Collectible Holder Locking Structure to Prevent Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collectible holders are vulnerable to counterfeiting as they can be opened and replaced with counterfeit items, compromising the authenticity and grading indicia.
Innovation Solution
A collectible holder design featuring a locking structure with movable locking members that engage upon full assembly, making it impossible to disassemble without destruction, and includes features like ultrasonic welding and blocked access to the locking mechanism to prevent tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic welding is used to permanently seal the holder, then the holder is intended to prevent opening and stop collectible replacement, but the weld may be incomplete or vulnerable and can be defeated by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into first and second housings that can be separately assembled. The locking structure is segmented into a locking member on the first housing and a corresponding structure on the second housing, allowing modular assembly while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is designed to automatically engage with the locking structure during the assembly process. When the first housing is fully assembled with the second housing, the locking member automatically moves to a triggered configuration and engages, preventing disassembly without destruction.
2Reliability
If the holder is made permanently sealed to prevent opening, then authenticity is protected, but the holder cannot be opened for legitimate purposes such as inspection or transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure is designed to prevent disassembly before authentication. The locking member blocks disengagement of the first and second housings until the holder has been properly assembled and authenticated, at which point the locking mechanism can be legitimately opened through authorized channels.
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking structure is made accessible for assembly, then ease of assembly is improved, but access to the locking mechanism is vulnerable to tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The holder body is made transparent or translucent to allow visual inspection of the collectible and locking structure, while the locking member itself remains in a protected location that is not directly accessible. This allows different parts of the holder to have different properties: transparent for inspection, opaque for security.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer housing acts as an intermediary that protects the internal locking mechanism. The locking member is positioned such that it can engage with the locking structure during assembly, but is subsequently blocked from direct access by the holder walls, preventing tampering while allowing legitimate assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The holder effectively prevents the substitution of authentic collectibles with counterfeits by ensuring the holder cannot be opened without damage, maintaining the integrity of authenticity and grading indicia.
Implementation Method 1
a locking structure disposed within the enclosed space, the locking structure comprising a first locking member formed with the first housing and a second locking member formed with the second housing. The locking structure is configured so that before the first housing is assembled with the second housing the first locking member is movable relative to the second locking member, and when the first housing becomes fully assembled with the second housing the locking structure moves to a triggered configuration in which the first locking member and the second locking member are engaged with one another
Implementation Method 2
it is known to ultrasonically weld opposing portions of a holder together with the collectible enclosed inside
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A holder for storing a collectible, such as a stack of banknotes, having a first housing assembled with a second housing and defining an enclosed space therein. A collectible receiving structure is disposed within the enclosed space and spaced from an outer perimeter wall. One or more spacers can be added to the enclosed space in order to change an effective height of the enclosed space. A locking structure can keep the first housing assembled with the second housing, and can be configured so that an attempt to disassemble the first housing from the second housing will damage one or both of the first housing and second housing.