Display device for ribbon awards

Abstract

A display device for displaying one or more ribbon awards having a clip portion, the display device having a frame with a closed perimeter formed by a pair of oppositely disposed vertical members and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal members, each of the vertical members having an inner vertical edge, and one or more rods extending between said vertical members that are adapted to receive the clip portion on each of the one or more ribbon awards to support and display the awards in the frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of a display device, and more particularly to a decorative display device for displaying ribbon awards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The presentation of awards, medals and ribbons following sporting and competitive events is a common practice. The presentation of such awards is particularly prevalent in equestrian-related sporting events in view of their historical origins. Ribbons are also commonly presented at a number of other events, including dog shows, fairs and livestock shows.

[0003] Ribbon awards are typically presented to the first, second and third place participants in horse riding, racing and jumping events. Awards typically consist of a pleated centre head bearing the placing of the rider or the name of the event sponsor, for example, and one or more streamers extending downwardly from the centre head. A clip portion is often provided on a back side of the centre head to enable the award to be secured to the reins or bridle of the horse during the award presentation. Given the wide variety of sizes and shapes of ribbon awards, displaying and arranging the awards following the event to create a decorative ensemble often proves difficult.

[0004] Many participants choose to proudly display their awards by tacking the awards to a wall or mirror in their residence using string, wire, adhesive tape or pins. Over time, the weight of the ribbons on the string or aging and drying of the adhesive tape may cause the awards to accidentally detach from the wall or mirror and thereby become permanently damaged. Forcing pins through the centre heads causes unsightly damage to the awards and the underlying wall or mirror. Displaying the awards openly may also cause the vibrant colours in the head and streamers to dull due to the accumulation of dust.

[0005] When finally secured to the wall or mirror, the disproportionately long streamers extending from the pleated head of the awards often obscure adjacent awards, and detract from the importance of the inscriptions provided on the head of the awards. In view of the damage that may result from tacking the awards to a wall or mirror, many recipients of ribbon awards choose to store their awards in a box for posterity.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a display device for displaying and supporting one or more ribbon awards on one or more rods within a frame. There is a further need for a display device which can be easily manufactured and assembled to facilitate the arrangement and display of one or more ribbon awards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The subject invention is directed to a display device for displaying one or more ribbon awards having a clip portion, consisting of a frame having a closed perimeter formed by a pair of oppositely disposed vertical members and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal members, each of the vertical members having an inner vertical edge, and one or more rods extending between said vertical members that are adapted to receive the clip portion on each of the one or more ribbon awards to support and display the awards in the frame. At least a portion of the one or more rods may be received and secured within one or more recesses formed in the vertical members of the frame. The recesses are formed in the inner vertical edges of the vertical members.

[0008] The subject invention is also directed to a display device wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods may be received within one or more channels formed in the vertical members. The one or more channels are formed in the inner vertical edges of the vertical members. The one or more rods may be releasably secured within the channels using a retainer means, whereby the retainer means is inserted into the channels beneath the one or more rods to support the rods and the ribbon awards. The retainer means may have a support lip and one or more engagement edges adapted to releasably secure the retainer means in the channels. The one or more engagement edges of the retainer means may bear against at least one side wall of the channels. The retainer means is formed of a resilient material.

[0009] The retainer means is moveable between an unlocked position, where an outermost point there extends outwardly from the vertical inner edge, and a locked position, where the outermost portion of the retainer means is generally parallel with the vertical inner edge.

[0010] The subject invention is also directed to a display device wherein at least a portion of the one or more rods may be received within one or more slots formed in the vertical members. At least a portion of the one or more rods can be received and secured within one or more slots formed in the vertical members. The one or more slots may have a generally inverted L-shape, whereby at least a portion of the one or more rods are advanced horizontally into the one or more slots, and then advanced vertically to secure the one or more rods in the frame.

[0011] The subject invention may also include a display device having one or more rods with a plurality of markings to facilitate the positioning of the ribbon awards in a spaced relationship to each other.

[0012] The display device may include a transparent pane to protect the ribbon awards displayed and arranged within the frame. The display device may also include a back panel to enhance the appearance of the arrangement of ribbon awards within the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with one or more ribbon awards;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the display device of FIG. 1 with one or more ribbon awards;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a ribbon award that may be arranged on the display device of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view showing the display device of FIG. 1 showing the vertical members, horizontal members and rods;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a recess formed in the vertical members of the display device of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a rod received and secured within the recess of FIG. 5;

[0020] FIG. 7 is front elevation view of a rod secured to a vertical member of the display device with twine in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a vertical member of the display device of FIG. 1 having a channel formed therein;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a vertical member of the display device of FIG. 1 having a channel formed therein;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a vertical member of the display device of FIG. 1 having a channel formed therein;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a retainer means in the channel shown in FIG. 10;

[0025] FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of the retainer means in the channel shown in FIG. 11;

[0026] FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a slot formed in the vertical member of the display device shown in FIG. 4 having a rod in a horizontal portion thereof;

[0027] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of a slot formed in the vertical member of the display device shown in FIG. 13 having a rod advancing in a vertical portion thereof;

[0028] FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a slot formed in the vertical member of the display device shown in FIG. 13 having a rod secured therein; and

[0029] FIG. 16 is a back elevation view of the display device of FIG. 1 showing a hanger means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Reference is made to FIGS. 1-6 and 16 which illustrate a display device 10 for displaying one or more ribbon awards 12 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The ribbon awards 12 may be any conventional award presented to acknowledge a participant's achievements in any sporting or competitive event. As discussed earlier, such awards typically consist of a pleated centre head or rosette 14 bearing the placing of the rider or the name of the event sponsor, and one or more streamers 16. A clip portion 18 is often provided on a back side 20 of the centre head 14 for securing the head 14 to the reins or bridle of the horse during the award presentation. The clip portion 18 is typically a spring clip designed to embrace and frictionally engage with the surface to which it is being secured.

[0031] The display device 10 has a generally closed perimeter frame 22 consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed vertical members 24 and 26 and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal members 28 and 30 that are joined together. The frame 22 has a front surface 32 representing the finished side of the display device 10, and a back surface 34 for mounting the display device 10 to a wall.

[0032] The combination of the vertical members 24 and 26 and horizontal members 28 and 30 define the frame 22 which may be square or rectangular. It should be understood that the vertical members 24 and 26 alone, or together with the horizontal members 28 and 30 may be adapted to formed various shaped frames, including circular or elliptical frames.

[0033] It is to be understood that the members 24, 26, 28, 30 may be joined in a known manner by screws, glue, dowels, pocket hole joints and/or dovetail joints. Preferably, the members 24, 26, 28 and 30 are manufactured from solid wood and are secured together using wood screws 36 as shown in FIG. 4. However, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the members 24, 26, 28 and 30 may be manufactured from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metallic or plastic materials, which are welded together.

[0034] The vertical members 24 and 26 have an inner edge 38 and 40, respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, one or more corresponding recesses 42 are provided substantially along the inner vertical edges 38 and 40 of the vertical members 24 and 26. Each of the recesses 42 are vertically spaced approximately 5'' apart from the adjacent recesses. The recesses 42 adjacent to the horizontal members 28 and 30 are spaced approximately 2.5'' from said members 28 and 30. This prevents the head or rosette 14 from interfering with or obscuring the head 14 of the adjacent ribbon awards 12. However, it is understood that various spacings and configurations of the recesses 42 and rods 44 may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] The recesses 42 have a generally circular cross-section and are adapted to receive and secure one or more rods 44 within the frame 22. At least a portion of one or more rods 44 is inserted into the recesses 42 formed in the inner vertical edges 38 and 40. By this design, the rods 44 extend across the frame 22 between the corresponding recesses 42 formed in the inner vertical edges 38 and 40.

[0036] With the one or more rods 44 secured within the frame 22, the clip portions 18 on the ribbon awards 12 may be caused to embrace and frictionally engage with the one or more rods 44. The one or more rods 44 may be provided with a plurality of markings 46 to guide the positioning of the ribbon awards 12 in a spaced relationship to each other. The markings 46 may be notches or coloured portions that correspond to the various sizes and shapes of ribbon awards 12 to facilitate the arrangement of the various awards 12 on the display device 10.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, it should be understood that the device 10 may consist of members 24, 26, 28 and 30 and rods 44 that are secured together using ties or twine. For example, the rods 44 may be positioned adjacent to members 24 and 26 on the front surface 32 or the back surface 34 of the frame 22, and secured to the frame 22 using ties or twine wrapped around the rods 44 and the members 24 and 26.

[0038] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the inner vertical edges 38 and 40 of the vertical members 24 and 26 are formed with one or more channels 48. The channels 48 include side walls 50 and a base 52 which are adapted to receive at least a portion of the one or more rods 44. The position of the one or more rods 44 within the frame 22 may be vertically adjusted along the channels 48 to increase or decrease the vertical spacing between the rods 44. The ability to vertically adjust the position of the rods 44 along the channels 48 enables the desired spacing of the ribbon awards 12 within the frame 22.

[0039] Once the desired spacing of the ribbon awards 12 has been achieved, a retainer means 54 may be inserted into the channels 48 beneath each of the rods 44 to secure the position of the rods 44. The retainer means 54 may be formed of a resilient material, such as plastic, but may also be formed from steel or any other suitable material. Moreover, the retainer means 54 may be any suitable means for releasably securing the position of the rods 44 within the channels 48. Preferably, the retainer means 54 includes a support edge 56 having a generally semi-circular flange 58 and one or more engagement edges 60 adapted to releasably secure said retainer means 54 in said channel 48. The one or more engagement edges 60 extend downwardly from the support edge 56 and are adapted to bear against at the side walls 50 of said channels 48. It will be necessary to partially pinch or compress the engagement edges 60 towards each other to provide sufficient clearance to permit the insertion of the retainer means 54 into the channels 48. By this design, the retainer means 54 may be moveable between an unlocked position, where the engagement edges 60 are in a generally relaxed or uncompressed position, and a locked position, where the engagement edges 60 are pinched or compress within the channels 48. In the locked position, the engagement edges 60 of the retainer means 54 are generally parallel to the side walls 50.

[0040] In another alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the inner vertical edges 38 and 40 of the vertical members 24 and 26 may be formed with one or more slots 62. Preferably, the slots 62 are generally L-shaped with a horizontal portion 64 extending towards the center 66 of the inner vertical edge 38 and 40, and a vertical portion 68 extending downwardly from the horizontal portion 64. By this design, at least a portion of the one or more rods 44 may be advanced horizontally into the horizontal portion 64 of the slots 62 in the direction A, and then advanced vertically in the direction B into the vertical portion 68 to secure said one or more rods 44 in said frame 22. If the recipient of the ribbon awards 12 desires to rearrange the position of the rods 44 in the frame 22, he or she may remove the one or more rods 44 from the slot 62, and reposition the one or more rods 44 in an adjacent slot 62.

[0041] It should be understood that the slots 62 may be spaced along the inner vertical edge 38 and 40 of the vertical members 24 and 26 to permit the desired spacing of the one or more rods 44 and ribbon awards 12. Moreover, the shape of the slots 62 may also be generally horizontal or slanted to permit the easy advancement and removal of the rods 44 in the frame 22.

[0042] The display device 10 may be provided with a transparent pane of glass or plexiglass that conforms to the shape of the frame 22 (not shown). Pane may be inserted and seated in a groove formed in the inner vertical edges 38 and 40 to protect the awards 12 displayed and arranged within the display device 10. Alternatively, the pane may be hingedly attached to the frame 22 to permit easy access to the ribbon awards 12. Moreover, the display device 10 may be provided with a back panel (not shown), such as a mirror, wood, or fabric, to enhance the appearance of the arrangement of ribbon awards 12 within the frame 22.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 16, the back surface 34 of the frame may be provided with a conventional hanger means, such as a wire or string 72 is attached at two points 74 and 78 in a known manner. The wire or string 72 is of a sufficiently resilient gauge to support the weight of the fully arranged ribbon awards 12 on the display device 10 when mounted on a wall. The conventional hanger means may alternatively be a hook member 80 that engages with a nail or wall anchor extending from the surface of a wall.

[0044] The horizontal members 28 and 30 of the frame 22 may be provided a space 82 for a plaque or etching containing information about the one or more ribbon awards 12, including, for example, the participant's name, the animal's name and the date the award was presented.

[0045] While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptions of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display device for displaying one or more ribbon awards having a clip portion, comprising: (a) a frame, said frame having a closed perimeter formed by a pair of oppositely disposed vertical members and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal members, each of said vertical members having an inner edge; and (b) one or more rods extending between said vertical members, said one or more rods are adapted to receive said clip portion on each of said one or more ribbon awards to support and display said awards in said frame.

2. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods are received and secured within one or more recesses formed in said vertical members.

3. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods extend beyond said vertical members.

4. The display device defined in claim 2, wherein said recesses are formed in said inner vertical edges.

5. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods are received within one or more channels formed in said vertical members.

6. The display device defined in claim 5, wherein each of said one or more channels are formed in said inner vertical edges of said vertical members.

7. The display device defined in claim 5, wherein said one or more rods are releasably secured within said channels using a retainer means.

8. The display device defined in claim 7, wherein said retainer means is inserted into said channels beneath said one or more rods to support said rods and said ribbon awards.

9. The display device defined in claim 7, wherein said retainer means comprises a support lip and one or more engagement edges adapted to releasably secure said retainer means in said channel.

10. The display device defined in claim 9, wherein said one or more engagement edges bear against at least one side portion of said channels.

11. The display device defined in claim 7, wherein said retainer means is formed of a resilient material.

12. The display device defined in claim 7, wherein said retainer means is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said locked position said retainer means is inserted into said channel and said one or more engagement edges are generally parallel with said vertical inner edge.

13. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods are received within one or more slots formed in said vertical members.

14. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said one or more rods are received and secured within one or more slots formed in said vertical members.

15. The display device defined in claim 14, wherein said one or more slots have a generally inverted L-shape, whereby at least a portion of said one or more rods are advanced horizontally into said one or more slots, and then advanced vertically to secure said one or more rods in said frame.

16. The display device defined in claim 13, wherein said one or more slots formed in said vertical members are horizontal slots.

17. The display device defined in claim 13, wherein said one or more slots formed in said vertical members are slanted slots.

18. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein said frame has a transparent pane inserted and seated within a channel formed in said frame.

19. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein a transparent pane is hingedly attached to said frame.

20. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein said one or more rods have a plurality of markings to facilitate the positioning of said ribbon awards in a spaced relationship to each other.

21. The display device defined in claim 1, wherein a space is provided on said frame for displaying information.

22. A display device for displaying one or more ribbon awards having a clip portion, comprising: (a) a frame, said frame having a generally closed perimeter formed by a pair of disposed vertical members, each of said vertical members having an inner edge; and (b) one or more rods extending between said vertical members, said one or more rods are adapted to receive said clip portion on each of said one or more ribbon awards to support and display said awards in said frame.

23. The display device defined in claim 22, wherein said frame is generally circular.

24. The display device defined in claim 22, wherein said frame is generally elliptical.