AU2001100589B4 - A trophy - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Styles Factory COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: A trophy The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- A trophy Introduction The present invention relates to the manufacture of trophies and in particular, the invention provides an innovative method of construction for medals and similarly shaped articles which are typically produces as sporting trophies and the like.

Background The trophy manufacturing industry continually faces the challenge of producing trophies for sporting competitions that are sufficiently impressive in look and feel to convey to the recipient of the trophy and the other competitors the importance of the achievement for which the trophy is presented. At the same time, because the vast majority of sporting bodies are amateur associations with limited resources, the cost of trophies is an issue as sporting bodies generally wish to reward many competitors with trophies to maintain a high level of interest in the sport.

It is therefore desirable to find inexpensive methods of trophy manufacture which still maintain the look and feel required in the end product to achieve the desired appreciation of importance for the trophy.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a trophy of generally planar base member, having on at least one surface a representation associated with an activity for which the trophy is awarded, the representation being formed in relief on the surface of the planar member and including at least one detail formed as a separate piece permanently attached to the surface of the planar member, the separate piece having relief detail forming a component of the representation and having a surface colour, finish and/or material which is visually distinctive from the respective colour, finish and/or material of the planar base member.

Preferably, the planar base member is a medal or medallion, but may also be a plate, plaque or shield.

The planar base member is preferably formed of metal or other material to which a metallised surface finish is applied. The base may be formed by m stamping, moulding, casting or other suitable manufacturing technique, the chosen technique being selected to suit the material from which the base member is manufactured.

Typically, the base material will be a metal such as brass or other suitable metal, chosen for its cost and ease of working. Typically, aluminium would be avoided as it is brittle and difficult to engrave. Metals such as brass and solder can be suitably formed by casting. Metals such as steel can also be used, in which case stamping would typically be the method of forming the base member. Typically also, the planar base member will have a surface treatment to give it the appearance of a precious or semi-precious metal such as gold, silver or bronze, platinum etc. The surface finish might be either "bright" or "antique" and will preferably be an "antique" finish in which simulated tarnishing and dirt, intended to convey aging, are applied using a dark surface colouring which is concentrated in hollows and crevices in the representation in relief and any other decorative texturing.

The attached pieces of the relief representation will typically be manufactured using the same or a similar material to the planar base member and would typically be attached by a suitable adhesive, though other attachment methods may be adopted. The attached pieces will typically be significantly different in surface finish to provide a contrast with the planar base member. This may be achieved by using a bright finish on the attached pieces and an antique finish on the base. It may also be achieved by using different surface colours or metallic finishes.

Preferred embodiments will have more than one attached piece which preferable have different surface finishes to each other and to the base.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the embodiment of figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the embodiment of figure 1; Figure 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention may include various trophy items including plates, plaques and shields, but in the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in figures 1 to 6, take the form of medallions, for example but not exclusively for use as sporting trophies.

The embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 is a medallion 11 intended for use as a football (soccer) trophy. This medallion 11 is formed of three parts: i) a planar base member 12; ii) a ball motif 17; and iii) a cup motif 18.

The planar base member 12 has an image in relief, formed on each side as seen in Figures 3 (front) and 4 (rear). The front image comprises a football net 15, a garland 16, and a serrated edge 19 all formed in the front surface 13, of the planar base member 12. Additional components of the image are provided by the ball motif 17 and cup motif 18 which are formed as separate parts and attached to the front surface 13 of the base member 12 in designated spaces moulded in the front surface. The ball motif 17 and cup motif 18 are attached to the front surface 13 of the base member 12 by adhesive.

The rear surface 14 has a pattern as illustrated in Figure 4, comprising a garland 21, a serrated edge 22 and a flat area 23 which may be engraved.

The planar base member 12 is preferably moulded in a metal such as brass or, another suitable alloy and is finished with a surface finish imitating either a gold, silver or bronze surface.

In the preferred embodiment, the surface of the base member 12 is further treated with an antique coating which concentrates in small hollows and crevices of the surface patterns to highlight the relief of the surface. The antique coating is intended to simulate the patina that an article might acquire with age.

The attached elements 17, 18 of the front image are each provided with contrasting surface treatments to that of the base member 12, such that these elements of the image stand out visually from the background provided by the base member. In the example of Figures 1, 2 and 3, the attached elements are a football 17 finished in bright silver and a cup finished in bright gold.

A hole 25, is provided through the medallion to allow the fitting of a ring for attachment to a ribbon, chain or chord. Alternatively, a ring 26 might be moulded onto the outer edge of the medallion as illustrated in Figure 6.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5, in which the medallion is intended as a baseball trophy. In this example, the front surface again, has a garland 16 and a serrated edge 19, however, the other image elements formed in the front surface of the base member 12, are a baseball bat 32 and cap 31. Attached to the base member 12 are a baseball glove and ball 33, in bright silver and a cup 18 in bright gold, similar to the cup in the first embodiment.

A third embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 is intended as a basketball trophy. In this case, the base member 12 has a basketball backboard and net 41 formed in relief in the front surface 13 as well as the garland 16 and serrated edge 19. The attached image components are a basketball 42 in bright silver and a cup 18 in bright gold.

In the case of the Figure 5 and 6 embodiments, the rear surface design is similar to that of the first embodiment as illustrated in Figure 4.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (4)

1. A trophy comprising a generally planar base member, having on at least one surface a representation associated with an activity for which the trophy is awarded, the representation being formed in relief on the surface of the planar member and including at least one detail formed as a separate piece permanently attached to the surface of the planar member, the detail comprising the outline shape and surface relief of the separate piece of the representation and the separate piece having a surface colour, finish and/or material which is visually distinctive from the respective colour, finish and/or material of the planar base member.

2. The trophy of claim 1, wherein the base member is formed in brass.

3. The trophy of claim 1 or 2, wherein the base member is provided with a surface treatment to give it the appearance of a precious or semi-precious metal selected from gold, silver or bronze or, platinum.

4. The trophy of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the attached piece or pieces of the relief representation are manufactured using the same or a similar material to the planar base member and are attached to the base member by an adhesive. The trophy of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the attached pieces are significantly different in surface finish to provide a contrast with the planar base. Dated this eighteenth day of June 2002. Styles Factory Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO