diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/deser/DeserializerCache.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/deser/DeserializerCache.java
index e85638dd2f..b6ded4f4bb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/deser/DeserializerCache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/deser/DeserializerCache.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.*;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.ClassUtil;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.Converter;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.LookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.SimpleLookupCache;
 
 /**
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ public final class DeserializerCache
      * This currently (3.0) means POJO, Enum and Container (collection,
      * map) deserializers.
      */
-    private final SimpleLookupCache<JavaType, JsonDeserializer<Object>> _cachedDeserializers;
+    private final LookupCache<JavaType, JsonDeserializer<Object>> _cachedDeserializers;
 
     /**
      * During deserializer construction process we may need to keep track of partially
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/BasicClassIntrospector.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/BasicClassIntrospector.java
index b31ff8ec24..a74c456569 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/BasicClassIntrospector.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/BasicClassIntrospector.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.cfg.MapperConfig;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.SimpleType;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.ClassUtil;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.LookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.SimpleLookupCache;
 
 public class BasicClassIntrospector
@@ -60,13 +61,13 @@ public class BasicClassIntrospector
      * because {@link #forMapper(Object)} initializes it properly, when mapper get
      * constructed.
      */
-    protected final transient SimpleLookupCache<JavaType,BasicBeanDescription> _cachedFCA;
+    protected final transient LookupCache<JavaType,BasicBeanDescription> _cachedFCA;
 
     public BasicClassIntrospector() {
         this(null);
     }
 
-    protected BasicClassIntrospector(SimpleLookupCache<JavaType,BasicBeanDescription> cache) {
+    protected BasicClassIntrospector(LookupCache<JavaType,BasicBeanDescription> cache) {
         _cachedFCA = cache;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/JacksonAnnotationIntrospector.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/JacksonAnnotationIntrospector.java
index 2811122002..27b2910281 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/JacksonAnnotationIntrospector.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/introspect/JacksonAnnotationIntrospector.java
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public class JacksonAnnotationIntrospector
      *<p>
      * Non-final only because it needs to be re-created after deserialization.
      */
-    protected transient SimpleLookupCache<Class<?>,Boolean> _annotationsInside = new SimpleLookupCache<Class<?>,Boolean>(48, 96);
+    protected transient LookupCache<Class<?>,Boolean> _annotationsInside = new SimpleLookupCache<Class<?>,Boolean>(48, 96);
 
     /*
     /**********************************************************************
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/SerializerCache.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/SerializerCache.java
index 88a71a7938..be4eaa2342 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/SerializerCache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/SerializerCache.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.util.Snapshottable;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.*;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ser.impl.ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.LookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.SimpleLookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.TypeKey;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public final class SerializerCache
      * NOTE: keys are of various types (see below for key types), in addition to
      * basic {@link JavaType} used for "untyped" serializers.
      */
-    private final SimpleLookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> _sharedMap;
+    private final LookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> _sharedMap;
 
     /**
      * Most recent read-only instance, created from _sharedMap, if any.
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ public SerializerCache(int maxCached) {
         _readOnlyMap = new AtomicReference<ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap>();
     }
 
-    private SerializerCache(SimpleLookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> shared) {
+    protected SerializerCache(LookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> shared) {
         _sharedMap = shared;
         _readOnlyMap = new AtomicReference<ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap>();
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/impl/ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/impl/ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap.java
index ea3e12f873..9d795e419a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/impl/ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/ser/impl/ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ser.SerializerCache;
-import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.SimpleLookupCache;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.LookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.TypeKey;
 
 /**
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public final class ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap
     private final int _mask;
 
     protected ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap(SerializerCache shared,
-            SimpleLookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> src)
+            LookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> src)
     {
         _sharedCache = shared;
         _size = findSize(src.size());
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ private final static int findSize(int size)
      * Factory method for constructing an instance.
      */
     public static ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap from(SerializerCache shared,
-            SimpleLookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> src) {
+            LookupCache<TypeKey, JsonSerializer<Object>> src) {
         return new ReadOnlyClassToSerializerMap(shared, src);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/type/TypeFactory.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/type/TypeFactory.java
index 09ca46986a..26616684b4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/type/TypeFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/type/TypeFactory.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonNode;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.ArrayBuilders;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.ClassUtil;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.LookupCache;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.SimpleLookupCache;
 
 /**
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ public final class TypeFactory
      * actual generic types), we will use small cache to avoid repetitive
      * resolution of core types
      */
-    protected final SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> _typeCache;
+    protected final LookupCache<Object,JavaType> _typeCache;
 
     /*
     /**********************************************************************
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ private TypeFactory() {
         this(null);
     }
 
-    protected TypeFactory(SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache) {
+    protected TypeFactory(LookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache) {
         if (typeCache == null) {
             typeCache = new SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType>(16, 200);
         }
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ protected TypeFactory(SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache) {
         _classLoader = null;
     }
 
-    protected TypeFactory(SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache,
+    protected TypeFactory(LookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache,
             TypeModifier[] mods, ClassLoader classLoader)
     {
         if (typeCache == null) {
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ public TypeFactory snapshot() {
      */
     public TypeFactory withModifier(TypeModifier mod) 
     {
-        SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache = _typeCache;
+        LookupCache<Object,JavaType> typeCache = _typeCache;
         TypeModifier[] mods;
         if (mod == null) { // mostly for unit tests
             mods = null;
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ public TypeFactory withClassLoader(ClassLoader classLoader) {
      * identical settings except for different cache; most likely one with
      * bigger maximum size.
      */
-    public TypeFactory withCache(SimpleLookupCache<Object,JavaType> cache)  {
+    public TypeFactory withCache(LookupCache<Object,JavaType> cache)  {
         return new TypeFactory(cache, _modifiers, _classLoader);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/LookupCache.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/LookupCache.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..70342fa803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/LookupCache.java
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util;
+
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.util.Snapshottable;
+
+import java.util.function.BiConsumer;
+
+/**
+ * An interface describing the required API for the Jackson-Databind Type cache.
+ *
+ * @see com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.TypeFactory#withCache(LookupCache<java.lang.Object,com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType>)
+ * @see SimpleLookupCache
+ */
+public interface LookupCache <K,V>
+        extends Snapshottable<LookupCache<K,V>> {
+
+    void contents(BiConsumer<K,V> consumer);
+
+    int size();
+
+    /**
+     * NOTE: key is of type Object only to retain binary backwards-compatibility
+     * @param key
+     * @return value associated with key (can return null)
+     */
+    V get(Object key);
+
+    V put(K key, V value);
+
+    V putIfAbsent(K key, V value);
+
+    void clear();
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/RootNameLookup.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/RootNameLookup.java
index 5b0c46a14a..286a6ec586 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/RootNameLookup.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/RootNameLookup.java
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public class RootNameLookup implements java.io.Serializable
      * For efficient operation, let's try to minimize number of times we
      * need to introspect root element name to use.
      */
-    protected transient SimpleLookupCache<ClassKey,PropertyName> _rootNames;
+    protected transient LookupCache<ClassKey,PropertyName> _rootNames;
 
     public RootNameLookup() {
         _rootNames = new SimpleLookupCache<ClassKey,PropertyName>(20, 200);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/SimpleLookupCache.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/SimpleLookupCache.java
index b9f79eaa07..5ca0852272 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/SimpleLookupCache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/SimpleLookupCache.java
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.function.BiConsumer;
 
-import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.util.Snapshottable;
-
 /**
  * Synchronized cache with bounded size: used for reusing lookup values
  * and lazily instantiated reusable items.
@@ -26,8 +24,7 @@
  * a shaded variant may be used one day.
  */
 public class SimpleLookupCache<K,V>
-    implements Snapshottable<SimpleLookupCache<K,V>>,
-        java.io.Serializable
+    implements LookupCache<K,V>, java.io.Serializable
 {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 3L;
 
@@ -55,10 +52,11 @@ protected Object readResolve() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public SimpleLookupCache<K, V> snapshot() {
+    public LookupCache<K, V> snapshot() {
         return new SimpleLookupCache<K,V>(_initialEntries, _maxEntries);
     }
 
+    @Override
     public void contents(BiConsumer<K,V> consumer) {
         for (Map.Entry<K,V> entry : _map.entrySet()) {
             consumer.accept(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
@@ -70,7 +68,7 @@ public void contents(BiConsumer<K,V> consumer) {
     /* Public API
     /**********************************************************************
      */
-
+    @Override
     public V put(K key, V value) {
         if (_map.size() >= _maxEntries) {
             // double-locking, yes, but safe here; trying to avoid "clear storms"
@@ -83,6 +81,7 @@ public V put(K key, V value) {
         return _map.put(key, value);
     }
 
+    @Override
     public V putIfAbsent(K key, V value) {
         // not 100% optimal semantically, but better from correctness (never exceeds
         // defined maximum) and close enough all in all:
@@ -96,9 +95,12 @@ public V putIfAbsent(K key, V value) {
         return _map.putIfAbsent(key, value);
     }
     
-    // NOTE: key is of type Object only to retain binary backwards-compatibility
+    @Override
     public V get(Object key) {  return _map.get(key); }
 
+    @Override
     public void clear() { _map.clear(); }
+
+    @Override
     public int size() { return _map.size(); }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCache.java b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCache.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..20f1955b86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCache.java
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.function.BiConsumer;
+
+/**
+ * A LookupCache implementation that has no synchronization (like SimpleLookupCache does)
+ * but that has the downside of not limiting the size of the cache.
+ */
+public class UnlimitedLookupCache<K,V> implements LookupCache<K,V> {
+
+    private final int _initialEntries, _maxEntries;
+    private final transient ConcurrentHashMap<K,V> _map;
+
+    public UnlimitedLookupCache(int initialEntries, int maxEntries)
+    {
+        _initialEntries = initialEntries;
+        _maxEntries = maxEntries;
+        // We'll use concurrency level of 4, seems reasonable
+        _map = new ConcurrentHashMap<K,V>(initialEntries, 0.8f, 4);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public LookupCache<K, V> snapshot() {
+        return new UnlimitedLookupCache<K,V>(_initialEntries, _maxEntries);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void contents(BiConsumer<K, V> consumer) {
+        for (Map.Entry<K,V> entry : _map.entrySet()) {
+            consumer.accept(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int size() {
+        return _map.size();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public V get(Object key) {
+        return _map.get(key);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public V put(K key, V value) {
+        return _map.put(key, value);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public V putIfAbsent(K key, V value) {
+        return _map.putIfAbsent(key, value);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void clear() {
+        _map.clear();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCacheTest.java b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCacheTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..353e5238ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/util/UnlimitedLookupCacheTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util;
+
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonProcessingException;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.TypeFactory;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+
+public class UnlimitedLookupCacheTest {
+    @Test
+    public void testCache() {
+        UnlimitedLookupCache<Long, String> cache = new UnlimitedLookupCache<>(4, 10);
+        assertNull(cache.get(1000L));
+        assertNull(cache.put(1000L, "Thousand"));
+        assertEquals("Thousand", cache.get(1000L));
+        assertEquals("Thousand", cache.putIfAbsent(1000L, "Míle"));
+        assertEquals("Thousand", cache.get(1000L));
+        assertEquals("Thousand", cache.put(1000L, "Míle"));
+        assertEquals("Míle", cache.get(1000L));
+        cache.clear();
+        assertNull(cache.put(1000L, "Thousand"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testCompatibility() throws JsonProcessingException {
+        UnlimitedLookupCache<Object, JavaType> cache = new UnlimitedLookupCache<>(4, 10);
+        TypeFactory tf = TypeFactory.defaultInstance().withCache(cache);
+
+        //TODO find way to inject the `tf` instance into an ObjectMapper (via MapperBuilder?)
+
+        //ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper();
+        //mapper.setTypeFactory(tf);
+        //assertEquals("1000", mapper.writeValueAsString(1000));
+    }
+}