This invention relates to display systems, and more particularly to display apparatus -for displaying commemorative items, such as coins, medallions, tokens, balls or other items.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Collectors of coins and medallions generally display their collections in books, albums and the like. Often, particularly in the case of medallions or other commemorative items issued to commemorate sporting teams, special collector booklets are produced to display the medallions. The booklets usually include one or more pages dedicated to each player or team which is the subject of a medallion. Commemorative items such as coins or medallions are often issued to commemorate both historic and sporting events, and the term commemorative items includes not only coins and medallions, but also items such as miniature baseballs, basketballs, footballs and other items.

The back or front cover of a collectors booklet is generally produced from cardboard and is used to display the commemorative items such as medallions. The medallions have previously been held within the booklet by gluing the medallions to either the front or back cover of the booklet. However, gluing the medallions to the booklet often caused damage ^' to the medallions themselves, and prevented the medallions from being removed from the booklets.

Therefore, the medallions are often displayed in apertures formed in the cover of the booklet. The shape of the apertures is substantially identical to the medallions, and often of a slightly small size such that the medallions are held in place by a friction fit. Friction fitting the medallions to the cover of the booklet allows the medallions to be removed from the booklets to view both sides of the medallion. An advantage of this system is that the medallions are not subject to any damage from glue.

However, there are a number of problems associated with displaying the medallions in the booklet using a friction fit. Firstly, if the apertures are slightly misshaped, too large or damaged it may be difficult to either place or retain the medallions within the cover. If the apertures are too large, the medallions will not be held within the cover and are at risk of being lost.

Another problem associated with displaying medallions using a friction fit is that one side of the medallions is exposed. This side of the medallion may be subject to damage by finger prints or being scratched.

It is desirable to provide an apparatus for displaying medallions which overcomes or alleviates one or more of the above identified problems with present display systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying one or more commemorative items, the apparatus including: a framework including at least one aperture; at least one capsule including an item-receiving portion adapted for receiving the commemorative item, and a resiliently deformable rim; wherein the capsule is locatable within the aperture by resiliently deforming the rim and passing the rim through the aperture so that the rim is received beneath the perimeter of the aperture with the item-receiving portion of the capsule protruding through the aperture to display the item received in the capsule.

The framework preferably has an upper layer and a lower layer with an aperture provided in at least one of the layers. The size of the aperture is slightly smaller than the resiliently deformable rim of the capsule so that the rim is securely retained between said upper and lower layers after the rim is resiliently deformed and passed through said aperture.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the framework includes an intermediate layer between the upper and lower layers, the intermediate layer including an aperture which is slightly larger than the rim of the capsule whereby the rim seats into the aperture in the intermediate layer.

In one embodiment, an aperture is provided in only one of the upper and lower layers and the other of said upper and lower layers acts to protect one side of the capsule in the framework. In an alternative embodiment, apertures may be provided in both of the upper and lower layers so that the commemorative item in the capsule may be viewed from both sides of the framework. This embodiment is particularly suitable for displaying commemorative items such as miniature

balls, part-spherical items or items of other shapes which partly protrude through the lower layer of the framework.

The framework may be produced from a card material, such as cardboard, and preferably forms a part of an album or booklet. The apertures formed in the layers of the framework may be diecut. Preferably, the layers of the framework may be fastened together, for example, by gluing the layers together.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a capsule for displaying a commemorative item, the capsule including an item-receiving portion adapted to receive the commemorative item, and a rim which is resiliently deformable so that the rim can be passed through a smaller aperture in a framework to retain the capsule in the framework.

The item-receiving portion of the capsule preferably includes a base defining a cavity which receives the commemorative item. The item-receiving portion is preferably concave. In one embodiment the cavity may be defined by a flat base and a side wall portion. In another embodiment the cavity may be defined by a curved base, e.g. of part-spherical shape for receiving commemorative item shaped like a miniature ball. The item-receiving portion preferably has a wall portion which extends above the resiliently deformable rim.

This wall portion is preferably inclined inwardly to retain the commemorative item in the cavity of the capsule.

The capsule preferably also includes a skirt and the resiliently deformable rim extends outwardly from the skirt. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the skirt is connected to the wall portion of the item-receiving portion by a bridging portion which allows the skirt to flex inwardly to resiliently deform the rim. The capsule may also include a protective cover which encloses the commemorative item within the capsule.

The capsule may be formed from any suitable resilient material, such as a flexible plastics material, which allows the rim of the capsule to be resiliently deformed. Preferably, the capsule is formed from a transparent plastics material so that the upper and lower surfaces of the commemorative item can be seen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a capsule according to a one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the capsule of Figure 1 with a medallion inserted into the capsule; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the capsule of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of a capsule according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an album blank including a framework for retaining the capsules according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an assembled album including a framework for retaining the capsules according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 showing a medallion inserted into the album;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of part of the assembled album of Figures 5 to 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a capsule immediately prior to insertion into the album of Figures 5 to 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the capsule inserted into the assembled album;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a capsule in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the capsule of Figure 11 ; Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the insertion of a part-spherical commemorative item into the capsule of Figures 11 and 12;

Figure 14 is a side view of the capsule of Figure 11 ; and

Figure 15 is a view showing the capsule inserted into an aperture in an assembled album. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a capsule 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The capsule 10 includes a first item- receiving portion 11 for receiving a commemorative item in the form of a

medallion 20 and a resilient rim 16. The first portion has a circular base 12 extending substantially horizontally and an upstanding annular wall 14 which define a cavity for receiving a medallion. The upper edge of the wall 14 is substantially level with an upper face 22 of a medallion 20 when the medallion 20 is inserted into the capsule 10. The first portion 11 includes a skirt 18 depending downwardly from a bridging portion 15 connected to the upper edge of the annular wall 14. The annular wall 14 is angled slightly inwardly from bottom to top to assist in frictionally retaining the medallion 20 within the first portion. The resilient rim 16 extends outwardly from the skirt 18 for co-operation with a framework shown in Figures 5 to 10.

The medallion 20 shown in Figure 2 comprises a metal disc 21 having a plastic portion 23 mounted on its upper face 22. The plastic portion 23 may contain a picture, eg of a member of a sporting team that the medallion commemorates. Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment of an assembled capsule 24. The capsule 24 is similar to that of Figure 1 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. Thus the capsule 24 includes a first portion 11 having a base, an annular wall 14, a skirt 18 and a resilient rim 16. The capsule 24 differs from that of Figure 1 in that it also includes a cover portion 26 which encloses the medallion 20 in a cavity within the capsule 10. The cavity is formed by the base 12, the annular wall 14 and the cover portion 26.

The rim 16 preferably protrudes a few millimetres, eg 1-4mm, outwardly from the skirt 18 to engage with an aperture formed within the framework as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The capsules of Figures 1 to 4 are preferably formed from a resilient plastics material, more preferably a transparent plastics material so that the medallion may be seen through the base 12 and transparent cover portion 26 when provided.

A perspective view of a blank framework 30 which can be assembled to form an album is shown in Figure 5. The blank framework 30 is preferably made from cardboard or a similar material which is foldable about fold lines. The framework 30 includes a first layer 36, a second layer 34 and a third base or lower layer 32. The framework also includes a front cover 38 and a back cover.

The first layer 36 forms the upper layer in use and includes a number of diecut apertures 37 adapted for receiving the capsule 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The second layer 34 also includes and in use forms an intermediate layer between the upper layer and the base or lower layer 32 a number of diecut apertures 35 which are slightly larger then the apertures 37 formed in the first layer 36.

The blank framework 30 is assembled into an album 40 as shown in Figure 4 by folding the second intermediate layer 34 about a first fold line 31 through 180 ^° over the first layer 36 so that the apertures 35 formed in the second layer 34 are in register with the apertures 37 in the first layer 36. The first and second layers, 36 and 34 are together folded about a second fold line 33 through 180 ^° over the third or base layer 32 such that the second, intermediate layer 34 is sandwiched between the third, lower layer 32 and the first, upper layer 36 in the assembled album. The layers 32, 34 and 36 are glued together to prevent the album 40 from disassembling. Whilst the apertures 37, 35 are shown in a regular array, it will also be appreciated that the apertures may take any suitable layout provided that the apertures 35 in the second, intermediate layer 36 are in register with the apertures 37 formed in the first, upper layer 34 in the assembled album 40. Capsules 10 containing medallions 20 can then be inserted into the album 40 as shown in Figures 7 to 10. Figure 8 shows a detailed perspective view of the assembled album in which the apertures 35 of the second layer 34 are in register with the apertures 37 of the first layer 36. The third base or lower layer 32, is also shown.

Figure 9 shows the insertion of a capsule 10 within an aperture 37 formed in the first, upper layer 36 of the album 40. The capsule 10 is beatable within the aperture 37 by passing a section of the rim 16 through a section of the aperture 37. Placing pressure on the capsule 10, for example by squeezing the flexible skirt 18, causes the remaining section of the rim 16 to deform resiliency and to snap into the aperture 37. Once the capsule 10 has snapped into the aperture 37, the skirt 18 engages the perimeter of the aperture 37 and the rim 16 seats within the slightly larger aperture 39 formed in the second layer 34.

A capsule 10 located in an aperture 37 in album 40 is shown in Figure 10. The skirt 18 of the capsule 10 is engaged with the perimeter of the aperture 37 in

the first layer 36 to display the medallion 20 which is retained within the capsule 10.

The capsule 10 containing the medallion 10 is now securely received within the diecut aperture 37 in the first layer 36 and can be rotated to the appropriate orientation by grasping the flexible skirt 18 and rotating the capsule 10. The medallion 20 is also held securely within the capsule 10 by the slightly angled annular wall 14 and the engagement of the perimeter of the aperture 37 with the skirt 18 makes it difficult to remove the medallion 20 from the capsule by flexing the skirt 18 and annular wall 14 outwardly, without first removing the capsule 10 from the album 40.

Referring to Figures 11 to 15 there is shown an alternative embodiment of a modified capsule 110 for retaining a part-spherical commemorative item 120 which may represent a miniature baseball, basketball, football or the like.

The capsule 110 includes an item-receiving portion 111 which has a part- spherical base 112 defining a cavity for receiving the part-spherical commemorative item 120. The capsule also includes a skirt 118 and a resiliently deformable peripheral rim 116 which extends outwardly from the skirt 118 for cooperation with a framework of a commemorative album such as shown in Figures 5 to 10. The skirt 118 is connected by a bridging portion 115 to the upper edge of a wall portion 114 of the part-spherical base 112. As shown in Figures 11 to 15 the upper wall portion 114 and the skirt 118 are disposed above the plane of the resiliently deformable rim 116.

Figure 13 shows the part-spherical commemorative item 120 partly inserted into the cavity defined by the base 112 of the capsule 110. The commemorative item 120 has a part-spherical outer surface 122 which terminates at a flat upper surface 124. The part-spherical outer surface 122 may be decorated so as to represent a miniature baseball, basketball, football or other type of ball, eg a tennis ball or golf ball. The part-spherical item 120 is hollow and may receive a medallion 126 or other commemorative object such as a coin, token, disc or other circular or part-spherical object. As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 the medallion 126 or other commemorative object received in the hollow item 120 may contain a picture, eg of a member of a sporting team that the medallion or other object commemorates.

When the part-spherical commemorative item 120 is fully inserted into the cavity defined by the base 112 of the capsule 110, the upper surface 124 is preferably flush with the surface of the bridging portion 115 of the capsule 110.

Figure 15 shows the capsule 110 inserted into a framework 130 of a commemorative album having a first, upper layer 136, a second, intermediate layer 134 and a third, lower or base layer 132. Each of the layers 132, 134 and 136 is provided with a respective aperture 142, 144, 146 for receiving the capsule 110. The aperture 146 in the first, upper layer 136 is slightly smaller than the peripheral dimension of the rim 116 of the capsule; the aperture 144 in the second, intermediate layer 134 is slightly larger than the peripheral dimension of the rim 116; and the aperture 142 in the third, lower or base layer 132 is smaller than the aperture 146 but slightly larger than the diameter of the part-spherical base 112 of the capsule where it protrudes below the level of the rim 116.

The capsule 110 is inserted into the apertures 142, 144, 146 in similar manner to that in which the capsule 10 of Figures 1 to 4 is inserted into the apertures 35, 37 in the framework of Figures 4 to 10. Thus, the skirt 118 of the capsule 110 may be squeezed inwardly to cause the rim 116 to deform resiliently to snap into the aperture 146 in the upper layer 136 so that the rim 116 seats within the slightly larger aperture 144 in the second, intermediate layer 134. In this position, the rim 116 of the capsule 110 is retained securely between the upper and lower layers 146, 142 with the part-spherical base 112 protruding through the aperture 142 in the third, lower layer 132.

The present invention therefore provides an apparatus for displaying commemorative items, such as medallions in which the medallions are conveniently mounted in capsules that not only provide some protection for the medallions, but also can be readily inserted into the apertures in an album or the like.

It will also be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments described above without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the shape of the capsules and the apertures may vary for different types of commemorative items.