The present invention relates generally to a case for displaying and protecting an item of sports memorabilia and more particularly to a case for displaying and protecting a ball, such as a valuable autographed ball.
The value of a ball or other item of sports memorabilia can be substantial if it is autographed or if it was involved in an event of historical significance. For example, a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth in average condition can sell for about $25,000. Some people may also want to keep a ball or other item as souvenir for personal reasons that do not necessarily translate into a high market value for the item. It is sometimes worthwhile to protect these prized items from degradation to preserve their condition. In the case of a high market value item, the value can be affected by the item's condition. Sometimes the owner of an item will have a memorabilia expert examine it to certify its authenticity and grade its condition. The expert's certification is more meaningful if there are assurances the certified item has not been replaced with a fake and that its condition has not deteriorated in the time since it was previously examined by the expert.
Various display cases are available for displaying baseballs and other sports memorabilia. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,538 (Peters) discloses a baseball holder in which a baseball is held in the space between two hemispherical shells that cover and protect the baseball. U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 20080067086 (Uidl) discloses a baseball display case in which a baseball is supported under a protective dome on a support that can be rotated by a motor so the baseball rotates under the dome. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,110 (Hager) discloses a protective case for an autographed baseball in which a transparent dome is fused to a baseplate by sonic welding or dielectric heating to hermetically seal the baseball in the case and protect against tampering. The Hager patent discloses that an appraisal and authentication service can seal a documentation card between layers of the base plate when the dome is fused to the base plate to display information about the baseball, such as authentication and grading information.
The present inventors have developed various improvements to cases for displaying prized pieces of sports memorabilia while protecting them against degradation and/or tampering.
In one aspect, a base assembly for a ball display case generally comprises a base configured to support the display case on a surface. A pedestal is supported by the base and configured to support a ball in the display case. The pedestal includes a platform for seating the ball in the display case. The platform includes a spring configured to yield when contacted by the ball in the display case. The spring comprises a plurality of spring members extending horizontally from an outer edge margin of the platform.
In another aspect, a ball display case generally comprises a base configured to support the display case on a surface. A pedestal is supported by the base and configured to support a ball in the display case. The pedestal includes a platform for seating the ball in the display case. The platform includes a spring configured to yield when contacted by the ball in the display case. A cover is supported by the base for covering the ball in the display case. A separator is disposed on an underside of the cover at a top of the cover to prevent the ball from directly contacting the cover.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
An exemplary embodiment of a display case of the present invention, generally designated 101, is illustrated in
Referring to
The footprint of the upper sidewall 121 (i.e., the shape of the outline of the upper sidewall when viewed from the top as shown in
The base 105 is suitably a unitary piece, as illustrated, and can be made of a relatively tough impact resistant material, such as Polycarbonate, ABS, or Acrylic, to limit the risk of accidentally breaking the base. A suitable base can be made using commercially available injection molding technology.
Referring again to
The cover 131 (or at least a portion thereof) is suitably substantially transparent to visible light. This allows the ball 11 or other object in the display case 101 to be viewed through the cover 131 by someone outside the space 133. In the illustrated embodiment, the ball 11 is viewable through the sidewall 139 of the cover 131 from any direction (i.e., at any angle over a 360 degree range) because the entire sidewall is substantially transparent to visible light. The ball 11 is also viewable through the top 135 of the cover 131 in the illustrated embodiment because the top is also substantially transparent to visible light.
The cover 131 is suitably relatively less transparent to ultraviolet and/or infrared light than it is to visible light. For example, the cover 131 suitably blocks from at least about 70 percent to about 99.9% of UVA radiation (wavelengths in the range of 320 nm to 400 nm). One example of a suitable material that provides UV protection is Acrylite® 8N which is commercially available from Evonik CYRO LLC of Parsippany, N.J. One or more additives can suitably added to the material used to make the cover 131 to protect the ball 11 from infrared radiation. Suitable materials including additives that provide infrared protection are commercially available from Evonik CYRO LLC of Parsippany, N.J. Protecting the ball 11 from exposure to ultraviolet and/or infrared radiation in this manner can reduce degradation of the ball 11 that could be caused by these types of radiation.
The cover 131 is suitably made from a relatively tough impact resistant material to limit the risk of accidentally breaking the cover. Although the cover 131 can be made from various different materials within the scope of the invention, some materials that are suitable for the cover include Acrylic and Polycarbonate. A suitable cover can be molded as a unitary structure using commercially available injection molding processes.
As best understood in reference to
The spring members 157 are circumferentially spaced around the pedestal 151. The spacing between the spring members 157 defines spiral gaps 159 between the spring members. The spiral gaps 159 extend from the outer edge margin of the platform to the center of the platform where they converge at a center opening 161 in the platform. The spring members 157 are configured to deflect downward when engaged by the ball 11 and apply an upward spring force to the ball to press the ball against an underside of the top 135 of the cover 131. The spring members 157 also apply inward spring forces to the ball 11 to center the ball within the interior space 133 of the display case 101. The downward movement of the spring members 157 at least partially closes the spiral gaps 159 and widens the center opening 161. The bias of the spring 155 to return to its natural state causes the upward and inward spring forces on the ball 11. It is envisioned that other spring configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Generally, the spring 155 facilitates positioning the ball 11 on the pedestal 151. For example, the spring 155 centers the ball 11 on the pedestal 151 and also makes it less likely that the ball will accidentally fall off the pedestal (e.g., before the cover 131 is secured to the base 105). Further, the spring 155 facilitates distribution of the forces supporting the ball 11 over a wider area of the ball. This can help preserve the condition of the ball 11. Additionally, as will be explained in greater detail below, the spring 155 is automatically and dynamically responsive to different sizes and shapes of balls and to changing conditions of a ball to hold the ball in the proper position within the display case 101.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base 105 has a hollow center 163 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the effective height of the pedestal 151 (particularly the support surface 153 thereof) relative to the base 105 automatically changes to accommodate the size/shape of the ball 11 in the display case 101. Balls (even when they are the same type) can vary slightly in size. For example, a ball may shrink slightly over an extended period of time as gases are slowly released from the ball. If the ball 11 to be displayed in the case 101 is slightly smaller than a “normal” ball, such as might be the case with an older ball, or has gotten smaller within the case over time, the effective height of the pedestal 151 (and therefore the elevation of the ball) is suitably raised by the spring force of the spring 155 so the ball extends up from the pedestal to contact the underside of the top 135 of the cover 131, which is suitably shaped to conform to the shape of the ball. In particular, the spring force is configured so the ball 11 is very lightly compressed between the cover 131 and the pedestal to inhibit shifting or rattling of the ball in the case 101. If the ball 11 is too large, the effective height of the pedestal 151 is lowered by virtue of the downward deflection of the spring members 157 to reduce compression of the ball between the cover 131 and the pedestal.
Additionally, if the ball is non-symmetrical, oblong, or otherwise abnormally shaped, the spring 155 is configured to generally conform to the shape of the ball and apply the appropriate spring forces across the surface of the ball to properly position the ball in the display case 101. In this instance, the spring forces may be unevenly distributed across the ball in order to properly position the ball in the display case 101. Thus, the base 105 and pedestal 151 do not have to be individually selected for a given ball otherwise sized and shaped to fit within the display case 101.
Because the spring 155 of the pedestal 151 and the inner surface of the cover 131 at the top 135 are both shaped to generally conform to the outer surface of the ball 11, the light compressive forces are suitably distributed over a large area of the ball. In the case of a baseball 11, for example, the pedestal 151 and cover 131 contact relatively broad areas of the ball at the raised seams 13 instead of subjecting the ball to concentrated forces at only a few different points. Light compression of the ball 11 between the cover 131 and pedestal 151 limits the ability of the ball 11 to rattle in the space 133 between pedestal and cover. This can help preserve the condition of the ball. The light compression also limits the ability of the ball to rotate in the case 101 and makes it more likely that the ball will be maintained in a desired orientation, such as one in which an autograph or other feature of interest is displayed prominently.
The cover 131 is suitably securable to the base 105 (e.g., to the shoulder 113) to hold the cover on the base. For example, a bayonet connection 181 can suitably be used to secure the cover 131 to the base 105. As best illustrated in
The wider portions 191 of the openings 187 provide sufficient clearance for each of the lugs 183 to be inserted into a respective one of the openings when the cover 131 is moved into engagement with the base 105, as illustrated in
There is insufficient clearance in the relatively narrower portions 193 of the openings 187 for the lugs 183 to be withdrawn from the openings through the narrower portions. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, when the cover 131 is secured to the base 105 by the bayonet connection 181 and a lifting force is applied to the cover, the radially extending flanges 185 engage a downward facing surfaces of the base 105 which thereby retain the lugs 183 in the openings. Accordingly, when the lugs 183 are in the narrower portions 193 of the openings 187, the cover 131 is retained in position relative to the base 105. In order to remove the cover 131 from the base 105 once it has been secured in this manner without destroying the lugs 183 and/or the edge margins of the openings 187, the cover has to be rotated relative to the base to move the lugs back into the relatively wider portions 191 of the openings before lifting the cover off the base.
When the cover 131 is on the base 105, it suitably limits access to the ball 11 (when there is a ball in the display case 101). As illustrated in
In some cases, there is a relatively low risk of theft or fraud involving the ball 11 and additional security precautions may be unnecessary. In these cases, the display case 101 can be maintained indefinitely in a condition in which the cover 131 is releasably secured to the base 105 so the ball 11 can be taken out of the display case and replaced in the display case. However, in other cases it may be desirable to limit the ability to remove of the ball 11 from the display case 101 once it is enclosed therein in order to combat theft and/or fraud. In this instance, a lock (not shown) may be fitted to a bottom of the base 105 to prevent motion of the cover 131 relative to the base in a manner required to release the connection between the cover and the base.
The base 105 and cover 131 can be treated to have a protective coating or glazing on exterior surfaces of their bodies. Various coatings or glazings can be applied to provide scratch resistance, reduce glare, control static, and/or to provide protection against ultraviolet and/or infrared radiation. For example, a Magnetron Sputtered thin film multi-layered anti-reflective coating (e.g., Optium Museum Acrylic® coating, commercially available from Tru Vue, Inc. of McCook, Ill.) can suitably be applied to one or both sides of each part of the display case 101. The Optium Museum Acrylic® coating is an abrasion resistant, anti-reflective coating that transmits about 96% of visible light and blocks about 98 percent of ultraviolet light. Further, non-yellowing agents can be added to the materials used for the cover 131 and base 105 to limit discoloration over time.
The cover 131 limits access to the upper sidewall 121 of the base 105 when the cover is on the base. The inner surface of the cover sidewall 139 is suitably shaped to conform to the outer surface of the upper sidewall 121 of the base 105. When the cover 131 is on the base 105, the cover limits access to a label (not shown) on the upper sidewall 121 because the label is sandwiched between the upper sidewall of the base and the cover. It is understood that a label can be placed elsewhere within the display case 101 and be protected against tampering within the scope of the invention. Further, a label can placed on the exterior of the display case within the scope of the invention or omitted entirely whenever circumstances make absence of a tamper resistant label acceptable.
To use the display case 101, a person places a ball 11 (or other item) on the pedestal 151 of the base 105 and places the cover 131 over the top of the ball. The spring 155 will engage the ball 11 and secure the ball against the underside of the cover 131. The person then rotates the cover 131 relative to the base 105 to secure the cover to the base. At this point, the connection between the cover 131 and the base 105 is releasable. This allows the ball to be taken out of the display case for examination or to rotate the ball so it can be displayed in a different orientation.
It is understood that the display case 101 described above is just one example of the invention and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the size and shape of the various components of the display case can be changed to adapt the case to display different kinds of sports memorabilia. Further, the releasable connection between the cover and base can be modified from the bayonet connection 181 described above. For instance, the cover can be designed so translational movement (instead of rotational movement) of the cover moves one or more lugs into a narrower portion of an opening.
Referring to
The spring members 257 are circumferentially spaced around the pedestal 251. The spacing between the spring members 257 defines linear gaps 259 between the spring members. The linear gaps 259 extend from the outer edge margin of the pedestal 251 to the center of the pedestal where they converge at a center opening 261. The spring members 257 are configured to deflect downward when engaged by the softball 211 and apply an upward spring force to the ball to press the ball against an underside of the top 235 of the cover 231. The spring members 257 also apply inward spring forces to the ball to center the ball within an interior space 233 of the display case 201. The downward movement of the spring members 257 at least partially closes the linear gaps 259 and widens the center opening 261. The bias of the spring 255 to return to its natural state causes the upward and inward spring forces on the ball. It is envisioned that other spring configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Referring to
The spring members 357 are circumferentially spaced around the pedestal 351. The spacing between the spring members 357 defines linear gaps 359 between the spring members. The linear gaps 359 extend from the outer edge margin of the pedestal 351 to the center of the pedestal where they converge at a center opening 361. The spring members 357 are configured to deflect downward when engaged by the golf ball 311 and apply an upward spring force to the ball to press the ball against an underside of the top 335 of the cover 331. The spring members 357 also apply inward spring forces to the ball to center the ball within an interior space 333 of the display case 301. The downward movement of the spring members 357 at least partially closes the linear gaps 359 and widens the center opening 361. The bias of the spring 355 to return to its natural state causes the upward and inward spring forces on the ball. It is envisioned that other spring configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, a piece of acrylic 370 may be disposed on the underside of the cover 331 at the top 335 of the cover where the golf ball 311 engages the cover. This prevents the ball from directly contacting the cover 131. It also prevents at least a portion of the reflection of the ball 311 from being projected onto the cover 131.
Also, terms associated with a particular orientation, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, side, etc., are used in reference to the orientation of the display cases as illustrated in the drawings to facilitate understanding of the relation between various parts of the illustrated embodiments. It is understood that the display cases can have different orientations from what is illustrated within the scope of the invention. Further, modifications to the display cases can result in changes in orientations of various parts relative to one another without departing from the scope of the invention.
When introducing elements of the invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”. “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/287,693, which was filed Feb. 27, 2019, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16287693 | Feb 2019 | US |
Child | 18311387 | US |