Modular and portable collectibles display and storage case

Abstract

A portable collectibles storage and display case is protects collectibles mounted on a base from damage by individually securing the collectible base within the case with the collectible itself in noncontact with another object. The portable case is modular in that several identical cases can be secured together, both stacked and side-by-side. The combined side-by-side cases are linked through a releasable hinge on each side so the cases can be easily hinged open on one side hinge to display their contents by releasing the hinge connection on the other side. With the cases combinable back-to-back, front-to-front, and vertically stacked, any such combination of cases is available to the user. Side-by-side combinations can be hinged opened for viewing without fully separating the cases. Stacked cases similarly hinge open together.

1 . A collectibles display case comprising 
 a box accessible through a door that covers a box front, and    a first plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box bottom and extending a short distance toward the door from a back opposite the door, adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base bottom with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object.    
   
   
       2 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  further comprising a second plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box top and extending a short distance toward the door from the back opposite the door, also adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object.  
   
   
       3 . The collectibles display case of  claim 2  wherein said first and second pluralities of laterally spaced apart fingers are disposed in the box to receive bases on which collectibles are respectively mounted such that collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box bottom alternate with collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with another collectible.  
   
   
       4 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  wherein the door is transparent.  
   
   
       5 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  further comprising a wall-mounting fastener on the case back.  
   
   
       6 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  wherein the case is hand-carried with a carrying handle on the top.  
   
   
       7 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  comprising a first such case stacked on top of a second such case with fasteners releasably interconnecting the two cases.  
   
   
       8 . The collectibles display case of  claim 7  further comprising a third such case on which the first and second cases are stacked with fasteners releasably interconnecting the adjoining cases.  
   
   
       9 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  comprising a first such case alongside a second such case with fasteners releasably interconnecting the two cases.  
   
   
       10 . The collectibles display case of  claim 9  wherein the two cases are fastened together with the respective doors opposing.  
   
   
       11 . The collectibles display case of  claim 9  wherein the two cases are fastened together with the respective backs opposing.  
   
   
       12 . The collectibles display case of  claim 9  further comprising additional such cases stacked on top of said first and second cases with fasteners releasably interconnecting the stacked cases comprising a set of four interconnected cases.  
   
   
       13 . The collectibles display case of  claim 12  further comprising additional such cases stacked on top of said set of four interconnected cases with fasteners releasably interconnecting the stacked cases comprising a set of six interconnected cases.  
   
   
       14 . The collectibles display case of  claim 13  further comprising additional such cases stacked on top of said set of four interconnected cases with fasteners releasably interconnecting the stacked cases comprising a set of six interconnected cases.  
   
   
       15 . The collectibles display case of  claim 14  further comprising a first such cases set of six interconnected cases alongside a second such set of six interconnected cases with fasteners releasably interconnecting the cases comprising a set of twelve interconnected cases.  
   
   
       16 . The collectibles display case of  claim 14  further comprising a removable and adjustable carrying handle on the case top such that all case carrying handles are removable for ease of box stacking except a single carrying handle adjusted to span between boxes.  
   
   
       17 . The collectibles display case of  claim 16  further comprising 
 a first pair of raised tubes disposed longitudinally with the box,    a second pair raised tubes disposed transversely with the box,    wherein the handle fits in a matching pair of raised first tubes aligned longitudinally with the box in transporting a single case, and wherein when two cases are combined back-to-back, a single handle is oriented transversely between the boxes with a first handle portion fitting in a front member of the transverse pair of raised tubes in a first case and with a second handle portion fitting in a front member of the transverse pair of raised tubes in a second case and similarly, when two cases are combined front-to-front, a single handle is oriented transversely between the boxes with a first handle portion fitting in a back member of the transverse pair of raised tubes in a first case and with a second handle portion fitting in a back member of the transverse pair of raised tubes in a second case.    
   
   
       18 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  further comprising 
 a front first side fastener half on a box first side extending forward of the box front outside of the door, and    a front second side fastener half matching the front first side fastener half, the front second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with fronts opposing, front first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side.    
   
   
       19 . The collectibles display case of  claim 18  wherein 
 the front first side fastener half comprises a vertical hinge bar, and    the front second side fastener half comprises upper and lower side fastener members each with a channel adapted to receive the hinge bar.    
   
   
       20 . The collectibles display case of  claim 19  the front second side fastener half comprises a hook plate with a hook on its distal end between the upper and lower side fastener members disposed to engage around the hinge bar as the hinge bar enters the channels.  
   
   
       21 . The collectibles display case of  claim 20  wherein the hook plate attaches intermediate the box second side with flexure allowing it to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the hinge bar as the hinge bar pushes the hook plate laterally as the hinge bar moves into the channels, the hook plate flexing to allow the hinge bar to pass and then springing back into engagement around it when the it is in within the channels.  
   
   
       22 . The collectibles display of  claim 1  further comprising a back first side fastener half on a box first side extending rearward from the box back, and 
 a back second side fastener half matching the back first side fastener half, the back second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, back first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side.    
   
   
       23 . The collectibles display case of  claim 22  wherein 
 the back first side fastener half comprises a vertical catch plate with a hook on a distal end attached with flexure to the back first side, and    the back second side fastener half comprises a slot in the back second side adapted to receive a catch plate with the catch plate hook releasably engaging the back inside the box.    
   
   
       24 . The collectibles display case of  claim 23  wherein the catch plate extends from the back first side through a window in the back such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, on each side the hook catch plate extends through the window into engagement in the slot without obstructing the box backs from coming into near face-to-face contact.  
   
   
       25 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  further comprising a first plurality of feet depending downward from the bottom on which the case stands.  
   
   
       26 . The collectibles display case of  claim 25  further comprising 
 two eyes extending upward from the box back above the top each on flexible legs, and    two of said plurality of feet each also including a foot portion extending rearward of the box laterally disposed such that such that as an upper case is brought into stacked relation on a lower case with backs aligned, each foot portion extending rearward of an upper case urges the eye of the lower case outward of the box on the flexible legs until the foot portion extending rearward passes into the eye, the eye resiliently returning from its flex position therein releasably securing the cases together.    
   
   
       27 . The collectibles display case of  claim 26  wherein when said upper and lower cases are instead brought into back to back relation, said eyes are adjacent so as to not engage each other and said two of said plurality of feet are similarly adjacent.  
   
   
       28 . The collectibles display case of  claim 1  further comprising 
 a ring extending upward from the top at the front,    a step depending downward from the bottom at the front and matching the ring, aligned such that as two such cases are brought together in stacked relation with fronts aligned, the step fits under the ring of the two cases mutually engaging the cases with the ring of one case hanging from the step of the other case.    
   
   
       29 . A collectibles display case comprising 
 a box accessible through a door that covers a door front, and    a first plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box bottom and extending a short distance toward the door from a back opposite the door, adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base bottom with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object,    a second plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box top and extending a short distance toward the door from the back opposite the door, also adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object,    wherein said first and second pluralities of laterally spaced apart fingers are disposed in the box to receive bases on which collectibles are respectively mounted such that collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box bottom alternate with collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with another collectible,    wherein the box with fingers is stackable with a first box stackable on top of a second box with fasteners releasably interconnecting the two boxes,    and wherein a first such box is attachable alongside a second such case with fasteners releasably interconnecting the cases alongside, either front to front or back to back,    a removable and adjustable carrying handle on each box such that all box carrying handles are removable for ease of box stacking except a single carrying handle adjusted to span between boxes mutually attached boxes.    
   
   
       30 . The collectibles display case of  claim 29  further comprising 
 a front first side fastener half on a box first side extending forward from the box front outside of the door, and    a front second side fastener half matching the front first side fastener half, the front second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with fronts opposing, front first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side.    wherein    the front first side fastener half comprises a vertical hinge bar, and    the front second side fastener half comprises upper and lower side fastener members each with a channel adapted to receive the hinge bar, wherein the hook plate attaches intermediate the box second side with flexure allowing it to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the hinge bar as the hinge bar pushes the hook plate laterally as the hinge bar moves into the channels, the hook plate flexing to allow the hinge bar to pass and then springing back into engagement around it when the it is in within the channels    and wherein    the front second side fastener half comprises a hook plate with a hook on its distal end between the upper and lower side fastener members disposed to engage around the hinge bar as the hinge bar enters the channels.    
   
   
       31 . The collectibles display of  claim 29  further comprising 
 a back first side fastener half on a box first side extending rearward from the box back, and    a back second side fastener half matching the back first side fastener half, the back second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, back first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side,    wherein    the back first side fastener half comprises a vertical catch plate with a hook on a distal end attached with flexure to the back first side, and    the back second side fastener half comprises a slot in the back second side adapted to receive a catch plate with the catch plate hook releasably engaging the back inside the box,    and wherein the catch plate extends from the back first side through a window in the back such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, on each side the hook catch plate extends through the window into engagement in the slot without obstructing the box backs from coming into near face-to-face contact.    
   
   
       32 . The collectibles display case of  claim 29  further comprising 
 a first plurality of feet depending downward from the bottom on which the case stands, two of said plurality of feet each also including a foot portion extending rearward of the box laterally disposed such that such that as an upper case is brought into stacked relation on a lower case with backs aligned, each foot portion extending rearward of an upper case urges the eye of the lower case outward of the box on the flexible legs until the foot portion extending rearward passes into the eye, the eye resiliently returning from its flex position therein releasably securing the cases together, and    two eyes extending upward from the box back above the top each on flexible legs, and    wherein when said upper and lower cases are instead brought into back to back relation, said eyes are adjacent so as to not engage each other and said two of said plurality of feet are similarly adjacent,    a ring extending upward from the top at the front,    a step depending downward from the bottom at the front and matching the ring, aligned such that as two such cases are brought together in stacked relation with fronts aligned, the step fits under the ring of the two cases mutually engaging the cases with the ring of one case hanging from the step of the other case.    
   
   
       33 . A collectibles display case comprising 
 a box accessible through a door that covers a door front, and    a first plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box bottom and extending a short distance toward the door from a back opposite the door, adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base bottom with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object,    a second plurality of laterally spaced apart fingers near a box top and extending a short distance toward the door from the back opposite the door, also adapted to removably receive a base on which a collectible is mounted, releasably securing the base between one or more fingers and the base top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with the box or another object, 
 wherein said first and second pluralities of laterally spaced apart fingers are disposed in the box to receive bases on which collectibles are respectively mounted such that collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box bottom alternate with collectibles extending into the box from their bases secured at the box top with each collectible freestanding in noncontact with another collectible,  
 wherein the box with fingers is stackable with a first box stackable on top of a  
   second box with fasteners releasably interconnecting the two boxes, 
 and wherein a first such box is attachable alongside a second such case with  
   fasteners releasably interconnecting the cases alongside, either front to front or back to back, 
 a removable and adjustable carrying handle on each box such that all box carrying handles are removable for ease of box stacking except a single carrying handle adjusted to span between boxes mutually attached boxes.  
 a front first side fastener half on a box first side extending forward from the box front outside of the door, and  
 a front second side fastener half matching the front first side fastener half, the front second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with fronts opposing, front first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side.  
   wherein 
 the front first side fastener half comprises a vertical hinge bar, and  
 the front second side fastener half comprises upper and lower side fastener members each with a channel adapted to receive the hinge bar, wherein the hook plate attaches intermediate the box second side with flexure allowing it to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the hinge bar as the hinge bar pushes the hook plate laterally as the hinge bar moves into the channels, the hook plate flexing to allow the hinge bar to pass and then springing back into engagement around it when the it is in within the channels  
   and wherein 
 the front second side fastener half comprises a hook plate with a hook on its distal end between the upper and lower side fastener members disposed to engage around the hinge bar as the hinge bar enters the channels, a back first side fastener half on a box first side extending rearward from the box back, and  
 a back second side fastener half matching the back first side fastener half, the back second side fastener half on a box second side opposing the first side such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, back first and second side fastener halves of the two cases mutually engage on each side,  
   wherein 
 the back first side fastener half comprises a vertical catch plate with a hook on a distal end attached with flexure to the back first side, and  
 the back second side fastener half comprises a slot in the back second side adapted to receive a catch plate with the catch plate hook releasably engaging the back inside the box,  
 and wherein the catch plate extends from the back first side through a window in the back such that as two such cases are brought together with backs opposing, on each side the hook catch plate extends through the window into engagement in the slot without obstructing the box backs from coming into near face-to-face contact.  
 a first plurality of feet depending downward from the bottom on which the case stands, two of said plurality of feet each also including a foot portion extending rearward of the box laterally disposed such that such that as an upper case is brought into stacked relation on a lower case with backs aligned, each foot portion extending rearward of an upper case urges the eye of the lower case outward of the box on the flexible legs until the foot portion extending rearward passes into the eye, the eye resiliently returning from its flex position therein releasably securing the cases together, and  
 two eyes extending upward from the box back above the top each on flexible legs, and  
 wherein when said upper and lower cases are instead brought into back to back relation, said eyes are adjacent so as to not engage each other and said two of said plurality of feet are similarly adjacent,  
 a ring extending upward from the top at the front,  
 a step depending downward from the bottom at the front and matching the ring, aligned such that as two such cases are brought together in stacked relation with fronts aligned, the step fits under the ring of the two cases mutually engaging the cases with the ring of one case hanging from the step of the other case.