U.S. patent application number 10/010741 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for jewelry memento chamber.
Invention is credited to Naor, Amos.
Application Number | 20040045316 10/010741 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31994331 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040045316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Naor, Amos |
March 11, 2004 |
Jewelry memento chamber
Abstract
An article of jewelry configured as a container for enclosing
memorabilia. The article of jewelry includes a containment body
having at least one opening configured for accommodating insertion
of memorabilia into an interior compartment thereof. A releasable
closure member is provided for configuring the article of jewelry
between an open configuration in which the memorabilia is
insertible into and removable from the interior compartment and a
closed configuration in which the memorabilia is retained within
the interior compartment. An adaptor is utilized that has one
portion configured for engagement with the containment body and
another portion configured for engagement with the closure member
for accommodating coupling of the closure member to the containment
body. The containment body may be constructed from substantially
transparent mineral crystal that establishes a prismatic-effect for
viewing memorabilia contained therein or from opaque mineral
crystal that obscures visibility of memorabilia contained within
the containment body.
Inventors: |
Naor, Amos; (San Antonio,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Soules & Wallace, P.C.
Attn: Janice Leverett
Frost Bank Tower
100 W. Houston St. Ste. 1500
San Antonio
TX
78205
US
|
Family ID: |
31994331 |
Appl. No.: |
10/010741 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10010741 |
Nov 13, 2001 |
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09427530 |
Oct 26, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
63/1.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 25/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
063/001.14 |
International
Class: |
A44C 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as
follows:
1. A decorative article of jewelry configured for visual display to
others by a wearer as a container for enclosing memorabilia, said
article of jewelry comprising: a containment body having an
interior compartment, said containment body having at least one
opening configured for accommodating insertion of memorabilia into
said interior compartment thereof; a releasable closure member for
configuring said article of jewelry between an open configuration
in which the memorabilia is insertible into and removable from said
interior compartment and a closed configuration in which the
memorabilia is retained within said interior compartment; an
adaptor having one portion configured for permanent and fixed
engagement with said containment body and another portion
configured for engagement with said closure member, said adaptor
being provided for accommodating coupling of said closure member to
said containment body; said containment body, said releasable
closure member and said adaptor being connectable together to
provide a decorative article of jewelry configured for visual
display to others by a wearer; and a securement assembly for
securing said adaptor within said containment body.
2. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, wherein
said containment body is constructed from substantially transparent
mineral crystal that establishes a prismatic-effect when viewing
memorabilia contained therein.
3. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, wherein
said containment body is constructed from opaque mineral crystal
thereby obscuring visibility there through of memorabilia contained
within said containment body.
4. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, further
comprising: a loop integrally constructed upon said releasable
closure member, said loop configured to receive a chain upon which
said decorative article of jewelry is suspended upon the
wearer.
5. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, wherein
said adaptor is tubular in shape for permitting passage of the
memorabilia there through into and out of said interior
compartment.
6. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 5, wherein
a lower portion of said adaptor is configured for permanent and
fixed engagement with said containment body and said portion
configured for engagement with said closure member is adapted for
releasable engagement with said closure member.
7. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, wherein
said at least one opening into said interior compartment of said
containment body forms a mouth that is configured for accommodating
insertion therein of at least a part of said adaptor.
8. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 7, wherein
an interior surficial shape of said mouth is configured for
establishing a substantial conformance fit about an exterior
surface of said part of said portion of said adaptor configured for
insertion into said mouth of said containment body.
9. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1, wherein
said securement assembly is a fastener being applied to a portion
of said adaptor.
10. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1,
wherein said securement assembly having at least one set screw
receiving aperture extending through said containment body between
an exterior surface of said containment body and an interior
surface of said mouth, said set screw receiving aperture being
transversely oriented to a longitudinal axis of said adaptor.
11. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 10,
wherein said at least one set screw receiving aperture numbers two
set screw receiving apertures, each of said two set screw receiving
apertures being opposingly positioned one to the other across said
mouth of said-containment body.
12. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1,
further comprising: two set screws, each threadedly engaged within
one of said two set screw receiving apertures and each of said two
set screws being positioned in abutting engagement with said
adaptor when said containment body, said releasable closure member
and said adaptor are connected together.
13. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 12,
wherein said portion of said adaptor inserted into said mouth of
said containment body further comprises a receiving area upon said
exterior surface thereof for abuttingly receiving tips of said two
set screws, said receiving area being provided for resisting
disengagement of said adaptor from said compartment body when said
two set screws are abuttingly engaged upon said receiving area.
14. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 13,
wherein said receiving area is located in a recess in said exterior
surface of said adaptor.
15. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 13,
wherein said receiving area is located in a circumferential groove,
said groove encircling said adaptor at said exterior surface of
said portion of said adaptor that is configured for insertion into
said mouth of said containment body.
16. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 13,
wherein said portion of said adaptor inserted into said mouth of
said containment body is cylindrically shaped.
17. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 13,
wherein said adaptor further comprises a stop surface for abutting
a lip of said mouth of said containment body for establishing
proper positioning of said adaptor in said mouth of said
containment body.
18. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 6,
wherein said portion of said adaptor configured for releasable
engagement with said closure member is at least partially threaded
for mating engagement with a threaded portion of said closure
member.
19. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 18,
wherein said closure member is a cap having a threaded interior
portion configured for mating engagement with said threaded portion
of said closure member.
20. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 19,
wherein said adaptor further comprises a stop for abuttingly
engaging an advancing surface of said cap thereby ceasing
advancement of said cap upon said at least partially threaded
portion of said adaptor.
21. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1,
further comprising: said closure member having a plurality of flat
exterior surfaces arranged for alignment with corresponding flat
exterior surfaces of the containment body.
22. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 1,
further comprising: proper alignment between said flat exterior
surfaces of said closure member and said flat exterior surfaces of
said containment body being achieved utilizing a lower stop surface
of said closure member that is configured to halt advancement of
the closure member onto the adaptor when an upper lip of a mouth to
the interior compartment of the containment body is abutted.
23. A method for providing a decorative article of jewelry
configured for visual display to others by a wearer as a container
for enclosing memorabilia, said method comprising: providing a
containment body, said containment body having at least one opening
configured for accommodating insertion of memorabilia into an
interior compartment thereof; providing a releasable closure member
for configuring said article of jewelry between an open
configuration in which the memorabilia is insertible into and
removable from said interior compartment and a closed configuration
in which the memorabilia is retained within said interior
compartment; installing an adaptor having one portion configured
for permanent and fixed engagement with said containment body and
another portion configured for engagement with said closure member;
said adaptor being provided for accommodating coupling of said
closure member to said containment body; and suspending said
decorative article of jewelry about a wearer's neck by a loop
integrally constructed upon said releasable closure member thereby
establishing a decorative article of jewelry configured for visual
display to others by the wearer comprising said containment body,
said releasable closure member and said adaptor.
24. The method for providing an article of jewelry in claim 23,
further comprising: configuring said closure member to have a
plurality of flat exterior surfaces arranged for alignment with
corresponding flat exterior surfaces of the containment body.
25. The method for providing an article of jewelry in claim 23,
further comprising: affecting proper alignment between said flat
exterior surfaces of said closure member and said flat exterior
surfaces of said containment body being achieved utilizing a lower
stop surface of said closure member that is configured to halt
advancement of the closure member onto the adaptor when an upper
lip of the mouth to the interior compartment of the containment
body is abutted.
26. A decorative article of jewelry configured for visual display
to others by a wearer as a container for enclosing memorabilia,
said article of jewelry comprising: a containment body having an
interior compartment, said containment body having at least one
opening configured for accommodating insertion of memorabilia into
said interior compartment thereof; a releasable closure member for
configuring said article of jewelry between an open configuration
in which the memorabilia is insertible into and removable from said
interior compartment and a closed configuration in which the
memorabilia is retained within said interior compartment; an
adaptor having one portion configured for permanent and fixed
engagement with said containment body and another portion
configured for engagement with said closure member, said adaptor
being provided for accommodating coupling of said closure member to
said containment body; said adaptor being tubular in shape for
permitting passage of the memorabilia there through into and out of
said interior compartment; said portion of said adaptor configured
for engagement with said containment body being adapted for
releasable engagement with said containment body and said portion
configured for engagement with said closure member is adapted for
releasable engagement with said closure member; said at least one
opening into said interior compartment of said containment body
forming a mouth that is configured for accommodating insertion
therein of at least a part of said portion of said adaptor
configured for releasable engagement with said containment body; an
interior surficial shape of said mouth configured for establishing
a substantial conformance fit about an exterior surface of said
part of said portion of said adaptor configured for insertion into
said mouth of said containment body; a releasable securement
assembly for releasably securing said adaptor within said mouth of
said containment body; and at least one set screw receiving
aperture extending through said containment body between an
exterior surface of said containment body and an interior surface
of said mouth, said set screw receiving aperture being transversely
oriented to a longitudinal axis of said adaptor.
27. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 9,
wherein said fastener is an adhesive.
28. The decorative article of jewelry as recited in claim 27,
wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of
glue, epoxy, thermosetting resin or polymer resin.
29. A decorative article of jewelry configured for visual display
to others by a wearer as a container for enclosing memorabilia,
said article of jewelry comprising: a containment body having an
interior compartment, said containment body having at least one
opening configured for accommodating insertion of memorabilia into
said interior compartment thereof; a releasable closure member for
configuring said article of jewelry between an open configuration
in which the memorabilia is insertible into and removable from said
interior compartment and a closed configuration in which the
memorabilia is retained within said interior compartment; an
adaptor having one portion configured for permanent and fixed
engagement with said containment body and another portion
configured for engagement with said closure member, said adaptor
being provided for accommodating coupling of said closure member to
said containment body; said adaptor being tubular in shape for
permitting passage of the memorabilia there through into and out of
said interior compartment; said portion of said adaptor configured
for engagement with said containment body being adapted for
releasable engagement with said containment body and said portion
configured for engagement with said closure member is adapted for
releasable engagement with said closure member; said at least one
opening into said interior compartment of said containment body
forming a mouth that is configured for accommodating insertion
therein of at least a part of said portion of said adaptor
configured for engagement with said containment body; a fastener
affixed to said portion of said adaptor; an interior surficial
shape of said mouth configured for establishing a substantial
conformance fit about an exterior surface of said part of said
portion of said adaptor configured for insertion into said mouth of
said containment body; and a releasable securement assembly for
releasably securing said adaptor within said mouth of said
containment body.
Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part filed
under 37 CFR .sctn.1.53 of pending continued prosecution
application filed Jun. 14, 2001 and relating back to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/427,530 filed Oct. 26, 1999 entitled
JEWELRY MEMENTO CHAMBER; said application in its entirety is hereby
expressly incorporated by reference into the present
application.
DESCRIPTION
[0002] 1. Industrial Applicability
[0003] The present invention finds applicability in the personal
adornment industries, and more specifically in the jewelry design
industries.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] Necklaces, bracelets and broaches are mere examples of types
of jewelry from which pendants are often suspended. Lockets and
other types of compartment-styles of jewelry provide openable
enclosures for sentimental items such as photographs and the like.
Similarly, amber is often utilized in jewelry design because of the
transparency of the mineral which permits a viewer to appreciate
items such as insects that have been encased therein. It has been
appreciated by the present applicant that many jewelry wearers will
desire to have openable compartments built into jewelry items
designed to contain sentimental articles and other memorabilia. In
many situations, the wearer of such jewelry will desire to display
the enclosed item(s) through the walls of the compartment.
Therefore, it has been recognized as desirable in some instances to
construct such a compartment from transparent materials that permit
viewing of the enclosed article.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In the disclosed embodiment(s), the present invention
provides the desirable enhancements described above for a piece of
jewelry, and especially for pendant-style pieces. As has previously
been demonstrated by the popularity of such jewelry designs as the
locket; the wearers of jewelry often desire to carry special and
sentimental objects and things close to them, and using a piece of
jewelry as the carrier provides a highly desirable mode. Those
things desired to be carried may range from cuttings of a child's
hair to the ashes of a deceased loved one. Other items of a more
frivolous nature may be desired to be changed out at different
times for variation.
[0007] The position of a pendant on a chain about the neck of the
wearer in the form of a necklace is highly desirable to some
because of the convenience in putting such a jewelry piece on and
taking the same off. Such a jewelry style also places the enclosed
item symbolically close to the wearer's heart.
[0008] In many instances, the wearer will desire to maintain the
enclosed object or material private and to themselves. An apt
example would be when the ashes of a loved one are deposited into
the carrying pendant. In these cases, the wearer would normally
select a container which is opaque, and through which others cannot
see. In other instances, however, the wearer may desire that the
contained object or material be displayed to others for viewing. In
those cases, the wearer would select a container constructed from
transparent material; in the case of quartz, the interior surface
can be polished to achieve the transparent effect.
[0009] The utilization of natural crystal has been discovered as
providing both the transparent and opaque qualities described above
as alternatively desirable. One particularly favored material
example is quartz. Naturally occurring elongate crystalline
structures of quartz have been utilized in the construction of the
present invention with great success. In the instances where
visibility of the contained objects is desired, a transparent
quartz is selected for construction of the containing structural
portion of the pendant. In this embodiment, the natural crystalline
structure of the transparent quartz provides a prismatic effect
that in many cases enhances the display presentation of the
contained object or material. In the other situations where the
wearer desires concealment of the enclosed object or material,
opaque quartz can be selected for the construction of the
containing portion of the jewelry piece. In this case, a natural
crystalline structure still provides an attractive exterior
appearance, while maintaining privacy with respect to those items
or materials carried therein.
[0010] In many cases, the owner of the jewelry piece will desire to
exchange items within the containment portion. Therefore, the
ability to open and close the container has been provided.
Technically, a mechanism was required for facilitating the
releasable engagement of a closure member to the hollowed
crystalline structure. This has been accommodated by incorporating
an adapter between a threaded cap and a mouth opening of the
crystalline container body. Still further, a fastening assembly has
been developed for properly and releasably securing the adapter at
the mouth of the container.
[0011] In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the
form of an article of jewelry configured as a container for
enclosing memorabilia. The article of jewelry includes a
containment body having at least one opening configured for
accommodating insertion of memorabilia into an interior compartment
thereof. A releasable closure member is provided for configuring
the article of jewelry between an open configuration in which the
memorabilia is insertible into and removable from the interior
compartment and a closed configuration in which the memorabilia is
retained within the interior compartment. An adapter is utilized
that has one portion configured for engagement with the containment
body and another portion configured for engagement with the closure
member for accommodating coupling of the closure member to the
containment body.
[0012] In alternative embodiments, the containment body is
constructed from substantially transparent mineral crystal that
establishes a prismatic-effect for viewing memorabilia contained
therein or from opaque mineral crystal that obscures visibility of
memorabilia contained within the containment body.
[0013] As shown, the interior compartment has an elongate shape
formed within a hollow space within the containment body. The
adaptor is tubular in shape for permitting passage of the
memorabilia there through into and out of the interior compartment.
The portion of the adaptor configured for engagement with the
containment body is adapted for releasable engagement with the
containment body and the portion configured for engagement with the
closure member is adapted for releasable engagement with the
closure member. At least one opening into the interior compartment
of the containment body forms a mouth that is configured for
accommodating insertion therein of at least a part of the portion
of the adaptor configured for releasable engagement with the
containment body. An interior surficial shape of the mouth is
configured for establishing a substantial conformance fit about an
exterior surface of the part of the portion of the adaptor
configured for insertion into the mouth of the containment body. A
releasable securement assembly is provided for releasably securing
the adaptor within the mouth of the containment body. There is at
least one, and preferably two set screw receiving apertures
extending through the compartment body between an exterior surface
of the compartment body and the interior surface of the mouth, the
set screw receiving apertures each being transversely oriented to a
longitudinal axis of the adaptor. Each of the two set screw
receiving apertures are opposingly positioned, one to the other, at
least partially across the mouth of the compartment body. This
positioning may be directly across from one another, or directed
from any of the two faces of the exterior of the compartment body.
This could be the case when it is desired to have the screws on a
back side of the compartment body so that they re hidden from view
when a front side of the compartment body is observed.
[0014] Still further, in the illustrated embodiment, two set screws
are included, each threadedly engaged within one of the two set
screw receiving apertures and each of the two set screws are
ultimately positioned in abutting engagement with the adaptor
positioned in the mouth of the containment body or received in
provided apertures through the wall of the sleeve-style adaptor.
The portion of the adaptor inserted-into the mouth of the
containment body has a receiving area upon the exterior surface
thereof for abuttingly receiving tips of the two set screws, the
receiving area being provided for resisting disengagement of the
adaptor from the compartment body when the two set screws are
abuttingly engaged upon the receiving surface. The receiving area
is located in a recess in the exterior surface of the adaptor. More
exactly, the receiving area is located in a circumferential groove,
the groove encircling the adaptor at the exterior surface of the
portion of the adaptor that is configured for insertion into the
mouth of the containment body. Alternatively, apertures may be
provided in the adaptor for receiving the set screws. The portion
of the adaptor inserted into the mouth of the containment body is
cylindrically shaped. The adaptor includes a stop surface for
abutting a lip of the mouth of the containment body for
establishing proper positioning of the adaptor in the mouth of the
containment body. The portion of the adaptor configured for
releasable engagement with the closure member is at least partially
threaded for mating engagement with a threaded portion of the
closure member. The closure member takes the form of a cap having a
threaded interior portion configured for mating engagement with the
threaded portion of the closure member. A loop is coupled to the
cap for receiving a suspending member such as a necklace chain
utilized for hanging the article of jewelry from a wearer's
neck.
[0015] The general beneficial effects described above apply
generally to each of the exemplary descriptions and
characterizations of the devices and mechanisms disclosed herein.
The specific structures through which these benefits are delivered
will be described in detail herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the following, the invention will be described in greater
detail by way of examples and with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an elevational exploded view of an illustrative
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 is an elevational assembled view of the illustrative
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention/
[0019] FIG. 3 is an elevational assembled view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present invention.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention
in the form of an article of jewelry configured as a container for
enclosing memorabilia as shown. The jewelry article includes a
containment body 10 formed from an elongate piece of natural quartz
having an interior compartment 15 bored into a center space
thereof. Access into the interior compartment 15 is accommodated at
a top end thereof through a mouth opening.
[0022] As illustrated, the containment body 10 is of a crystalline
structure having a plurality of exterior flat surfaces. Because a
preferred material of construction for the containment body 10 is a
natural quartz, it can be selected or conditioned to be transparent
or opaque with respect to the interior compartment 15.
[0023] In the transparent embodiment, the different angles of
refraction through which a contained object is visualized causes a
prismatic effect that established a unique display presentation of
the contained object or material to a viewing person. If the quartz
crystal is selected to be opaque, concealment of an object or
material maintained within the containment body 10 is affected. A
concealing effect can also be established when the interior
compartment 15 is bored into the body 10. As a result of the
drilling of the compartment 1, the interior walls will appear hazy
to the extent that one cannot see there across and a contained item
will not be visible from the outside. Alternatively, this same
roughened interior wall can be polished after drilling to establish
a transparent embodiment of the invention.
[0024] A releasable closure member 35 is provided in the form of a
threaded cap. A threaded portion of the closure member 35 is
arranged for threaded engagement upon a portion 30 of an adaptor 20
that is configured for engagement with the closure member 35. An
oppositely positioned portioned 25 of the adaptor 20 is configured
for releasable engagement with the containment body 10. Through
utilization of the adaptor 20, the containment body 10 is made
releasably engageable with the threaded cap version of the closure
member 35.
[0025] A securement assembly is provided for attaching the adaptor
20 to the containment body 10 within the mouth opening. In the
illustrated embodiment, the securement assembly includes a pair of
set screw receiving apertures 50 through which a pair of set screws
45 are inserted. When the adaptor 20 is properly installed in the
mouth of the containment body 10, the set screws 45 can be advanced
in the receiving apertures 50 until a distal end of the screws 45
abuttingly engage the exterior surface of the adaptor 20 at a
receiving area 27 thereupon. In one embodiment, the receiving area
27 is located within a recess that takes the form of a
circumferential groove surrounding the lower portion of the adaptor
20 securable to the containment body 10. With the tip of the screws
45 anchored in the groove-style receiving area 27, withdrawal of
the adaptor 20 from the mouth of the container body 10 is resisted.
Alternatively, the set screws 45 are received in apertures through
the wall of the sleeve-like adaptor 20. The aperture in the adaptor
may be threaded, or merely sized to engage the threads of the set
screw 45. To secure the screw 45 in the aperture, the tip of the
screw may then be flattened, burred or otherwise expanded with
respect to the aperture at an interior surface of the adaptor 20
thereby preventing withdrawal of the same.
[0026] The threaded portion 30 of the adaptor 20 is enlarge with
respect to the lower cylindrical sleeve portion. As a result, a
lower under-cut surface of that threaded portion 30 forms a stop
surface adapted for engagement with a top lip of the mouth of the
containment body 10 for assuring proper relative positioning of the
adaptor 20 with respect to the set screw securing assembly.
[0027] To facilitate suspension of the pendant-style jewelry piece
about a wearer's neck, a loop 40 is integrally constructed upon the
threaded cap for receiving a suspension strand such as a necklace
chain.
[0028] As an enhancement to the jewelry piece's appearance, flat
surfaces of the closure member 35 are arranged for alignment with
corresponding flat surfaces of the quartz crystal containment body
10. Proper alignment can be achieved through the configuration of
the threaded interior of the cap with respect to the lower stop
surface that halts advancement of the cap onto the adaptor 20 when
the upper lip of the mouth to the interior compartment 15 of the
containment body 10 is abutted.
[0029] FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment where the
securement assembly is a fastener such as glue, epoxy,
thermosetting resin, polymer resin coating or other adhesives. This
fastener is preferably applied to the lower cylindrical sleeve
portion of the adaptor 20. Alternatively, the fastener may be
applied to the interior compartment 15 of the containment body 10.
Once the fastener is applied, the sleeve portion of the adaptor 20
is fittingly coupled within the interior compartment 15. Such
fastener is desirably thinly applied as to not detract from the
memorabilia that is inserted within the containment body 20.
[0030] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that the same should
be considered for illustrative and exemplary purposes only, and is
not to be taken as a limitation. The spirit and scope of the
present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the claims
presented hereafter.
* * * * *