Depressurizing Coin and/or Stamp Display Case

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a decompressing display case for numismatists, philatelists, and others to store and display coins, stamps, or other collectable items. Embodiments of the display case include a built-in air-decompressing finger pump that can be pressed multiple times to express air out of the display case and thereby generate a relative low-level vacuum environment inside the display case to protect the contents from exposure to ambient air, thus deterring tarnish and/or aging of the contents.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item display case comprising:
 (a) an elastic vacuum finger pump;   (b) a one-way air exit valve;   (c) a one-way air intake valve;   (d) a base enclosure comprising a continuous base perimeter wall, the base enclosure further comprising
 a clear interior item holding chamber and an interior vacuum pump chamber separated from the item holding chamber by a base interior wall that is interoperably coupled to and continuous with the base perimeter wall, 
 where the interior item holding chamber has an external air hole, and 
 where the interior vacuum pump chamber has (1) a pump opening configured to hold the vacuum finger pump, (2) an air input valve opening configured to accept the one-way air intake valve, and (3) an air exit valve opening configured to accept the one-way air exit valve; 
   (e) a continuous flexible base enclosure seal over-molded to an upper portion of the base perimeter wall and an upper portion of the base interior wall;   (f) a top enclosure having a continuous top perimeter wall configured to fit hermetically over an outer perimeter of the base enclosure seal, a clear interior item display area framed by a continuous interior item display wall configured to fit hermetically against an a portion of the enclosure seal framing the interior item holding chamber, and an interior information display area framed by a continuous interior information display wall configured to fit hermetically against a portion of the enclosure seal framing the interior vacuum pump chamber;   (g) an elastic flap having an air exit plug configured to fit hermetically into an outer portion of the air exit valve opening, an air input plug configured to fit hermetically into an outer portion of the air input valve opening, and an air hole plug configured to fit hermetically into an outer portion of the external air hole;   where the vacuum finger pump is over-molded into the pump opening;   where the one-way air exit valve is interoperably and hermetically fitted into an inner portion of the air exit valve opening;   where the one-way air input valve is interoperably and hermetically fitted into an inner portion of the air input valve opening; and   where the elastic flap further comprises a sealed air channel extending from the air input plug to the air hole plug.   
     
     
         2 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the base perimeter wall and the base interior wall are the same height. 
     
     
         3 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the continuous flexible base enclosure seal is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         4 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the vacuum finger pump is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the elastic flap is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the external air hole comprises a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         7 . The display case of  claim 1 , the base perimeter wall further comprising anchoring holes for securing the continuous flexible base enclosure seal. 
     
     
         8 . The display case of  claim 1 , the pump opening further comprising anchoring holes for securing the vacuum finger pump. 
     
     
         9 . The display case of  claim 1 , where the interior item holding chamber, the enclosure seal, the finger pump, the one-way air exit valve, the one-way air input valve, the air hole plug, and the air channel are together able to hold a low vacuum for 24 hours. 
     
     
         10 . An item protection system comprising:
 a base enclosure comprising a continuous base perimeter wall, the base enclosure further comprising a clear interior item holding chamber and an interior vacuum pump chamber separated from the item holding chamber by a base interior wall;   a continuous flexible enclosure seal over-molded to an upper portion of the base perimeter wall and an upper portion of the base interior wall so as to frame the base enclosure, the interior item holding chamber, and the interior vacuum pump chamber;   a top enclosure having (1) a continuous top perimeter wall configured to fit hermetically over an outer perimeter of the enclosure seal, (2) a clear interior item display area framed by a continuous interior item display wall configured to fit hermetically against an inner surface of the enclosure seal framing the interior item holding chamber, and (3) an interior information display area framed by a continuous interior information display wall configured to fit hermetically against an inner surface of the enclosure seal framing the interior air-pumping chamber; and   means for pumping air out of the item holding chamber.