Protective case for collectible flat items

Claim 1

A case for protectively confining collectible flat items, comprised of: (a) a first panel fabricated of transparent plastic and having: (1) an elongated rectangular perimeter defined by upper and lower short edges and long side edges, (2) an outer face having a first upraised ridge of rectangular contour disposed adjacent said perimeter and uniformly spaced therefrom by a margin region, and (3) an interior face having an upraised lip formed as a continuous integral extension of said edges and directed in opposite relationship to said first ridge, and (b) a second panel fabricated of transparent plastic and having: (1) an elongated rectangular perimeter identical to the perimeter of said first panel and defined by upper and lower short edges and long side edges, (2) an outer face having a second upraised ridge contiguous to said perimeter and of a rectangular contour slightly larger than the rectangular contour of said first upraised ridge, and (3) an interior face having upraised portions uniformly spaced from said edges and defining a first rectangular holding zone for accommodating a flat collectible item and having an axis of elongation perpendicular to said short edges, and a second holding zone adjacent said upper short edge, and (c) thin transparent retainer means removably disposed within said first holding zone, whereby (d) when the interior faces of the front and rear panels are brought into facing relationship, the upraised lip of said front panel snugly embraces the upraised portions of said rear panel, and permits cohesive interbonding of the edges of both panels.