Keepsake or collectable apparel, such as autographed jerseys and other apparel that is related to a specific team and/or player, can be a significant investment. Such apparel can cost a collector hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands dollars to acquire. However, the options available for displaying keepsake or collectable apparel are inadequate. The most common apparel display cases in use today consist of a frame structure with cloth backing on the inside so the collector can pin the apparel to the backing in the frame for display. Other varieties of apparel displays include an integrated clothing hanger that is affixed to the top of the inside of the frame for the article to hang from. In both instances, the apparel being displayed is flat and one-dimensional, and the frame structures that require hangers and/or pins can cause damage to the article of clothing, which is important to avoid especially in cases with valuable collectable apparel such as autographed jerseys.
For the foregoing reasons, it is desired to provide an improved solution for displaying collectable apparel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of apparatuses for displaying apparel. In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure comprises a three-dimensional apparel base, the three-dimensional apparel base comprising a convex front surface and an opposing concave rear surface, at least a portion of the concave rear surface terminating in a rim, the three-dimensional apparel base comprising a plurality of magnetically active attachment points arranged adjacent to the rim; a backboard, the backboard comprising a perimeter, an anterior surface, an opposing posterior surface, and a plurality of magnets arranged on the anterior surface adjacent to the perimeter, the backboard magnetically coupled to the three-dimensional apparel base by way of magnetic connections between two or more of the plurality of magnets and two or more of the plurality of magnetically active attachment points; and a display case, the display case comprising a frame and an enclosure, wherein the posterior surface of the backboard is removably affixed to the frame and the enclosure covers the three-dimensional apparel base and the backboard. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the convex front surface comprises a replica of the back torso of a male human. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the convex front surface comprises a replica of the front torso of a male human. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the convex front surface comprises a replica of the back torso of a female human. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the convex front surface comprises a replica of the front torso of a female human. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the backboard comprises an aperture therethrough. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the aperture comprises a notch. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the frame comprises a hanging knob. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the frame comprises a hanging knob, and wherein the posterior surface of the backboard is removably affixed to the frame by engaging the hanging knob and the notch. In an aspect of an apparatus for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure, the posterior surface of the backboard is removably affixed to the frame by magnetic forces.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of methods for displaying apparel. In at least one embodiment, a method for displaying apparel according to the present disclosure comprises the steps of providing a three-dimensional apparel base, the three-dimensional apparel base comprising a convex front surface and an opposing concave rear surface, at least a portion of the concave rear surface terminating in a rim, the three-dimensional apparel base comprising a plurality of magnetically active attachment points arranged adjacent to the rim; installing an article of apparel over the three-dimensional apparel base; stowing any excess material from the article of apparel in the concave rear surface; coupling a backboard to the three-dimensional apparel base in a manner securing the article of apparel in place, the backboard comprising a perimeter, an anterior surface, an opposing posterior surface, and a plurality of magnets arranged on the anterior surface adjacent to the perimeter, the backboard coupling to the three-dimensional apparel base by way of magnetic connections between two or more of the plurality of magnets and two or more of the plurality of magnetically active attachment points; and installing the article of apparel, the three-dimensional apparel base, and the backboard into the a display case, the display case comprising a frame and an enclosure, wherein the posterior surface of the backboard is removably affixed to the frame and the enclosure covers the article of apparel, the three-dimensional apparel base, and the backboard.
The features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will be more apparent and better understood by reference to the following descriptions of the disclosed methods and systems, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.
In at least one embodiment, three-dimensional apparel base 10 is constructed of a rigid material, such as plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, and the like, that is molded into the desired shape and contours. As shown in
In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, backboard 30 comprises aperture 32, which extends through backboard 30. In at least one embodiment, aperture 32 further comprises notch 34, which is centered on backboard 30 and oriented upwardly. In at least one other embodiment, backboard 30 does not include notch 34.
In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, anterior surface 38 of backboard 30 comprises a plurality of magnets 36. Magnets 36 are arranged on backboard 30 near rim 31, in positions corresponding to attachment points 24 of three-dimensional apparel base 10. In the embodiment of three-dimensional apparel base 10 shown in
As shown in
While this disclosure has been described as having preferred designs, the apparatus and methods according to the present disclosure can be further modified within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. For example, any method disclosed herein and in the appended claims represent one possible sequence of performing the steps thereof. A practitioner may determine in a particular implementation that a plurality of steps of one or more of the disclosed methods may be combinable, or that a different sequence of steps may be employed to accomplish the same results. Each such implementation falls within the scope of the present disclosure as disclosed herein and in the appended claims. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.
The present application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/827,058, filed Mar. 30, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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