Patent Publication Number: US-3877162-A

Title: Medallion display

Description:
United States Patent 1 Wilson 1 Apr. 15, 1975 1 MEDALLION DISPLAY [76] Inventor: Richard B. Wilson, 630 S.  
 Rosemead, Pasadena, Calif. 91 107 [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 21] Appl. No.: 434,962  
 [52] [1.8. Cl. 40/10 D; 40/152.1  
 [51] Int. Cl. G09f 3/18 [58] Field of Search 40/10 D, 156, 152, 152.1  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,418 3/1917 Hawkes 40/156 2,521,558 9/1950 Alvarez 40/152 2,867,053 1/1959 Boor 40/10 D X 3,312,197 4/1967 Smith 40/126 R X 3,579,887 5/1971 Rochclt 40/152.1  
 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenccslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker &amp; l-lale [57] ABSTRACT A medallion, coin, or other object is displayed in a block of transparent acrylic by drilling or otherwise forming a hole into the back of the block extending part way through the block, the bottom of the hole providing a flat surface against which one face of the medallion is placed. The back and sides of the block are coated or covered with opaque material. A chamfer around the perimeter of the hole receiving the medallion picks up light reflected off the opaque sidewalls to produce a halo effect around the medallion.  
 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MEDALLION DISPLAY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to decorative displays for medallions or the like. and more particularly, is concerned with a display in which the medallion is mounted within a transparent plastic.  
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various arrangements have been heretofore proposed to display coins, medallions, or other relatively flat metal objects to enhance their beauty and interest. One technique which has been used is to cast the coin or medallion in a block of transparent acrylic plastic, such as plexiglass. Plexiglass protects the metal while at the same time enhancing the decorative effect of the display. However, the casting ofmedallions and the like in plastic requires considerable skill and special equipment.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a display which permits the medallion or other object to be displayed inside a transparent plastic block in a manner which avoids the limitations of the casting process. The dis play protects the metal while at the same time enhancing the beauty of the metal object by creating an illusion of depth and highlights.  
  This is accomplished in brief by boring a block of clear acrylic with a recess slightly larger than the diameter of the medallion being mounted. The bottom of the recess is substantially flat. with the medallion being positioned with the face of the medallion against the bottom. An opaque backing is provided on the block which is used to hold the medallion in place in the re- CCSS.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing. wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the medallion display device of the present invention: and  
  FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawing. the display device includes a block of clear acrylic. The block may be ofa variety of shapes but typically is a rectangular block which may be cut from a standard 4 ft. X 6 ft. sheet of material ofthe desired thickness. The sides or edges of the block need not be smooth but may retain the roughness incurred by the cutting process, such as sawing, used in making the block from a large sheet.  
  The back surface I2 of the block is then recessed by boring or otherwise cutting a circular flat&#39;bottomed hole or bore 13 extending part way through the block. The diameter of the bore 13 is made slightly larger in diameter than the metal, coin, medallion or other object to be displayed. The depth of the bore is preferably made approximately half the thickness of the block, but may be made to any desired depth, preferably a depth greater than the thickness of the medallion or other object to be displayed. The inner edge 16 of thebore 13 is preferably chamfered or beveled adjacent the flat bottom, as indicated at 18, for reasons hereinafter described. The sides and bottom of the bore 13 are polished by buffering, burnishing, or by firing with a torch to provide a transparent interface.  
  A medallion 19 may be held in place within the bore 13 by providing a backing 20 for the block with a spacer 22 cemented to the backing and to the back side of the medallion. The backing layer 20 may be held in place by a frame 24 made of thin, springy metal which is formed with an upper lip 26 and a lower lip 28 that grip the top and bottom of the block in a clamping action. The frame at the same time holds the backing in place. However, the block may be used as a free standing display, in which case the backing layer 20 is cemented or otherwise secured in place on the block. The backing layer provides an opaque reflective back surface which may be of any selected color but preferably is a metallic appearing surface which corresponds in color to the medallion being displayed, for example, gold, silver, or bronze coloring. The sides or edges of the block are also provided with a coating providing an opaque finish, which may be painted or sprayed on.  
  When so constructed, the display device produces the illusion that the medallion or other object is embedded in the acrylic block and that it has a thickness corresponding to the depth of the bore. Also the medallion, in the presence of ambient light, appears to have a halo 0r highlight circling the front edge of the medallion. This halo effect is produced by the chamfered inner edge of the bore, which picks up light reflected from the opaque edges or sides of the block 10. The halo will have the same hue or color as the color of the opaque coating applied to the edges of the block. The cylindrical side of the bore behind the medallion picks up the light reflected from the opaque backing, and by making the backing matching in color to the medallion. gives the medallion the appearance of much greater thickness than it actually is. Because of the angle of viewing of the medallion through the front surface, the interior of the bore is not visible through the side of the bore but only through the flat bottom. Thus the face of the medallion is clearly displayed, but the edge as well as the spacer behind the medallion are not visible through the front surface of the block.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A display device for a threedimensional object such as a medallion or the like comprising a body of transparent material having front and back surfaces, the back surface having a bore extending into the body, the bore forming a recessed flat surface, the recessed surface being smooth to prevent light scattering, the body being in the form of a block with front and back surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other, the body having edge surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, means forming an opaque covering of the edge surfaces, an opaque backing member extending across the back surface and closing off the bore, a spacer secured to the backing member and projecting into the bore to hold the medallion in place against the recessed surface, the spacer being substantially smaller than the bore so as to be out of contact with the body of transparent material.  
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bore is chamfered adjacent the recessed flat surface.