Abstract:
A display case provides a mechanism for displaying a clothing article in an attractive setting while simultaneously protecting the clothing article. The display case comprises an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels, including an panel which opens to provide access to the interior of the display case. The display case further comprises a dress form disposed within the interior of the display case. Some of the panels comprise glass sections allowing a viewer to observe the clothing article within the enclosing frame. The display case further comprises an enclosing top and bottom. The display case comprises a floor upon which the dress form may be disposed, wherein a cavity is defined by the space between the enclosing bottom and the floor. The display case further comprises humidity control means which may be located within the cavity. One embodiment of the display case may comprise back panels wherein the back panels have mirrored surfaces on the interior side to reflect the back and sides of the clothing article. One embodiment of the display case may be shaped hexagonally.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/719,156 for this invention was filed on Sep. 20, 2005 for which these inventors claim domestic priority. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to display cases. In particular, a display case for preserving and displaying various clothing articles, including wedding gowns and other clothing articles of high sentimental value is disclosed.  
         [0003]     Various enclosed glass display cases are known for displaying different articles, including art work, flower arrangements, and athletic awards. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,697,147; 3,697,363; 4,141,610; 4,255,001; 4,304,447; 4,951,555; 5,175,726; 5,127,718; 6,024,775; and 6,158,828. With respect to glass display cases for displaying clothing articles, the &#39;828 patent discloses a display frame for displaying a jersey, where the jersey is supported on a support member fixed to the frame body. However, while the &#39;828 patent purports to display jerseys in a three dimensional realistic and life-like fashion, the support member is essentially a modified clothes hanger having greater thickness for giving the appearance of shoulder pads. The &#39;828 patent does not disclose means for controlling the humidity and light, and appears only to provide protection by enclosing the jersey.  
         [0004]     There are certain clothing articles which for many reasons, particularly sentimental, the owner wishes to preserve and safeguard. For example, great lengths may be taken to protect a woman&#39;s wedding gown. However, most means of preserving and protecting wedding gowns and other clothing articles make viewing the clothing article difficult at best. For example, viewing a wedding gown through a sealed garment bag hardly displays the gown in a manner having any similarity to the conditions in which the gown was originally worn.  
         [0005]     Alternatively, if the clothing article is displayed in a more realistic fashion, the known display methods generally provide little protection to the clothing article. The use of dress forms and mannequins is well known for presenting clothing articles in a more realistic manner. However, simply displaying a clothing article using these items exposes the gown to the environment, and potentially places it in the path of children, pets, overly enthusiastic viewers, and anything they happen to be carrying. In addition, sunlight or other forms of ultraviolet radiation, lack of humidity, excessive humidity, insects, airborne contaminants, etc., will damage the fabric over time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The disclosed display case provides a mechanism for displaying a clothing article in an attractive setting while simultaneously protecting the clothing article. The display case comprises an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels, including an access panel which is hingedly attached to a frame. The article of clothing may be placed upon a dress form disposed within the enclosure. Some of the panels comprise glass sections allowing a viewer to observe the clothing article within the enclosing frame. The disclosed display case further comprises an enclosing top and bottom. The display case further comprises a floor upon which the dress form may be disposed. The display case further comprises means for controlling the humidity within the enclosure, and may also comprise lighting means for illuminating the clothing article. One embodiment of the display case may comprise back panels wherein the back panels have mirrored surfaces on the interior side to reflect the back and sides of the clothing article. One embodiment of the display case may be shaped hexagonally. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed display case, wherein a gown is mounted on the dress form.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein the gown is removed from the dress form.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , wherein the dress form has been removed from the display case to better show other features of the embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts a back view of an embodiment of the disclosed display case.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosed display case.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  depicts a view of an embodiment of the disclosed display case showing how a humidistat, electrical junction box and electrical connectors may be mounted in a cavity at the bottom of the display case.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a first view of how various components of a humidity control system may be mounted in a cavity at the bottom of the display case.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a second view of how various components of a humidity control system may be mounted in a cavity at the bottom of the display case.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  shows how the display panel for the humidity control system and a water fill-up tube may be disposed behind a first drawer facade.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  shows how a light control may be disposed behind a second drawer facade.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  shows, for one embodiment of the disclosed display case, a detailed view of a register set against a mirrored back panel. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Referring now specifically to the drawings,  FIG. 1  generally shows an embodiment of the display case  10 . The display case  10  comprises an enclosing frame  12  or enclosure comprising a plurality of panels  14 . The display case  10  further comprises an enclosing top  16  and enclosing bottom  18 . The display case  10  may further comprise a floor  20 . Some of the panels  14  may comprise glass sections  22 , allowing a viewer to see into the interior of the display case  10 . At least one of the panels  14  is hingedly attached to the enclosing frame  12  to allow access into the interior of the display case  10 .  
         [0019]     A dress form  24  is disposed within the display case  10 . An article of clothing  26 , such as gown, is placed upon the dress form  24 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the dress form  24  is sized to fit the article of clothing  26  in the shoulders, breast and abdomen portions of the garment. The dress form  24  may be shaped in human form, generally conforming to the shape of the shoulders, chest, abdomen, and hips of the wearer of the clothing article. The base of the dress form  24  may rest upon floor  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the enclosing frame is sufficiently large to allow enclosing a gown  26  upon the dress form  24  without the gown touching the interior sides of the panels  14 .  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the display case  10  may be hexagonal in shape. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front of the display case  10  may comprise a center front panel  28 , a left front panel  30 , and a right front panel  32 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the back of the display case may comprise a center back panel  34 , a left (viewed from the front) back panel  36 , and a right back panel  38 , where the left back panel  36  adjoins the left front panel  30  and the right back panel  38  adjoins the right front panel  32 .  
         [0021]     Some of the panels  14  comprise glass sections  22  allowing a viewer to observe the clothing article  26  within the display case  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the display case  10  utilizes glass sections  22  in the center front panel  28 , the left front panel  30  and the right front panel  32 . The glass sections  22  may be beveled to increase the beauty of the display case. In addition, the glass sections  22  may comprise a clear film which blocks out a substantial amount of the exterior ultraviolet light, which may damage fabrics. In addition, the clear film will help hold the glass section together if it is broken.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , rather than having glass sections  22 , some of the panels  14  may be solid. Mirrors  40  may be attached on the interior side of the panels  14 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the center back panel  34 , the left back panel  36  and the right back panel  38  may comprise solid panels to which mirrors  40  are fastened or attached on the interior sides. If the display case  10  is hexagonal in shape, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the mirrored surfaces on the rear panels provide a complete view of the back and sides of the clothing article  26  to an observer standing at the front of the display case  10 .  
         [0023]     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , in one hexagonal configuration, the panels may be configured such that center back panel  34  is not as wide as the opposite facing center front panel  28 , the left back panel  36  is wider than the adjoining left front panel  30 , and the right back panel  38  is wider than the adjoining right front panel  32 . For symmetry, left back panel  36  and the right back panel  38  may have the same dimensions and left front panel  30  and right front panel  32  may have the same dimensions. This configuration makes this embodiment of the display case  10  narrower at the back than at the front, which facilitates placement of the display case in a corner or against a narrow wall, while simultaneously providing a wide viewing area from the front.  
         [0024]     Front center panel  28 , which may be hingedly attached to the enclosing frame  12  to allow access into the interior of the display case  10 , may have antique brass hinges and skeleton key door lock and handle. Glass sections  22  may be beveled and have a clear UV coated safety film which will block out 98% of UV rays and will help hold the glass together if it is broken.  
         [0025]     Display case  10  may further comprise a center drawer  42 . This drawer may be dovetailed and have solid hardware. The interior of the drawer  42  may be padded and satin lined. The front of the center drawer  42  may be a five-piece raised panel with an antique brass pull. Center drawer  42  may be mounted on soft-close, full extension, under-mount slides  44 .  
         [0026]     Displace case  10  may further comprise left front drawer front  46 . The left drawer front  46  may be a five-piece raised panel which matches the detail of the front of center drawer  42 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , left drawer front  46  may be hinged at the bottom and configured to open from the top. When left drawer front  46  is pulled open, it may provide access to control panel  48 . Control panel  48  may comprise the end of fill tube  50  which is used for providing water for water reservoir  52  shown in  FIG. 7 . Water reservoir  52  is one of the components of the humidity control system described below. Control panel  48  also comprises status indicators for the humidity control system, such as light emitting diodes  54 , which may be used to indicate whether the humidity control system has power, whether the water level in water reservoir  52  is low, or whether wicking pads need to be replaced. Sensor  55  detects when the water level in reservoir  52  drops below two prongs which extend into the reservoir. When the water level drops below the two prongs it breaks the circuit and the low water light comes on.  
         [0027]     Display case  10  may further comprise a right drawer front  56 . The right drawer front  56  may be a five-piece raised panel which matches the detail of the front of center drawer  42  and left drawer front  46 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , right drawer front  56  may be hinged at the bottom and configured to open from the top. When right drawer front  56  is pulled open, it may provide access to light control  58 . Light control  58  activates light means  60  which are shown in  FIG. 5 . Light means  60  may comprise low level museum quality lighting to protect fabric from ultraviolet radiation. An acceptable light means  60  comprises an LED cluster available through LEDTRONICS, Inc. The cluster, which is installed in a conventional light fixture, comprises forty light emitting diodes per cluster. This cluster creates almost no heat and emits no ultraviolet radiation. Light control  58  may further comprise an automatic timer for activating and deactivating the light means  60 . If lighting is used, the lights may be installed such that the bulbs may be changed from the exterior of top  16  of the display case  10 , where glass dividers separate the bulbs from the interior of the case. The inside of the light recesses may be detailed with antique brass rings 3 to 4 inches in diameter located inside the case.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 6 through 8  show the components of a humidity control system which may be utilized in the disclosed display case  10 . Acceptable humidity control systems are available through DAMPP CHASER of Hendersonville, N.C. The components of the system comprise the water reservoir  52 , humidifier  62 , dehumidifying rods  64 , and humidistat  66 . The humidifier comprises wicking pads and a humidifying rod which provides a low level of heat. The humidistat  66  is calibrated to maintain a narrow range of humidity within display case  10 . When the humidity falls below a particular preset value, the humidistat  66  activates humidifier  62 , which increases humidity to an acceptable range. When the humidity increases above a particular preset value, the humidistat  66  activates dehumidifying rods  64 . The humidity within the display case  10  will optimally be maintained in a range of 40 to 50 percent to provide an environment which is tolerated by the fabrics of the clothing articles displayed within the display case.  
         [0029]     The humidity control system is disposed in the cavity created between enclosing bottom  18  and floor  20 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , bottom  18  comprises an electrostatic air filter  68 . The electrostatic filter  68  may be configured such that it may be removed through the opening in which center drawer  42  is disposed. Center drawer  42  is removed and the electrostatic air filter  68  may be pulled upwards for removal. It is to be appreciated that, for the benefit of the fabric of the article of clothing  26 , there is air circulation through the display case  10 . Components of the humidity control system, such as the dehumidifying rods  64 , will create a slight temperature differential, causing a slight and generally upward air flow through the electrostatic air filter  68 . Front center panel  28 , or whichever panel  10  is used to provide access into the display case  10 , is not a sealed door, thereby allowing air circulation through the case with air exiting at the access panel. It is to be appreciated that an electrical fan may also be disposed within the display case  10  to provide additional air circulation if desired.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows how humidistat  66  and electrical junction boxes  70  may be disposed in the side of the cavity of display case  10 .  FIG. 7  shows a view of the lower cavity of the display case  10  through the opening in which center drawer  42  is disposed. As indicated by  FIG. 7 , access to the humidity control components may be gained by removing center drawer  42 .  FIG. 8  shows a view of the dehumidifying rods  64  with a portion of bottom  18  removed.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the back side of an embodiment of the disclosed display case  10  may comprise a back center panel  34 , a left back panel  36 , and a right back panel  38 . The back side may further comprise a center back drawer front  72 , a left back drawer front  74 , and a right back drawer front  76 . The center back drawer front  72  may have a five piece raised panel drawer front which matches the detail of center drawer  42 . Center back drawer front  72  may be hinged at the bottom and may open downwardly to provide access to the humidifier  62 . Left back drawer front  74  and right back drawer front  76  may each comprise a five piece raised panel drawer front which match center back drawer front  72 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  indicate various components which may be included in the interior of an embodiment of the disclosed display case  10 . Dress form  24  is disposed within the display case  10 . As discussed above, the back center panel  34 , the left back panel  36 , and the right back panel  38 , may each comprise a mirror  40  or mirrored panel to allow a viewer positioned at the front of the display case  10  to observe the back and back sides of the clothing article contained within the display case. In addition, the interior may further comprise box  78  which is disposed upon floor  20 . Box  78 , which may be fabricated from wood, with the box abutting the interior side of back center panel  34 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , a brass register  80  may be disposed within the box  78  to allow air flow for the humidity controls discussed above. The register cover may be flush mounted against the top of the box. The box  78  may be padded and satin lined to enhance its appearance. If a circulation fan is desired, it may be located within box  78 .  
         [0033]     Hygrometer  82  may also be mounted within the interior of the display case to provide a the current humidity level inside display case  10 . In keeping with the design and style of the display case, hygrometer  82  may be analog, have brass trim, and be approximately 3½ inches to 4 inches in diameter.  
         [0034]     Crown molding  84  may be placed around the outer top of the display case  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , an embodiment of the display case  10  may further comprise legs  86 . If the configuration of the display case  10  is that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , a total of six legs may be used, where four of the legs are constructed in a 45 degree angle configuration and two of the legs are constructed in a 90 degree configuration.  
         [0035]     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims.