Benefits of Incorporating a Figurine Identifier Into Your Security System

There are various different figurine identifier (PI) systems available to hobbyists. A PI system is a system that uses a coded list of preferred figurine identification components. These components identify and permit the easy recognition and re-assignment of a particular figurine to a number of different categories in a preferred embodiment. A preferred embodiment includes a number of components that correspond in a logical order to a catalog number or catalog designation.

The most popular preferred embodiment is a hobby-type figurine identification system, such as the hobby-type Adventure Figure Identification (AFI). This is a system used by manufacturers of a wide range of collectible figurines. The primary objective is to maintain a certain level of exclusivity to a certain group of figurines within a hobby collection. For example, if one collects stamps, one does not want his stamps to be shared with another collector. In this way, the hobbyist will want to have a system that categorizes his stamps into pre-owned, used, and rare. As a result, his ID cards for his stamps are specific to his preferred edition of each category.

There are additional benefits associated with the use of a hobby-type figurine identification system. First, there is a decreased likelihood that a fraudster will attempt to steal a stamp based on its uniqueness. Also, the stamps that are uniquely assigned to a particular set of Adventure Figurines will decrease the cost of insurance due to the increased value of the items.

When determining if a particular combination of a preferred embodiment and a preferred method of collection apply to a given situation, the courts must look to what would be likely to result from the invention in a practical situation. For instance, if a manufacturer creates a hobby-style figurine ID card and attaches it to an expensive and valuable album, the album itself may become a target for a thief who wants to steal the card. The cost of the album, in addition to the card, can significantly increase the value of the item to the thief. On the other hand, the courts may view an ID card as being significantly less collectible if it does not have a personalized flap or some other means of adding additional personalization to the card. A hobbyist may also prefer to identify his stamps based on the preferred edition, rather than a preferred method of collecting.

A third benefit in determining if an ID system that requires a stamp in order to create a unique identification should be adopted is whether a system should be adopted in a commercial setting. If an individual purchases an adventure figurine for investment purposes, he may wish to have an ID card created in a format that can be read easily by his guests. In this case, the card and its flap would be seen as necessary investments that would increase in value over time, in accordance with the invention. However, he may decide to retain the figurine indefinitely for his own enjoyment and never have to worry about losing or misplacing it.

An example of a scenario where the invention does not allow for a card that may be used to determine ownership of the figurines would be when a collector purchases a set of antique figurines from a dealer and then preserves them in a frame. He generally does not possess the skills needed to design a frame in accordance with the original design, and in such event he would need to rely on another type of frame. In most cases, these figurines are considered to be collectibles, and therefore, would need to have a special frame designed to hold these valuable artifacts. While there are many different situations where an individual may decide to use the ID system, the three listed here are the more common situations.