US3085839A

US3085839A - Shrine case

Info

Publication number: US3085839A
Application number: US83131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward F Gallagher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-01-10
Filing date: 1961-01-10
Publication date: 1963-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-16

Description

April 1963 E. F. GALLAGHER 3,085,839

SHRINE CASE Filed Jan. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1963 E. F. GALLAGHER SHRINE CASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1961 fade/r186.- 7: Gaagfzex A ril 16, 1963 E. F. GALLAGHER SHRINE CASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1961 wrrzeg/ April 16, 1963 E. F. GALLAGHER 9 sauna: CASE Filed Jan. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ril 16, 1963 E. F. GALLAGHER SHRINE CASE Filed Jan. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 II'II United States Patent 3,085,839 h SHRINE QASE Edward 1*. Gallagher, 906 Carolina Ava, Gastonia, N.C. Filed Zian. It), 1961, Ser. No. 83,131 15 Claims. (Cl. 312-33) The present invention relates to a shrine case, and more particularly contemplates a two-piece assembly WIllCll can be used as a case for a Bible or other book of religious material. The case, when the two parts are placed in varying relationships can serve as a reading stand, an elevated reading stand, and a reading stand with a shrine at the rear portion thereof. Additionally, the shrine case is susceptible of illumination as well as illustration in accordance with the dictates of the manufacturer and user.

This application forms a continuation in part of application Serial Number 828,566 filed July 21, 1959, now abandoned.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a two-piece shrine case which is susceptible of a wide variety of alternative uses, and which additionally 1s decorative in the home or any other location where employed Another object of the invention is to furnish a shrine case which is light in weight, clean in appearance, durable In use, and susceptible of illumination and variable decoration.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shrine case which may be employed as a packing case for a Bible or other book to protect the same when not in use, or when shipped by the manufacturer.

A more detailed object of the invention is to furnish a shrine case which is inexpensive to manufacture, and yet offers the foregoing wide variety of uses and advantages.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a support for an open book which presents the pages in such a configuration that when combined with the source of illumination readability is enhanced.

It will be additionally appreciated that while the primary purpose of the unit is to serve as a shrine and a case for a book such as a Bible, when the unit is erected with its appropriate source of illumination, it can also serve as a reader.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings shown for the purpose of illustration but without limitation, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shrine case in its closed configuration when it is most advantageously employed to serve as the cover of package for a book such as a Bible.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the shrine case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shrine case in its shrine configuration illustrating diagrammatically the source of illumination and showing a Bible or book in its reading position.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the shrine case in its shrine configuration as shown in FIG. 3, but with the book or Bible in its open position illustrating how the pages are elevated slightly to insure excellent readability and illumination.

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of the shrine case in an alternative configuration from that illustrated in FIG. 1 where the unit is so assembled as to serve'as an elevated reading stand.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shrine case in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, but viewed from the opposite end.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the shrine case body taken from the front elevation as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partially broken, sectional view of the shrine case taken along section line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of the illumination elements, taken along section line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a transverse section of the shrine case body, partially broken, taken along section line 10*10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the shrine case base.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view, partially broken, of the shrine case base taken along section line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partially broken view of an edge of the shrine case base taken along section line 13-43 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the assembled shrine case in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, taken along section line 14-14 of FIG. 1 and showing in phantom lines the enclosed book or Bible.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the shrine case in the reading stand configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, and taken along section line 1515 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the shrine case showing inter alia a part of the light shield guides and supports, a book in place (phantom lines) and engageable with a cross brace on the base. in such fashion as to avoid damage to book edges, a different border construction, a different mating-nesting interfit structure, and the light mounting structure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective and cross section of the base showing the border construction of the embodiment of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 relates to FIG. 16 and is an exploded cutaway cross sectional view of the removable frame engaging a body slot the remaining portions of which are constructed in similar fashion.

FIG. 19 is a top assembly view illustrating the frame as fitted into the body.

FIG. 20 is a cutaway, partial perspective view of the deep end of the body of FIG. 16 showing the interiorly extending shoulder-s, removable frame tab slots, the 10- cating and guide means for the removable shield, picture hook holes, and wire guide for the light.

FIG. 21 is a partial lateral cross-section of FIG. 20 along line 2121-21 illustrating the shoulders and lips of flanges on the tapered sides.

FIGS. 22 and 22A relate to FIG. 16 and are partial cutaway views showing the interlocking of the base notches with the body and shoulder when the shrine is erected.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are, respectively rear and front perspective views of the removable shield of the embodiment of FIG. 16, FIG. 20 also showing deep-end ribs engaging the rear side and positioning lug.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the shrine case 10, when in the out-of-use condition, or when received by the purchaser, is in a generally rectangular configuration, somewhat in the general outline of a book box. The shrine case includes two principal elements, the shrine body 11 and the shrine base 12. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the back portions of the shrine case body 11 and shrine case base 12 are generally parallel, and that the shrine base fits in nesting and mating relationship within the external confines of the shrine case body-11.

Before turning to the details of construction, the advantageous usages of the subject shrine case should be better understood by reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. In FIG. 3, it will be observed that the shrine body 11 is elevated with its lower portion interfitted with one end of the shrine base 12. A Bible '14 has been placed atop the shrine base 12. By providing a shield 16 at the upper portion of the shrine body, and a light assembly 18 behind the shield, the light assembly it] simultaneously illuminates the cross 20 at the back of the shrine body 11 and also serves to illuminate the book or Bible 14 for reading. When the book or Bible 14 is opened for reading such as shown in FIG. 4, it will be seen that the pages are elevated upwardly at their outer portion, thereby approximating a perpendicular relationship to the line of sight of the reader. In FIG. 4, there is additionally shown a picture 15, which may be conveniently attached in the rear portion of the shrine body 11. The pictures may be in the form of transparent overlays with the cross 20 showing through, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or they may be opaque with various inscriptions at the lower portion, or other advantageous pictorial material may be provided for insertion in the rear of the shrine body 11. Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the relationship between the shrine body 11 and shrine base 12 is the reverse from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Because the sides of the shrine case 19 and shrine body 11 are at complementary sloping angles, the details of which will be described hereinafter, an elevated reading stand configuration on the character shown in FIG. may also be accomplished.

The principal details of construction of the shrine body 11 will be best understood in the light of the views shown in FIGS. 7 through inclusive. The body has a pair of parallel sides 21 which slope uniformly from one end to the other defining an outer sloping edge 22. The sides 21 are joined at their respective ends by means of a shallow end 24 and deep end 25. The shield 16 depends from the body deep end 11 shown at an angle parallel with the side edge 22 and spaced beneath the side edge 22. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the shrine body back 26 terminates at its upper end 28 defining an opening 29 which serves to permit the easy attachment and detachment of the light fixture 18, and also to ventilate the heated area influenced by the light fixture 18. A cross brace 31 runs across the back upper end 28, but is interrupted to define the mounting slots 30. An undercut light fixture mounting slot 32 is formed at a mid portion in the deep end 25 which is proportioned to receive the light fixture mounting bracket 34 by its mounting leg portion 35. The light mounting leg 36 is secured by means of a rivet 38 or other convenient fastening means to the light socket 39 into which the light bulb 40 is threadedly inserted. The light cord 41 is led therefrom to a suitable outlet 42 such as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the various illuminating elements are oriented so that the position of the light bulb 40 approximates the center of the shrine body thereby drawing the illumination uniformly downwardly and forwardly. The opening 29 at the rear of the body 11 in combination with the light opening 44 permits adequate cooling of the light bulb 40 and serves to prevent distortion of the plastic attributable to the heat' generated by the light bulb 40.

The back 26 of the body has a raised border portion 45 with the border portion 45 extending along the two sides 21 and shallow end 24.. The border portion 45 is defined by a ledge portion 46 and shoulder portion 48. The shoulder portion 48 along .with the cross brace 31 at the upper end of the back 26 defines a rectangular recessed area which. is adaptable to nestingly receive a book or Bible 14. as illustrated in FIG. 14. Support posts 49 are molded integrally on the inner face of the shallow end 24 to support the base 12 in a manner to be detailed hereinafter.

The shrine base 12 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. It will be seen that the base 12 includes as its principal element a fiat back portion 50 which is flanked by a border portion 51. The border portion 51 adjacent the deep end 52 is made up of an end face 54 and back face 55 which terminate at a fiat ridge portion 56. The border portion 51 along the sides 58 simi' larly include a side face 59, flat top ridge 6!) and back face 61. The other end of the shrine base 12 is a shallow end 62 which depends from a cross frame portion 64. The cross frame portion 64 in turn terminates at its inner portion in a cross frame face 65. Beneath the intersection of the various face portions of the border portion 51 at their respective intersections at the shrine base back 50 are provided a plurality of runners 66. The runners 66 serve in conjunction with the shoulder portion 48 of the body 11 to additionally center the enclosed book 14, as more fully illustrated in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 14 it will be further observed that the end 52 of the shrine base 12 has a lower edge 68 which abuts the support posts 49 at the shallow end 24 of the shrine body 11. The shallow end 62 of the shrine base 12 alines itself along the shield 16 of the shrine body 11. The closure then presents an end appearance such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, by reversing the base 12 to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the shallow end 62 of the base 12 rests against the ledge portion 46 adjacent the shallow end 24 of the body 11 and the lower edge 68 of the deep end 52 of the shrine base .12 rests atop the shield 16 of the body 11 and presents the configuration of an elevated reading stand. When the unit is assembled as a shrine portion as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the deep end 52 of the base 12 is nestingly in serted within the shallow end 24 of the body 11. The deep end 52 then abuts the ledge portion 46 of the raised border 45 adjacent the shallow end 24 of the shrine body 11.

FIGS. 16 through 24 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. One feature of this embodiment is a unique construction for interfitting the base and body when the reading stand is erected as in FIGS. 3, 4 and 22. Additional features of the FIGS. 16-24 embodiment include a removable frame for securing pictorial indicia against the back of the body and a removable light shield. An advantage secured by the FIGS. 16-24 embodiment is that injection molding is facilitated by providing a design which enables each of the respective parts to be readily withdrawn from the mold in which it is formed. For example, ribs are used on the shrine body as positioning members and in lieu of positioning lugs; the ribs extend in the direction of withdrawal from the mold and permit simpler mold and die construction than if lugs--which are undercut-were used. Moreover, the removable frame enables the securing of pietures to the shrine body without having to glue tabs to the pictures or to purchase specially made pictures having tabs thereupon. The removable light shield construction facilitates hanging the shrine body, as a picture frame, on a wall by providing easy access to hook or nail holes (e.g. for accurately positioning such holes in the shrine body and also provides a simplified body design facilitating withdrawal from the mold as described above.

Referring first to FIG. 16, the shrine body 111 and base 112 are shown assembled with a book 113 positioned therewithin, the book being denoted by dotted lines. It will be observed that the cross brace 114 at the shallow end of the shrine base is so located with relation to the removable light shield 116 that it engages the book cover and protects the book from sliding into the light shield whereby to protect the edge of the light shield from sliding during transportation into the edges of pages in the book, thereby damaging the pages.

The shrine body and shrine base are broadly similar to those hereinabove disclosed. The shrine body has a back 11% extending from one side of which is a deep end 120, a pair of opposed tapered sides 122 which taper down to a shallow end 124, and which is proportioned to receive complementary members of the shrine base in a mating-nesting interfit similar to that discussed above.

The shrine base includes a back 126 having a deep end 128 and a pair of opposed tapered sides 130 tapering down from the deep end to a shallow end 132. The tapered sides of the base have notches 134 out in the edges thereof adjacent the deep end at a position to let the base deep end abut the body back at the shallow end of the body and to receive the body shallow end shoul der 136 in the notch, as best seen in FIG. 22. The various ends and tapered sides of the base and body are so interconnected as to provide a continuous periphery extending from one side of their respective backs.

FIG. 23 shows a partial rear perspective of the removable light shield 116 which shows one of the two depending legs attached to opposite ends of the shield. A locating lug 146 is disposed ofi center at the edge of the light shield which contacts the deep end of the shrine body, as best seen in FIG. 16. The light shield legs 148 are guided into position by the pair of opposed ribs 150 nearest the deep end (FIG. 16) of the base. Additional ribs 152 (FIG. located further away from the deep end serve to support the lower edge of the light shield. The lug 146 engages a short deep-end rib 154- which is adjacent a long deep-end rib 156. The off-center construction of the lug and location of the guide legs insure that the light shield can be located in only one position, while at the same time central support is lent to the removable shield by the

ribs

154, 156.

It is important that the light shield be disposed in only one position relative to the shrine body because it provides support to the shrine base along the deep end edge 158 and the tapered side edges 160, 161 from which the legs depend. The light shield edges are shown as comprising a flanged construction. In FIG. 16, it will be observed that the tapered side edges are wedge-shaped in order that they are coplanar with the shallow end shoulder and the tapered side shoulders. The coplanar relationship is insured by the engagement of the short deepend rib with the light shield lug and the long deep-end rib engaging the rear of the light shield.

The border construction of the shrine case includes on the base a deep-end flange 140 (FIG. 16), a wide shallow end border 143 which lies parallel with the outside back of the shrine body when assembled as shown in FIG. 16, and side flanges 141, 142 extending along the tapered sides between the two end flanges (FIGS. 16 and 17) to thereby define a depressed area between all of the flanges that are included in the border. The

respective flanges

140, 141, 142 and i143 defining the border are, as observed from the figures, located on the opposite side of the base back from the continuous periphery de fined by the respective ends and tapered sides.

Referring now particularly to the perspective partial view of FIGS. 18 and 20 it is seen that the tapered sides 122 of the body 111 have a shoulder 164 extending interiorly of the continuous periphery, which shoulders are respectively disposed longitudinally and generally parallel to the edges of the body tapered sides. A shallow end shoulder 136 is shown in FIG. 18, it and the notches 134 in the shallow end of the base being such as to engage each other when the reading stand is erected within the body vertical as in FIG. 22. The respective shoulders and also the outermost or uppermost edge portions of the removable light shield, are all positioned to receive the various edges of the ends and sides of the shrine base to thereby define a case, as seen in FIG. 16, for example. In this fashion, the shrine base edges are seated on the respective shoulders, the parts being so proportioned that the shrine base is received within the continuous periphery of the shrine body, ends and sides. In the embodiment of FIG. 22A the shoulders lie in a plane that passes between the body back and the edges of the body ends and sides and a notch 134A is cut to receive shoulder 136. The plane is also parallel to the tapered portions of the sides. In either fashion, the tapered side and shallow end shoulders respectively cooperate with the tapered sides and shallow ends to form lips denoted generically as 165 which are proportioned to receive the base Within the lips and maintain the base in proper seated relationship on the shoulders, including on the removable shoulders defined by the

flanges

168, 161, 158 on the renovable light shield.

The shrine case according to the present invention is advantageously formed by injection molding in machinery well-known to the plastics-working art. Certain of the features that are herein disclosed are particularly adapted to facilitate injection molding or other manufacture from plastics with a maximum of economy and a minimal complexity of molds and dies. To this end, the lips and shoulders (e.g. 164) are formed by establishing depressions along the respective tapered sides. In this fashion, the tapered sides are of substantially constant thickness, thus reducing the quantity of material required for the base. Similarly, the base shallow end 124 has a depression formed in order to provide the requisite shoulder 164. However, since the shallow end is that located on the supporting surface when the base is vertically oriented, a plurality of surface-engaging ribs 168 running in the direction of withdrawal from the die are provided. In this fashion ribs 168 provide a stabilizing feature when the shrine is erected as shown in FIGS. 22, 22A.

The deep end 120 of the shrine body includes a means for supporting a light in a fashion which is generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 above. A plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally staggered

bars

170, 171 define therebetween a light bracket receiving slot 172 (FIG. 23) for the mounting leg 35. Horizontal staggerering prevents any bar from being vertically above any other bar whereby simplicity of mold design is facilitated. This produces a lattice-work both above and below the slot 172 as seen in FIGS. 20 and 21. In addition an opening 174 is provided to facilitate ventilation and alleviate the elfects of light heat. One end of the opening 174 has a small slot 175 to receive and support the light wire. The edges of the slot are close enough together that they can frictionally and pinchingly engage the rubber or elastomeric material serving as insulation over the light cord (wire). By such engagement with the insulation, stress on the light-supporting structure is reduced and the wire is neatly guided away from the body.

Also located at the deep end in the back are a pair of hook holes 176. These can be used to hang the shrine body from a wall or other generally vertical surface, in which case a lighted picture frame construction is achieved.

The removable picture frame is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, only a fraction thereof being shown, is being understood that the remainder of the frame is constructed in similar fashion and is proportioned to fit within the body continuous periphery. The removable frame is generally rectangular, in accordance with the shape of the body and the back. The lateral sides of the removable frame (i.e. those sides which are horizontal when the body is vertically oriented) have a plurality of tabs 182 extending outwardly therefrom. Each tab engages a corresponding slot 183 in the body back, in a fashion generally similar to that discussed above for the slots 30 to receive tabs on the picture 15 in FIGS. 4 and 8. Preferably, the upper lateral edge also engages a shoulder defining another slot 183 underneath the light shield adjacent the deep end of the body. The removable frame can have any con venient cross section, chosen according to the aesthetic desires of the designer. A preferred embodiment is shown. The removable frame is flexible enough so that it can be bowed, the various tabs inserted in their slots at the deep end and the shallow end of the body and then straightened out flat in which case the tabs all slide into position. The external contours of the frame are altered as necessary (e.g. at 184) to accommodate the frame to the depressions in the tapered sides which define the respective shoulders.

The means for achieving the unique interlocking construction of the FIGS. 1624 embodiment include the pockets 188 shown in FIGS. 18 and 22. Thse pockets are disposed adjacent the shallow end 124 of the shrine body and are defined by a shoulder 1% running from the body back out to an intersection with the longitudinal tapered side shoulders 164-. The pocket is so proportioned that it receives the deep end of the shrine base in a mating-nesting interfit such as that of FIGS. 22, 22A, wherein the deep end 128 of the base 112 abuts either the body back (if the frame has been removed) or the frame and the shallow end shoulder 136 is received within the notch 134 or 134A that i cut in the bottom edge of each base tapered side adjacent the deep end of the latter.

It will be observed that several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. In general the cooperation between the shrine base and shrine body is the same when the latter is oriented vertically and interfitted with the base to form a reading stand. The invention also includes an embodiment having a unique and novel interlocking engagement that involves pockets formed on each side of the tapered sides in the shrine body, which pockets are capable of receiving the shrine base in an interfitting relationship. Both embodiments include means for lighting and means for displaying pictorial indicia. One embodiment also includes a removable frame means which offers the advantage that the indicia does not have to be especially adapted to be attached to the back of the shrine body. One embodiment also discloses a removable light shield which uniquely cooperates with portions of the body so as to seat the shrine base on shoulders provided by the light shield. The other embodiment, of course, does provide a light seal orientation which also seats the shrine base thereupon. Also, while both embodiments are capable of being hung from a wall to provide a picture frame or a lighted picture frame, one embodiment includes particular means adapted to such hanging although such means can be transposed over to the other embodiment.

In discussing the inventions herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the various modifications, constructions, of one embodiment can be transposed and incorporated into the other.

In review it will be seen that there has been disclosed and described a unique shrine case which is susceptible of a wide variation of usages. It can serve as a package or cover for a book or Bible, or when the parts are reversed from the package configuration it can serve as a reading stand such as illustrated in FIG. 5, but most significantly when the body is elevated and the large end of the base nested therein assumes the configuration of an illuminated shrine such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4-. The illumination is conveniently provided by a light fixture 18 which is hidden from view by a shield which draws the light downwardly onto the reading surface as well as serving as an inter-fitting member when other configurations are achieved by differently relating the two parts. In addition, provision has been made for inserting various pictorial indicia at the rear portion of the shrine body 11.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of the shrine case as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification, and appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides thereby defining a lighting area, and a base, said base having a base back,

base side walls, and base ends, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side walls, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body end interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand.

2. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides, the back of said body terminating short of the end having the depending shield thereby defining an opening to ventilate the lighting area, a light, a bracket for said light having a mounting portion, means on the deep end of the body to removably receive the light bracket and hold the light within the lighting area behind the shield, and a base, said base having a base back, base side walls, and base ends, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating'nesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side walls, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body end interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand.

3. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides, the back of said body terminating short of the end having the depending shield thereby defining an opening to ventilate the lighting area, a cross brace extending between the body sides adjacent the ventilation opening, means adjacent said cross brace for removably securing pictorial indicia against the back of said body, and a base, said base having a base back, base side walls, and base ends, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a matingnesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side walls, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body end inter-fits with the base to define a shrine with an illu minated reading stand.

4. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a shallow end, a deep end, said ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, the sides sloping to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides, the back of said body terminating short of the end having the depending shield thereby defining an opening to ventilate the lighting area, support posts extending along said shallow end termniating short of the top of said end, and a base, said base having a base back, base side walls, a deep base end, a shallow base end, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a matingnesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side walls, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand, and said body and said base being further reversible to form a case with the base deep end abutting the body shallow end support posts, while the base shallow end rests atop the depending shield on the body.

5. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery from each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, a lip supported from each of the respective shoulders and being proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, and a base, the base having a base back, basetapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

6. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery from each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, a lip supported from each of the respective shoulders and being proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, frame means removably mounted in the body back for removably securing pictorial indicia against the back of said body, and a base, the base having a base back, base-tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically 10 v with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

7. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery from each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, a lip supported from each of the respective shoulders and being proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, a depending shield removably joined at its ends to the body sides at the deep end defining across the deep end a shoulder positioned to receive the base shallow end, and a base, the base having a base back, base-tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side Walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

8. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a'shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery from each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, a lip supported from each of the respective shoulders and being proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, means on the shield and the body for mutually engaging and supporting the shield against pressure of the base when the base is seated on the respective shoulders, and a base, the base having a base back, base-tapered side Walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically With the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

9. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body,

the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery from each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, a lip supported from each of the respective shoulders and being proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, means on said shield and said body for receiving and positioning the shield in one position only and for engaging and supporting the shield against pressure of the base when the latter is supported by such shield, and a base, the base having a base back, base tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

10. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portion of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery and disposed longitudinally of each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, the respective shoulders being disposed in one plane that is located parallel to the edges of the tapered sides and passes between the body back and ends to form lips proportioned to receive the hereinafterdefined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, and a base, the base having a base back, base tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit With the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

11. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery and disposed longitudinally of each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, the respective shoulders being disposed in one plane that is located parallel to the edges of the tapered sides and passes between the body back and ends to form lips proportioned to receive the hereinafterdefined base within the lips and support such base on the shoulders, frame means removably mounted in the body back for removably securing pictorial indicia against the back of said body, and a base, the base having a base back, base tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls extend ing from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders of the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from the shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

12. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, the body having a back, a pair of tapered sides secured to and extending from said back, a deep end and a shallow end respectively secured to and extending from opposite ends of said back and joined to the tapered sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the back, a shoulder extending interiorly of the periphery and disposed longitudinally of each of the tapered sides and the shallow end, the respective shoulders being disposed in one plane that is located parallel to the edges of the tapered sides and passes between the body back i and ends to form lips proportioned to receive the hereinafter-defined base within the lips and to support such base on the shoulders, a depending shield removably joined at its ends to the body sides at the deep end and defining across the deep end a shoulder coplanar with the aforesaid shoulders, and a base, the base having a base back, base tapered side walls, and base deep and shallow ends to form a continuous periphery extending from one side of the base back, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the lips and shoulders on the shrine body, the base side walls sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the shoulders on the bodys side walls, the tapered sides of the base having notches cut in the edges adjacent the deep end at a position to receive the body shallow end shoulder in the notch when the base deep end abuts the body back when the base is inserted in the next-defined pockets, interiorly facing pockets on the base adjacent the shallow end thereof, the pockets being defined by terminating the shoulders on the respective tapered sides a distance from a shallow end and being coplanar with the lips on the respective sides and proportioned to receive the base deep end when the body is oriented vertically with the body shallow end shoulder received in the notches on the base tapered sides with the base in a horizontal position.

13. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one

of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides thereby defining a lighting area, and a base, said base having a base back, base side walls, and base ends, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side walls, a raised border, extending oppositely from said base sides and ends, on the back of the base defining a shallow recess to receive a closed book and adapted to elevate the open pages of the book for better reading, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body end interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand.

14. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides thereby defining a lighting area, a recessed border on the back of the body defining a shallow recess to receive a closed book and decorative indicia, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the 14 top, the body end interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand.

15. A shrine case comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a back, a pair of sides secured to and extending from said back, a pair of ends secured to and extending from said back and joined to the sides at the terminal portions of the respective sides and ends, one of said ends of the body being deeper than the other end with the sides tapering to form a continuous connection between the ends, the deeper of said ends having a depending shield joined at its ends to the body sides thereby defining a lighting area, and a base, said base having a base back, base side walls, and base ends, the base side walls and ends being proportioned for a mating-nesting interfit with the shrine body, the side walls of the base sloping at an angle complementary with the slope of the body side Walls, border means defining a shallow recess in said base back, and border means defining a shallow recess in said body back, the proportions of said recesses being adapted to receive and house a book when the base and body are positioned as a case, all elements being proportioned so that when the ends of the base are reversed, the interfit forms a reading stand and when the shrine body is oriented vertically with the lighting area at the top, the body end interfits with the base to define a shrine with an illuminated reading stand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 193,366 Dreyfus July 24, 1877 1,645,807 Grant Oct. 18, 1927 1,677,840 Moses July 17, 1928 2,219,039 Young Oct. 22, 1940 2,845,322 Squindo July 29, 1958

Claims

1. A SHRINE CASE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BODY, SAID BODY HAVING A BACK, A PAIR OF SIDES SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BACK, A PAIR OF ENDS SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BACK AND JOINED TO THE SIDES AT THE TERMINAL PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDES AND ENDS, ONE OF SAID ENDS OF THE BODY BEING DEEPER THAN THE OTHER END WITH THE SIDES TAPERING TO FORM A CONTINUOUS CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ENDS, THE DEEPER OF SAID ENDS HAVING A DEPENDING SHIELD JOINED AT ITS ENDS TO THE BODY SIDES THEREBY DEFINING A LIGHTING AREA, AND A BASE, SAID BASE HAVING A BASE BACK, BASE SIDE WALLS, AND BASE ENDS, THE BASE SIDE WALLS AND ENDS BEING PROPORTIONED FOR A MATING-NESTING INTERFIT WITH THE SHRINE BODY, THE SIDE WALLS OF THE BASE SLOPING AT AN ANGLE COMPLEMENTARY WITH THE SLOPE OF THE BODY SIDE WALLS, ALL ELEMENTS BEING PROPORTIONED SO THAT WHEN THE ENDS OF THE BASE ARE REVERSED, THE INTERFIT FORMS A READING STAND AND WHEN THE SHRINE BODY IS ORIENTED VERTICALLY WITH THE LIGHTING AREA AT THE TOP, THE BODY END INTERFITS WITH THE BASE TO DEFINE A SHRINE WITH AN ILLUMINATED READING STAND.