge) is greater than, for example, the width (t3) of the lid portion 14 of the tray 3.

[0039] In case 1C, in which connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c and lid portion 14 have the same width, drawer assist portion 16C makes it easy to distinguish between lid portion 14 and connecting portions 12a, 12b, and 12c when removing card Cd. Also, drawer assist portion 16C has the function of allowing fingertips to directly touch lid portion 14, making it easier to remove tray 3.

[0040] The shape of the concave cutout in the drawer assisting portion 16C may be a circular arc, a part of an ellipse, three sides of a rectangle, or two equal sides of an isosceles triangle, as long as the presence of the cover portion 14 can be visually confirmed.

[0041] The above-described cases 1, 1B, and 1C are simple in structure due to the small number of components. The cases 1, 1B, and 1C can easily accommodate a card Cd by inserting the tray 3, 3B carrying the card Cd into the main body 2, 2B, or 2C. The card Cd can also be easily removed by removing the tray 3, 3B carrying the card Cd from the main body 2, 2B, or 2C. Furthermore, the cases 1, 1B, and 1C do not require any fixing work between the case components when storing the card Cd, and do not require any releasing of the fixing work between the case components when removing the card Cd.

[0042] When one of the pair of main plates 11C, 11 is made of an opaque resin, it is preferable to provide the drawer assist portion 16C on the main plate 11C made of an opaque resin from the viewpoint of aesthetics.

[0043] In the above-described embodiments, the cases 1, 1B, and 1C may be formed as cases for cards other than trading cards. For example, cases of sizes suitable for storing driver's licenses, various skill training certificates, and various qualification certificates may be formed.

[0044] In the above embodiment, we have described the case where card Cd is stored in case 1, 1B, 1C, but case 1, 1B, 1C can also be used to store photographs, favorite coasters, postcards, commemorative railway tickets, etc. for viewing.

[0045] In addition, the individual configurations or overall structure, shape, dimensions, number, materials, etc. of the cases 1, 1B, and 1C and the cases 1, 1B, and 1C may be modified as appropriate in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0046] The present invention can be used, for example, in cases for storing trading cards that are used in competitive play, enjoyed as collections, and are also objects of investment and collection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1, 1B, 1C Case (Trading Card Case) 2, 2B, 2C main body 3,3B Tray 11,11B Main plate 11C Main plate with pull-out assisting portion 12a,12b,12c joint part 12Ba,12Bb,12Bc joint 13,13B Sign 14,14B Lid 15Ba, 15Bb, 15Bc card restrictions 16C Drawer auxiliary part CD card (sleeved trading card)

Claims

1. The main body and a tray; The body includes: a pair of rectangular main plates, at least one of which is optically transparent; The main boards are arranged along three edges thereof, and a card can be accommodated between the pair of main boards. and a connecting portion that forms a space and an opening between the pair of main plates and integrates them as described above, The tray is A rectangular guide board, The guide plate is integrally formed on one surface thereof along one edge of the guide plate. a lid portion protruding from the surface, The lid portion is configured to close the opening when the opposite edge of the guide plate, which is parallel to the edge of the guide plate on which the lid portion is integrated, is inserted into the depth of the opening of the main body. A card case characterized by:

2. the guide plate has card limiting portions protruding from the one surface along three edges excluding the edge where the lid portion is integrated; 2. The card case according to claim 1.

3. a draw-out assist portion, which is a notch, is provided on an edge of one of the pair of main plates that forms the opening; 3. A card case according to claim 1 or 2.

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