Background of the Invention Trophies are provided as a popular reward for acknowledgment of achievement, success in competition, passing examinations, and generally as acknowledgment of attainment in many fields.

Trophies are provided in many different types, and include"cups", badges, coins, medallions, figurines, and many other various diverse forms.

Trophies are particularly popular among children and young adults as awards of achievement during their education years. A person may receive many trophies over time. Commercially, the popularity of trophies are so great that specialist"trophy shops"exist. The manufacture and provision of trophies is a significant business.

Over a fairly long period of time trophies are often mislaid and lost. This is regrettable, particularly from the point of view that trophies provide"badges"of memory for persons, particularly when they get older. An existence of a trophy may evoke many memories and pleasant feelings of nostalgia.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a trophy apparatus, comprising a trophy module and a trophy element, the trophy module mounting

the trophy element and being arranged to fit together with other trophy modules which may mount a trophy element.

The trophy element may comprise a motif, figure, cup, coin, medallion and any other design element that may be required for indicating an achievement.

In one preferred form, the module is a polyhedron.

It may be in the form of a brick or block which may have rectangular sides. In one embodiment the module may include engagement means for engaging with other modules.

For example, it may include complimentary projections and recesses to enable engagement with corresponding projections and recesses in like modules.

In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention comprises a trophy system comprising a plurality of trophy apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The combination of the trophy module and the trophy element comprises a novel type of trophy apparatus. As any element can be included as the trophy element, various types of trophy apparatus can be provided, as desired.

The ability to be able to fit together the trophy modules means that all the trophy apparatus can be kept together to form a single trophy system (comprising a plurality of trophy modules with their trophy elements).

Fitting the trophy apparatus together means that they are more likely to be kept over a long period of time.

They are easier to transport. It is more difficult to lose trophies.

In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention provides a trophy arrangement, comprising a trophy module arranged to mount a trophy element, and being arranged to fit together with other trophy modules which may mount a trophy element.

The trophy module may be as described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a representation of a trophy apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a representation of a trophy apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a representation of a trophy apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a trophy system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a representation of a trophy apparatus in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a representation of a trophy apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to figure 1, a trophy apparatus is illustrated which comprises a trophy module 1, in this example being in the form of a substantially transparent polyhedron (in this case having six faces. forming a substantially rectangular block), mounting a trophy element 2, in this example, being in the form of a miniature"cup".

By virtue of being a polyhedron, the trophy apparatus of figure 1 can be put together with like trophy apparatus (ie. other polyhedrons of the same type) so that a plurality of trophy apparatus can be kept together.

Figure 4 illustrates a trophy system which comprises a plurality of trophy modules 3, like in form to the trophy

module 1 of figure 1, with their respective trophy elements 4. Note that the trophy elements in figure 4 are not shown in any detail and may be any type of trophy element that can be used with the trophy apparatus of the present invention. The ability to stack the trophy apparatus together as shown in figure 4 means that the trophies can be kept together and therefore they are more likely to be kept for a. long period of time.

Returning to the trophy apparatus in figure 1, the trophy element 2, being in this case a miniature"cup"may be of metal or plastics. In this embodiment the trophy module 1 is a glass or plastics material which is transparent and the trophy element 2 is mounted within the body of the glass or plastics material. Manufacture may be by extrusion or a moulding process or any other convenient process to form the trophy module about the element 2. It will be appreciated that the trophy element 2 may be of any form.

Figure 2 illustrates a further embodiment of the trophy apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

This again comprises a polyhedron trophy module 5. In this embodiment, however, the module includes a slot 6 within which a trophy element 7 in the form of a medallion can be inserted for retention within trophy module 5.

Medallions or coins are common trophy elements.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a trophy apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The trophy module 8 in this case is a substantially hollow polyhedron including means 9 (eg. wires) suspending a trophy element 10 in the form of a sphere (eg. it may be a representation of a soccer ball). It will be appreciated that other types of trophy elements may be suspended in this manner within a trophy module 8 of the hollow form as disclosed in figure 3.

Figure 6 discloses another form of trophy apparatus.

Again, the trophy module 11 is in the form of a polyhedron. In this case, it may be of solid plastics or

glass. In one face 12 a motif 13 is formed as the trophy element.

Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the present apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In this case, the trophy module 14 includes engagement means 15,16 in the form of complimentary recesses 15 and projection 16. The trophy element 17 may be in any form and here is illustrated as being the same as the trophy element of figure 1. It may be any other trophy element, however.

The module 14 is arranged to fit and interlock with the projections/recesses of like modules for other trophy apparatus. This facilitates their retention together in a trophy system.

The engagement means of the embodiment of figure 5 are complimentary recesses and projections. It will be appreciated that many other different types of engagement means may be utilised. For example upstanding discs and corresponding disc-like depressions may be used.

In the above description the majority of embodiments incorporate a trophy module which is in the form of a rectangular block. It will be appreciated that any other type of polyhedron may be utilised (eg. a cube) or even shapes which are not polyhedron, pyramids, and any other convenient shape which may conveniently be kept together with other like trophy apparatus.

In the above descriptions examples have been given of trophy elements and different ways of mounting the trophy elements with respect to the trophy module. It will be appreciated that any other type of trophy element may be used.

In some embodiments, the trophy module 1 may be provided separately from the trophy element. That is, a supplier of trophy modules will provide the trophy modules and the trophy element can be added later on. The embodiment of figure 2 will be particularly suited to this, but it will be appreciated that other embodiments

likewise could have the trophy module and element provided separately.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.